The Empty Keg

Well, we’re about a month away from the start of the USF Baseball Season.  Last season the Bulls made strides in Coach Lelo Prado’s first year with the team.  After an off season which had players being drafted, players being cut from USF, and players just leaving the program, what exactly do we have for 2008?  What can we expect and who can we expect it from?  I think there might be more questions going into Year 2 of the Prado Regime than there were a season ago.  Therefore no standings predictions for the Big East until I see some of these new kids and what they can do.  There are so many new players this year, that its kind of hard to even announce who the starters will be.  This is my take at the Pitching Rotation the Bulls will send out against Indiana State and the rest of the ‘08 schedule.  My Position Players summary will come out later.  Big change this year with the additional mid week game, so therefore starting pitching will be at a premium as the Bulls will play roughly 5 games per week instead of 4.  Basically a 6 man rotation is needed just in case of injury.  Also, the lack of depth in the bullpen really makes it hard to predict what each person’s role will be aside from Sanford.  I could be way off with some of these but thats OK, I had to start somewhere.  Go Bulls!!   

Starting Pitchers

Daniel Thomas, Jr.-  Most likely our Number 1 (Friday) starter for ‘08.  Last year was a Sunday starter.               

Matt Quevedo, Soph-  Most likely our Number 2 (Saturday) starter for ‘08.  Last year was a Mid Week starter.    

Zach Pietrzyk, Fr-  Great career HS numbers, and can eat innings.  Guessing he’ll be the Sunday starter.                

Stephen Hunt, Fr-  Could figure in as a Sunday starter if Bulls need a Lefty.  17th Round Selection by Oakland.   

Teddy Kaufman, Soph-  Possible Sunday/Midweek Starter and another Left Hander.                                               

Michael Anzivino, Fr-  Possible Midweek Starter.  Solid HS record and ERA.                            

 Relief Pitchers

Shawn Sanford, Fr-  Team’s most consistent pitcher will be the Closer again in ‘08.                                                     

David Torcise, Sr-  My best guess is that he’ll be the Setup guy and Situational LHP in the latter innings.                

Andrew Salgueiro, Jr-  Another guess here, but I’ll say he’s the RHP used for Setup in the 7th and 8th.      

Matt Stull, R Fr-  I’ll say he’s used in early relief, somewhere around the 5th and 6th innings.                                 

Derrick Stultz, Fr-  Middle relief to be used primarily in the 5th and 6th.                                                                        

Juan Carlin, Fr-  Another Left Hander out of the pen to be used in the middle innings.                                               

Kyle Eastham, Fr-  Possible Long man out of the pen.                                                                                                         

Kevin Quackenbush, Fr-  Another possible candidate for Long Man.                                                                               

Randy Fontanez, Fr-  Not much known about him, so I’ll say possible Redshirt.                                                         

Doub Wagner, Fr- Another possible Redshirt candidate here.   

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Here is my Heisman balot………….if I had a balot.

1.  Tim Tebow

2.  George Selvie

3.  Darren McFadden

I don’t want to give it to Tebow, but I honestly think he’s done more than anyone else.  Considering he’s done something that nobody in the history of football has done has to earn him some brownie points, doesn’t it?  Once he made it to 20/20 status his campaign began to take shape, and everyone else fell by the wayside.  I don’t even think there is a close number 2, unless you include Defensive players.  I used to have a great respect for the Heisman, but the more I think about it, its just a popularity contest.  The most deserving player doesn’t always win, and how can they when they don’t even consider Defensive players most years?  It goes back to when Paul Hornung won the award over Jim Brown in the late 50s.  I read that the late Dick Schaap gave up his balot after this year when Hornung won it.  Can you imagine, say if Brian Brohm won it this year?  Louisville had a similar season to Hornung’s year.  I guess some things have gotten better with time about the Heisman, but it still has flaws in my eyes……….   

Just writing the first blog to see how it appears on the page.  So I guess you’d call it a test.  Please leave a comment if you’re reading………Go Bulls!!  

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