Baseball America Top 50

Rankings are just a subjective tool that publisher's use, because reader's like it and it creates some chatter.

Politics???

PR is going to have to fight just to win their division.

Politics??? Their head coach resigned in November and a new coach was hired in the middle of January. Who then would be the political puppet master? They have a ton of talent (5 Division I Seniors) and have a shot to be an excellent team this spring. Pre-season rankings are there just to generate discussion and predict what may occur.

"Who then would be the political puppet master" You are obviously not very familiar with the program.

I know where you are going with this rrf, but I think pitchandcatch 97 is quite familiar with the program.

Congrats to both teams!

quote:

Originally posted by jarthur:
Congrats to both teams!

And Good Luck!
Yeah Baby!

PR should be very strong in 2008.

What is interesting, is when you look at the top 50 teams in the country. I believe the 2007 wins and loss records are found next too each team on the right hand side of the page. PR has the worst wins lost record out of all of those teams.

Regardless...
PR will be solid this year

I agree, PR is going to be very solid team this year, that is if they gel well as a team.

However 5 D1 players does not always make you an automatic power house of a team. But congrats to both teams! Its an outstanding achievement nonetheless.

I hear Haskins hired the former Liberty University head coach to help him this year. He is a no non-sense guy who can teach. Plus he has won evrywhere he has been. Knows the players too.

I can't believe how active this IL site is. You snow people must really love baseball. Our first game is Feb 23rd. HOPE ALL THE SNOW GOES AWAY SO YOU CAN GET A COUPLE OF GAMES IN THIS YEAR! I can remember some snow outs in HS in the mid 70's in Dupage co. Only have to worry about rain now here in GA.

Hey Roy, any idea why he left Liberty?

Supposedly he was let go becasue Liberty hired a new athletic director and the athletic director wanted a new coach. Matt Royer was a solid coach there though.

I think a PR player is going to Liberty U next year

Interesting....

First, Having 5 Division One athletes makes you a powerhouse, I had 5 DI's we finished 4th in state and lost to New Trier in the State Semis (2000), I think they too had 5 DI's. Secondly, Matt Royer is on staff at PR, he will be coaching the infielders, he was released because he stood behind his beliefs in opposition of the athletic director. Lastly, any recognition at the national level is an incredible honor.

Playball2 ...with all due respect.....I'd say a team is a powerhouse when it wins a ton of games. In HS many teams have had great seasons only to lose early in the playoffs. It is so easy to lose a baseball game and I don't think you have to finish as a champ or close to it to be considered a powerhouse.

I'd call PR a powerhouse more based upon their record over the years than what they might be this year. They have been a factor in their Sectional just about every year (except last year when they had all these D-1 guys) and for that you have to call them a powerhouse.

JMHO

To go from a 19-16 record to number one in the state with no new key players is a stretch. They don't have the pitching depth to rank that high for the course of the season. I think that the five D1 players are fooling the Baseball America people before the season starts. To call them a powerhouse is definitely premature. With that being said, their core players work as hard as any players you'll see. Whatever they get at the end of the season, they will have earned.

Where is Prairie Ridge HS?

Crystal Lake.

RRF8

Great point.

D-1's do not mean you win. Quite honestly I would like to see PR face some of the MSL teams like Conant, Fremd, Barrington and so on.

Perhaps they are.

I also know the conferance they are in, PR will be tough to beat.

Does anyone know what class they will be in for the playoffs?

PR is in 4A for baseball. I agree that they will be tough to beat in their conference, but I also believe that they are going see everyone's best pitching when they play them. Their conference has a good deal of good pitchers and they will have to contend with a lot of number ones.

It is true that Prairie Ridge will be facing tougher pitching... good teams face good pitching. PR's team has a lot of experienced players that have seen pitching at the national level though with summer teams and such. I know we face PR, and if you check out their schedule on their website... it won't be an easy ride..

They face teams such as Fremd, Carmel, Prospect, Whitney Young, Palatine and play in the Schaumburg Flyers Classic BEFORE their conference play begins. They also face Lake Zurich and Neuqua Valley as well in their schedule.

Schedule

That is an outstanding schedule. PR should be commended for challenging themselves and not resting on their reputation.

What I have heard is the new coach's commitment to practice practice practice. The college coach from Virginia is all about teaching as well. The upside to this weather putting things back in terms of start of season works to PR's favor. The learning never stops and the more time they have to gel in practice will benefit the group as a whole with new leadership. No shortcuts...just players all working hard. The bullseye is on their backs and that is exactly where it belongs. All the " press clippings " burn just as fast as it has been written.

okay roy we get it your son plays for pr.

My grandson actually 2bagger. So whats your beef ? My objectivity is still in tact in spite of my blood connection. Relax in ain't no big deal.

RRF8,
Newsflash, pre-season rankings are based on a teams potential. I would say that having a substantial amount of players who have signed to play at the Division One is argument for having great potential.

Knowing that all of those same D1 players were on last year's 19-16 team might put that potential in a different perspective.

RRF8 you are definitely smarter than the average bear!!

Yeah but the average bear is missing one very key point about last season...Swank was hurt and didn't pitch for the first 2/3 of the season and was never 100 % on the mound. Martini got hurt and missed the last 1/3 of the season and Mitroff was out for 1/2 of the season with a slight tear in the ligament in his wrist. If they can stay healthy and that is a big if...then maybe they reach their team goals.

First. Thanks Play Dog. I appreciate it. Second, PR lost three games in the last week of the season to two sophomore pitchers and one freshmen pitcher in their division to get knocked out of first place. They had everyone healthy except Martini. They had Law last year though and I don't think they will be replacing his bat in the lineup this year. Also, I'm quite sure that their competition had their share of injuries also.

PR is very talented and I think that the team will get better and better as the season gets closer to state; but I really think St.Rita is very strong as well.
St. Rita's pitching staff speaks for itself.

Anyone want to challenge my comments in this thread?
Roy? Buehler? Anyone?

RRF8

You may be right...no doubt that PR has had its lunch handed to them. They lost their swagger for the past few games. They made some major line-up changes offensively and are addressing their defensive issues. They won last night with their 8,9 pitchers against a # 2 for South. But clearly the pre-season rankings was just fireplace paper. There is some competitors that want to win and I will wait till the final bell to either salute your thoughts or wink.

RRF8, I'll bite, you are absoulutly incorrect. What could you be thinking? Are you a closet Cubs fan too? Why dont you run through all of your reasonings again, it's Saturday morning, we got all day.

While we are at it, let's get an update on the Fins. Haven't heard much about them lately, i could only assume they must be losing a few more than they are whinning.

I'll admit that I am a Cubs fan but not a closet one. I also admit that I could be absolutely incorrect, but I would like to know the reason why you think that I am. Roy, I appreciate your objective comments and congrats to PR on their win today.