Look Back, Look Ahead: Improved depth fuels USC; Rivalry week ahead
While the competition will soon get stiffer with two major Palmetto State foes on the docket this week and the start of SEC play in 18 days, the first eight games of the 2016 season have showcased South Carolina’s superior depth compared to last season.
Chad Holbrook enjoys the luxury of multiple candidates at each of the eight regular positions (besides pitcher, of course). Only two players have started all eight games at the same spot – left fielder Dom Thompson Williams and third baseman Jonah Bride. Three different players have started in center field and five different hitters have batted leadoff.
“Like I’ve always said, I have 13 or 14 guys and there is not much separation,” Holbrook said Saturday. “We’re getting contributions from a lot of different people. It’s tough to settle on a lineup. At some point, I’m going to have to get a little more consistent with my rotations. Right now, I’m just giving guys opportunities to see what they can do.
“I’m learning about these guys too. This is the first time I’ve been able to see a number of them in competition wearing a South Carolina uniform. The more opportunities I give, the more knowledge I’ll have as far as the team I need to put on the field as we get closer to conference play.”
No position exemplifies the upgrade over last season more than catcher. Both JUCO transfer John Jones (.593) and freshman Chris Cullen (.350) are off to sizzling starts, both offensively and defensively. Sophomore Hunter Taylor, who took over at catcher in the latter stages last season, is now the No. 3 catcher.
“Catching is one of the strengths of our team,” Holbrook said. “Jones and Cullen are very gifted, but very different. Jones is a gifted hitter and puts his heart and soul into every pitch when he is behind the plate. He does a great job back there.”
Jones put together arguably one of the greatest weekends at the plate in school history in USC’s sweep over Penn State. He reached base in all 14 plate appearances and batted 1.000 (8-for-8) with six walks for an OBP of 1.000 as well. Jones’ slugging percentage for the weekend was 1.750.
In records dating back to 1997, Jones is the only Gamecock in school history to start three games in a series and put up a 1.000 OBP, besting the previous mark of .875 set by Christian Walker in 2011 at Mississippi State as well as Walker’s .909 batting average (10-for-11). Jones’ six walks tied for the most by a Gamecock in a series since Scott Wingo’s six walks vs. Brown in 2010.
By early Monday afternoon, the awards began pouring in for Jones. Collegiate Baseball named him the National Player of the Week.
“He has had an incredible run,” Holbrook said Sunday after USC completed a three-game sweep over Penn State. “He is looking at the ball very well and he is very patient. If they don’t throw the ball in there, he will take (the pitch).
“He will take his walks and set the table for someone else. He is a match-up issue for the opponent because he is a switch-hitter. He is a big physical guy that works hard in the weight room. He loves to hit. He has great knowledge and a great approach up there.”
Cullen, meanwhile, is already drawing comparisons to former Gamecock great Greyson Greiner for his defensive prowess and powerful throwing arm behind the plate.
“He is a very gifted catcher defensively and a darn good hitter ad well,” Holbrook said. “We have a few aspects of our team that are strengths that maybe weren’t so last year, and that is certainly one of them.”
After weekend sweeps over Albany and Penn State and single game wins over Appalachian State and Winthrop, the Gamecocks will be tested this week with a road game at The Citadel and the annual three-game Palmetto State showdown series against Clemson beginning Friday night at Founders Park.
“I’m anxious to get on the bus on Tuesday and go play The Citadel,” Holbrook said. “It’s always a great environment down there and we’re supposed to have great weather. I’m interested in seeing how our guys react to playing on the road. It’s always a big game.”
NOTES:
-- The Gamecocks announced Monday freshman Adam Hill (1-0) will start Tuesday night’s road contest in Charleston against The Citadel. Hill worked 6.0 innings in last week’s 5-0 win over Appalachian State, allowing just two hits and no runs while fanning 11 Mountaineer batters. “Adam is throwing the ball extremely well,” Holbrook said. “He gives us a very good chance on the road. But it will be his first road game too as a freshman, so I’m interested in seeing how he reacts.”
-- The Gamecocks are ranked No. 13 in the latest D1Baseball.com poll. Contrastly, they are unranked in the Baseball America poll.
-- The Gamecock bullpen allowed only seven hits and four runs with 11 strikeouts and six walks in a combined 10.1 innings pitched against Penn State. The best performances were turned in by Colie Bowers (6 strikeouts in 2.0 IP on Friday) and Reed Scott (3.1 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, retired 9 of 10 batters he faced on Sunday). “Our bullpen has some depth and we have different arm angles and different sides in terms of right and left,” Holbrook said. “That is encouraging.”
-- Overall, the Gamecock pitching staff continues to succeed, allowing eight runs (six earned) on 19 hits with 28 strikeouts in 27.0 innings vs. Penn State. The South Carolina pitching staff owns a team ERA of 1.50, best among SEC schools. Opponents are batting just .170 (43-253) against USC hurlers in eight games. The Gamecocks have 10+ strikeouts in five of the eight games. In addition, the Gamecocks have allowed four hits or less in five of eight games, and five runs or less in all eight games. “Right now, I feel good about our pitching staff,” Holbrook said. “We’re sitting here 8-0 and we’ve thrown the ball very well. Our numbers are good. Our starters have not been extended. It has been a group effort.”
-- After a slow start offensively, D.C. Arendas had four hits in the final two games against Penn State, including 2-for-2 with a walk in Sunday’s win. Arendas has a .429 on-base percentage in the first eight games. “He has the respect of everybody in our locker room,” Holbrook said. “He plays great defense. He is a steadying influence on our team. He is a guy that helps you win. He makes our team more formidable when he is swinging the bat. Defensively, I want the ball hit to him because he will make just about every play.”
-- Freshman L.T. Tolbert started at three different positions during the Penn State series – first base, second base and shortstop. “I have the utmost confidence in him (regardless of which position he plays),” Holbrook said. “He will handle himself fine.” Tolbert started at shortstop Sunday in place of an injured Marcus Mooney (hamstring), who sat out as a precautionary measure, Holbrook said.
-- Friday starter Clarke Schmidt is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA and has a team-high 14 strikeouts and 13.0 innings pitched. Opponents are batting .100 against him as he has allowed just one run on four hits in two starts. His opposing batting average is fourth-best in the SEC with a seventh-best ERA.
-- Third baseman Jonah Bride is second on the team behind Jones in hitting (.364 average) with a team-high 13 runs scored. Bride is second behind Jones with a .600 on-base percentage and has walked six times with seven hit by pitches. Bride leads the SEC in hit by pitch, tied for third in runs scored and tied for fifth in on-base percentage.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Feb. 23 vs. Appalachian State, W 5-0
Feb. 24 vs. Winthrop, W 16-4
Feb. 26 vs. Penn State, W 7-1
Feb. 27 vs. Penn State, W 16-5
Feb. 28 vs. Penn State, W 4-2
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Tuesday at The Citadel – 7 p.m.
Friday vs. Clemson – 7 p.m.
Saturday vs. Clemson (at Fluor Field, Greenville) – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday at Clemson – 2 p.m.
