2024 College Baseball Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Beagle, Dec 20, 2019.

  1. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 7 Florida
    SEASON PREVIEW Kendall Rogers - January 18, 2023

    2022 Record: 42-24 (15-15 SEC)
    Coach (Record at school):
    Kevin O’Sullivan (627-302 in 15 seasons)
    Ballpark (Capacity): Condron Family Ballpark (7,000)
    Postseason History: 37 regionals (active streak: 14), 12 CWS trips (last in 2018).
    More: Florida Fall Report
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Gators all season long at our Florida Team Page.
    Florida’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C B.T. Riopelle SR L-R .304/.371/.551 9 15 55 21/78 6/7
    1B Tyer Shelnut JR R-R TRANSFER–Santa Fe (Fla.)
    2B Cade Kurland FR R-R FRESHMAN–Tampa (Berkeley Prep)
    3B Colby Halter JR L-R .239/.338/.378 11 8 27 30/66 7/10
    SS Josh Rivera JR R-R .254/.351/.429 8 9 32 30/44 6/9
    LF Wyatt Langford JR R-R .355/.447/.719 9 26 63 36/44 7/11
    CF Michael Robertson RS-FR L-R INJURY–Did not play 2022
    RF Ty Evans SO R-R .242/.301/.465 5 5 16 8/34 3/5
    DH Jac Caglianone SO R-R .288/.339/.548 6 7 27 5/21 0/0
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Brandon Sproat JR RHP 9-4 3.41 0 89.2 82-33 .251
    SP2 Hurston Waldrep JR (Stats from USM) RHP 6-2 3.20 0 90 140-33 .213
    SP3 Pierce Coppola SO LHP 0-0 4.15 0 4.1 7-2 .278
    SP4 Brandon Neely SO RHP 3-3 3.76 1 69.1 74-20 .205
    Closer Clete Hartzog JR RHP TRANSFER–Wallace Dothan (Ala.)


    Grading The Gators
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 55
    Power: 65
    Speed: 45
    Defense: 60
    Starting Pitching: 65
    Bullpen: 55
    Experience/Intangibles: 55

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: I think the biggest strength for this team is the fact the program is in a much better spot mentally than it was a season ago. Anyone with a pulse knows that the clubhouse didn’t seem to great for UF last season, but everything I’ve heard since the middle of the fall is that things are now in good standing. Combine that with a weekend rotation that is loaded with talent and has a premier weekend starter in Hurston Waldrep, and it’s easy to believe in the pitching staff. I also think the offensive lineup will be stout, particularly near the top of the lineup with the return of Riopelle, Langford and Caglianone, along with the addition of speedy Michael Robertson. Robertson just seems like that X-factor guy for me. I like the mold of this club entering the spring.

    Question Marks: There’s no doubt the Gators have some question marks. For starters, after how last season was such a roller coaster, are we to expect them to be ultra-consistent this season? On top of that, outside of Riopelle, Langford and talented sophomore Jac Caglianone, who will emerge as premier bats in this offensive lineup? The talent is there to, but there are some moving pieces in that regard. And there’s even some question marks on the mound, albeit, nothing too serious. Brandon Sproat needs to be more consistent and we’re fascinated to see how Coppola makes the transition. I’m also intrigued to see how the bullpen develops with the return of Blake Purnell and Philip Abner, along with transfer righthander Clete Hartzog. Hartzog has a high spin rate with feel for multiple pitches.

    Star Power: Wyatt Langford. Langford is sure proof that a player can transform from a relative unknown to one of the nation’s premier players. The talented outfielder jumped on the scene in a big way last season by having an All-American campaign that included a .355 average, 26 home runs and 63 RBIs. One of the nation’s premier prospects, Langford has a blend of impressive athleticism, consistency and big-time raw power. He’s a five-tool talent with an ability to steal bases as well.

