2025 Baseball Mega Thread

[Appmountaineers19]

Losing arms in the race for more heat and spin is more common than even 10 years ago. More pitchers can throw 90-95 now compared to Nolan Ryan's time and the injury rate goes up. The team that masters how to load manage will be lifting trophies in May and June.

It's not all about load management. Instead of trying to throw as hard as can with "spin" rate and "velo" guys need to learn to pitch and locate. Baseball hasn't changed that much. It's about getting as many quality arms that you can and when you play on a mountain at best you will get less than 7-8. I'm just using the data going back to 2017. You can't compete in the SBC like that.

Define compete. We finished sixth out of fourteen in regular season action and went to the semi's of the tournament losing to the eventual champs both years. We did it with great hitting not pitching, but to me that is pretty competitive in a top 5 league.

The pitching staff have not reached above 8th in the KS tenure in pitching statistics.

That is not very good considering there was only 12 teams for a few years. Need to find some more money to go land a pitching coach that won't leave after 1 month.

Exactly...I do not want to sound as negative as it's coming off. I'm just being realistic. Love APP and what it stands for. Hope at the end of the year everyone can throw it in my face and I eat crow. P.S all money that my wife and I donate goes to APP and not the schools we went to. That's how much I believe in it up there.

30-25 would be a great year IMO

[311neers]

Where has Tommy Walker been? Is he injured or just buried on depth? 3rd or 4th on depth chart now at Catcher?

[Stonewall]

We need more arms to get healthy. We're down two starters and one relief pitcher now with our closer making his first appearance of the year last night. Fisher and Best had both pitched multiple games this weekend so they didn't have their normal stuff. I'd have liked our chances if they were going in fresh in that situation. Great performance by the guys who came in early against a very good hitting team.

I wish I had your optimism. It’s been the same story for however long. But let’s just talk about the last two years. I keep hearing on the different message boards - We have these arms but… one excuse or another and the same results. I think Stonewall said it on here a couple weeks ago they legit had a chance last year at an ALB if they had only a little bit of pitching to get them through some games. Lots of coach talk being told on the different sites. I’ll continue to go to the games and root them on but expectations are always tempered on my part until proven otherwise.

I did. I believe it to be true. We had some of the best talent at the plate and in the field I can remember, including the Pollard days. The mound was a different story. It was a shame really just a little more there and it could have been a breakthrough year. My opinion.

[Appmountaineers19]

We need more arms to get healthy. We're down two starters and one relief pitcher now with our closer making his first appearance of the year last night. Fisher and Best had both pitched multiple games this weekend so they didn't have their normal stuff. I'd have liked our chances if they were going in fresh in that situation. Great performance by the guys who came in early against a very good hitting team.

I wish I had your optimism. It’s been the same story for however long. But let’s just talk about the last two years. I keep hearing on the different message boards - We have these arms but… one excuse or another and the same results. I think Stonewall said it on here a couple weeks ago they legit had a chance last year at an ALB if they had only a little bit of pitching to get them through some games. Lots of coach talk being told on the different sites. I’ll continue to go to the games and root them on but expectations are always tempered on my part until proven otherwise.

I did. I believe it to be true. We had some of the best talent at the plate and in the field I can remember, including the Pollard days. The mound was a different story. It was a shame really just a little more there and it could have been a breakthrough year. My opinion.

That's all I was saying. The offense can keep up with almost everyone when needed. Pitching has been the Achilles heel for quite some time. It sounds negative but want these all the teams to do well. May be best for me to talk in generalities from here on out.

[appvette]

What's the reason we can find hitters that put us near the top of the conference but not even average pitching staff? Does KS not prioritize pitching as much in recruiting? Or doesn't he have the eye for diamonds in the rough with pitchers? Or do pitchers hate cold weather more than hitters? Or have we just not been successful in hiring pitching coaches? Combination?

[Oldlknapp]

The only way you’re going to get really great pitching is to take a bulldozer and lower the elevation of the stadium about 2500 feet.

