June 10, 2025 • 19 mins
Craig Way interviews with Kendall Rogers of D1 Baseball on his outlook of the upcoming College World Series. It's all right here on The Craig Way Show!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tuesday afternoon in the sporting world, is we look around this.
I just finished reading this story about the survey from
the NCAA where they said the online abuse related to
sports betting declined during March Madness during the NCAA basketball trim.
That's a good thing, but they still receive more than
(00:23):
three people involved in the competition received more than three
thousand threatening messages. I would submit to you that it's
probably that is just barely ahead of the amount of
unpleasant and threatening messages our next guest had during the
course of the college baseball scene. I kid a little bit,
but Kendall Rodgers a d one baseball dot com probably
(00:44):
takes as much grief as just about anybody from both
inside of SEC fan bases and beyond the boundaries of
the sec s. Jordan says, how you doing, kenw I
appreciate the time to day.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
It's been a long past couple of weekends. But we're
at the cultural series. All take it?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, absolutely all right.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
If we were to remove Murray State from the field
of eight that is now qualified, if we were to
remove them from it, what would you say has been
the biggest surprise to you? Through the two weekends of
Regionals and Super Reason and maybe maybe Murray State wasn't
(01:26):
the biggest surprise to you, because I know you followed
them all season long and they're an outstanding team and
all that. But I know there are surprises a lot
of folks coming out of the Missouri Valley. So if
we were to remove them from it, what would be
your biggest surprise?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
I think for me, given the way that North Carolina
played in the regionals, in frankly, the way it played
in the first game of the Super, I would have
thought in North Carolina would have been in Omaha. You know,
give Arizona a lot of credit. You know, it's one
of those things where when you blow out a team
the first game of a Super, it's almost a detriment
because I feel like your team gets a little overconfident.
But you know, Chip Hell, you know, had the Arizona
(02:00):
ready role those last two games. So for me, just
North Carolina not being in Omaha's a little surprising because
I really thought in the Agency Tournament and in the
Chaperl Regional they were playing like a national champions in
the Caliber Club.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
You know. The other one for me would probably be Louisville.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You know, I think we all saw them really this
year at minimate and there was certainly some potential there.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
But for Louisville, you know, after you know, it was
several year hiatus. Getting back to Omaha, I think it
was you know, a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Of surprising considering they entered the season under ranked, and
so those would be the big ones for me. Ucla
would be another one. You know, we didn't have them
ranked in the preseason. We liked him on paper coming
in the year, but you know, after struggling last season,
going to the Big Ten, you never really know how
that transition is going to go. When you're you know,
getting on a flight from Los Angeles, p s gataway
and you know, they did a tremendous job in the
(02:49):
fir tree of the Big Ten. And you know, the
one thing I love about John Savage's club is that
they a vintage John Savage club. At what I mean
by that is, you know, people want to talk about
the Trevor Bauers and the Garrett Coles they've had in
UCLA history, but really, if you go back and look
at the guys that were most successful there, there are
some of their biggest runs. You know, you think about
Adam Pluko, who was on the Friday guy for the
(03:10):
mass championship club. You think of, you know, you know,
the pieces they've had in the back to the bullpen
at times. You know, they they've they've always had guys
that can really pitch, and that's kind of the way
this UCLA team is this year. Of course, they also
have a guy in Rought Chilowski, who I think is
the best hitter in college baseball. But UCLA was another
team that's under ranked coming into the season, and now
(03:31):
they've been They're ending their season in Omaha.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Now, if I insert Maury State back into the conversation,
safety say, since they're on what only the fourth number
four seats in the region will get there, would they
be the biggest eye opener?
Speaker 4 (03:44):
They would be.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I mean, I'll get Dan Stirk and his staff out
of credit. I mean, if you look at what they've
done this year, I mean, they dominated the Missouri Valley
Conference for the most part. You know, I think they
end up, you know, tying for the regular season champions
have only because they got ringed out the rest of
the but they blew out Missouri State and in one
game they didn't they were able to play, So you know,
(04:05):
they are a surprise that they're definitely not.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Some team that I expect to show up and look
like they don't belong.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I thought Sotny Brick a little bit the year they
made it to Omaha looked like they were a little
bit out of place. I don't think Missouri Murray State
looks like that. I think anybody that watched.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Their regional they could really hit. Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I mean they are you know, Dustin Mercer's a doubles machine.
