and the Cajuns are ranked 19th overall.
John Manuel showing the Cajuns a little love for a change. LOL!
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...08/265482.html
and the Cajuns are ranked 19th overall.
John Manuel showing the Cajuns a little love for a change. LOL!
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...08/265482.html
Hmmmm, let's see: UL #19, toolame #22, and (Jim Neighbors' voice) "SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!", NO lsua&mc@br!!! :0)
WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
By the way, is this the first time the CAJUNS have shown up in BA's Pre-season poll??
I'm as excited as everyone else about all the preseason accolades and recognition, but I almost hate to read it all for fear that we don't live up to expectations. Notice I said almost
OMAHA HERE WE COME!!!
Here's a copy of what Baseball America says about UL in its "Detailed Capsules" from the members section of the site...
19. Louisiana-Lafayette
2007 Record (Ranking): 45-17 (NR).
RPI: 14.
Coach (Record): Tony Robichaux (482-301, 13 years).
2008 Lineup
Pos. Player Yr. Avg. HR RBI SB
C Thad Griffen Fr. HS—Lake Charles, La.
1B Justin Robichaux So. .267 3 18 0
2B Jordan Poirrier Jr. Tr.—Pensacola (Fla.) JC
3B Matt Hicks Jr. .309 6 12 0
SS Will Long So. .200 2 6 5
LF Nolan Gisclair Sr. .348 13 54 11
CF Josh Logan Sr. .335 0 19 19
RF Kolin Hatfield Sr. .264 4 34 2
DH Scott Hawkins Jr. .344 16 49 6
Pos. Player Yr. W-L ERA IP SO
RHP Danny Farquhar (6 sv) Jr. 6-3 3.08 88 115
LHP Hunter Moody Sr. 8-3 4.13 85 15
LHP Brent Solich Sr. 5-2 3.21 73 63
RP Justin Robichaux So. 3-1 5.47 25 19
Offense: The Ragin' Cajuns battered opponents last year with an offense that mashed 76 home runs (10th in the nation), and they return plenty of firepower despite losing star catcher Jonathan Lucroy (.360-18-68) and first baseman Jefferies Tatford (.351-10-46). Hawkins and Gisclair are both proven power hitters, but Tony Robichaux emphasizes that they are simply good hitters first and foremost. Two newcomers, Griffen and Poirrier, should help replace some of the lost offense. Griffen is one of the top catchers in the freshman class, with a power bat and a strong arm behind the plate, while Poirrier delivers precious lefthanded power in the middle of the infield. Hatfield also has some raw juice despite a long swing with some holes, and Justin Robichaux (the coach's son) has gap power and should benefit from improved conditioning. Logan can be a fine table-setter atop the order if he continues to cut down his strikeouts and flyball outs, because his speed creates havoc on the basepaths.
Pitching/Defense: Experience on the mound might be UL-L's greatest asset, as most key members of a staff that led the Sun Belt with a 3.78 ERA are back. Farquhar gives hitters fits by throwing his quality three-pitch mix (highlighted by a lively 89-91 mph fastball) from various angles, ranging from nearly straight over the top to submarine. Moody is much less overpowering but excels at changing speeds and locating his pitches where he wants. Solich, a lefty with a fastball-slider-splitter mix, came on strong down the stretch in 2007 and has the inside track on the Sunday job, though he'll get some competition from Sr. RHP Buddy Glass (75, 3.42), who has mostly recovered from neck and shoulder problems stemming from a car accident last year. Justin Robichaux was dominant as a closer in the New England Collegiate League last summer, and his boring two-seam fastball chews up righthanded hitters. Defense is Louisiana-Lafayette's greatest concern heading into the season, particularly up the middle.
X Factor: Depth and versatility shields the Cajuns from being derailed by a key injury or two. Lafayette has a lot of movable parts: Poirrier can play second or shortstop in a pinch, Robichaux can slide to second or third, Logan played shortstop in junior college before transferring to UL-L, and Hawkins was a decent catcher before having arm surgery and could help out behind the plate or at first base. And Chance Harst, a transfer from Southern Mississippi, can fill in at catcher or in the outfield and provide some pop from the bench.
...thought you all would enjoy.. because there has been many seasons where I wish I could read the members section of the website to see what they say about us.. well I figured this season is as good time as any to join..
WAAAAAY COOL!!! Thanks RC10!!!
cue up homer singing rock and roll 2. RAGIN...CAJUNS!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!
Am I a baby for being upset about how last season ended? Not going to a Super? Omaha?
UL's baseball program earned another preseason honor.
For the third time in five weeks, the Ragin' Cajuns garnered a preseason ranking. The reigning Sun Belt Conference regular-season champions are ranked No. 19 in Baseball America's Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released Tuesday.
"This is great for our fans, season-ticket holders and the supporters of the program, but we can't be reading the papers," UL coach Tony Robichaux said. "We have to be prepared to take the field to defend the conference championship."
UL, which went 45-17 and made its 11th regional appearance last season, is the only SBC school listed in the top 25. Two of the Cajuns' opponents this season - No. 14 Rice and No. 22 Tulane-were ranked in the poll.
The rest of the story
Joshua Parrott
jparrott@theadvertiser.com
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