    Glue Guy: BT Riopelle. If you listen to coach Kevin O’Sullivan talk about his team, he always seems to have very high praise for Riopelle, the former Coastal Carolina transfer. Riopelle has an impressive physical presence, and he made a big statement last year with a solid offensive campaign, hitting .304 with nine doubles, 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. But his importance to this team extends beyond his offensive production. He’s also a decent catcher and can play first base as well. He’s also an excellent leader for this program.

    Pick to Click: Pierce Coppola. The Gators aren’t going to throw too much pressure on the second-year lefthanded pitcher, but it’s easy to get excited about his potential. Coppola is a 6-foot-8, 240-pound, lefty who is anywhere from 93-97 and up to 98 mph with his fastball, along with a splitter that continues to make progress. Coppola pitches on the first base side of the rubber and is an uncomfortable at bat for any hitter due to his arm slot. It’s one thing to have a guy with Coppola’s talent in the weekend rotation. But having to face him as a potential Sunday guy? Have fun.

    Top Newcomer: Michael Robertson. Since he didn’t play last season due to a hamstring injury, we’re giving the nod here to the electric outfielder. Robertson, who’s 6-foot-2, had an outstanding fall and solidified himself as the Gators’ leadoff hitter going into the 2023 campaign. Robertson is a plus runner who finished the fall 14 for 15 — yes, 14 for 15 — in stolen bases. In addition to his versatility from an offensive standpoint, he’s expected to be a plus defender with excellent speed and great route running.

    Outlook: It’s hard to imagine, but there’s no doubt that the Gators have officially entered prove it mode. The Gators have hosted Regionals in each of the last two seasons, but the standard in this program is getting to the College World Series. And that’s something they haven’t done since 2018. The Gators have a balanced offensive lineup with some present star power with a guy like Wyatt Langford in the middle of it. But their success at an elite level will hinge on the weekend rotation. We know what to expect from righthanded transfer Hurston Waldrep. But what about Brandon Sproat and Pierce Coppola? Sproat has a huge arm but needs to be more consistent and Coppola has incredible upside but was hurt last season. If it clicks, this is a national title type of club.

    From the Fall Report

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan surveyed the field last fall in an exhibition game against Georgia. He saw the opponent had older, more experienced players. Then, he looked back to his dugout. He saw youth. He saw inexperience.

    “I didn’t really know it until I saw it in that game,” O’Sullivan recalled. “That had like seven of their nine hitters were fifth-year players or grad students. I’m looking at it, and I’m going, the average age of our lineup was 19 and a half, I think, at that point. You know, it makes a huge difference.”

    Last season, even though his Gator squad was talented, making the jump to this level can require some adjustment. As a result, Florida didn’t get off to the start it wanted in conference play, falling to 6-12. The youngsters grew up to go 9-3 down the SEC stretch and followed that with an SEC tournament run losing in the finals. The strong finish earned a regional host losing in the regional to CWS Finals runner-up Oklahoma.

    Many of those players return for 2023, giving Florida a better mixture of talent and experience than it has had in recent seasons.

    The age gap wasn’t a storyline when Florida played the fall exhibition against Georgia a year later. In large part, that’s due to a veteran, balanced lineup and starting pitching rotation that figures to be one of the nation’s best.

    Leading the way are pitchers Brandon Sproat and Hurston Waldrep. Sproat, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander, led the Gators in wins (9), starts (16), innings (89.2), and strikeouts (82) a year ago. He is joined by Southern Miss transfer Waldrep, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior righthander who went 6-2 with a 3.20 ERA for the Hattiesburg Regional champion Golden Eagles. Waldrep, with high-90s velocity and two quality secondary offerings, struck out 140 batters in his 90-innings pitched.

    “I think the importance of getting back Sproat and adding Waldrep to the mix totally makes us a totally different club, at least on the mound,” O’Sullivan said.
     
