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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: March 28
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Jon
12:28
Will Dallas Baptist make a push for a regional host if they dominate the MVC?
Kendall Rogers
12:28
Jon -- Absolutely. So, I know it's Aaron's worst nightmare to look at RPI this early, but DBU is No. 1 in the country in RPI right now, and let's just assume it holds serve the rest of the spring. Will the RPI drop? You bet ... but how much is the question. DBU will be in the mix for a host if it takes care of business in that league.
Jay
12:33
What are your concerns now about Ole Miss and their pitching staff?
laughing 1
Kendall Rogers
12:33
Jay -- So, I think Ole Miss is just fine offensively. It ran into a buzz saw in Tennessee over the weekend. Getting Kevin Graham will help this offense even more, and certainly will be a boost from a leadership standpoint. But I have serious questions about the pitching. I watched the entire series over the weekend and came away rather unimpressed with the starters. That is a problem. Gaddis is a nice arm, but he's a less accomplished Jared Poche at this point. Derek Diamond did his job to quell UT's offense a bit on Sunday, but also didn't get out of the fifth inning. Ole Miss has depth of talent .. but in terms of depth in proven commodities? Questionable.
laughing 2
J
12:37
Are the Oregon schools confused? they seem to be winning their games based on their bats instead of their usual pitching and defense
Kendall Rogers
12:37
J -- if Oregon State can get Pfennigs back, I think the pitching staff will stabilize a bit. It looks like he should come back while Frisch is out for the year with an injury. But yeah, they're knocking the cover off the ball and Oregon is doing the same. I'm so impressed with the job Wasikowski and his staff are doing right now. Brennan Milone has forced into a force at the plate, and that lineup is loaded from top to bottom.
CuriousinKY
12:38
In games where Tate Kuehner, Jared Poland, or Riley Philips starts for Louisville, the Cards usually look great.  When they don't, we've seen some ugly losses (Dartmouth and Lipscomb so far).  If that trend were to continue, how would it affect Louisville's post-season placement if they finish near the top of the ACC, but with a few more RPI-crushing mid-week losses sprinkled in?
Aaron Fitt
12:38
I think the Cards are in OK shape from a postseason positioning standpoint, despite a few hiccups. And really, if they finish near the top of the ACC, they should be in great shape to host a regional regardless, and make a run at a top 8 seed. I also think the depth on that pitching staff isn't bad and they'll be able to handle themselves OK in most of their midweek games.
Clinton
12:38
Do you see the Sun Belt sending multiple teams to regionals this year?
Kendall Rogers
12:38
Clinton -- I think Texas State will end up being a lock, and I think one or two of Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina or South Al makes the tournament, too. Keep an eye on Geo Southern. It has been much much better since the first couple of weeks of the season.
Raider Power
12:40
Who had the better weekend, Ivan Melendez or Kurt Wilson?
Kendall Rogers
12:40
Kurt Wilson because his team won the series and I know both of those guys are all about the team. But man, how about Melendez? The thing about Ivan is that when he showed up in Austin, he looked like a guy who would destroy homers, but probably have a lot of swing and miss. Now, he's a powerful presence and very much a pure hitter. The fact the Marlins let him get away this past summer is wild.
Siege
12:42
One of the biggest questions marks for the Razorbacks coming into the season was pitching, how surprised are you that all 3 weekend starters have produced as well as they have so far?  Also, Brady Tygart looked great at Mizzou, who are some other bullpen guys that you see becoming key pieces for them?
Aaron Fitt
12:42
I can't say I'm surprised -- we were sky-high on Hagen Smith heading into the season, and everybody knew how talented Jaxon Wiggins is, it was just a matter of taking a step forward with command and pitchability, and Matt Hobbs is one of the best pitching coaches out there so it's no wonder Wiggins has taken that step. We also expected a bounceback year from Noland, a veteran guy who looked good in the fall. So I think what you're seeing out of this Arkansas staff is not a mirage, that's a very solid group. And I love the depth of the bullpen, so many good arms with different looks, from Tygart to Starks to Morris to Taylor to Vermillion and Trest, who feel like they've been around forever. That's a great bullpen, I believe.
