Mike Rooney, Kendall Rogers and Aaron Fitt - D1Baseball.com

[00:00:04] Speaker A: Welcome to the ABCA's podcast. I'm your host Ryan Brownlee. Our sponsor is Core Energy Belt, the trusted source of professional baseball players in both Japan and the USA. With over 700 professionals, including two former MVPs, relying on these belts, Core Energy has established itself as a leader in performance and durability. I've been wearing their belts for a while now and the added back support has made a noticeable difference both on and off the field. They offer free shipping and a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Go to corenergybelt.com and use code ABCA2025 to save 15 on your first purchase. I'll repeat that, go to Core Energy Belt and use the code ABCA2025 to save 15% on your first purchase. This episode is sponsored by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time. Netting Professionals specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, BP screens and ball carts. They also design and install digital graphic wall padding, windscreen turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies, and more. Netting Professionals is an official partner of the ABCA and continues to provide quality products and services to many high school, college and professional fields, facilities and stadiums throughout the country. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time. Contact them today at 844-620-2707 or infoettingpros.com visit them online at www.nettingpros.com or check out NettingPros on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for all their latest products and projects. Make sure to let CEO Will Minor know that the ABCA sent you. Now on to the podcast. Mike Rooney, Kendall Rogers and Aaron Fitt from D1Baseball.com need no introduction. They're an integral part of the growth of Division 1 baseball. They've been on the forefront of covering college baseball since the early 2000s. They're a one stop shop for following Division 1 baseball. We have a lot to discuss in this episode. With the ever changing landscape, let's welcome everyone to the podcast. These three don't need an introduction and I said it last year. It's like the law offices of Runes, Fitz and Rogers. Still trying to work that out. But I I think that works with with the law offices of of U3. So thank you three for jumping on. [00:02:53] Speaker B: We just got smarter boys. [00:02:54] Speaker C: I don't think anybody wants me as their lawyer. [00:02:57] Speaker B: Oh Kendall, I totally want you as my lawyer. I want you as my politician. I want you as my senator. [00:03:02] Speaker D: Kendall can sell anything including this case to the jury to acquit. [00:03:08] Speaker C: Good point. I actually can sell anything. [00:03:11] Speaker B: Yes. Yes you can. [00:03:14] Speaker A: I am phenomenal. I'm looking forward to it. I sent out a Journey clip, a song today at Rob Cooper because Feeling the way I feel Journey. I nice a big fan of that song, but that's kind of how I feel right now because we've got other college levels going and then D1 ready to start. So it's just my favorite time of the year. Because you can track everybody now. [00:03:35] Speaker C: No doubt. By the way, man, great job on the ABCA convention. Yeah, I thought there was a great buzz in D.C. this year for that. [00:03:42] Speaker A: Yeah. And that was one of my questions. I've got so many other meetings, I can't ever get to the D1 and I'm not sure how much got resolved, but what was your guys take on the, on the meeting Thursday night? I know it got a little kind of dicey. Not like the old days, but sounds like it was, it was okay. [00:04:01] Speaker B: You want to go first? [00:04:02] Speaker A: Kendall? [00:04:02] Speaker B: You want me to go first? [00:04:03] Speaker C: Yeah, you go for it first. [00:04:05] Speaker B: I thought it was, I thought it was awesome. Like, I thought, I thought I loved hey the way Craig did it. RB was very courageous. You know, like massive meeting with 300 people and like just kind of like open mic like that is, that's like literally throwing yourself to the lions. But I, I just love the theme of hey, we like the athletic directors have told us the 34 man roster on December 1st like that. If you guys want to talk about that, don't bother. Like just not interested. So how do we get ahead of that? And you know, I, I, I've long talked about how the unlimited fall rosters make me a little antsy. And I, I just love the theme of hey, let's baseball, let's be a pioneer in this whole thing. Let's get ahead of this. Let's, let's take a leadership role in this thing and do the right thing for the student athletes, do the right thing for our sport. So I like that where I liked where we landed with 38. I, you know, again, there's so many, this stuff's all changing by the day. But I, I just, I loved, I, you know, I was very proud of the thought of baseball saying to the other sports like hey, we're, we're, we want to, we want to be a pioneer and, and, and get ahead of this. So a lot more to come. But I, I, I really appreciated the theme. [00:05:16] Speaker A: And do you feel like this is the first Time that baseball gets a major say in what's going on. [00:05:23] Speaker B: I feel like it's the first time we got treated like a major sport in the house. Settlement, like, that was one of my big takeaways is like. And, you know, let's give credit where credit is due. The SEC considers baseball a major sport, and that league is so powerful in all of college sports right now that by definition, we're a major sport. And so, you know, again, like, that. That has good and bad to it, but it makes me very proud, quite honestly. [00:05:45] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, it's one of those things that, you know, it's really crazy to think about that. Probably when we did this podcast three or four years ago, like, it, like, the idea of more scholarships and things like that seemed like an