I will request from Yappi to make this a sticky thread.
2007 Grads nationally, and in Ohio, was a banner year. I was able to watch some of these kids play the past 3 summers, met lots of them and their parents, and had great conversations with them since many were going thru the same recruiting process.
This thread is meant for those to share the new experiences of college baseball starting with the Fall workouts and into their 1st season. It may be helpful for the next class as a means of gathering information and a preview of what they may expect when it is their turn.
College players and parents are encouraged to share their experiences.
Go back a step and help others to selecting the right school.
Is it the program?
Coaching staff?
The playing opportunity?
The cabbage?
D1.D2,D3,NAIA,Juco?
Degree?
It's to late for those with bad GPA's but still time for ACT/SAT scoring to help start the process.I know a few young people that will be forced to go JUCO
because of low GPA/ACT scores.
With boys like yours and others that are looking at schools now getting calls
to come visit, the selection process is difficult because they are all saying I see your child starting in this spot their freshman year and just wondering who and how to trust.
I see so many people switching schools/programs and they all can't because of teachers/classes.
The 2008 class will also be a banner year with a tremendous inpact on all level of college play and maybe even the draft.
It would be nice to see you start the process of selection before the process of how they are weeding out the weak.
I hear that maybe some movement from Miami to Kent State might materialize
or has??????What's up.We might have to call Kent the Yankees if they continue loading up with all the top talent.
earholem, not quite sure what you are asking, so I will try to attempt some type of reply.
There is plenty of advice out there regarding the academic side of things. It gives both players and coaches more options, especially now with the Grant changes that will go into effect.
Regarding the 2007 class, many "authorities" have said it was the best class in well over 15 years. Lets see what comes of the 2008 class, but as of now, it is considered lean nationally. It is the 2008 college draft eligibles that are highly touted.
The unusually high # of transfers is mainly based on players, and coaches realigning their rosters for the upcoming 27/35 rule change, which includes a one-year sitout for the player.
The various FITS of where to go to school, let alone play college baseball is unique to each player, but generally the rule of thumb is attend a school that satisfies the academic needs, affordable to the family, and on the baseball side, one where they love you as much or more as you love them.
Any coach that says you will be a starter is one to usually shy away from. Fall workouts lay the groundwork, pre-season practice paints them a picture, then when the opportunity arises, you gotta keep a hold on it by producing.
As far as Miami movement and a Yankee connection, that would be news to many.
Hope that helps.
Thanks, very informative.Hope to see some more info.
Good answer BENSPAPA,
You hit it right on the head as far as what to look for and the reason of transfer. Not always easy to get perfect fit for school. You should go where you feel most comfortable in the overall school, like what if the coach left or what if baseball enede (injury) type questions.
Transfers should diminish with the "sit-out-a-year" rule now in affect for next year.
The Miami Hurricanes kid, Michael Sanders came to Kent as Stricklin had recruited him while he coached at Georgia Tech, so that's the connection. Sanders was from Atlanta area.
Akron starts their fall inner-squad games this week and Sat. Though the week at 3:00 and Sat at 10:00 I believe. It is an exciting time for all of the players but expecially the new Freshmen. Good luck to all teams this fall and throughout the fall and winter workouts. Can't wait unitl spring is here and the crack of the bat again!!
I am playing college ball and it is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I have met so many people i never gave any thought to.
When you do decide on where you are going to play college ball just go into the fall with an open mind and do whats asked of you and just be that player they recruited, don't try an be someone you're not.
Benspapa, read about the fall games on Kent's website, but it did not give much detail. How did Humphreys do, along with Bartholomew? Also, just curious who caught because there was no indication who was behind the plate or who was expected to be there. Glad to see Carp back, Good luck to the Flashes Players. Hope your son had a great freshman year.
KSU is stacked in the outfield.
It will be very difficult for any freshmen to crack the KSU outfield this season.
Quoting the KSU Website:
Flashes put wrap on fall season
Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications
Release: 10/30/2007
MAC Tournament MVP Jason Patton seemed to be at the plate in every one of Kent State’s key spots during the course of the conference tournament. His coach talked about his off-season and fall.
“Jason was able to put on some weight, and showed a lot of increased strength. He had a very nice fall for us.”
Patton is a member of what Stricklin feels is his club’s deepest area – the outfield. The skipper thinks his team goes seven or eight deep in the outfield. Also included in that group is Jared Humphreys – a sophomore who missed the 2007 campaign due to injury. Stricklin called Humphreys his “best athlete.”
