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I think Jones and Smith are solid locks for the right side of the infield. Bell is a better 3B than a SS, and the team played better with him there after Romero went down last year. But I think he's more of an utility IF than anything. I would like to see Jake Rodriguez take over 3B and Brian Stamps at SS. But that would mean that Rodriguez was ready to go at this level.

Susac is going to be an awesome C this year, and Berberet is a solid back-up. Berberet can also step in as DH or a back-up 1B if needed, but Danny Hayes fills that role much better. And Boyd should be considered as a DH as well. The only way I see Berberet getting time there is if Boyd takes RF as a regular role while not pitching.

The outfield should be a lot better this year. We get two interesting JUCO transfers in Montgomery and Johnson. Johnson has some power, but Montgomery is the one who excites me. Nash is back from his mission. I fully expect him to be in the OF. So who fills in any open spots? Is Poyer going to get back to his roots? Is Boyd going to take over in RF? Are there any frosh who might take a role in the OF?

Pitching is going to be good this year. I think Gaviglio and Osich will return to be the players they were two years ago. I would really like to see Boyd as the closer, but there could be some competition from frosh Adam Duke there. I think the star is going to be Ben Wetzler though. I have liked this kid for a long time, and he has only become better and better over that time. Throw Zarosinski in the mix, and we're looking a deep staff.

I agree with most of what you said. However, I heard Carter Bell had gotten a lot better since last season at the plate with him playing for Team Canada in the World Championships. I sure hope he carries it over to this season. I think he will start at 3B this season. I'm excited to see Andrew Susac this year, he came on last season and had a good summer. He should be big this year. Despite losing Santos and Romero, I think OSU will be a much better team this year. They got a real shot with the schedule to get real hot in the non conference and gain a lot of confidence heading into Pac 10 play and maybe give UCLA a challenger for a Pac 10 title.

It still is nice that Baseball starts playing games right around the corner. At least there's an OSU team that's actually good.

This season the goal has to be host a regional. it's tough going on the road for regionals. As long as the Beavers don't have that 3 or 4 week lull like they have had last 2 years they have a decent shot to host a regional.

I was never sold on Romero to tell the truth. I liked Bell there last year to end the year. I think he's the standard for Rodriguez to beat if he wants that job, but it's a tough standard to beat. I would be happy with either because I like Bell's progression from late last year on, and someone better is just gravy.

I will also be happy if Norris and Miller are not the standards for the OF. Norris was serviceable, but Nash and the JUCO kids should all beat him out handily. I've always thought Boyd would make an outstanding RF or 3B with his arm, but I don't know a) how his fielding corresponds and b) if Casey would risk him as a positional player with his value as a pitcher. Dylan Jones and Danny Hayes are just naturals at whatever position they play, so they need to be in the mix as well.

If it wasn't for the 12 game skid that started with bad base running late against UCLA in the first game of the series, last year's team would have been a little better.

Duh?

I think last year's team was truly about a 37-16 team instead of the 31-22 they finished with... Not quite good enough to host a regional, but good enough to make it out of one. That UCLA loss just blew their confidence for the next couple weeks. I was more than a little upset during that span.

I agree, Nash and JUCO kids should be the starting OF.

Boyd being a 3B is sort of impossible. He's a left hander and I don't think I've ever seen a lefty in the infield somewhere other than 1B. I'd like to see Boyd as a DH myself. Kid has some pop and Dylan Jones is a pretty good 1B so I imagine that's where he'll be. I think DH probably comes down to Boyd and Norris. Norris will probably get a spot start at RF every now and then.

I think this year's team won't have that stretch like in years previous where they run into an awful stretch of games where they can't buy a win. I look at this year's team and they are a more complete team and could win 40 games, thanks in part to the somewhat soft non conference slate.

I didn't even think about Boyd being a leftie. That would make his fielding not correspond to anything but 1B eh? I think he'll be strictly a pitcher anyway.

I don't see Norris getting much time other than spot duty in the OF. I think Berberet and Boyd line up behind Danny Hayes at DH. I expect a lot from Hayes this year. He was pretty good for a frosh last year. I think he can learn to drive with power and be a major factor in the four spot with someone like Susac behind him. In fact, I really like the prospects for this year's line-up:

1. Montgomery
2. Stamps
3. Jones
4. Hayes
5. Susac
6. Nash
7. Bell
8. Johnson
9. Smith

And, of course, I'm hoping Rodriguez (and/or Poyer) cracks the line-up this year.

I forgot that we get Starr back this year too. I hope the rehab went well.