absolute pipe dream. Like, well, you know, it's one of those things. We're like, okay, someday we'll get, like, four more. But to say that schools now they have the ability to give 34 grand, I don't think very many will. So I think. I think a few will, I think, if you want to. But the fact that that's even a possibility now is incredible. I. I commend, Honestly commend Craig for, you know, like, opening the mic like that, because I cannot tell you how many times and I. And I always urge coaches, like, when you go to the ABCA convention, like, get up and talk, because I can't tell you how many years I've gone to that meeting and nobody says a word. And then a week later, you know, somebody's calling me, somebody's calling Craig, hey, like, what's going on here? Well, like, why didn't you speak up? So I think the. The fact that coaches are speaking up is a really good thing. You know, just to have some different ideas land on an actual number and then press that forward, because as ruins pointed out, I mean, we're in a point of time to where, you know, Craig can only do so much. The coaches can only do so much. And what we think the roster limit might be today might be different tomorrow. So it's just, you know, it's a moving target, and it's always good to get something accomplished there. [00:07:04] Speaker A: I think the hard part for the coaches is they haven't had a whole lot to talk about here in the last five years, where in the early 2000s, we had a lot to talk about. So those meetings. So I think they just. I don't. I think they got used to just not saying a whole lot, and now you're getting to that point where, okay, you do have a voice in this and you need to stand up. Like, whatever you feel like, whether it's right or wrong, you need to stand up and say something. [00:07:25] Speaker C: Yeah, I, I still remember Aaron might have to correct me. I think it was right after the trans report, like right after the, the, the one year transfer back in the day was eliminated. Like, you had to sit out a year, and I think it was Jack legging. Like, Tony Vittorio got like on the mic and I mean, it was like a heated, I mean, it wasn't like mean or anything. It was a professional deal, but like, was like a pretty heated debate on, you know, power conference guy versus, like mid major coach. And it was pretty awesome. [00:07:55] Speaker A: And then my dad was kind of stirring the pot on that stuff. [00:07:59] Speaker C: Oh, of course. [00:08:01] Speaker A: The great Jim Brownlee, you had the, the old guard guys that had been at places that didn't have a lot of resources. They were not scared to stand up and, and say, oh, no doubt. [00:08:10] Speaker C: They had the OG up there. Dave Kit's up there, like, okay, okay, guys. Okay, guys. [00:08:15] Speaker B: So great. [00:08:16] Speaker A: I mean, if you guys had a crystal ball, what do you think it's going to look like in five years? Does it, does it go 38 to. Then 34 to start the year, or will it stay at 38? I know everybody has different opinions on that, but if you had a crystal ball, what's it going to look like in a year or five years? [00:08:31] Speaker B: Man, I think if I had a crystal ball right now, I would put it in storage. Honestly, like, it just feel. I don't know. What's your take? Fitzyou? You're a very wise man. I feel like it all feels so unpredictable. [00:08:43] Speaker D: Yeah, I have no idea. I have no idea. Honestly, it's just like it feels like every time you, you know, you open your email, there's there's something new from some new piece of legislative thing coming through the ticker and it's like, okay, well, I guess we're taking a left turn here now. You know, it's like, I don't know. I mean, Kendall, we've better feel for this than anybody. What do you think? [00:09:04] Speaker C: Well, as Augie Greedo would say, expect the unexpected. And I think when you look at, you know, college baseball issues, I think the one thing that you're not going to see is, is. Is a stricter thing. Like, I think, you know, whether it's rosters, rosters, for now, we're going to have a little more strict rules. But I think moving forward with, like, Things like scholarships, I think you're going to see, you know, it's, you're going to be able to max out for the foreseeable future. I think, Nil, you know, that's one of the big things right now is, you know, you know, you've got Congress, of all people involved in it, wanting to put, you know, put NCAA in, you know, you know, exempt from antitrust laws and things like that. But you got this third party now, this accounting firm who's going to, quote, unquote, approve nil deals starting next summer. And I just think it's one of those situations where I don't think they're going to decline any of them. Because here's the thing, we, we've gone around and about and around about, about this whole issue over and over and over, but market value on a player in college baseball or college football or any other sport is what someone's willing to pay you. Like how, if you're a third party, how can you tell somebody that they're not worth X amount of dollars? The market values what, you know, the University of Alabama is willing to pay you to play baseball there. So I think that's one thing, you know, NCAA is saying now, like, oh, in a year we're going to have really strict rules around nil. I don't think you're going to see that at all. I think that's going to end up getting challenged in court like everything else. [00:10:30] Speaker D: What's the difference between that and. And like a professional sports league that has a salary cap, though? [00:10:35] Speaker B: Like, I mean, collective bargaining. Yeah, that's the difference. [00:10:39] Speaker C: They're essentially employees of their organization, right? [00:10:42] Speaker B: Yeah. So that, that's, it's so funny. That's like, I think that's the, the catch 22 for college sports right now is what we really need is collective bargaining. But collective