They've got some nice pieces.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
On the mouth. I think they could be a little
pesty in this bracket.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Since we're talking about four seeds, I keep hearing the
name Fresno State in vogue from eight because of what
they did. Do you see any similarities at least in
terms of how this team sets itself up for Omaha?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
I do a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Actually, actually that's a pretty good comp I mean that
Fresnone State team was incredibly talented. I mean you think
about that team. You know they didn't have and Shepherd's
pitching for him in Omaha, and he was like one
of their main arms. So it gives you an idea
how talent they were that without him, they were able
to win that. But do you think we look at uh,
(05:10):
you know, Murray State. They've gotten up arms. You know,
they've got a couple of weekend starters. They've got to
they've got you know, a bullpen arm or two. They
can they can mow you down. And as you all know,
when you get to Omaha and you have a day
off in between, it really kind of defeats the purpose
of having an extremely deep pitching staff because frankly, you
do not need a really deep pitching step to win
(05:31):
an Omaha. Always think back to that year the Arizona
wanted with Andy Lopez. Uh if when they use what
was it four arms, they use four pitchers in Omaha,
they use their three starters and they use Matt Troup
out of the bullpen. They did not have to use
a fifth pitcher. So it's just unbelievable that you could
do that. But that is the way the Omaha set
up is if with a day off, you have a
(05:52):
lot of wiggle room, and that really benefits a team
like Murray who you know, they don't get a little
dicey until you get to like that fifth game of
a of a weekend like they were an af.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
You mentioned Arizona.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Arizona in twenty sixteen lost to Coastal Carolina, and Coastal
Carolina still raised as an eyebrow or two from folks
go here's at school from a mid major coming cubby
as they do. But I know you have liked them
all season long based on the you know, the things
I've read that you and the staff have written about
them online. You guys have liked the Shana Clears all
(06:26):
season long, haven't you?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
What we really have and the reason is is because
historically you look at Coastal and you go, oh, offense, offense, offense,
well not exactly, there's no doubt this team can hit.
But when you look at what they have on the
mound and Tam Fluky and you know, Jacob Morrison, Riley
Iicoff has done really well for them. They looked at
part of the weekend against a really good Auburn team.
(06:48):
You know, you see those guys up close are very
physical and so they did a nice job, you know
on the mound. You know, I think you know, you know,
as we kind of saw the long Horns this year.
You know, a team success really kind of starts with
what you get out of the catcher position, and they've
got one of the best in the business and kayten Bodine,
who you know, by the way, as of finalists for
the Johnny bench with Galva on. But you know kat
(07:09):
and Bodine was awesome over the weekend. Offensively, he hasn't
really hit for a lot of power this year, but
did have a couple of home runs over the weekending.
It's aufurn but he is an elite catcher, an elite leader.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
And when you have those.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Two things behind the plate to go with those arms,
I mean, you can make some serious noise and home all,
especially when you have plenty of offense to score some runs.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Coastal's playing Arizona that first game you talked about Arizona
Prince Vania's front. Did you start to see things really
starting to piece itself together for Chip Hale's team during
that big twelve tournament in Arlington, which they ultimately were
able to.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Go through and win.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Was it there the win because they had moments during
the year when they looked really good and then they
had moments like losing two out of three at home
to Baylor during the course of the year.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, there's no doubt.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I kind of feel like that's the way the Big
Twelve was as a whole. Like even Baylor, I don't
think it was a bad team. It's just you know,
they'd have one good weekend and one really bad weekend.
But Arizona is to move kind of the same way,
like they'd have a couple of really good weekends and
all of a sudden they're getting like run off the
field by Utah at home.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
So they were just a very strange club.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
But I will say this, and I'll kind of point
to two different weekends of Arizona is being back to
the weekend that you know, we saw them up in Arlington.
I mean they did not look very good. Uh, they struggled,
they looked bad. And at that point, Chippell was just
kind of like, hey, like it was a bad weekend,
but we're gonna move on from here.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
But you know, you look back at the minimated week
was a three weeks lay at the minimated weekend.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yeah, and all of a sudden they looked the part.
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
They they came back and beat A and M, and
the night thing, they beat Mississippi State and then Smith
Bailey or Sunday got almost beat Tennessee in the final
game of the weekend. So that weekend in Houston, I
thought gave us a glimpse of a club that could
really do some.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
You know, do some.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
You know down the stretch, you know who. They kind
of remind me of. They remind me that Texas team
that went to Globe Life Opening.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
We can remember that bad weather weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
I remember when Texas just got wiped off the map,
and that weekend, everybody in every Texas fans like, oh god,
this's gonna be a long season.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I want to say that team ended up in Omaha.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, that's that was the one with Ivan. Yeah, that
was the one with Ivan Melndu's twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, national semifinalists that year. And you know, that's just
kind of the same pathway that Arizona's gone. It hasn't
always been pretty and they started off pretty bad, but
they're in a really good spy right now.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
We're visiting with Kendall Rogers d one Baseball dot com
if you want to subscribe to that, they're outstanding award there.