[Appmountaineers19]

What's the reason we can find hitters that put us near the top of the conference but not even average pitching staff? Does KS not prioritize pitching as much in recruiting? Or doesn't he have the eye for diamonds in the rough with pitchers? Or do pitchers hate cold weather more than hitters? Or have we just not been successful in hiring pitching coaches? Combination?

KS is a great coach. Think of Boone as a mini Coors field. Ball flies out and it's cold and windy a good bit of the time. Not the best friends of a pitcher. 2/3's of college baseball pitchers have inflated stats because of the aluminum bats. I think it gets exacerbated in these environments.

It's also an advantage for APP hitters against pitchers coming up there. Then there's the 2 or so weeks in April when it's absolutely gorgeous.

[AppGrad78]

Jackson Steensma and Xavier Hamilton and Jeffrey Springs could pitch for anybody anywhere. Our pitching struggles have little to do with the mound or the ballpark or the elevation or the weather. Those are just excuses that a lot of quality programs overcome. We simply need to roll up our sleeves and recruit better.

[Appmountaineers19]

Jackson Steensma and Xavier Hamilton and Jeffrey Springs could pitch for anybody anywhere. Our pitching struggles have little to do with the mound or the ballpark or the elevation or the weather. Those are just excuses that a lot of quality programs overcome. We simply need to roll up our sleeves and recruit better.

OK that's 3 out of how many that have gone up there. Darn near 1/2 your roster is pitchers. EDIT: 21 out of the 35 up there as we speak are pitchers. Lets say 15 heck I'll say 20 real legit pitchers in the last 7 years just to be fair...but this trend is now almost 10 years. Stats don't lie. XH was a transfer and had his struggles his first year and blossomed. They haven't been able to get as much quality as you need up there to be competitive year and year out.

Recruiting is not as easy as rolling up your sleeves up there.

[311neers]

What's the reason we can find hitters that put us near the top of the conference but not even average pitching staff? Does KS not prioritize pitching as much in recruiting? Or doesn't he have the eye for diamonds in the rough with pitchers? Or do pitchers hate cold weather more than hitters? Or have we just not been successful in hiring pitching coaches? Combination?

3 pitching coaches in 1 year surely doesn’t
help. Probably need some more salary pool to attract AND retain a legit pitching coach with a different philosophy. Whatever has been going on for years is not working.

[Appmountaineers19]

Jackson Steensma and Xavier Hamilton and Jeffrey Springs could pitch for anybody anywhere. Our pitching struggles have little to do with the mound or the ballpark or the elevation or the weather. Those are just excuses that a lot of quality programs overcome. We simply need to roll up our sleeves and recruit better.

OK that's 3 out of how many that have gone up there. Darn near 1/2 your roster is pitchers. EDIT: 21 out of the 35 up there as we speak are pitchers. No less than 15 pitchers on the roster since '15. Lets say 15 heck I'll say 20 real legit pitchers in the last 7 years just to be fair...but this trend is now almost 10 years. Stats don't lie. XH was a transfer and had his struggles his first year and blossomed. They haven't been able to get as much quality as you need up there to be competitive year and year out.

Recruiting is not as easy as rolling up your sleeves up there.

[BambooRdApp]

Jackson Steensma and Xavier Hamilton and Jeffrey Springs could pitch for anybody anywhere. Our pitching struggles have little to do with the mound or the ballpark or the elevation or the weather. Those are just excuses that a lot of quality programs overcome. We simply need to roll up our sleeves and recruit better.

If you think the elevation and weather do not impact baseball recruiting, sorry , but you are living in fantasy land. How many cold weather schools win in a consistent basis and make it to Omaha?
We are in a unique situation. We are a cold weather school playing quite a few teams that are located in warmer weather locations. The old Big 10, it is cold weather schools playing other cold weather schools for most part. So, not even comparable to our situation...It will be interesting to see how USC, UCLA and others play in the new Big 10 over the next 5 years or so

[BambooRdApp]

Watching UNCW vs LaLa on ESPN+.
LaLa's telecast for a ESPN+ game is top notch...