KSU is stacked in the outfield.
It will be very difficult for any freshmen to crack the KSU outfield this season.
Quoting the KSU Website:
Flashes put wrap on fall season
Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications
Release: 10/30/2007
MAC Tournament MVP Jason Patton seemed to be at the plate in every one of Kent State’s key spots during the course of the conference tournament. His coach talked about his off-season and fall.
“Jason was able to put on some weight, and showed a lot of increased strength. He had a very nice fall for us.”
Patton is a member of what Stricklin feels is his club’s deepest area – the outfield. The skipper thinks his team goes seven or eight deep in the outfield. Also included in that group is Jared Humphreys – a sophomore who missed the 2007 campaign due to injury. Stricklin called Humphreys his “best athlete.”
The article didn't talk about a couple of the other outfielders. Connor Egan had a great fall and so did Freshman Ben Klafczynski. They both showed they are ready to contribute....and if there is a better defensive outfielder in the MAC than Bartholomew, I want to see him play. Humphries hit the ball better than Bart, so I he may start, but boy are those two fast and good defensively. Bart will be in at the end of a lot of games defensively with a lead if he isn't starting. I guess its a good problem to have.
KSU's Fall Summary Article stated "The skipper thinks his team goes seven or eight deep in the outfield". In looking at the KSU roster, I only see seven (7) outfielders listed: Bartholomew, Egan, Humphries, Gallas, Patton, Klafczynski, and Koch. Does anybody know the 8th outfielder? I would assume Gallas (soph), Patton (Jr), and Humphries (soph) as your leading candidates for starting jobs. Thoughts? Does Patton have a chance to be drafted after this season? I'm sure Gallas has excellent MLB potential if he's able to put up similar numbers this year, and then follow that up with a strong Jr. year campaign. I've seen this kid play in summer's past. He has great power and tremendous speed on the base paths. From the comments above, it also sounds like Bartholomew, Egan, and Klafczynski also had a solid fall campaign. This looks like a young group. Will there be enough playing time to make everyone happy?
I agree, the talent is there. They can play 4 of these guys most of the time, one of them as DH. Somewhere along the way someone will get dinged up (hope not though) and they will need the help. they don't have depth across the board so hopefully they can stay health, especially the arms.
BensPapa, this is not meant as a debate, but just a suggestion. I know you post alot on here, so I thought I would get your opinion. For the first time I checked the Yappi Sports Index, and they do not have a thread for College Baseball. I think it would be a great idea if one were started. What do you think?
I just wanted to say Congrats to Zack Leonard for making The Deans List at Eastern Michigan University. He was chosen Federal League Player Of The Year for 2007 and It's great that he is continuing his Academics in a positive fashion at a D1 program in Baseball. Keep up the good work and best of luck in your upcoming season!
Yeah, pretty disappointing. I have been following it in Collegiate Baseball magazine and quite a few of the coaches hoped the NCAA would do more. What you have is what the magazine thouhgt would happen. It seems they could up the ante a little, like at least 50% per player. That would only require an increase of 3.33 scholarships (11.7 up to 15). It's hard to believe that they can only offer that little for a sport so demanding; 56 games in a little over 3 months, but its not the money sport.
P.S. - Good job Zach. Always good to hear about the kids doing well.
Yeah, pretty disappointing. I have been following it in Collegiate Baseball magazine and quite a few of the coaches hoped the NCAA would do more. What you have is what the magazine thouhgt would happen. It seems they could up the ante a little, like at least 50% per player. That would only require an increase of 3.33 scholarships (11.7 up to 15). It's hard to believe that they can only offer that little for a sport so demanding; 56 games in a little over 3 months, but its not the money sport.
This was definitely the year to transfer with the rule change. It will probably quiet down a lot next year.
P.S. - Good job Zach. Always good to hear about the kids doing well.
Flashfan, with all do respect to your post, not everyone was/is lucky enough to give up their awarded baseball scholarship from one college and then transfer and take someone elses awarded scholarship. Oblivious I guess.
Flashfan, it was your post and your words not mine, and you are right, luck had nothing to do with it, and my son is a fine young respected great man, not a kid, and you don't even know my son.
