The conversation around the baseball program and Mike Bianco has become interestingly complex - the highest of highs the lowest of lows and lots in between. There are lots of great things the program does and lots of perceivably basic things it doesn't. In all, we are looking at no extension, 3 years left of the contract, and another year of the seemingly endless Bianco discussion.
But before getting into that, this team was special in some ways. It was a much needed season for a program that had lost pretty much all its swagger after an elite run from 2014-2022. That's what 16th out of 16 SEC record over two years will do. Elliott bouncing back from injury; the emergence of Morris, Furniss, Utermark, and Hill; the portal smash hits of Fawley, Humphries, Samford and hit with McCausland. More than that though, they had some character. There were more than a few opportunities to lay down, but they really never did. It's easy to pull for teams like that even with their flaws (and there were many). But the team leaders that stepped up deserve some praise, especially after the high profile defections. They got some respect back for the program and hopefully that will spring board into next season.
Because of that makeup, I think a lot of fans ultimately enjoyed the ride. You did see the national championship success have a positive impact on the crowd in my opinion as the anxious energy of past post seasons seemed completely replaced with an electric, positive crowd. The 5 * 12,000 fan crowds were a lot of fun to see and a nice reminder of what high-end baseball in Oxford is like after 3 years off. It's hard to imagine anyone looking at that and taking it for granted.
I've been wrong plenty of times before, but I also think there is a lot to look forward to if they can get some key guys to come back AND have another great portal class. Hopefully, they will be building around Elliott, Utermark, Furniss (DH), Fawley, Smithwick, Hooks, Townsend, etc.
In that regard, they have got to get better at run prevention next year. The goal should be to keep the offense in the top 5 of the league where it was this year but also get the pitching and defense squarely in that second tier. The offense and the offensive approach would have been more than fine if the run prevention was there. I think Utermark can stick at 2B and Fawley at C, but you likely need a new 3b, SS, 1B, and entire outfield - guys that can swing the stick but also hold their position at this level. Next, you need to lock down Elliott and then go get some more premium pitching for next year, and based on how they have spent their money in prior years that would appear to mean some great evaluations by Mangrum. They also really need Townsend and Hooks to develop.
All that said, I do think not extending the contracts is the right move. There needs to continue to be a sense of urgency to get back to CWS caliber baseball. If there is a setback next year in competing, then you will have to reevaluate what type of setup is best for the program in this era. However, the season does push that off to another day and allow the program to focus on having a great offseason.
But before getting into that, this team was special in some ways. It was a much needed season for a program that had lost pretty much all its swagger after an elite run from 2014-2022. That's what 16th out of 16 SEC record over two years will do. Elliott bouncing back from injury; the emergence of Morris, Furniss, Utermark, and Hill; the portal smash hits of Fawley, Humphries, Samford and hit with McCausland. More than that though, they had some character. There were more than a few opportunities to lay down, but they really never did. It's easy to pull for teams like that even with their flaws (and there were many). But the team leaders that stepped up deserve some praise, especially after the high profile defections. They got some respect back for the program and hopefully that will spring board into next season.
Because of that makeup, I think a lot of fans ultimately enjoyed the ride. You did see the national championship success have a positive impact on the crowd in my opinion as the anxious energy of past post seasons seemed completely replaced with an electric, positive crowd. The 5 * 12,000 fan crowds were a lot of fun to see and a nice reminder of what high-end baseball in Oxford is like after 3 years off. It's hard to imagine anyone looking at that and taking it for granted.
I've been wrong plenty of times before, but I also think there is a lot to look forward to if they can get some key guys to come back AND have another great portal class. Hopefully, they will be building around Elliott, Utermark, Furniss (DH), Fawley, Smithwick, Hooks, Townsend, etc.
In that regard, they have got to get better at run prevention next year. The goal should be to keep the offense in the top 5 of the league where it was this year but also get the pitching and defense squarely in that second tier. The offense and the offensive approach would have been more than fine if the run prevention was there. I think Utermark can stick at 2B and Fawley at C, but you likely need a new 3b, SS, 1B, and entire outfield - guys that can swing the stick but also hold their position at this level. Next, you need to lock down Elliott and then go get some more premium pitching for next year, and based on how they have spent their money in prior years that would appear to mean some great evaluations by Mangrum. They also really need Townsend and Hooks to develop.
All that said, I do think not extending the contracts is the right move. There needs to continue to be a sense of urgency to get back to CWS caliber baseball. If there is a setback next year in competing, then you will have to reevaluate what type of setup is best for the program in this era. However, the season does push that off to another day and allow the program to focus on having a great offseason.
