Bear,
I'll give you a call about the pitcher:

Fresh @ JHU ERA 4.97 12.2 IP 2-1
Soph @ UMD ERA 8.25 12.0 IP 0-0
Junior@ JHU ERA 4.64 73.2 IP 7-5
Senior @ JHU ERA 4.94 47.1 IP 5-0

I'm just saying I wouldn't call him a star at the D3 level...Solid pitcher but not a star...PM me your phone number or shoot me a quick email

Thanks

No doubt, the University of Maryland has attracted very talented players during the past several years. The question is - why do so many talented players defer to other schools outside of the University.

1. Program has not been fully funded.
2. Baseball facilities are considered second rate compared to other schools in the ACC.
3. Communication and recruiting skills of head coach are considered poor.

The University needs to invest in its program. Currently, potential recruits are interviewed in a trailer behind left-field. ---- Terrible! Hiring Coach Farr is a step in the right direction ---- hopefully he will have an opportunity to run the program next year and move it a step forward.

Most d-3 pitching, including Salisbury , goes way downhill after the #1.I have seen them play many times over the last 10 years and they hardly ever have more than 2 guys in the 80's and they kill everyone in their conference. Hate to say it but BEAR is right. There is no comparison between d-3 baseball and d-1 baseball. Give me a break !!!

jrip,
your definately mistaken on your take with arms...right now they have at least 5 guys 85 plus..."hardly ever have more than 2 guys in the 80's" is a joke...your off, and have you seen the other programs discussed, funny when I can quote a local DI coach as saying "JHU is the best team in MD, period" Everybody has an opinion and it will never be resolved, bottom line is there are alot of quality baseball players at all levels and at times they end up at DI and at times they end up at DIII in MD.

quote:

Originally posted by VJC Baseball:

1. Coach J,
Don't you just have to agree with jrip?

2. Trepfan: I simply can not believe your desire to rip a solid D1 Baseball Program like the Univ of Maryland, and publically, and on this web site. Looks like you want to draw lines in your own sand and for the next four years between UVa & Terpville. Good Luck with the draft.

However, I have tried to caution you and many times about taking your left foot out and replacing it with your right foot.

Lord knows how I have flunked that refresher class and several times!

Go Terps! At times this year the team was exciting to watch. At other times..... well it was another long season!

cheers

Ok....but in this year's senior class, UMD got committments from what - 2 - of Maryland's top 20 ranked (PG) recruits?

It does beg the question - why?

VJC: I see everyone jumping on board to agree with your JHU is the best team in Maryland comment? There are good players at every level but the major difference between d-1 and d-3 are the arms. To say that a d-3 staff has 5 guys who "pitch" at 85 + is just not true. Im not being unfair Im just being accurate. End of arguement.

jrip, end of conversation...go to some games...my team alone has 7 including 2 in the low 90's, and we are not a top end DIII, but middle of the road and by the way read the comment a local DI coach said the JHU is the best team in MD, I was repeating it...SO I repeat "Here are your DI's in MD:
UMD, Towson, UMBC, MSM, UMES, COPPIN...after UMD there are no FSU's, Miami's, etc" and your saying the top DIII's can't compete with them. come on now...be realistic...

You have 2 pitchers in the 90s and 5 others above 85 and you are middle of the pack at local d-3 level???????????

There is a difference between pitchers who throw hard and than just throwers who can throw hard. The difference is in D1 and D3 is that in D1 you have to have more than velocity to win ball games. D3 you can get by with velocity because they lack the depth in hitters.

Congrats to Clipper and the Tigers.

Who appears (should JMU beat GMU tonight)
to be a DH and two wins away from the NCAA's!

Wow!

cheers
Bear

GMU and JMU are battling.

GM was leading 9-3 into the 5th inning but

James Madison has come back and is leading GMU 14 - 10 in the bottom of the 6th.

In the CAA Championship UNC Wilimington and William and Mary are out.

Towson is still in.

JMU defeated Towson in the CAA Championship. JMU 6 Towson 1. JMU went 4-0 in the CAA Tournament.

Towson fought hard in all it's games.

JMU won the CAA and will play in the College World Series Regionals.

