Omahogs #3 Preseason

[soooieman]

This season can't get here soon enough!!!

http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-poll-12-19-17/

[Kevin]

only problem is, we usually don't do as well when we are ranked high in the preseason.

I hope this year is different

[flippinhogmana]

I too bear that in mind from past year's experiences.  We have talked about that several times here.  But I think (and hope) that this year might be different.  There are several seasoned players returning who had down years last year who might have more to prove than normal.  There are also very good young players that will be on their heels for playing time.  I think the dynamic is different this year.  I don't believe we have ever had this good of a team either.

[BroyledNutts]

I feel confident we now have the coaching staff that will embrace a high ranking and not be intimidated by it. There's a different air about this team, from the head coach on down.

[Amityvillehogger]

I feel confident we now have the coaching staff that will embrace a high ranking and not be intimidated by it. There's a different air about this team, from the head coach on down.

Vitello and Jorn didn't embrace a high ranking ?

[ThisTeetsTaken]

Guys, I'm excited!



TTT out....

[popcornhog]

This season can't get here soon enough!!!

http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-poll-12-19-17/

I'm excited, too, but I'm enjoying basketball season too much to want to skip to Spring just yet.

[SPAL]

Best team on paper that I've seen here.

And we make Omaha every 3 years and this is the year.

[pigture perfect]

I know our basketball is good, but the diamond hogs are elite. I'm ready!

[JHicks3636]

The pressure is on and I love it. LET"S PLAY BALL!!!

[GrizzlyRider07]

So we have any big bats this year like spanberger last year?

[ucahogfan]

So we have any big bats this year like spanberger last year?

Fletcher, Koch, Bonfield, Shaddy, Gates

Half of Spanberger's HRs came in like a 10 day period otherwise he would have finished with something like what Koch and Fletcher had.  While I don't think anyone hits 20 HRs this year, each of those 5 players could be 10+ HR guys.  Guys like Lee, Cole, and Biggers show some pop as well.  This lineup should hit 75+ HRs again this year with what we are returning.

[Kenny Dowell Loggains]

Great to see the Hogs getting some recognition and deservingly so.  Hogs are pretty loaded this year and brought in some serious elite high school talent.  We also landed the #3 recruiting class this season also.

I went to the fall WS games at Baum a few months ago, the freshman looked great.

I think we have players that can make a difference all over the field!

[ThisTeetsTaken]

Best team on paper that I've seen here.

And we make Omaha every 3 years and this is the year.

I"ve been thinking this in the back of my mind.   

[Hogs run wild]

Best team on paper that I've seen here.

And we make Omaha every 3 years and this is the year.

how good is our pitching? is the bullpen deep? thanks.

[TNhawgfan]

Where we are ranked doesn't matter much to me, but i would LOVE to finish higher than LSU in the SEC standings. Hate them so much

[ThisTeetsTaken]

how good is our pitching? is the bullpen deep? thanks.

Not SPAL but IMO the starting pitching will be B+ while the bullpen is probably a B-. 

[ucahogfan]

Not SPAL but IMO the starting pitching will be B+ while the bullpen is probably a B-.

Think I would go a little higher on the starting pitching.  Our 1-2 punch of Knight / Campbell will probably be as good as any in the country and then Murphy was really solid down the stretch last year.  We also have options like Keaton McKinney (more mid-season) who has been an ace for us before and Evan Lee for the mound.

The pen is a bigger question mark especially with Kopps going down, but the talent is definitely there.  Reindl is obviously our most proven option returning and has added some velo this fall.  Cronin has elite stuff although his command was shaky at times last year.  Loseke's raw stuff is really good, but his command is definitely iffy.  Loseke could be every bit as good as Knight and Campbell if he had their command.  The freshmen all have big time potential in Rutledge, Bonnin, Ramage, Milligan, Bolden, and Vermillion.

[razCzar]

FWIW... here's the SEC in this rundown:
In the SECW all but AL in top 50
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-poll-12-19-17/

PRESEASON
Rk    Team ('17 Final Record)  Points
1.    Florida (52-19)               497
3.    Arkansas (45-19)            493
6.    Vanderbilt (36-25-1)       482
10.    Louisiana St. (52-20)     471
13.    Mississippi St. (40-27)   465
19.    South Carolina (35-25)  450
33.    Texas A&M (41-23)       412
35.    Auburn (37-26)            407
38.    Mississippi (32-25)       398

[1dayinthelifeofporkiepig]

I wished I lived close enough to get season tickets & attend all the home games. Nothing quite like baseball in person; eating peanuts & hot dogs, & cheering on the Razorbacks!

