UConn @ SE Louisiana Univ (Fri. 2/23@7:15p ET, Sat. 2/24 DblHdr - 1st@3p ET, 2nd - 45 min aftr end)

[Baseballguy]

• Troy Stefanski is off to a fast start in his senior year with a pair of multi-hit games. Stefanski has four multi-hit games already this year after having a total of five a season ago.

• The Huskies have hit eight home runs in six games this season. Last season, UConn did not record their eighth home run until April 5 vs. Hartford

To me these are the 2 biggest delevopments of the season so far. The power is probably the most important. The ability to put a minimum of 1 run on the board with 1 swing is monumental. The way Troy has started the season may be the best performance on the team to date. Having a nine spot batter hit nearly .400 with 2 HR is massive.

For those interested, North Florida will be live streaming their game today on FB live at 1:00 today

 

[uconnbaseball]

Does UNF have a message board? I cannot find one.

 

[dbmill]

To me these are the 2 biggest delevopments of the season so far. The power is probably the most important. The ability to put a minimum of 1 run on the board with 1 swing is monumental. The way Troy has started the season may be the best performance on the team to date. Having a nine spot batter hit nearly .400 with 2 HR is massive.

For those interested, North Florida will be live streaming their game today on FB live at 1:00 today

The biggest turnarounds in returning players so far are Troy Stefanski and Chris Winkel. Both are hitting in the high .300's, as opposed to around .220 or whatever last season. UConn just didn't get much offensive production out of either CF or 1B last season, and now they are. Getting that sort of offensive production from two players who also provide very good defense is also a nice problem to have as well.

 

[Guapo]

According to UNF's website, Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN3

 

[BigJim84]

The biggest turnarounds in returning players so far are Troy Stefanski and Chris Winkel. Both are hitting in the high .300's, as opposed to around .220 or whatever last season. UConn just didn't get much offensive production out of either CF or 1B last season, and now they are. Getting that sort of offensive production from two players who also provide very good defense is also a nice problem to have as well.

The roster has more balance this year more position players gives Penders more options to platoon an play the hot hand.

 

[LukeTheDuke03]

According to UNF's website, Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN3

YES! Chris Jones is always great, but nothing compares to a good WatchESPN stream I can toss up on my fire stick. Sometimes I get tricky and try to sync up the WHUS feed with the stream, but it doesn't always work.

 

[kris1]

According to UNF's website, Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN3

Listed on WatchESPN schedule as a 2:05 start on ESPN3.

FWIW.....UNF plays #1 Florida on Tuesday, 6:05 on ESPN3, for those interested.

 

[dbmill]

One question on Isaac Feldstein has been answered. As he played both games of the doubleheader yesterday, the UConn coaches and medical staff must think his knee is in pretty good shape.

It would also seem from his good start at the bat that big things are expected of Christian Fedko. From the coaches preseason videos it sounded like his bat is ahead of his glove at this point. Still, I wonder how long it might be before he starts seeing some time in the field. Sooner or later I would think he will be slated to take over one of the infield positions.

 

[Baseballguy]

One question on Isaac Feldstein has been answered. As he played both games of the doubleheader yesterday, the UConn coaches and medical staff must think his knee is in pretty good shape.

It would also seem from his good start at the bat that big things are expected of Christian Fedko. From the coaches preseason videos it sounded like his bat is ahead of his glove at this point. Still, I wonder how long it might be before he starts seeing some time in the field. Sooner or later I would think he will be slated to take over one of the infield positions.

The way everyone is playing at the moment I’d imagine he’ll be stuck in the Dan Hurley role for a while

 

[huskymedic]

According to UNF's website, Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN3

I’ll be sure to note when I set up the the UNF weekend thread

 

[BigJim84]

One question on Isaac Feldstein has been answered. As he played both games of the doubleheader yesterday, the UConn coaches and medical staff must think his knee is in pretty good shape.

It would also seem from his good start at the bat that big things are expected of Christian Fedko. From the coaches preseason videos it sounded like his bat is ahead of his glove at this point. Still, I wonder how long it might be before he starts seeing some time in the field. Sooner or later I would think he will be slated to take over one of the infield positions.

I could see him getting a shot at 3B as early as next weekend.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[dbmill]

I could see him getting a shot at 3B as early as next weekend.

I seriously doubt it will happen that quickly.

 

[BigJim84]

I seriously doubt it will happen that quickly.

My crystal ball is a little cloudy and I have no insight if he has ever played 3b, but his bat plays, and there other guys who potentialy will hit for power who are blocked Phillips, Mayock, and Bonvicini who could fill the Dan Hurley spot.

 

[dbmill]

My crystal ball is a little cloudy and I have no insight if he has ever played 3b, but his bat plays, and there other guys who potentialy will hit for power who are blocked Phillips, Mayock, and Bonvicini who could fill the Dan Hurley spot.

