WSU BASEBALL: Previewing The Season, Via Cougar Sports Weekly
by Jeff Nusser on Feb 14, 2012 11:36 AM PST
in WSU Baseball News
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PrintPitchers and catchers are only just now reporting in the majors, but WSU baseball has been at it for a few weeks now in advance of their season opener on Friday at Mississippi State. In honor of the team that very well could be WSU's most successful this year, I dedicated the opening of yesterday's Cougar Sports Weekly to them with a 1,700-word preview, a portion of which you can find below:
Returning Players Poised For A Big Breakthrough
Jason Monda, OF; J.D. Leckenby, RHP; Patrick Claussen, 3B/OF
I could list a lot of players here, but I wanted to just pick a few to keep an eye on. Monda played in the Cape Cod League this summer back on the east coast and played as one of the league's best players: The tall lefty hit .333 in 32 games, including nine extra base hits (second on the team). He also had 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts. Expect him to man centerfield on most days, and if the power starts to come around ... watch out.
Leckenby will be the team's Friday starter (as told by Marbut to Brett Gleason over at SportsMinds.org), a revelation that makes me positively giddy. I loved watching him pitch last year -- he throws a nasty sinker in the low-to-mid-90s that induces an incredible amount of weak contact, leading to a .172 batting average against and 2.28 ERA out of the bullpen last season. That he was able to do what he did by pitching to contact with the porous defense behind him shows you just how tough a time opponents had with his offerings. Leckenby didn't strike out many batters and his 4.55 walks per nine innings is higher than you'd like; if he can improve on each of those, he won't just be WSU's best pitcher, he'll be one of the best in the Pac-12. (Check out some video here - h/t to Mark Sandritter!)
I also talked a little about why the loss to Oregon was a positive development, and I'll be writing tomorrow about how the rest of the basketball season might play out, including the team's prospects in the Pac-12 tournament. Subscribing is cheap! Find out more here. When you subscribe, I'll give you a link to the most recent mailing and access to our archives.
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Woot! WSU Baseball!
I’ve actually come to enjoy WSU baseball. It really helps the downtime before football season starts up and lately, we’ve actually been pretty good!
I'll be covering it both here and at Cougar Sports Weekly
by Jeff Nusser on Feb 14, 2012 11:52 AM PST up reply actions
As will I on my blog.
Between the two of us, Jeff, WSU might have the most thoroughly covered baseball team in the conference!
Brett Gleason | Twitter | Sports Minds Blog | Never fallen in the sarchasm.
by Brett the 49er on Feb 14, 2012 11:54 AM PST up reply actions
There's certainly an argument to be made for that
BN does a good job of covering UCLA and CGB also does a great job of covering their team.
by Jeff Nusser on Feb 14, 2012 11:57 AM PST up reply actions
Really? BN?
See how someone can take a quote out of context and make someone look bad.
“BN does a good job of covering UCLA” -Jeff Nusser
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @TheSoCalCoug
by SoCalCoug on Feb 14, 2012 1:41 PM PST up reply actions 6 recs
Rec'd
And when I get to my computer I will actually rec it.
by spencer peaty on Feb 14, 2012 6:02 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I think he's talking more quantity than quality.
Although I’m not very familiar with their baseball coverage, so I can’t be entirely sure.
Brett Gleason | Twitter | Sports Minds Blog | Never fallen in the sarchasm.
by Brett the 49er on Feb 14, 2012 6:48 PM PST up reply actions
Also, minor correction!
Was just on the conference call with Marbut — looks like Monda is penciled in for left field, with Kyle Johnson in center. I wasn’t sure which direction Marbut would go when I was writing CSW last night.
So the first year I was in Pullman..............
I remember walking down orchard to a basketball game after it had snowed about a foot and a half a couple days earlier. I looked over and noticed they had plowed the Brayton field and were playing a game in 21 degree weather. From that day on, I was never able to get myself excited about the baseball team. But, I vow to make a game this year……….late April? early May?
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
How about Feb. 24? The weather should be great as they open against Nebraska Omaha!
I remember attending a game against USC in snow flurries. The Trojans were so flummoxed they sent their equipment guy to the Bookie to buy beanies — they turned them inside out. Love it …
Wait, there is a baseball game on the 24th?
Looks like I’ll be able to catch a WSU baseball game this year after all.
Streamin' and Threadin' and Shellin | @shellin1
I don't ever get cold on 3rd and 2, but I tend to freeze my butt off watching somebody foul off pitches with a 3-2 count
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Small sample size, but
Monda made two amazing catches that saved runs and covered a lot of ground in center. He was really smooth and took excellent routes to the ball. I wouldn’t say he was Guti, but he reminded me of him in the way that I was excited to watch someone play defense.
Kyle Johnson is the best defensive outfielder on the team
If his bat is adequate, he’ll be a huge asset in center, which means you’ll then have another CF in left. That outfield should be outstanding defensively.
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