  2. Tex

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    Anything for Texas FadeMe

    Thanks
     
  3. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    From the “Teams that barely missed the top 25” article


    TEXAS

    [​IMG]
    The Longhorns could be a prime example this season of a team that will be vastly different in look, but maybe not vastly different in terms of results. Texas will need Mitchell Daly to return to his freshman ways from an offensive standpoint, while Eric Kennedy is a speedy player who can make things happen with the bat and his legs. Porter Brown (TCU) and Garrett Guillmette (USC) are talented transfers expected to make a big impact this spring, while Dylan Campbell is the big name to watch. Campbell hit .267 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs last season but was sensational down the stretch and terrific during fall workouts. He should hit well over .300 with even more power production. Also keep an eye on freshmen Jalin Flores and Jared Thomas. My question mark with this team is on the mound, where Lucas Gordon returns to the weekend rotation. But after that? Zane Morehouse had a big fall and has an impressive arm, but can he be a reliable starter in the Big 12? USC transfer Charlie Hurley is a solid, dependable arm, while Lebarron Johnson is a potential X-factor arm for me. Johnson gets into the upper-90s with his fastball and the frame and delivery is something you can dream on.

    From the Big 12 preview:
    Strengths: Despite losing so many key offensive cogs, I still like the overall feel of this Texas offense. There are some really talented young players — we mentioned Jalin Flores and Jared Thomas. But Max Belyeu is another talented young bat who showed premium power during fall workouts. With those pieces, plus Porter Brown and Garret Guillemette, and then the return of Daly, Campbell, Kennedy and Daily, I just feel like Texas will find a way to score runs. Will it be at the same rate as last year’s club at times? Probably not, but still productive? I believe so. There’s depth with this team, but figuring out all the roles entering the spring will be important.

    Question Marks: The question marks with this team are pretty clear. They’ll need to find a way to replace some of the departed power production from last year’s club, while also replacing a bulk of the weekend rotation with the departures of Hansen and Stevens. You also can’t assume that Tanner Witt will return until at least late in the season. If Zane Morehouse, who is well into the mid-90s with his fastball, proves to be a strong starter and guys like Charlie Hurley and Lebarron Johnson step up, those questions will have been answered. They’ll remain until then. The other big question mark is behind the plate. The ‘Horns like what they saw from USC transfer Garret Guillemette during fall workouts, while Peyton Powell is a jack of all trades type who is probably the best defensive catcher on the roster.

    Star Power: Dylan Campbell is my pick to click, so I’m not going to put him in as the star power category as well. Give me lefthanded pitcher Lucas Gordon. Gordon had an impressive season for the ‘Horns last year, tallying a 3.05 ERA in 85.2 innings of work, along with 77 strikeouts and 26 walks. Gordon will get into the low-90s with his fastball, while his calling card is a quality breaking ball.

    Glue Guys: Give me the quartet of Dylan Campbell, Mitchell Daly, Eric Kennedy and Lucas Gordon. Those are the main holdovers from last year’s club, and while Campbell is poised to have a big year, it will be imperative for Kennedy and Daly to follow suit as well. Kennedy is an athletic outfielder who can really make things happen with his bat and legs, while Gordon is a consistent force in the weekend rotation. Those four will need to have big years for UT to reach its goals.

    Pick To Click: Dylan Campbell, Dylan Campbell and more Dylan Campbell. Yes, Campbell put together a solid 2022 campaign that ended with a .267 average, 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. However, I’m expecting him to take a significant leap forward this spring in pretty much every category. He certainly will hit higher than .300, and I think he’s more of a 15-16 home run type of hitter this season. Campbell really blossomed toward the end of last season, and hit the ball with authority throughout fall workouts. If he has a solid spring, he will leap up draft boards as well.

    Top Newcomer: The Longhorns have several newcomers to watch. USC transfer pitcher Charlie Hurley will have a huge role, potentially even the weekend rotation, and TCU transfer outfielder Porter Brown had an impressive fall and made some tweaks with his swing and approach. The ‘Horns expect big things out of him this spring as well. But more than anyone, I’ve got my eye on freshman third baseman Jalin Flores. Flores, a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder, is advanced for his age and showed an impressive offensive approach in my look during fall ball. He has power in that frame of his and has massive upside. Don’t be surprised when he’s a Freshman All-American.