Dillon
12:45
KR, I feel like you've been the most hesitant about Oregon State. With Pfennigs scheduled to be back in the next couple of weeks. Do you see them as an Omaha team.Also, when will you start doing field of 64 projections and podcasts.
Kendall Rogers
12:45
Dillon -- Not really hesitant, but outside of Hjerpe, I'm not sure I'm sky high on the starting rotation with those other two guys out. I definitely believe in the offense. If they can get Jacob back and he throws like he did pre-injury, that's not only an Omaha caliber club, could be even more. As for projections, we will likely do a midseason projection NEXT week, take one week off, and then start them weekly after that.
cool 1
TedD
12:47
Last week, six out of nine of you picked visiting and then-ranked-#5 Tennessee to beat then-top-ranked Ole Miss. Good pick, but begs the question of what exactly a team’s ranking means.  Could you clarify?
Aaron Fitt
12:47
Hey Ted -- I do think there's something to be said for earning a higher ranking by proving it on the field. Tennessee was hot heading into this weekend, but the Vols hadn't really beaten high-end competition yet, so while they had moved their way up the rankings week by week, there still was no reason for them to jump over a team like Ole Miss that had yet to lose a weekend. Much of our staff felt better about the Vols' pitching heading into this weekend, so they made that pick -- but it still would have been premature to rank Tennessee ahead of Ole Miss before they even played. The rankings are intended to reflect on-field action as the season goes along; so Tennessee swept Ole Miss, and now the rankings reflect what happened on the field. Tennessee is No. 1.
Derek
12:47
With Tidwell supposedly returning soon for Tennessee where does he go? Do you pull someone off the weekend rotation? If so, who? Do you have him pitch midweek? Then what happens to Sechrist?
Kendall Rogers
12:47
Derek -- That's the million dollar question. If you're Tony V, why would you move Beam/Dollander/Burns out of the rotation at this point? With that said, Tidwell was arguably the top returning arm in the SEC in my book outside of a guy like Hunter Barco, so maybe it's a situation where you find room for him. It's a damn good problem to have if you're TV and Co.
Wreck'em
12:48
I know there has only been 1 true week of Big 12 baseball but there really does already seem to be a top 4 (TCU, OSU, UT and TTU) and then everyone else. What do you think?
Kendall Rogers
12:48
Wreckem -- That seems to be accurate. I think I feel a little better about TTU-Texas-OSU than I do TCU, but once the Frogs get Austin Krob back, that's a loaded, loaded club. I think there's a definite drop down after those four teams. I think Baylor-OU have potential, but both entirely too inconsistent for me right now.
Joe
12:50
I thought Mississippi State showed signs of life against Georgia and again against Alabama. What are your expectations for this team from this point on?
Aaron Fitt
12:50
Yeah, the Dawgs are gonna keep on fighting, there's too much pride in that program for those guys to roll over after a rough first month. And it's not like they don't have talent; there's still plenty of firepower in that lineup, and it seems like Preston Johnson and Parker Stinnett have found their footing in the rotation. Those guys do have good stuff, if not Landon Sims stuff, and I think they give MSU a chance to be competitive in the SEC week after week. Big test coming up this week at Arkansas though.
T
12:53
Oregon Ducks finally get in your top 25 !!!! With the Ducks  current RPI at #4 . Do you think your late as usual on this Pac12 team in comparison to ACC and SEC teams . It seems like all west coast conferences have to show first before being included in conversations and rankings . Where as SEC, ACC teams are given this courtesy  day 1, then to compound the issue these SEC, ACC teams are not dropped in the rankings nearly as quick vs west coast teams that stumble .