I want to the one other team off of that
first day bracket. We've talked about coastal against Arizona, and
you brought up Louisville. The other is at Oregon State,
and uh, I you know, with with what Mitch Canam
has done there, I think, and I know you and
(09:50):
the staff really like the Beavers all season long. Was
every reason to do it, but there was that big albatross,
that big thing hanging over them, the fact that they
had to play as an independent and go on the
road and all this other kind of stuff, and it
just I think it's one of the more remarkable stories
about what they've had to overcome and what was it,
twenty three thousand miles worth of travel this year and
(10:11):
all this stuff to ultimately qualify.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
No, it is really neat.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I mean, it's kind of twofold. I mean, one, you
don't you don't like to travel that much. But on
the other hand, it kind of proves that if you
travel that much and you actually win some of your games,
your RPI is going to be really good. And so
I wasn't really sure what the expect of Oregon State
going into the tournament, just because you know, you know,
is the RPI inmplated a little bit? Is it not inflated?
(10:36):
You don't really know. The weekend I saw them at
around Ark they were just okay. But I say, what
when you look at the team overall, I mean they
are sizzling hot offensively. You know, Trent Carroway is a
supremely talented prospect to at one point in the last
week and a half, they had, you know, had hitting
in a nine hole. I want to say he let
off or hitting the two hole in the last game.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
It's Florida State.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You know, Ivar Kent will end up being a you know,
a top five you know draft guy on on the
person of the MLB Draft, he will be a top
ten pick. He's had a really nice year for them.
They've got some other really nice pieces, you know, Eric
Segura on the mound, you know the AJ singer kid
who continues to get big hits for him in clutch situations.
They just got a lot of balance, and you know,
(11:19):
Miss Canum. There's just something about that program.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
I don't want to compare it to Texas too much,
just because Texas you know, has what thirty six thirty
seven Omah appearances, but it does feel.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Like Texas sometimes in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Where like it doesn't matter how the regular season went
or what you think about him, like, you can just
guarantee you they're going to play well in the postseason.
And that's just kind of how the how Oregon State rolls.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
We've talked about three of these for these first and
second eight matchups. First a Coastal against Arizona and in Oregon
State against Louisville, and then on Saturday, UCLA and Murray State.
Before I get to this last matchup, I want to
lead into it because it's it's Arkansas and LSU, and
I know you guys catch a lot of grief. Lot
of folks fan bases chied one another about the SEC
(12:02):
they didn't deserve thirteen bids, they didn't deserve. All the
host sites look at them. The dust settles, the smoke clears.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Two are are in Omaha.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
And in addition to that, you had several teams still
hosting and playing in super regionals as well, and no
other conference had more than one and involved in that.
The reason why I bring this up, Kindle, I grew
up in North Carolina and during the height of the
ACC in the seventies, they had one national champion and
(12:35):
that was that NC State team that stopped the UCLA string.
Other than that, they did not win a national championship
throughout the course of the decade, and yet it was
still always viewed.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
As the best basketball conference.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And my dad used to have a theory in others
that said, well, they kind of wore each other out
during the regular season and the ACC tournament. Are there
any like minded type things that happened because of the
grind in the SEC?
Speaker 3 (12:59):
And someone said, well, should make.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
A more battle hardened and battle tested, but by you know,
maybe whatever in this modern day and age of all
the video that's available on things like that, that makes
the SEC perhaps a little more vulnerable when you get
into postseason than you might ordinarily think.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Yeah, I mean, I think there is a solidity to that.
I mean, I would say, I mean, let's use Texas
as a prime example. I mean, I would argue that,
I mean Texas like just from a sheer energy level
after that first game, after that first game at UTSA,
I didn't plet energy level was that great against Kansas
dating and UTSA.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
And again, I don't know if it's just you know,
just one of those weekends or you know, when you're
when you're used to every.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Single weekend playing lsu A and m you know, Oklahoma,
Arkansas Auburn at some point like in a way, like
playing like UTSA is like a letdown, you know, because
they're so used to playing those type of teams week
in and week out. And so I mean, that's the
only thing I can think of is that you're up,
(14:00):
you're up. You're up so much every single weekend in
that league, but all of a sudden the postseason, if
somebody kind of punches you in the go a little
bit like you don't really know.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
How to respond.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And so I do think there is some validity to
that that, you know, the teams, some teams at least
just tend to get a little bit exhausted, I think,
you know, to you know, go back to the Texas example,
it was kind of like once they lost Hear at Spencer,
I just felt like that deflated them a little bit
because it just it made to wear and tear even
more prevalent on the other arms on my staff.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I agree. And with position players.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I mean, you know, Slashnakle never said that much about it,
but everybody knew or I think a lot of folks
and I know you knew that Ethan Mendoza wasn't near
one hundred percent, and and same thing with Aguezar.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
The year Galvan could move his arm in the last game.
