Here are my 2011 Atlantic Sun Baseball predictions

#1 ETSU (A-SUN CHAMPIONS)
#2 Mercer
#3 FGCU
#4 UNF
#5 Jacksonville
#6 Belmont
#7 Stetson
#8 Lipscomb
#9 Kennesaw State
#10 Campbell
#11 USC Upstate

Mercer's team is virtually the same next year as well, plus some nice recruits. What reason will put ETSU over the hump to beat MU this year?

Well both teams need to run up around 40 wins so the at-large possibility will exist. For those wondering, the ASUN was receiving at-large bids not too long ago -- and yes, the teams are still in the ASUN (Stetson/Jacksonville were auto/at-large I believe).

2007, but it was the other way...JU got the auto bid and Stetson the at-large. Ah, for the days when we used to win games of sports against other colleges and their sports teams.

I hope you are right 32 but don't short change Florida Gulf Coast. When I saw the location of that university I understood why they are good in baseball (in the hot bed of spring training). Pitcher Chris Sale went from FGC directly to the White Sox last summer and did very well.

Pitching will be the key to our season as for most teams. I am looking for the continued development of Bo Burton who came on strong last season. Anyone out there have information on the rest of our staff? It will always be hard for us to compete with the Florida teams due largely to our climate. East Tennessee is not the ideal place for February and early March baseball, but it can be done, as demonstrated by Charlie Lodes.

(01-07-2011 11:04 PM)HatterFan Wrote:  2007, but it was the other way...JU got the auto bid and Stetson the at-large. Ah, for the days when we used to win games of sports against other colleges and their sports teams.

that made me laugh... but seriously what happened to Stetson baseball?? They were always at the top of the league competing. Stetson used to be Mercer's nemesis (and many others as well).

One thing that Mercer has an edge on this season is that they play the Gulf Coast and ETSU series at home. That's a big edge.

I have never understood why SKole has such a long leash, He has been around 11 years, had 8 losing seasons and only had a winning conference record once (last year). The softball coach is fired after 5 years of STARTING the program, the ran off the women's soccer coach but Skole just kept skating along. Be interesting to see if he can keep it going now that he has finally built something after all this time.

I think communication is a big factor in the fate of a coach. The bottom line is at the end of the day all coaches must put a winning product out on the field. There are many factors that go into keeping a coach or firing a coach. I know Coach Skole. He is a very competitive person who hates to lose. He knows the game of baseball. He is a great speaker. When they recruit baseball players, he becomes a sales person, and speaks about all of the features and benefits of coming to ETSU. He is honest and trusting. He made us feel very comfortable and at home when we went through the recruiting process with him and his staff. No pressure!!! I can tell you this... other schools that we visited and were recruited by, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Walters State, Lipscomb, MTSU, Appalachian State, Samford, Western Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Belmont. They all treat you good, but you have to figure out which is the best fit for you and not them. Many schools make promisses and don't deliver on them. Thats why alot of kids transfer. To get back to the topic at hand, Coach skole and his staff are still here because they are great baseball minded people. Yes it has taken time, but this year is the beginning of something special. We have tremendous offense, defense and now the pitching to take ETSU to the next level. ETSU just signed a kid for next year who has always grown up wanting to play baseball for Tennessee, but instead withdraws his commitment to UT and signs with ETSU. Why??? Because of what I just explained to you. Tennessee won't play ETSU for a reason. Vanderbilt won't play ETSU for a reason. We have the athletes... and we are dangerous! Come out to a game this year and you will see for yourself. Sorry for getting off track... I am passionate about sports. Coach Skole is passionate about baseball. Some coaches are in it for the money, and it is very easy for the AD to make a change. No passion or desire. No fire burning in your gut. Maybe thats why some coaches are fired and others are given more time to build a winning team. Live.Think.Dream.Blue This phrase means alot if you think about it. Go Bucs!

So what the heck is up with the baseball field project? I heard over and over that they were going to try and atleast get the field up and some bleachers at the new site so they could play there this year, but it's still just a flat field of dirt. When will construction resume?

The weather has given them a built in excuse for the delay, though not a legit one. Walgreen's workers are working through the snow, the apartment complex next to the baseball field is going up nicely because they have a reason for completing it on time. ETSU can screw around and then blame it on the weather whenever (or if ever) the media asks them why it wont be done on time.

(01-13-2011 05:11 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  So what the heck is up with the baseball field project? I heard over and over that they were going to try and atleast get the field up and some bleachers at the new site so they could play there this year, but it's still just a flat field of dirt. When will construction resume?