Aaron Fitt
12:53
How about we not forget that Oregon opened the season by losing three out of four at San Diego, then split four at home vs. UCSB. Really Oregon has one really good series win against a regional-caliber opponent (at Stanford), and that's it. They're just 16-7 -- a decent enough record, but not overwhelmingly awesome. And yet we've got them in the Top 25 -- and still you want to complain about the West Coast getting a raw deal. We've also given Gonzaga (and Long Beach before them) plenty of leeway in the Top 25, but don't let facts spoil your grievance narrative!
laughing 4
Brandon
12:55
Is hitting up or pitching down this year? Not seeing a lot of great staffs this season. Seems like when you get to the tournament there will be 15+ teams with a legitimate chance to win it all.
Kendall Rogers
12:55
Brandon -- That's a very intriguing question. There are a lot of programs who have had some tough injuries, but by far and wide, there aren't a lot of 'great' pitching staffs right now. Even in the SEC West, there are a plethora of teams with gaping holes from a pitching standpoint. Good observation.
ACC Baseball Fan
12:57
I didn't anticipate North Carolina going to Miami and winning but a sweep is a tad bit jarring especially since the Heels bullpen, which has been excellent, gave away a stellar performance from Max Carlson. How much of a wake up call was this weekend for the Heels? Should there be any concern over the weekend rotation, particularly Friday night starter Brandon Schaffer?
Aaron Fitt
12:57
I wouldn't call it a wakeup call; just a tough series on the road, with two games that could have swung either way. I still think UNC's bullpen is a major strength, Miami just found a way to win those bullpen battles this week. Your question about Shaffer is a good one though; that's two straight weeks with a short outing for him, and he gave up 10 hits to Pitt the week before. I do wonder if they could shake up the roles a little bit at some point.
Will
12:58
Who are the current front runners for Golden Spikes?
Aaron Fitt
12:58
This race feels as wide open as I can ever remember -- but right now the two names that leap out most to me are Jake Gelof and Ivan Melendez.
HogWild11
12:58
D1 has kept the Razorbacks in the top 3 up to this point in the season (deservedly so). I want to know though, what was it that kept them there for you while other industries dropped them in their rankings with those losses early on? I think I know why, but also would like you to plead your case. Thanks!
Kendall Rogers
12:58
Hog -- The proof is in the pudding, as my mom used to say. The thing about the Hogs is we know they're going to be offensive -- the pitching staff was the question mark coming into the season (primarily the weekend rotation). And really, their starters, including Jaxon Wiggins, have been pretty good the past few weeks. As long that continues, I feel pretty good about Arkansas' trajectory moving forward.
Pack9 Ron
12:58
IMO, NC State made a statement this weekend with a sweep vs Georgia Tech. Last week, they were close to a series win at Florida State. I understand the slow start to the season prior to this weekend but how are the Pack not considered one of your Top 25 teams?
Aaron Fitt
12:58
They did lose three straight series before this week. Still work to do to get back into the Top 25 discussion.
Dena
1:00
Is Oklahoma a lock for a regional host this year? Played some damn good ball in Norman this weekend. Boomer!
laughing 1
Kendall Rogers
1:00
Dena - Definitely not a lock. Oklahoma has some arms that I find ultra intriguing, but the team as a whole still needs to be more consistent. I found it kind of mind blowing over the weekend that Jimmy Crooks hit his first home run of the season in Week Six. OU has the arms to beat anyone .... but does it have the total package? We'll see.
Southland Dan
1:01
Y'all mentioned South Carolina being one of the more confusing teams in college baseball. What about Clemson? Solid series win vs the Gamcocks, dominant against Indiana but since then fairly non-competitive against Miami until Sunday, now a series loss to Pitt.
Aaron Fitt
1:01
I feel like Clemson probably played a little above itself those first few weeks -- that 14-0 start was nice, but I never really felt like this was an elite Omaha-caliber club. So call it regression to the mean here. We felt like Clemson was a regional team but not a Top 25 team heading into the year; right now I think the Tigers have a chance to be a little better than that, maybe a team that is in and out of the rankings all season, but still not an elite club. The ACC is gonna be a grind for everybody, just a lot of depth and parity, and I expect almost everyone will have these kinds of peaks and valleys as the conference schedule goes on.
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