    Outlook: Texas is subscribing to the idea that much different isn’t necessarily worse. Sure, the Longhorns lost the most feared hitter in college baseball in Ivan Melendez, along with a pair of reliable weekend starters in Pete Hanse and Tristan Stevens. However, this team still has the potential to be very good. The ‘Horns will need to Mitch Daly to return to normal, and will need quick transitions to Division I Baseball from two ultra-talented freshmen in Jalin Flores and Jared Thomas. Pitching-wise, I have a lot of faith in lefthanded pitcher Lucas Gordon, but will Zane Morehouse finally rise up, and will guys like Lebarron Johnson be ready to assume larger roles? Then, there’s the question of when does Tanner Witt return to the mound. I like the vibe of this team, but again, it’s different.

    The best way to describe Texas during fall workouts is that it has a lot of potential but will be very different from last year’s club.

    To say there are some new faces around Austin these days would be an understatement — both from a player personnel and coaching staff standpoint.

    But let’s start with just the player personnel losses, which are staggering when you break it all down.

    Obviously, the Longhorns will have the tough chore of replacing the nation’s premier player from the 2022 campaign — first baseman Ivan Melendez. Melendez hit 32 home runs last season the way to D1Baseball Player of the Year honors. And his departure wasn’t the only big loss.

    The Longhorns also lost everyday position players such as catcher Silas Ardoin, third baseman Skyler Messinger, who was terrific last season, shortstop Trey Faltine, outfielder Doug Hodo and the nation’s premier breakout player last season, outfielder Murphy Stehly, who finished the season as an All-American.

    How significant are those departures when you break down the numbers?

    The figure that blows my mind? UT must replace 105 — yes, 105 — home runs from last year’s club.

    Impossible? Never. But this team, while talented from an offensive standpoint, is destined to be different.

    The Longhorns also have the tough chore of replacing a pair of weekend starters in lefthander Pete Hansen and righthanded Tristan Stevens. In all, the Longhorns must replace 29 weekend starts from last year’s club.

    The fresh faces are present with the coaching staff, too. Previous Texas hitting coach Troy Tulowitzki established himself as a strong offensive coach in short order, while the Longhorns no longer have the services of Sean Allen, who was the D1Baseball Assistant of the Year two seasons ago.

    The silver lining? Their replacements need no introduction. On the offensive side of things, Caleb Longley is heavily involved, and former Baylor head coach Steve Rodriguez was hired in the offseason. Rodriguez is an assistant for the first time in a long time, but he clearly is a bright mind. Then, there’s new pitching coach Woody Williams, who qualifies as a more outside the box hire. Williams, a former big leaguer, was previously the pitching coach for junior college power San Jacinto (TX). Heading to Texas is certainly a big step up for Williams, but has settled in quite nicely in Austin.

    “The thing I love about Woody is that he’s a baseball lifer. He had to go through the junior college ranks, and he ended up being a 15-year professional pitcher. He’s pitched well at the highest of levels,” Pierce said. “He’s excellent with his demeanor, and he’s one of the more positive guys I’ve ever been around. He’s a great leader and he has a way of making people around him better.

    “You combine him with the addition of a guy like Chris Gordon, and you have to like where you are on the pitching side of things,” he added. “We want our staff to be confident and to have egos — but we want it to be one ego. I think our coaching staff is in a great spot right now.

    “Rod and I have known each other for a really long time — I’ve known him since he was at Pepperdine,” he said. “I think he’s a great baseball guy. He can be an unassuming personality out there, but he knows the game of baseball extremely well and he’s good with our players. He really helps us.”

    There are question marks with this Texas team across the board, but there’s also plenty of upside.

    Now, the ‘Horns just must find a way to put all the pieces together.
     
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  4. steamengine

    steamengine I don’t want to press one for English!
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    Some top tier longhorn asshole baseball player names in that write up.
     
