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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: Feb. 23
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Kendall Rogers
1:23
Probably Oregon State going 1-2. No offense to Baylor and Purdue, who are solid teams, but if you are an elite team, you've got to play better than you did. What's even more startling for OSU is that even as good as Dax Whitney was, the Beavs had a very real shot to lose that game and go 0-3 as well. They did not look like an elite team this past weekend. Not even close, really.
Guest
1:24
Now that we have 2 weekends under our belts - how do you rate USM's bullpen?  is it real?
Aaron Fitt
1:24
Oh I sure do think it's real. I love the variety of looks and stuff they've got there -- you got your traditional high-ride 94-96 power guy at the back (Camden Clark), you got your slider monster (Camden Sunstrom), your low release/ride fastball guy (Josh Och), your big sidewinder up to 93 (JW Armistead), and of course your nerves of steel veteran lefty who can go as many innings as you need (Kros Sivley). Just feels like the pieces fit together very well for them.
FittsMagic
1:24
Does it feel inevitable that Southern Miss will overtake Coastal as the top Power Major, and how much concern do you have about Coastal in general?
Kendall Rogers
1:24
Let's see how Coastal does this weekend. Obviously, injuries are an issue for Coastal right now, but this is most definitely going to be a different team if/when Flukey gets back into the rotation. Losing Carbone is absolutely brutal, though. In addition to just having really good stuff, he's also a key leader and hard-nosed piece to that pitching staff. Ask me more about Coastal after I see them this weekend in Houston.
Nick W
1:26
Do you see Zona bouncing back from early season struggles and still contending for the Big 12? Outside of WVU, between the Kansas schools and Arizona State, who do you see making a potential run at the conference?
Kendall Rogers
1:26
Nick -- We will see. I was super skeptical about Arizona's offense on paper coming into the season, and injuries, to some degree, have hurt them even more at the plate. Arizona is hitting .224 through two weekends thus far. It will be very hard to content for the Big 12 title if something doesn't turn around in a big way. It's Tony Lira and ???? right now.
Jacob
1:29
What team aren't you talking about right now that might be buzzing in a few weeks?
Aaron Fitt
1:29
I think some teams that have taken care of business against teams they should beat -- I mentioned Oregon, but also teams like Arizona State, Alabama, USC. These are teams outside the Top 25 that we had projected as regional teams, and they haven't yet had an opportunity to make a splash against higher end competition, but those opportunities are coming fast, and all of them are capable of making some noise. FGCU  is one undefeated team I've got my eye on -- our guy Walter Villa picked the Eagles to win the ASUN, despite the presence of Austin Peay and Stetson, and so far FGCU has dispatched the likes of North Dakota State and Stonehill. Let's see how they handle a five-game week against Indiana State and Boston College. But I have a feeling FGCU has a chance to be a buzzy team in a few weeks.
Andrew
1:31
Barring injuries, is it crazy to say that the 1.01 pick of the next two drafts could be locked up with Cholowsky and Whitney already? Both with huge weekends.
Aaron Fitt
1:31
I wouldn't say "locked up", certainly -- but yeah, those guys are clear favorites at this stage, I think that's obvious. Cholowsky's lead over the field for 1.01 this year is very wide, I think.
Mikey
1:31
Do you think UCLA runs the table in series wins this season, which team do you suspect could get them?
Kendall Rogers
1:31
I would be surprised, as good as the Bruins are, if they don't lose a series. This is still college baseball, and the top of the Big Ten has actually looked pretty solid so far. Keep an eye on your friends in South Central, too. USC's rotation over the weekend? 17 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 28 strikeouts this past weekend against Rice.
Guest
1:32
Hey guys great content as always, I know LSU doesn’t have the big time Friday or Saturday guys yet pitching wise but man this line up 1-9 is unforgiving, if the pitching can settle in the tigers may may be hosting the Trophy up again!!! the games were awesome this weekend on D1 thanks fellas
Aaron Fitt
1:32
Thank you! I'm with you on LSU, that team is loaded. Love the lineup, and I am very very optimistic on the long-term outlook for that pitching staff. Crazy high-end talent and depth, and as those underclassmen continue to gain experience, that staff has a chance to be championship-caliber.
Dylan
1:35
Will Tennessee be a bubble team this year or do you think the presence of Elander makes this situation different from TAMU last year? Obviously, Kent State is a great ball club and is a contender to go deep this year, but should Tennessee have to worry?
