Softball Offseason

[MarlinMan3]

What are some of the timelines involved with portal moves.
Do they have to be here before class starts in august, could someone join in january? With or without attending old school as a student only?

[Looney Lou]

Mallory Wheeler is not the only pitcher returning. Two outstanding pitchers were injured and never got to show their greatness. Lexie Delbrey has been injured since she got here in 2024. When she did pitch, she was in pain. Sage Hoover will be playing in a Texas College League this summer. She was "good to go" about 3 weeks before the end of the season but Coach kept her out rather than burn her year for 3 weeks of work. She is "the real deal". So, we have three excellent pitchers on staff. We really don't need to pick up a pitcher from the Portal. The ones we have are as good as it gets! Of course, a Sydney Berzon would be welcomed. Bailey Mackles, freshman pitcher from Slidell, LA will be coming in, but why Gerry Glasco recruited her is anyone's guess. And, Bethany Noble is here. That makes five pitchers, all healthy.

[JMV JustMyView]

Mallory Wheeler is not the only pitcher returning. Two outstanding pitchers were injured and never got to show their greatness. Lexie Delbrey has been injured since she got here in 2024. When she did pitch, she was in pain. Sage Hoover will be playing in a Texas College League this summer. She was "good to go" about 3 weeks before the end of the season but Coach kept her out rather than burn her year for 3 weeks of work. She is "the real deal". So, we have three excellent pitchers on staff. We really don't need to pick up a pitcher from the Portal. The ones we have are as good as it gets! Of course, a Sydney Berzon would be welcomed. Bailey Mackles, freshman pitcher from Slidell, LA will be coming in, but why Gerry Glasco recruited her is anyone's guess. And, Bethany Noble is here. That makes five pitchers, all healthy.

I disagree. Noble struggled and Mackles will most likely redshirt. She isn't ready to pitch to D1 batters. She has dealt with injuries and hasn't performed as good. We need one or two veterans pitchers because Delbrey and Hoover are coming off injuries and anything could happen. We need insurance if something happens.

[RoarMan]

I know we all expected more turnover; but we really are much closer to being our usual selves than it appears at first glance.

Adding the right 4 players from the portal would fix most of our issues.

A catcher, a 3B and an OF; all of whom can hit .300+ and deliver 15+ extra base hits and 30+ RBI, a Sydney Berzon, Peja Goold or Cece Cellura to add depth at the top for our pitching staff and for our returning players to perform as expected.

I'm not sure your first statement is true. I'm not trying to be critical, but, I am a stats guy and I don't believe stats lie. The stats are right there in black and white for everyone to see. Here's what stands out to me. There are six players currently on the team who saw a lot of playing time last year and will more than likely be back for 2026. Out of those six players, only one of them hit above 300. Combined, those six players had 24 extra base hits and a total of 58 RBI. Take out one player who had 31 RBI out of the equation and the other five players had a total of, are you ready for this? 27 RBI.

Can any of these players who did not hit .300 this year, hit .300 next year? Can any of these players get more than 15 extra base hits? Can any of the five players who combined for 27 RBI somehow miraculously each hit 30 RBI? So, unless somehow, these players are coached up and somehow improve at the plate, I see a very similar team on the field to what was on the field in 2025.

With Wheeler returning and Delbrey and Hoover at full strength, the Cajuns could have the best pitching staff in the SBC. The question is, will the offense provide enough run production to support the pitchers?

[VObserver]

You must be forgetting Smith's 43 RBI and 18 extra base hits... We are returning 102 of our 196 RBI from last season and 42 of our 78 extra base hits. The picture is not as bleak as you painted it.

I do agree with your assessment of the pitching staff.

[SlickRick]

I'm not sure your first statement is true. I'm not trying to be critical, but, I am a stats guy and I don't believe stats lie. The stats are right there in black and white for everyone to see. Here's what stands out to me. There are six players currently on the team who saw a lot of playing time last year and will more than likely be back for 2026. Out of those six players, only one of them hit above 300. Combined, those six players had 24 extra base hits and a total of 58 RBI. Take out one player who had 31 RBI out of the equation and the other five players had a total of, are you ready for this? 27 RBI.

Can any of these players who did not hit .300 this year, hit .300 next year? Can any of these players get more than 15 extra base hits? Can any of the five players who combined for 27 RBI somehow miraculously each hit 30 RBI? So, unless somehow, these players are coached up and somehow improve at the plate, I see a very similar team on the field to what was on the field in 2025.

With Wheeler returning and Delbrey and Hoover at full strength, the Cajuns could have the best pitching staff in the SBC. The question is, will the offense provide enough run production to support the pitchers?

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital."

[RoarMan]

I think, for insurance, a transfer pitcher would be a good thing. Here's why. I've seen Mackles pitch. I went to one of her high school games. In that game, against a team from Baton Rouge, she gave up 13 runs, including three home runs. In my opinion, she is nowhere near to being ready to successfully pitch at the collegiate level. I think she will be red-shirted. With Wheeler, Delbrey and Hoover available, I doubt very seriously if Noble will see much time in the circle.

So, get a reliable transfer pitcher in case one of the proven pitchers gets injured.

[SlickRick]

I think, for insurance, a transfer pitcher would be a good thing. Here's why. I've seen Mackles pitch. I went to one of her high school games. In that game, against a team from Baton Rouge, she gave up 13 runs, including three home runs. In my opinion, she is nowhere near to being ready to successfully pitch at the collegiate level. I think she will be red-shirted. With Wheeler, Delbrey and Hoover available, I doubt very seriously if Noble will see much time in the circle.

So, get a reliable transfer pitcher in case one of the proven pitchers gets injured.

I believe VB mentioned a pitcher from Campbell that looked decent and could be someone Savannah W. could possibly get over here. IMO, we won't get a Berzon caliper pitcher to transfer here.

[RoarMan]

You can massage the stats all you want. But again, they are there in black and white for everyone to see. Smith is the only player that was capable of driving the ball last year.

[SlickRick]

You can massage the stats all you want. But again, they are there in black and white for everyone to see. Smith is the only player that was capable of driving the ball last year.

Agree...Rowe and Credeur didn't have it this year and it hurt!