Based on the roster on Clemson's athletics Website, the following four players were placed on the team's "developmental squad:" outfielder John Mulkey and pitchers Kyle Bailey, Daniel Chewning and Garrett Lovorn.
Mulkey is from Emerald High, Chewning is from Seneca High and Lovorn is from Pendleton High. Mulkey and Lovorn are freshmen; Bailey is a sophomore and Chewning is a redshirt sophomore who was a walk-on.
Bailey made two appearances totaling one inning last season. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one.
NCAA guidelines do not allow them to practice with the team this season. It's my understanding they can use the baseball facilities, but not when the team is there.
This is another area where I feel the NCAA mismanages college baseball.
For whatever reason, Clemson coach Jack Leggett and his staff determined 35 other players were in better position to contribute this season a part of the official roster.
Since there are only 11.7 scholarships to distribute - and only 27 of the 35 roster players can receive baseball scholarship help - what's the harm in these guys being able to practice with the rest of the squad? Perhaps coaches - not just Clemson; South Carolina trimmed nine players from its roster hours before Friday's opener against Liberty - don't feel they can afford to divide their attention among more than 35 players during the season.
But players who don't make the 35-man squad are already, in essence, deemed not as ready to play as the others. By not getting team practice time, aren't they going to fall farther behind and face an even rockier road next season if they should try for a roster spot again? If they were allowed to train with the roster players, perhaps they'd see something or learn something to improve their chances.
By the way, USC's cuts were catcher Ray Murphy, first basemen Zack Smith and Ryan Ripken, infielder Weber Pike, outfielder Anthony Paulsen and pitchers Hunter Privette, Austin Hill. Kwinton Smith and Cameron Tewksbury. I had posted them on my Website, palmettostatebaseball.com, but not on this blog.
Clemson Roster
3 comments:
The 35 man limit is an NCAA rule. Ray Tanner spoke out vehemently against it. I don't recall Leggett ever commenting on it. (Leggett, and Tanner, did oppose the 25% minimum scholarship rule as well as the rule limiting scholarships to 27 kids). This is the first time that I have ever seen Leggett go into the spring with more than 35 players. Whether this will be a trend remains to be seen.
The NCAA rule limiting rosters to 35 players was passed to prevent coaches from "over-recruiting" and stockpiling players. The NCAA's research revealed that, on average, only 27 players on a D1 roster actually see significant playing time. I have been watching SC and Clemson stats since the rule was passed, and their research is pretty accurate.
Since only 27 see significant time, 35 seems like a reasonable roster limitation.
I don't like how kids may not find out until hours before the season that they're not going to play. It would seem more fair to the kids to make the determination by the end of the fall semester so any underclassmen desiring to do so could transfer to a junior college. With that option not available, they should have a chance to improve in a group setting.
Ray Tanner has caught grief for this since the NCAA began limiting rosters to 35. And frankly I was one of those who gave him grief. But, I have changed my mind over the years.
Tanner has made it clear that the kids are told where they stand up front. (I'm sure Leggett does the same). I have never heard a kid that got cut (or his parents) dispute this. If the kid is fully advised of where he stands he is making an informed (if not intelligent) choice. He has to bear the responsibility if he fails to make the cut and loses a year (or more).
Now, if a coach is misleading kids, that's a totally different matter.
Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with kids that got cut continuing to practice with the team. Unfortunately, this is illegal under NCAA rules. The coaches have no control over this.
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