Now is the time when Shocker fans need to be reminded that Noah Booth signed late in the summer. He was originally planning on going to a junior college. When the draft opened up spots, WSU lured him away and Booth became an immediate contributor and one of the program’s best relievers.
Neither Creighton nor Nebraska got on Conor Gillaspie quickly enough during his senior season. By the time they did, WSU had him. Current Shocker Ryan Engrav, a hitter the coaches have high hopes for, signed with a junior college. When the 2007 draft took three recruits, WSU landed Engrav.
So there are good players still available. Some are late bloomers. Some did not get drafted as high as expected and now are looking for a home. Some are headed to a junior college and open to a home at a good Division I school. WSU coaches are always mindful that the draft can change their roster unexpectedly. They are prepared to keep looking.
Losing infielder Logan Watkins is a big problem, mostly because his loss is stacked up with those from last spring. WSU could probably afforded to lose a pitcher from this recruiting class over a position player. Losing infielders Pete Kozma and Jon Gilmore and catcher Derek Norris wasn’t fatal this season because WSU had plenty of depth. In 2009, that will be a different story. All four would likely be starting if they had gone to college. That is a significant talent drain.
If nothing else, Watkins’ signing with the Cubs should tell us we don’t know nothin’ about the draft. Nothing is a sure thing until the Aug. 15 signing deadline. If there’s a Noah Booth who can play the infield out there, the Shockers need to find him. Even if sophomore Kyle Sisney can handle second, depth all over the infield is an issue.
2 Comments
Paul,
You seem like an intelligent person, not like Lutz the Putz. And yet you are so bleak in your forecast for the Shockers based on, what? Watkins NOT coming to WSU? Where is THAT coming from? Where are all of these holes in the infield? Coleman will be back at SS; McKeever, for one, can play 1st base; Muncrief or Grimes (?) on 3rd; Lassley or Kemp, etc. can catch. That leaves 2nd base for Sisney or whomever proves themselves in the Fall. Isn’t it interesting that Kemp is on a tear this Summer, hitting 4 or 5 homeruns so far (not bad for a pitcher)? If I were you, I’d be asking myself why he was under-utilized last season. I think it’s great that we have so many players who can play more than one position. Engrav’s doing just fine and Mike Williams with the El Dorado Broncos, don’t get me started…. Everyone wants to talk about the Wichita Sluggers because they have so many WSU recruits on the team, but, HELLO!, they’re not winning, even with all of that talent! I have the utmost confidence in next year’s team, provided that the coaches don’t pigeonhole the players. Have some faith, man….
It’s all we can ask for.
My forecast isn’t bleak. However, losing a talent like Watkins is a blow no matter how you look at it. He was going to start at second and bat leadoff for three seasons.