D1 colleges are looking for velocity, size and grades. They can teach mechanics and offspeed. There are plenty of non D1 schools however where kids can get a good education.

....There are plenty of non D1 schools however where kids can get a good education.

Exactly, we just have to match-up the players and the college, one of my goals.

That is a very honorable goal.

IMO Smith at SOuth Laurel has it all to play in the majors someday: 6'6 185 ?good velocity, not sure of grades but would bet that he is 4.0 student. His #1 strength is a very aggressive pitcher, not afraid to challenge anyone.

You don't see pitchers with his size very often. He has a huge upside.

One thing you never see is a scout without a radar gun. So like it or not they believe the readings of the gun.

One thing you never see is a scout without a radar gun. So like it or not they believe the readings of the gun.

Usually the Stalker brand also.

 

Eliminates all the speculation of how hard he's throwing. Provides instant mph's, on both fastball and off-speed pitches.

It's amazing how many kids think they're throwing 80 until the gun comes out and then they are low 70's lots of times. That's why it's good that non D1 schools are good options for these kids.

It's amazing how many kids think they're throwing 80 until the gun comes out and then they are low 70's lots of times. That's why it's good that non D1 schools are good options for these kids.

.....:thumb:

 

Agreed and not everyone is a D1 but there are numerous, DII, DIII, Juco and NAIA schools, that many, many student-athletes in Kentucky could play for. It's a matter of matching up the school, with the player which is a goal of mine.

 

Radar guns also, usually prove that very, very few players hit 90's, even tough many fans claim that happens. I've been around Baseball a while and can usually judge within 2-3mph's, what the FB velocity is but I would like to have a $1, for every time someone said this guy hit 90....

How does the Stalker compare to the other guns on the market?

How does the Stalker compare to the other guns on the market?

More accurate and durable. Can be set to better tolerances and most College coaches use, at the Camps and Showcases I attend.

 

The JUGS is another good brand, several others I've seen also.

 

How many pitchers in the 13th, have the ability to hit upper 80's consistently, with a command of an off-speed pitch?

.....:thumb:

 

Agreed and not everyone is a D1 but there are numerous, DII, DIII, Juco and NAIA schools, that many, many student-athletes in Kentucky could play for. It's a matter of matching up the school, with the player which is a goal of mine.

 

Radar guns also, usually prove that very, very few players hit 90's, even tough many fans claim that happens. I've been around Baseball a while and can usually judge within 2-3mph's, what the FB velocity is but I would like to have a $1, for every time someone said this guy hit 90....

As you well know STRIKE, the notion that D1 is a higher grade of baseball than DII, DIII, or NAIA is sometimes nothing more than a falsehood. There are a lot of DII,DIII, and NAIA schools than can put it all over a lot of DI schools. Last year in Kentucky Cumberland, Union, and Campbellsville all might have fell right in line behind the University of Kentucky as far as the best college teams in the state regardless of class. In many years Cumberland,Tennessee (NAIA) is thought to be the best team in the state of Tennessee, often surpassing UT and Vandy.

 

Central Missouri State(DII), two years ago had 5 pitchers drafted in the top 10 rounds.

 

Three years ago University of the Cumberlands(NAIA) beat Morehead State and then two years ago had the University of Kentucky (with Dombrowski as the starter) down 10-4 going into the bottom of the 9th, before falling apart in the bottom of the 9th and losing on a walkoff HR .

 

Last year perennial DIII power Marietta College had two pitchers drafted, one in the 7th round.

 

College baseball is much much different than football and basketball when determining caliber superiority because of the limited amount of scholarships that DI schools have to offer. Kids should be aware that the words DI is very offen not a determining factor in the quality of talent compared to some of the other divisions and should not be so hung up on the DI label when they are searching for a place to play. They should look for the best fits academically first and then see if that particular school is a good fit athleticly. I just think there are two many good players that get themselves in bad situations because of a false perception of what DI actually is..

 

As far as high schoolers being able to hit the 90 mark, I could count on two or three fingers of the kids that I have gunned over the last 10 years that have been able to hit 90, so you are very correct in your statement. They are as rare as hen's teeth.

It's amazing how many kids think they're throwing 80 until the gun comes out and then they are low 70's lots of times. That's why it's good that non D1 schools are good options for these kids.

Velocity can be the most over-rated aspect of pitching Whitey. Kentucky's ace last year, Dombrowski only throws in the 81 to 83 range. Two years ago UK's pitching coach Henderson told me that velocity is the number three thing that he looks for in a pitcher. The first being the ability to throw strikes. The second thing being ball movement. Coach Shelton at Cumberland almost echoed word for word the thoughts of Henderson in talking to him, although Cumberland does have a multitude of 90 MPH pitchers on staff this year, so dont think for a moment that DI schools have a monopoly on guys that can hit 90+. Unfortunately there are a lot college coaches that use a radar gun to determine if a kid is a pitcher or not. There is a reason why their position is called pitcher, not thrower. Of course I'm not going to be foolish enough to say that the ability to throw smoke as well as having the other atributes is not a major plus, but in the big scheme of things it doesn't mean everything. Greg Maddux has done just fine topping out at 84-85.

I agree that velocity doesn't mean everything and that location and movement are also important. But let Kentucky or Cumberland gun a kid throwing 90 versus a kid throwing 75 and guess which kid they will take 99 times out of 100. 85 versus 90 might be different but velocity is important to all coaches to a point. Not many closers throw below 90 in the majors. Wonder Why??? If a kid is of good size and throws 90 Kentucky will take a chance on him but not likely to do the same with a smaller kid throwing 75. Just the way it is. Maddux is one in a million and there is only one of him. Look at the majority of the strikeout leaders, era leaders or whatever else you want and you'll see more 90's than not. Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Bob Gibson, Pedro Martinez, Rivera (SPELLING???), John Smoltz and the list goes on and on and on and on.

Smith from South Laurel would have to be No. 1

 

These guys should be in the top 10:

John Smith - Harlan

Mikey Hensley - Cawood

Drew Chamberlain - Cumberland