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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: Jan. 18
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Guest
1:35
What is the % Kumar Rocker takes pitcher of the year ?
Mike Rooney
1:35
First he has to win Pitcher of the Year for Vandy! Jack Leiter will have something to say about that.. all kidding aside, Kumar enters the year as the clear favorite and a Golden Spikes candidate. He is special!
Robert
1:36
I was surprised to see OM above State. Can you touch on what gave them the edge? I like State’s weekend rotation much more with McLeod, Cerantola, and Bednar.
Aaron Fitt
1:36
We debated this at length. Ultimately I think Ole Miss got the edge because our panel felt like Nikhazy-Hoglund was a little more established as a rotation duo, and Cerantola still feels like such a wild card, even though his upside is enormous. Personally, I'm all-in on Bednar, and I also really believe in Kamren James — two guys that maybe don't have SEC track records yet but should become stars in this league. I think I go back and forth about Ole Miss and State every time I look at them.
Southern Slams
1:39
Question 2. What about Alabama? I know the Tide also aren’t ranked, but started 16-1 last year and could still make some noise. Do you think Alabama has anything special in them? Can they start strong again?
Aaron Fitt
1:39
Bama is one of the most intriguing wild card teams out there, for me. This group of players don't have any kind of track record of SEC success, so they've got a lot to prove... but there's a whole lot to like about them. I think it's a strong lineup with some power and athleticism, and I expect them to defend at a high level. I think Prielipp will be one of the best Friday night aces in America, and there are talented pieces behind him but I want to see them do it. My biggest concern is I don't think Alabama is as deep on the mound as most of the SEC contenders, so they'd better stay healthy.
Frank
1:40
Do Vandy's top 2 starters (Rocker & Leiter) have the potential to be the best top of the rotation in college baseball history?
Mike Rooney
1:40
It is incredible to think that they could go first and second overall in the draft! The 2003-4 Rice teams have to be in conversations like this as Humber-Niemann-Townsend went 3rd, 4th, and 8th in the 2004 draft.
Aaron Fitt
1:44
Lest we forget, Cole and Bauer went No. 1 overall and No. 3 overall in 2012... but Cole actually had a losing record that year! As talented as he was, he did not perform up to his talent that year. So if Rocker and Leiter can perform up to their talent, they could certainly eclipse what Cole and Bauer did that year, and potentially match what they did in the draft.
Scott
1:42
I know this question gets asked every year but is this the year that East Carolina finally gets to Omaha? And not that it matters but I was expecting a little bit higher ranking for the Pirates (15-20), I figured with as many arms that Pirates have they would be a solid top 15 team.
Aaron Fitt
1:42
Lots of solid arms, but they don't have a true blue-chip Friday night ace, which is why they weren't higher. Kuchmaner and Tyler Smith are nice steady veteran starters, but they don't really have sexy stuff. Gavin Williams has sexy stuff if you see him on the right day, but we're still waiting for him to put it all together. Carson Whisenhunt is my big pick to click; if he performs like I think he might, maybe he can emerge as a true ace and complete the puzzle for ECU. I think that's the piece this team needs to make an Omaha run, because I really like the position player group -- should be an elite defense and a deep, efficient offense, I think.
Jeramey
1:42
Good afternoon and thank you for the chat as always. Your breakdown of the top 25 is amazing as always. If you could only see 3 of these teams during the season as a fan, who do you go see? I am limited on time to t ravel to see games this and want to make my 3 games count. Thanks
Kendall Rogers
1:42
Dang, Jeramey. Great but TOUGH question. I would say Vandy because of Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, Florida because it's just so ridiculously loaded and Texas Tech because I feel like watching those guys offensively is like watching controlled chaos.
Mike Rooney
1:46
Great question! I'm going ballpark-centric here: UConn, Florida, Oklahoma State.. I'm fired up to see these new joints. They all look spectacular!
Aaron Fitt
1:47
Those are all great answers! Florida checks all the boxes -- insane talent and gorgeous new ballpark. Vandy has Rocker and Leiter. But I'm going with UCLA for my third spot -- I just love that team's style of play. Watching them dominate the strong Frisco Classic field for three days last spring was truly a treat.
Troy
1:44
Interested to hear your thoughts on DBU?  They have been a fixture in the top 25 in recent years.
Mike Rooney
1:44
They will good again.. incredible coaching staff, some really good returning pieces. Ryan Wrobleski is a personal favorite of mine. I wish we could have seen 2020 play out for them.. I thought Burl Carraway was a gamechanger for DBU and that might have been the difference for an Omaha run. He should rocket to the big leagues. Never bet against the Pats!
Southern Slams
1:49
  1. thoughts on UGA without Hancock and Wilcox? I know they’re in ranked now but do you think they can make a run if the pitching funds some replacements? Just curious your thoughts on the Dawgs!
Aaron Fitt
1:49
Boy, we thought long and hard about ranking Georgia, even despite those losses. I happen to believe that Ryan Webb/Jonathan Cannon/CJ Smith has a chance to be one of the SEC's best rotations. If the super-talented freshman position players hit the ground running to provide some added firepower in the lineup, I think Georgia will be a Top 25 team in a hurry. And the Bulldogs need the Tate brothers to have big years -- Cole Tate takes over for Cam Shepherd at short, and Connor Tate needs to be a big-time run producer.
Bear down
1:52
Curious as to why you guys have the wildcats ranked lower than other sites?