  5. Hatfield

    Hatfield Charlie don’t surf
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    Porter Brown deff knows a few coke plugs around Austin
     
  6. Saul Shabazz

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    gonna be hard to top Jude Putz on a name list
     
  7. Saul Shabazz

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    believe he came to Tally from the Hogs
     
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  8. Tex

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    Don’t be jelly
     
  9. oldberg

    oldberg Thinkin bout thos beans
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    FadeMe anything Nebraska related would be appreciated
     
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  10. FadeMe

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    NEBRASKA
    Head Coach: Will Bolt
    2022 Record: 23-30 (10-14)
    Strengths: Nebraska endured a disappointing season a year ago after a remarkable 2021 campaign, and one benefit is the number of players on the active roster that participated on both of those teams. Their top four hitters, their staff ace and projected key, high-leverage arms have no shortage of experience.

    Question Marks: While several questions remain about the team’s depth and key roles, the team defense is a unit that has a lot of room for improvement. Shortstop Brice Matthews committed 15 errors in 2022 and second baseman Max Anderson – who is making the permanent move from third base – made eight. The team also has new, everyday regulars behind the plate and in center field and first baseman Charlie Fischer served primarily as a designated hitter at Southern Miss.

    Star Power: Anderson, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021, has hit everywhere he goes, including two summers spent on the Cape. He’s a career .314 hitter with 41 extra-base hits, including 17 home runs, in two years at Nebraska. Matthews is a dynamic athlete that enjoyed a huge summer in the Northwoods League and is expected to evolve into a more consistent all-around threat. Projected ace Emmett Olson finished 2022 strong with the staff’s best ERA (2.86) and a 65-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 66 innings. A 6-foot-4, 230-pound lefthander armed with low-90s heat and a sharp curveball, Olson could go in the top 3-5 rounds of the draft.

    [​IMG]
    Nebraska’s Max Anderson
    Glue Guys: Right fielder Garrett Anglim and DH/catcher Griffin Everitt were two of the team’s most reliable all-around players and leaders in 2022. Shay Schanaman and Kyle Perry – effective weekend starters the past two seasons – could form a reliable 1-2 punch at the back of the bullpen.

    Pick to Click: Olson and Wichita State transfer Jace Kaminska may form one of the Big Ten’s best Friday/Saturday starting combos. Kaminska wasn’t as strong last year as he was during his freshman season for the Shockers but is expected to return to form for the Huskers.

    Top Newcomer: Dylan Carey really opened eyes in the fall effectively forcing his way into the starting lineup at third base. Transfers Casey Burnham (left field), Caden Brumbaugh (center field) and Fischer will also assume everyday roles in the lineup. Michael Garza served as both staff ace and closer for Incarnate Word the past few years as he and freshman lefthander Caleb Clark are expected to take on significant innings as the team’s Sunday and mid-week starters.

    Outlook: Nebraska has a lot more depth than they did a year ago when they entered the 2022 season with quite a few young faces. There are still a lot of roles that need to be determined, so don’t be surprised if the team has a different look by midseason than the one they roll out on opening day. There is a lot of room for improvement in all phases of the game with numerous candidates poised to enjoy significantly better seasons.

    From The Fall Report:

    After finishing the 2021 season one win away from claiming the Fayetteville Regional, Nebraska fell far short of expectations a year ago. Trying to ride the positive momentum from the ’21 season that saw them go 34-14, the Cornhuskers fell to 23-30 overall and 10-14 within the Big Ten Conference, which prevented them from even participating in the eight-team conference tournament. Simply stated: their season came to a close before Memorial Day weekend.

    No doubt, the tangible and intangible qualities of 2021 star shortstop, closer and overall team leader, Spencer Schwellenbach, were drastically underestimated. They also lost their staff ace, Cade Povich, as well as their Saturday starter, Chance Hroch. Prized setup man Jake Bunz, who did return to campus, was also lost for the season due to injury.

    Of the players that did return, several did not step up in the way that was expected of them.
     
  11. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    They’re already projecting the head coach to leave?
     
  12. football501

    football501 I once ate a Twix with the wrapper on it
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    Idk if Wright State is good this year but these unis are clean as h*ck

     
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  13. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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  14. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    That’s just not fair. No human should be able to do this, let alone at an elite enough level to play top tier college baseball.
     
