2023 Baseball Mega Thread

[311neers]

We need to do something overall in our athletics- we are basically a middle of the conference.500 school.

Suggestions?

Add colleges/programs/degrees that lead to higher wages for alumni. Higher wages equals more money to donate and give which leads to increased funding. We’re relatively new to D1, funding and donations take time as the brand grows.

Agree that more money helps but that triggers some folks. It would be nice if we would add some programs that yield higher paying opportunities but I don’t think that actually is what the original post intended.

Agreed. We’ve got a really nice ball park now. Let’s go find a winner and get this thing headed in the right direction.

[AppSt94]

We need to do something overall in our athletics- we are basically a middle of the conference.500 school.

Suggestions?

Add colleges/programs/degrees that lead to higher wages for alumni. Higher wages equals more money to donate and give which leads to increased funding. We’re relatively new to D1, funding and donations take time as the brand grows.

Agree that more money helps but that triggers some folks. It would be nice if we would add some programs that yield higher paying opportunities but I don’t think that actually is what the original post intended.

Agreed. We’ve got a really nice ball park now. Let’s go find a winner and get this thing headed in the right direction.

By winner, do you mean a coach(es)?

[APPdiesel]

App’s hot start has faded like a fart in the summer wind. 17-17. Given Kermit’s sub .500 record at App, is that good enough for everyone?

[pop5app]

We need to do something overall in our athletics- we are basically a middle of the conference.500 school.

Sad but true.

[bigdaddyg]

At the height of our really good to great SOCON success (winning the conference and NC's in football), that little run to include the regional in baseball, decent basketball seasons, etc., how did our school compare with the rest of the conference in terms of size? Weren't we considerably larger than most of the other schools (Elon, Wofford, ETSU, etc)? Hasn't that changed a good bit now? I realize that isn't a great method of measurement but we have moved to a larger neighborhood now.

As far as baseball goes I get the sense that it's way different than football. Losing to UNCA is not good no matter what but the difference in middle of the road G5's and what is basically an FCS level team isn't often dramatic but in my opinion we should whip a school like them. It's one thing to lack hitting but it's ridiculous for a college team at out level to pitch and field as badly as we do. Walks are gonna happen but not at the rate we are running. You put guys on base and let them move around due to errors and wild pitches and bad things happen.

[APPdiesel]

At the height of our really good to great SOCON success (winning the conference and NC's in football), that little run to include the regional in baseball, decent basketball seasons, etc., how did our school compare with the rest of the conference in terms of size? Weren't we considerably larger than most of the other schools (Elon, Wofford, ETSU, etc)? Hasn't that changed a good bit now? I realize that isn't a great method of measurement but we have moved to a larger neighborhood now.

As far as baseball goes I get the sense that it's way different than football. Losing to UNCA is not good no matter what but the difference in middle of the road G5's and what is basically an FCS level team isn't often dramatic but in my opinion we should whip a school like them. It's one thing to lack hitting but it's ridiculous for a college team at out level to pitch and field as badly as we do. Walks are gonna happen but not at the rate we are running. You put guys on base and let them move around due to errors and wild pitches and bad things happen.

It’s not that we lost to Asheville it’s that we consistently lose to the Ashevilles of the world…The teams we should be beating. Post season programs don’t lose to “lesser” programs. Is the competition different now? Absolutely, but the goal is still the same…Make the post season and this staff is not a post season staff in this conference. Time to move on from the Kermit Smith era.

[bigdaddyg]

At the height of our really good to great SOCON success (winning the conference and NC's in football), that little run to include the regional in baseball, decent basketball seasons, etc., how did our school compare with the rest of the conference in terms of size? Weren't we considerably larger than most of the other schools (Elon, Wofford, ETSU, etc)? Hasn't that changed a good bit now? I realize that isn't a great method of measurement but we have moved to a larger neighborhood now.

As far as baseball goes I get the sense that it's way different than football. Losing to UNCA is not good no matter what but the difference in middle of the road G5's and what is basically an FCS level team isn't often dramatic but in my opinion we should whip a school like them. It's one thing to lack hitting but it's ridiculous for a college team at out level to pitch and field as badly as we do. Walks are gonna happen but not at the rate we are running. You put guys on base and let them move around due to errors and wild pitches and bad things happen.

It’s not that we lost to Asheville it’s that we consistently lose to the Ashevilles of the world…The teams we should be beating. Post season programs don’t lose to “lesser” programs. Is the competition different now? Absolutely, but the goal is still the same…Make the post season and this staff is not a post season staff in this conference. Time to move on from the Kermit Smith era.

