Rippee Writes: Monday Scoop
Sweeps, record starts and March Madness
Happy Monday. We’ve got a new podcast out as Collin Brister and I somehow managed to talk Ole Miss Baseball for two hours on a special edition of a Mailbag Sunday podcast. Check it out here, Spotify or elsewhere. Naturally, this will be a pretty baseball-centric newsletter, but we will hit some other stuff too.
Let’s dive in:
Ole Miss sweeps Alabama
After demolishing the state of Alabama the last two weekends, Ole Miss is 6-0 in the SEC and is off to its best start in conference play since 1969 (nice). Who could forget that 1969 team. I remember it like it was yesterday. Did they use wood or aluminum back then? Anyway, here are some thoughts and notes I jotted down after an incredibly impressive sweep by the Rebels.
If this team ends up reaching its full potential and accomplishes what many think they’re capable of, the game one win over Alabama is potentially a moment you’ll point back to as evidence for just how special this team was. Ole Miss was horrendous offensively for eight innings. The approach was poor, the Rebels swung at bad pitches and made life pretty easy for Alabama starter Tyler Ras, who was fine, but benefitted from Ole Miss’ hyper-aggression at the plate. Gunnar Hoglund got dinged for a couple solo shots on a first pitch fastballs that looked like scouting report home runs more than they were terrible pitches. Not much was going right, and at 3-1 in the top of the ninth, it seemed like it just wasn’t their day. A Peyton Chatagnier bomb on a hanging breaking ball and a couple singles later, Ole Miss completely flipped the script with an eight-run inning and stole the game. Imagine how demoralizing it must have been for Alabama to lose like that and then have to face Doug Nikhazy an hour later. That ninth inning was as impressive a frame as the Rebels have had all year. This is a relentless bunch.
Taylor Broadway recorded two saves on Friday. Ole Miss tried to hold him in game one, but Tyler Myers just kind of ran out of gas, things got squirrelly in the ninth and Mike Bianco was taking no chances. I am not sure if Broadway getting hot, throwing 11 in-game pitches, sitting down, getting hot again and throwing again is in one day is the greatest idea from an arm-health standpoint, but it was pretty damn impressive watching him hum 95 past hitters for his second save in three hours. He’s a tough guy and a tremendous weapon.
Doug Nikhazy looked like Doug Nikhazy in his first start back from a chest strain. The velocity was good, the command was better and he struck out seven in five shutout innings. Bianco pulled him after 78 pitches and was wise to do so considering he has the Drew McDaniel Insurance Package. The only thing missing in this Nikhazy start was his remarkable knack for economically plowing through seven innings and turning it straight to the closer. Again, there was no reason to let him go up toward 100 pitches fresh off an injury. But that length will return soon. I am certain of it.
Speaking of McDaniel, we talked a lot last week about his immense value as a high-leverage reliever and a long-relief option out of the bullpen. As good as Nikhazy was, Alabama starter Dylan Smith was even better. Ole Miss won game two because it had a Drew McDaniel and the Crimson Tide did not. It is as simple as that. His three scoreless frames bridged the game to Broadway in the ninth, who slammed the door again.
I mentioned Ole Miss gifting outs to the game one starter, Ras. Conversely, in game two, I thought Smith for Alabama was terrific. He was aggressive, crafty and attacked Ole Miss for six innings. If the Tide get projected first-rounder Connor Prielipp back, their rotation is going to be really good. But anyway, Ole Miss won a tough pitcher’s duel in the second game. Alabama pitched it well and the Rebels simply outlasted them late. T.J. McCants’ home run in the 8th was huge. His offensive production raises this team’s ceiling, along with his outfield defense.
Derek Diamond’s outing sort of just seemed like a ho hum six innings of three-run ball in the finale. It’s strange evaluating Diamond because you would take that stat line 11 times out of 10 from your Sunday guy, but Diamond isn’t your typical Sunday guy. He throws 93-95 with good breaking stuff and has the potential to anchor the rotation in 2022. If Ole Miss had gotten this start from Sam Smith circa 2014, everyone would be elated. Same with Will Stokes or anyone who’s been in that role since. But with Diamond, the talent is so visible, it changes the way we evaluate his performances. This is also likely an indication of just how good this team could potentially end up being. He didn’t have his best stuff on Saturday, but the outing a a whole was rock solid.
Remember discussing a month ago whether Tim Elko could be the guy Ole Miss needed him to be in the middle of the order? While totally valid at the time, it seems silly now. His three-run double on Saturday sparked the offense and his home run added the knockout blow. He’s now slugging .699 with an OPS of 1.172. That’ll work.
