Louis Agudelo/ Staff Writer
FIU Baseball will finally start it’s 2016 Conference USA Title defense one week from this Friday, on the 19th of February, and they’ll do so with the huge advantage of a talented veteran pitching staff, something very rare at the college level. About half of last year’s rotation will not be dawning blue and gold for FIU this Spring, and that could be yet another challenge for the Panthers going into the regular season.
As everyone paying attention should already know, and as various sources have informed those of you reading, the Panthers’ 3, 4, 5, and 6-hitters that lead Florida International University to its first ever C-USA Championship, are gone. Well head coach Turtle Thomas has picked up a couple of junior college transfers in order to fill those spots to the best of their abilities, so hopefully, that’s not a huge concern (disclaimer: I’m concerned).
Thomas has also added a couple of new arms to the pitching staff, via-transfer, and looks to see if they can bolster an already solid staff, who as an entire team posted a 4.98 era last season, not too shabby on the college level.
With so many new faces, fans need a proven, trustworthy option to look towards when things get tough. The true mark of a man is said to be what he does when his back is against the wall, and duly noted should be the words of the character Rachel Dawes in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins “It’s what you do, that defines you.”
Turtle Thomas’s menu is entirely different than last season’s. McDonald’s has experienced similar trials recently. First, their filet-o-fish, flopped out of town. In an attempt at redemption, mozzarella sticks were picked up, and the verdict is still out, BUT, there is still something that has yet to let us down.
Over the years, upon seeing those famed golden arches, there is one FACT, that can seldom be denied; McDonald’s Milkshakes are consistently, consistent. The Panthers’ milkshake menu features returning right-handers Andres Nunez, Williams Durruthy, Cody Crouse, Robby Kalaf, Garrett Cave, and Chris Mourelle. They’ll also be bringing back the left-hander, Dominic Lobrutto. Of the eight pitchers just named, three posted era’s under 4, and all eight combined, were a game under .500. As are many of the milkshakes offered by McDonald’s, this pitching staff hasn’t churned out a whole-lot of greatness, but they can absolutely be counted on.
Let it not be forgotten, that every once-in-awhile, there is a splash of greatness in, The Shamrock Shake that was Danny Dopico, or the Egg-Nog shake that was Gianna Zayas. Again, these splashes are nothing more than splashes; here for a limited time, but you’ve got to get as much out of them as you can while they’re around.
All things considered, .500 can be more than you can ask of quite a few college rotations around the country, so fans should be glad to be guaranteed at least something near that, but it will take more than just chilled, usually savory, consistency to repeat as Conference Champions.
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