Baseball Rankings - 4/14

[cajunhawk]

We are #1 in America. Que 5 more posts that say what LSU thinks of that.

Then let's add another thread or two about LSU "not caring" about us.

We really are small time until we get past this, fellas. It's not hard.

Sauce for the goose...stop wasting keyboard strokes.

[barchief]

Hey buddy glad you on RP.

Glad to be here, my friend!

[CajunAlum10]

Anyway, what I was coming here to post was the link to the weekly chat with Aaron Fitt of Baseball America. The first 2 questions posted were already about UL and he answered them quite convincingly. I guarantee you there will be more questions in regards to the Cajuns. http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1397494646

[CajunJack55]

So much respect


Aaron Fitt: Good afternoon, everybody. Let's dive right in.




Jeff (DC): What makes you believe ULL’s offense is elite? I hope you can answer with something other than “I really believe in their talent.” That team has some really awful losses. Did they not have a huge year last year before managing 3 runs total against SHSU’s ace and LSU’s #4 in a regional?

Aaron Fitt: Well I'll start by acknowledging that John Manuel made a fine point in today's podcast: some scouts question Louisiana-Lafayette's ability to hit premium velocity, which is something they have seen very little of this year. That lineup is filled with guys who take big hacks, and they aren't afraid to strike out, but they get rewarded with a lot of extra-base hits. I don't see a ton of major league-caliber talents in the lineup, the way Virginia has, so I think a truly elite pitching staff could shut down the Cajuns (good pitching does have a way of beating good hitting anyway, as we all know). That said, ULL's offense has an uncommonly deep collection of very experienced, physical and versatile players. I like the fact that they have multiple guys—Jace Conrad, Ryan Leonards, Seth Harrison, Blake Trahan—who combine both power and speed, and can hurt you a variety of ways. And I like the fact that there isn't any let-up in the lineup. There's no section of the lineup where a pitcher can just cruise for a couple of batters. Are the numbers inflated because of the level of competition and the friendly hitting conditions? Sure. But they are also genuinely very good.




Curtis (Orlando): Group A: ULL, Cal Poly, Washington, Alabama, Houston Group B: Vanderbilt, LSU, Fullerton, NC State, Miss St Which group will have more teams in Omaha?

Aaron Fitt: Hmm... great question. I think ULL and Cal Poly are Omaha teams, especially the Cajuns. I have some serious concerns about Fullerton, NC State and Miss State. I think Alabama, Vandy and LSU are all in the same pool of teams that are good enough to get to Omaha, but all three have warts, like everybody in the SEC. Washington is a great story, but I'm still not buying the Huskies as an Omaha team, and ditto for Houston. But, I think I'm still going to lean toward Group A, because I have more conviction about ULL than any of these teams, and Cal Poly would probably be next for me.

[jllanclos]

Anyway, what I was coming here to post was the link to the weekly chat with Aaron Fitt of Baseball America. The first 2 questions posted were already about UL and he answered them quite convincingly. I guarantee you there will be more questions in regards to the Cajuns. http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1397494646

" I think ULL and Cal Poly are Omaha teams, especially the Cajuns." I like that part best.

[MelRock]

Number 2 in NCBWA
http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/n...oll140414.html

[CajunJack55]

D (Mobile): I have a UL-Lafayette question for you. Is there precedent of a team being given a national seed without even playing another team that is in contention for a national seed?

Aaron Fitt: Well, the Cajuns did play a three-game series against Alabama -- the team that currently sits all alone in first place in the SEC. And the Cajuns won that series. There is precedent for other mid-major teams getting national seeds with RPIs in the 11-20 range, even with lesser strength of schedules. UC Irvine in 2009 comes to mind.

[Turbine]

"friendly hitting conditions" Is The Tigue a small park?

"the level of competition " Is he projecting after SBC play? I thought it took quality OWP and OOWP to get the current RPI and that winning against poor competition was never enough.

[CajunJack55]

We have a lot of haters out there and I love it : )

[DocCajun]

Amazing that 5 polls, RPI, NPI, the "eye" test, marque wins and series wins against very good OOC competition, and consistent, week over week solid performance, especially on the road isn't convincing enough for some.

I can see us winning a regional and still getting questions about our legitimacy lol. (Not that I give a rats ___. Attention is usually good attention in the long run)

[Big Buds]

Haters gonna hate!

[wcd35]

They wont stop until we're in Omaha. That's the only way to shut them up. If we lose in a game 3 of the supers, it would still be proof to many that we werent good enough