Peyton Chatagnier played all three games while appearing physically compromised with that lingering hamstring issue. Ole Miss doesn’t win game one without him. Alabama couldn’t find a way to get him out. But this is something to monitor going forward because hamstring injuries stick around for a while. He didn’t play in the midweek last week and I’d be surprised if he did this week. Ole Miss needs him healthy. Just something to monitor going forward.
Hayden Dunhurst DH-ed the final game because of a thumb issue. That’s not great news. Ole Miss needs him behind the plate. It may not be serious, but keep an eye out this weekend in Gainesville.
John Rhys Plumlee started in right field in the finale. He thumped an RBI double and went 2-2 with a walk. Are we about to start seeing more of Plumlee? Hayden Leatherwood is struggling at the plate and he’s not in right field because of his defensive wizardry. He’s out there to hit. If Leatherwood continues to struggle, wouldn’t it make more sense to go with Plumlee? You’re getting better defense, and as of right now, better offensive production from the pianist-turned-quarterback, so why not play him? I don’t think Leatherwood should be cast aside and benched per se, but if he continues to struggle at the plate, I wouldn’t be shocked if Plumlee drew more starts. Leatherwood can also DH if he gets it going again. That slot is far from settled.
Sweeping on the road is huge in this league. The importance of Ole Miss’ 6-0 start cannot be overstated. Think about it like this: if the Rebels play .500 ball the rest of the way they’ll finish 18-12 in the SEC. That’s a lock for a national seed and seems more than doable with the way they’re playing — and the fact that the West is looking more watered down than we thought (A&M, LSU and Auburn are not good). A big week lies ahead with a trip to Gainesville.
Same deal still going from last week at LBs. Free pound of spicy ribeye sausage and $10 prime strips. Just show the original promo code or the automated email you got upon subscribing. Go see Greg. He will take care of you.
Around the SEC:
If you listen to the podcast, Collin clipped me on our SEC series picks. This will likely be a recurring thing. Some thoughts.
Florida got swept at South Carolina. Was it a bad weekend or are the Gators not as good as we thought? I guess we will find out soon.
Who had Tennessee and Kentucky tied with Vanderbilt atop the East after two weekends? Not I.
Vanderbilt is incredibly good. Missouri is incredibly bad.
Arkansas swept State. I think both teams are really good and will be in the mix in June, but that is one hell of statement by the Razorbacks. For State, the Bulldogs will be fine, but that puts a serious dent in their chances of winning the West.
LSU is not good. This is not a “the Tigers will find themselves in May and figure it out,” thing in my opinion. I think they have little pitching depth and don’t hit well enough to overcome it. Swept at Tennessee over the weekend, this might be a rough year for the Tigers.
Horschel wins the match play:
The Dell Match play is one of my favorite events on Tour. It’s something different and seems to bring out a more extroverted competitiveness from the players. Horschel also won it with a cold blooded shank earlier in the week, so he really is The People’s Champion.
Wind is up and pressure only rises on Sunday. Victor Perez is 1UP after Billy Horschel's struggles at No. 6. #QuickHits
Joel Dahmen won the other Tour event this week in the Dominican Republic. I always find the alternate site events interesting just because the odds of someone’s life changing are greater than a World Golf Championship consisting of the top ranked players in the world who are already exempt from everything and incredibly wealthy. Dahmen seems like a cool story. It was a fun finish.
March Madness didn’t disappoint:
It was an awesome weekend of hoops with four more games to come in the net two days. Here’s a couple quick thoughts.
Damn, it really may be Gonzaga and everyone else. Creighton is really good and didn’t offer a challenge.
Michigan dominating Florida State might be the most shocking result of the Tournament to me that isn’t an obvious upset. I did not see that coming at all and had the Seminoles in the Final Four.
The Houston Cougars have a chance to get to a Final Four without playing a single digit seed. Talk about a fortuitous path.
Mick Cronin is headed to an elite eight in what has been a terrific tournament for the PAC 12. Three of the eight teams left are in the PAC 12 USC is also really good and Oregon State is becoming quite the story.
Speaking of, March Madness is winding down. Go see my friends at SkyBox Sports Picks and take full advantage of the best college hoops of the year. Use my promo code for a discount.
On the Horizon:
A new LBs deal, perhaps? We will have to see what Greg has going on.
At least one more podcast. We’ve got another Thursday-Saturday series so I need to figure that out, along with Easter travel plans. But Collin and I will have something out for the Florida series for sure. What the rest of the week looks like, I do not know yet stay tuned.
Four more newsletters with Ole Miss, golf, hoops and whatever else comes up.
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