AAC 2016 Preseason Baseball Poll and All Conference Teams

[huskymedic]

http://theamerican.org/news/2015/12/21/BASE_1221153757.aspx

UConn was tabbed for fourth in the preseason poll with 32 points, while the Huskies earned one first-place vote. The Huskies were 35-25 overall and 11-13 in The American last season, but Jim Penders' club advanced to the semifinal round of the conference tournament. The Huskies had five players – the most of any team in the conference – named to the preseason all-conference team, including Kay, first baseman Bobby Melley and outfielder Jack Sundberg, who were unanimous selections. Third baseman Willy Yahn and designated hitter Joe DeRoche-Duffin were also named to the preseason team

 

[huskymedic]

2016 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Pos Name School 2015 Statistics
P Cre Finfrock UCF 7-5, 3.30 ERA, 95.1 IP, 73 K, 34 BB
P Anthony Kay * UConn 8-6, 2.07 ERA, 100.0 IP, 96 K, 25 BB
P Andrew Lantrip * Houston 9-3, 2.62 ERA, 113.1 IP, 115 K, 22 BB
P Seth Romero * Houston 7-4, 1.94 ERA, 83.1 IP, 92 K, 22 BB
P Corey Merrill Tulane 5-6, 2.12 ERA, 102.0 IP, 81 K, 43 BB
RP Nolan Blackwood Memphis 2-1, 0.52 ERA, 14 SV
C Levi Borders USF .291, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 14 2B
1B Bobby Melley * UConn .315, 1 HR, 40 RBI, 19 2B
2B Josh Vidales Houston .300, 2 HR, 39 RBI, .987 FLD%
3B Willy Yahn UConn .343, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 4 SB
SS Stephen Alemais * Tulane .312, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 27 SB
OF Jack Sundberg * UConn .288, 1 HR, 35 RBI, 33 SB
OF Darien Tubbs * Memphis .321, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 24 SB
OF Luke Maglich USF .308, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 15 SB
DH Joe DeRoche-Duffin UConn .271, 11 HR, 39 RBI
* unanimous selection

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
OF Darien Tubbs Memphis .321, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 24 SB

PRESEASON PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
LHP Anthony Kay UConn 8-6, 2.07 ERA, 100.0 IP, 96 K, 25 BB
LHP Seth Romero Houston 7-4, 1.94 ERA, 83.1 IP, 92 K, 22 BB

 

[Fairfield_1st]

What I find interesting is UCONN has 4 positional players and 1 pitcher on the list yet they are picked behind Tulane (2 on the list) and ECU (none) in the preseason ranking. Am I to assume there is a big dropoff after our top 4 positional players or are those other teams just more balnced from batters 1-9?

 

[scotty0330]

There is a huge drop off in experience yes. LF, RF, 2B and catcher are going to be manned by guys who played very little to not at all last year essentially. So although there are some proven commodities coming back there are a lot of unknowns...for a team who struggled as it was last year to generate and sustain offense.