2016 Clemson Baseball Season Outlook

So begins a new season on the diamond in Clemson; with it, a fresh start for the program as a whole. Only the program's 3rd head coach since 1958, Monte Lee was a fantastic hire and brings a new attitude and philosophy with him from CofC. By now you should've read the detailed positional previews, so here the focus remains on the outlook and win projection for your 2016 Clemson Baseball Team.

The general consensus this preseason is that the offense likely must carry the team while the pitching rotation and serviceable defensive lineup a materialize. The obvious problem here is that you cannot rely on offense in a game so fickle as baseball, even when pitching and defense aren't shaky like they are at Clemson. It is not unrealistic to expect growing pains galore for the Tigers this year unless the bats are consistently hot or we see miraculous development in the bullpen along the way; this is reflected in the preseason coaches poll where we find Clemson all the way down in 5th place for the Atlantic Division. Needless to say, we expect a rebuild in year 1.

2016 Clemson Tigers Baseball Schedule

02/19 Maine 4:00 PM
02/20 Maine 2:00 PM
02/21 Maine 1:00 PM 
02/26 James Madison 4:00 PM
02/27 James Madison 2:00 PM
02/28 James Madison 1:00 PM
03/01 Wofford 4:00 PM
03/04 @South Carolina 7:00 PM
03/05 South Carolina 2:30 PM
03/06 South Carolina 2:00 PM
03/09 Winthrop 4:00 PM
03/11 @Wake Forest 6:00 PM
03/12 @Wake Forest 4:00 PM
03/13 @Wake Forest 1:00 PM
03/15 @The Citadel 7:00 PM
03/16 @The Citadel 6:00 PM
03/18 Boston College 6:30 PM
03/19 Boston College 4:00 PM
03/20 Boston College 1:00 PM
03/22 Presbyterian College 6:30 PM
03/25 @Miami 7:00 PM
03/26 @Miami 7:00 PM
03/27 @Miami 1:00 PM
03/29 @Furman 7:00 PM
03/30 @Western Carolina 6:00 PM
04/01 Pittsburgh 6:30 PM
04/02 Pittsburgh 4:00 PM
04/03 Pittsburgh 1:00 PM
04/05 @Georgia 7:00 PM
04/08 @Duke 6:00 PM
04/09 @Duke 1:00 PM
04/10 @Duke 1:00 PM
04/12 Western Carolina 6:30 PM
04/15 @Louisville 6:00 PM
04/16 @Louisville 1:00 PM
04/17 @Louisville 1:00 PM
04/19 Georgia 6:30 PM
04/22 Georgia Tech 6:30 PM
04/23 Georgia Tech 6:30 PM
04/24 Georgia Tech 1:00 PM
04/30 Florida State 6:30 PM
05/01 Florida State 4:00 PM
05/02 Florida State 7:00 PM
05/04 Furman 6:30 PM
05/06 NC State 6:30 PM
05/07 NC State 4:00 PM
05/08 NC State 1:00 PM
05/10 College of Charleston 6:30 PM
05/11 College of Charleston 4:00 PM
05/13 @Georgia Southern 7:00 PM
05/14 @Georgia Southern 7:00 PM
05/15 @Georgia Southern 1:00 PM
05/17 Charleston Southern 6:30 PM
05/19 @Notre Dame 6:05 PM
05/20 @Notre Dame 6:05 PM
05/21 @Notre Dame 1:05 PM

40 wins and home field advantage in a Regional Series are almost always realistic goals at a historical power like Clemson, but this year it is difficult to find 35 wins on this slate -- we may be fortunate to reach 30. The schedule is particularly tough to begin with, but for a young team with few proven arms it is particularly daunting. Nevertheless, an NCAA berth and another series win against South Carolina -- perhaps even a sweep -- are attainable and will determine the success of year 1 under Coach Lee. No matter the results this season, it is clear the AD and Lee have put the program back on track for long-term success.