Curious if any of the great people on here know much about division 2 baseball? How competitive is the game at this level? How hard does the average RHP/LHP throw? Would love to know any information you might have on this topic. Thanks in advance.
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Where do you live? Watch a practice at SSU and I will answer your questions.last six players signed and 3 pitchers exceeded 90.
Bob
D2, it depends on the region you are referring to. In the south and west, D2 can be as strong as mid level D1 with pitching velos in the upper 80's to low 90s.
Many of us have kids that currently or recently played D2 ball. It varies by region, conference and even quite a bit within conferences. If you have more specific questions about specific teams or conferences, we can probably provide more valuable information.
Generally, there is overlap from division to division. The better D2's can hang with the mid and lower D1's, Better D3's can hang with the mid D2's, etc., etc. Different regions of the country seem to have higher concentrations of competitive teams in a given division. Another general difference is depth. There are guys at the lower levels who may be draft worthy but not as many as at the higher levels. This can all vary quite a bit from school to school.
Pretty much every player on a major D1 roster was a heavily decorated HS player or had a tremendous amount of projectibility. The better D2's have starters that were all decorated HS players or accomplished JC transfers and have some depth but there is a drop in talent level. The better D3's and NAIA's typically have solid starters but they may come in different shapes and sizes as compared to the prototypical D1 prospect. It is common for these teams to have steep drops in depth beyond starters.
Most teams my son faced last year probably had one or two starters around 90, plenty in the mid- 80"s, and sometimes faced guys that were low 80's but effective with movement, location, deception or other "pitchability".
He transferred to an NAIA that won 40 games last year and there is a noticeable drop in P quality and velo. There is also a noticeable drop in position depth. Some of the better starters are quite similar.
cabbagedad posted:The better D2's can hang with the mid and lower D1's, Better D3's can hang with the mid D2's, etc., etc.
Could you clarify this statement? I ask that because I get to see interdivisional (would that be the word?) games and while I would consider what you say as true by my definition (I'll see three competitive games with the D3 taking one from a D2 or D1,) but I don't know how someone else would take it.
In the mid-atlantic / northeast quite a few D2 and D3 are almost interchangeable. They recruit many of the same kids (even most of the PSAC schools), I actually know more then one organization that recommends to their players that you either play D1 or D3 they don't really push the D2 scene at all due mostly to the academics.
I live within an hour of both a top tier and a bottom tier D2 baseball program. The top team would beat the bottom team 10 out of 10 time. Maybe 100 out of 100. Talent-wise, there are about 270 D2 teams in between these two. As cabbagedad says, it varies widely.
As far as pitching, take a look at the 2014-2016 pitcher commits at some of the D2 schools that you're familiar with on PerfectGame.org. Not every recruit's information is listed, but many are. That should give you an idea of what types of players are being recruited by different schools.
I agree with what's been written here, you really need to watch some games to really gage. D2 and I think even some D3 can be just as competitive as D1s. If you research I think you'll find a lot of D2s/D3s schools have transfers from D1s very common practice. Because of transfers getting into these schools is no cake walk the programs can be very competitive for freshman's wanting to play.
Matt13 posted:cabbagedad posted:The better D2's can hang with the mid and lower D1's, Better D3's can hang with the mid D2's, etc., etc.
Could you clarify this statement? I ask that because I get to see interdivisional (would that be the word?) games and while I would consider what you say as true by my definition (I'll see three competitive games with the D3 taking one from a D2 or D1,) but I don't know how someone else would take it.
Just a general statement that there is hierarchy but there is overlap and there are certainly exceptions.
cabbagedad posted:Matt13 posted:cabbagedad posted:The better D2's can hang with the mid and lower D1's, Better D3's can hang with the mid D2's, etc., etc.
Could you clarify this statement? I ask that because I get to see interdivisional (would that be the word?) games and while I would consider what you say as true by my definition (I'll see three competitive games with the D3 taking one from a D2 or D1,) but I don't know how someone else would take it.
Just a general statement that there is hierarchy but there is overlap and there are certainly exceptions.
yes, the top d2 are typically fighting for the D1 kids with marginal academics or to grab them from lower level D1. you want to go play at XX U and win 15 games or come with us and win 40? that is kind of a normal conversation
Good respones above. Speaking from experience here in the west. Son was recruited, played at a mid/top DI out of HS, CWS in the last decade. Top talent up & down the lineup. Mid 90's pitching for starters, relief mid to upper 80's. Facilities top notch, great swag and fan support. OK conference, but able to compete with PAC 12, SEC & WAC. Very competitive environment, all good things. Problems arise when next season begins. The newest models show up, and players either rise or fall based on the hype, velo or size. If you are at the bottom half in your prospective position, you better hope someone better looking doesn't show up. Right or wrong, it's just the way it is.
DII here in the west are very competitive, on the field & at every position. Lots of DI drop downs, JC transfers & HS kids that were second or third on the recruiting depth chart. Mosty tired facilities, way less swag and fewer fans. The competition is still great, real good baseball and a lot more smiling faces on the field.
Having been on both sides of the DI/DII world. I've come to realize the only thing that matters is the happiness of your player. My son has made great friends and has experienced things that only would happened because he played baseball. If you ask him which is better, he probably say he wouldn't change a thing. OK, maybe the cool swag & signing autographs.
JMHO, enjoy every moment.
My son was recruited hard by 2 Western DII's, and one is quite a bit better than the other. He was truly considering the higher end DII, and the level of play is actually quite high. Playing at any level after high school is a big accomplishment. If your son has the opportunity to play DII, go for it.