There were just a lot of things.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Yeah, all right, So that that brings me to LSU
and Arkansas. And somebody asked me weeks ago, weeks ago,
asked me what the best team I thought was that
I had seen and I at Arkansas, and I still
kind of stand by that. I think there may be
the most complete team, and yet LSU may be just
as explosive and dangerous.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
And here they are meeting in the first game.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, it certainly gives the validity to reseating the field
when you get to Omaha, because you get the two
best remaining teams playing each other in the first game.
You know, full transparency, I do have LSG playing for
the national championship, But you know, I do think with Arkansas.
The thing it'll be interesting to me is Zach Brute
has pitched really well as of late.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
You know, does that continue in Omaha.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
I just have a little bit more faith in Kate
Anderson Anthony Ironson for LSU than I do Arkansas's arms.
But Zach Brood is the X factor for them. I
do think offensively, I do trust Arkansas a little bit more.
I think there's more balance. I think they fit that
ballpark a little better. And Charles Davalon was really good
over the weekend as Tennessee if Brent Iredale's are you know,
certainly a really nice hitter. The Ulloy you know, continues
(15:58):
just you know, have a great year, both defensively and offensively.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
And so I do like the balance a little bit
more for Arkansas. But I will say this, you know,
we we all, we've all seen it.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
When the Tigers get to Omaha, I feel like their
most nerve wracking moments and their year are over because
it's just getting the Omaha as their ultimate goal. I
think now they've gotten Omaha, I do like the overall
ceiling of their offense a little bit more. I think,
you know, Jared Jones, who had just been okay over
the last month and a half two months of the season,
you know, does he have a big breakout weekend or
(16:31):
a big breakout Omaha.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
You know, Monster Milam.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Steven Mylam, you know, had one big hit over the
weekend in the Super but again he has not been
very consistent. So there there are some pieces of LSU's
team that have not even been close to finish products,
and yet they're still in Omaha and still one of
the betting favorites to win the national championship.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Before I let you go, Kendall, I wanted to get
you your your your thoughts on a I wouldn't say
it's a full on, full tilt coaching carousel, but there's
been enough movement obviously and going on back and your
thoughts about what you've seen so far, including that latest
bit that you reported on today where Virginia stays within
the ACC to find his new head coach.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Yeah, you know what, sometimes I like a busy carousel.
I'm kind of liking this carounsel after last summer's carousel
at this point, but it has not had a ton
of drama it has. You know, Brian O'Connor going to
MISSIGPI State certainly was eye opening. It is interesting that
they paid him two point nine million a year after
a season of not making NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
But you know, you know, if you.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Look at his resume seven collegial serious appearances, a national
championship in twenty fifteen, the proven's in the pudding, as
they say, and he certainly has a lot of that resumetion.
That was a splash hire for Zach sell in an
MSU obviously making a very strong commitment not only salaries,
but you know Rev. Shaer and il they're going all
in there. They're pushing all their chips in. They want
to win another national championship. But Duke or you know,
(18:00):
Chris Paller going to Virginia, that was the most obvious
hire for them. Jim Penders from Yukon was another guy
they would have taken a very hard look at a
Pollard said no. But you know, Pollard has done an
amazing job of turning Duke into a perennial postseason team.
You've got due to what four super regionals, which is
incredible considering the park they play in, the teams around them,
(18:21):
and you get in cy State you didn't see in
East Carolina, all within an hour and a half of
that campus. So to turn that program into what he's
turned it into is mighty impressive.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
And now we'll see the direction they go.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
My feeling will be Josh Johnson at LSU, but I
would also keep an eye on Chris lamonas the former
mis cities, stay coach.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
I think he's going to get himself in the mix. Two.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
And if you're duke, there are a lot worse hires
you can make than someone who has a national championship.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Bring no doubt about it. You can read Kendll's outstanding work.
And those are the rest of the staff at D
one baseball dot com. Hey, it's always great to visit
with you. I appreciate the time, and I always say
to you every year, enjoy OMAR because I.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Know you will, right, you got it? Buye all right,
thanks Kettle, take care of safe travels.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
All right.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
That's Kevin Rogers D one baseball dot Com and he
will be there for the run of it all there
with the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
Tuesday afternoon in the sporting world, is we look around this.