bargaining can only happen between an employer and a union. And we, you know, people like me desperately don't want college baseball players to be employees. And so, you know, if you made me make a prediction, rb, it's that college football players are employees in five years, and the rest of college athletes are just normal college athletes that have their own classification. [00:11:12] Speaker C: Good luck. [00:11:13] Speaker B: Yeah, right. [00:11:13] Speaker C: With title nine and things like that. [00:11:15] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:16] Speaker A: Because I think the four of us fell and do feel that college baseball is as good as it's ever been. And the World Series, we all felt that last year. And then it's like. And within six months it's like all heck breaks loose. And so it's like, how can we get it to continue to keep going where it is? Because I think college baseball is as good as it's ever been. [00:11:36] Speaker C: No, for sure, actually, no, I was going to say it actually kind of just steer the conversation just a hair. Like I actually feel like college baseball at every level is getting better. Is going to get better. Because here's the thing and I get the argument from major coaches and things like that. I actually think RUNES disagrees with me a little bit on this one. But like, I think that the way that the setup is right now with nil, transfer portal, etc. In the roster limits, I think the, the number of really talented prep prospects that are not going to be able to go to LSU or Mississippi State or Texas A and M, like those kids have to go somewhere, right? So where are they going to go? They're going to go to the Sunbelt, they're going to go to Conference USA and things like that. So that league gets more talented. Well, guess what, the, the mid level player that's going to a Conference USA school moving forward is going to go to the Big south or the socon or the Southlands. So what happens that those leagues get better? Well, what happens the mid level player in those conferences? They're going to junior colleges or D2. So what happens? Those, those levels are getting more talented. So I actually think the trickle down effect here with all these different rules is really good for every single level of baseball, especially junior college baseball. [00:12:49] Speaker B: And I would add to that rb, that like, you know, Nil changed football like the SEC had suffocated football, right? And look at, look now. And I would say like this is if you take us to the field this year in 2025, the elephant in the room for me is that the SEC's won six of the last seven national titles and we've only had one non SEC team in the finals in the last four years. So like that concerns the heck out of me. And you know, I think the unlimited fall rosters where then we start cutting kids and then they can't go to the Sun Belt, right? They have to go all those types of things. And who knows how that shakes out. But here's what's interesting. Fitzy pointed this out. So the SEC so dominant, all these national titles, 98 players drafted last year. You look at our all American list, rb, and if you didn't know any better, you would say the ACC is the best conference in the country. And then, you know, like Kendall and I have talked about this a million Times. The Big 12, like, I hate conference realignment, but if I'm a Big 12 baseball fan, man, conference realignment hooked you guys up. Like, the Big 12 is fun and then the Big 10 is exciting with these west coast schools. But Fitzy, I'll kick it to you. But like, we. That. That was jarring to see the ACC on the All American teams. [00:13:59] Speaker D: Yeah, I think it's like 11 first teamers for the ACC and three for the SEC. Something like that. Very, very surprising. When we, like, we, we did our, our deliberations conference blind and then you look up and tally up, it's like, whoa, hey. I mean, like, there's, there's a lot of talent in the acc and there is every year, but this year in particular, I don't know, we've speculated that maybe it's just because the SEC had so many players drafted last year that, you know, they, maybe it's a, you know, we're waiting for that next crop to still emerge from the sec, whereas the ACC just. These things can be cyclical. But the point is, I mean, maybe this is the ACC's year. I mean, right now we only have what we have, ACC team at number two, and then I think North Carolina is number six. We have Florida State, we have a few in the top 10, but it's still dominated by the SEC at the top. But ultimately, star power does tend to win out in college baseball. You know, at the end of the day, for the most part, we're talking about the Cardinal series champions. It's teams that have big, big mega stars. You know, you. When you've got a, a Skins and a Cruise or you've got, you know, pick. Take your pick of Tennessee's Megastars. My God. But I mean, it's, you know, those teams that are really loaded, they stand out and they win when it comes down to it. [00:15:10] Speaker A: And I was going to ask you three that. Are we talking about Tennessee with a three peat if they didn't have to face Paul Skeens two on Friday in Omaha? [00:15:20] Speaker B: So I, I think the more like I, I'm the low guy on Tennessee right now. Like, we, we. That was a big part of our deliberation. RB is like those three SEC teams. I mean, A&M number one, that took three seconds, right? Virginia number two. Honestly, that. That took three seconds. Like anybody that, like, just look at Virginia's roster. It's bonkers. And they're better on the mound this year. But for me, lsu, Arkansas and Tennessee is a really fun conversation. I think Fitzy And I are flag planners on Arkansas. But you know, Kendall makes really good points in favor of LSU and Tennessee. Like, that's a fun trifecta right there. [00:15:59] Speaker A: And you guys have a hard job now because it just seems like everybody's good. [00:16:03] Speaker D: Yep, yep. [00:16:04] Speaker C: Yeah, especially the, you know, like Aaron mentioned the top of the sec. I mean, you're, you're just, you know, you're searching for a needle in a haystack trying to figure out the difference between all these different teams. [00:16:15] Speaker D: Ultimately, I think for me the, the separator is everybody hits now. Everybody hits 1800 home runs a year. That's the world we live in. For better or for worse. The teams that have actual arms, that have power stuff and experience, those stand out to me. And so that's kind of what I'm looking for is because you, we know you're going to, you know, even Arkansas people question their offense, whatever, they're fine, they're going to hit, everybody hits. Just a matter of who's got the arms. Arkansas has, has real arms. So for me, that, that has my attention. [00:16:45] Speaker C: You know, one thing, Brownlee, I was going to go back to is, you know, we're talking about the ACC and the sec and you know, obviously the SEC kind of dominates the top 10. But I think we would all agree that the ACC, especially the last couple of years, like the, you know, there used to be this gap where like the middle, the bottom of the sec, which is honestly just way better than the acc. Whereas I kind of feel like the gap there between the, like the middle and bottom of those two leagues has, has really shrunk. Like, I feel like those teams are very, very comparable and the ACC in many cases has better teams in those ranges right now. [00:17:18] Speaker A: And, and Kendall and you and Aaron were out quite a bit this fall, correct? [00:17:22] Speaker D: Oh yeah, Aaron definitely was. [00:17:24] Speaker C: I was out a few places. [00:17:25] Speaker A: Who was the best player, pitcher you guys saw this fall? [00:17:29] Speaker D: The best team I saw was Virginia, but I didn't see the Aggies and that was a no brainer. But I mean, best player in pitchers is a good one. I mean, I, I would say certainly the, the, I've actually said this a few times. The, the pitcher I saw that stood out the most to me was Chase Meyer at West Virginia. I mean, just the day I saw him was at Wake Forest. It was ridiculous stuff. I mean, it was, it was definitely the best breaking ball I saw all fall. I mean, and that's a guy that, if he throws enough strikes and I'm a believer, I'm Again planted my flag in this already in our last podcast where we did a lot of flag know runes is still I think a little more skeptical than me about the strike throwing piece. But the guy guys electric. I mean we're talking like 95, 98 with a ridiculous, you know, double plus breaking ball. So that to me was, was the nastiest arm I saw all fall and, and pitching wise, I mean, you know, Merrick Houston I think really and Justin LeBron. I keep saying those two guys are the two best shortstops in the country. And I, I kind of go back and forth on which one I like more at the moment. I'm, I'm all in on, on the Merrick Houston train, you know, Wake Forest shortstop. I just think he's the best defensive shortstop in the country and I think the bat continues to get better and better and I don't think people give him the credit he, he deserves as a hitter because he, you know, his numbers were so bad as a freshman but he made, he made a big leap last year. You know, I mean it's, it's a, you know, it's about a thousand OPS with more walks and strikeouts and hit some home runs, eight home runs and had some doubles. I mean like he's become a really good player and he's taken another leap forward this year. So I think that guy's a complete player and a true superst. [00:19:06] Speaker A: Are runes west coast wise, UC Santa Barbara going to be good again? I know it's Bremer, right? I saw him throw against Campbell last year. [00:19:16] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, yeah, I think that's what's interesting, right? Like, I'm really nervous about parody. And yet UC Santa Barbara's got two first team all Americans in the preseason, right? Like, and if, if the draft was today, Bremner, Tyler Bremner would be the first college right hander taken, right? Like that's a top five profile. And then Cole Tribe of their, you know, he's like a, he's like a tricky lefty from a sidearm slot. But he touches 95, right? It's like good luck with that. And so I think the west coast. What's really intriguing to me rb, is that Stamford is going to be much must watch college baseball this year because of, you know, Rentaro and their move to the acc and they've got all that pitching back and then you know, like I'm super curious. Like I think Oregon is the best player, best team in the Big Ten day one. But like what, what does the Big Ten do for UCLA and UCLA or USC and ucla just like that. Is that too much for them or do they immediately surge because of the change in leg. I think the same thing for the Arizona schools. I think like Kendall alluded to it with the SEC. It's the same in the Big 12. Like teams 4 through 10 in the Big 12. These guys know I tortured them in our group trat I, I did the preview rb but I was basically saying please rescue me. I cannot separate these seven teams. Somebody do this for me. And of course they did not. But that makes it fun, right? [00:20:41] Speaker A: Does travel come into play though? Runes for the west coast schools now that they have to travel a little bit more. I'm just throwing it out there. [00:20:48] Speaker B: So I'm from the Jim Brownlee School RB where it's like you're 20 years old for God's sakes. Like travel should not, you know. So I'm being facetious, but I don't think so. I think what's hard for Stanford if I picked one example is there for cross country trips are nasty. Like they're going to NC State, they're going to Virginia, they're. I'm going to mess it up but like I feel like they're going uncle. Yeah. And like Clemson too or do or so like you look at Stanford schedule and you're like they were 22 and 33 last year and that's their