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  15. Boo MFer!

    Boo MFer! No longer a cog in some powerhouse machine
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    This is the ideal male body. You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like.

     
  16. JGator1

    JGator1 I'm the Michael Jordan of the industry
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    2 weeks away

    I assume we'll get a tv schedule pretty soon, wish they were able to switch things around throughout the year based on teams living up to projections and whatnot.
     
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  17. tigr2ndbase

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    Can’t wait to see him take the mound for the first time in season. The reports out of our camp have been great with him.
     
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  18. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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  19. War Grundle

    War Grundle Nole Mercy
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    I like that rule. Especially on Sundays.
     
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  20. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Now, they just need to extend the playing window for each weekend to Thur-Sun to allow for maximum ability to get in a three-game series with no double headers.
     
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  21. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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    I doubt schools want to pay for an extra night of hotels every away series. Give us more assistants and schollies first
     
  22. blind dog

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    [​IMG]
     
  23. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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    The 4th assistant passed
     
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  24. Eathan Edwards

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  25. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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    I want 5
     
  26. War Grundle

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    No shit. I missed that. This is nice:

    The NCAA’s Division I council on Wednesday approved legislation that transforms the volunteer assistant coach position in all sports and into a full-time, paid assistant coach. A separate measure, which would have added an additional assistant coach for baseball, hockey and softball, did not pass the council.

    The votes mean that, starting in July when the NCAA’s new fiscal year begins, baseball coaching staffs will be allowed a head coach and three assistant coaches, all of whom will be allowed to perform on-field coaching and off-campus recruiting.

    While the measure to add a fourth assistant coach ended in defeat, the day was still an overall success for college baseball. The sport’s efforts to add a third assistant coach stretch back years. The American Baseball Coaches Association has long campaigned for it and in 2015 found that 85% of Division I head coaches supported the measure. A proposal to transform baseball and softball’s volunteer assistant position into a full-time, paid assistant coach was voted on by the Division I council in 2019, but was narrowly defeated.
     
  27. JGator1

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  28. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    bertwing the fuck are y’all doing to your pitchers in the preseason? Is this the second or third year this has happened to y’all? I know Pallette last year, and I was thinking y’all had another the year before.

     
  29. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
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    Our offseason is harder than the sec schedule. hth
     
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  30. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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    He’s been working on his off speed stuff quite a bit this off-season to make that jump as a prospect. Wiggins is solid at times but this is nowhere near as much of a dickpunch as losing Pallette last year. Wiggins throws gas but was a TJS waiting to happen and surprised it took this long with his mechanics and arm slot. Has command issues and his fastball doesn’t have a ton of movement, and his secondary stuff was average at best… although reportedly got a lot better this off-season.

    Might have been Noland that you were thinking of the year before? He didn’t have TJS but basically was useless and shut down. Then came back and had a great year.
     
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  31. ncrebel

    ncrebel Administrator
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    FadeMe possible to get NCSU?
     
  32. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    You bet!

    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 21 NC State
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 21, 2023

