MIF04

Nice piece of my ol Sun Devil, Ross Hales, on the national page of Rivals.com. [Hidden Content]

Having had the pleasure of being on both sides of the delete button, this is a great site...and the guys who run it day in and day out do a great (and I mean great) job.

1. Joe Morgan -- Hall of Famer 2. Mike Cuellar -- was 20 game winner for Orioles on multiple occasions 3. Rusty Staub -- hit when he was skinny and hit when he was not-so-skinny 4. Ken Camminitti/Steve Finley -- Cammy just became the NL MVP 5. John Mayberry -- became All Star at KC 6. Curt Schilling -- probable Hall of Famer 7. Kenny Lofton -- didn't he play until he was, like, 50? 8. Billy Wagner -- Billy the Kid kept saving games until his arm gave up 9. Dave Guisti -- for a washed up catcher (Johnny Edwards). 10. Brad Lidge -- probably best for both sides but he did not blow a single save opportunity last year...ever. A "dishonrable mention" for the Willy Taveras trade....not because of what we lost but because we got stuck with Jason Jennings (if you look up 'bust' in the dictionary, his picture is there). Not signing Ryan, though, may be the single biggest front office blunder (although that was purely former owner John McMullen's call). Not only did we lose a Hall of Famer, but a hometown guy who was the 'face' of the franchise...and who had a couple more no-hitters in him. Losing Randy Johnson hurt but that was a long shot when they traded (rented) for him. Beltran parlayed one really good 1/2 season into 18 million dollars...and saved us 17.5 million of it. I forgot about Santana (man, who woulda thunk that?). On the other hand, sometimes it works the other way. The 'Stros traded a frontline bullpen guy (Larry Anderson) to the Red Sox who were making a playoff run for a prospect...who grew up to be Jeff Bagwell, who won a MVP and should one day be in Hall of Fame. Along with Biggio, became the 'new' faces of the franchise. NEXT TOPIC: All time worst trades (besides the Astros)? Start with these: Mets deal Nolan Ryan to Angels for aging (and unproductive) Jim Fregosi. Cubs trade Lou Brock to St. Louis for over-the-hill pitchers (Broglio and Shantz). Red Sox trade Bagwell for Larry Anderson. Padres trade Ozzie Smith for Gary Templeton. The list goes on and on...

From PG scouting report (he was 88 off the bump; 7.15 in 60): Caleb Kellogg is a 2010 RHP/OF with a 6'1'', 174 lb. frame from DeQuincy, LA who attends DeQuincy HS. Lean projectable build, sloping shoulders, toned lower half. Athletic in outfield, high energy, quick to ball, longer release and big raw arm strength, 95 from OF, ball jumps from hand, accurate to bases. Aggressive at plate, short path to ball, patient, good bat speed, runs well - good out of box, shows lift in swing. Full windup on mound, longer arm in back and it works with relative ease, good spin on BB's, buries SL, effective changing speeds, ball jumps on hitter, defensive swings against him. High level two way prospect. Named to Top Prospect team.

(1) 30 players can suit up for home SEC games but only 25 eligible to play. SEC can travel only 25. Out of conference can suit up as many as they want. (2) I am not sure transferring helps ... since you have to sit out that entire year. (3) Ole Miss is doing good. Ranked #12 in BA poll; Tim's starting at 2B and hitting .360. Nothing to complain about.

First, I am going to point-blank disagree with the the statement "they are all better than him". Granted, that is a matter of opinion ... but it is just incorrect. LSU has a proverbial "glut" of outfielders. Many will be gone after this season: Jared Mitchell: starts in LF; Jr. and projected to be drafted early. He'll be gone. Derek Helenihi: started last night in RF; Sr. and gone to graduation. Leon Landry: stars in CF; Soph and most likely gone after his jr. year to the draft. Blake Dean: DH who insisted he get time in OF to help his draft status. Coach acquiesed. Dean will be gone after this year. Chris McGhee: Sr. who is UT player. Gone to graduation. Nick Pontiff: Sr. whose family is well connected at LSU. Hitting .200 in limited action. Gone to graduation. Chad Jones: Soph who also plays football. Every year it is an issue on what he'll do. Currently in Spring Football. Also, has history of attitude/run-ins with law. Question mark on his status. Mike Mahtook: Fresh. who has seen limited action (7 ABs all year). Gave up year of eligibility for 7 ABs. Worth it? Next year, Johnny projects to start for them. He can redshirt, keep a year of eligibility, and is still draft-eligible after next year. Why waste a year (like Mahtook) fighting for a few ABs? As far as transferring, that (under the new NCAA rules) is not a very viable option. If he transfers to a D1 school, he has to sit out a full year. He can transfer to a JC and play but why do that? He'll play next year at LSU.

