CSNbbs

I love this time of year. Baseball is two weeks from getting underway. Basketball is gearing up and football is a distant memory. But I digress. I really like this pitching staff and if our infield shapes up this team could do a lot of damage this year. Does anyone have any info on how the team is looking going into the first weekend?

(02-03-2020 12:15 PM)KSUforever Wrote: [ -> ]I love this time of year. Baseball is two weeks from getting underway. Basketball is gearing up and football is a distant memory. But I digress. I really like this pitching staff and if our infield shapes up this team could do a lot of damage this year. Does anyone have any info on how the team is looking going into the first weekend?

KSUforever, see the other post that has some comments/info.

And stop taking childish, unprovoked shots at the football team while you’re at it.

Sorry, I cannot help it. I love how we parade a trophy at a basketball game, etc. They jam it down our throats.

Where would the athletic department be without the money the football team generates by getting their asses handed to them by Auburn,Alabama,Penn State etc.
Those kids earned the right to "parade" that trophy.

(02-03-2020 04:16 PM)KSUforever Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry, I cannot help it. I love how we parade a trophy at a basketball game, etc. They jam it down our throats.

We've paraded every team that wins something out there for as long as I can remember so why wouldn't we for football. I personally loved Coach Lewis's edge and remarks.

KSU Baseball 2020 should be a great team with the depth of quality pitching and in the outfield they have this year, which will be better than last year.

The following players will have a huge impact on the mound this year for KSU:
Collin Romel
Ryan Kircher
Peyton Deats
Jack Zimmerman
Max Rippl
Tyler Drabick
Trevor Pittman
Ryan Lane
Luke Albright
Most, if not all will be drafted once eligible. There are 7 freshmen pitchers, who I am not sure on the impact they will have or if they will redshirt?

The infield will have a whole new look, as they graduated Pavin Parks, Josh Hollander, Kian O'Brien, & Pete Schuler, all of whom played a ton of innings for Duncan the last few years. Michael Turner will lead the way, whether that is at catcher, 3rd base, or both. It will be interesting to see the starting 5 of the infield this season, with all of the losses to graduation and Turner as well as 2 power hitters returning (Ronnebaum & Ferguson). Not sure if Grant Vera & Devan Nail will be starters or Ronnebaum or Ferguson or some of the incoming freshmen (Ethan Moore, Jake Reifsnyder, Josh Mrozek, Mack Timbrook, or Tyler Bischke)?

The outfield is loaded with depth/experience, so it will be a battle for at bats/playing time. Ben Carew, Came Touchette, Nick Elsen, Justin Kirby, & Collin Mathews are all returning and have had great seasons/stats for Duncan.


I am interested to see if Duncan/Birkbeck can sign another top 25 recruiting class, like they did last season. Signing day is 11/13/19, so we will find out in 2 days. Derek Simmons (hitting coach/recruiting coordinator) left KSU for Indiana in the late summer/early fall. http://www.kentstatesports.com doesn't show that Simmons has been replaced, so I don't know if that is true or if the sports information department is just a little behind with some of the vacancies that they have had over the spring, summer, & fall?

Last, Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball just announced that there could be some huge changes coming that will affect high school seniors/college baseball players. (all depends on the 2020 new PBA.....the negotiations have already been described as "contentious") I have outlined a few of these changes and a link to 1 of the stories that covered them.

-MLB draft moved from June to August and # of draft rounds lowered down to 20-25 from the current # of rounds that is 40.
-42 minor league teams will be eliminated.
-Minor league teams will be realigned into closer geographic areas, to lower the amount of travel
-Minor league stadiums/facilities will be upgraded/improved to give a better place of training/playing to the players/coaches as well as compensation.
-MLB teams will have their 40 man roster (no change), but the # of total players in the minor leagues will go down to 150-200 (still to be decided), whereas today some teams have 230-285 total players in the minor leagues.


It seem by pure #s, that the college teams would get better quality of players just from a #s standpoint, but that is just my view/guess.

Link to the story = https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/...gue-teams/

When was the last time we went to the NCAA Tournament? Duncan needs to get it done this year.

(02-04-2020 01:48 PM)GoFlashes8 Wrote: [ -> ]It seem by pure #s, that the college teams would get better quality of players just from a #s standpoint, but that is just my view/guess.

Link to the story = https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/...gue-teams/

The bonus baby top picks would still skip college and turn pro, you wouldn’t get those kid regardless. The other kids getting drafted and turning pro are the college picks which you’d already have. I think trimming the amount of minor league teams would just greatly reduce the later draft picks from joining affiliated ball. So I really don’t think this changes things much at all for KSU other than that Junior staying in school hoping to increase his chances his Senior year.

That link doesn’t work.

Kent won both the regular and tournament titles in 2018. Duncan’s second NCAA appearance since taking over in 2014.

If the big leagues move the draft back, I'd love to see the college baseball season in the north better align to the weather. Like, say, more March to June with playoffs in July.

Instead of going until July, I think you’d see them do something like golf - play non-conference games in September and October and then pick up the season with league play in April.

(02-05-2020 03:33 PM)JimJoyce Wrote: [ -> ]Instead of going until July, I think you’d see them do something like golf - play non-conference games in September and October and then pick up the season with league play in April.

Oh, that's good idea. There's no reason to be locked to this ridiculous, start the season in February stuff.

Looking at the schedule, they are playing at NW in March. Chicago March weather is usually awesome.

This idea has been addresses by coaches and administrators in the Big Ten and Big XII for years now. Not surprisingly, coaches and admins in the SEC, ACC and elsewhere in the South vehemently oppose it. They would stand to lose two months’ worth of home games and revenue and what’s more - the NCAA DI Baseball Committee is dominated by southern school representatives.

(02-05-2020 07:30 PM)bopol Wrote: [ -> ]

(02-05-2020 03:33 PM)JimJoyce Wrote: [ -> ]Instead of going until July, I think you’d see them do something like golf - play non-conference games in September and October and then pick up the season with league play in April.

Oh, that's good idea. There's no reason to be locked to this ridiculous, start the season in February stuff.

Looking at the schedule, they are playing at NW in March. Chicago March weather is usually awesome.

Kind of like Ohio in March, April, May. LOL

(02-03-2020 06:14 PM)Skinny Pete Wrote: [ -> ]Where would the athletic department be without the money the football team generates by getting their asses handed to them by Auburn,Alabama,Penn State etc.
Those kids earned the right to "parade" that trophy.

The baseball team play these teams as well

(02-08-2020 09:37 PM)Jungle Nattie Wrote: [ -> ]

(02-03-2020 06:14 PM)Skinny Pete Wrote: [ -> ]Where would the athletic department be without the money the football team generates by getting their asses handed to them by Auburn,Alabama,Penn State etc.
Those kids earned the right to "parade" that trophy.

The baseball team play these teams as well

What's your point?
I hope you're not comparing the baseball programs of those Power 5
schools their football programs! Please.

I don't know how much it would cost but would it make sense to rent a baseball stadium in the South? That way the team can "host" games and take away the home field advantage from the southern schools.

If it costs any more than $10 or so, Kent State is out.

But KSU has no problem throwing six figures at Michael Keaton and Hanoi Jane Fonda for 15-minute speeches.

3-1 loss to Iowa to start the season.