[T-Dog]

I don't think those frustrated with the pitching woes are asking for a dugout full of Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox clones. We just want the ERA to be around 5.00 instead of over 7.00.

[BUTCH1991]

Watching UNCW vs LaLa on ESPN+.
LaLa's telecast for a ESPN+ game is top notch...

Agree. They're production is usually good.

[JTApps1]

I don't think those frustrated with the pitching woes are asking for a dugout full of Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox clones. We just want the ERA to be around 5.00 instead of over 7.00.

Yes, we need to get to mid-pack in pitching. I think we can all agree on that, but it is worth mentioning that our already shaky depth is currently depleted even further.

[311neers]

I don't think those frustrated with the pitching woes are asking for a dugout full of Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox clones. We just want the ERA to be around 5.00 instead of over 7.00.

I'd take 7.00 at this rate.
We're at a 8.75 ERA right now with CofC this weekend before conference slate starts...
Wind currently is swirling in the Charleston harbour, hopefully those flags are flying towards home plate.

[Appmountaineers19]

I don't think those frustrated with the pitching woes are asking for a dugout full of Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox clones. We just want the ERA to be around 5.00 instead of over 7.00.

I'd take 7.00 at this rate.
We're at a 8.75 ERA right now with CofC this weekend before conference slate starts...
Wind currently is swirling in the Charleston harbour, hopefully those flags are flying towards home plate.

Last thing I will say about the pitching stuff. There's an epidemic of bad pitching in college for what ever reason. Last year the average individual pitching era was 6.47 in D1. The average team ERA's have gone up nearly 2.00 since 2021 (it was a slower rate when BBCORE was introduced in 2011 but the bat material changed in 2021 and lower seams on the ball) again for what ever reason you want to associate with it.

That said it's a good weekend to get right before conference play at a beautiful park.

[JTApps1]

I don't think those frustrated with the pitching woes are asking for a dugout full of Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox clones. We just want the ERA to be around 5.00 instead of over 7.00.

I'd take 7.00 at this rate.
We're at a 8.75 ERA right now with CofC this weekend before conference slate starts...
Wind currently is swirling in the Charleston harbour, hopefully those flags are flying towards home plate.

Last thing I will say about the pitching stuff. There's an epidemic of bad pitching in college for what ever reason. Last year the average individual pitching era was 6.47 in D1. The average team ERA's have gone up nearly 2.00 since 2021 (it was a slower rate when BBCORE was introduced in 2011 but the bat material changed in 2021 and lower seams on the ball) again for what ever reason you want to associate with it.

That said it's a good weekend to get right before conference play at a beautiful park.

It's also been mentioned that strike zones have gotten smaller with Trackman data being used to rate Umps.

[Appmountaineers19]

I don't think those frustrated with the pitching woes are asking for a dugout full of Glavine, Smoltz and Maddox clones. We just want the ERA to be around 5.00 instead of over 7.00.

I'd take 7.00 at this rate.
We're at a 8.75 ERA right now with CofC this weekend before conference slate starts...
Wind currently is swirling in the Charleston harbour, hopefully those flags are flying towards home plate.

Last thing I will say about the pitching stuff. There's an epidemic of bad pitching in college for what ever reason. Last year the average individual pitching era was 6.47 in D1. The average team ERA's have gone up nearly 2.00 since 2021 (it was a slower rate when BBCORE was introduced in 2011 but the bat material changed in 2021 and lower seams on the ball) again for what ever reason you want to associate with it.

That said it's a good weekend to get right before conference play at a beautiful park.

It's also been mentioned that strike zones have gotten smaller with Trackman data being used to rate Umps.

For sure! College umps can make a nice chunk of change in 4-5 months. Don't want to mess that up.