I just finished reading this story about the survey from
the NCAA where they said the online abuse related to
sports betting declined during March Madness during the NCAA basketball trim.
That's a good thing, but they still receive more than
(00:23):
three people involved in the competition received more than three
thousand threatening messages. I would submit to you that it's
probably that is just barely ahead of the amount of
unpleasant and threatening messages our next guest had during the
course of the college baseball scene. I kid a little bit,
but Kendall Rodgers a d one baseball dot com probably
(00:44):
takes as much grief as just about anybody from both
inside of SEC fan bases and beyond the boundaries of
the sec s. Jordan says, how you doing, kenw I
appreciate the time to day.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
It's been a long past couple of weekends. But we're
at the cultural series. All take it?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, absolutely all right.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
If we were to remove Murray State from the field
of eight that is now qualified, if we were to
remove them from it, what would you say has been
the biggest surprise to you? Through the two weekends of
Regionals and Super Reason and maybe maybe Murray State wasn't
(01:26):
the biggest surprise to you, because I know you followed
them all season long and they're an outstanding team and
all that. But I know there are surprises a lot
of folks coming out of the Missouri Valley. So if
we were to remove them from it, what would be
your biggest surprise?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
I think for me, given the way that North Carolina
played in the regionals, in frankly, the way it played
in the first game of the Super, I would have
thought in North Carolina would have been in Omaha. You know,
give Arizona a lot of credit. You know, it's one
of those things where when you blow out a team
the first game of a Super, it's almost a detriment
because I feel like your team gets a little overconfident.
But you know, Chip Hell, you know, had the Arizona
(02:00):
ready role those last two games. So for me, just
North Carolina not being in Omaha's a little surprising because
I really thought in the Agency Tournament and in the
Chaperl Regional they were playing like a national champions in
the Caliber Club.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
You know. The other one for me would probably be Louisville.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You know, I think we all saw them really this
year at minimate and there was certainly some potential there.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
But for Louisville, you know, after you know, it was
several year hiatus. Getting back to Omaha, I think it
was you know, a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Of surprising considering they entered the season under ranked, and
so those would be the big ones for me. Ucla
would be another one. You know, we didn't have them
ranked in the preseason. We liked him on paper coming
in the year, but you know, after struggling last season,
going to the Big Ten, you never really know how
that transition is going to go. When you're you know,
getting on a flight from Los Angeles, p s gataway
and you know, they did a tremendous job in the
(02:49):
fir tree of the Big Ten. And you know, the
one thing I love about John Savage's club is that
they a vintage John Savage club. At what I mean
by that is, you know, people want to talk about
the Trevor Bauers and the Garrett Coles they've had in
UCLA history, but really, if you go back and look
at the guys that were most successful there, there are
some of their biggest runs. You know, you think about
Adam Pluko, who was on the Friday guy for the
(03:10):
mass championship club. You think of, you know, you know,
the pieces they've had in the back to the bullpen
at times. You know, they they've they've always had guys
that can really pitch, and that's kind of the way
this UCLA team is this year. Of course, they also
have a guy in Rought Chilowski, who I think is
the best hitter in college baseball. But UCLA was another
team that's under ranked coming into the season, and now
(03:31):
they've been They're ending their season in Omaha.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Now, if I insert Maury State back into the conversation,
safety say, since they're on what only the fourth number
four seats in the region will get there, would they
be the biggest eye opener?
Speaker 4 (03:44):
They would be.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I mean, I'll get Dan Stirk and his staff out
of credit. I mean, if you look at what they've
done this year, I mean, they dominated the Missouri Valley
Conference for the most part. You know, I think they
end up, you know, tying for the regular season champions
have only because they got ringed out the rest of
the but they blew out Missouri State and in one
game they didn't they were able to play, So you know,
(04:05):
they are a surprise that they're definitely not.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Some team that I expect to show up and look
like they don't belong.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I thought Sotny Brick a little bit the year they
made it to Omaha looked like they were a little
bit out of place. I don't think Missouri Murray State
looks like that. I think anybody that watched.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Their regional they could really hit. Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I mean they are you know, Dustin Mercer's a doubles machine.