Kind of my overall point about baseball and our sports in general. We are losing to schools that we should absolutely not lose to- Texas State and a transitioning JMU in football, various teams in basketball (like Campbell and Kennesaw State at home), UNCA in baseball. I'm not one of the delusional fans who expects the unrealistic heights some on here seem to subscribe to but I certainly don't see us as a mid level .500ish athletic program either. Are we bringing in the level of baseball talent to be better or is it coaching? Kermit certainly isn't out there walking guys and he isn't making errors in the field but he is the one who leaves a guy in to basically throw batting practice and he is the one calling steals and bunts at curious times in games.

[APPdiesel]

The buck ALWAYS stops with the coach.

[spacemonkey]

The one call last night that had me scratching my head was in the 7th or 8th inning. We had a man on 3rd with 1 out and a 6 to 6 game. I would have squeezed him home. That run was too important.

[AppSt94]

Here is where I am at with Kermit and the baseball program. Kermit is a good coach that has shown to be a proven winner at his previous stops. He’s got a great baseball mind. So I am stuck between is change necessary and does it really make a difference as we may just be playing in a sandbox that’s a bit too big for us.

[Stonewall]

App State should beat UNCA.In every sport , 99% of the time.My opinion .We should have whipped them like WFU whipped us last week.Our pitching , base running and just fundamental decision making drive me nuts .We have some talent .Drum is one of the best all around to come our way over the years , other guys show promise but it just hasn't come together in 6 years.KS is a great guy but we know what we have .Short of a dramatic turn around I don't see a renewal - unless we are just writing the sport off.

[JTApps1]

We need to do something overall in our athletics- we are basically a middle of the conference.500 school.

When every program is funded mid-pack or below in the conference this is typically the result. The SBC has gotten better and deeper but we aren't keeping up with the top programs.

[WVAPPeer]

The one call last night that had me scratching my head was in the 7th or 8th inning. We had a man on 3rd with 1 out and a 6 to 6 game. I would have squeezed him home. That run was too important.

I watched the game but I don't remember who the batter was at that point - That would be my #1 consideration with making that decision

[WVAPPeer]

Here is where I am at with Kermit and the baseball program. Kermit is a good coach that has shown to be a proven winner at his previous stops. He’s got a great baseball mind. So I am stuck between is change necessary and does it really make a difference as we may just be playing in a sandbox that’s a bit too big for us.

Thanks to ESPN+ I have watched most of the games this season and I have to say I have seen very few coaching decisions that I would consider questionable.

[BambooRdApp]

Personally, I feel like we are 2 good pitchers from being at or near top of conference. One other starter and a good reliever. Once we get past Friday starter that, for most part, has been good... Saturday and Sunday are typically not a good two days on the mound
This may not help us in weekday games as none of them should be pitching them...it would help us in conference series. We beat Stink in my opinion on Saturday 1st game if we had better pitching.

[bigdaddyg]

Here is where I am at with Kermit and the baseball program. Kermit is a good coach that has shown to be a proven winner at his previous stops. He’s got a great baseball mind. So I am stuck between is change necessary and does it really make a difference as we may just be playing in a sandbox that’s a bit too big for us.

Thanks to ESPN+ I have watched most of the games this season and I have to say I have seen very few coaching decisions that I would consider questionable.

I've spent more time in my life around baseball than any other sport. I'm by no means an expert and I only coached at a youth level but I believe one thing remains the same. If you don't have pitching you don't have a chance. A lousy hitting team with a lights out pitcher can win 1-0 by playing small ball and by scratching out a run. It's really hard to win at football or basketball without talent on both sides/ends of the floor.

I agree. I haven't really seen a whole bunch of examples of coaching costing us baseball games. I believe the walks and errors have been major contributors. The game ain't that complicated.

[WVAPPeer]

You can't consistency win baseball games at any level with at least "good" pitching

[Stonewall]

Got to be in , or near , the strike zone.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

Going to my first App baseball game Friday night against ODU. Looking forward to it! I’ll do what I can to
help our pitchers out.

[T-Dog]

One thing about Kermit is that he has diligently fundraised for the program. Turf, batters eye, terraced seating, that weird deck in right center, he's helped out there a lot.

I feel that the fact that his contract is up after the season and we haven't heard a peep about an extension says a lot.