1. My first time to see a game there: I had tickets from a PF Flyers promo (remember those shoes?). After the game, they had a guy with a jet pack flying all around the top fo the Dome. 2. Saw Ryan's 5th no-hitter. Sat on the top row of the old yellow seats. Because we did not want to jinx it, my buddy and I didn't get up from the 5th inning on (even the bathroom). Try that after a few Dome Foamers... 3. Saw all 3 balls that were hit into the upper deck (yellow)...Doug Rader, Jimmy Wynn and a LH hitter whose name escapes me. 4. The greatest game I ever saw? Game 6 vs. Mets in '86 playoffs. I still remember how loud the place was when Hatcher homered to tie it up...and how quiet it was when we lost. 5. I was also there in Game 5 (when it was a 5 game series) when the Astros lost to the Phillies. Ryan had the lead late but Gregg Gross (former Astro) bunted to get a rally started...I think the 'Stros should have paid me to stay home.

I, too, might have a different list or a different order. As OLGABE so aptly puts it, it is hislist and his opinion. It all depends on how, or on what basis, you are evaluating the list.

5 things about Nolan Ryan: 1. Went to the 1st ever Nolan Ryan Day...in 1968 in Alvin, Texas. Got his autograph along with the scout who signed him (Red Murff). 2. Got to babysit his kids when I was in HS/College...which meant that I got to sit on his back porch and drink a beer with him while he was waiting for his wife to get ready. His wife (Ruth), by the way, was a state champion tennis player. 3. My dad (a retired judge) mediated a case for him involving somebody using Nolan's likeness of pocketknives. His fee? My dad got some of the knives...and gave me one. 4. The centerpiece trophy in his home in Alvin? All tournament in basketball at the West Columbia tournament. 5. Got invited and went to his 50th birthday party in Gruene, Texas. Neal McCoy was the lead entertainment.

I am guessing Rocha will be at the top of the rotation for BH?

I will take a shot at it...what the hey: 1. NEDERLAND -- in a year where there is no "obvious" #1, I will give the pre-season crown (or jinx) to the 'Dogs. They may be the most experienced team in the area with Bellow, Vidrine, Pitts, et al. It is, however, a tough district... 2. WEST BROOK -- this may be a big school bias on my part. Svoboda should be more than adequate as a #1 but the Bruins will need pitching depth to make it through the rigors of their 5A district. Chris Muellner and Aaron Morgan fuel the offense. 3. BRIDGE CITY -- new coach, new attitude, still dominant at 3A level. Hicks on the bump makes the Cards hard to beat, but Joe Robertson is the straw that stirs the drink here. 4. PNG -- a lot of young talent (Benoit, Jalali, etc). Depending on whether the Indians have growing pains, this squad could get very good very quickly. 5. Vidor and LCM (tie) -- I can't decide here. If LCM's pitching (Waddell, etc.) comes through, the Bears always seem to score runs. Hester makes the Pirates tough to beat in any 1 game series but they lost a lot of talent last year. 7. Orangefield -- watch out for the Bobcats. Their pitching is solid and deep, especially at the 3A level. Felts will be the best player in that district and Statum the best athlete. The 'Cats are playoff bound. 8. Buna -- probably the class of 2A this season, especially with Hillin on the bump. 9. H-F -- youth matures for the Longhorns who will rely on team speed and experience to edge out HJ for that district's final playoff spot. 10. Jasper -- the 'Dogs have lost a lot (and I mean a lot) of talent over the past 2 years and start '09 in a new district: youth will be served here and the 'Dogs continue into the playoffs. OTHER NOTES: I left out Barbers Hill (always competitive) as the Eagles lost so much from last year's squad and, quite frankly, I didn't know too much about them. Nacagdoches Central has one of the best players in the country, C Dane Phillips. It is worth the trip just to watch him swing a bat. Remember...last year Nac Central also had the Indians' #2 draft choice (Trey Haley). Kelly has a lot of experience but have huge holes to replace with Anthony Fazio's graduation (Rice) and Connor McDonald's transfer to WB. The Nederland-PNG-LCM-Vidor race will be the area's best. Look for WOS to be much improved...but not enough to earn a playoff spot this year.

Bobby Armstrong (WB) and Landon Steinhagen (Kelly) @ Howard -- #7. Congrats.

Not necessarily...if both got national seeds then they'd both host thru Regionals and Super Regionals.

I forget...who eliminated Rice last year? Oh yeah....

I forgot: #7 Rice includes former Kelly HS standout RHP Anthony Fazio...

We went last year with Johnny....it was a hoot. I had gone the year before just to go, but a heckuva lot more fun when you got someone to watch.

I'd love to see Ole Miss and Timmy ...along with A&M and LSU.....

