2013 College Baseball

[usalion]

This is the place to discuss all things about college baseball. The season kicks off later this week- hard to imagine with all the snow in the north, but temps down south and out west are perfect for baseball. A lot of teams from the north will come south for weekend series- and when they have their spring breaks in about a month, many will spend the entire week down south, playing various schools to get games in, since their fields will not be ready.

A good resource for college baseball is Baseball America, and they have a large section promoting the start of the season, giving conference previews and the like. If you follow college football or college basketball, why not add in your favorite school's baseball team to the mix? Many of them broadcast their gmes on the NET, with the main series running Friday to Sunday, to avoid missing much time in class.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/season-preview/

 

[usalion]

First few weeks of play will not find a lot of great match ups, as teams are really using these games as a preseason (even though they all count). the teams down south have had the definite advantage of better weather and being able to get onto their fields. Many of the northern teams will have been holding their practices indoors because of the cold and/or snow.

One series that stands out this weekend is Stanford traveling to texas to play Rice. Both have been powerful teams in recent years, and Stanford is rated in the baseball america preseason top 10. Look for senior pitcher mark Appel to have a big season for the cardinals after turning down a sizable bonus as the first round draft pick of the Pirates last year.

 

[Santana]

Watch out for left hand pitcher Carlos Rodon from North Carolina State. Dominated in his freshman year last season and will most likely be the number 1 pick in the 2014 draft.

 

[usalion]

Not sure how much of this will get Down Under, but ESPN is broadcasting a fair bit of college baseball. Here's a link to their schedule

http://sportsmediajournal.com/2013/02/07/college-baseball-on-espn/

 

[usalion]

Listened to the Georgia v Georgia southern game tonight. Dawgs started a freshman pitcher named Sean McLaughlin, who had a rocky first inning, giving up a couple of runs. The Dawgs rallied for five in the second, batting around, and ended up holding on for a 6-5 win.

Full huse at Georgia Southern- student tickets were gone a couple of days ago, according to the broadcasters.

Apparently, the two schools have a series set up for the enxt few years, alternating home games as the season opener. Great for both sets of fans.

 

[usalion]

A wild one today between Belmont and Georgia. Tied 2-2 in the tenth, Belmont took advantage of a couple of freshman Dawg relievers, getting five walks, a balk, a couple of wild pitches and a single to take a 5-2 lead. Gerogia struck back with four hits and two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but the tying run died on first base, as Belmont took the three game series, 5-4. Dawgs drop to 2-5 on the young season, a disappointing start.

 

[usalion]

Some good sectional match ups this weekend. Clemson and south Carolina meeting to decide the champion of the Palmetto State. The U plays the Gators- although FSU will also lay claim for florida's top spot. The Longhorns travel to houston to play Rice at Minute Maid Park, while on the west coast, two powerhouses match up- Oregon against cal State Fullerton.

Conference play still two weeks away- spring break for many schols next weekend, so there might be some good cross sectional match ups.

 

[usalion]

Sports Illustrated has a nice bit on Mark Appel, the Stanford pitcher that turned down the Pirates $8m offer last year to return for his senior season. Bor-ass is an unofficial advisor (as a college player, he can't hire an agent, of course). Appel essentially saying a return to stanford was a desireable choice....whatever...

Also rated the top ten prospects for the draft, which I would probably put a cut below Baseball America's rankings, but I provide here for reference come June

1) Mark Appel, Stanford, P
2) Ryne Stanek, Arkansas, P
3) Austin Meadows, Grayson HS, CF
4) Sean Manaea, Indiana State, P
5) Kohl Stewart, St Pius HS, P
6) Clint Frazier, Louisville, OF
7) Kris Bryant, San Diego, 3B
8) Jonathan Crawford, Florida, P
9) Austin Wilson, Stanford, OF
10) Trey Ball, New Castle HS, OF/P

 

[Wickzki]

Go Ducks! Go Beavers!

 

[Santana]

College World Series is on. There's a live game on Foxtel ESPN right now.