Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had any information on the school and baseball team.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I believe they had 21 commitments for the class of 2009.
JPontiac is right. ASU is famous for over recruiting. If the coach were talking about my son as a walk on prospect, I would counsel my son to run away. IMHO the only way that a school like ASU can be trusted in the recruiting process, is if they put a scholarship offer on the table.
CPLZ:
Many of the best ASU players had virtually no scholarship from the beginning. Nearly all others at some point gave their scholarships back. If a great player wants to come to Arizona State, the coaches will not turn them away, thus the perception of overrecuiting.
The fact is, the fall is a tryout. If you are good enough, you will be on the team and you will play. If you are not good enough, you will probably go to a JC. If you need further seasoning, you might stay in a reserve role or you might go to a JC. A great example of the latter is Andre Eithier, who began at ASU, went to a JC and then returned to ASU to become an All American and then a top-level Major League player.
ASU is not for the faint of heart, but if you are good enough to play there and mentally tough enough to cope with the competition, then it is among the four or five best places in the nation to play. And if you succeed, the pro opportunities can be amazing. 90 Sun Devils so far have played in the Major Leagues, with more soon on the way (especially considering that two of them this year were first-round draft picks).
Middle Infield:
ASU is one of the two (with Ohio State) largest universities in the nation. It is a dynamic place with aggressive and ambitious goals. Its mission is to educate the young people of the state, and in that it has very broad standards and expectations. It also has an Honors College -- Barrett -- that offers one of the most competitive and rewarding acamdemic environments in the nation. It is a place with something for everyone of college ability and essentially perfect weather for most of the year in a state with unmatched natural beauty.
Many of the best ASU players had virtually no scholarship from the beginning. Nearly all others at some point gave their scholarships back. If a great player wants to come to Arizona State, the coaches will not turn them away, thus the perception of overrecuiting.
The fact is, the fall is a tryout. If you are good enough, you will be on the team and you will play. If you are not good enough, you will probably go to a JC. If you need further seasoning, you might stay in a reserve role or you might go to a JC. A great example of the latter is Andre Eithier, who began at ASU, went to a JC and then returned to ASU to become an All American and then a top-level Major League player.
ASU is not for the faint of heart, but if you are good enough to play there and mentally tough enough to cope with the competition, then it is among the four or five best places in the nation to play. And if you succeed, the pro opportunities can be amazing. 90 Sun Devils so far have played in the Major Leagues, with more soon on the way (especially considering that two of them this year were first-round draft picks).
Middle Infield:
ASU is one of the two (with Ohio State) largest universities in the nation. It is a dynamic place with aggressive and ambitious goals. Its mission is to educate the young people of the state, and in that it has very broad standards and expectations. It also has an Honors College -- Barrett -- that offers one of the most competitive and rewarding acamdemic environments in the nation. It is a place with something for everyone of college ability and essentially perfect weather for most of the year in a state with unmatched natural beauty.
I was with you until you mentioned "perfect weather" and "unmatched natural beauty". Phoenix??? No offense, but if you want perfect weather and unmatched natural beauty go to San Diego or Santa Barbara.
For me, San Diego is far too cold. As for the natural beauty, SD is indeed stunning, but I can't imagine anything more diverse or spectacular than the Sonoran Desert. And then there are the ASU coeds. But to each his own.
jemaz, I have a home in the Mojave desert (Las Vegas area). Believe me, I love desert country. Just outside of Las Vegas, maybe 15 miles off the strip is Red Rock Canyon, with gorgeous scenery, ice (yes ice!) waterfalls, wild Burros.. a landscape incredibly diverse.
I've been to Phoenix many times and I definitely give it a thumbs up! But having traveled the West Coast extensively, here's my West Coast top 10 for natural beauty (no points for weather):
1. Jackson, Wyoming (Yellowstone)
2. Sun Valley, Idaho
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
4. Santa Barbara, California
5. Bellingham, Washington
6. Joseph, Oregon
7. Old Tucson, Arizona
8. San Diego, California
9. Seattle, Washington
10.Whitefish, Montana
Has anyone seen ALL these places?
I've been to Phoenix many times and I definitely give it a thumbs up! But having traveled the West Coast extensively, here's my West Coast top 10 for natural beauty (no points for weather):
1. Jackson, Wyoming (Yellowstone)
2. Sun Valley, Idaho
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
4. Santa Barbara, California
5. Bellingham, Washington
6. Joseph, Oregon
7. Old Tucson, Arizona
8. San Diego, California
9. Seattle, Washington
10.Whitefish, Montana
Has anyone seen ALL these places?
Bum:
Good list. I have been to all but one of those spots. My list would differ quite a bit and include, among others, San Francisco, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, the Salt River Canyon, and the area surrounding Moab Utah along with Monument Valley and many places in Colorado. I also prefer great LA and its beaches and college venues to San Diego, which I love.
For me, as I said before, the best spot on my list remains the Sonoran Desert, which is far, far greener than the Mohave Desert for the simple reason that unlike any other desert in the world it has two (rather than one) rainy seasons (August and Dec-Jan). And to keep the topic on baseball, the Phoenix area also has at least nine full-fledged Spring Training complexes (with more possibly on the way) in addition to the ASU facilities.
What we can agree on (I think) is that by any measure, the American West is a spectacular place, including for great baseball.
Good list. I have been to all but one of those spots. My list would differ quite a bit and include, among others, San Francisco, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, the Salt River Canyon, and the area surrounding Moab Utah along with Monument Valley and many places in Colorado. I also prefer great LA and its beaches and college venues to San Diego, which I love.
For me, as I said before, the best spot on my list remains the Sonoran Desert, which is far, far greener than the Mohave Desert for the simple reason that unlike any other desert in the world it has two (rather than one) rainy seasons (August and Dec-Jan). And to keep the topic on baseball, the Phoenix area also has at least nine full-fledged Spring Training complexes (with more possibly on the way) in addition to the ASU facilities.
What we can agree on (I think) is that by any measure, the American West is a spectacular place, including for great baseball.
jemaz.. agreed.. the West is spectacular and I feel sorry for anyone on the East coast that hasn't taken it ALL in. But the spots I listed were cities. If you want to talk about PLACES my favorites would be Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, the various Indian ruins in Arizona and New Mexico, the Ho National Rain Forest in the Olympic Mountains, and my #1 personal favorite..
..the entire Snake River. It is just fantastic!
But I think it's pretty cool you've seen all those places. Glad gas is getting cheaper so I can see some more!
..the entire Snake River. It is just fantastic!
But I think it's pretty cool you've seen all those places. Glad gas is getting cheaper so I can see some more!
I love every single place you two have mentioned (that I've been too).
But you both need to take a trip to Alaska. Mile-for-mile the most stunning scenery I have ever seen.
But you both need to take a trip to Alaska. Mile-for-mile the most stunning scenery I have ever seen.
