Talkin' baseball
posted by LW, Tuesday, May 19, 2009
In part one, writer Jim Sumner agrees with Jack Leggett's take that this year's tournament could be as competitive as ever.
Six ACC teams have spent the season in the national polls, at least four, maybe six, should host first-round competition next week in the NCAA Tournament, and multiple ACC players will be found on the assorted All-America teams that will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Still, there is no 800-pound gorilla, sleeping wherever it wants. Clemson coach Jack Leggett gives the consensus view.
“Each team has its strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a very competitive tournament. No one team really stands out as better than all the rest. I think a lot of really good teams will show up.”
That may sound like Coach-Speak 101, but Leggett is on solid turf here. We may not see 13 one-run games, but we shouldn’t see many yawners either.
In part two, a look at the Tigers.
Clemson is the most intriguing team in the tournament. The Tigers eked into the ACC Tournament field last year and missed the NCAAs for the first time since 1986. But the exile was short-lived. Jack Leggett’s Tigers are the youngest team in the field but also the hottest.
RECORD: 39-17 overall, 19-11 ACC.
RPI: 7.
STRENGTHS.
Can you say momentum? Clemson has won 11 of its last 13 games, including a series win against Georgia Tech and a sweep at N.C. State. First baseman Ben Paulsen is one of the league’s most feared power hitters and two-sport star Kyle Parker is a stunning talent. Freshman shortstop Brad Miller is a keeper.
Paulsen, Parker, and left-fielder Jeff Schaus are all in double-figures in home runs and Clemson has as much pitching depth as anyone.
WEAKNESSES
Experience is the question mark. It’s not unusual for the Tigers to start seven freshmen or sophomores. Coach Jack Leggett argues that this is not a concern fifty games into the season but this is a tough neighborhood for the youngsters.
QUESTIONS
Clemson lacks a clear closer. Who gets the ball in the ninth with a one-run lead?
GOALS
Clemson is playing with house money. They Tigers are loose and on a roll. A title would be the icing on the cake but what is essential is that they maintain their confidence going into next week.
More on Clemson baseball in The State and Post and Courier.
Nothing in the Greenville News this early. Guess the person who posts the stories there sleeps in or something. Where do I apply for that job?
Also in The State, some good pitching insight from Paul Strelow on his blog.
Missed this dispatch last week from Andy Staples on the ACC's vote for an early signing period in football.
Tony Barnhart has a well-reasoned take on why the Georgia-Florida game should -- and will -- remain in Jacksonville.
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said he's never seen Greg Paulus throw in person. Uh-oh.
In the Orlando Sentinel, a Georgia Tech football preview.
And an account of Jimbo Fisher's visit to Orlando.
Nice chat here with the always informative Bruce Feldman.
And congratulations to Dan Scott, whose show (9 a.m. to noon on weekdays) will now be syndicated in Charleston.
Some goofball from Tigerillustrated.com appears on Dan's show from 10 to noon on Thursdays.
LW
For questions or comments on this blog entry, please visit The West Zone message board.
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My friends over at The ACC Sports Journal have compiled a pretty comprehensive overview of this week's ACC Tournament.
In part one, writer Jim Sumner agrees with Jack Leggett's take that this year's tournament could be as competitive as ever.
Six ACC teams have spent the season in the national polls, at least four, maybe six, should host first-round competition next week in the NCAA Tournament, and multiple ACC players will be found on the assorted All-America teams that will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Still, there is no 800-pound gorilla, sleeping wherever it wants. Clemson coach Jack Leggett gives the consensus view.
“Each team has its strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a very competitive tournament. No one team really stands out as better than all the rest. I think a lot of really good teams will show up.”
That may sound like Coach-Speak 101, but Leggett is on solid turf here. We may not see 13 one-run games, but we shouldn’t see many yawners either.
In part two, a look at the Tigers.
Clemson is the most intriguing team in the tournament. The Tigers eked into the ACC Tournament field last year and missed the NCAAs for the first time since 1986. But the exile was short-lived. Jack Leggett’s Tigers are the youngest team in the field but also the hottest.
RECORD: 39-17 overall, 19-11 ACC.
RPI: 7.
STRENGTHS.
Can you say momentum? Clemson has won 11 of its last 13 games, including a series win against Georgia Tech and a sweep at N.C. State. First baseman Ben Paulsen is one of the league’s most feared power hitters and two-sport star Kyle Parker is a stunning talent. Freshman shortstop Brad Miller is a keeper.
Paulsen, Parker, and left-fielder Jeff Schaus are all in double-figures in home runs and Clemson has as much pitching depth as anyone.
WEAKNESSES
Experience is the question mark. It’s not unusual for the Tigers to start seven freshmen or sophomores. Coach Jack Leggett argues that this is not a concern fifty games into the season but this is a tough neighborhood for the youngsters.
QUESTIONS
Clemson lacks a clear closer. Who gets the ball in the ninth with a one-run lead?
GOALS
Clemson is playing with house money. They Tigers are loose and on a roll. A title would be the icing on the cake but what is essential is that they maintain their confidence going into next week.
More on Clemson baseball in The State and Post and Courier.
Nothing in the Greenville News this early. Guess the person who posts the stories there sleeps in or something. Where do I apply for that job?
Also in The State, some good pitching insight from Paul Strelow on his blog.
Missed this dispatch last week from Andy Staples on the ACC's vote for an early signing period in football.
Tony Barnhart has a well-reasoned take on why the Georgia-Florida game should -- and will -- remain in Jacksonville.
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone said he's never seen Greg Paulus throw in person. Uh-oh.
In the Orlando Sentinel, a Georgia Tech football preview.
And an account of Jimbo Fisher's visit to Orlando.
Nice chat here with the always informative Bruce Feldman.
And congratulations to Dan Scott, whose show (9 a.m. to noon on weekdays) will now be syndicated in Charleston.
Some goofball from Tigerillustrated.com appears on Dan's show from 10 to noon on Thursdays.
LW
For questions or comments on this blog entry, please visit The West Zone message board.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.