schedule. Like you know, and, and those aren't five, you know, those aren't 15 minute flights. So it's, it's. I don't know. I'm not focused on the travel. I'm more focused on who they have to play. [00:21:34] Speaker A: But then you factor in the midweek game and that's why I asked too. It's not just the weekend component of that. It's then going back and having to, to rally to play a Tuesday or Wednesday midweek game. Which is where I think you're going to see it just as much when they've got to come. Yeah, it'll be interesting somebody because it's, that's a quick turnaround to try to try to do that. Those of us that had to do that turnaround go to the west coast and come back and play a midweek game in the Midwest. That's a, that's a tough. [00:22:00] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean the best, the best test case team this year is going to be Oregon because I think Oregon for me is like probably leaps and bounds, the best team in the Big Ten going into the season. And I mean they're going to have really, really long trips from Eugene. So I'll be curious to see like, how. How is their team playing in late. [00:22:17] Speaker A: April and early maybe my bracket, we do an office bracket where you pick your eight teams. And I had UC Santa Barbara going to the World Series after I saw him at Campbell and. But so it's crazy to think that Oregon actually busted. [00:22:30] Speaker C: Yeah. I'll tell you what, I've never been. [00:22:32] Speaker A: Last year. [00:22:32] Speaker C: Yeah. I've never been more impressed in a team that, that lost a super regional than Oregon last year. The way they handled the heat, the way they, they threw haymakers at A M. Boy, I really like those guys offensively this year. Anton Arrows was awesome that weekend. I mean, pitching wise, I think they have enough there to make a run. Oregon's one of those teams. To me, I think they're more. They're more of a top seven, top 18 than probably a top 12 team in my eyes. [00:23:02] Speaker D: Should have known the rankings. Pound the table. [00:23:04] Speaker C: Yeah, sorry, man. [00:23:07] Speaker B: We did, we struggled internally with that rv like, or we have. Or I mean, we have, we have Oregon 12th, right. So it's like we're, you know, come at me, bro. Right? It's like, come there. You're 12th. But we did, we did have Oregon State seventh. And I think we. Oh, I'll speak for myself. I felt like Oregon State just had more star power than maybe Oregon. Oregon, their. Their superpower is, you know, Kendall used this analogy, which I love. Like Oregon's got very much a decade ago Cal State Fullerton feel. They're kind of in your face. There's like this really fun confidence. They're very skilled. Oregon's got eight of their nine line starters from the super regional back, Grayson Grenzel. He's the only kid in the country that I'm aware of that has started two super regional games he started in each of the last two years. And you know, we know Mark Wasikowski and that staff recruit like crazy. I just think Oregon State's talent level and you know, I think I speak for the group. It is so awesome that Oregon State is so crazy relevant or still crazy relevant in baseball because, you know, they were left for dead in conference realignment and then they've been so close to getting back to Oman, can't punch through the door. And yet they get one of the top transfers in the country. And Ava, it's, it's actually, it's not Eva. Iva. Iva Arquette. And Then Dax Whitney's a 65 right hander from Idaho that throws A billion miles an hour and he spurns the draft. So good. Good for the Beeves. [00:24:35] Speaker A: Anybody outside the top 25? I know it's really hard to put the preseason 25, but anybody outside that or maybe even conferences that aren't talking about as much Fitzy do number 25. [00:24:47] Speaker B: I'll round up into 25. I think that's a good one for us. [00:24:50] Speaker D: Wait, so you want to Talk about Team 25 or the teams outside Trojes? Oh, the Trojans. Yeah, I love the Trojans. I think for me that's, that's the, the team in, in the Sun Belt. I feel like I talk about this team all the time though. But yeah, I mean they're just, you know, I think they did a great job in the portal with some of the power arms that they brought in. Plenty of, you know, lots of left handed hitting in the lineup. But, but also, you know, they got power. I mean they're, their experience. I think they're, it's a rising program that we're buying on. But the team outside the top 25 that I want to talk about, I love UConn again. This is a program that just keeps on winning. And you know, they, they, they've been to super regionals. They have players back with super regional experience and they're just, they're old. You know, they have got again, I like guys, teams that have experience that you can count on on the mound and these guys do, but also in the lineup. That's a team that I really wish we could have gotten 25. [00:25:49] Speaker A: Anybody else for y'all? [00:25:53] Speaker C: You know, a team that didn't make our next 10. But I, I do like them a lot. They lost some key pieces, but I do like what the, the foundation they have is Louisiana again. Kind of like I saw Oregon in the super last year. You know, Louisiana, you know, just ran into A and M in the championship of the regional, but eliminated Texas. That was a really good team. You know, Jose Torres behind the plate is kind of their heart and soul. He, he's their leader. I think you look at the front end rotation, I mean, it's as good as, as any, any team at that level. I mean with Chase Morgan, you know, lefty up to, you know, 96, and then Andrew Herman, you know, I think he's a fifth year senior or a fifth year player also from the left side, you know, Matt Dex has another really good team there and in that league once again is really going to be really good. I mean Kate Bodine and Coastal Carolina, you know, Southern Miss is going to have a really good club once