2021 Baseball Mega Thread

[BUTCH1991]

Butt whooping has commenced. We have a ways to go to compete with top level teams

[WataugaMan]

Although the bullpen appears to have some improvement, the jury is still out.

[hapapp]

Gave up 28 runs in 3 games. Reality check. ECU is probably one of the best we will play this season.

[Stonewall]

They might be. I hope they are. They made us look pretty bad. A thought I’ll get hammered for...we dropped a decently competitive soccer program but kept baseball that has struggled mightily....

[WataugaMan]

Reality check, we are at best an average Sun Belt team. We'll find out more after we play UNCW, although they're a decent team we shouldn't be manhandled like we were against ECU. The upcoming series should provide a more accurate picture of where we stand.

[AppinVA]

They might be. I hope they are. They made us look pretty bad. A thought I’ll get hammered for...we dropped a decently competitive soccer program but kept baseball that has struggled mightily....

The Sun Belt doesn’t value men’s soccer. Baseball is the pride and joy of the Sun Belt. I’m not sure, but I think it might even be a required sport. If it’s not a written rule, it’s strongly implied.

[Stonewall]

They might be. I hope they are. They made us look pretty bad. A thought I’ll get hammered for...we dropped a decently competitive soccer program but kept baseball that has struggled mightily....

The Sun Belt doesn’t value men’s soccer. Baseball is the pride and joy of the Sun Belt. I’m not sure, but I think it might even be a required sport. If it’s not a written rule, it’s strongly implied.

I think you are correct , all three counts. Just thinking out loud.

[pop5app]

They might be. I hope they are. They made us look pretty bad. A thought I’ll get hammered for...we dropped a decently competitive soccer program but kept baseball that has struggled mightily....

Not going to hammer but I am older and grew up when baseball was king. I like it and want to keep it(even knowing all the problems associated with having a winning/championship program in Boone...... that said , whether I like it or not soccer is the future and we should not have been so short sighted as to shut down a growing program to save what appears to be a modest amount of money.

[goapps93]

They might be. I hope they are. They made us look pretty bad. A thought I’ll get hammered for...we dropped a decently competitive soccer program but kept baseball that has struggled mightily....

Not going to hammer but I am older and grew up when baseball was king. I like it and want to keep it(even knowing all the problems associated with having a winning/championship program in Boone...... that said , whether I like it or not soccer is the future and we should not have been so short sighted as to shut down a growing program to save what appears to be a modest amount of money.

I agree about soccer. But if there had been no pandemic I don't think we lose soccer. And even with the pandemic if the Sun Belt truly sponsored soccer then I think we would not have cut it. I also think ECU is going to go pretty far in baseball this year. They have had a very solid program for several years now.

[Stonewall]

Fair comments . Question: What are realistic expectations for our program , year in year out ?

[WataugaMan]

Currently not impressed, at best marginal. Hopefully, I will be proven wrong and get to eat some crow. However, I'm just not seeing it. Although the team has improved somewhat over the past few seasons, we still have a long way to go. In the mean time, the same scenario keeps playing out over and over. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong, starting this day forward.

[WataugaMan]

Then again, maybe not.

[dlh71]

Can not fault the effort, but the last 2 weekends shows we are playing from behind in pitching and offense.

[WataugaMan]

Sounds like something we've witnessed time and time again.

[T-Dog]

This team has serious hitting issues and the Sunday starting pitcher didn't even get an out. There were also a couple of comedic defensive mistakes at bad times. The best offensive weapon is drawing a walk.

They're gonna have to find some major improvement if they want to compete in the Sun Belt this season.

[Chaz]

At what point do we start determining whether Coach Smith is incapable of improving the program? Five seasons in, I'd like to actually have some hope, but it isn't there.

[Stonewall]

Not good.It's time to see tangible improvement.I don't know where we find a better coach , or a coach who can bring in better talent.

[stafford]

Winningest coach in program history at Belmont Abbey and Lander. So, either he's a DII guy or Boone isn't the greatest place for DI baseball in a warm weather conference. What I know of Smith is very good.

App has a nice facility but, you know, it's kind of cold up there. Given the choice, kids prefer a warmer environment for baseball. There are much better climate destinations for baseball in the Sun Belt.

[hapapp]

I do understand the weather/climate issue for App baseball. But, its not as if we have never had any success. Even back in the 70's we had some great baseball teams with future MLB players on the diamond for the Apps, thinking Mike Ramsey and Ron Hodges.

[WataugaMan]

Winningest coach in program history at Belmont Abbey and Lander. So, either he's a DII guy or Boone isn't the greatest place for DI baseball in a warm weather conference. What I know of Smith is very good.

App has a nice facility but, you know, it's kind of cold up there. Given the choice, kids prefer a warmer environment for baseball. There are much better climate destinations for baseball in the Sun Belt.

If that's the case, then why even field a team? Personally, I'm not buying the cold weather excuse. Anyway, there are four straight home games ahead, one against NC A&T and a series against Arky State (who is currently 3-8). Should do better in the next 4 than what we've witnessed in the last 6.