How is our Pitching Staff lining up?

[Collier11]

Is Shore the Ace or has one of the new guys stepped up? How is Gibson and Mayfield looking? Who is taking Erbens spot?

[Sooner11JK]

As of right now it's Shore, Rocha, B. Smith.

Mayfield will fill Erben's spot eventually. That's the plan. He won't be there as much early in the season as he will be playing SS and they don't want to wear him out.

Early in the season you may see Max White on the mound some to try to rest Mayfield. Once we get Bushyhead back and the conference schedule begins, you should see Mayfield settle into the role.

Haven't heard much about Gibson, which may not be a good thing.

Looks like Kindle Ladd and Jordan John will take the mound in the mid-week games early on.

Duke will be the closer, obviously, and Collazzo will be the LH specialist as well as a stopper.

[Collier11]

Is Burch Smith a Juco?

[bcolston15]

I don't think the rotation will look the same in April or May as it will in Februrary. If we want to get back to Omaha, Burch Smith needs to be a Friday guy, followed by Shore and Rocha.

[hvhurricane]

As of right now it's Shore, Rocha, B. Smith.

Mayfield will fill Erben's spot eventually. That's the plan. He won't be there as much early in the season as he will be playing SS and they don't want to wear him out.

Early in the season you may see Max White on the mound some to try to rest Mayfield. Once we get Bushyhead back and the conference schedule begins, you should see Mayfield settle into the role.

Haven't heard much about Gibson, which may not be a good thing.

Looks like Kindle Ladd and Jordan John will take the mound in the mid-week games early on.

Duke will be the closer, obviously, and Collazzo will be the LH specialist as well as a stopper.

I hope Mayfield can end up being the guy to replace Erben. However, I will be surprised if that role is not filled by committee early on and then a leader from there is picked.

Gibson really struggled against RH's last year, and if that hasn't changed, he is going to have problems getting innings.

John could be the X factor of the season. It will be interesting to see how he has progressed since his surgery.

I agree with Colston, though, as the top three never looks the same in Feb as it does in June. If OU is going to get back to Omaha, then Smith needs to be the ace.

[ou1883]

On Soonersports, it shows Rocha, Shore, Smith. Is that a mistake? Many on here say it will start Shore, Rocha, Smith. It's hard for me to trust that Rocha is going to be consistent throughout the year. I hope he pitches like he did at the end of last year.

I agree with the Burch Smith assessment if what everybody is saying is true. What are the pitches he throws from those in the know? Can't wait to see him pitch next weekend.

[bufsa]

" If we want to get back to Omaha, Burch Smith needs to be a Friday guy" ---- Why?

[IndySooner]

" If we want to get back to Omaha, Burch Smith needs to be a Friday guy" ---- Why?

Because neither Rocha or Shore has shown the consistency to be a Friday night guy.

[Gaius_Longinus]

Rocha was one of our best pitchers late last season.

[bufsa]

And Smith has? You haven't seen him above the JC level. Don't get me wrong I would love to see him go 16 and 0 with 150 K's. I think Shore is underrated. He was our winningest pitcher and all his wins were weekend wins. Shore had some bad innings that derailed some of his games but he never had a bad game. He didn't have a game that they hit him all game just a bad inning that would ruin it for him. The meltdown in the CWS I think there is more that we don't know. No pitcher at the D1 level especialy playing at the level of OU all of a sudden just can't even lob a ball across the plate to someone trying to bunt. Rocha, depending on if he is able to continue his progress will be tough as well. I would love to see Smith be our Friday guy because he turns out that good but don't doubt the ability of our other pitchers. We score some runs early we will be hard to beat.

[newsooner10]

Did anyone make it out to practice this weekend and has a report on who did what.

[IndySooner]

No, but we're saying that we NEED him to be that guy if we're going to get there. I'd love to think that Rocha will be the guy that he was at the end of the year, and maybe he will, but at this point I think that's a "wait and see" proposition.

I don't think anyone is saying that Burch Smith WILL be that guy. We're saying that we need him to.

[bcolston15]

" If we want to get back to Omaha, Burch Smith needs to be a Friday guy" ---- Why?

Pretty simple, really. I want my most talented pitcher throwing in the top spot. By any measure, Smith is that guy.

SG wants to give Shore and Rocha a fair shot--heck maybe more than a fair shot-- to pitch on Friday, but ultimately I think Smith will be too good to ignore.

[rysooner]

Agree with Colston, May/June rotation probably won't look the same as Feb/March rotation. May be the same guys, but the order is subject to change depending on how they react and produce.

Mid-week guys, to me, can be a key also because they are just one pitch -read injury - away from being a weekend guy. If you've got a consistent guy mid-week that you can plug in for a few productive weekend starts should the need arise, that's a big plus.

[Battersbox]

Practice this weekend: Bobby Shore and Rocha looked good and Freshman Dillon Overton earned the start in game 4 vs William & Mary. Sunday Jordan John went agianst the starting line up and gave up one run in 5IP. I think John will be a big factor from the left side this season

[bcolston15]

I still believe by April it'll be Smith, Shore and John on the weekends. I don't trust Rocha. I want him to prove me wrong, I really do, he just hasn't done enough to convince me yet.

I'll admit predicting Jordan John as the Sunday starter is out of left field, sort of, but he had a nice fall and I know SG would love a lefty in the rotation.

[rysooner]

Sunny just announced that this weekend would be Rocha, Shore, Smith and Overton.