2014 College Baseball Thread (UPDATED - Opening Day Friday)

[NAHSTE]

The season starts this Friday. I will try to keep this sparsely updated throughout the year, building up to Omaha. Considering the new MLB spending restrictions on international free agents and the increased focus on the draft, I'd expect we'll see a lot more interest in college baseball in the coming years.

It's kind of always been a big deal for me, so I apologize for my zealousness. More info coming soon.

[NAHSTE]

Top 25 Teams
According to Baseball America

Rk.	Team	2012 Record	Final 2012 Ranking
1.	North Carolina	46-16	17
2.	Vanderbilt	35-28	NR
3.	Arkansas	46-22	6
4.	Louisville	41-22	NR
5.	Mississippi State	40-24	22
6.	Oregon State	40-24	24
7.	South Carolina	49-20	2
8.	North Carolina State	43-20	12
9.	Stanford	41-18	13
10.	LSU	47-18	9
11.	Kentucky	45-18	20
12.	UCLA	48-16	5
13.	Mississippi	37-26	NR
14.	Texas Christian	40-22	16
15.	Oregon	46-19	11
16.	Georgia Tech	38-16	NR
17.	Florida	47-20	3
18.	Rice	41-19	18
19.	Oklahoma	42-25	14
20.	Florida State	50-17	4
21.	New Mexico	37-24	NR
22.	Cal State Fullerton	36-21	21
23.	Southern Mississippi	32-24	NR
24.	Arizona	48-17	2
25.	San Diego	40-17	NR

[Leftwich]

College Baseball isn't as big as it should be. I think its because of the lack of talent comparable to College Football. I would hate for MLB to do it but making kids play in college for a number of years before they jump to the MLB would increase that talent level but would ultimately harm Minor League teams. It's a vicious circle.

[NAHSTE]

National TV Schedule

ESPN has ramped up its coverage of college baseball and the result is a record 151 regular season games which will be covered by the network this season.