Baseball America releases its top 25 today...with local talent on 3 of the top 6 teams: Texas A&M -- the preseason #1 includes LCM RHP Clayton Ehlert LSU -- the preseason #2 includes BC OF Johnny Dishon Ole Miss -- the preseason #6 includes WB Inf Tim Ferguson Texas is #4, Rice #7, Baylor #8. The Big 12 and SEC each had 5 teams in Top 25.

Please note that I have "un-pinned" this post...although (for all the complaining) it was one of the most viewed posts on this sub-thread...

A great job here...and, yes...a talented group it is. Congrats to all.

The Sun Devils' 16s and 18s played DH @ Baseball USA on Saturday. Both teams played in the varsity division. The 16s defeated So Texas (San Antonio) Sliders 9-2 in the youngsters' 1st game. Colby Jenkins (Silsbee), Brad Brown (Nederland) and Lance Phillips (Naca Central Hgts) handled the pitching. Matt Menard (BC)2-2 (1B,3B) with 2 RBIs while Ronnie Sanchez (PA Memorial) added a 2 run double. In game 2, the 16s lost 2-1 to Katy Taylor's varsity. Matt Menard (BC), Trevin Sonnier (Nederland), Zane Phillips (Naca Central Hgts) and Price Jacobs (Baytown) threw very well against the HS squad that is ranked #24 state-wide in 5A poll. Caleb Henry (Silsbee) drove in the 16s only run with a 2B. The 18s defeated Houston Christian's varsity 4-2 and Katy Taylor's varsity 7-0. Shawn Blackwell (Clear Creek) and Shane Waddell (LCM) handled the pitching in game 2. Kirby Bellow claimed the W in game 2. All in all, it was a good day at the park...all getting ready for HS season. And, in deference to the gripers...this post is not pinned. LOL.

Okay...they have changed that then.... as recently as '07, we had a # of teams ranked over there.

The good folks over at Houston5Abaseball has put out their 4A and 5A rankings for the area: The only ranked team in 4A is Barbers Hill (congrats to Eagles) and none in 5A...should be good material for the ol' locker room bulletin board !!!!

Here is a first shot at the Pre Season team. Some players are interchangeable (as indicated throughout): C Jacob Felts (Orangefield) – By the time he graduates, I see Felts as the best player and most highly recruited kid in the area. He gave up football to be a ‘baseball only’ guy and that sacrifice will pay off. 1B Kirby Bellow (Nederland) – Could also pick him as one of the top pitchers in the area but he is the smoothest 1st baseman around. 2B Joe Robertson (BC) – Dynamite with hidden pop. Football ended early for him due to neck injury and he responded by spending the time “off†honing his baseball skills. 3B Kane Benoit (PNG) – Another member of what is shaping up to be a very talented 2010 class. He also rates as a pitcher for the Indians. SS Jude Vidrine (Nederland) – Lamar signee who has body and tools to contribute at the next level. OF Jace Statum (Orangefield) – 2-way player at OF. Will be the Bobcats’ ace on mound but is a wonderful CF. OF Chris Muelner (West Brook) – powerful OF who looks to anchor the middle of the Bruins’ lineup. OF Matt Johnson (LCM) – He is a masher who, when coupled with the friendly confines at LCM, could hit a lot of HRs…I mean a lot. P Trae Hester (Vidor), Matt Hicks (BC), Nathaniel Svoboda (West Brook), Brandon Hillin (Buna), Shane Waddell (LCM). Most certainly, Hester could also make these team as an OF. Hicks is also a 2 way guy as a SS but he is best used on the bump. MVP: Trae Hester (Vidor): Vidor’s ace and ‘biggest†offensive threat. As Hester goes, so do the Pirates...and look for the Pirates to make some noise this year. OFF PLAYER: Jacob Felts (OF): see above. COACH: Chad Landry (BC) – The Cardinals may be the area’s best chance for a deep run in the playoffs this year. Look for Landry, in his 1st season in BC, to do what they always do there: win. As always, one man’s opinion…in December. Let the talking begin.

The last day was rough. The Sun Devils 18u fall in the championship game 5-3. This game can be summed up as follows: bases loaded, bottom of 6th, 2 outs and down by 2: Aaron Morgan absolutely smokes a ball and is robbed to end the inning. Instead of up by 1, ...well, the score tells it all. The 16s also fall 12-8 in 3rd place game. Not much to talk about pitching wise other than a scoreless inning of relief from Trevin Sonnier (Nederland). Another day of playing like the youngest team there: too many errors, etc. On the other hand, the youngsters swung the bat well. Notables were Hunter Knox (PNG) with 2 triples, and big hits from Caleb Henry (Silsbee), Cameron Dishon (BC),Trevin Sonnier, Tanner Hebert (Barbe) and Stryker Trahan (La). The Sun Devils will play 2 of the 4 weekends in January before turning the guys over to their HS teams...it is almost baseball season.