2019 Baseball Breakout?

[MattP31]

Is it just me or is the baseball breakout coming in 2019? I’m assuming we are able to get Sabino to stay as he’s the last big guy remaining(I’ve written RJ off as guys taken in Top 10 rounds always sign).

We kept everyone but Pidich, Yaya, Maldonado, and Freure. Sabino is a star, Washington is close to a real breakout. I think in his 2nd year back West breaks out. And the entire recruiting class- Hess, Ronan, Corcoran are coming.

If a Hammer or Calvo take a step forward, or a Yanni at the plate, and 1-2 of the freshman contribute early this could be a tournament team....and if somehow RJ returns, I’d bet money on it

 

[bwh05]

Unfortunately Sabino isn’t staying

 

[MattP31]

Unfortunately Sabino isn’t staying

Where’d you see this? I haven’t seen it yet.....though can’t blsme him since he’s senior aged and would have a hard time replicating this year’s numbers since they’re so good

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

If a Hammer or Calvo take a step forward, or a Yanni at the plate, and 1-2 of the freshman contribute early this could be a tournament team....and if somehow RJ returns, I’d bet money on it

If you mean an ACC tournament team, yeah, maybe. I mean after all, only two teams get left out. If you mean an NCAA tournament team then I'll bet whatever amount of money you want that that won't happen.

This is a team that simply could not hit this year, and they are losing one of the two best hitters for sure and quite possibly the other one as well. From a team that only really had four guys who could hit on it. And they are losing their best starting pitcher. To make the NCAA tournament they are going to need to pitch better even without their best starter and one of their best relievers, and they are going to have to hit the ball much, much better even though they might lose their two best hitters. And that's with a recruiting class that Perfect Game has ranked 48th overall and 11th best in the ACC.

This team is far, very far, from being an NCAA team.

 

[MattP31]

If you mean an ACC tournament team, yeah, maybe. I mean after all, only two teams get left out. If you mean an NCAA tournament team then I'll bet whatever amount of money you want that that won't happen.

This is a team that simply could not hit this year, and they are losing one of the two best hitters for sure and quite possibly the other one as well. From a team that only really had four guys who could hit on it. And they are losing their best starting pitcher. To make the NCAA tournament they are going to need to pitch better even without their best starter and one of their best relievers, and they are going to have to hit the ball much, much better even though they might lose their two best hitters. And that's with a recruiting class that Perfect Game has ranked 48th overall and 11th best in the ACC.

This team is far, very far, from being an NCAA team.

Perfect Game’s ranking isn’t accurate once we reach the spring for me. They do a great job, but those rankings are as meaningless as it gets once you pass signing day.

How many high school recruits are going pro? It’s not just the number, but it’s typically the best of the bunch too. Then add in the kids who change their minds late in the game and decide to go the JUCO route because it gets them back into the draft in a year instead of waiting 3...one of the best players in the country just got out of his LOI and if he doesn’t sign he may very well end up in a JUCO(Elijah Cabell, LSU, 14th rounder and probably not signing unless they fail to get Turang their first rounder). For this reason I only see the August/September rankings as valuable.

And yes Pitt couldn’t hit this year....but Washington is a real breakout candidate. I think Yanni has some more upside. And I see Hess as a guy who can come right in and contribute(contribute, not star). Should Sabino return the lineup looks like it’s going to be improved

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

And yes Pitt couldn’t hit this year....but Washington is a real breakout candidate. I think Yanni has some more upside. And I see Hess as a guy who can come right in and contribute(contribute, not star). Should Sabino return the lineup looks like it’s going to be improved

I was already counting Yanni, and Washington has the look of a good player as well. If Sabino comes back and Hess comes in and hits well that still only gives Pitt four guys who are good hitters. Maybe five if they start Cappas ahead of one of the guys who can't hit who started ahead of him most of the time until he got hurt. That still isn't nearly good enough.

For Pitt to be anywhere close to an NCAA team next year they need at least a couple of the guys who didn't hit this past season to get a lot better AND they need a couple incoming recruits to be good hitters as well. And they need several of the returning pitchers to improve AND they need a couple of the incoming recruits to be able to give them good innings.

Is all that theoretically possible? Maybe. But is it likely?

 

[pitt2533]

Unfortunately Sabino isn’t staying

Signed today....

 

[bwh05]

Signed today....

Yup. He wan't going to return, even tho the draft didn't go as planned.