    2022 Record: 36-21 (14-15 in ACC).
    Coach (Record at school): Elliott Avent (962-572 in 26 seasons).
    Ballpark: Doak Field at Dail Park (Capacity: 4,200).
    Postseason History: 22 regionals (last in 2021), 3 CWS trips (last in 2021).
    More: Fall Report on NC State.
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Wolfpack all season long at our NC State Team Page.
    NC State’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Jacob Cozart SO L-R .240/.337/.377 8 4 25 17/25 4/6
    1B Eli Serrano FR L-L High school
    2B Kalae Harrison (Stats from Texas A&M) RS SO L-R .162/.295/.216 2 0 4 6/21 0/1
    3B Gino Groover JR R-R .360/.436/.564 16 10 47 28/44 4/6
    SS Payton Green SO R-R .255/.351/.433 12 7 39 28/60 10/10
    LF Noah Soles RS JR L-L .321/.396/.458 11 4 28 20/25 4/6
    CF Parker Nolan (Stats from Davidson) RS SR R-R .303/.435/.654 11 15 50 40/60 12/12
    RF Trevor Candelaria (Stats from Davidson) RS SR R-R .346/.456/.615 20 13 62 36/49 12/14
    DH Carter Trice (Stats from Old Dominion) JR R-R .288/.395/.606 13 17 49 34/60 18/22
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Sam Highfill RS JR RHP 3-3 5.93 0 54.2 68-30 .277
    SP2 Matt Willadsen RS JR RHP 4-4 4.15 0 78 83-26 .241
    SP3 Logan Whitaker RS SR RHP 2-1 5.22 0 29.1 50-19 .192
    SP4 Rio Britton (Stats from Oregon) JR LHP 6-1 4.64 66 65-36 .280
    Closer Creed Watkins (Stats from Oklahoma) RS SO RHP 0-0 – 0 0 0-3 –
    Grading The Wolfpack
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 65
    Power: 60
    Speed: 55
    Defense: 50
    Starting Pitching: 50
    Bullpen: 50
    Experience/Intangibles: 55

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: Elliott Avent’s NC State teams always hit — you can bank on that every year. This year will be no exception, even despite the notable departures of Devonte Brown (graduation) and Tommy White (transfer). The Wolfpack did a stellar job reloading through the transfer portal, bringing in Parker Nolan, Trevor Candelaria and Carter Trice to provide added firepower around lineup centerpiece Gino Groover. This should be a deep, balanced lineup that hits for both average and power.

    Question Marks: Pitching and defense. If Sam Highfill and Matt Willadsen can come back strong from injury and return to form, NC State has Omaha potential, because those are two very good, established ACC weekend starters. Highfill is the biggest key; he was a preseason All-American heading into last year, but a back condition limited him early in the year and then cut his season short, and his status is just a great unknown heading into 2023. Fortunately Willadsen seems to be progressing very well in his recovery from hip labrum surgery. NC State also needs to get much better on defense after ranking 220th in the nation with a .963 fielding percentage last year. Gino Groover’s acclimation to third base after playing first a year ago is a major key, and NC State’s coaches liked what they saw from him at the hot corner in the fall. The other big key is the continued development of catcher Jacob Cozart and shortstop Payton Green as sophomores, but both seem to be maturing, so there’s reason for optimism on the defense front.

    Star Power: The coaches regard Groover as one of the best pure hitters they have had in the program — a strong statement considering the proud lineage of bats to pass through Raleigh. Groover simply has a knack for finding the barrel and hitting for average, but his power numbers also jumped last year, and they should continue to climb in year junior campaign. He’s a Team USA player with All-America potential, and fellow Team USA product Carter Trice (a transfer from Old Dominion) has similar upside thanks to his huge righthanded power. If healthy, Highfill also falls into the “star” category, given his performance in 2021 to help lead the Wolfpack to Omaha.

    Glue Guys: The Wolfpack will sorely miss longtime mainstay JT Jarrett, who was the classic “coach on the field” at second base for years. Texas A&M transfer Kalae Harrison should step into Jarrett’s vacated second base spot and provide strong defense, energy and bat-handling skills, though he has yet to produce at the plate in his college career. But Cozart and Green need to be the field generals as sophomores, and both of them came back to campus this fall much improved as players and much more confident in themselves, which was a very good sign. Weekend starter Logan Whitaker and bullpen stalwart Justin Lawson are the glue guys on the mound — they have solid though not overpowering stuff, but they are reliable veterans who throw strikes, compete and know how to get outs. They’ll be two of the rocks for this staff.

    Picks to Click: Cozart and Green are the obvious picks, though sophomore corner bat Will Marcy could also fall into this category. Perhaps outfielders Noah Soles and Dominic Pilolli could be regarded as picks to click, even though both of them have already been productive in their careers, because both of them have the talent to put up much bigger numbers in 2023. On the mound, NC State really needs some power arms with bat-missing stuff to emerge, and one intriguing candidate is righthander Jacob Halford, who showed a 92-94 fastball with good arm-side run in the fall along with a promising slider and curveball.

