2018 Baseball "preseason"

[GTNavyNuke]

D1 Baseball has a ranking they do every two years of the overall health of college baseball programs in the "modern" (last 5 and next 10 years). https://d1baseball.com/rankings/top-100-program-rankings-31-40/

Two years ago we we're #34 and now we're #36. They list our benefits as being an elite academic institution (got the institute part right!!), talent rich part of the country (duh the south where it's warm and most of the top 100 are) along with good facilities. Overall we've been quite a disappointment recently (not that anyone here has noticed) but have potential to win a lot.

Here's to hoping all our pitchers stay healthy this year and have progressed. 42 days to Minnesota. You can bet it's cold up there (like -11F there this morning) so I've got nothing to ***** about.

 

[senoiajacket]

D1 Baseball has a ranking they do every two years of the overall health of college baseball programs in the "modern" (last 5 and next 10 years). https://d1baseball.com/rankings/top-100-program-rankings-31-40/

Two years ago we we're #34 and now we're #36. They list our benefits as being an elite academic institution (got the institute part right!!), talent rich part of the country (duh the south where it's warm and most of the top 100 are) along with good facilities. Overall we've been quite a disappointment recently (not that anyone here has noticed) but have potential to win a lot.

Here's to hoping all our pitchers stay healthy this year and have progressed. 42 days to Minnesota. You can bet it's cold up there (like -11F there this morning) so I've got nothing to ***** about.

Can't see the article as it's a pay site & I am too cheep to subscribe, however, the comment about spelling is pretty funny. Who is our peer group in the rankings?

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Can't see the article as it's a pay site & I am too cheep to subscribe, however, the comment about spelling is pretty funny. Who is our peer group in the rankings?

Actually, you don't have to pay. Just sign up for a free. Anyway, I logged out (I used to have a paid subscription and may renew since it's a good site) and was able to access this: https://d1baseball.com/rankings/top-100-programs-numbers/

Anyway, here's the programs in our peer group. One thing we have to keep reminding ourselves is that there are 300 college baseball teams and a lot of small non-P5 schools have good programs.

28 Dallas Baptist
29 Arizona State
30 Stanford
31 Indiana
32 Sam Houston State
33 Southern Miss
34 Maryland
35 Oklahoma
36 Georgia Tech
37 UC Santa Barbara
38 East Carolina
39 Long Beach State
40 Missouri State
41 Kentucky
42 Wake Forest
43 Nebraska
44 St. John’s
45 San Diego State

 

[senoiajacket]

Looking at the list just reminds me of how far we have fallen, at least in my demented perception.

 

[FredJacket]

D1 Baseball has a ranking they do every two years of the overall health of college baseball programs in the "modern" (last 5 and next 10 years). https://d1baseball.com/rankings/top-100-program-rankings-31-40/

Two years ago we we're #34 and now we're #36. They list our benefits as being an elite academic institution (got the institute part right!!), talent rich part of the country (duh the south where it's warm and most of the top 100 are) along with good facilities. Overall we've been quite a disappointment recently (not that anyone here has noticed) but have potential to win a lot.

Here's to hoping all our pitchers stay healthy this year and have progressed. 42 days to Minnesota. You can bet it's cold up there (like -11F there this morning) so I've got nothing to ***** about.

It seems incongruous to me to claim GA is a talent-laden state for baseball when only ONE school in Georgia appears in top 70 of this list. It happens to be us at #36. Quick scan of list...only 3 other Ga schools appear way down the list: Mercer, UGA, Ga Southern.

Perhaps they all go pro or get scooped up by non-Ga colleges. ... I doubt it. I just have a "feeling" it's a paradigm that'll take a long time to break. Baseball talent is everywhere.

 

[sgreer]

We have flirted with 40 wins in recent seasons. Taking a macro look at the schedule, I want to think/wish/hope we can get there. Call it a “stretch goal”. Here are win totals from last 5 seasons:
2017 – 27
2016 – 38
2015 – 32
2014 – 37
2013 – 37

2018 Schedule:
56 games (30 ACC, 26 OOC)
35 at home (15 ACC)
21 away/neutral (15 ACC)
?? post-season

There is such a big difference in winning a conference series (and piling a few up).. than losing them. Last year (a bad season), the ACC record was killed by 7 consecutive losses (Clem, 3xND, 3xLOU)... you just cannot be swept...don't allow losses to congregate. If I were king for the day and able to set ONE team goal or slogan for the season, it would be "Bounce BACK - no back-to-back losses"

Here is how I get to 42 wins with my wish/hope/think "Season Record" (42-24). This requires a pretty strong post-season and dominating at home, in general... and particularly OOC. Doing this exercise makes one realize just how much losses seem to hurt a record more than wins help (not logical.. I know).

