Todd4State
06-10-2014, 01:06 AM
Garner has gotten a lot of credit, but I want to recognize some of our other players that are doing well. I like Garner, but he shouldn't be glorified because someone has a misguided agenda of self-promotion.
Some of this is going to be just my two cents because some of these guys haven't started and it's also extremely early.
Summer Leagues in college vary. As most of you know, the Cape Cod League is the best/most desired league and along with that is the Team USA collegiate National Team. Then there are some other leagues that are not as prominent, some that are geared more towards freshmen, and then even beyond that there are some relatively obscure summer leagues like the Cotton State League in Mississippi. The main idea of these leagues depends as well. If you're on Team USA or playing in the Cape, you're trying to make a name for yourself in front of scouts whereas some of the other leagues like the Great Lakes League you're talking about mainly freshmen trying to improve and get quality at bats and innings that they didn't get a lot of as freshmen.
So, without further adieu:
Ross and Trevor Fitts are going to rest this summer. Ross basically was breaking down and really he needs to get stronger more than anything. Really both of those guys don't have a lot to prove so resting is probably a smart thing. Luke Laster has really come such a long way from almost getting taken off the 35 man roster, to winning the Governor's Cup and now he's pitching for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League. I'm going to try to find out what the status of Preston Brown is as far as surgery on his shoulder, but to no one's surprise he is not going to pitch this summer.
The big four freshmen- Dakota Hudson and Vance Tatum are going to pitch for Chal Fanning AKA the baseball whisperer. Almost everyone we have sent to him has made big strides the next year. Adam Frazier, Chad Girodo, Trevor Fitts, and Caleb Reed are among his pupils. He also recommended Alex Detz to us as well. He's like Yoda. Austin Sexton will pitch in the Great Lakes League which is for freshmen and then Zac Houston will be pitching in New England in Plymouth. This quartet is going to be closely watched by me because they could be VERY key to our season next year. And we need guys to step up before they are juniors.
Redshirt freshmen pitching surprises? Avery Geyer is off to a good start for the baseball whisperer with 11 K's and 3 BB's despite an ERA of 4.70 in 7 IP. Jacob Billingsley has been dominant in the Cal Ripken League with 10 K's and 1 BB in around 10 IP to go along with an ERA of 0.00.
Myles Gentry will also be pitching in the Cape Cod League for the Wareham Gatemen.
Gavin Collins is already playing in the Cape as a freshman. He will have a chance to make Team USA next year more than likely. Cody Walker will be playing in California and I have heard rumors that Zach Randolph might play in the Cotton State League.
One of the hot topics is the demand that Wes Rea play summer baseball. Well, that was answered today as he will be joining the same team that Hunter Renfroe played for in the Cape Ripken League. Let's hope the results are similar, but I'll take an improvement over last year. Rea hasn't started yet, but no doubt his summer will be closely monitored.
Seth Heck is playing in the Northwoods League, and I expect him to do pretty well since he is older for that league and he is an All-SEC contender at SS/2B. I'm not too worried about him, but it will be good for him to get AB's and maybe he can also play some 2B as well as SS in case he is moved. He's already hitting .500 as it is.
Matthew Britton is in the Cape, and I'm going to keep an eye on his summer. He is playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. I'm hoping he improves his hitting, and him getting quality AB's with wood bats against that level of competition will benefit him.
Lost in all the Daniel Garner hoopla is his teammate, freshman Dylan Ingram who redshirted last year, and is hitting better than Garner right now at .571 with a double. He's off to a fast start, so maybe keep an eye on him.
Most of the expected outfielders haven't started yet. Reid Humphreys is playing for the baseball whisperer. Cody Brown is on Wes Rea's team in Bethesda MD, and then Jake Vickerson is playing in California. Jacob Robson will be recovering from elbow/nerve surgery this offseason. I'm expecting him back in the fall at some point. And then there are the outfield wild cards. Brent Rooker started off hitting .200 but then delievered a home run tonight for his team in the New England League. And Joey Swinarski is off to a slow start in the same league in New England hitting .167.
And then there is Daniel Garner. No doubt he is off to the best start of the summer and has already hit 2 home runs while hitting .400 for his team in the Great Lakes League.
So, for the most part the guys that have actually started playing are off to fast starts. Obviously it's a small sample size at this point- but it's also not a bad thing either to get off to a fast start. It certainly gives me hope that my thoughts about us being better offensively will indeed be true. I'm ready to get back out there for the fall and start the process again already!
