Well, I finally reached the breaking point in my trip to the College World Series. No I’m not tired of eating out or sleeping in a hotel room, but I did run out of clean pants and had to make a trip to the hotel’s laundry room. To kill the time, I took some questions on Twitter, and here are some of the highlights.
I would start Smith and have Cole Gordon ready for long relief. https://t.co/BpI53wj20e
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
If MSU escapes Louisville later today, the Bulldogs will have the tall task of not only beating Vanderbilt, but doing so without one of their weekend rotation pitchers. That will likely fall to Brandon Smith, who drew a couple of midweek starts and one in the SEC Tournament, where he pitched five solid innings against LSU. If I were Chris Lemonis, I would do everything in my power to not pitch Cole Gordon on Thursday, and see if he could give you a 3-4 inning relief stint. That’s State’s best bet against the Commodores.
State goes out tomorrow, I think. https://t.co/HKBK3USKi6
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
That said, it feels like too tall a mountain to climb for the Bulldogs. State hasn’t beaten Vandy yet this season, and the Commodores will have plenty of arms to throw at MSU. If Small and Plumlee couldn’t get the job done, I find it difficult to believe Smith and the bullpen can. I think the Bulldogs head home after Friday night.
That is a good question. I honestly think I’d pick football. https://t.co/6TTFLtWGGd
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
I like this question, because it really does make you think about what would be best for MSU. Winning a national title across all sports would be great publicity and would reward a lot of deserving athletes and coaches, but at the end of the day, football makes the world go round. Look at how Clemson has changed since they became a football power, and then ask yourself what other sports are they winning titles in? The university would be best served by a dominant football team, that tide raises all ships.
If he had beaten Liberty I would say no, but that’s a game MSU should have won. https://t.co/Gja7kFSNGD
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
Another good question here, and a tough one for sure, I think it’s a really close yes based on the NCAA Tournament. State was a top 25 team in the NET Rankings all season long, and they played well down the stretch. It was only in the final game that I felt the Bulldogs played down to their competition and gave the game away. Even going out in the second round would have been a tremendous season, but that Liberty game makes it a yes for me.
8 might be the number. All depends on the offense. https://t.co/BXflV3fxUI
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
Let’s just break down the MSU schedule. All four non-conference games are winnable, State should be a favorite over Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Kentucky, so there is seven. Can the Bulldogs win one of the remaining five? I think so, with the Tennessee game being the likely answer as we sit here in June. That would be an outstanding second season for Joe Moorhead, one that would spark the fanbase into getting behind him in a big way.
Don’t do it if you can’t separate being a fan and being objective. https://t.co/0443g5xttI
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
This is something I cannot stress enough. I have taken a lot of heat through my years in podcasting and now with SportsTalk Mississippi about being overly negative from MSU fans. The fact of the matter is I don’t believe my job is to tell you what you want to hear, but to tell you the truth about what I think. I’m not always right, if I was, I’d make a lot more money. But whatever you read here or hear me say, you know it’s what I honestly believe, and that’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows.
What is this, a joke? https://t.co/eVfzsUlxzV
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) June 20, 2019
Don’t ever challenge me to an eating contest. It will end poorly for you.
Thanks for the questions, we’ll do it again soon!
