Collegiate Baseball preseason poll out...

[engie]

#11

http://*******/1YvYUr9

[msstate7]

Wow... We get more respect for baseball than the football team gets disrespect

[Coach34]

Well good- now we have some expectations. Let's get out there and see if we can finish the regular season in the top 16

[ScottH]

I figured mid 20's to begin. 11 seems a bit high coming off last place in the conference.

Be interesting where the other polls have us. Of course this poll may influence the others since it's out first.

[Jack Lambert]

Why is Ole Miss so low?

[HancockCountyDog]

#11

http://*******/1YvYUr9

Nice, Im ready to host a regional again.

[rtdawg]

Really surprised we are that high.

[Saltydog]

had a losing record. Apparently someone thinks we have some talent and a lot of potential and we do but still that's much higher than I would've expected.

[starkvegasdawg]

Why is Ole Miss so low?

They kimdeeched.

[Saltydog]

nt

[Dawg496]

That's strange for sure.. we know we have the talent but still a bit high.

Maybe the writers see last year as a transitional year where our more experienced players weren't a good fit for the baseball changes, and this year our main contributors will be?

Or maybe this is a brand name ranking like we so often in football. Who knows these days.

[starkvegasdawg]

nt
Yep. They got too high and then fell.

[maroonmania]

Probably a little too high given the year we are coming off of.

[AusTexDawg]

I'm surprised we're ranked this high with a schedule that includes all of the SEC teams ranked ahead of us plus Oregon who is ranked closely behind us.

[engie]

Probably a little too high given the year we are coming off of.

Or a little too low with them playing it safe vs how talented they think we are

[ZedFedder]

Remember that these guys aren't just throwing us out there. Do we get respect because of our heritage and name? Sure. Is it a bit too high after last year? Yeah, I agree with you guys. But these reporters and analysts have watched the team all fall. There are some people expecting Dakota Hudson to possibly be a first round guy this year because of the summer and fall he had. Rooker is another one that people outside the program are high on. I think this team will finish 13-18 range ranked and if we get another dominant pitcher it could be top 5. Do not discount what Wes Johnson may do, either, with the arms he has. MsStateBaseball, Todd, any update on velocity increases on staff?

[CarolinaDawgs]

Tatum gonna be our best starter this year. MARK IT DOWN.

[MarketingBully]

UCLA had a crappy record in 2014 25-30-1 and came out gang busters in 2015. Maybe they see last year as more an anomaly then the norm.

[HSVDawg]

Yeah, don't forget we broke into the top 10 last year after starting off undefeated for awhile. We all know how that turned out. I think we'll be better than last year. However, I'd be very surprised if we host a regional this year which is what we would do if this ranking was accurate. I guess the moral of the story is same as always for every sport....preseason rankings don't mean shit.

[ShotgunDawg]

Not a fan of this poll:

ULL & LSU will take a step back. Lost a lot

Arkansas is meh... not a top 25 team IMO

TCU lost a ton of pitching, will likely take step back

Oklahoma State is a top 10 team & has a chance to win the National Title, yet they are only ranked 25th.

[Political Hack]

The only team in the top 40 that's coming off a losing season...

[bulldogcountry1]

Lots of scouts have taken notice. I'm sure that's a big part of preseason polls.

[Political Hack]

Tatum gonna be our best starter this year. MARK IT DOWN.

If that's true, it's really good or really bad. There's no in between with that scenario.

If Tatum is a stud and Hudson is a legit possible round 1 guy, we're gonna be really, really good on the mound. I expect our defense to be lights out too, which is sort of scary. Base running should be a lot better too with some of the big Malone guys moving on (sorry big man, will still miss you).

[starkvegasdawg]

Can we still bunt?

[Political Hack]

Can we still bunt?

Without Rea, King of the single, standing on first we may break an NCAA record. Between that and our pitching/defense we may have a lot more bunts this year.

[TUSK]

we play baseball?

