HookemHrns03
100+ Posts
Figured I would post this since I'm one of the only St. John's baseball fans out there.
SJU has been pretty solid all season, but they're currently playing their worst baseball of the year. After dropping one game to Villanova in the last series of the year, they went 2-and-out as the one seed in the Big East tourney, getting blown out in both games.
The pitching staff definitely carries the team, and I'm not sure who they'll throw against Texas.
My crack at the weekend's rotation:
1) Scott Barnes (7-3, 3.92 ERA...82.2 IP, 63 H, 44 BB, 86 K)
2) George Brown (9-0, 2.73 ERA...85.2 IP, 79 H, 9 BB, 58 K)
3) Jared Yecker (4-2, 3.93 ERA...52.2 IP, 43 H, 28 BB, 43 K)
4) Matt Tosoni (6-1, 1.72 ERA...52.1 IP, 44 H, 10 BB, 29 K)
Scott Barnes has been the Friday guy all year, and he'll likely be a fairly high draft pick. He's a lefty that throws in the low-90s with a very good slider. He had some mechanical problems that led to control issues early in the year, but he's since gotten that in order. I think he's the favorite to go against Texas because he dealt in their regional last year and he's used to the environment.
The other guy who could start is lefty George Brown, who is 9-0 with a 2.73 ERA. He is a soft tossing guy that won't come close to cracking 90, but he hits his spots and doesn't walk anybody. He's got nine walks in 85.2 innings this season.
After that, the pitching staff gets kind of shady. There is no third starter. St. John's went just 5-4 on Sundays in Big East play for a reason. They haven't been able to find anybody to fill that gap, creating a major problem if they don't go 2-0. Jared Yecker (4-2, 3.93) has been the #3 starter most of the year, but he is as inconsistent as it gets. Tosoni is another soft tossing lefties that relies on hitting his spots. He has really struggled when going against the better teams this season, so he probably won't be a top three guy.
The bullpen has either been excellent or terrible all season long, often having problems throwing strikes. Colin Lynch is the closer (13 saves, 3.76 ERA), but he often has problems throwing strikes when the pressure is really on.
Nick Cenatiempo (3.27 ERA in 33 IP) and Miguel Valcarcel (3.34 ERA in 35 IP) are the other "ace" relievers.
You will hear a lot of people talk about how good St. Johns' pitching staff is, but it's really not that good this year. Barnes and Brown are good enough to compete at an elite level, but if they don't get good starts out of those two, they are cooked.
This is the likely offense:
C: Daniel Benedetti (.368, 14 2B, .900 OPS)
1B: Gil Zayas (.262, 3 HR, 28 RBI, .694 OPS)
2B: Gino Matias (.294, 13 2B, 3 HR, 9/14 SB, .825 OPS)
SS: Jeff Grantham (.354, 2 HR, .933 OPS)
3B: Greg Hopkins (.306, 11 2B, 5 HR, .869 OPS)
LF: Carlos Del Rosario (.358, 13 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 1.002 OPS)
CF: Brian Kemp (.359, 5 3B, 1 HR, 16/21 SB, .926 OPS)
RF: Chris Anninos (.275, 14 2B, 12 HR, 11/14 SB, .889 OPS)
DH: Paul Karmas (.319, 17 2B, 3 HR, .832 OPS)
The offense has been fairly inconsistent all season. They don't have a standout hitter really, but they are solid from top to bottom and they can put up 10 runs in a hurry. Unfortunately, they're just as likely to score one or two in a game.
Brian Kemp is the key to the offense. He's a speedy centerfielder and leadoff hitter and St. John's has played most of the second half without him, but he came back last week.
Chris Anninos (from San Antonio's Reagan HS) is the best power hitter on the team. Zayas is a guy who hit over .350 last year, but he has struggled all season.
Defensively, St. John's is a solid team, especially for a northern club. They field at a .966 clip, although they had problems catching the ball in the Big East tournament.
To make a long story short, the regional is going to come down to Barnes and Brown for St. John's. Outside of those two, I don't think St. John's is as good as they were last year, but those two pitchers have the ability to beat anyone in the country.
