Grasp on Top Talent

[BudDawgII]

Is it just me or what ....but it seems like ISU has lost its grasp on the top talent pool? Still scratching my head on why our pitching coach moved north to Iowa and interested if someone could give me the name (s) of pitchers he took with him!
Not to rub salt in the wound but just read where the Hoosiers are ranked pre-season #3!
Please tell me everything is going to be ok.....and I will get back on my way to Carbondale to watch The Trees!

 

[BankShot]

Now into our 3rd coach since Bob Warn "retired" in '06 hasn't helped matters. Had RP gone the Hannah route initially, this would've been a moot issue. For those NEW to Syc Pride, Hannah was Warn's choice to lead the next-generation Sycamore baseball. RP instead selected a fellow California native & highly successful JC coach, Lindsey Meggs, who only lasted 3 yrs. before darting back West to the U. of Washington.

A glance @ the current '14 IU roster shows a diverse sampling of players from throughout the U.S. Doesn't look like ISU's been hurt much by their newly-emerged status in NCAA Baseball. I think Hannah will resolidify the ISU program, but he's gotta get a pitching coach with a resume worth looking at by recruits. Mike Farrell was an excellent choice, and I've still got questions surrounding his departure after only 3 months in TH. He obviously @ 40+ yrs. of age was seriously looking at a collegiate coaching career after spending time as a MLB scout. Was $$$ the ONLY reason he left ISU??? Makes you wonder...perhaps the roses weren't as colorful as originally thought on the "other side of the fence?"

 

[bluepower]

Correction on Lindsay Meggs: He came from Chico State University in Northern California where he went to a couple of DII NCAA World Series. Yes, only three years...but he is the one who turned the program around on a dime and handed his successor a winning program...which it hadn't been for many years.

 

[TreeTop]

I'm a pretty big baseball fan (Go White Sox) but I'm not gonna pretend like I know all the ins and outs of what makes a player top talent (other than a high recruiting profile)...but it seems to me in terms of pitching, we've absolutely had some top talent in recent years, based on our guys going to the pros...Manaea, Petricka, Thatcher, Omogrosso, Stetter, Van Skike, Zaleski, and I'm sure there are others.

 

[The Fungo]

Seems like there are a few who are ready to throw in the towel before we have thrown our first pitch. IMO, I think we will be more competitive this year than last year. Nothing against Heller, I think he was a good coach,but I believe the team is better coached this year. I think there were 'locker room issues" that are gone this year. I think the team is strong through the middle this year with Wampler at ss, Hannas at 2b, and Curry in cf (that is important in baseball). I think Fitzgerald played a strong role as catcher last year and if he does as well this year we should be ok. I think we have a lot of contact hitters on this team and if coach Hanna's coaches like he played we will see a fast-paced, get on, get over, get 'em in, style of baseball. Put pressure on the defense and force the issue. Pitching will be the question, but many times it is in baseball. We do have some Juco's that came in, and as long as they throw strikes, we will compete. Will we win the MVC. No, but we should be competitive.

 

[Bluethunder]

I have every confidence in Hannahs going forward. Really think Prettyman made the right call on that one, and in few years as he stocks the roster with his players we will see this hire bear fruit.

Really excited to see the improvements made to the field for the MVC championships.