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Life in a post-Garland world has us all asking, “Is it baseball season yet?”
No, but soon.
Soon.
With just over three weeks until the boys lace them up in Talking Stick, Arizona to play UVA, Cal State Fullerton, and TCU in the MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament, it is time to check in with the hype train.
Here’s what the scribes over at Baseball America gave me for my birthday:
2018 Record: 35-27
2018 Postseason Finish: Super Regionals
2018 Final Ranking: 17
The Skinny: The Commodores bring back the bulk of a team that last season fell just short of Omaha, including eight of nine starters and seven of 10 pitchers who threw at least 20 innings. Right fielder JJ Bleday, a potential first round pick, and righthanders Drake Fellows and Patrick Raby, who both have Friday night experience, lead the strong returning core.
As you may already have guessed, the SEC is well-represented in BA’s top 25, with The Bayou Bengals coming in at #2, The Fightin’ Jorts at #4, Clanga at #9, The Ackbars at #13, Ugga at #15, The War Tigers at #17, and Woo Pig Sooey at #18.
This follows D1Baseball’s #1 ranking released a week ago. Perfect Game has us at #3 (behind LSU and reigning CWS champions Oregon State), and that’s nothing to scoff at, either.
Though pre-season rankings are largely a measure of “who lost the fewest impact players,” I’mma let you get hype over this.
Go on, then. Commence the hype-ening. Feel free to remind the Chuggers who will pack Memorial Gym this Wednesday of these pre-season rankings every time they bring up the concept of being ranked #1.