Yup, and we're not a strong pitching team...the one who topped out at 92 and consistently pitches 88-90 finished with an era around 9, the other is more 87-89 topped at 91 finished with an ERA over 7. You need more than just a fastball to pitch, one of the best pitchers i've ever had topped at 84 but could locate 4 pitches. Most guys that top of the rotation guys at our level could pitch at the DI level...And by the way there's alot more to the game than just throwing hard. The BIGGEST difference from DI to DIII is purely SIZE. I have a large team (avg height in IF 6'3) but most teams will have a 5'8 SS and 2B...where at DI all of them are 6'0 and taller. They tend to be stronger because of manditory lifting that we cannot do at the DIII level. However, it does not mean that there are not VERY strong players and Teams at the DIII level. We have 19 transfers, 9 of which played at the DI level. Most strong teams at our level have a high amount of transfers...

quote:

Originally posted by VJC Baseball:
Yup, and we're not a strong pitching team...the one who topped out at 92 and consistently pitches 88-90 finished with an era around 9, the other is more 87-89 topped at 91 finished with an ERA over 7. You need more than just a fastball to pitch, one of the best pitchers i've ever had topped at 84 but could locate 4 pitches. Most guys that top of the rotation guys at our level could pitch at the DI level...And by the way there's alot more to the game than just throwing hard. The BIGGEST difference from DI to DIII is purely SIZE. I have a large team (avg height in IF 6'3) but most teams will have a 5'8 SS and 2B...where at DI all of them are 6'0 and taller. They tend to be stronger because of manditory lifting that we cannot do at the DIII level. However, it does not mean that there are not VERY strong players and Teams at the DIII level. We have 19 transfers, 9 of which played at the DI level. Most strong teams at our level have a high amount of transfers...

What are you talking about? What team? I have no idea.

quote:

Originally posted by VJC Baseball:

Let call this

Thirty Five Years of Evaluating Collegiate Baseball

Division I:
A D1 baseball player needs less development than a DII or DIII or JUCO baseball player. A DI position player typically reveals three of 5 measurable baseball tools - hit for average, hit for power, arm strength, speed, and defensive abilities. DI pitchers reveal the ability to throw 2 pitches for strikes with a repeatable delivery and arm slot, and are able to throw innings and are available to recover and throw again within four-five days. With exceptions, DI pitchers are not afforded opportunities to also compete as position players. The HS pitcher is typically the SS, who bats third and may be the best of the athletes. Many DI players play all four years with the HS varsity and have been awarded accolades such as All-County, All-Met or All-State. A noticeable recent trend is the excellent athlete happens to play part-time baseball in HS for those three months out of the HS year. However the learned skills of this excellent athletic type yet part time baseball player are less than the good and growing HS athlete playing baseball ten to twelve months a year. Red flags, if not injury related, appear to many for these student-athletes who may seek pro ball opportunities while missing a summer or fall of baseball either within high school or three-four years of college or both.

Some attributes of HS players for mid to top conference DI by position are as follows:

Right Hand Pitchers:
- Height: 6'2" Weight: 180 Pounds
- Over 1 K per Inning
- Velocity: 86-90 MPH (validated objectively),
- Knows how to throw quality strikes spinning the baseball
- Repeatable delivery

Left Hand Pitchers:
- Height: 6'1" Weight: 180 Pounds
- 1 K per Inning
- Velocity: 84-88 MPH (validated objectively)
- A quality off-speed pitch
- Repeatable delivery

Centerfielders:
- Height: 5'11" Weight: 170 Pounds
- 60 Yard: 6.6-6.7 (validated)
- Contact type hitter. Eleven pitch per plate appearance type
- Can flat out go get the baseball

Middle Infielders:
- Height: 5'11" Weight: 175 Pounds
- 60 Yard: 6.8-6.9 (validated)
- Feet+
- Arm+

Catchers:
- Height: 5'10"-6'0" Weight: 180 Pounds
- Game Pop Time: Sub 1.95 (validated)
- Can catch strikes in the strike zone
- Bonus if LHH

Corner Infielders:
- Height: 6'2" Weight: 200 Pounds
- Shows Power Numbers:
- Bonus if LHH
- Bonus if can play Of

Division II:
In the east there are differences between the skills of a DI versus a DII - DIII player. For the south and west, the baseball skills of DII players are an extension of DI with few differences. For the DII players in the North, the DII players may not throw as hard or have three of the 5 measurable tools. There are some solid DII Baseball Programs up North, yet the better DII baseball schools are those located in warmer climates.