Other Teams Receiving Votes: Southern California (39-21), Southeastern Louisiana (42-17), Arizona St. (35-23), Florida Atlantic (42-19), Arizona (31-24), Oklahoma (34-27), Stanford (24-32), Auburn (36-26), Mississippi (30-28), Tennessee (24-26), Alabama (32-28), Georgia (26-28), San Diego (33-22), Iowa (41-18), Clemson (32-29), U.C. Irvine (33-23), Long Beach St. (28-26), U.C. Santa Barbara (40-17-1), Kent St. (31-22), Creighton (32-19), North Florida (45-16), Southern Mississippi (36-18-1), Nevada (41-15), Illinois (50-10-1), East Carolina (40-22), Wichita St. (26-33), New Mexico (32-27), Grand Canyon (32-22), Gonzaga (24-28), Loyola Marymount (33-21-1), Troy (30-25), Texas St. (24-32-1), Oral Roberts (41-16), Sam Houston St. (31-28), Wofford (39-22), Mercer (35-22), Samford (32-26), Central Florida (31-27), South Florida (34-26-1), Southeast Missouri (36-23), Bryant (29-25), Fresno St. (31-28), Central Michigan (35-22), Ball St. (33-25), Wright St. (43-17), N.C. Wilmington (41-18), Indiana (35-24), Radford (45-16), Liberty (33-23), St. John?s (41-16), Seton Hall (25-25), St. Louis (35-21), Stetson (29-30), Florida Gulf Coast (30-26-1), Lipscomb (39-20), Wake Forest (27-26), N.C. State (36-23), Connecticut (35-25).

[CarolinaDawgs]

Tatum had best year in the cape with a sub 2 ERA all season, but he kinda got dinged up in Championship game which inflated his ERA. Hudson just throws hard, not that I am saying its bad but he's a thrower and Tatum is a pitcher. He should be our Friday night guy simply because of that swagger and fearlessness he gets guys to play behind him with. That is more important to start a series than almost anything.

[CadaverDawg]

Can't wait for some beisbol! I can already taste the cold beer and crawfish!

[Bully13]

We win the spin and crootin in baseball. ...too 17ing funny. ..oh the irony man! The irony! !

[scottycameron]

11th in the country, 5th in the SEC. Man what a tough league again this year. LOVE to host a regional this year. Nothign better in MSU sportsverse.

[scottycameron]

we play baseball?

Other Teams Receiving Votes: Southern California (39-21), Southeastern Louisiana (42-17), Arizona St. (35-23), Florida Atlantic (42-19), Arizona (31-24), Oklahoma (34-27), Stanford (24-32), Auburn (36-26), Mississippi (30-28), Tennessee (24-26), Alabama (32-28), Georgia (26-28), San Diego (33-22), Iowa (41-18), Clemson (32-29), U.C. Irvine (33-23), Long Beach St. (28-26), U.C. Santa Barbara (40-17-1), Kent St. (31-22), Creighton (32-19), North Florida (45-16), Southern Mississippi (36-18-1), Nevada (41-15), Illinois (50-10-1), East Carolina (40-22), Wichita St. (26-33), New Mexico (32-27), Grand Canyon (32-22), Gonzaga (24-28), Loyola Marymount (33-21-1), Troy (30-25), Texas St. (24-32-1), Oral Roberts (41-16), Sam Houston St. (31-28), Wofford (39-22), Mercer (35-22), Samford (32-26), Central Florida (31-27), South Florida (34-26-1), Southeast Missouri (36-23), Bryant (29-25), Fresno St. (31-28), Central Michigan (35-22), Ball St. (33-25), Wright St. (43-17), N.C. Wilmington (41-18), Indiana (35-24), Radford (45-16), Liberty (33-23), St. John?s (41-16), Seton Hall (25-25), St. Louis (35-21), Stetson (29-30), Florida Gulf Coast (30-26-1), Lipscomb (39-20), Wake Forest (27-26), N.C. State (36-23), Connecticut (35-25).

Yeah, you host the ******* tournament every year. You don't always play in it but you get to host every year.