Mike Rooney
1:52
I view Arizona as having a wide range of outcomes. First, I love their freshmen class. Berry, Nichols, Davis, and Susac are all top of the league players. But they are true freshmen in a year when college baseball will be very old. The overall talent level is very strong for the Wildcats. For me it boils down to uncertainty: they will start a true frosh at Catcher, a JC transfer on Friday nights (Chase Silseth), and the infield defense is a question mark. Silseth is really talented though so he could be fine. There's a lot to like here.. wouldn't be surprising to see them advance from here in the rankings. Arizona is the second best team in the Pac.
Kendall Rogers
1:53
We are a little more cautious on Arizona than some might be, but I'm on record as saying Arizona will likely finish a little higher than that. I think the Wildcats are going to hit, and if they can have an ERA around 4.50 or so, I think this is a Top 15 caliber club. We'll see how things shake out.
Steve
1:52
It wouldn’t be a weekly chat if I didn’t ask about my Tulane Green Wave! I know y’all have stated that they’re projected as a potential regional team, but how far are they from the Top 25?
Kendall Rogers
1:52
Steve -- Not Far. Tulane and UCF were both teams we discussed during our preliminary Top 25 discussions. Tulane looks like a solid club this spring, and it all starts with the big guy on Friday nights in Braden Olthoff. That's such a tone setter each weekend.
Vandyfan
1:53
You seem to be trending down on Vanderbilt ranking them 4th whereas this past fall Aaron was between them and Florida for the 1 spot. (Plus you ranked their incoming class outside of top 10 - way down vs other sites) do you think Vanderbilt is trending down?
Aaron Fitt
1:53
Haha, um, no. I do think Vandy has some things to prove in the lineup – and really on the mound too — but I'm still in love with the talent. I mean, fourth in the nation is pretty damn good. On my personal board, I'd probably have them third above Texas Tech, just because I think Rocker/Leiter is such an enormous advantage in any weekend series. But I think UCLA is a more complete club overall.
Guest
1:56
Hey fellas- first time long time. What power 6 conference seems to have benefited most in regards to pitching depth due to the pandemic ?
Aaron Fitt
1:56
I think it's the SEC, as boring as that answer is. That league is just so jam-packed with 6-15-round caliber arms every year, and most of the time those guys sign. This year, so many of them are back. Every staff in the league has guys who fit in that mold.
Brandon
1:57
Can’t wait to get the year fired up, men. Thanks for your great content each year. You guys want to take a crack at Tech’s weekend rotation?
Kendall Rogers
1:57
Brandon -- I just wrote about Texas Tech, here. I am going to go with 1) Micah Dallas 2) Mason Montgomery and 3) Hunter Dobbins

https://d1baseball.com/top-25/top-25-breakdown-no-3-texas-tech-2/
Greg
2:00
Which Florida freshman will have the biggest impact this year, if you   can only pick one?
Aaron Fitt
2:00
What a tough question, Greg. Colby Halter probably has the clearest path to regular playing time -- I think his defensive chops give him the edge for the majority of the playing time at third base, although I could see McMullen playing third and maybe Sterlin Thompson or Calilao getting run at DH if the Gators want to get both of their bats into the lineup. Thompson has a chance to be a monster, but heck, Halter is going to be really good too, and his defensive value gives him a slight edge for me. Timmy Manning is going to be really, really good too, but on this veteran staff he's probably just a middle reliever in 2021. Long story short -- I guess I'll take Halter.
DBU fan
2:01
I was surprised to see Dallas Baptist not in your top 25. They finished last season #22 and have their full starting rotation back as well as 8 of their 9 starting position layers.
Kendall Rogers
2:01
DBU -- the Patriots were in the discussion. I do think this is going to be a very solid team and certainly the clear-cut favorite in the MVC. I love the front two arms in the weekend rotation in Dom Hamel and Ray Gaither, and getting spinster Kragen Kechely back on the back-end of the bullpen to go with hard-throwing Luke Trahan is huge. I could definitely see the Pats being ranked at season's end.
FeMike
2:02
I don't envy hitters this year.  With the abrupt end to baseball in 2020 and the abbreviated draft, it seems like this season is shaping up to supply some of the most daunting pitching arsenals ever assembled.  The top 25 is littered with teams whose pitching would compete for 'best in the nation' any other year.  Pinning a 'best pitching staff' or even top 5 would be difficult at this point, so I'll go the other direction.  Which 1 or 2 teams look to have the offensive firepower to really pose the biggest threat to these 'super staffs'?
Aaron Fitt
2:02
I like your style here, Iron Mike. I think my votes for best offenses go to Florida, Louisville, Miami and... you guessed it -- Wake Forest!
Jay
2:02
With no Fall for most of the Pac 12, who do you see in the Pac 12 possible making regionals after UCLA and Arizona?
Kendall Rogers
2:02
Arizona State, Oregon State and Washington, in order, would be those teams for me. I would also caution to keep an eye on Oregon. I think the Ducks will start to show gradual improvement under the new coaching staff. Maybe even this year? This is as good of a year as any to make an unexpected move.
Aaron Fitt
2:03
All right gang, that'll do it for this week. What a fun chat to start off the year -- thanks to everybody for the fantastic questions. See you back in the chat room on the first Monday of the season. It'll be here before you know it!
Kendall Rogers
2:07
All right,folks ... that's all the time for today. Remember, you can use the promo code promo2021 to get 20% off an Annual Subscription at D1Baseball. Join Today -- http://www.d1baseball.com/subscribe
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