[Tony Perkis]

FWIW... here's the SEC in this rundown:
In the SECW all but AL in top 50
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-poll-12-19-17/

PRESEASON
Rk    Team ('17 Final Record)  Points
1.    Florida (52-19)               497
3.    Arkansas (45-19)            493
6.    Vanderbilt (36-25-1)       482
10.    Louisiana St. (52-20)     471
13.    Mississippi St. (40-27)   465
19.    South Carolina (35-25)  450
33.    Texas A&M (41-23)       412
35.    Auburn (37-26)            407
38.    Mississippi (32-25)       398

Quite stout, per usual.

[SPAL]

I wished I lived close enough to get season tickets & attend all the home games. Nothing quite like baseball in person; eating peanuts & hot dogs, & cheering on the Razorbacks!

Truth

[bulldog04]

FWIW... here's the SEC in this rundown:
In the SECW all but AL in top 50
http://baseballnews.com/collegiate-baseball-div-poll-12-19-17/

PRESEASON
Rk    Team ('17 Final Record)  Points
1.    Florida (52-19)               497
3.    Arkansas (45-19)            493
6.    Vanderbilt (36-25-1)       482
10.    Louisiana St. (52-20)     471
13.    Mississippi St. (40-27)   465
19.    South Carolina (35-25)  450
33.    Texas A&M (41-23)       412
35.    Auburn (37-26)            407
38.    Mississippi (32-25)       398

I just don't see LSU having a great year.  I know they recruit well but they lost a ton including their leaders.

[dotnet]

I just don't see LSU having a great year.  I know they recruit well but they lost a ton including their leaders.

Arkansas in 2019 could lose its entire starting rotation, its three or four best hitters, and you would still expect it to compete to host right? 

Out:  Knight, Campbell, Bonfield,  Shaddy,  Gates,  Koch, Cole,  Murphy,  Biggers, Bullpen guys, McKinney

Still In: P: Lee, Cronin, Bonnin, other true freshmen this year and last  H: Lee, Fletcher, McFarland, Turney, Kjerstad, Bonnin, Martin, Opitz

And this isn't counting the 2-3 true freshman for 2019 that we would expect to be able to contribute right away (ie. Turney, Martin, Kjerstad, etc.)

I would not pick LSU to finish higher than Arkansas, but it isn't crazy that LSU should be a really good team just because they lost some key people

[ucahogfan]

Arkansas in 2019 could lose its entire starting rotation, its three or four best hitters, and you would still expect it to compete to host right? 

Out:  Knight, Campbell, Bonfield,  Shaddy,  Gates,  Koch, Cole,  Murphy,  Biggers, Bullpen guys, McKinney

Still In: P: Lee, Cronin, Bonnin, other true freshmen this year and last  H: Lee, Fletcher, McFarland, Turney, Kjerstad, Bonnin, Martin, Opitz

And this isn't counting the 2-3 true freshman for 2019 that we would expect to be able to contribute right away (ie. Turney, Martin, Kjerstad, etc.)

I would not pick LSU to finish higher than Arkansas, but it isn't crazy that LSU should be a really good team just because they lost some key people

LSU is always going to be solid.  That is just the nature of the beast down there.  They return a couple of solid hitters in Duplantis and Watson.  They did lose a lot on that offense which was pretty solid; however, LSU always has a good offense.  The biggest loss for them was losing Eric Walker to injury as he would have been the ace this year as the only returning weekend starter.

While I think Campbell won't be back for the Hogs in 2019, I wouldn't say it is a certainty.  He will be a RS Sophomore so he has some leverage.  I am glad he is back healthy and ready to dominate some SEC teams.

While I am thinking about it, I feel like we should really praise the job that Wes Johnson did with the staff last year.  Not only did he decrease the team ERA from 5.00 in 2016 to 3.61 in 2017, he did it after losing 3 of his top 5 pitchers either before the season or really early in the season in McKinney, Campbell, and Scroggins.  It will be interesting to see how he does if everyone is healthy.

[Dr. Starcs]

And no matter what kind of team the corn dogs Field this year, they're in our head. Here's hoping this years Hogs can turn the tide so to speak.

[thebignasty]

LSU is always going to be solid.  That is just the nature of the beast down there.  They return a couple of solid hitters in Duplantis and Watson.  They did lose a lot on that offense which was pretty solid; however, LSU always has a good offense.  The biggest loss for them was losing Eric Walker to injury as he would have been the ace this year as the only returning weekend starter.

While I think Campbell won't be back for the Hogs in 2019, I wouldn't say it is a certainty.  He will be a RS Sophomore so he has some leverage.  I am glad he is back healthy and ready to dominate some SEC teams.

