CSNbbs

Congrats to Coastal (#11) and the Cajuns (#13).

2017 D1 Baseball PreSeason Top 25

I thought this was an interesting take from the D1 Preseason Podcast.


Comment From Travis
Hi guys, if you had to pick an unranked team/teams from your preseason poll to make a surprise run to Omaha, who would it be?

Aaron Fitt:
I’m going with South Alabama — a team that I really wanted to squeeze into the rankings, but we just ran out of room. Love the depth on the mound — they’ve got a whole bunch of 90-plus guys with swing-and-miss breaking balls, and a nice core of position players up the middle in Jared Barnes, Drew LaBounty and Travis Swagerty. The Jags are my Omaha sleeper this year.

Another Podcast comment.


Comment From Bob North Myrtle B…
Do you see the Sun Belt coming down to CCU and ULL? Also, is CCU’s bats are not as potent as last year how far can their arms take them?

Aaron Fitt:
Certainly the Chants and the Cajuns look like the favorites, and we think that race is going to be fascinating (we’ve got those teams very close together in our Top 25 rankings). But I also think South Alabama is a legitimate contender for the Sun Belt title. You’re right that Coastal has lost a good deal of offensive firepower, but I’m expecting big things from newcomers Jordan Gore and Wood Myers and Cory Wood, and I think we’ll see significant steps forward from Woodall and Ewing, two guys the Chanticleers are really counting on. So I still expect this to be a potent offense and a good defense, but you’re correct that the pitching looks like the real strength. What more do we need to say about Andrew Beckwith, Alex Cunningham and Bobby Holmes? Those guys are proven champions, and Jason Bilous has monstrous upside… I think he’s going to have a very big year.

One more.


Comment From Jack
Thoughts on UL Ragin Cajuns? Great pitching staff is returning.

Kendall Rogers:
I love, and I mean, love what the Cajuns have this year. Leger/Lee is as good of a one-two punch as any in the country. I also think getting Colten Lee back is huge since he’s some a funky-armed guy, while Hogan Harris/Dylan Moore/Wyatt Marks and others make up what should be a strong bullpen. I think the unsung heroes will be Joe Robbins and Brenn Conrad. I think both coming back as seniors is huge, and I think both have big years.

Since I keep referencing it, I thought I'd post the link to the D1Baseball Preseason Ranking Chat which covers a number of questions about teams from other conferences but near to some of our conference teams.

Chat: D1Baseball’s Preseason Rankings Chat

Another one is their Podcast which covers discussions about the same from their perspective without questions.

D1Baseball’s Preseason Podcast

Anyone know when Sun Belt releases preseason polls and preseason all-conference team?

(01-18-2017 03:39 PM)_x_ Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone know when Sun Belt releases preseason polls and preseason all-conference team?

From the Sun Belt website, last year the article announcing it was February 2nd. I'd say you should see something in the next couple of weeks.

How much pitching does CCU have returning?

Beckwith, Cunningham, and Holmes seems like plenty to build around based on what I saw in Omaha.

(01-18-2017 05:30 PM)Godzilla Wrote: [ -> ]How much pitching does CCU have returning?

Pretty much everyone that contributed last year except Morrison, our closer.

This is one of the most talented Troy baseball teams this year. Especially at bats..better bats than when we won the SBC in 2011 and 2013 when we ended the season #25

(01-18-2017 06:56 PM)_x_ Wrote: [ -> ]Beckwith, Cunningham, and Holmes seems like plenty to build around based on what I saw in Omaha.

No doubt. If Bilous settles down as expected then we will be exceptional. We also have a JuCo transfer in Will Latchem who is getting some praise as well.

I keep saying it because I believe it to be true.

We've been in this league 25 years. And we've had some REALLY good baseball seasons here.

This might be the best the league has ever been. Obviously CCU joining the league helps.

But even without them, this league would have been good. With them, it might be GREAT.