They've got some nice pieces.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
On the mouth. I think they could be a little
pesty in this bracket.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Since we're talking about four seeds, I keep hearing the
name Fresno State in vogue from eight because of what
they did. Do you see any similarities at least in
terms of how this team sets itself up for Omaha?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
I do a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Actually, actually that's a pretty good comp I mean that
Fresnone State team was incredibly talented. I mean you think
about that team. You know they didn't have and Shepherd's
pitching for him in Omaha, and he was like one
of their main arms. So it gives you an idea
how talent they were that without him, they were able
to win that. But do you think we look at uh,
(05:10):
you know, Murray State. They've gotten up arms. You know,
they've got a couple of weekend starters. They've got to
they've got you know, a bullpen arm or two. They
can they can mow you down. And as you all know,
when you get to Omaha and you have a day
off in between, it really kind of defeats the purpose
of having an extremely deep pitching staff because frankly, you
do not need a really deep pitching step to win
(05:31):
an Omaha. Always think back to that year the Arizona
wanted with Andy Lopez. Uh if when they use what
was it four arms, they use four pitchers in Omaha,
they use their three starters and they use Matt Troup
out of the bullpen. They did not have to use
a fifth pitcher. So it's just unbelievable that you could
do that. But that is the way the Omaha set
up is if with a day off, you have a
(05:52):
lot of wiggle room, and that really benefits a team
like Murray who you know, they don't get a little
dicey until you get to like that fifth game of
a of a weekend like they were an af.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
You mentioned Arizona.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Arizona in twenty sixteen lost to Coastal Carolina, and Coastal
Carolina still raised as an eyebrow or two from folks
go here's at school from a mid major coming cubby
as they do. But I know you have liked them
all season long based on the you know, the things
I've read that you and the staff have written about
them online. You guys have liked the Shana Clears all
(06:26):
season long, haven't you?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
What we really have and the reason is is because
historically you look at Coastal and you go, oh, offense, offense, offense,
well not exactly, there's no doubt this team can hit.
But when you look at what they have on the
mound and Tam Fluky and you know, Jacob Morrison, Riley
Iicoff has done really well for them. They looked at
part of the weekend against a really good Auburn team.
(06:48):
You know, you see those guys up close are very
physical and so they did a nice job, you know
on the mound. You know, I think you know, you know,
as we kind of saw the long Horns this year.
You know, a team success really kind of starts with
what you get out of the catcher position, and they've
got one of the best in the business and kayten Bodine,
who you know, by the way, as of finalists for
the Johnny bench with Galva on. But you know kat
(07:09):
and Bodine was awesome over the weekend. Offensively, he hasn't
really hit for a lot of power this year, but
did have a couple of home runs over the weekending.
It's aufurn but he is an elite catcher, an elite leader.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
And when you have those.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Two things behind the plate to go with those arms,
I mean, you can make some serious noise and home all,
especially when you have plenty of offense to score some runs.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Coastal's playing Arizona that first game you talked about Arizona
Prince Vania's front. Did you start to see things really
starting to piece itself together for Chip Hale's team during
that big twelve tournament in Arlington, which they ultimately were
able to.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Go through and win.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Was it there the win because they had moments during
the year when they looked really good and then they
had moments like losing two out of three at home
to Baylor during the course of the year.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, there's no doubt.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I kind of feel like that's the way the Big
Twelve was as a whole. Like even Baylor, I don't
think it was a bad team. It's just you know,
they'd have one good weekend and one really bad weekend.
But Arizona is to move kind of the same way,
like they'd have a couple of really good weekends and
all of a sudden they're getting like run off the
field by Utah at home.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
So they were just a very strange club.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
But I will say this, and I'll kind of point
to two different weekends of Arizona is being back to
the weekend that you know, we saw them up in Arlington.
I mean they did not look very good. Uh, they struggled,
they looked bad. And at that point, Chippell was just
kind of like, hey, like it was a bad weekend,
but we're gonna move on from here.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
But you know, you look back at the minimated week
was a three weeks lay at the minimated weekend.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yeah, and all of a sudden they looked the part.
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
They they came back and beat A and M, and
the night thing, they beat Mississippi State and then Smith
Bailey or Sunday got almost beat Tennessee in the final
game of the weekend. So that weekend in Houston, I
thought gave us a glimpse of a club that could
really do some.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
You know, do some.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
You know down the stretch, you know who. They kind
of remind me of. They remind me that Texas team
that went to Globe Life Opening.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
We can remember that bad weather weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
I remember when Texas just got wiped off the map,
and that weekend, everybody in every Texas fans like, oh god,
this's gonna be a long season.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I want to say that team ended up in Omaha.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yeah, that's that was the one with Ivan. Yeah, that
was the one with Ivan Melndu's twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, national semifinalists that year. And you know, that's just
kind of the same pathway that Arizona's gone. It hasn't
always been pretty and they started off pretty bad, but
they're in a really good spy right now.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
We're visiting with Kendall Rogers d one Baseball dot com
if you want to subscribe to that, they're outstanding award there.
