Lets talk about Sluggers!

Ok, who are some of the most dangerous hitters in Virginia?

K, I'll start. Lots of good hitters but Ryan McBroom,
Matt Houston come to mind. Does anyone know where R. McBroom going to play after HS?

What area is McBroom from? Richmond?

Might be JMO but: (in no particular order)

JJ White, Stone Bridge 2011, C
Matt Kilby, TC Williams, 2010, OF
John McGillicudy, WT Woodson, 2011 3B/1B
Michael Katz, O'Connell, 2011, 1B/OF
Luke Bondurant, South County, 2011, INF
Matt Kianka, PVI, 2011, OF
Lansing Veeder, PVI, 2011, Utility
Nick Walker, Osborn Park, 2010, INF
Kyle Toomey, Woodbrige, 2010, INF
Adam Forrer, TC Williams, 2010, INF
Derek Justice, Orange, 2010, OF/LHP
Ryan McBroom, Courtland, 2010, 1B/OF/LHP
Luke Willis, Oakton, 2011, OF
Matt Houston, Spotsylvania, 2010, 1B/RHP
Cam Walter, Centreville, 2010, 1B
Ryan Lindemuth, Lake Braddock, 2010, MIF

MA-Mets,

What's your comparison of J. McGillicudy and Reilly?

From the Northern Region:

Charlie Morgan - West Springfield (might be best pure hitter in NR)
Riley Beiro - McLean
Kenny Towns - Lake Braddock
Connor Reilly - Woodson

Also, Adam Forrer from TCW and Chris Russo from McLean aren't really sluggers, but they are both MIF who are excellent hitters and are both committed to play D1 baseball.

Morgan and Towns are some real sluggers. I would have to say that Towns is more impressive. He's done a lot as a youngster. I can't wait to see what he does now that he's older.

Also, it's interesting that there are no players from two of the largest high schools--Westfield & Robinson.

Hummmm.........

Don't forget Palma - 9 HR, .500 BA as a Freshman.

13LHPdad;

Never really seen Reilly play. I have seen John play in many travel ball fields, I have not seen Connor. I am sure he is good, just never seen him play.

quote:

Charlie Morgan - West Springfield (might be best pure hitter in NR)

Can't wait to see him at Wake in 2011!

Is Kenny Towns committed?

Is Kenny Towns committed?

No

Matt DeWitt - Chantilly

2010?

Yes, Dewitt is a 2010 graduate. Had 7 homers last year and played stellar defense behind the plate for the Chargers.

Charlie Morgan is by far the best hitter in Northern Virginia! He represented VA in the power showcase. The same showcase the "infamous" Bryce Harper attended last year.... Enough said

Seriously, Mr. Baseball, you have reached a conclusion based solely upon Morgan's "representation" of Virginia at "the power showcase." That seems a bit lacking in genuine analysis based upon hard data. Can you provide the numbers for HS ball, summer ball, and showcases? What sort of competition has he faced? He may well be "BY FAR the best hitter in Northern Virginia" (emphasis added), but nothing you write in your post would convince me of that.

Morgan is a great hitter, but I agree with Hobbs, I would not declare him as the best in NoVa. If only by the fact that he will never face Wahl.

Is Ted Williams the best hitter ever? I would imagine there are different opinions on that as well.

rhobbs, Don't understand why you are jumping on Mr. Baseball 18 for objective data when others in this thread have stated who they thought were best without such data. (E.g., Vabaseballfan also mentioned Morgan and suggested that he might be the "best pure hitter in NR" but provided none of the stats you requested.) And who, if anyone, is going to have Morgan's stats for HS, showcase AND summer ball other than possibly Morgan, his parents and those to whom he has disseminated the information? I strongly suspect that Mr. Baseball 18 is an opposing player whose post is indicating a respect he has for Morgan. I did not read his post as saying that he was basing his conclusion "solely" upon Morgan's representation in an event.

Who are the big power guys in the Beach and SE Districts?

Well I didn't ask to be jumped on an opinion of mine. Sorry that I believe Morgan to be the best hitter in NoVa, and no I have no stats because I am not that player, his parents, or coach. If you are so smart, then who would you put as the best hitter...... "with stats" since that's how we describe the best hitters, NOT! stats help but to find the best hitter look at the swing, attitude, total ability to hit the ball where it's pitched. Stats are just a number, use your eyes and break down a hitter by his stance and swing. Not just stats once again I believe "CHARLIE MORGAN" to be the best hitter in NoVa!

quote:

I believe "CHARLIE MORGAN" to be the best hitter in NoVa!

Duly noted. Hope he lives up to your expectations. He still does not have to face the best pitcher. So he gets a break that others do not. There are excellent players in NoVa so, it should be interesting to watch.

Mr. Morgan will get plenty of chances to face the best pitching at Wake Forest.....if not in the Major League Farm System.

quote:

Originally posted by saipanwarrior:
Mr. Morgan will get plenty of chances to face the best pitching at Wake Forest.....if not in the Major League Farm System.

Yep. But he still gets a break this spring. Enough said.

