In case you missed it on Tuesday, there was a baseball game played in a town called "Panthersville" between Georgia State and Georgia Tech. The final score ended up being 4-2, and was the type of game that in the last two seasons (2021, 2019) this program would have lost.
Going into the season, it was clear that the team in Navy and Gold (and white) would go as far as pitching would take them.
On Tuesday, the pitching led the way in what felt like the first real "off" game for the bats. Five hits, five walks, and a total of 13 K is not the best combination.
Other than the pitcher in the 8th inning, each arm Danny put out there was effective, efficient, and challenged Georgia State hitters in the strike zone time and time again.
Let's get to some takeaways from the game, and where the team goes from here as they head into their first real test of the season in a three-game, three-location matchup against undefeated UGA.
GEORGIA TECH HAS A CLOSER
9 games into the season, it feels like Georgia Tech had a plan for the back of the bullpen in 2022.
Luke Bartnicki, the lefty that closed several games in 2021, would get the first chance to show that he has the ability to finish games.
He’d have the chance to showcase his renewed overall control and command of the strike zone, as well as a new pitch he’d been working on.
If that didn’t work, Tech seemed to be prepared, with Dawson Brown ready and waiting in the shadows.
Brown has made the most of his appearances thus far this season, and on Tuesday he added his third save of the young season.
Brown has shown that he does not have it “all” together yet, but time and time again in big spots, he’s missing bats when he needs to most.
Figuring out the rest of the late innings (6th, 7th, 8th) will be a big next step, but the continuous question about the closer appears to have been answered.
KEVIN PARADA'S HOT STREAK CONTINUES
Last year when coming out of the gates as hot as anyone in the country, it became clear just how much Georgia Tech had lucked out after the shortened 2020 draft helped allow them to get Parada on campus.
As hot as he was to begin last season, he’s at an entirely different level right now.
As hot as he was to begin last season, he’s at an entirely different level right now.
Heading into the weekend series against UGA, Parada is leading the team in HR (6) and RBI (20) but his progression has been about more than just the bat.
Parada has also taken the next step behind the plate, which is something MLB scouts had many questions about coming into this season. Parada looks more comfortable back there, throwing out runners at a much higher rate than last season, while also doing a better job receiving and framing pitches as well.
There’s no way that Parada will be able to keep up at the rate he is now, but continuing to show off the complete set of tools (even third on the team in SB) will help his name rise even further on draft boards across the country.
LINEUP CONSTRUCTION IS STILL.. UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Batting Chandler Simpson feels at lead-off seems like a no-brainer, no? Same with Kevin Parada in the No. 2 hole.
The rest of the lineup is where the questions come.
On Tuesday night, The 3-6 spots in the lineup had a rough go, finishing the day a combined 1-15, with 7 strikeouts and 0 RBI.
Batting Tres Gonzalez in the cleanup spot was originally supposed to break up the risk of consecutive K, as Compton/Reid and even Jenkins have had trouble with the K early on.
When Tres isn’t seeing the ball well, or has a down game like he did on Tuesday, the team falters a bit because they lean on him so heavily for quality AB’s and to find a way to get on base.
Is there a better order to hit them from 3-9, depending on the status of Jake DeLeo and if John Anderson is ever able to get going? One would have to think so.
It would not surprise me to see Hall rise in the order a bit, breaking up the Compton/Reid duo. At least until DeLeo’s return.
MARQUIS GRISSOM JR., WEEKEND STARTER?
In a move that surprised many in attendance and watching online, Marquis Grissom Jr. threw for just two innings on Tuesday. After throwing 22 strikes in 28 pitches, it became clear that whatever was plaguing him earlier this season when coming out of the bullpen was not going to be a continuous issue.
Velocity was good, command was better, and it never once felt like in the two innings that he was in danger of allowing a big inning.
Georgia State handled GT easily last season, and that was likely in the back of the mind for several players going into the matchup.