I want to the one other team off of that
first day bracket. We've talked about coastal against Arizona, and
you brought up Louisville. The other is at Oregon State,
and uh, I you know, with with what Mitch Canam
has done there, I think, and I know you and
(09:50):
the staff really like the Beavers all season long. Was
every reason to do it, but there was that big albatross,
that big thing hanging over them, the fact that they
had to play as an independent and go on the
road and all this other kind of stuff, and it
just I think it's one of the more remarkable stories
about what they've had to overcome and what was it,
twenty three thousand miles worth of travel this year and
(10:11):
all this stuff to ultimately qualify.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
No, it is really neat.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I mean, it's kind of twofold. I mean, one, you
don't you don't like to travel that much. But on
the other hand, it kind of proves that if you
travel that much and you actually win some of your games,
your RPI is going to be really good. And so
I wasn't really sure what the expect of Oregon State
going into the tournament, just because you know, you know,
is the RPI inmplated a little bit? Is it not inflated?
(10:36):
You don't really know. The weekend I saw them at
around Ark they were just okay. But I say, what
when you look at the team overall, I mean they
are sizzling hot offensively. You know, Trent Carroway is a
supremely talented prospect to at one point in the last
week and a half, they had, you know, had hitting
in a nine hole. I want to say he let
off or hitting the two hole in the last game.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
It's Florida State.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You know, Ivar Kent will end up being a you know,
a top five you know draft guy on on the
person of the MLB Draft, he will be a top
ten pick. He's had a really nice year for them.
They've got some other really nice pieces, you know, Eric
Segura on the mound, you know the AJ singer kid
who continues to get big hits for him in clutch situations.
They just got a lot of balance, and you know,
(11:19):
Miss Canum. There's just something about that program.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
I don't want to compare it to Texas too much,
just because Texas you know, has what thirty six thirty
seven Omah appearances, but it does feel.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Like Texas sometimes in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Where like it doesn't matter how the regular season went
or what you think about him, like, you can just
guarantee you they're going to play well in the postseason.
And that's just kind of how the how Oregon State rolls.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
We've talked about three of these for these first and
second eight matchups. First a Coastal against Arizona and in Oregon
State against Louisville, and then on Saturday, UCLA and Murray State.
Before I get to this last matchup, I want to
lead into it because it's it's Arkansas and LSU, and
I know you guys catch a lot of grief. Lot
of folks fan bases chied one another about the SEC
(12:02):
they didn't deserve thirteen bids, they didn't deserve. All the
host sites look at them. The dust settles, the smoke clears.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Two are are in Omaha.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
And in addition to that, you had several teams still
hosting and playing in super regionals as well, and no
other conference had more than one and involved in that.
The reason why I bring this up, Kindle, I grew
up in North Carolina and during the height of the
ACC in the seventies, they had one national champion and
(12:35):
that was that NC State team that stopped the UCLA string.
Other than that, they did not win a national championship
throughout the course of the decade, and yet it was
still always viewed.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
As the best basketball conference.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And my dad used to have a theory in others
that said, well, they kind of wore each other out
during the regular season and the ACC tournament. Are there
any like minded type things that happened because of the
grind in the SEC?
Speaker 3 (12:59):
And someone said, well, should make.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
A more battle hardened and battle tested, but by you know,
maybe whatever in this modern day and age of all
the video that's available on things like that, that makes
the SEC perhaps a little more vulnerable when you get
into postseason than you might ordinarily think.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Yeah, I mean, I think there is a solidity to that.
I mean, I would say, I mean, let's use Texas
as a prime example. I mean, I would argue that,
I mean Texas like just from a sheer energy level
after that first game, after that first game at UTSA,
I didn't plet energy level was that great against Kansas
dating and UTSA.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
And again, I don't know if it's just you know,
just one of those weekends or you know, when you're
when you're used to every.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Single weekend playing lsu A and m you know, Oklahoma,
Arkansas Auburn at some point like in a way, like
playing like UTSA is like a letdown, you know, because
they're so used to playing those type of teams week
in and week out. And so I mean, that's the
only thing I can think of is that you're up,
(14:00):
you're up. You're up so much every single weekend in
that league, but all of a sudden the postseason, if
somebody kind of punches you in the go a little
bit like you don't really know.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
How to respond.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
And so I do think there is some validity to
that that, you know, the teams, some teams at least
just tend to get a little bit exhausted, I think,
you know, to you know, go back to the Texas example,
it was kind of like once they lost Hear at Spencer,
I just felt like that deflated them a little bit
because it just it made to wear and tear even
more prevalent on the other arms on my staff.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I agree. And with position players.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I mean, you know, Slashnakle never said that much about it,
but everybody knew or I think a lot of folks
and I know you knew that Ethan Mendoza wasn't near
one hundred percent, and and same thing with Aguezar.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
The year Galvan could move his arm in the last game.