The Minimum Requirements for DII by position are as follows:

Right Handed Pitchers:
- Height: 6'0' Weight: 175 lbs - Averaging about 1K per inning pitched
- Velocity: 85 MPH
- Can throw strikes

Left Handed Pitchers:
- Height: 5'12' - Weight: 165 lbs
- Averaging about 1K per inning pitched
- Velocity: 83 MPH
- Can throw strikes

Centerfielders:
- Height: 5'9' Weight: 150 lbs
- 60 Yd Time: 6.8 or below

Middle Infielders:
- Height: 5'7' Weight: 150 lbs
- 60 Yd Time: 7.1 or below

Catchers:
- Height: 5'9' Weight: 175 lbs
- Pop Time: 2.0 or below

Most DII players have received several accolades, such as All Conference or All Area.

Division III:
Some DIII programs are stronger than others and some play at a superior level. However, for the most part, the range of physical characteristics between DII and DIII is slim.

The Minimum Requirements of DIII players by positions are as follow:

Right Handed Pitchers:
- Height: 5'11" Weight: 155 Pounds
- Less than 1 K Per Inning Pitched
- Velocity: 81 MPH
- Can spin the baseball

Left Handed Pitchers:
- Height: 5'10" Weight: 155 Pounds
- Less than 1 K Per Inning Pitched
- Velocity: 79 MPH
- Can throw strikes with an off-speed pitch

Centerfielders:
- Height 5'7" Weight: 140 Pounds
- 60 Yard Dash: 6.9 or below

Middle Infielders:
- Height: 5'7" Weight: 150 Pounds
- 40 Yard Dash: 4.9 or below

Catchers:
- Height: 5'8" Weight: 165 Pounds
- Game Time Pop Time: 2.1 or below

NAIA:
There is a mix of DII and DIII for NAIA. NAIA schools play at DII, others competing at DIII

Junior College (JUCO) Baseball:
JUCO Baseball has three divisions and this alone separates strong JUCO programs from the others. JUCO players can be considered DI players out of HS since possess the baseball tools to be successful at DI. JUCO GPA's are lower than those attending four year schools. Academic maturity levels sometimes requires one to two years to ‘turn the light’ on.

Preferred Grades for All Divisions:
3.0 GPA + 24 ACT + 1000 SAT (out of 1600)

Baseball by the Numbers (est)
Schools Offering Baseball
NCAA DI 297
NCAA DII 250
NCAA DIII 370
NAIA 200
NJCAA 400
Total 1517

Scholarship Opportunities
NCAA DI 11.7
NCAA DII 9
NCAA DIII 0
Note: Division III schools offer merit, academic, and need-based scholarships.
NAIA 12

Student-Athlete Participation
NCAA DI 10,000
NCAA DII 8,000
NCAA DIII 11,000
HS 500,000

postscript: As discussed at T. Stone HS.
Jason: Sorry to miss you. Where da frick were you?

Bear,

You seem to know what you are talking about at a higher level then most. I would be interested to know who you saw at the team Maryland tryouts that looked good. Fielding, hitting and Pitching.

Bear,
Couldn't make it, I'm in the process of moving (which sucks) and my assistant Mike who usually goes couldn't make it either...I did hear some nice things about a kid down there I know Cruz from Great Mills...but We'll catch most of those guys again throughout the summer and fall. Right now I've got my hands full with transfers...I've been contacted by 9 DI guys...not to mention some that I've heard of that haven't made contact yet...let me know if anyone else comes knocking on your door...

I think over generalizations about DI v DIII are hard to defend. I have seen some mediocre players on DI and some talented players on DIII, and I have seen some bad DIII teams. Remember, all it takes to be DI is for one DI coach to like your academic/athletic package. Having said that, there is no question that DI rosters have players that overall are bigger, faster, and stronger. At DI, pitchers have more speed, and importantly, more command. Fielding is sharper at DI. Importantly, at DI the players hope to play professionally. That may be in the back of the mind of just a few players at DIII. Let me put it this way, you could put some DIII players in a DI game and no one would notice the difference. I think we can agree on this: some players fatten out, while other players continue to grow and improve, at all levels. There is constant up/down movement in all levels of baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by Mdbaseballcoach:
Bear,

You seem to know what you are talking about at a higher level then most. I would be interested to know who you saw at the team Maryland tryouts that looked good. Fielding, hitting and Pitching.

I prefer you send me an email (or tele or both).

cheers
Bear