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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: Week Four
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Kendall Rogers
12:28
Maryland is the team I feel most confident about, Purdue is the impressive team I'm most skeptical about (its schedule hasn't been great) and Rutgers is the team who's off to a hot start who I actually think might be for real. The reports I've gotten on Steve Owens' bunch are very legit.
Jake Daugherty
12:29
I'm interested as to where Kentucky is at, are they close to being ranked? If so what will they have to do to be ranked?
Aaron Fitt
12:29
Here's another team that made a big jump up our internal board this week -- that's a very good series win vs. TCU, and UK is in good shape at 10-2, with a chance to pad that record even more between now and the start of SEC play. For now, Kentucky is in that "lying in the weeds" category along with Auburn and Alabama, but they might not be for much longer. That offense has a chance to be scary.
TV
12:30
How big is the mid week series for Miss St vs Tech?
Kendall Rogers
12:30
TV -- You know me. I put very little stick into midweek games, but I think this two-game midweek set actually WILL tell us something about these two teams. Does Tech continue where it left off over the weekend against Merrimack? Does State pick up the pieces left in the Big Easy and restore order? In this case, these midweek games do indeed matter.
JEL
12:31
What is up with Fullerton State Titans?
Aaron Fitt
12:31
Let's just face it, the talent level on that roster is not where it needs to be. Jason Dietrich was an awesome hire, and I have zero doubt he'll get them going again, but it's not going to happen over night. Give him some time; this year could be a grind.
James
12:32
In the big 12 is there any teams that can compete with Texas for the regular season title or are the other teams just gonna be playing for 2nd place?
Kendall Rogers
12:32
James -- I still think Oklahoma State is a very good team, but Texas is the total package. The Longhorns have an excellent weekend rotation, enough in the bullpen, and the lineup is strong top to bottom with a ton of experience. Furthermore, they play excellent defense. They'll be a tough team to beat in a three-game series, that's for sure. I thought freshman lefty Luke Harrison looked very good in some high-leverage situations over the weekend.
Brent
12:37
Southern Miss has a tough 5 game stretch coming up. Was part of not ranking rhem
Aaron Fitt
12:37
I don't think USM's upcoming schedule was a factor in our deliberations. I've thought Southern Miss was a Top 25 club since the fall, and I still do -- they will be in the rankings soon, I have no question. It just comes back to evaluating the quality of these early-season wins; we had a lengthy debates about USM's very good week (midweek W vs. State, 2 of 3 at Louisiana) vs. Gonzaga's (winning a road series at No. 4 Oklahoma State), and we decided that the series win against a top five team was the trump card. Likewise, Tulane has TWO eye-opening series wins (at La Tech, vs. Miss State), so they were able to jump over Southern Miss, a team that was much higher in our preseason pecking order.
Hoos
12:40
What is it going to take from UVA this weekend to see them in the top 25? I don't agree that they aren't a top 25 team, but I understand your reasoning for leaving them out as of now. I honestly like it as a fan because I think it fires them up. If they were to continue their current pattern and sweep in dominant fashion would that propel them high into the rankings or would you still be waiting on some of the tougher competition in the ACC to really evaluate what this team has done thus far?
Aaron Fitt
12:40
They're at Duke this weekend; that was a preseason Top 25 club, even though it hasn't gotten off to a great start. I think you can pretty much bank on Virginia getting into the rankings next week if it wins that Duke series.
Regine_McClain
12:43
In the early going, looks to me like the American which got off to an iffy start is beginning to right the ship. ECU, Wichita, UCF and of course Tulane look particularly strong  or getting that way. Could this be a 3 bid league as the season unfolds?
Aaron Fitt
12:43
Yeah I could see that -- it's happened before in that league, and I agree with you that all four of those teams are heading in the right direction. Houston and USF too. As is always the case in the American, the danger is that there is so much parity, they might all wind up beating up on each other, which could drag them all closer to .500 and torpedo their regional chances. I'd say for them to get three bids, those teams will need to create some separation from the pack. And at this stage, it's really hard to predict which teams out of that cluster will be able to do that.
Guy
12:48
Two ACC questions...Curious what is keeping Florida State's ranking so elevated with four losses and no wins/losses against top programs? Assuming what is holding Notre Dame back is lack of top end talent?  I thought it was interesting the ACC coaches poll had them ~5th or 6th after winning conference by 5 games last year with all they have returning (8/9 starters and entire rotation) + two high quality arms from the transfer portal.
Aaron Fitt
12:48
Well, Florida State keeps winning its weekends, and it's not like they've played nobody -- Samford was a regional team, Cal is a Pac-12 program with significant talent on its roster. And of course, when teams ahead of you lose their weekends but you don't, you tend to move up. Not sure I understand your Notre Dame question; they're 8-1 and ranked in the top 10. Doesn't seem like anything is holding them back? They were just outside our preseason top 10 based on the losses of Kavadas and Kolhepp, but it seems they have reloaded very well.
BJM
12:48
What are your thoughts on Texas State after their big series win over Arizona?
Kendall Rogers
12:48
BJM -- Really impressed with the Bobcats. I think Trout and his staff do a good job, so when they were admittedly terrible last year, that was a shock  to my system so to speak. This year, the Bobcats are older and are a very very mature club, and it's showing.