Aaron Fitt
1:35
Nah the Vols will be fine. Kent State is a good club, lots of returning veterans and plenty of real talent. Obviously you'd still like to win that series at home if you're Tennessee, but there's no shame in dropping two of three against a quality opponent -- #thatsbaseball, it happens. I think we all figured there would be some growing pains along the way with this Tennessee team, which is still relying on a lot of younger players. But we all expected the Vols to get better and better in the second half, and I still believe that to be the case. The talent level in Knoxville remains enormous, and Elander will lead with a steady hand, I believe.
Taylor
1:36
Was UTSA in the conversation at all for a top 25 spot? Impressive sweep of DBU this past weekend. Pat Hallmark appears to be doing it again. A damn good coach.
Kendall Rogers
1:36
Taylor -- 100%. UTSA, Kansas State and Ole Miss were the three teams we debated. I'm very much impressed with what the Roadrunners have already done this season, especially given the Orloski injury and losing so many key pieces. Two guys top of mind for me are Josh Arquette and Andrew Detelfsen. It felt like both had massive weekends at the plate.
Musty the Mustang
1:36
T or F: Cal Poly can play
Aaron Fitt
1:36
True! I like that Cal Poly club; I think it's a regional team, and the race for the Big West title between the Mustangs, Anteaters and Gauchos should be a blast to follow.
Johnny
1:36
Michigan's schedule has been wicked tough so far, think they have over performed or do you expect them to earn an at large bid?
Kendall Rogers
1:36
I actually feel pretty good about Michigan being in that at-large mix right now. I've heard some very positive things about the Wolverines, both from scouts and opposing coaches. I'm pretty bullish on those guys right now.
Zeus
1:38
UCLA adds Reddemann, a Friday night starter, and Gasparino, a power bat for the back part of the lineup, to an already stacked roster.  What potentially could be the thing that prevents the Bruins from taking the title?
Aaron Fitt
1:38
Yeah they are absolutely loaded. But you know, the best team usually doesn't win it all; the hottest team (among the handful of "best" teams) in June wins it all. So it's all just about peaking at the right time.
Diener Duck
1:39
Who looks great right now, and then hits a wall once conference play starts? Who do you feel right now could look like the biggest pretender?
Aaron Fitt
1:39
That's a good try by you, but it's too early for me to call anybody a "pretender" and get my face up on somebody's bulletin board! Fair play to you, though.
Palmetto
1:42
Thoughts on upcoming Clemson vs UofSC series? Clemson looking much stronger so far early in the season
Aaron Fitt
1:42
I like Clemson's chances in that series, just think they are the better, more complete team this year. But it's a rivalry series, you never know! I do agree with your assessment though, very encouraging first two weeks for the Tigers.
Guest
1:42
What weekend will age better for USM, taking 2 of 3 at home from UCSB or going 3-0 in Round Rock?
Kendall Rogers
1:42
Taking two of three from UCSB. Fitt was in Hattiesburg for that, but I think the Gauchos will prove to be the class of the Big West this season.
Aaron Fitt
1:43
OK folks, that's all for me today, thanks for stopping by with the great questions. See you next week!
Guest
1:47
how many bids will the sun belt get this season?
Kendall Rogers
1:47
I'm going to go with three at season's end.
WC_Drew
1:52
If you had to rank the best mid-major conferences between Sun Belt, Big West, American, & C-USA, what would be the order right now?
Kendall Rogers
1:52
I would go Sun Belt, American, Big West, Conference USA in that order right now.
cool 1
Ziggy
2:03
Gasparino was huge this week for UCLA, he adds power to the back end of their lineup.  Will he or Reddemann be the most impactful transfer in the country this season?
Kendall Rogers
2:03
Probably Reddeman giving he's the Friday starter, but there's no doubt Gasparino is off to a great start. When he transferred from Texas to UCLA, I think I said that I thought he would hit 15-20 homers in that league. Hell, he MIGHT hit more than that overall this season. He just fits well there at UCLA.
DaAggies
2:05
Between Texas and Texas A&M, both have Sunday guys that are pitching like top end SEC Friday night starters to begin the year. How do you see the starting rotations play out for both of those schools as the season plays out?
Kendall Rogers
2:05
I kind of like Dylan Volantis and Aiden Sims in those roles. It really gives you a security blanket and advantage in that final game of a series. I do think as good as Dylan has been, it will be tough to keep him out of the Friday or Saturday slots, though. He has been damn near unhittable. As for Sims, he was my breakout pick for the Aggies, and he has elite spin rates on his breaking ball and has just enough juice with the heater.
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