Here we go! The road to Omaha has begun, and I'm hoping my boys put it together this year. We've made a nice tweak to the coaching staff that should patch some of our recent deficiencies, and the pen looks to be pretty good. 2-0 for the weekend. No surprise, but always good to put it inn the books. Maybe I'll get a Runza this year! At the end of this season the Aggies begin the long needed renovation of Olsen field... The suites look awesome!
Scott, What's your thoughts on the new bat specs for this year. I expect it to diminish the long ball in college baseball as it brings the bounce factor off the bat to match wooden bats... Terry, Your avatar was locked up in fast mode and made me pass out three times as I tried to look at it...I feel ill ....
This is rodeo season in Houston, so I thought in it's honor I'd put up a typical Texas girl in her rodeo gear!! Glad you find it soothing!
I don't know Ralph... they've tried to dumb the bats down before. I guess we'll see if they succeed this time. My guys are in good position to benefit. We've been moving to using speed and small-ball for the last few years. Love Terry's avatar...
.....nice boots! :shock: Perhaps she'll be visiting when Scott invites us to the suite! They are sweet.....
Irish got off to a good start in the B10 Challenge, lost to MSU in a close one and then routed Purdue 19-2 before finishing off Penn State 8-5. The new coach was left a pretty empty cupboard and will have to do a pretty nifty coaching job for the Irish to have a good year. More importantly he's going to have to be a outstanding recruiter to build the talent back up. We have recruited Connor Biggio who plays for his dad at St. Thomas, but while he's a good player he's not one of the best at his position (2nd base) in the greater Houston area. In the preseason all-star teams he didn't make the 1st or 2nd All-Greater Houston team. We need to start getting kids who are of the level of All-Greater Some City or State. Of course it might turn out that Connor is a great ND player in the same gritty never quit mould of his dad. I hope so.
The Aggies completed the three game sweep giving up ZERO earned runs. Yes it's the first series of the year, but I'll take that anytime!
... and on the Northeastern coast, you have plenty of opportunity after watching it all accumulate. Ah, Austin,Texas. Where the snow seldom comes and then like a good house guest is gone by noon! :wink:
:idea: If the new coach is recruiting the Houston area, then he probably has a clue. Baseball recruiting is difficult, because players can sign right out of high school or even stash themselves in a JC for a year to improve their draft position without penalty. The key for northern universities (IMHO) is to concentrate their efforts in specific areas, like Houston, SoCal, Miami where the baseball talent is overflowing...
College baseball recruiting is hamstrung by the major league teams luring the kids away with $75,000 signing bonuses and promises of big league play. 99.9% end up riding buses from one town to the next every day for the next five years and never moving up to play major league ball. Miami lost 7 committed players in the last hour before the draft with promises of making it big. That's a $140,000 scholarship trade off for a free bus ride from town to town... :x
Ten minutes from where I sit is the home of the Lakewood Blue Claws Single A affiliate of the Phillies. They have kids on their roster who signed for bonuses of $500K or more. But they do ride a lot of buses.
When I had season tickets to the Fort Wayne "A" minor league team, first affiliated with the Twins, then the Padres, we saw kids who we thought were can't miss prospects. They would be bumped to the AA club never to be heard from again. Some would make it to AAA but not to the Show. Of course there were guys like Tori Hunter and others who moved on up to star in MLB, but the majority, like Ralph says, don't make it past the lower levels. I like the story of my son-in-law, who back in the early 90s went from HS to a junior college and eventually was offered a $15,000 bonus to sign with the White Sox organization as a pitcher. He talked it over with his parents, neither of whom was a college graduate, and they decided to turn down the offer. He eventually came back to attend and play for the U. of Indianapolis and met my daughter, who was teaching at a local elementary school. He still had 30-some credits left to graduate when his scholarship ran out. With my daughter's encouragement and support, he worked and continued in school, at times working as many as 3 jobs at once. He received his Criminal Justice degree and became an excise policeman for the state of Indiana. He's a good guy and they are raising a nice family. I apologize for the personal story, but Ralph's comments reminded me how one young man's decision to not pursue professional baseball eventually affected my life in a very good way.
Great story Sid, thanks for sharing... It sounds like the correct choice was made by your son in law in the scheme of life... I don't blame the young players who have the chance to make income for themselves, it would be hard to turn down $500K like George mentioned. I just wish it would start at a later date similar to what college football does like the end of your sophmore year in college....Then again I am talking from a purely selfish standpoint as I have watched the Canes lose player after player to the draft out of high school for more years then I would like to remember... Ralph
I actually think MLB and the NCAA have the perfect relationship. First off not every kid really is interested in going to college, so they can decide to pursue their dream by playing minor league baseball or go to college. But if they go to college then they stay 3 years good for college and good for the kid and a win/win. I wish basketball would do the same thing, let them go to Europe or the NBA out of HS if they want but if they go to college make them commit for 3 years. In Pro Football I don't think any kid is physically ready to play in the NFL so they are better off not even attempting it and go to college.
Scott...Gonzaga? Seriously? I mean your guys did know that it was baseball not basketball right? :roll:
Ah yes... Terry is always there when the sun shines brightest. :wink: We had a little trouble getting the offense started, and our Sunday pitcher didn't have his stuff so we lost the sweeper game... Don't worry, we'll be in championship form when it's time to snip your steers. :twisted: