Pre-season Picks

quote:

Originally posted by Clemente21:
Crawdad
You mentioned Jeff Thompson like he'll be back for you all. I find that hard to believe having TJ six months ago. Just curious but I will wish ya'all good luck this spring and a very merry christmas.

Jeff has been released to begin the season playing 1st base. In addition he is already throwing off the mound. He is scheduled to be released to pitch in games in April. We are hoping he will be up to full strength by the playoffs. If you could see him throw the ball right now you would have never guessed that he had the surgury back in June.

The above timetable is unbelievable to me too but the kid has stuck to his rehab to the letter. It looks like it might pay off.

Tell Taylor good luck. If ya'll come to Longview to play the Lobos let us know just in case we don't have a game that night.

Don't you look forward to coming to Longview for a Tuesday night game?

quote:

Originally posted by kirk:

I saw Bingham (stands at least 6'5"), at the Dbat Showcase/tryout, hit 90 a couple of times and cruise 85-87. If ya'll don't want him, we'll take him.

No, no, no....we need all we can get.

Allen is still going to need some depth on the hill. Problem over the last couple of years has been in the playoff's when you run into that 3rd game in 3rd day. Regular season conference games twice a week can be deceiving when they play 3 times when it counts.

Season starts soon, so I thought I'd bump this up for some action.

Azle will be a strong contender in 4A they went three rounds deep last year and return basically with their whole team intact.The top four teams in that district being Azle, Arlington Seguin, Birdville, and Springtown. In 8-4A Arlington Heights should be strong and based on what I am hearing the top four out of that district should be Heights, Southwest, Western Hills, and South Hills

How's that Vines kid doing for Azle? I know his big brother

Don't know him personally, I just know the team as my son's team plays in their district. I know their stud pitchers are Gaskey, and Cherry and another pretty salty lefty that was a sophomore last year.

Where is Mequite Poteet ranked? After a great post season last year, are they even mentioned?
I know they lost a couple of their top players.

KD

Keller Central got a transfer by the name of Macy that can pitch and hit. Should help out their program.

Anyone heard anything about Harris from Irving High? Think he was a freshman varsity starter last year. He might be the #2 behind Beavan.

Keller Central also picked up Mike Brumley's son. Some of you might remember him from the 1983 national champion Texas Longhorns and he played with the Cubs. Rumor has it that his boy picks it like the old man.

Longtoss,
I am curious: LakeHighlands, Naaman Forest, and Jesuit?
What do they have returning? LH and Jesuit lost their ace and Naaman was not that strong last season.

I wouldnt count out Mesquite or Horn for one of those 12-5A playoff spots. Both teams will play you down to the wire, Mesquite have some key players returning one being then CF Casey Johnson who hit around .450 and Horn is returning there #1.

quote:

Originally posted by collikar:
KD

Keller Central got a transfer by the name of Macy that can pitch and hit. Should help out their program.

Anyone heard anything about Harris from Irving High? Think he was a freshman varsity starter last year. He might be the #2 behind Beavan.

Trent Harris is going to be No 2 behind Blake Beavan at Irving High School. Like Blake he played for the Dallas Tigers and had a really good summer. Irving should be a vital threat for 2nd or 3rd place in the 6 5-A race this season. There are a couple of other pitchers and a move in catcher that should make the team a contender this year.

tiger parent thanks for the update and good luck this season

those are two great kids with great parents that should really continue to help the program

[/QUOTE]

Trent Harris is going to be No 2 behind Blake Beavan at Irving High School. Like Blake he played for the Dallas Tigers and had a really good summer. Irving should be a vital threat for 2nd or 3rd place in the 6 5-A race this season. There are a couple of other pitchers and a move in catcher that should make the team a contender this year.[/QUOTE]

Tiger parent, Irving may be good this year but lets not forget about some of the other teams in the district 6-5A. Coppell obviously is probably the best team in that district with Cole Green on the mound and many sticks in the lineup. In my opinion LD Bell is easily the second best team and heres why...they were undefeated on all teams last year (fresh,jvA,jvB,) and almost varsity with there only loss coming from trinity in that district (haha). I have seen two of there pitchers in showcases my son attended and they are both easily in the 86-89 mph range, with one being a lefty. They have one of the best shortstops i have seen in Corey Bozo and a big lefty hitter Austin Denney who is about 6'5'' and can hit the ball extremely well. (he hit two homers off my son that were about 450 feet)a very underrated player who will probably put up huge numbers this year. SGP gets my vote for third possibly second depending on how well LD Bell does (LD Bell is 39-3 in district play the last three years)SGP does return nearly the whole team from last year, from Melvin Kelly to David Carpenter who Ive seen hit up to 93mph. However this is just subjective, but Irving should be in the mix of things, especially with Beavan on the mound, that kid is a very talented pitcher. But heres my District 6-5A predictions:
1. Coppell (Cole Green and many other hitters)
2. LD Bell (Good Pitching, Excellent Program Tradition, and a good hitting lineup led by Denney
3.SGP (nearly every returner from last year)
4.Irving (look for them to sneak up on ppl especially with Beavan)
5.GP
6.MacArthur
7.Trinity
8.Nimitz

