Baseball America picks BG to win the MAC, lots of news!

[BGSU33]

I just picked up the latest issue of Baseball America which is the college baseball preview. Lots of great BG press throughout in several places. Baseball America picked BG to not only win the MAC East, but to win the MAC and make an NCAA Regional (projected BG to play in the Columbus Regional)! In fact, there was one section towards the front of the issue that said BG could be this year's TCU in baseball and they felt that BG could not only make an NCAA Regional, but win one! Wow! They also picked Brennan Smith as the MAC Pitcher of the Year (and the 4th best prospect for 2010), named 3B Derek Spencer (also ranked as the 43rd best senior prospect) to the All-MAC team and mentioned John Berti as one of the MAC's top prospects for 2011. The article also went on to talk about Logan Meisler, Dennis Vaughn, Tyler Elkins, T.J. Blanton, Frank Berry and Kevin Leady in the article. I will try and retype parts of the articles when I get some time. Lots of good press for BG here! I sure hope we go to a Regional, it's been awhile since we last played in one.

Also of note, Louisville, who BG opens with this weekend, was ranked #13 in the BA preseason poll, while Kentucky (who BG plays the following weekend) features pitchers James Plaxton (#1 senior prospect in the country), Alex Meyer (#5 sophomore prospect in the nation) and Taylor Rogers (picked the #22 freshman prospect in the NCAA). Here's the breakdown:

MAC East:
1. Bowling Green
2. Kent State
3. Ohio
4. Miami
5. Akron
6. Buffalo

MAC West:
1. Ball State
2. Toledo
3. Central Michigan
4. Eastern Michigan
5. Northern Illinois
6. Western Michigan

Projected NCAA Team: Bowling Green

All-Conference Team:
C Matt Skirving, Eastern Michigan
1B Nate Theunissen, Central Michigan
2B Jake Humphries, Kent State
3B Derek Spencer, Bowling Green
SS Jared Hoying, Toledo
OF Adam Eaton, Miami
OF Gauntlett Eldemire, Ohio
OF Jordin Hood, Northern Illinois
DH Robert Maddox, Ohio
UT Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State
SP Bryce Butt, Ohio
SP Kyle Hallock, Kent State
SP Brennan Smith, Bowling Green
RP Brett Weibley, Kent State

Player of the Year: Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State
Pitcher of the Year: Brennan Smith, Bowling Green

Top Newcomers:
1. Jordan Dean, SS, Central Michigan
2. Seth Streich, 3B/RHP, Ohio
3. Bryce Redeker, OF, Miami

Top Prospects for 2010 Draft:
1. Kolbrin Vitek, 2B/RHP, Ball State
2. Gauntlett Eldemire, OF, Ohio
3. Brett Weibley, RHP, Kent State
4. Brennan Smith, RHP, Bowling Green
5. Jared Hoying, SS, Toledo

[Falconfreak90]

Getting very excited about the baseball season. GO FALCONS!!!

Gotta remind my dad the team will be in Winter Haven next month. He's at his condo in Largo, about an hour away.

GO BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!

[BGSU33]

This is the most I've been excited about baseball season since shortly after I graduated when we last played in a couple NCAA Regionals. The pieces are in place for a very good season for BG. We’ve won back-to-back MAC regular season titles each of the last two seasons - only to be mowed down in the MAC Tournament. But just like in basketball, if we don’t win the MAC Tournament, we aren’t getting into the NCAA Tournament in baseball either. Here’s hoping to a great regular season, and hopefully, a MAC Tournament title this year to go with a regular season crown.

[factman]

It will all depend on how healthy our pitching staff can stay. We have some guys that are coming off major injuries, and you never know how they will hold up thru the season, but our position players are very strong. We also have at least one pitcher that will not pitch this season due to surgery.

[short]

Awesome, thanks for the heads up!


Any idea where I can pickup a copy of this?


Also, if you have a chance to re-type or scan some of the articles, it would be much appreciated.


Thanks!

[tiznow]

Trying to convince my wife to head down to Louisville for the day to watch a game. She is not real thrilled about watching a baseball game in 30 degree weather.


Too bad the series with UK isn't in April when the Keeneland meet is going.

[short]

ya i really hope the games aren't canceled.

[factman]

The last I heard, there was a possibility they were going to play a DH on Friday, because the weather is suppose to get bad again Sunday.

[short]

any word on a possible double header today?

[Class of 61]

Based on losing the opener 13-1, I hope the guys aren't reading press notices too much. OTOH, baseball is a funny game, especially early in season...wonder how much extra "field time" Louisville may have been able to get... I know from coaching HS Lacrosse, N.Ohio teams were almost always behind S.Ohio teams due chiefly to a lack of real field availability.

[factman]

I hardly think it was a case of them "reading their press clippings"! They are playing the #12 ranked team IN THE NATION, and we haven't even been outside yet! Those kind of snide remarks are absolutely UNCALLED for. We should be VERY happy to win one one or two out of our first six games with this schedule and our practice situation with the weather.
If their budget and scholarships get get cut anymore, we'll be happy to beat Owens!

[factman]

Falcons lose both today in EXTRA innings! 5-2 in the first game and 8-7 in the second game. The highlight may have been the pitching of freshman Mike Frank, who went 3+ innings in the first game today and gave up only two hits and no ERA's in his first collegiate start. Would have been nice to get at least one win, but I think the Falcons did very well against the #12 team in the nation, considering they are missing a couple a pitchers right now and haven't even been outside prior to the games in Louisville.
Bring on the Kentucky Wildcats next week!

[sum1udontknow]

I think BG is on a solid track for a 3peat. With Wooten, Smith, Dwornik and others on the mound, as well as a solid offensive output from guys like Spencer, Martin, Meisler, Duncan and others, the Falcons should be a solid force in the MAC this year.