We still have one roster spot open, if he wants to pull a Levi Michael!

I know it's off on a tangent - but what are everyone's thoughts on what Levi Michael did.... graduating early from HS to enroll in the spring semester at a school to start playing that semester?

I know football is a little different, but those players do it all the time to get better prepared and to participate in spring practices.......Duke had a basketball player that did it this year.

If he is good enough to play, and he did, I don't see a problem with it. It will make him draft eligible a year early and/or he will end up playing four years of baseball instead of three and still only be the age of a junior.

And Michael sure showed he could play! Batting in the 2 hole all season long on that squad is quite impressive!

In no way would I denigrate Morgan's performance or challenge his talent. I would challenge anyone who writes:

"Charlie Morgan is by far the best hitter in Northern Virginia! He represented VA in the power showcase. The same showcase the "infamous" Bryce Harper attended last year.... Enough said"

So, yes, he was basing his "analysis" solely upon the fact that Morgan had been in a showcase with Bryce Harper. After all, he wrote: "Enough said."

I would like to see the stats and schedules for all of these highly-touted players. Yes, Morgan won't face Wahl, but neither will he face Costello or McGee from PVI, or any number of other pitchers from the area not on his schedule. And PVI's hitters won't face Wahl, either. And so on. It is very difficult to compare performance when so many of these teams do not play one another. Would PVI succeed so often if playing against West Springfield, Lake Braddock, Robinson, etc? Would West Springfield succeed at all in the WCAC? Who knows?

I am interested in any frosh who hit 9 homeruns and over .500 on the season. I assume that was a varsity performance? What school? Position, size, speed, throwing velocity?

Stupid argument. It might be more of a fair debate if all teams made their stats publicly known. How much fun would that be?

I watched all of the Patriot District teams play several times last year and none of their current players stood out as being BIG power hitters. The Renner kid from WS was the only one who stood out.

Believe it or not, there are a few 2012 guys that will crack that list this year. I see no reason to name them now, though. It'll be fun to watch them surprise people.

quote:

Originally posted by rhobbs:

I am interested in any frosh who hit 9 homeruns and over .500 on the season. I assume that was a varsity performance? What school? Position, size, speed, throwing velocity?

Mike Palma, 1st Team Concord, 2nd Team Regional @ DH for Fairfax last year. Now playing for FH.

I know a little about Palma. Yes he connects - not sure how many of the HR's were away games. The Fairfax field is quite shallow if I remember correctly. Time will tell if he is able to perform as well at FH. I think it is too soon to label him as a threat.

BTW, he was a DH only. IMO he struggles in the field.

quote:

Originally posted by greenmonstah:
I know a little about Palma. Yes he connects - not sure how many of the HR's were away games. The Fairfax field is quite shallow if I remember correctly. Time will tell if he is able to perform as well at FH. I think it is too soon to label him as a threat.

BTW, he was a DH only. IMO he struggles in the field.

I understand 3 were @ home (Fairfax). Agreed on the fielding, has a lively arm, but needs training. Serious bat speed.

I would never evaluate anyone based on batting averages. HS stats are notoriously unreliable, as some teams are scrupulous, some are unscrupulous, and some just don't have competent scorekeepers. HR's you can't fake, but as noted it kind of depends on your home field.

All evaluations have to be subjective anyway. Anyone can slump for a week or two and in HS that will dampen your stats, but if you want to say who's best and who's not you have to take a longer term view. That's why the guys who make All Region or All State are not always the most talented, nor the most highly recruited.

I do like Morgan's stroke, but haven't seen the others to compare.

By FH do you mean Flint Hill? He transferred from Fairfax HS to Flint Hill High School? Do you know if that was done for baseball reasons, academics, or something else? Did he consider PVI? Half the price and twice the baseball team? In any case, a rising soph coming off of a 9 HR frosh season in which he also hit for a high average (.500+)--that is a "wow" in my book. Doubt colleges or pros will be interested as a pure DH.

I suspect that most schools would be interested in a .500 plus batting average and 9 homers regardless of class year.

quote:

Originally posted by El gato:
I suspect that most schools would be interested in a .500 plus batting average and 9 homers regardless of class year.

Agree

I think Palma snuck up on a lot of people last year. I know when I faced him this past season neither I nor my coach really knew what to expect as he was a freshman in his first year on varsity. Because of this we both were expecting to overpower him with the fastball...(a 1/3 performance with a double off the fence later, we knew him a little better). The next time we played him though we had a much better idea how to pitch him and I believe he went (0-3). Obviously he's not in the Concorde anymore, but regardless he'll find any good coach or pitchers will make adjustments on him over the next 3 years. He's definitely talented, and has a bright future.

In terms of the Morgan debate, just from my perspective, (take it for what it's worth) I faced West Springfield and me personally, I don't think Morgan is the best hitter on his own team, (I think Wahl is a much tougher/ more disciplined hitter). Don't get me wrong by any means I think Morgan is an incredible player who is going to do great in the ACC.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JC11:
(I think Wahl is a much tougher/ more disciplined hitter)QUOTE]

When Palma learns this attribute of a slugger, watch out.