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Fri, Feb 15 4 p.m. Rhode Island at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
Fri, Feb 22 4 p.m. St. John’s at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
Sat, Feb 23 2 p.m. South Florida at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
Sat, Feb 23 2 p.m. St. John’s at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
Sun, Feb 24 1 p.m. South Florida at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
Fri, March 8 6 p.m. Boston College at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
Fri, March 8 6:30 p.m. Clemson at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Sat, March 9 6:30 p.m. Clemson at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Sun, March 10 1 p.m. Boston College at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
1 p.m. Clemson at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Wed, March 13 3 p.m. Farleigh Dickinson at St. John’s ESPN3
Fri, March 15 6:30 p.m. No. 25 Virginia at Clemson ESPN3
7 p.m. Miami (Fla.) at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
Sat, March 16 6 p.m. Miami (Fla.) at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
6:30 p.m. No. 25 Virginia at Clemson ESPN3
Sun, March 17 1 p.m. No. 25 Virginia at Clemson ESPN3
1 p.m. Miami (Fla.) at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
1 p.m. Holy Cross at St. John’s ESPN3
Fri, March 22 3 p.m. Pittsburgh at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. No. 21 Georgia Tech at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
Sat, March 23 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. No. 21 Georgia Tech at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
8:30 p.m. No. 24 Texas A&M at Ole Miss ESPNU
Sun, March 24 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at St. John’s ESPN3
Sun, March 24 1 p.m. No. 21 Georgia Tech at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
Mon, March 25 7 p.m. No. 11 NC State at No. 25 Virginia ESPNU
Wed, March 27 6:30 p.m. Georgia at Clemson ESPN3
Thu, March 28 Noon Cincinnati at St. John’s ESPN3
2:30 p.m. Cincinnati at St. John’s ESPN3
7:30 p.m. No. 24 Texas A&M at No. 5 South Carolina ESPNU
Fri, March 29 6 p.m. Wake Forest at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
6:30 p.m. Maryland at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Sat, March 30 1 p.m. Cincinnati at St. John’s ESPN3
4 p.m. Wake Forest at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
6:30 p.m. Maryland at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Sun, March 31 1 p.m. Wake Forest at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
1 p.m. Maryland at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Mon, April 1 3 p.m. NYIT at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. Clemson at No. 4 North Carolina ESPNU
Wed, April 3 3 p.m. Wagner at St. John’s ESPN3
Thu, April 4 8 p.m. No. 1 Arkansas at Alabama ESPNU
Fri, April 5 6:30 p.m. Virginia Tech at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Sat, April 6 Noon Liberty at Coastal Carolina ESPNU
8 p.m. Missouri at Georgia ESPNU
Sun, April 7 Noon No. 9 Florida State at Miami ESPNU
1 p.m. Virginia Tech at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
4 p.m. California at No. 10 Arizona ESPNU
Mon, April 8 7 p.m. No. 25 Virginia at Wake Forest ESPNU
Tue, April 9 6 p.m. No. 13 Florida at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6 p.m. East Carolina at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Thu, April 11 7:30 p.m. No. 5 South Carolina at No. 13 Florida ESPNU
Fri, April 12 6 p.m. Duke at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6 p.m. Longwood at Campbell ESPN3
7 p.m. No. 25 Virginia at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
Sat, April 13 4 p.m. No. 5 South Carolina at No. 13 Florida ESPN2
5 p.m. Missouri at No. 8 Vanderbilt ESPNU
Sun, April 14 1 p.m. Duke at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
1 p.m. No. 25 Virginia at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
5 p.m. No. 20 Arizona State at USC ESPNU
Tue, April 16 3 p.m. Albany at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. Coastal Carolina at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
Wed, April 17 6 p.m. Princeton at St. John’s ESPN3
Thu, April 18 7:30 p.m. Auburn at No. 18 Mississippi State ESPNU
Fri, April 19 6 p.m. No. 25 Louisville at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. Radford at Coastal Carolina ESPN3
7 p.m. Duke at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
7 p.m. No. 11 NC State at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
Sat, April 20 1 p.m. No. 25 Louisville at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. Duke at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
6 p.m. No. 11 NC State at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
8:30 p.m. No. 24 Texas A&M at No. 1 Arkansas ESPNU
Sun, April 21 Noon No. 25 Louisville at St. John’s ESPN3
1 p.m. No. 11 NC State at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
2 p.m. No. 24 Texas A&M at No. 1 Arkansas ESPN2
2 p.m. Ole Miss at Tennessee ESPNU
2 p.m. Duke at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
5 p.m. Southern Illinois at Creighton ESPNU
Thu, April 25 7:30 p.m. No. 15 Kentucky at Ole Miss ESPNU
Fri, April 26 6 p.m. Wake Forest at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6 p.m. UNCA at Gardner-Webb ESPN3
6:30 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Sat, April 27 6 p.m. Wake Forest at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6:30 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
9 p.m. Texas at No. 23 Baylor ESPNU
Sun, April 28 1 p.m. Wake Forest at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
3 p.m. No. 5 South Carolina at No. 3 LSU ESPN
3:30 p.m. No. 7 Stanford at No. 6 Oregon ESPNU
7 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina at No. 11 NC State ESPNU
Wed, May 1 6 p.m. Iona at St. John’s ESPN3
Thu, May 2 7:30 p.m. No. 13 Florida at No. 3 LSU ESPNU
Fri, May 3 6 p.m. Central Florida at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6 p.m. Charleston Southern at Winthrop ESPN3
6:30 p.m. Presbyterian at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
7 p.m. Alabama at No. 18 Mississippi State ESPNU
7 p.m. Coastal Carolina at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
10 p.m. No. 7 Stanford at No. 20 Arizona State ESPNU
Sat, May 4 1 p.m. No. 13 Florida at No. 3 LSU ESPN2
6 p.m. Central Florida at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6 p.m. Coastal Carolina at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
6:30 p.m. Presbyterian at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
11 p.m. Long Beach State at No. 22 Cal State Fullerton ESPNU
Sun, May 5 1 p.m. Georgia at Tennessee ESPNU
1 p.m. Central Florida at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
1 p.m. Coastal Carolina at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
1 p.m. Presbyterian at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Mon, May 6 7 p.m. Maryland at Clemson ESPNU
Thu, May 9 9 p.m. No. 3 LSU at No. 24 Texas A&M ESPNU
Fri, May 10 7 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
8 p.m. Oklahoma State at No. 16 Oklahoma ESPNU
Sat, May 11 Noon Notre Dame at St. John’s ESPN3
1 p.m. No. 3 LSU at No. 24 Texas A&M ESPN
2:30 p.m. Notre Dame at St. John’s ESPN3
6 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
Sun, May 12 1 p.m. Notre Dame at St. John’s ESPN3
1 p.m. No. 4 North Carolina at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
3 p.m. No. 9 Florida State at No. 11 NC State ESPN3
Mon, May 13 7 p.m. No. 9 Florida State at No. 11 NC State ESPNU
Tue, May 14 7 p.m. Georgia at No. 21 Georgia Tech ESPN3
Thu, May 16 6 p.m. Clemson at No. 9 Florida State ESPN3
6 p.m. Virginia at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
7:30 p.m. SEC Wildcard ESPNU
Fri, May 17 6 p.m. High Point at Virginia Military Institute ESPN3
7 p.m. Virginia at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
8 p.m. Clemson at No. 9 Florida State ESPNU
11 p.m. California Irvine at No. 22 Cal State Fullerton ESPNU
Sat, May 18 Noon Pittsburgh at Louisville ESPNU
2 p.m. Virginia at No. 4 North Carolina ESPN3
3 p.m. Clemson at No. 9 Florida State ESPNU