While I am thinking about it, I feel like we should really praise the job that Wes Johnson did with the staff last year.  Not only did he decrease the team ERA from 5.00 in 2016 to 3.61 in 2017, he did it after losing 3 of his top 5 pitchers either before the season or really early in the season in McKinney, Campbell, and Scroggins.  It will be interesting to see how he does if everyone is healthy.

Is Hess back for LSU?  He was great toward the end of the year. 

[SPAL]

Is Hess back for LSU?  He was great toward the end of the year. 

That dude was a freshman last year.

[thebignasty]

That dude was a freshman last year.

That's what I was thinking.   

At least Baylor Cub Jr will be gone.

[ucahogfan]

That dude was a freshman last year.

Seems like he is the favorite to be the Friday night guy for LSU this year; however, he has not shown the ability to maintain mid 90s velocity for more than a couple of innings so he might be more of a 90-92 guy as a starter which makes him more hittable.

[SPAL]

Seems like he is the favorite to be the Friday night guy for LSU this year; however, he has not shown the ability to maintain mid 90s velocity for more than a couple of innings so he might be more of a 90-92 guy as a starter which makes him more hittable.

I read an article talking about him being the Friday starter. I didn't think it would be a serious move considering the things you just mentioned.

They lost heir entire weekend staff so maybe that forced the issue.

[dotnet]

While I think Campbell won't be back for the Hogs in 2019, I wouldn't say it is a certainty.  He will be a RS Sophomore so he has some leverage.  I am glad he is back healthy and ready to dominate some SEC teams.

I think it is very unlikely Campbell is back without calling this 2018 season disappointing.  He has none of the issues guys like Knight have that make coming back make sense.  If he is healthy and has 90% of the year we want him to, then it would take something really unusual for him to stay.

I guess he could dominate in college but not really show a third pitch that makes scouts believe he could be a MLB starter and he could return to prove it and jump his draft stock.  But short of that...

[dirtdobber]

What type of impact will the new hitting coach have on the team?

[Kevin]

What type of impact will the new hitting coach have on the team?

I think it will be a big positive. Missouri state cold really hit

[jvanhorn]

I’m excited, too, but I’m enjoying basketball season too much to want to skip to Spring just yet.

Yeah well before you get all gun ho on basketball, maybe you should wait until the conference games begin.  Always a different kind of deal.

[jvanhorn]

only problem is, we usually don't do as well when we are ranked high in the preseason.

I hope this year is different

Have they ever been ranked this high pre season?

[jvanhorn]

I wished I lived close enough to get season tickets & attend all the home games. Nothing quite like baseball in person; eating peanuts & hot dogs, & cheering on the Razorbacks!

How do you go about buying tickets to a single game or to a weekend series?  Are they usually sold out or can you just walk up and get a ticket?  When do single game tickets go on sale?   I also see they play the Univeristy of Memphis at Auto Zone in downtown Memphis.  Sure would like to get a ticket to that.

[Kevin]

Have they ever been ranked this high pre season?

Yep preseason number 1 a few years back. And fell apart

[SPAL]

How do you go about buying tickets to a single game or to a weekend series?  Are they usually sold out or can you just walk up and get a ticket?  When do single game tickets go on sale?   I also see they play the Univeristy of Memphis at Auto Zone in downtown Memphis.  Sure would like to get a ticket to that.

I guarantee you can get excellent tickets just walking up. Unless you have several , this is the way I would go. In fact, if you give me notice....I can probably find you good seats.

[ucahogfan]

I think it is very unlikely Campbell is back without calling this 2018 season disappointing.  He has none of the issues guys like Knight have that make coming back make sense.  If he is healthy and has 90% of the year we want him to, then it would take something really unusual for him to stay.

I guess he could dominate in college but not really show a third pitch that makes scouts believe he could be a MLB starter and he could return to prove it and jump his draft stock.  But short of that...

Yeah, I don't think Campbell will be after 2018 either.  Just saying that he does have some leverage.  While some scouts might doubt Knight's ability to be a starter because he is thin, Campbell is built where you don't have any doubt that he could be a starter at the next level.  I think he will have an excellent year building off the end of 2016 and the summer of 2016.

[Wisco Pig]

Arkansas is #6 in Perfect Game's preseason Top 25.

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14784

The Top 25 includes seven teams from the SEC: Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana State, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State.

The Top 25 also has 7 teams from the ACC (Florida State, North Carolina, Miami, NC State, Louisville, Duke, and Clemson).

[ThisTeetsTaken]

Arkansas is #6 in Perfect Game's preseason Top 25.

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=14784

The Top 25 includes seven teams from the SEC: Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana State, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State.

The Top 25 also has 7 teams from the ACC (Florida State, North Carolina, Miami, NC State, Louisville, Duke, and Clemson).

Love it!