There were just a lot of things.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Yeah, all right, So that that brings me to LSU
and Arkansas. And somebody asked me weeks ago, weeks ago,
asked me what the best team I thought was that
I had seen and I at Arkansas, and I still
kind of stand by that. I think there may be
the most complete team, and yet LSU may be just
as explosive and dangerous.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
And here they are meeting in the first game.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, it certainly gives the validity to reseating the field
when you get to Omaha, because you get the two
best remaining teams playing each other in the first game.
You know, full transparency, I do have LSG playing for
the national championship, But you know, I do think with Arkansas.
The thing it'll be interesting to me is Zach Brute
has pitched really well as of late.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
You know, does that continue in Omaha.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
I just have a little bit more faith in Kate
Anderson Anthony Ironson for LSU than I do Arkansas's arms.
But Zach Brood is the X factor for them. I
do think offensively, I do trust Arkansas a little bit more.
I think there's more balance. I think they fit that
ballpark a little better. And Charles Davalon was really good
over the weekend as Tennessee if Brent Iredale's are you know,
certainly a really nice hitter. The Ulloy you know, continues
(15:58):
just you know, have a great year, both defensively and offensively.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
And so I do like the balance a little bit
more for Arkansas. But I will say this, you know,
we we all, we've all seen it.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
When the Tigers get to Omaha, I feel like their
most nerve wracking moments and their year are over because
it's just getting the Omaha as their ultimate goal. I
think now they've gotten Omaha, I do like the overall
ceiling of their offense a little bit more. I think,
you know, Jared Jones, who had just been okay over
the last month and a half two months of the season,
you know, does he have a big breakout weekend or
(16:31):
a big breakout Omaha.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
You know, Monster Milam.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Steven Mylam, you know, had one big hit over the
weekend in the Super but again he has not been
very consistent. So there there are some pieces of LSU's
team that have not even been close to finish products,
and yet they're still in Omaha and still one of
the betting favorites to win the national championship.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Before I let you go, Kendall, I wanted to get
you your your your thoughts on a I wouldn't say
it's a full on, full tilt coaching carousel, but there's
been enough movement obviously and going on back and your
thoughts about what you've seen so far, including that latest
bit that you reported on today where Virginia stays within
the ACC to find his new head coach.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Yeah, you know what, sometimes I like a busy carousel.
I'm kind of liking this carounsel after last summer's carousel
at this point, but it has not had a ton
of drama it has. You know, Brian O'Connor going to
MISSIGPI State certainly was eye opening. It is interesting that
they paid him two point nine million a year after
a season of not making NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
But you know, you know, if you.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Look at his resume seven collegial serious appearances, a national
championship in twenty fifteen, the proven's in the pudding, as
they say, and he certainly has a lot of that resumetion.
That was a splash hire for Zach sell in an
MSU obviously making a very strong commitment not only salaries,
but you know Rev. Shaer and il they're going all
in there. They're pushing all their chips in. They want
to win another national championship. But Duke or you know,
(18:00):
Chris Paller going to Virginia, that was the most obvious
hire for them. Jim Penders from Yukon was another guy
they would have taken a very hard look at a
Pollard said no. But you know, Pollard has done an
amazing job of turning Duke into a perennial postseason team.
You've got due to what four super regionals, which is
incredible considering the park they play in, the teams around them,
(18:21):
and you get in cy State you didn't see in
East Carolina, all within an hour and a half of
that campus. So to turn that program into what he's
turned it into is mighty impressive.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
And now we'll see the direction they go.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
My feeling will be Josh Johnson at LSU, but I
would also keep an eye on Chris lamonas the former
mis cities, stay coach.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
I think he's going to get himself in the mix. Two.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
And if you're duke, there are a lot worse hires
you can make than someone who has a national championship.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Bring no doubt about it. You can read Kendll's outstanding work.
And those are the rest of the staff at D
one baseball dot com. Hey, it's always great to visit
with you. I appreciate the time, and I always say
to you every year, enjoy OMAR because I.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Know you will, right, you got it? Buye all right,
thanks Kettle, take care of safe travels.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
All right.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
That's Kevin Rogers D one baseball dot Com and he
will be there for the run of it all there
with the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
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