Conner Powers Doesn't Wanna Be Your Monkeywrench

OK, MSU fans, let's rewind to June. Russ Sneed was going to play first base. Jarrod Parks was going to play third and the coaching staff really liked him. Cody Freeman days behind the plate were done, and he was definately going to be either a corner outfielder, or a first baseman, and Conner Powers was gone thanks to the draft- but wait.

All right, we now know that Conner Powers was not only drafted lower than he expected in the 11th round, but we later learned that he couldn't come to terms with the Dodgers, and ended up going back to the Cape Cod League to prove his mettle. Powers started off slowly, but recovered won the Cape Cod League Home Run Derby, and eventually never came to terms with the Dodgers.

Don't get me wrong, I am very fired up that Conner Powers is coming back to MSU, but it certainly creates some other issues at other positions. Powers has to play. There is no doubt about that. He is a bona fide possible All-SEC and maybe even All-American at first base. He has the potential to hit 20 home runs and hit .350. That's certainly not a problem, especially given the fact that Powers plays very good defense as well. The problem is everyone else's defense. In particular, Russ Sneed and Jet Butler. We'll get to them later, but I'm going to start at the catcher position.

OK, word on the street is that John Cohen loves JUCO transfer Wes Thigpen from Meridian CC. Fair enough. Thigpen was signed out of high school by LSU, so he obviously has some talent. Ironically, he went to Nicholls State, a team that MSU had some issues with last year, this off season for summer school, but that's neither here nor there. Despite Thigpen's crdentials and Cohen's endorsement, he has no SEC experience. And the back-ups have even less. Kolby Byrd is a True Freshman, Carlos Leal is a True Freshman walk-on, and Jet Butler is learning how to catch with very mixed results to say the least. Ryan Duffy has experience behind the plate, but his defense was so atrocious that Cohen benched him in the middle of an inning last year and he has not seen any more action behind the dish since. Then you have Cody Freeman. Freeman has had some injury issues since he has been at MSU. Last year, I do not believe he was very healthy either. Cody was a very good catcher at high school super power West Lauderdale in Meridian, and he has had some success at the plate while at MSU- particularly when he was healthy. I sincerely hope that John Cohen looks at Cody Freeman at catcher this fall. I don't think that Cohen has seen what he can do when he's 100%. And the depth issues and the current Conner Powers situation may force him to give him a long look, which I think might be beneficial to MSU. And I'm not necessarily knocking Thigpen. I personally believe that any team should have at least two capable catchers that they can depend on becuase of the physical demands of the position. I'd rather have two capable juniors than a junior and a freshman.

Now, on to the infield. Conner Powers has first base locked up. The other positions are very unsettled. Jet Butler is the incumbant at second base. While he is not exactly a great defender, and is an even worse baserunner, he can hit and has pretty good power. I really wouldn't be shocked if he hit 10 home runs next year as a senior. The other options are Frank Rawdow, who can play defense, but is still learning how to hit, and JUCO transfer Johnathan Ogden, who is more of a defensive specialist. I wish there were a way to morph Butler and Ogden, but that would probably screw the scholarship situation up too much. Powers coming back also probably throws Russ Sneed back to third base, where he had a fielding percentage below .900. Sneed is similar to Butler in that he can hit for power and average, but he is a better baserunner than Jet. I think Sneed can put up similar numbers at the plate as Butler as well, maybe even a little bit better. I would have to think that Jarrod Parks would come in as a defensive replacement late in games, as he has not shown that he can hit SEC pitching yet. State's shortstop position is the only one that has no one with any real experience at the postion in the SEC. I think Nick Vickerson, a Florida State, Shelton State CC, AND Meridian CC transfer is going to likely get the nod there. The scary thing, according to someone who has seen him play is that he "airmails every four throws to first base". I expect some of the glove players like Ogden and Rawdow to get looks at short as well. If I were John Cohen, I would really, really, really focus on infield defense. They were not good last year, and it was overshadowed by the lack of a pitching staff. But if State can shore up their defense, they could five more games this next year. Remember, the old saying is pitching AND defense win ballgames.

Finally the outfield, with the DH position thrown in. The outfield is every bit as crowded as the infield, but there are players that are a little more established. Ryan Collins is a very good outfielder, and I think he has to start. He could have a very good junior season next year. The centerfielder is probably going to be former Reds draft pick Jaron Shepherd, the son of former Toronto Blue Jay outfielder Ron Shepherd. I expect Collins and Shepherd to be at the top of MSU's lineup next year. Left field is a lot more crowded. Luke Adkins has a lot of experience, and had a pretty good year last year. Then there's JUCO transfer Trey Johnson and Brent Brownlee, another Cohen favorite. I like Adkins, but I think he might be the odd man out here. I think it's going to be either Johnson, who showed some pretty good power last year in JUCO, and then Brownlee, who is developing as a hitter and is a very good defensive outfielder with speed. The designated hitter for State is probably going to be senior Ryan Duffy, who may be the best clutch hitter on the team.

So, that's what State is looking at right now going into fall camp. And then there are going to be some players that are going to get cut, so that's going to answer some questions right there. As for me, I'm ready for October and some banana splits.