again. And of course, Troy rb. [00:26:43] Speaker B: I'm planting a flag on Louisville. That's one of my flag plants. I just, I think they were in our next 10 and I love their freshmen and I just, I love the vibe of their program right now. Like, there's just kind of like an ornery. We don't like where we. We don't like our current status. Yeah. Like some. It's interesting if you look at Louisville's roster, some veterans left, some veterans stayed. And I think that can be really healthy if you have a veteran group that's, you know, maybe not all on the same page. I'm speculating, of course, but I don't know. Like, I just. To use to steal Fitzs phrase, I love the cut of Louisville's jib right now. [00:27:23] Speaker A: And I'm pulling for Louisville because they, they kind of stayed away from the transfer portal stuff because they've always been built on development. So I'm pulling for Louisville this year to pull one out because they have kind of stuck to their guns on the development piece of that. [00:27:35] Speaker B: They did get the Valley pitcher of the year though. Brennan cuts. But if you're going to go on the portal, that'll work. [00:27:40] Speaker A: Have to to like, you have to now like. Whether. [00:27:43] Speaker B: Oh yeah. [00:27:44] Speaker A: Like you have to. [00:27:44] Speaker C: You got to do it. [00:27:45] Speaker A: You have to like. [00:27:46] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:47] Speaker A: This would have been hard for me to go back and coach in this area. It would have been really hard for me because I would have probably. We probably been glorified junior college where I was at. Honestly, I would have. That's. [00:27:56] Speaker C: You go the. The Odabo swimming approach. [00:27:58] Speaker A: It's like, okay, come here, play good for two years and we'll get you somewhere else. Which I think schools, if schools are willing to do that, I think they can do it that way. [00:28:08] Speaker C: Hey, that's why you're podcasting with us right now. [00:28:10] Speaker B: That's right. [00:28:12] Speaker A: Exactly. Exactly. Coaching entry, obviously. Sloss. Probably the, the most intriguing and see how that plays out. Any other ones out there besides Sloss? [00:28:24] Speaker C: I'll tell you what. [00:28:25] Speaker A: One. [00:28:26] Speaker C: No, go ahead. [00:28:27] Speaker A: Mitch Hannis. [00:28:29] Speaker C: Yeah, that's the one I was going to say. You know, that is the one nobody. [00:28:32] Speaker A: Talks about Mitch and shout out to Mitch because he knows we talked about stretch on Mitch. I love him, but we talked about outside of Sloss. That's my most intriguing coach. [00:28:42] Speaker C: Well, I'll say this. What's really interesting and what's really interesting is I'll give. Give their athletic department credit because when the AD called me, I told him, I said, man, you got, you had me stumped on this one. You know, whenever they hired Mitch Hannis there, I, you know, I had pretty much not heard his name at all. And so whenever they called and were like, hey, like, this is the guy we're hiring. I was like, wait, what? Like, wait, Mitch Hannah's is South Florida? Like, what's going on here? But you know, you look at the way he recruited Puerto Rico and he recruited Latin players at Indiana State. I mean, if you can, and again, I'm not bagging on like Terre Haute, but like if you can get the Latin player to go to Terre Haute, you know, I'm, I'm guessing they're thinking, hey, what can you do with a kid in Tampa? So I, I think it's a really neat hire. I think he did a phenomenal job. I think we'll look back at what they did at Indiana State over last three years is one of the best coaching jobs in the history of our sport. Honestly, I put it like, obviously Wayne Graham and guys like that did it for decades. But what I'm saying is just for a two or three year sample size that's up there was one of the best coaching jobs in modern era college baseball. What they were able to accomplish there, hosting a regional. Get it, you know, you know, getting, you know, go going to super regional in Fort Worth a couple years ago. So yeah, I, I, I would not bet against Mitch. I know it's kind of an odd fit. People are gonna look at me like, how, like how is this guy gonna win in Florida? But he's a really good coach, as you said, and nothing would surprise me there. [00:30:10] Speaker A: And if they have to host the Special Olympics in Terre Haute, they, they host that super. And they go to the, they go to the World Series. [00:30:17] Speaker C: Potentially. Potentially, yeah. I mean the other, I mean the other intriguing hire, I mean it's very low hanging fruit is, you know, none other than, than, than Mike early at A and M. I mean, I, I was trying to think of a situation. I mean the only thing, the only thing I can think of in college sports that's similar to this is when Larry Coker at Miami and, and you know, took over for Butch Davis and then won the national championship. But you know, Larry was an old, like an old school, old, like long time coach, so it wasn't some guy that's just thrown into a head coaching job like Mike Early. So to me just how he handles that team. And it seems like so far he's handled them really well in preseason, which is some of the things I've seen, he said. But you know, how does he handle that team when they're going through the rigors of the SEC and he's having to make, you know, bullpen decision after bullpen decision in a 77 game against LSU on a Sunday in a rubber match. That'll be fascinating. I'm not even insinuating that he can't do that. I'm just saying it'll be interesting to see his philosophy on those things because we do not know it yet. Be like throwing somebody in as the ABCA director and we have no idea what they even believe. [00:31:30] Speaker A: He's been around some really good head coaches though too, no question. [00:31:33] Speaker B: Yeah, 100. [00:31:35] Speaker A: Some of the best we've