we will find out soon its gonna be fun

best wishes

FMHS certainly has the talent and depth on the field to reach the playoffs and potentially Roundrock. Unfortunely, they still have the same head coach whose decisions kept them from getting past the first round of the playoffs last year. Keep in mind, the 2005 team was the only High School team to have 3 players from the same school drafted in the top 9 rounds.

In 2006, same head coach, same poor decisions...the FMHS players can only overcome consistantly bad coaching calls and decisions to a point!!! If you saw their two losses in the Frisco tounament, you know what I talking about!

quote:

Originally posted by oldbat-never:
My Early Guess would be: another good year for two Strong Programs over here in Flower Mound:

FMHS has Millard LHP that signed with DBU and then their is an 07 that was on JV last year Neal (Dallas Mustangs)and another 07 Durand. Think there is still some shuffling over their for positions (infield/outfield/catcher). Always a team that competes and has depth.

Marcus: Reload would be my answer. 06 LHP Herriage is throwing heat and back (add to that 5 more Sr/Jr LHP's on staff and just as many RHP), 06 RHP Baker is back (pitched in that great game at Allen) lots of depth and many, many players to choose from this year, 12 returning Seniors, 18 or so returning Juniors in the program, at least that many Soph's and I think I heard close to 70 Freshman trying out. Lots of speed in the outfield, so hoping for another good/strong year for the Marcus Boys.

That is the scoop over in this neck of the woods.

One and two run losses can be partially blamed on a coach I agree but I have yet to see a coach swing a bat, make a throw or field a ball. How many hits did they muster in the loses and have they bounced back? Did they have all the pitching needed? Was the defense adequate? Were there many errors? So many questions yet the fingers pointing is the easiest thing for parents and critics to do!

Bd2DaBone....how can you say FM can potentially reach RoundRock with the same Coach in place and losing the studs in pitching and SS. Are the replacements at those spots that solid? They all must be juniors then. Just remember its still the same coach....and I see they only beat The Colony 4-2?? whats up with that?

I cannot see how they did not win state last year or make it to the ROCK last year. POOR COACHING in my eyes. Watch Coppell next year and maybe this year too!

Train,
Not sure what your problem is with Flower Mound as this is the 2nd post where you have questioned their talent. Maybe worried a little about them being back in your district next year?

You might want to check with a few of Coppell's top players who play competitive summer ball and ask them about some of Flower Mound's players who play also. They know who can play and who can't.

There is a lot of talent at both schools. Will these 2 teams lose again? Probably so. Will either reach the playoffs? I think probably both will. Will either get to Roundrock? Lets hope so.

Also the number of studs does not always equate to championship. If so the yankees would win everyyear. This is still a team game.

I agree with H&U. FM has some really good talent, so don't count them out yet. And as far as coaching goes, I saw those games at Frisco as well, and just because we might have done something different doesn't make the guy an idiot. He inherited a team with a lot of promise, but things don't always go like we'd like. I say, it's early, they've only lost 2 and those were in tournament play, and they beat Allen soundly in district. As far as only beating The Colony by 2, who cares? Play the kids that don't get to play the big games and try some things. Let's give him some time to work on his team's chemistry before you fire him.

H&U....sorry if I questioned the teams talent. I saw many FM games last year and its clearly a coaching problem over there. Tell me where you can have a 97,92, a lefty that made most look ill at the plate, and a closer at 95 mph and not win state or get to the Rock?? Can you say choke? by the coach.

Also, I have checked with our parents and your team has solid kids just not coached that well. See you in the playoffs H & U if your coach does not blow it again (but he probally will).

I am not familiar with the situation described above, but I do think that many coaches use the pre-district tournaments to try some different things and find out who can do what. He might try a pitcher that won't throw in district or have a player bunt in a non-bunting situation to see if that player can lay one down, etc...