    Top Newcomers: Trice is a proven star who should help protect Groover in the heart of the order. Davidson transfers Nolan and Candelaria are both big-bodied veterans with power and speed, and both are coming off standout 2022 campaigns for the Wildcats. They should rack up doubles, hit plenty of homers, steal some bases and provide strong outfield defense in center and right. Eli Serrano is a high-profile freshman who has serious feel for hitting from the left side as well as projectable power, and he looks like a future star at first base. The key newcomers on the mound are Oregon transfer Rio Britton and Oklahoma transfer Creed Watkins. Britton was the linchpin of the Ducks’ bullpen last year thanks to his command of an 88-91 fastball and swing-and-miss slider from the left side, and he could settle in as either a rotation piece or a go-to stopper in the ‘pen. Watkins saw the mound just once last spring due to control woes, but he flashed 95-98 heat with a power curveball and a useful splitter this fall, giving him obvious back-of-the-bullpen potential if he can throw enough strikes.

    Outlook: NC State’s bankable offense gives this team a fairly high floor; at minimum, it should be a regional team, as usual (despite last year’s shocking snub from the selection committee). The defense should be improved, and the pitching staff has a chance to be above-average if Highfill and Willadsen return to form. If that happens, the Wolfpack should contend for the ACC title and could make another deep postseason run.

    From the Fall Report:

    DURHAM, N.C. — For NC State, 2022 was a season of “what-ifs”. What if the Division I Baseball Committee had not shockingly snubbed the Wolfpack on Selection Monday? Could NC State have made another run to Omaha? It certainly had the offensive firepower, and it seemed to be getting hot again at the perfect time, just as it did prior to its 2021 run to the CWS.

    And what if preseason All-America ace Sam Highfill hadn’t gotten injured? With a healthy Highfill, the Wolfpack surely would not have found itself anywhere near the bubble on Memorial Day.

    All of that is history now; NC State has moved on, setting its sights on 2023 with an overhauled roster that should be plenty capable of making another postseason run. But the Highfill question lingers. After missing more than half of last spring with a back injury, Highfill has spent the summer and fall rehabbing, and he is the greatest X-factor for NC State heading into next season. We saw what he’s capable of in 2021, when he starred on the mound during that Omaha run. If Highfill and fellow veteran righty Matt Willadsen (who is working his way back from hip labrum surgery) can return to peak form, it dramatically improves NC State’s outlook for 2023, giving the ‘Pack two proven workhorse starters to build the staff around. But with both of them sidelined this fall, it hasn’t been easy to gauge how the pieces on this pitching staff will all fit together.

    “We really haven’t been able to identify what roles — a lot depends on Sam and Willadsen. Obviously if they come back, that’s starting roles for them,” NC State coach Elliott Avent said. “Willadsen will start throwing bullpens soon, he had the labrum surgery with the hip, it went very, very well, got that over with, has rehabbed very hard. Right now he’s ahead of schedule, knock on wood, so that is good. Highfill we just continue to rest him and get him stronger. If we have those two guys this spring, which we feel like we will, then obviously we know what those two are capable of doing.”
     
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    See bad shit happens to other teams too!
     
  37. FadeMe

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    It terrifies me every time I see one of those tweets.
     
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    Alright let’s chill a bit here SEC

     
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  39. TAS

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    I appreciate the effort. By the end of the year, every game of ours was 4+ hours
     
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    just locked up my tickets for opening day lfg

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  42. blind dog

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    will def not miss him
     
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    :blessed:
     
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    One down, one to go.
     
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    God Damnit, that’s not a real account.
     
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    I fucking hate that account
     
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  47. blind dog

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    FUCK
    p sure the other one died a few years ago
     
  48. wes tegg

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    No, they’re both alive.
     
  49. blind dog

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    :dislike::dislike:

    Guess I read some different fake rumor about the other one. We sat near one of them at a game last year in Fayetteville and he was the only one so I thought it was true