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D1Baseball's Weekly Chat: Feb. 24
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Aaron Fitt
12:34
Van Belle isn't a high-level prospect because he's a righty with an 88-91 fastball -- that just doesn't move the needle in pro ball these days, in an age when every other guy throws 97. But his changeup is a legit plus pitch, one of the better changeups in college baseball, and he has very good command and competitiveness. He'll definitely get his shot in pro ball. But he's a downright great college pitcher.
TigerRag
12:37
Huge series this weekend in the Palmetto state. Even though both teams are uncharacteristically unranked this will be a highly anticipated matchup. Clemson seems to be opportunistic on offense and really solid on the mound, while the Gamecocks found a way to lose 2 games this weekend against an inferior opponent in Northwestern. SC is still by far the more talented team but how do you see this series panning out?
Aaron Fitt
12:37
How did South Carolina manage to lose that Northwestern series at home? It looks like they pitched pretty well most of the weekend, just lost a couple games in the bullpen. I still actually like the arms in that SC bullpen, and I really like the three starters -- I did not expect to see Brannon Jordan stretched out in a starting role, I had him pegged as the closer, but he was great on Sunday. Anyway -- I think South Carolina will be ticked off, and I think they'll play a lot better. I do like their offensive personnel more than Clemson's, and I think their pitching is comparable (and frankly has even more raw talent than Clemson's). So I'm taking the Gamecocks this weekend.
Brian Snitker
12:38
What is Tennessee's ceiling? Looking really good even with Crochet and Sewell sitting out
Kendall Rogers
12:38
Brian -- If Tennessee plays much of the season the way it did in the Round Rock Classic I am really excited about its prospects. Connor Pavolony, Jordan Beck and Jake Rucker were all really impressive, and Zach Daniels looked the part at least one day in RR. I also like some of the arms -- Chad Dallas is a good one, Jackson Leath is electric and Drew Gilbert is a freshman with some serious moxie out of the pen. What Tony and his staff have done with this program is pretty impressive to say the least.
Max
12:39
Between USC, LBSU, CSUN and Pepperdine which LA County school (Not named UCLA or LMU) are you most surprised by?Do you think more than 1 of those 4 teams has a chance to break into the field of 64 or top 25?
Aaron Fitt
12:39
I mean, Long Beach is the biggest surprise in college baseball, and it's not even close. Let me just say this clearly: Long Beach State went 14-41 last year. FOURTEEN and FORTY-ONE. And now they've won series over Wake and Cal? Unreal.
Brooks
12:40
How close was Pepperdine to being ranked? And what are your thoughts on their matchups against undefeated FIU and UCLA this week?
Kendall Rogers
12:40
Brooks -- Pepperdine was in the discussion for the Top 25. I liked its club Opening Weekend. Another strong week would likely put it in good shape to enter the Top 25. Justin Lutes and Wyatt Young were terrific for me Opening Weekend, and I also think the Waves have some nice pieces from a pitching staff, too, with Cooper Chandler leading the way. Good looking club, and probably my favorite in the WCC at the moment.
Pearson
12:43
After just 2 weekends, who are the Freshman that have blown you away?
Aaron Fitt
12:43
Hmm... I have to go with Robert Moore of Arkansas, based on the fact that he's killing it and he didn't even have a fall to get acclimated. And... I'll say Josh Rivera at Florida. Sounds like he's playing great defense at short, and he's hitting for average and power. He's a big-time dude.
Francisco
12:45
hi guys, thanks for chatting. What can you tell me about Duke Catcher Michael Rothenberg ?
Aaron Fitt
12:45
Rothenberg is a long-time Fitt Favorite. He's a 6-3 or 6-4 switch-hitting catcher with real power (especially from the left side) and a plus arm behind the plate, and he's working hard to polish up his defense. I've always thought he had first-round tools, and so far, it looks like the production matches the talent.
JJ
12:46
Your take on Hunter barco??
Kendall Rogers
12:46
JJ -- Aaron and myself discussed his omission from the weekend rotation on Opening Weekend. But Sully believed in him enough to put him into the rotation against the rival Canes, and he didn't disappoint. He's a premier arm who had a great fall. I'm really excited to see what he does moving forward.
cool 1
BaseballFan
12:47
Who were the top five teams left out of the Top-25?
Aaron Fitt
12:47
Tulane, Texas, TCU, San Diego State, and probably Oklahoma State.
BMP
12:51
Stanford...ouch. Hitting .189 as a team and 36% of the runs they've allowed through 7 games are unearned. The offense has been brutal, the defense has been brutal. Not a good recipe. Do you think this team can turn it around? Or just too young at the plate and this will continue? They played 6 freshmen in the starting lineup yesterday.
Kendall Rogers
12:51
BMP -- If the Cardinal is going to turn it around, they have to be so much better defensively and from an offensive standpoint. Stanford made some really poor defensive mistakes over the weekend and that must change. The lineup will have plenty of ebbs and flows with so many young players. That means the Tim Tawa's and Christina Molfetta's of the team must step up. I do like the pitching with Alex Williams (he was very good over the weekend) and Brendan Beck leading the way. But again, Stanford won't turn the corner until the offense and defense improves.