Grissom's pitch count being as low as it was keeps him as an option to pitch in any of the weekend matchups, especially if the staff is no longer ready to throw Finateri out there on a leash after two less than stellar performances to lead the Sunday rotation.
Going into the season, it was clear that the team in Navy and Gold (and white) would go as far as pitching would take them.
On Tuesday, the pitching led the way in what felt like the first real "off" game for the bats. Five hits, five walks, and a total of 13 K is not the best combination.
Other than the pitcher in the 8th inning, each arm Danny put out there was effective, efficient, and challenged Georgia State hitters in the strike zone time and time again.
Let's get to some takeaways from the game, and where the team goes from here as they head into their first real test of the season in a three-game, three-location matchup against undefeated UGA.
GEORGIA TECH HAS A CLOSER
9 games into the season, it feels like Georgia Tech had a plan for the back of the bullpen in 2022.
Luke Bartnicki, the lefty that closed several games in 2021, would get the first chance to show that he has the ability to finish games.
He’d have the chance to showcase his renewed overall control and command of the strike zone, as well as a new pitch he’d been working on.
If that didn’t work, Tech seemed to be prepared, with Dawson Brown ready and waiting in the shadows.
Brown has made the most of his appearances thus far this season, and on Tuesday he added his third save of the young season.
Brown has shown that he does not have it “all” together yet, but time and time again in big spots, he’s missing bats when he needs to most.
Figuring out the rest of the late innings (6th, 7th, 8th) will be a big next step, but the continuous question about the closer appears to have been answered.
KEVIN PARADA'S HOT STREAK CONTINUES
Last year when coming out of the gates as hot as anyone in the country, it became clear just how much Georgia Tech had lucked out after the shortened 2020 draft helped allow them to get Parada on campus.
As hot as he was to begin last season, he’s at an entirely different level right now.
As hot as he was to begin last season, he’s at an entirely different level right now.
Heading into the weekend series against UGA, Parada is leading the team in HR (6) and RBI (20) but his progression has been about more than just the bat.
Parada has also taken the next step behind the plate, which is something MLB scouts had many questions about coming into this season. Parada looks more comfortable back there, throwing out runners at a much higher rate than last season, while also doing a better job receiving and framing pitches as well.
There’s no way that Parada will be able to keep up at the rate he is now, but continuing to show off the complete set of tools (even third on the team in SB) will help his name rise even further on draft boards across the country.
LINEUP CONSTRUCTION IS STILL.. UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Batting Chandler Simpson feels at lead-off seems like a no-brainer, no? Same with Kevin Parada in the No. 2 hole.
The rest of the lineup is where the questions come.
On Tuesday night, The 3-6 spots in the lineup had a rough go, finishing the day a combined 1-15, with 7 strikeouts and 0 RBI.
Batting Tres Gonzalez in the cleanup spot was originally supposed to break up the risk of consecutive K, as Compton/Reid and even Jenkins have had trouble with the K early on.
When Tres isn’t seeing the ball well, or has a down game like he did on Tuesday, the team falters a bit because they lean on him so heavily for quality AB’s and to find a way to get on base.
Is there a better order to hit them from 3-9, depending on the status of Jake DeLeo and if John Anderson is ever able to get going? One would have to think so.
It would not surprise me to see Hall rise in the order a bit, breaking up the Compton/Reid duo. At least until DeLeo’s return.
MARQUIS GRISSOM JR., WEEKEND STARTER?
In a move that surprised many in attendance and watching online, Marquis Grissom Jr. threw for just two innings on Tuesday. After throwing 22 strikes in 28 pitches, it became clear that whatever was plaguing him earlier this season when coming out of the bullpen was not going to be a continuous issue.
Velocity was good, command was better, and it never once felt like in the two innings that he was in danger of allowing a big inning.
Georgia State handled GT easily last season, and that was likely in the back of the mind for several players going into the matchup.
Grissom's pitch count being as low as it was keeps him as an option to pitch in any of the weekend matchups, especially if the staff is no longer ready to throw Finateri out there on a leash after two less than stellar performances to lead the Sunday rotation.