Some of this is going to be just my two cents because some of these guys haven't started and it's also extremely early.
Summer Leagues in college vary. As most of you know, the Cape Cod League is the best/most desired league and along with that is the Team USA collegiate National Team. Then there are some other leagues that are not as prominent, some that are geared more towards freshmen, and then even beyond that there are some relatively obscure summer leagues like the Cotton State League in Mississippi. The main idea of these leagues depends as well. If you're on Team USA or playing in the Cape, you're trying to make a name for yourself in front of scouts whereas some of the other leagues like the Great Lakes League you're talking about mainly freshmen trying to improve and get quality at bats and innings that they didn't get a lot of as freshmen.
So, without further adieu:
Ross and Trevor Fitts are going to rest this summer. Ross basically was breaking down and really he needs to get stronger more than anything. Really both of those guys don't have a lot to prove so resting is probably a smart thing. Luke Laster has really come such a long way from almost getting taken off the 35 man roster, to winning the Governor's Cup and now he's pitching for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod League. I'm going to try to find out what the status of Preston Brown is as far as surgery on his shoulder, but to no one's surprise he is not going to pitch this summer.
The big four freshmen- Dakota Hudson and Vance Tatum are going to pitch for Chal Fanning AKA the baseball whisperer. Almost everyone we have sent to him has made big strides the next year. Adam Frazier, Chad Girodo, Trevor Fitts, and Caleb Reed are among his pupils. He also recommended Alex Detz to us as well. He's like Yoda. Austin Sexton will pitch in the Great Lakes League which is for freshmen and then Zac Houston will be pitching in New England in Plymouth. This quartet is going to be closely watched by me because they could be VERY key to our season next year. And we need guys to step up before they are juniors.
Redshirt freshmen pitching surprises? Avery Geyer is off to a good start for the baseball whisperer with 11 K's and 3 BB's despite an ERA of 4.70 in 7 IP. Jacob Billingsley has been dominant in the Cal Ripken League with 10 K's and 1 BB in around 10 IP to go along with an ERA of 0.00.
Myles Gentry will also be pitching in the Cape Cod League for the Wareham Gatemen.
Gavin Collins is already playing in the Cape as a freshman. He will have a chance to make Team USA next year more than likely. Cody Walker will be playing in California and I have heard rumors that Zach Randolph might play in the Cotton State League.
One of the hot topics is the demand that Wes Rea play summer baseball. Well, that was answered today as he will be joining the same team that Hunter Renfroe played for in the Cape Ripken League. Let's hope the results are similar, but I'll take an improvement over last year. Rea hasn't started yet, but no doubt his summer will be closely monitored.
Seth Heck is playing in the Northwoods League, and I expect him to do pretty well since he is older for that league and he is an All-SEC contender at SS/2B. I'm not too worried about him, but it will be good for him to get AB's and maybe he can also play some 2B as well as SS in case he is moved. He's already hitting .500 as it is.
Matthew Britton is in the Cape, and I'm going to keep an eye on his summer. He is playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. I'm hoping he improves his hitting, and him getting quality AB's with wood bats against that level of competition will benefit him.
Lost in all the Daniel Garner hoopla is his teammate, freshman Dylan Ingram who redshirted last year, and is hitting better than Garner right now at .571 with a double. He's off to a fast start, so maybe keep an eye on him.
Most of the expected outfielders haven't started yet. Reid Humphreys is playing for the baseball whisperer. Cody Brown is on Wes Rea's team in Bethesda MD, and then Jake Vickerson is playing in California. Jacob Robson will be recovering from elbow/nerve surgery this offseason. I'm expecting him back in the fall at some point. And then there are the outfield wild cards. Brent Rooker started off hitting .200 but then delievered a home run tonight for his team in the New England League. And Joey Swinarski is off to a slow start in the same league in New England hitting .167.
And then there is Daniel Garner. No doubt he is off to the best start of the summer and has already hit 2 home runs while hitting .400 for his team in the Great Lakes League.
So, for the most part the guys that have actually started playing are off to fast starts. Obviously it's a small sample size at this point- but it's also not a bad thing either to get off to a fast start. It certainly gives me hope that my thoughts about us being better offensively will indeed be true. I'm ready to get back out there for the fall and start the process again already!