2026 Baseball Mega Thread

[BambooRdApp]

I think they are what they are. They are at a place talent wise that they can hang and even beat some teams that are better than them. They also have ability to lose to "lesser" teams because of this as well. They lack the depth needed to be a consistent threat BUT they have enough talent to scare teams. I think when the TP/NIL began - APP got lucky getting the talent without having to spend. Now that NIL is booming and scholly's went from 11.7 to 34 and what looks like upgrades at pier schools and the conference - IMO I feel that baseball won't be able to rise much higher regardless of who the HC is because of all barriers discussed at length on this thread.

Watch us go out and sweep Coastal! Without their arms, who knows- and a potential Kam return. I'd take that trade off all day long.

This is the year for us to beat Stink!!

[311neers]

Sheesh.
Winthrop is 9-2.
Charleston Southern is 10-1.
G Webb is 9-3.

I know we have a lack of money, and it's cold, but dang.
Carolinas are loaded with talent. Maybe it's just too difficult to get consistent talent because its spread over 25 programs in the Carolinas alone.

[SlappyAppy72]

I've taken some time to think about this weekend because my initial reaction was not a healthy one and I didn't want to get on here and spew. Let me get this point across abundantly clear, getting swept by Gardner Webb - and especially losing like we did on Saturday - is absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable. Now, GW may end up winning 40+ games this year who knows, but there is not a world that exists where App should be getting swept by GW.

That being said, here are a few things I've thought about....
1.) We lost 3 one-run ballgames. Sometimes those are going to go your way, sometimes they're not. That's baseball. The way in which we lost, and the fact that the first 2 were blown, is beyond frustrating.
2.) It's still early. Still in the 1st quarter of the season. Lots of ball left to play. With basically a brand new roster you have to expect some growing pains.
3.) As much as I felt like beating ETSU was a statement win and this team could do something special, getting swept by GW feels like we're back at square 1 and it's the same ol same.
4.) Learning how to win is a real thing. And in this transfer portal era, it's like the team has to learn how to win again each year.

It will be interesting to see how this team responds. Tough mid-week against Wake and must-win (feels like must-sweep) series against Presby, followed by a mid-week against Western who just beat Troy and ECU this weekend, before we run into conference play. Time to see what this team is made of.

[Appmountaineers19]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

[SlappyAppy72]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

I think you're onto something here. They have taken coach-driven vans this year to Hickory due to budget so I don't think you're far off.

[Appmountaineers19]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

I think you're onto something here. They have taken coach-driven vans this year to Hickory due to budget so I don't think you're far off.

Well, if this is the case, as I stated before, I don’t care who the head coach is, they won’t be able to move forward as a program.

I know I’m dating myself because it’s been close to 25 years but we would play down south for the first three weeks of the season like most of the northern teams do. We would fly twice and one bus trip. While we did fundraising, we as a team also had to work at the local Christmas tree farm, cutting trees on weekends from mid November till end of finals to help offset cost for us.

Again, hopefully it’s just a quirky scheduling flaw but they rarely stay overnight anywhere except for league play.

[311neers]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

It can't be a budget problem. We spent 4 days in Savannah practicing overnight.

Why not just play at home for a 3 game series? That would save the most money.
If Coaches are driving Vans to Hickory instead of taking buses, we are in a tougher spot than anyone has led onto.

[Appmountaineers19]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

It can't be a budget problem. We spent 4 days in Savannah practicing overnight.

Why not just play at home for a 3 game series? That would save the most money.
If we are driving Vans to Hickory instead of buses, we are in a tough tough spot.

I’m assuming they make the 45 minute trip back as well, and then redo it the next day

[311neers]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

It can't be a budget problem. We spent 4 days in Savannah practicing overnight.

Why not just play at home for a 3 game series? That would save the most money.
If we are driving Vans to Hickory instead of buses, we are in a tough tough spot.

I’m assuming they make the 45 minute trip back as well, and then redo it the next day

Or did Presby say, "No I'm not playing 3 in Boone". That too, would be a problem for us. Feel like we haven't hosted a Non-conf. 3 game set in Boone in forever.
GWebb last year had Sunday moved to Hickory.

[BUTCH1991]

Sheesh.
Winthrop is 9-2.
Charleston Southern is 10-1.
G Webb is 9-3.

I know we have a lack of money, and it's cold, but dang.
Carolinas are loaded with talent. Maybe it's just too difficult to get consistent talent because its spread over 25 programs in the Carolinas alone.

Don't forget ol HPU will have a pretty good team also.

[ASUFan4863]

Compromise for scheduling, RPI and fairness. Clemson and South Carolina do this annually.

[311neers]

Compromise for scheduling, RPI and fairness. Clemson and South Carolina do this annually.

That's a rivalry.
And even playing field teams.
2 hours away from each other.

None of those check the boxes with us and Presby. But maybe that is the only way to fill our schedule/Presby would play us.

[311neers]

Wake is gracious enough to do the home nuetral and away games as well.
Very thankful they will come up the mountain.

[BUTCH1991]

Would like to see Charlotte on the schedule for a weekend.

[Appmountaineers19]

Would like to see Charlotte on the schedule for a weekend.

I was just told that it would more than likely happen IF it is agreed upon that it is played at UNCC campus. Must be the sticking point. Again, I just don’t think APP wants to stay three days in Charlotte hotel wise and/or feels it should be reciprocated up on the mountain.

[JTApps1]

On a different note. Was looking at the schedule - is that a typo? The series with Presbyterian is at 3 different sites?

Somehow, it’s legit. I guess it could be a decent way to inflate RPI by playing away and Nuetral. But, need to win all 3 for that to happen.
That’s a lot of travel, pack, unpack for the boys. And Clinton is about 4-4.5 hours from Boone, not just down the street.

Is this a budget problem? Is the budget so tight that they can’t stay three nights down there or is just quirky scheduling.

Everyone's budget has been cut to help fund Rev Share for football.

[BUTCH1991]

Would like to see Charlotte on the schedule for a weekend.

I was just told that it would more than likely happen IF it is agreed upon that it is played at UNCC campus. Must be the sticking point. Again, I just don’t think APP wants to stay three days in Charlotte hotel wise and/or feels it should be reciprocated up on the mountain.

It should be reciprocated, or it should be the Hickory series instead of Canisius. Hickory is convenient for both Universities and they can pack in a larger crowd.

Besides, they just took a trip to Norolk to play ODU in February. Nothing says warm like a nice February ocean breeze

[Appmountaineers19]

Would like to see Charlotte on the schedule for a weekend.

I was just told that it would more than likely happen IF it is agreed upon that it is played at UNCC campus. Must be the sticking point. Again, I just don’t think APP wants to stay three days in Charlotte hotel wise and/or feels it should be reciprocated up on the mountain.

It should be reciprocated, or it should be the Hickory series instead of Canisius. Hickory is convenient for both Universities and they can pack in a larger crowd.

Besides, they just took a trip to Norolk to play ODU in February. Nothing says warm like a nice February ocean breeze

I think that’s a great idea.

[SlappyAppy72]

As a fan, I was looking forward to watching some baseball today. But it makes sense to push it back a day. 14 degrees warmer tomorrow, plus Wake just played a 4 game weekend series and we played 3.5 with the extra inning games. I'm sure neither minded an extra day of rest.

[SlappyAppy72]

I forgot that Tyler Figueroa transferred to Wake. He's played in 6 games and has 7 total plate appearances. Wonder where he would fit in to the App lineup this year. Hard to imagine a 2nd Team All-SBC Utility guy would not find his way on the field.