I'm looking forward to a possible Barnes/Ruffin matchup on Friday.
SJU has been pretty solid all season, but they're currently playing their worst baseball of the year. After dropping one game to Villanova in the last series of the year, they went 2-and-out as the one seed in the Big East tourney, getting blown out in both games.
The pitching staff definitely carries the team, and I'm not sure who they'll throw against Texas.
My crack at the weekend's rotation:
1) Scott Barnes (7-3, 3.92 ERA...82.2 IP, 63 H, 44 BB, 86 K)
2) George Brown (9-0, 2.73 ERA...85.2 IP, 79 H, 9 BB, 58 K)
3) Jared Yecker (4-2, 3.93 ERA...52.2 IP, 43 H, 28 BB, 43 K)
4) Matt Tosoni (6-1, 1.72 ERA...52.1 IP, 44 H, 10 BB, 29 K)
Scott Barnes has been the Friday guy all year, and he'll likely be a fairly high draft pick. He's a lefty that throws in the low-90s with a very good slider. He had some mechanical problems that led to control issues early in the year, but he's since gotten that in order. I think he's the favorite to go against Texas because he dealt in their regional last year and he's used to the environment.
The other guy who could start is lefty George Brown, who is 9-0 with a 2.73 ERA. He is a soft tossing guy that won't come close to cracking 90, but he hits his spots and doesn't walk anybody. He's got nine walks in 85.2 innings this season.
After that, the pitching staff gets kind of shady. There is no third starter. St. John's went just 5-4 on Sundays in Big East play for a reason. They haven't been able to find anybody to fill that gap, creating a major problem if they don't go 2-0. Jared Yecker (4-2, 3.93) has been the #3 starter most of the year, but he is as inconsistent as it gets. Tosoni is another soft tossing lefties that relies on hitting his spots. He has really struggled when going against the better teams this season, so he probably won't be a top three guy.
The bullpen has either been excellent or terrible all season long, often having problems throwing strikes. Colin Lynch is the closer (13 saves, 3.76 ERA), but he often has problems throwing strikes when the pressure is really on.
Nick Cenatiempo (3.27 ERA in 33 IP) and Miguel Valcarcel (3.34 ERA in 35 IP) are the other "ace" relievers.
You will hear a lot of people talk about how good St. Johns' pitching staff is, but it's really not that good this year. Barnes and Brown are good enough to compete at an elite level, but if they don't get good starts out of those two, they are cooked.
This is the likely offense:
C: Daniel Benedetti (.368, 14 2B, .900 OPS)
1B: Gil Zayas (.262, 3 HR, 28 RBI, .694 OPS)
2B: Gino Matias (.294, 13 2B, 3 HR, 9/14 SB, .825 OPS)
SS: Jeff Grantham (.354, 2 HR, .933 OPS)
3B: Greg Hopkins (.306, 11 2B, 5 HR, .869 OPS)
LF: Carlos Del Rosario (.358, 13 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 1.002 OPS)
CF: Brian Kemp (.359, 5 3B, 1 HR, 16/21 SB, .926 OPS)
RF: Chris Anninos (.275, 14 2B, 12 HR, 11/14 SB, .889 OPS)
DH: Paul Karmas (.319, 17 2B, 3 HR, .832 OPS)
The offense has been fairly inconsistent all season. They don't have a standout hitter really, but they are solid from top to bottom and they can put up 10 runs in a hurry. Unfortunately, they're just as likely to score one or two in a game.
Brian Kemp is the key to the offense. He's a speedy centerfielder and leadoff hitter and St. John's has played most of the second half without him, but he came back last week.
Chris Anninos (from San Antonio's Reagan HS) is the best power hitter on the team. Zayas is a guy who hit over .350 last year, but he has struggled all season.
Defensively, St. John's is a solid team, especially for a northern club. They field at a .966 clip, although they had problems catching the ball in the Big East tournament.
To make a long story short, the regional is going to come down to Barnes and Brown for St. John's. Outside of those two, I don't think St. John's is as good as they were last year, but those two pitchers have the ability to beat anyone in the country.
I'm looking forward to a possible Barnes/Ruffin matchup on Friday.
