Nutriaitch
Retired Super Hero
(just read through last year's thread. enjoyed it so much, I'm starting one for this year)
opening day is 8 days away.
for the 1st time in almost a decade, we enter the season with a National Title to defend. i 'm actually feeling a little better this season than I did going into last year.
key losses:
key returners:
Anthony Ranaudo (sp)
Matty Ott (closer)
Micah Gibbs (c)
Blake Dean (1b, of, dh)
Mikie Mahtook (of)
Leon Landry (of)
Austin Nola (ss)
Tyler Hanover (3b)
Austin Ross (sp)
we definitely have the pieces to make another run. anything less than making some noise in Omaha would be considered under achieving.
if Ranaudo (touted by some as the best college baseball player in the country) can equal/better what he did last year, he'll be an EARLY draftee.
lineup and defense should be just as good as last year (maybe better if they can develop some consistency).
Losing Chad Jones as a set-up man/outfielder/dh hurts a bit. Not everyday you stumble upon a lefty who can throw 90+, with a nasty slider, PLUS hit for power to all parts of the park, PLUS play all-conference level defense, PLUS outrun all but a handful of players in the nation, PLUS be intimidating as hell with his dreadlocks and reputation for decapitating people on the football field.
opening day is 8 days away.
for the 1st time in almost a decade, we enter the season with a National Title to defend. i 'm actually feeling a little better this season than I did going into last year.
key losses:
- Louis Coleman - gonna be tough to replace this guy. an absolute stud that put this team on his back a couple times last year.
- Jared Mitchell
- Sean Ochinko
- Ryan Shimpf
- D.J. LeMahieu
- Chad Jones (i think this guy is making a BIIIIG mistake entering the NFL draft this year)
key returners:
Anthony Ranaudo (sp)
Matty Ott (closer)
Micah Gibbs (c)
Blake Dean (1b, of, dh)
Mikie Mahtook (of)
Leon Landry (of)
Austin Nola (ss)
Tyler Hanover (3b)
Austin Ross (sp)
we definitely have the pieces to make another run. anything less than making some noise in Omaha would be considered under achieving.
if Ranaudo (touted by some as the best college baseball player in the country) can equal/better what he did last year, he'll be an EARLY draftee.
lineup and defense should be just as good as last year (maybe better if they can develop some consistency).
Losing Chad Jones as a set-up man/outfielder/dh hurts a bit. Not everyday you stumble upon a lefty who can throw 90+, with a nasty slider, PLUS hit for power to all parts of the park, PLUS play all-conference level defense, PLUS outrun all but a handful of players in the nation, PLUS be intimidating as hell with his dreadlocks and reputation for decapitating people on the football field.
