I will take Suchanek, Stringer, Combs, and Fieger from Beechwood. After that I would say it is close between HHS and Dixie.

Dixie has at least 5 quality pitcher's in King, Kerns, Niehaus, Anderson and Smallwood. Pretty sure 3 of these guys are PO's. Beechwood's best pitcher's are also their best fielder's, so how much do they lose defensively when these boy's take the mound?

Dixie has at least 5 quality pitcher's in King, Kerns, Niehaus, Anderson and Smallwood. Pretty sure 3 of these guys are PO's. Beechwood's best pitcher's are also their best fielder's, so how much do they lose defensively when these boy's take the mound?

 

King and Kerns will play in the outfield a lot when they are not on the mound. Niehaus will get a solid playing time at first. Anderson is a PO and Smallwood may see a few innings at SS but not much.

One game matchup: Cooper

 

3 Games: Beechwood

 

Only need one in a regional game

Only need one in a regional game

 

It's all about matchups..

King and Kerns will play in the outfield a lot when they are not on the mound. Niehaus will get a solid playing time at first. Anderson is a PO and Smallwood may see a few innings at SS but not much.

 

Unfortunately, I think Max needs to rethink his approach of not letting his pitchers bat. Taking guys like King & Kearns out of the lineup hurts. IMO it hurt them when Kearns pitched the regional final last year and his bat wasn't in the 2 spot. To compound that King was out for other reasons. Those are 2 solid hitters, that may have helped erase the goose egg in the run column.

I don't think you can base it off who has the best 3 or 4 starters. You can look at who has been favored to win the region the last few years, CCH, and they had very strong pitching staffs. What happened to them? You need to play well and have a little luck on your side at the same time. JMO!

Unlike football and basketball, a baseball team changes lineups game to game. So how do you rank them?

 

One-game matchup contest?

Enough pitching depth to win 3 games in the region?

Overall W/L?

 

 

In a one-game matchup Cooper will be ranked highly because of Dunn. Do they have enough strong pitching to win 3 in a row in the region?

Boone would rank highly in a one-game matchup. Do they have enough?

 

I lean towards "enough pitching to win 3 games in the region" as a method to rank.

 

Who has enough pitching depth for that measure?

 

I have asked this question before having seen Dunn pitch several times, and also I realize baseball is a team sport, but who is good that he has beaten in his career? The young man has talent-don't get me wrong as evidenced by the fact that he will play at the next level, but again which good team has he beaten? Cooper has yet to play in the region since he has been there, and this is his last shot.

I have asked this question before having seen Dunn pitch several times, and also I realize baseball is a team sport, but who is good that he has beaten in his career? The young man has talent-don't get me wrong as evidenced by the fact that he will play at the next level, but again which good team has he beaten? Cooper has yet to play in the region since he has been there, and this is his last shot.

 

I saw him lock down the Birds in his first outing. First time I ever eyeballed him.

I saw him lock down the Birds in his first outing. First time I ever eyeballed him.

 

Fair enough. Obviously I wasn't at that game. I wish him and the Jags all the best this year.

Fair enough. Obviously I wasn't at that game. I wish him and the Jags all the best this year.

 

I saw enough to know he gives them a solid chance to win against every top team. Obviously, the other 8 will have to chip in.

I don't think you can base it off who has the best 3 or 4 starters. You can look at who has been favored to win the region the last few years, CCH, and they had very strong pitching staffs. What happened to them? You need to play well and have a little luck on your side at the same time. JMO!

 

I agree, and who am I to argue the success Krumps has, but when you constantly give away outs with the sac bunt, your margin of error shrinks and you play way too many close games. The sac has a place, but not sure it's all the time, every time. You let a lot of teams hang around and keep games closer.

Dixie has at least 5 quality pitcher's in King, Kerns, Niehaus, Anderson and Smallwood. Pretty sure 3 of these guys are PO's. Beechwood's best pitcher's are also their best fielder's, so how much do they lose defensively when these boy's take the mound?

 

When Suchanek pitches, Booth moves to SS, he may actually be a better defensive player. When Stringer pitches, Fieger moves to CF, he may be a better defensive OF. Combs is not on the field to play defense, no drop off there. RF may struggle a bit when Fieger pitches, but it's RF. You can plug someone in there and it won't typically kill you. Any drop off in fielding is negated by the quality of arms on the mounds. Those kids don't get hit hard very often.

I saw him lock down the Birds in his first outing. First time I ever eyeballed him.

Is locking down the Birds a good measurement on how a pitcher will do against top teams? If so, I like Boone's chances of going deep this season. Everyone knows about Boone's Ganns, but Boone played the Birds early and let Soph Purnell only go 3 innings and he was making it look easy. 12 batters, 7 k's. I think Boone's Ganns, Purnell, & Huff could give them enough to make a good run.

But I agree with Big Cat, You can't just base it on who has the top 3 or 4 starters, it takes a little defense and offense. I do think the Birds are getting a early edge getting in some good games down in SC while everyone else is taking grounders in the parking lot or gym.

I saw him lock down the Birds in his first outing. First time I ever eyeballed him.

 

Naturally, he gives up 6 in 2 innings today against CCH.