One would think that the local press would ask some questions about it. But I guess not.

I just sent off an email to Trey Williams at the JC Press.

They won't ask because the answer is most likely embarrassing. The school either screwed up the bid process, ran out of money, didn't get the permits lined up right or any number of goofs those morons can screw up. I mean seriously, they could screw up a cup of coffee, so I'd expect ETSU baseball to play on it's field (it won't be a stadium atleast til 2015, see communist kickball field and softball field) probably by 2013, and no night games, or pressbox.

Unless someone has facts about the baseball stadium please quit speculating.

A message board is no place for speculation.

(01-13-2011 09:04 PM)BucPerson Wrote:  Unless someone has facts about the baseball stadium please quit speculating.

lol, this is a messageboard, that is a big part of what is done here.

(01-13-2011 04:41 PM)32Degrees Wrote:  I think communication is a big factor in the fate of a coach. The bottom line is at the end of the day all coaches must put a winning product out on the field. There are many factors that go into keeping a coach or firing a coach. I know Coach Skole. He is a very competitive person who hates to lose. He knows the game of baseball. He is a great speaker. When they recruit baseball players, he becomes a sales person, and speaks about all of the features and benefits of coming to ETSU. He is honest and trusting. He made us feel very comfortable and at home when we went through the recruiting process with him and his staff. No pressure!!! I can tell you this... other schools that we visited and were recruited by, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Walters State, Lipscomb, MTSU, Appalachian State, Samford, Western Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Belmont. They all treat you good, but you have to figure out which is the best fit for you and not them. Many schools make promisses and don't deliver on them. Thats why alot of kids transfer. To get back to the topic at hand, Coach skole and his staff are still here because they are great baseball minded people. Yes it has taken time, but this year is the beginning of something special. We have tremendous offense, defense and now the pitching to take ETSU to the next level. ETSU just signed a kid for next year who has always grown up wanting to play baseball for Tennessee, but instead withdraws his commitment to UT and signs with ETSU. Why??? Because of what I just explained to you. Tennessee won't play ETSU for a reason. Vanderbilt won't play ETSU for a reason. We have the athletes... and we are dangerous! Come out to a game this year and you will see for yourself. Sorry for getting off track... I am passionate about sports. Coach Skole is passionate about baseball. Some coaches are in it for the money, and it is very easy for the AD to make a change. No passion or desire. No fire burning in your gut. Maybe thats why some coaches are fired and others are given more time to build a winning team. Live.Think.Dream.Blue This phrase means alot if you think about it. Go Bucs!

I hope you're right about this, 32........ I really do.......
But see, most of us here have "been around", and have heard this kind of thing before - and more than a couple of times. We have repeatedly seen great expectations doused - as per basketball this season, and baseball numerous seasons over the last couple or three decades.
I'm not trying to throw cold water on your excitement; just pointing out that sometimes reality gets in the way of projections.
But I admire (seriously) your excitement and commitment.
Go for it.......

(01-13-2011 09:22 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2011 09:04 PM)BucPerson Wrote:  Unless someone has facts about the baseball stadium please quit speculating.

lol, this is a messageboard, that is a big part of what is done here.

Sure is but most speculation done here is to just to bash.

(01-14-2011 09:23 AM)BucPerson Wrote:  

(01-13-2011 09:22 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  

(01-13-2011 09:04 PM)BucPerson Wrote:  Unless someone has facts about the baseball stadium please quit speculating.

lol, this is a messageboard, that is a big part of what is done here.

Sure is but most speculation done here is to just to bash.

Again, this is a messageboard, thats is alot of what gets done here.
It is aplace for fans to vent.
Plus. somebody had to have dropped the ball somewhere. Go look at the site of new baseball stadium for the new year. Unless they are planning on playing sandlot baseball or someone gets off thier ass it isn't going to happen.

(01-13-2011 12:02 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  I have never understood why SKole has such a long leash, He has been around 11 years, had 8 losing seasons and only had a winning conference record once (last year). The softball coach is fired after 5 years of STARTING the program, the ran off the women's soccer coach but Skole just kept skating along. Be interesting to see if he can keep it going now that he has finally built something after all this time.

Maybe Skole has job security the old fashioned way... holding all the cards on someone over him... nekked pictures?? covered up scandel?? secret recipe for the BASA cookies??

Maybe he's the hookup for pizza, but its all just speculation...