[Todd4State]

I figured mid 20's to begin. 11 seems a bit high coming off last place in the conference.

Be interesting where the other polls have us. Of course this poll may influence the others since it's out first.

I thought we would be in the 20's as well. 11 surprises me- but it is what it is and it's nice to see us get respect in something.

[Todd4State]

Why is Ole Miss so low?

Our fans make Ole Miss out to be better than they actually are. They barely finished over .500 last year.

[Todd4State]

Remember that these guys aren't just throwing us out there. Do we get respect because of our heritage and name? Sure. Is it a bit too high after last year? Yeah, I agree with you guys. But these reporters and analysts have watched the team all fall. There are some people expecting Dakota Hudson to possibly be a first round guy this year because of the summer and fall he had. Rooker is another one that people outside the program are high on. I think this team will finish 13-18 range ranked and if we get another dominant pitcher it could be top 5. Do not discount what Wes Johnson may do, either, with the arms he has. MsStateBaseball, Todd, any update on velocity increases on staff?


Don't take this as gospel because I wasn't there to see it with my own eyes- but rumor is Keegan James hit 101 on the radar gun once. That doesn't mean he is going to dominate or pitch a lot next year by any means- but FWIW.

[Todd4State]

To those talking about Vance Tatum and Dakota Hudson- I've always liked Vance a lot. I don't know which one of those two will start Friday night, but it doesn't really matter. And Austin Sexton is a good pitcher as well and will be in the rotation as well. I'm excited to see what Wes can do with Daniel Brown and Zac Houston too. Our bullpen KILLED us last year. I think what Wes will give us and do for our guys is give them more confidence than they had last year. That helps with attacking hitters, attacking the strike zone, and hopefully getting guys out.

I think the biggest thing we have to do is figure out who our corner INF guys are. And I hope and pray they move Collins to third base but the rumor is he is going to catch again. If Jacob Barfield steps up at third base and produces- that could change my mind.

We're really deep in the OF, at catcher, and MIF though. Between Rooker, Robson, Humphreys, Michael Smith, Luke Reynolds and Cody Brown- someone is going to have to sit. Elih Marrero is advanced for a freshman catcher- and Collins and Lovelady have a lot of experience and Kruger looked good in the fall. Hunter Stovall and Luke Alexander are going to upgrade our MIF depth plus Gridley is a real good player and Holland is a senior who has ACC and SEC experience.

I just hope Nate Lowe pans out, Reid Humphreys lives up to his potential or that Cole Gordon is ready and scraps pitching. And whoever is at third base- it still won't be as bad as when we had Frost and Detz over there. I swear- when that guy for Virginia hit that ball to Detz that ended up being the last out before we went to Omaha in 2013- that's about as nervous as I have ever gotten watching a baseball game in 20 years.

[Jacksondevildog]

Keegan hit 102 on a turn and burn. He is probably around 94-96 topping out now.

[Todd4State]

If that's true, it's really good or really bad. There's no in between with that scenario.

If Tatum is a stud and Hudson is a legit possible round 1 guy, we're gonna be really, really good on the mound. I expect our defense to be lights out too, which is sort of scary. Base running should be a lot better too with some of the big Malone guys moving on (sorry big man, will still miss you).

Rea was the definition of a base clogger. I think having a healthy Michael Smith will help in the speed department a lot as well. Rooker can run some also- I would like to see him steal at least 10.

As far as our defense and being lights out- it just depends on who wins the jobs or with Cohen who is playing that day. Defense was an issue last year- Heck had below average range and his arm wasn't very strong. Holland's first step is slllllloooooowwwww. If we start either Marrero or Lovelady at catcher and then Gridley and Luke Alexander in the MIF we will be a LOT better than last year. Smith, Robson, and Rooker is an OF with a ton of speed and athleticism- and probably our best from a defensive standpoint right now. I actually think third base is Gavin Collins's best position defensively speaking. Whomever starts at first is probably a downgrade from Wes- but we should be OK there.