[NAHSTE]

Freshman to Watch
(or, obligatory Alex Bregman fap sesh)

Bregman is a true frosh, who will open the season (against Maryland, by the way) as the #3 hole hitter and starting shortstop for your LSU Fighting Tigers. The New Mexico native could end up being one of this proud program's all-time great players.

Here he is at a Perfect Game showcase showing off his prodigious power:

[Woy]

This is where Gob and I about not having college baseball at our schools.

[Goober]

The Big 10 is really bad (again) this year, maybe those kids from Wisconsin will be able to make some noise...

...oh wait...

...fuck title IX.

[SuperKevin]

I always try to watch a few innings whenever I notice a game is on. I love the sound of a perfect hit with a metal bat

[NAHSTE]

Players to Watch

Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

By now you should know all about Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, who spurned a first-round contract offer from the Pirates in order return for a final year of collegiate ball. He should be one of the top 3 selections in the 2013 draft.

Kent Emanuel, LHP, North Carolina

The preseason no. 1 Tar Heels are stacked with quality pitching, led by southpaw Emanuel. The rising junior was dominant as Carolina's Friday night starter in 2012, striking out 100 batters in 119 innings with a 1.98 ERA.


Adam Plutko, RHP, UCLA

Plutko was drafted by the Astros in the 6th round out of high school in 2010, but did not sign. Instead, the 6'3 right-hander headed to UCLA, where he stepped in as the the no. 3 starter on a loaded staff that included studs Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole. Last season, with those two departed, Plutko anchored the Bruins rotation with a 10-3 record and 2.88 ERA.

Bobby Wahl, RHP, Ole Miss

Wahl boasts some of the best swing-and-miss stuff in the college game, pairing a heater that touches 95-97 with a sharp 80-83 breaking ball. Wahl struck out over a batter an inning in his sophomore season (104 K, 99 IP) and figures to be taken early in the next draft.

Mitchell Garver, C, New Mexico

A first team pre-season NCBWA All-America, the rising senior Garver hit .377/.438/.612 with 10 home runs last season for the Lobos, while also nabbing 40% of would-be base stealers.

 

Raph Rhymes, OF, LSU

All Raph does is hit, hit, hit no matter what. Rhymes left the the yard just 5 times last season, so he's clearly not your standard middle of the order hitter. But even with his relative lack of pop, Rhymes held down the cleanup spot for much of last season and wore out the outfield grass at Alex Box from foul pole to foul pole. After posting a .431/.489/.530 slash line in 2012 and flirting with .500 at times, it's safe to say Rhymes is the college game's best "pure hitter."