As much as I would like to see Ben Maycock get some at bats, defense counts too, especially in the infield. If Moriarty and Woodworth provide some offense, it lessens the possibility that Fedko will play any infield spots this season. If Moriarty and Woodworth don't hit and the team starts to struggle, then I'm sure Penders will start to look at other combinations. Like I said, I expect Fedko to eventually get to see more and more time in the infield, but depending on circumstances it may not happen right away or even this season. As for Fedko and the Dan Hurley role, he got his chance early and has produced. If he hadn't, I'm sure we would have seen Penders running several players in and out of the Dan Hurley role by now.

 

[Towney007]

UNF is good. Weird last few years though. They were a DII super power then moved up to DI. Smoke Laval who was coach there since the Jurassic Period was fired last year which was a big surprise. They've consistently competitive down there. They get a lot of talent but haven't really been able to turn the engine over...

Their leadoff hitter is Tanner Murphy - lots of pop - hit well above .300 as a freshman and forced his way into the lineup late last year. Had a MONSTER summer in the prospect league. 6.4 runner, legit athlete and a great defensive CF. Might be their best pro prospect. Their pitching is pretty good. Frankie Germain was on the Cape last year and can pump. Brad Deppermann is really legit. 93-95mph and great stuff. Was a little fragile early in his career but he's come around and I think he's probably their most talented pitcher. I know most to all the staff is back. Their big relief arm is Cooper Bradford and he's been the top-rated draft prospect in the conference for two years in a row in his class. He was in the NECBL this year and was hitting 95mph - FB that really jumps on hitters fast. Weird it doesn't have a lot of riding life or movement - it's just *there* all of a sudden. They'll be a challenge.

I know people kind of get tied up in knots on some of these directional schools - in college baseball, they cause a lot of fits for people. But A-Sun in the last few years has pumped out the national player of the year, an 11th overall draft pick and Chris Sale, so thinking these are crappy wins or easy walk overs is kind of silly. Stetson should presumably be a top-25 team this year.

 

[Towney007]

As for the SELU series that's a great series sweep. SELU is probably a top 40 program pretty easily at this point. They're a highly funded mid major that's incredibly well coached. The Southland conference is almost an island unto itself, but a dangerous island. SELU recruits really well primarily because they're able to get really talented, four-year types in states that get plundered by MSU, Ole Miss, LSU, etc - and then have to contend with places like Sam Houston State, New Orleans and Tulane (yes, they're very good at baseball) for players.

And for my money - they're one of - if not THE best mid-major program in the country when it comes to consistently developing really good pitchers. Their staff is good every single year it seems. They give every P5 team they play freaking fits. They're always a little underpowered offensively. At least I'd say they always seem to have 1 or 2 DUDES and then a bunch of guys who are really good defensively but can't string together consecutive offensive seasons. Guy who hits .310 and 5 HR's this year is a shoe in for .210 and 1 HR the next year. Dunno why that is - just is. Their head guy is highly sought after as a P5 head coach and at this time it's a matter of time, really.

So this was a big weekend sweep for UConn. SELU is good.

 

[huskymedic]

I know people kind of get tied up in knots on some of these directional schools - in college baseball, they cause a lot of fits for people. But A-Sun in the last few years has pumped out the national player of the year, an 11th overall draft pick and Chris Sale, so thinking these are crappy wins or easy walk overs is kind of silly. Stetson should presumably be a top-25 team this year.

That’s only the “casual fans”

Not many here scoff @ schools “people” who don’t follow college baseball can’t find on a map.

 

[uconnbaseball]

As for the SELU series that's a great series sweep. SELU is probably a top 40 program pretty easily at this point. They're a highly funded mid major that's incredibly well coached. The Southland conference is almost an island unto itself, but a dangerous island. SELU recruits really well primarily because they're able to get really talented, four-year types in states that get plundered by MSU, Ole Miss, LSU, etc - and then have to contend with places like Sam Houston State, New Orleans and Tulane (yes, they're very good at baseball) for players.

And for my money - they're one of - if not THE best mid-major program in the country when it comes to consistently developing really good pitchers. Their staff is good every single year it seems. They give every P5 team they play freaking fits. They're always a little underpowered offensively. At least I'd say they always seem to have 1 or 2 DUDES and then a bunch of guys who are really good defensively but can't string together consecutive offensive seasons. Guy who hits .310 and 5 HR's this year is a shoe in for .210 and 1 HR the next year. Dunno why that is - just is. Their head guy is highly sought after as a P5 head coach and at this time it's a matter of time, really.

So this was a big weekend sweep for UConn. SELU is good.

I want Rice to poach the SELA coach after Graham retires. He is really solid IMO.

 

[Towney007]

I want Rice to poach the SELA coach after Graham retires. He is really solid IMO.

Pretty much everyone I know says that's what's going to happen.

Graham probably should've retired a little while ago, but alas. Kid's been coaching since 08 - Texas as a student assistant, then McNeese St for a few years, then Rice for five year and now Oklahoma. He might have a legit shot. I'm also pretty sure Dave Serrano and some others will be poking around...

 

[uconnbaseball]

Serrano couldn't hack it in the SEC, but was incredible on the west coast. I would take him at Rice in a heartbeat so long he brought a young recruiting guru along.