November 4, 20169 yr Looks like an interesting season for UofL. Very similar to past schedules with the EKU home & home early (replaces WKU from last year), UK home & home in April, Vandy midweek in May as a tune up, only 4 midweek road games, back to back road weekends @ NC State and @ UVa will be challenging and final regular season series at home v. FSU could be for the Coastal and definitely should have ACC Tourney seeding implications. Biggest thing on the schedule? ACC Tourney May 23 - 28 at Slugger Field. Sure would have loved to see that in RED on the calendar but I understand why it is white. Could be huge and might help secure a top 8 or top 16 seed. I'm surprised they didn't get a MON night ACC game on ESPN. Maybe that is something that could be flexed during the season? They lost a TON of talent both on the mound (Funk, Burdi, Harrington), at the plate (Ray, Solak, Tiberi, Smith) & in the clubhouse (Rosenbaum) from 2016. However, they have a ton of talent & prospects returning: McKay should shine in both places after summer with USA Baseball. Unless someone else emerges, he plays 1B on SAT & SUN this year. Hope Hairston grew from the same experience & continues to develop. Can McClure move from dominant midweek starter to the SAT starter in conference play? Who is the SUN starter? Can Henzman, Sparger or someone else become the "post-Burdi" hammer they need at the back of the bullpen or will it be a committee? What does the OF look like? Lyman, Summers & Taylor can cover a ton of ground, but can they contribute enough offensively? Fitch will presumably be the every day catcher. He was stuck behind Smith's meteoric rise last year but performed ably at the plate and behind it when called on. Can he handle the every day load? (NOTE: he usually caught McKay anyway, so no hiccups there.) Mann is presumptive 2B. He got enough playing time as a FR to show flashes. Big shoes to fill. Ellis moves from LF (where they needed him to get his bat into the lineup) to natural position of 3B. A solid FR year gives something to build on. Who emerges from the true and RS FR class to contribute to this team? World Series is just concluded. Bring on FEB!!!
December 21, 20169 yr Author UofL picked #11 in preseason poll. They have been in at least 1 Top 25 poll since preseason 2012. Louisville Athletics - Cardinals Ranked 11th in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll McKay tapped as preseason NCAA Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Louisville Athletics - McKay Named Preseason National Player of the Year
February 13, 20179 yr Author This week marks the beginning of the season in Clearwater, FL. Baseball America suggests Hoeing may start the season as the SUN starter. He missed 2016 due to Tommy John surgery but was highly touted out of HS. Assuming McKay plays 1B when he doesn't pitch, key positions will include DH on those days and who plays 1B on FRI when he pitches. Bring it on!
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.