FSU baseball: How can Link Jarrett navigate early woes?

FSU baseball (12-8, 3-3 ACC) had a rough week last week, losing two mid-week games badly against UCF on the road and a conference series at home against Boston College.

I know the start to the season had some fans dreaming about post-season play already, but I wrote before the season there would be frustrating times early in the season.

This 2023 team is the opposite of last year’s team. Last year’s team had some great pitchers and almost zero offense. This year’s team has a potent offense and limited pitching. I wish we could combine last year’s pitching with this year’s offense. However, it’s not a fantasy world, so Link Jarrett has to figure out how to navigate the early woes.

Some injuries have already impacted the team at the plate and on the mound, and we have to remember Wyatt Crowell didn’t pitch in the Boston College series, which is likely the difference between winning the series and not.

I’ve said it several times, but this team will go as far as it’s starting pitching. If Jackson Baumeister can learn to throw something other than a fastball for a first-pitch strike, that would change things for him.

The book is out on him that he likes to get ahead in the count with a fastball, and batters are looking for it against him.

Wyatt Crowell will be fine as a starter, and I’ve been saying since before the season that Conner Whittaker should be a weekend starter. I’ve seen enough from Carson Montgomery to know he needs to go to the bullpen.

That rotation alone would give FSU baseball a better shot at winning a three-game series. I think the pitching woes have started affecting the hitting somewhat.

It’s tough as an offense when you’re playing from behind almost immediately, or you spot your starting pitching 2-3 runs, and they give those runs right back in the next inning. If you notice when the starting pitching does well, the offense seems to have better at-bats and score more frequently.

The defense hasn’t been stellar, but pitchers issuing walks like they are going out of style doesn’t help. It’s the walks with two outs or walking lead-off batters that irk me, and FSU has allowed too many runs in those situations when it’s just a lack of focus.

FSU baseball will face No. 3 Florida Tuesday night on the ACC Network in Tallahassee at 7 p.m. ET. It’s not a great matchup against a high-powered offense. FSU will send freshman Ben Barrett to the mound who has pitched 5.2 innings in three appearances.

He looked dominant against UCF in 3.1 innings last week. Florida will send redshirt sophomore Tyler Nesbitt to the mound. He pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless ball against FSU last year with five strikeouts, no walks, and one hit allowed. Florida won two of three games against the Noles last year.