Please help me settle a debate between me and my friends.

 

The argument is that if LAST YEARS Tampa Bay Devil Rays (the worst team in baseball last year) played a three game series against the College D-1 All-American Team from last year , The All-American team would take at least one of the three game series.

 

Play by all pro rules except.... College team can use metal bat.

 

I know this is a confusing subject so feel free to ask questions.

I am going with the Pros in a sweep.

Tampa wins all three easily.

Rays Sweep no question about it.

I think the All-Americans get atleast a game, especially considering the use of aluminum bats.

 

I don't remember exactly when it was but I know a few springs ago I saw highlights on ESPN of I think it was the Florida Marlins losing to the Florida Gators in an exhibition game.

I would like to see this but i don't think the All Americans could compete with Pro's.

This comes up in every sport and I don't think the amateurs would have chance in any sport.

I think it basically comes down to pitching--and I don't think the All-Americans would have what it takes to beat a Major League Team. How many kids come straight out of college, go straight to the Majors and don't get knocked around for awhile? Not very many. Then there is this: As badly as Major League teams struggle to find quality middle relief/setup men what do you think the college kids would put out there? It would be a huge upset for the All-Stars to take even one game. Not impossible but I'd say the Rays would win 8 out of 10.

The worst pro team in any sport ever, could the best college team ever in a series. In this case, its a clean sweep.

I'm going to with the D-Rays, but I have to wonder who the pitchers were on that college team.

I'm going to with the D-Rays, but I have to wonder who the pitchers were on that college team.

 

The following are the first, second and third team Louisville Slugger All-Americans for 2007 (•• denotes Player of the Year).

 

FIRST TEAM

 

Pitchers

 

LHP•• David Price Vanderbilt

RHP Bryan Henry Florida State

RHP Jacob Thompson Virginia

RHP Preston Guilmet Arizona

RHP Adam Mills Charlotte

RHP Anthony Shawler Old Dominion

Relief Casey Weathers Vanderbilt

 

 

Position Players

 

C Buster Posey Florida State

1B Brett Wallace Arizona State

2B•• Tony Thomas Florida State

3B Brandon Waring Wofford

SS Todd Frazier Rutgers

OF Dominic de la Osa Vanderbilt

OF Robbie Widlansky Florida Atlantic

OF Kyle Russell Texas

DH Steven Hill Stephen F. Austin

UT Joe Savery Rice

 

 

SECOND TEAM

 

Pitchers

 

RHP Adrian Alaniz Texas

RHP Kyle Nicholson Texas A&M

LHP Brian Matusz San Diego

RHP Corey Kluber Stetson

LHP Josh Satow Arizona State

LHP Nick Schmidt Arkansas

RHP Jess Todd Arkansas

RHP Bobby Gagg Coastal Carolina

RHP Chance Chapman Oral Roberts

Relief Luke Prihoda Sam Houston State

 

 

Position Players

 

C Edward Easley Mississippi State

C Lars Davis Illinois

1B Matt LaPorta Florida

2B Kenny Smith Western Carolina

3B Pedro Alvarez Vanderbilt

SS Ross Oeder Wright State

OF Grant Desme Cal Poly SLO

OF Kellen Kulbacki James Madison

OF Brian Rike Louisiana Tech

OF Pete Clifford Jacksonville

UT* Josh Romanski San Diego

 

 

THIRD TEAM

 

Pitchers

 

LHP Ben Mancuso Creighton

RHP Mike Leake Arizona State

RHP James Simmons U.C. Riverside

RHP Nick Chigges College of Charleston

LHP&RHP Pat Venditte Creighton

RHP Clayton Mortensen Gonzaga

RHP Barry Enright Pepperdine

RHP Ryne Tacker Rice

RHP Ryan Berry Rice

Relief Andrew Carignan North Carolina

 

 

Position Players

 

C Matt Wieters Georgia Tech

C Mitch Canham Oregon State

1B Dustin Ackley North Carolina

1B Jeff Cunningham South Alabama

1B Charlie Gamble North Carolina A&T

1B Brian Pellegrini St. Bonaventure

1B Yonder Alonso Miami, Fla.

2B Tyler Mach Oklahoma State

2B Logan Johnson Louisville

2B Eric Sogard Arizona State

2B Jordan Pacheco New Mexico

3B Greg Sexton William & Mary

3B Blake Stouffer Texas A&M

SS Andy Parrino Le Moyne

SS Michael Richard Prairie View A&M

SS Michael Parker George Washington

OF Boomer Whiting Louisville

OF Clay Whittemore Jacksonville State

OF David Sappelt Coastal Carolina

OF Tyler Stovall Central Michigan

OF Justin Jenkins West Virginia

OF Ike Davis Arizona State

OF David Rubinstein Appalachian State

OF Shane Buschini San Diego

UT Sean Doolittle Virginia

And how many of them produced even a little bit on the Major League Level last season? ^^^^^^^

Rays in a sweep. Just because the Rays can't compete with superior major league talent doesn't mean they can't compete with anyone. They also swept the Rangers and Orioles last season. Rays are not a horrible team, just young and not a big payroll.

As was said I'd say this is the pro's easily.

 

I think the quickest way to win this debate would be to take the past 5 years worth of college all Americans, and see how many of those drafted actually started the next year. I'd be willing to say that'd solve it.

 

MLB more so than any other sport has so many feeder programs that aren't just college, it's very rare that a college All American actually starts the same year they're drafted in MLB,... ha I'm almost surprised this is an argument.

This comes up in every sport and I don't think the amateurs would have chance in any sport.

 

Any other sport and I agree. Baseball's a different animal. If a particular pitcher is "on", he could be tough to hit regardless of level. Some of these kids are throwing in the mid 90's with really good movement and can locate multiple pitches. That's a lot of what MLB'ers face on a daily basis.

 

If the amateurs were to win a game, it would be very low scoring. One thing's for sure, the college All-Americans would definitely out hustle them...