BaseballPitch17 posted:Curious if any of the great people on here know much about division 2 baseball? How competitive is the game at this level? How hard does the average RHP/LHP throw? Would love to know any information you might have on this topic. Thanks in advance.
You need to be more specific in naming the region or state.
Matt13 posted:cabbagedad posted:The better D2's can hang with the mid and lower D1's, Better D3's can hang with the mid D2's, etc., etc.
Could you clarify this statement? I ask that because I get to see interdivisional (would that be the word?) games and while I would consider what you say as true by my definition (I'll see three competitive games with the D3 taking one from a D2 or D1,) but I don't know how someone else would take it.
What I've seen is a top team from the level below can compete with their best pitcher on the mound.
old_school posted:In the mid-atlantic / northeast quite a few D2 and D3 are almost interchangeable. They recruit many of the same kids (even most of the PSAC schools), I actually know more then one organization that recommends to their players that you either play D1 or D3 they don't really push the D2 scene at all due mostly to the academics.
I've lived in both PA and MA. In PA the PSAC schools are mostly former teacher's colleges. Overall they're middle of the road academically. In New England some are better academic schools like Saint Anselm's, Bentley and Stonehill.
Agree with RJM, but just for clarity St. Anselm decided to drop down to D3. I believe they are in their first year of D3 this year. Still a fine school, as are the other two he mentions. There is high quality baseball in D2 in New England as well primarily with Franklin Pierce and Southern NH (SNHU). Not sure what the future is at Franklin Pierce, the coach that built them to what they are today for baseball left last summer and I believe landed as Assoc Head Coach at West Point (someone correct me if I'm wrong on where King is). Franklin Pierce has nice baseball facilities but is in the middle of nowhere.
King did leave for West Point. And Pierce is really, really in the middle of nowhere.
I'm in Texas. My son went to a Mid Level D1 his first year out of high school. He redshirted and transferred to a year to year top 20 D2 school here. The facilities at the D2 are way nicer than the D1 he played at. The D2 pumps a lot of money into their program. He told me after year one that there was no comparison between the amount of equipment/shirts/shoe sponsors/bat sponsors etc. The D2 he is at definitely spent more. They got beat in the regional final game to go to North Carolina his freshman year and in the conference tournament his soph. year. His school is a high academic school and every year they get fifth year seniors from D1 schools coming to get a master's degree. Last year they started six former D1 players and had 5 former D1 pitchers. They picked up several more D1 transfers this year. The competition here in Texas definitely overlaps and the D2 game is very good. Most starters are former D1 guys.
Had a good laugh about FPU in the middle of nowhere ;-)! I had to go out there a few times and it was always a "solid hour" drive from the middle of somewhere. There's a bunch of two lane roads that always have someone driving 10 under the speed limit and backing up traffic! Very scenic and a great view over the lake when you're bored of watching the game. It'll be interesting to see if FPU can continue to remain a D2 power without King although Chambers seems to be a good replacement.
Having watched a bit D2 where I'm at now in NC (SAC, Peach Belt, and Conf Carolina's)... Perhaps a bit of a generalization, but it seems the hitters are "ahead" of the pitchers. The better teams are solid 1-9 - there are always lots of "loud outs". I think I read something last year that said if you're a pitcher in one of those conferences, good luck and don't look at your ERA! Still come playoff time, the pitchers do rise to the challenge.
I would be interested in hearing, from those who know, thoughts on the d2 central region. Overall competitiveness, the good, the bad, any insights appreciated.
Here is link to a great D2 baseball site. As others have stated there can be a large variation of talent based on location and leagues. Many of the D2 schools in Texas, Florida, and Arkansas my son has spoken with have requirements very similar to D1 programs related to velocity and what they are looking at pitching wise.
“Curious if any of the great people on here know much about division 2 baseball? How competitive is the game at this level? How hard does the average RHP/LHP throw? Would love to know any information you might have on this topic. Thanks in advance. “
I have been fortunate enough the past 4 years to witness firsthand how competitive D2 baseball is. These kids can flat out play. I’ve seen ranked teams and unranked teams there are no bad ballplayers starting for these teams. You don’t get on the field unless you have talent of some sort.
I am not sure if you are aware how D2 teams qualify for post season play? The more competitive teams are always competing for their conference championship and they qualify to play in the NCAA regional championships. My sons program have played in 5 of the last 6 regionals.
There are 8 Regionals around the country, they vary from having 6-8 teams at each. The winners of the 8 regionals advance to the D2 NCAA championships. The past few years the “D2 world series “has been held in Cary, NC. Next year it gets moved to Texas. A great reference for that is
http://d2diamondinfo.blogspot.com/?m=1
, nobody follows and writes up better D2 baseball coverage than Kyle.
Teams earn points through the season and are regionally ranked to earn a regional berth. Some conferences have automatic berths, a conference tournament champ can bump out a higher ranked team. In 2012 , I think, a PSAC team didn’t qualify for the conference championship tourney but was selected for the regional and won the NCAA championship.
Look at the conference you are interested in. See what teams usually win the conference title, see how many teams go to the regionals, how many from there advance to the world series. If the conference doesn’t have an automatic bid to regionals, that should tell you something.
Do yourself a favor next spring, go to a conference championship tournament, go to a regional. If you don’t walk away going wow those kids can play I’ll buy you a cold beverage.
Road to Cary blog name has been changed...
new web site name is:
http://d2diamondinfo.blogspot.com/?m=1
D2 fans need to save this, best info around on D2 baseball....