Heel
12:50
Impressive start to the season for UNC. Where do you see them in the overall ACC picture at this point?
Aaron Fitt
12:50
Heels feel like a legit contender at this point -- those are two very good weekends against ECU and Coastal, and they have so far answered our questions about the pitching heading into the year. I think the bullpen is particularly strong -- love the depth and variety of options. And I've been high on the position player group since the fall. Mostly just wanted to see how the rotation would shake out. And the early returns against good competition are very encouraging.
Kevin R
12:50
After watching the Shriner's this past weekend, Texas' starters are incredible. Wicked pitches that just pound the zone. Would you compare this team to Vandy's team last year as far as rotation goes and just a "solid" offense?
Kendall Rogers
12:50
Kevin -- Not a bad comparison. Hansen and Stevens may not wow you like Leiter and Rocker, but they are precision-based pitchers who don't deviate at all week to week. Hansen's command of the zone is incredible, while Stevens' hard-nosed approach to go with his command is outstanding. Offensively, I just think Texas has so many outstanding role players. Power generation - Melendez, Power/speed - Hodo, speed/bunt/pressure - Kennedy, and so on.
cool 2
RFBleacherCreature
12:53
How about those Clemson Tigers?  Would love to hear your long term thoughts after seeing them in person Aaron
Aaron Fitt
12:53
Good, balanced club. Some star power with Grice and Anglin and emerging star Cooper Ingle (whose bat I really love), good depth on the mound, and they throw strikes. Alex Edmondson and Jay Dill give them some serious fuel in the pen, and Ryan Ammons has really come on, that's a very uncomfortable at-bat. I think adding Tyler Corbitt and Ben Blackwell in the middle infield has been huge too, they just provide that gritty veteran presence and defensive stability Clemson needed.
cool 2
Gaty Carter
12:53
Impressed how Florida ca?e back to win the series against UM in Coral Gables. After losing Friday night's game with Barco.on the mound I was concerned but some of the Gators young pitchers stepped up. With the possibility of getting Tyler Nesbitt and Nick Pogue back soon I feel.pitching maybe alright. Hitting starting tension some life especially Kolby Halter and Sterlin Thompson. I know it's still early but what's your take on the Gators?
Kendall Rogers
12:53
Gaty -- I was encouraged by Florida's performance. Miami probably saw blood on the water after Friday's game, but to give the Gators credit, they bounced back and won the series with a dominant performance on Sunday. Timmy Manning was strong on the bump, and Calilao/Fabian led the way offensively. That was one of those series that would've gone sideaways on this team last year. Instead, they dominated in the finale. I'm a little more off the ledge about UF than I was a week ago, for sure.
Christian
12:55
NC State and MS St over USM in the polls......why?
Aaron Fitt
12:55
Some polls are super-reactionary early in the season and will run a team from top 10 to out of the Top 25 after one bad weekend, but that's just not our philosophy. We hammered those teams in the rankings, don't get me wrong, but there's a reason both of them were in the top 10 (track record of the returning players and overall talent level), so I think it's fair to leave them in the 20s after bad weeks. Though in MSU's case, this was not its first bad week... I think there's more of an argument that they could have tumbled out this week.
Guest
12:56
Is Baylor a borderline tourney team this year or do you see them in?
Aaron Fitt
12:56
We had them right on the borderline in the preseason, but I think we had them in. Really like how they've righted the ship after that season-opening sweep. They've put together back to back really good weekends against quality opponents. I'm becoming a believer.
RaiderRiot
12:56
Can we say Tech's offense is "back" after what they did against Merrimack over the weekend? Or should we just brush that up to an opponent who was way overmatched all weekend?
Kendall Rogers
12:56
Raider -- Feel better about Tech right now than I did after Globe Life, but let's tap the brakes on things a little bit after playing *checks notes* Merrimack. I may make it out to see Tech once this weekend here in Houston.
JEL
12:57
Gabriel Hughes the Zags Friday starter appears to be the real deal...your thoughts invited.
Aaron Fitt
12:57
Darn right, JEL. Hughes looks like a guy on his way to being a first-team All-American and a premium draft pick in a few months. That Gonzaga rotation is very, very exciting.
Guest
12:58
How about Old Dominion?
Aaron Fitt
12:58
Monarchs were also in our discussion this week -- there were just so many worthy candidates. This is a veteran team that was a 1-seed in a regional last year, is off to a 9-1 start, and just swept a Bryant team that has already shown it is dangerous. ODU definitely in that group knocking on the door to the Top 25. Maybe we need to start doing a Top 40. Somebody get Casey Kasem on the horn.
Aaron Fitt
12:59
Guys, that's all for me this week. thanks as always for stopping by!
Matt
1:00
Whatever the reason was for ECU's slow start, whether it be internal or external, it's very clear that they rebounded big this week, with convincing wins over 4 very solid baseball teams
Kendall Rogers
1:00
Matt -- Well, to be honest, it's a pretty big shock to the system when you lose someone like Carson Whisenhunt for a while, so I'm sure that played a part. With that said, it doesn't shock me that CG would have those guys picking up the pieces and putting them back together by now. It's good to see.
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