Putting too much stock in those tournament games in regards to coaching strategy can be very deceiving. The prize is post-season playoffs, not winning a tournament.

I find all this coach-bashing odd -- especially when the targets have had multiple successful seasons.

Train -- the Coppell coach has faced his share of criticism as well.

As Ken said -- coaching is a thankless job.

I think few understand how difficult it is to make it to the Final Four.

Wooohooo....the coach bashing begins.

There is a huge amount of talent in D/FW baseball, and just because you have X number of studs that are drafted in no way means you should automatically be in Round Rock.

Look at USA Baseball, best talent available to them and they failed. Poor coaching?

Unlike HS Softball, you can't just rely on your one or two stud pitchers and ride them to state. It's a team game.

PD...sorry for the bashing (your words) But its the honest truth. Yes I know DE has taken his share as well but we never had what FM had last year and not sure anyone will ever have it again.

Train -- I was referring to another topic as well -- not just your comments. At this time of the year, I think it's ok to discuss coaching decisions -- it seems to be one of the things we do here -- but it is better to be specific than to make generic "your coach will derail your team before May" comments.

And, from my perspective, The Colony is improved in 2006 and will surprise a few teams along the way.

The Colony had to improve from last year.....there was nowhere to go except up!

We are 9-6 overall, 2-0 in district play. We have had some nice wins in tournaments...we have also had some "bad" losses in those tournaments.

Unlike MLB, we do not have a 30 game exhibition schedule. Speaking only for myself, I would love to win everytime we step on the field (those that know me, know this well). However, some years, a particular team may not match-up well in tournaments. In the last two tournaments we played in, our #1 did not make a scheduled start. I had him start in a Tuesday game so he could get into a routine that would have him ready to throw the first couple of Tuesday's in district. When you go into a tournament and don't use your #1 you can not possibly be at full strength.

We had a game in a tournament a few weeks ago in which we were run ruled. I took my starter out after 75 pitches (he was coming off an injury). I had several options to use in relief. I chose a kid that has tremendous potential, but is as up and down as a roller coaster. I could have used some one that I knew would keep it close, but I wanted to give this kid, one I know I can trust, a start later in the tournament. I gave it to the roller coaster kid. He gave up 8 runs, walked 5 in 1.2 innings. Better to find out in what amounts to a meaningless tournament game that this kid needs to work out a few things on the JV level, than find out in a district game.

If we win a tournament, great, another trophy for the case at school. I know of 1 team in our district that would trade a couple of tournament titles they've won to be 2-0 in district play right now. Don't believe me? Their coached was quoted in the FWST today saying that. I have tremendous respect for that coach and if I were in his shoes (and I have been) I would say and think the same thing.

You will never, and I mean never, hear me say at the end of a season, "yeah, we did not make the playoffs, but we won the St. Mary's of the Deaf and Blind Invitational back in March," and be genuine!

Man o Man do I want to jump in here and speak my mind! Instead I'll take my cue from FO and sit back and just shake my head and be thrilled to death my biggest problem is if the camping site has full hook-ups or not. It's a wonderful life.

funneldrill -- rumor has it that St. Mary's is improved as well.

PD, that is true, but we have bigger fish to fry (no pun intended swingdoc) than St. Mary's!!!

PEACE

Bad2Bone

Fill out an app and get to coaching.

UTPANAM LIVES!

First of all, it does not pay enough. Lastly, a person should choose a profession that they are well suited for and can excell at. The current coach has not demonstrated that throughout his coaching career. You should do your homework before posting advice!

quote:

Originally posted by UTPanAmAlum:
Bad2Bone

Fill out an app and get to coaching.

Hey Bad,

That must make you a professional Arm Chair Quarterback.

I bet you majored in Second Guessing in college with a minor in 20/20 Hindsight.

Bad2DaBone,
Put a price on a former player with a 3 year old holding his hand walking up to you at practice and making sure his son gets to meet his HS coach. Seeing someone 45 years old after not seeing him for 28 to 30 years and he still addresses you as Coach. Having a relative pass away and seeing 45 to 50 players in the church. Money? That's not what it's about. Come on in here anytime Ken G. This guy needs your advice. He thinks he's rich, IMO, he's ............never mind.

Sounds like B2B has personal issue he is not revealing......Obviously has not coached in Texas 5A Baseball which one of the most competitive baseball classes in Texas and the rest of the US. The "team" is more important that the I's!