I am the farthest thing from being angry, actually, we are the happiest people that you would ever want to meet, living in the South helps to be happy too, we thank the Lord each and every day that our son is able to put any uniform on and play the great game of baseball, hundreds of thousands of young men would love to be doing it, and any parent dreams of their son doing it, and it is a great honor and opportunity, and is by the Grace of God.
The problem is that your idea of cheap shots is different than mine, some cheap shots are done behind the scenes and some cheap shots are not really cheap shots at all, but honesty, that some have a hard time swallowing.
If you want to continue to post your opinions, without any regards to who might be reading them, how they may be interpreted, or how someone else may feel about them, then I pray for you too.
I read this online the other day concerning the new NCAA Baseball changes, it said that the families that donated the most money to the programs would get what they wanted out of the coaches and colleges, and that angers me too! How do you feel about that? Honestly?
Back to the topic, I do not like the changes and I think it will force college coaches to let more two sport athletes do that in college, like play football and walk on baseball, that is what my younger son is looking to do.
Flashfan, this is my last reply on this topic, and from your response, shows me you are still obviously acting oblivious. We both know we are too old to be acting like this on here too.
You Said this....
But I guess we have to be realistic about politics, everything is about the money.
Glad to hear you put that in writing and admit that finally, I found that out about a month ago when we received our Kent Blue and Gold Newsletter that showed all of the families that donated, and your familie's names showed a lot of money donated, to our around $800. But we had an athlete at the college at the time and you did not. That is politics at it's best. Someone extremely close to the program at my son's former college, finally gave us the low down in who approached who first in the transfer, when the deal started happening, and the lies that surrounded it. Now, bottom line is that all worked out for the best, and it usually does. The remark that I made about honestly, is that, you seem to act like you had no idea as to how my son was treated and had no idea that he was going to be ran off to let your son come, but the honesty is, you knew well before anyone else, and you knew what you had to do to make that happen, and politics and money played a huge part. I think that is great you are looking out for your son's best interests, that is what a parent should do. Let's put it like this out in the open so others can benefit from it....before my son and your son decided on a college they looked at the situation based on their position, right? So if they had a Jr catcher for instance, they knew that the possibility of playing was good, if their was one Jr catcher, one Sophomore catcher and they just recruited a new incoming catcher, then you have to look at the backgrounds of that catcher, right? This may sound a little arrogant, considering my son has not yet played in his first college game, but if I was choosing to transfer or was a Sr in HS, deciding on catching, and I looked at my son's, or your son's, background, skills, etc. then that would impact my decision, as I would think that I would be sitting behind a pretty good catcher for three to four years, or try to beat him out of the spot, which is hard to do as an incoming freshman. I know the entire circumstance now and all that surrounded it, so it angers me that you act like, and come on here and act like you feel bad for "kids" that it happens to, when in fact, you played a huge role in it. It happens and until it happens to your son, then you don't really understand what others feel, hopefully, with the changes it will not happen much more. Seems awful strange that one young man left Kent State and went 10 minutes down the road and the others stayed. When is the last player to ever transfer or get ran off at Kent? I would really like to know those stats. You also state that I got a "raw deal", but infact it was not about me, it is about how my son found out the hard way in his young life about the real world. No one gets a "raw deal" when you are getting the opportunity to play a sport you love, like I said before, hundreds of thousands would love the opportunity to put on the uniform, so I remind my son's of that almost daily.
As for the two sport in college, my youngest son is looking to that as a possibility, as I think most others are too with the changes.
Good Luck to all young people following their dreams!
Benspapa, you are correct and that is a very good summary of just how much time it takes, along with the time you spend on your game on your own. It would be very difficult to play two sports in college, I agree with that, and never said that my son was going to do it, just kicking it around, looking at the possibilities, talking to colleges about it, etc. This mostly happens at a smaller Div 1 schools, and lower divisions, however, we have found this to be true at some large Div 1 as well. I can honestly say I don't know anyone personnally that is doing it, but it is possible. I too say good luck to anyone that can do it all and make an impact.
White Lion, I agree 100%, and who really cares what happened anyway, plus it serves no purpose on here either. I was wrong to question Flashfan on his previous statements. Everyone really knows what happened anyway and it is over. Actions speak louder than words, so let's play some ball, somewhere, anywhere for crying out loud...lol!!
No hard feelings Flashfan, we are all in the business for the same reasons, some just play the game a little different than others, good luck to all players everywhere. Too bad things did not work out with his first choice of transfer and he had to end up at Kent. I think he will do a great job for them there.
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