FRGVandy81 wrote:

Yes, I think there will be a priority for good bats this year.  Who do you think might be the "surprise?"

ok,i only know what the papers,web sites and vu players say and for my two cents worth i'm going with xavier turner.now then, isn't the campbell kid the one from oregon who played ss in hs.if that's him then i can tell you and this came straight outta connor harrell's mouth,he is supposed to be a stud of a player.me and connor was talking this past summer at one of the vu baseball camps for up and coming prospects and i asked him about the kid from oregon and he really praised him.

vandytony1 wrote:

FRGVandy81 wrote:

Yes, I think there will be a priority for good bats this year.  Who do you think might be the "surprise?"

ok,i only know what the papers,web sites and vu players say and for my two cents worth i'm going with xavier turner.now then, isn't the campbell kid the one from oregon who played ss in hs.if that's him then i can tell you and this came straight outta connor harrell's mouth,he is supposed to be a stud of a player.me and connor was talking this past summer at one of the vu baseball camps for up and coming prospects and i asked him about the kid from oregon and he really praised him.

Thanks for the insight, it's interesting that this is what the players are whispering.  It sounds like Corbs got some really good bats in this class, bats that are really needed.  It will be exciting to catch them in the spring.  What are you hearing about the freshman pitchers?

FRGVandy81 wrote:

vandytony1 wrote:

FRGVandy81 wrote:

Yes, I think there will be a priority for good bats this year.  Who do you think might be the "surprise?"

ok,i only know what the papers,web sites and vu players say and for my two cents worth i'm going with xavier turner.now then, isn't the campbell kid the one from oregon who played ss in hs.if that's him then i can tell you and this came straight outta connor harrell's mouth,he is supposed to be a stud of a player.me and connor was talking this past summer at one of the vu baseball camps for up and coming prospects and i asked him about the kid from oregon and he really praised him.

Thanks for the insight, it's interesting that this is what the players are whispering.  It sounds like Corbs got some really good bats in this class, bats that are really needed.  It will be exciting to catch them in the spring.  What are you hearing about the freshman pitchers?

the kid from clovis,califonia was being talked highly of by someone on one of the recruiting sites but in general i don't know much about the pitchers.

Really, pretty much everyone in this class is outstanding.  Based on the fall, it seems like Dansby is the only surefire starter in the class (I know he's in a positional battle at short, but it's one I don't think anyone expects him to lose if he's healthy). 

At third, Conde still has great potential and he had an outstanding summer at the plate.  His footwork at third also improved greatly as the season went on, that said, Turner is the real deal at the plate.  I don't really know enough about his glove to say where he stands there, but the hands are supposed to be good and his arm a little less so.  If Kemp stays at second, Conde could also be in the mix in left (perhaps making a DLO style move from the left side of the infield to the outfield). 

With CC's departure, DH opens up a bit.  I have to think Chris Harvey will get the lion's share of at bats there, but Zander Wiel really impressed me in the B&G (though I was listening and reading box scores and not watching).  Wiel was undoubtedly the biggest surprise. 

All the pitchers have the ability to compete immediately this year, but I wouldn't expect anyone to contend for a weekend starters spot.  Raasch obviously is a different kind of situational arm.  The guy from Clovis is Ferguson and he had the best summer of any of the recruits.  Much like the other big arms in the class, he can really light up the gun. 

And, as a side note, don't forget Phil Pfeifer.  I think folks have, but he could be a real Xfactor this year. 

More thoughts later when I do my write-ups.

WhenItStrikesMe wrote: Really, pretty much everyone in this class is outstanding.  Based on the fall, it seems like Dansby is the only surefire starter in the class (I know he's in a positional battle at short, but it's one I don't think anyone expects him to lose if he's healthy). 

At third, Conde still has great potential and he had an outstanding summer at the plate.  His footwork at third also improved greatly as the season went on, that said, Turner is the real deal at the plate.  I don't really know enough about his glove to say where he stands there, but the hands are supposed to be good and his arm a little less so.  If Kemp stays at second, Conde could also be in the mix in left (perhaps making a DLO style move from the left side of the infield to the outfield). 

With CC's departure, DH opens up a bit.  I have to think Chris Harvey will get the lion's share of at bats there, but Zander Wiel really impressed me in the B&G (though I was listening and reading box scores and not watching).  Wiel was undoubtedly the biggest surprise. 

All the pitchers have the ability to compete immediately this year, but I wouldn't expect anyone to contend for a weekend starters spot.  Raasch obviously is a different kind of situational arm.  The guy from Clovis is Ferguson and he had the best summer of any of the recruits.  Much like the other big arms in the class, he can really light up the gun. 

And, as a side note, don't forget Phil Pfeifer.  I think folks have, but he could be a real Xfactor this year. 

More thoughts later when I do my write-ups.

How is Rav looking?.  I was surprised that he didn't play in the B&G and was hoping to see him get some innings in.  Is he healthy?  Will he get some innings this spring?  How's he growing, is he gaining strength?  Is he gaining MPH?  Accuracy?

Did Chris Harvey hit well in the fall?  He struck out a lot last season, but he was very young and it's quite difficult to go from your Junior year in HS to SEC pitching.