ACC Overall (17-13)
Home ACC play (10-5):
1x (3-0: VT or WF)
3x (2-1)
1x (1-2: FSU or MIA)

Road ACC play (7-8):
3x (1-2)
2x (2-1)

OOC Overall (19-7)
Home OOC (16-4)
Away/Neutral OOC (3-3)

Postseason Overall (6-4)
ACC Tourney (2-1: Win Pool. Semi-final Loss)
NCAA Regional win (3-1)
NCAA SR Loss (1-2)

Who's with me? I KNOW it is a huge stretch...

"Don't get swept by uGA"should be highlighted under your OOC notes

 

[GTNavyNuke]

It seems incongruous to me to claim GA is a talent-laden state for baseball when only ONE school in Georgia appears in top 70 of this list. It happens to be us at #36. Quick scan of list...only 3 other Ga schools appear way down the list: Mercer, UGA, Ga Southern.

Perhaps they all go pro or get scooped up by non-Ga colleges. ... I doubt it. I just have a "feeling" it's a paradigm that'll take a long time to break. Baseball talent is everywhere.

Well, so you say that Georgia isn't the mecca for baseball talent?

In the last 10 years, 61 from Georgia have made it to the MLB (minors or better). http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...0&Signed=&Active=&Source=&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=

In the total MLB, about 14,000 were drafted (about 1220 per year the last 5 and 1520 the 5 years before that).

So about .4% (=61/14000) who made to rookie came from Georgia. Even before accounting for population, that's a lot less than 1/50th of the country.

But this is from Ga HS or Ga colleges. So a Ga HS player who goes to UCF to play will show up as Florida. More later when I have more time to waste ....... but I see Florida has far more players drafted than Georgia.

 

[FredJacket]

Well, so you say that Georgia isn't the mecca for baseball talent?

In the last 10 years, 61 from Georgia have made it to the MLB (minors or better). http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...0&Signed=&Active=&Source=&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=

In the total MLB, about 14,000 were drafted (about 1220 per year the last 5 and 1520 the 5 years before that).

So about .4% (=61/14000) who made to rookie came from Georgia. Even before accounting for population, that's a lot less than 1/50th of the country.

But this is from Ga HS or Ga colleges. So a Ga HS player who goes to UCF to play will show up as Florida. More later when I have more time to waste ....... but I see Florida has far more players drafted than Georgia.

While I appreciate the effort.. and feel free to continue. Data is always interesting... and sometime revealing. However, I was not declaring Ga anything one way or the other. I think the Southeast (in general) is where the baseball talent is concentrated...and I'd agree Florida is probably #1. Must add other warm weather states... California and Arizona too. Based on your post, though.. I'll ask. Did you remove international (non-US) players from the denominator?

 

[GTNavyNuke]

While I appreciate the effort.. and feel free to continue. Data is always interesting... and sometime revealing. However, I was not declaring Ga anything one way or the other. I think the Southeast (in general) is where the baseball talent is concentrated...and I'd agree Florida is probably #1. Must add other warm weather states... California and Arizona too. Based on your post, though.. I'll ask. Did you remove international (non-US) players from the denominator?

No I didn't remove international players. But I wasn't happy with what I found since I knew there had to be a better way ....... I did this several years ago. I rediscovered a better filter .... old age allows for finding the same thing time after time and thinking that is progress.

So here goes with the data for players drafted in last 2 years (2016-2017) with the same filter except for state. The link has their HS.
GA - 43 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
AL - 15 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
FL - 91 (All HS kids no International http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
VA - 9 (and this one hurt given UVa) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
UT - 2 (did this for fun given climate and lack of population) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
MD - 6 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
CA - 93 (Great weather and lots of people) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
KY - 5 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
TN - 10 (Shows Vandy success is out of state; private school helps a lot) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
MN - 5 (We should easily have talent advantage on MN to open season) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
SC - 6 (A neighboring state with a lot of good teams) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=

Anyway enough. Is there a lot of talent in GA? Yes, more than I thought on a relative basis. Is it overwhelming? Sort of seems to be unless I did something wrong.

As you pointed out, we or UGAg are usually the best in Georgia. But neither is dominant nationally as I would have expected if the talent stayed in state.

 

[FredJacket]

No I didn't remove international players. But I wasn't happy with what I found since I knew there had to be a better way ....... I did this several years ago. I rediscovered a better filter .... old age allows for finding the same thing time after time and thinking that is progress.

So here goes with the data for players drafted in last 2 years (2016-2017) with the same filter except for state. The link has their HS.
GA - 43 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
AL - 15 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
FL - 91 (All HS kids no International http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
VA - 9 (and this one hurt given UVa) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
UT - 2 (did this for fun given climate and lack of population) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
MD - 6 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
CA - 93 (Great weather and lots of people) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
KY - 5 http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
TN - 10 (Shows Vandy success is out of state; private school helps a lot) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
MN - 5 (We should easily have talent advantage on MN to open season) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=
SC - 6 (A neighboring state with a lot of good teams) http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draf...&Signed=&Active=&Source=H&Bats=&Throws=&Sort=

Anyway enough. Is there a lot of talent in GA? Yes, more than I thought on a relative basis. Is it overwhelming? Sort of seems to be unless I did something wrong.