Austin Cousino, CF, Kentucky

The 'Cats have been one of college baseball's greatest surprise success stories in recent years, culminating with their 45-win season in 2012. As a freshman, Cousino posted a nifty .319/.408/.515 slash while also offering above average power and speed with 9 HR and 15 steals. Oh yeah, he's also a plus defender in center.

Trea Turner, SS, NC State

Another sophomore who anchors the lineup of a breakout 2012 team. Turner is one of the more prolific base stealing threats in recent memory. As a freshman, Turner swiped 57 bags on 61 attempts, while also managing to provide modest pop (5 HR) out of the lead off spot. He will play SS this season after manning the hot corner for his freshman campaign, and should help the resurgent Wolfpack program -- which, oh by the way, also boasts the reigning National Freshman of the Year in Friday night starter Carlos Rodon -- make its first trip to Omaha in nearly half a century.

Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State

Conforto's stellar freshman season (.349/.438/.601 with a Pac-12 leading 13 bombs) brought him many accolades, including the Pac 12 Freshman of the Year, NCBWA Freshman of the Year, and several first- and second- team All-America selections. He is a prototypical masher, showing an elite combination of patience and power from the left side of the plate.

Austin Wilson, OF, Stanford

The athletically gifted Wilson ranked 3rd on Keith Law's initial watch list for the 2013 MLB draft. He hit 10 home runs last season in a home park that usually depresses power, and has the raw power to match or top that total this season.

Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego

The centerpiece of a deep Torros lineup, Bryant is arguably the nation's best power hitter. Bryant hit 14 homers in 2012, and as the .366/.483/.671 slash line can attest, his on-base and contact skills were superb as well.

[Goober]

Bobby Wahl is a reliever in the pro's no changeup. The Brewers will probably have their eye on him.

[Goober]

I think I need to find a team that is the perfect storm of awesome, and just follow them. Any suggestions?

My requirements would be:
1) Star player who is likely to be selected early in the MLB draft this summer.
2) Lots of games on National TV, so that I can actually watch them play.
3) Long history of success (I'm not cheering for any Stony Brook bums).
4) Highly ranked this year.
5) Good looking uniforms.

[NAHSTE]

I think I need to find a team that is the perfect storm of awesome, and just follow them. Any suggestions?

My requirements would be:
1) Star player who is likely to be selected early in the MLB draft this summer.
2) Lots of games on National TV, so that I can actually watch them play.
3) Long history of success (I'm not cheering for any Stony Brook bums).
4) Highly ranked this year.
5) Good looking uniforms.

Your choices are basically SEC/Pac 12 if you want to see a team win a title (ACC has a poor history when it comes to actually winning in the CWS). Stanford seems to fit your criteria the best depending on how you feel about their uniforms. In addition to Appel, outfielder Austin Wilson is another projected top 5 pick. The only downside to Stanford is their park is kind of big and their coach is kind of into the slap hitting approach and thus it makes for a boring brand of baseball.

UNC has sharp unis, has made the CWS 5 of the last 7 years, and they boast a tremendous trio of starters (all sub-2.00 ERA) and a pretty solid first round prospect in 3B Colin Moran.

[Goober]

Your choices are basically SEC/Pac 12 if you want to see a team win a title (ACC has a poor history when it comes to actually winning in the CWS). Stanford seems to fit your criteria the best depending on how you feel about their uniforms. In addition to Appel, outfielder Austin Wilson is another projected top 5 pick. The only downside to Stanford is their park is kind of big and their coach is kind of into the slap hitting approach and thus it makes for a boring brand of baseball.

UNC has sharp unis, has made the CWS 5 of the last 7 years, and they boast a tremendous trio of starters (all sub-2.00 ERA) and a pretty solid first round prospect in 3B Colin Moran.

Da fuck?

Do I look like air mcnabb to you? I'm not jumping on the #1 ranked team's bandwagon.

[Youk]

Da fuck?

Do I look like air mcnabb to you? I'm not jumping on the #1 ranked team's bandwagon.

Army. For America.

Plus they're supposed to rape the Patriot League.

[Hasselbeck]

Lobosssssss

I don't really follow college beisbol, but it's pretty awesome to see my alma mater build a good baseball program.