Tom
12:51
USC fans have to be excited with how the season has started, it seems like Coach Gill & staff have the program in the right direction. What is going to be the biggest hurdle for the Trojans moving forward?
Aaron Fitt
12:51
Indeed, solid 4-2 start for the Trojans, after a 2-1 showing at the Tony Gwynn Legacy. I think pitching will be this team's strength all year, and it's one reason I thought they were a sneaky sleeper pick (kudos to our man Shotgun Spratling for picking the Trojans as his official preseason sleeper, I believe). Kyle Hurt and John Beller were excellent Friday, and I believe in both of those guys -- and Isaac Esqueda was good in a defeat Saturday. That's a pretty nice nucleus on the mound. I'm not convinced they're going to hit a lot, so that would be the biggest hurdle, I think.
HawkTalk
12:53
Bryce Jarvis’ 15K Perfect Game or Kumar Rocker’s 19K Super Regional No-No.  Who do you have? (Game Score went 104 to 102, Rocker)
Kendall Rogers
12:53
Hah! Good question. Without a doubt, Rocker. A no-hitter in a Super Regional!
Steven C
12:53
Based on the small sample size we have seen so far, which SEC teams are making it to Omaha?
Aaron Fitt
12:53
Well I'm not going to base anything on a two-week sample size... but I still feel pretty good about Florida, Georgia, Vandy and Arkansas as Omaha teams.
PG
12:56
ECU is coming off back to back weekends with a sweep. With the LeClair Classic coming up, which of the three matchups is most interesting to you guys?
Aaron Fitt
12:56
That Ole Miss game on Saturday is loaded with intrigue! Cliff Godwin against his old team (his old boss Mike Bianco and one of his his best friends in Carl Lafferty). Plus the Pirates will get to face a guy who has already been a first-rounder in Gunnar Hoglund. I hope the weather is good, because I have to imagine Clark-Leclair is gonna be rockin'.
BearkatAg
12:57
What's your take on Sam Houston's start to the season? I think they have to be considered the favorite to win the Southland at the moment.
Kendall Rogers
12:57
Bearkat -- We had Sam Houston as the favorite in the SLC coming into the season and I don't see anything that would change that for me. Taking care of St. Mary's and LMU to start the season is pretty loud for an SLC club, and how about the start for Jack Rogers? .417, three triples and 10 RBIs. Pretty good I'd say, especially when you already have Cowser in the lineup. Good club with some tough non-conference tests remaining.
Owen
12:58
Why did y'all jump UCLA and FSU over LSU this week?  I understand that they both had better weeks record wise but neither team has played a team that was expected to be decent this year or has already performed decently.  Are we considering margin of victory/dominance in collegiate baseball now?  Thanks guys and have a nice Monday.
Aaron Fitt
12:58
LSU had a 2-2 week, with losses to Nicholls and Eastern Kentucky. It's not like we dropped them -- but UCLA and FSU have been much more impressive so far, so I think jumping them over LSU is fair.
HawkTalk
12:59
Pick a group of starters: Hickman-Rocker-Eder-Leiter-Smith, Mace-Leftwich-Pogue-Barco or Pettway-Nastrini-Bergin-Karros?
Aaron Fitt
12:59
I will take the Vandy group, easily.
Paul
12:59
Oregon State is young with the coaches also not having much experience with the players.  The tough early season games will help this team in the long run.  But I worry will too many early season losses damage their hopes of getting in the field of 64 considering there are some very tough conference games coming up as well?  Thank you
Kendall Rogers
12:59
Paul -- going 2-2- opening weekend and 1-2 at MSU certainly puts OSU behind the eight ball a little bit, but the middle of the Pac-12 looks pretty blah right now, so OSU might end the season with a pretty salty Pac 12 record. With that said, I do think it would be advantageous for the Beavs to have strong weekends against SDSU and UCSB. Lose 3/4 to SDSU or 2/3 to UCSB and I think the Beavs will find it tough to make the NCAA tourney in May.
Pierce
1:00
Would sweeping the Shriner’s Classic be enough for you guys to take Arkansas seriously as a potential #1 team? The pitching staff doesn’t have the front end talent like Georgia, Louisville or Vandy but I think the depth is more than enough for a team that’s loaded offensively.
Kendall Rogers
1:00
Pierce -- Would be a STRONG weekend and statement no doubt, but Florida has earned the spot for now, sweeping the previously No. 1 ranked team in college baseball on the road. But move up a few more spots? Absolutely. I really like the way Arkansas pitched over the weekend, especially Wicklander, so I'm excited to see the Hogs this weekend.
HawkTalk
1:02
Nick Gonzalez cruises into the second midweek with a solid 2.131 OPS.  What’s a reasonable over-under for his end of season OPS?
Aaron Fitt
1:02
When I saw that OPS, I literally just laughed out loud at the airport restaurant I'm chatting, drawing looks from neighboring diners. Put it this way: Rutschman led the nation in OPS last year at 1.326, so let's just set the over/under there. And I'm taking the over -- dude is a monster no matter where he plays, even in the #marinelayer of the Cape League... but he plays half his games in Las Cruces. So, you do the math.
Aaron Fitt
1:03
Well friends, it's been fun, but I need to be catching a flight. Thanks for all the great questions as always! See you next week.
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