had. [00:31:36] Speaker B: Hey RB, so here's some here. Like some of the ones that I thought were just like to Kendall's point, like where the, the administration makes it higher and you're like, okay, they're paying attention. Like that's awesome. Like Arkansas State hiring Mike Silva. I thought that was a huge get. Washington getting Eddie Smith, amazing. You know, WINTHROP Getting Mike McGuire like he was there in the heyday. The Kevin Slowy days, Fitzy if you will. But I think two impactful ones that could change, you know, this is dramatic, but change the sport. Put that in air quotes. Justin Hare going to Ohio State, that could upset the apple cart in that league in a really positive way. Like Justin Hare is no joke. That's big energy and he's an Ohio guy. And then Logan Stout at, at Arkansas Pine Bluff is one of his, my favorites. This is a self made millionaire who just loves, loves the sport and I just, I'm, I'm you know, captivated by him at Arkansas Pine Bluff. I think it's going to be really fun to watch. [00:32:33] Speaker D: I think he's a self made billionaire. I mean it's a, it's a whole different level of, of success that this guy has achieved. [00:32:40] Speaker A: He spoke on our youth stage two years ago by the way, in he was on our youth stage have a lot of similarities. [00:32:47] Speaker C: Self made billionaires. [00:32:49] Speaker D: A lot. Yeah, for sure. [00:32:50] Speaker A: All right, go ahead. [00:32:52] Speaker D: Yeah, I, I just, I agree with, with everything that my, my esteemed colleagues are saying. I do think there's also a couple of just kind of their apparent guys taking over that I work like Steve Sabins at West Virginia. We all know this guy's a, an absolute stud. He's been the, the hand picked choice for a while. He's going to Do a great job. And. And Kevin Schnall at Coastal, I mean he and Gary Gilmore, we're doing their thing together for a long time. I mean, it couldn't be a more natural transition there. So these are just kind of no brainers that I still think are worth mentioning. [00:33:21] Speaker A: And great guys. It's guys and guys that you pull for too, because you know how hard they've worked their entire careers. And it's guys that you pull for because they are great. They're great people too. All right, you have to play a flag on who. Who's playing for the national championship. [00:33:39] Speaker B: I've got Arkansas. And you want me to pick who they're going to beat, huh? I'll take Arkansas over Virginia. How about that? [00:33:50] Speaker D: I'm gonna go. Virginia is going to win it all and they're going to beat the Georgia Bulldogs. [00:34:02] Speaker B: Oh, great poll right there. If you say A M. Tennessee, you need to start walking around your house. [00:34:11] Speaker D: I mean, some. [00:34:12] Speaker C: I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say A M over North Carolina. I really like North Carolina. I actually might like them almost as much as Virginia, but I'll go with a M. The thing, so here's the thing I go back to on a M is like, you know, I was watching an interview this that you know, the local media did with Hayden shot. The thing that's really interesting about their team is they're really loaded. They know they're really loaded and like they don't feel like they have any pressure, but they're kind of like, we know, like we're really good. Like we don't really care. Like people think we're going to win the national championship. Okay, that's cool. You know, it's just there doesn't seem to be a high, high pressure level with that team. We'll see if that continues. But they certainly seem to have the right mindset. [00:34:56] Speaker B: Is a national treasure, by the way. Just an amazing. I wish he could stay in college baseball. [00:35:00] Speaker C: I think it was still be in Omaha. I think they have a lot of balance. I mean, there may not be. I mean I'm just looking at all these different teams, but there may not be a team with a more like high upside rotation as lsu. When you look at Kate Anderson, Chase Shores, Anthony Ironson, all those guys are first round talents. The. The question is, you know, can Shore stay healthy? Will Shore's breaking ball take the next step? You know, Ionson, you know, obviously did a related, you know, good job out at ucsd. But playing UCSD is not the same as being in the sec. So, like, if, if all those guys pan out and Ionson is your Sunday guy, like, LSU could be really good. [00:35:42] Speaker B: And what if you draw like this is. This is where the ACC is. Fascinating. RB to me, like, what if you're LSU and you draw Florida State in your super regional because, you know, like, it is a lot of new pieces there and they did lose two first round picks in their lineup and you know, Florida State's a host, not a top eight. And then they roll into your super regional and your lsu and Jamie Arnold, I mean, I think he's winning game one, right? And then it's like, okay, like this is. And Link Jared is, you know, is like rain man for college baseball. The dude's an absolute savant. Yeah, that's where the depth of the sport gets really fun. [00:36:20] Speaker A: And for you guys too. I mean, I think about how you guys started this whole thing and now I look on your. Your page and there's 8 million people writing for you now. How big is the staff at D1 baseball now? [00:36:32] Speaker D: I think it's 8 million and two officially. Actually. Pretty big staff. [00:36:36] Speaker A: I, I'm proud for you guys like that. That's gratifying, like, to see what you guys have done to build this thing and where it is now. And, and I said that. I've said every year you guys are a huge reason why the sport is in the place it's in right now with the work that you guys do because you guys put in tireless hours. [00:36:55] Speaker D: Well, thank you, rb. It's been, it's been a lot of fun building this thing for sure. We love, we love the team we put together. We continue to grow very excited about