As you pointed out, we or UGAg are usually the best in Georgia. But neither is dominant nationally as I would have expected if the talent stayed in state.

Just a quick scan of the 2018 rosters of Ga Tech, UVA, Clemson & UNC:

Ga Tech - Overwhelming majority of players from Georgia. We've discussed the reasons for this before....but seems to be an obvious decision by the staff to almost exclusively recruit in-state. It seems obvious to me when compared to these other 3 ACC teams.. Ga Tech's geographic focus is smaller than the others...perhaps that is ok and our 'below expectations' results can be attributed to other factors.

UVA - Most players are from Virginia; however, there is significant representation from outside the state...a few from FL but mostly northeast (PA, Mich, NY, MD) Obvious... that staff sees the need to expand the recruiting footprint. I have lots of questions regarding how "hard" that is (financially and practically). For the record, UVA has no players from the state of Georgia.

Clemson - Most players from SC; however, many from NC and Georgia (11 total, unfortunately).

UNC - Similar to UVA. Most from NC...but representation from other places. UNC has 1 Georgia player.

I think it is a fair criticism that Ga Tech is geographically located in an advantageous recruiting position...yet, lately... the results do not line up.

 

[up state jacket]

Just a quick scan of the 2018 rosters of Ga Tech, UVA, Clemson & UNC:

Ga Tech - Overwhelming majority of players from Georgia. We've discussed the reasons for this before....but seems to be an obvious decision by the staff to almost exclusively recruit in-state. It seems obvious to me when compared to these other 3 ACC teams.. Ga Tech's geographic focus is smaller than the others...perhaps that is ok and our 'below expectations' results can be attributed to other factors.

UVA - Most players are from Virginia; however, there is significant representation from outside the state...a few from FL but mostly northeast (PA, Mich, NY, MD) Obvious... that staff sees the need to expand the recruiting footprint. I have lots of questions regarding how "hard" that is (financially and practically). For the record, UVA has no players from the state of Georgia.

Clemson - Most players from SC; however, many from NC and Georgia (11 total, unfortunately).

UNC - Similar to UVA. Most from NC...but representation from other places. UNC has 1 Georgia player.

I think it is a fair criticism that Ga Tech is geographically located in an advantageous recruiting position...yet, lately... the results do not line up.

Over evaluations, not developing talent, and bad luck with injures the last several years. That will sink a proud program.

 

[Buzzbomb]

New video board to be operational by opening day....
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/genrel/010918aab.html

 

[senoiajacket]

New video board to be operational by opening day....
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/genrel/010918aab.html

Sweet. Hope it has a place for pitch speed. Have missed that the last few years

 

[twofortheroad]

I understand that the new scoreboard will include the pitch speed. The one negative that I have about that, you constantly see pitchers turn and look at that number. We don't need any pitching distractions.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

I understand that the new scoreboard will include the pitch speed. The one negative that I have about that, you constantly see pitchers turn and look at that number. We don't need any pitching distractions.

How much does a pitch slow up from the release to catch? I'd think a couple mph ......

As a fan, I like the mph. But what else is neat on TV is watching the movement.

Would be great if the scoreboard would come up with the ball position and strike zone for selected pitches to show the umps the bad calls they made .........

 

[FredJacket]

Would be great if the scoreboard would come up with the ball position and strike zone for selected pitches to show the umps the bad calls they made .........

You sure about that? It would also show the 290 of 300 (estimated totals) of the "correctly" called balls/strikes. If I'm an ump, I'm pleased with those numbers.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

You sure about that? It would also show the 290 of 300 (estimated totals) of the "correctly" called balls/strikes. If I'm an ump, I'm pleased with those numbers.

Come on, you only show the bad ones for the home team

 

[senoiajacket]

You sure about that? It would also show the 290 of 300 (estimated totals) of the "correctly" called balls/strikes. If I'm an ump, I'm pleased with those numbers.

Sounds like you might have called at some time Fred?

 

[FredJacket]

Sounds like you might have called at some time Fred?

Nope. Never. Over time (I'm not sure why) I've developed a defensive posture for sports' officials. Similar to my feelings about waiters & waitresses... another something I've never done.

Generally, folks seem to think the job is much easier than I think it might be.

Having said that ... my post was a reaction to @GTNavyNuke who I believe was not taking any significant shot at umpires (in hindsight).

 

[FredJacket]

30 days seems like a good, round "calendar number" for a little anticipatory post.

Current 30-day forecast calling for highs in mid-60s with rain on Fri, mostly sun on Sat & Sun for opening weekend!

GO JACKETS!!