the addition of Bradley Smart this year, formerly of Friday starters, who's taken point and just hit the ground running with our new ACC extra product, which, my gosh, the amount of content you could find out there right now, it's. It's staggering what he's. What he's putting out there by himself. So, you know, we just, you know, trying to get better every day, Coach. One day at a time. You know, the fundamentals, the whole, the whole nine yards. [00:37:28] Speaker A: Where are you guys at early? Where you at? [00:37:30] Speaker C: Early Globe Live for me opening weekend. [00:37:34] Speaker B: Where are you going? Fitzy. [00:37:36] Speaker D: I'm going to Puerto Rico first. [00:37:37] Speaker B: Nice. [00:37:38] Speaker D: Yeah. First. First year of the tournament down there. [00:37:42] Speaker C: Actually. [00:37:42] Speaker D: A sneaky interesting feel too. I mean, obviously uva kind of the headliner. Michigan, though, as I think of projected regional team in Michigan and Penn State, both borderline projected regional Teams. Stetson is the team to beat in the A Sun. So I think there's like five, five or six teams in that field that are, I think postseason caliber. Although obviously UVA is, is the big headliner. So, yeah, I think that's gonna be a fun tournament down there. Then I've got a couple weeks in Texas Global Life and the Frisco Classic. [00:38:10] Speaker A: And ruined your surprise. [00:38:12] Speaker B: Yeah, well, just all over Phoenix. Hey, rb I wanna, I wanna brag on these guys for a second. It is amazing. Like when these two teaming up 10 years ago. It's 10 years now. We did. Yeah. And. And it was like the NBA creating a super team. And then it's. I'm getting to speak at the Lafayette first pitch banquet coming up. And you know, their coach, A.J. miller made a really good point about what Kendall and Aaron have done with D1 baseball. He said, hey, our catcher Ethan Swidler is on the top 50 catchers ranking list. And you have no idea what a big deal that is for our program, for this kid, for his family. And he's like, there was no top 50 catchers list 10 years ago. Right. Like, that just wasn't the coverage of the sport that D1 baseball has provided and how it amplifies the sport. We've always had a great product. We've just had a tough time amplifying it. And so I couldn't be more proud of what these guys have done and to be part of it. And so that's a long way of saying I'll be in Phoenix opening weekend. [00:39:10] Speaker A: Any other shout outs for let you guys go? I know you guys are busy, but any other shout outs? [00:39:16] Speaker D: Shout out to you for having us on your program, my friend. [00:39:18] Speaker B: Yes. [00:39:19] Speaker D: What a pleasure. [00:39:19] Speaker A: Rune said. I look forward to this every year to be able to hang out with you guys. We always are in passing when I see you guys. But it's fun for me to be able to spend some, some actual time with you. [00:39:30] Speaker C: Absolutely. You know, and I would add this too. Like, you know, what we built is pretty awesome, but it's also a help to have people in the sport who kind of reciprocate. And you know, you guys at the ABCA have been awesome at doing that, like, you know, throughout the years. I'm sure Craig's probably heard from me way too much at times, but like, you know, when legislative things are going on, like he's easily reachable, calls me back immediately, we talk about it and things like that. So we appreciate you guys as well. Just the staying on the ball and all these things. So much, very much a moving target, and nobody really knows what to expect, but. But Craig does his best. [00:40:06] Speaker A: Rune's final shout outs for you. [00:40:08] Speaker B: Yeah, I think I. There's so much stuff going on off the field right now that it can be a little disconcerting. But I know I speak for the group on Valentine's Day when we, you know, like, I've already got my spreadsheet for opening weekend, right? Like, I'm gonna see seven games in four days, and I'm gonna see Mike Ferron and Jordan Schusterman and all of our friends in college baseball and, you know, like, the house settlement. There's just a lot going on. It feels so daunting. But once we get. Once the. The first pitch is thrown on the 14th of February, it's all good, right? Like, it's just like the players are so good, the coaches are so good. The drama they give us is so amazing, you know, like, Simo being a regional finalist and LIU almost taken down North Carolina in a regional and Western Michigan taking Kentucky to a final pitch. And, you know, all these things that we see. We mentioned Evansville, that point won their. [00:41:01] Speaker A: First regional game ever. [00:41:02] Speaker B: Yes. Right. So the. Here comes the fun stuff. You're right. Like. Like, if you feel worn out by the house settlement, all that stuff, you're. You're good. We're two weeks away from the fun stuff. [00:41:11] Speaker A: All right. Thank you, guys. Appreciate you. [00:41:13] Speaker C: As always, appreciate rb. [00:41:15] Speaker B: Thanks, coach. [00:41:17] Speaker A: Grateful for my relationship with Mike, Kendall and Aaron. I always look forward to sitting down with them every year. They mean so much to the sport. Can't thank them enough for sitting down with me again. Thanks again to John Litchfield, Zach Hale and Matt west and the ABC Office for all their help on the podcast. Feel free to reach out to me via [email protected], twitter, Instagram, or TikTok Oachbrca or direct message me via the MyABCA app. This is Ryan Brownlee signing off for the American Baseball Coaches Association. Thanks and leave it better for those. [00:41:45] Speaker B: Behind you. [00:41:54] Speaker A: I was not for your name and you know that way Yep Wait for another day and the world will always return as your life will. [00:42:13] Speaker C: Never for your name and you know. [00:42:17] Speaker A: That I face and wait for another. [00:42:26] Speaker B: Day.