Another long year coming on the diamond?
The SEC’s baseball coaches don’t think too highly of Georgia’s chances this year. On the heels of a dreadful 5-23 conference record last year, another finish towards the bottom of the league won’t be a good sign for the direction of the program. Georgia was just one win away from a national title in 2008, but they’ve slid backwards since. They got run out of the Tallahassee regional in 2009, plummeted to the bottom of the conference last year, and are only forecast for modest improvement in 2011 (because, well, there’s not much lower to go after a 16-37 season).
There are certainly bright spots. Outfielder Zach Cone is a preseason All-American. Pitching should be deeper, if not improved. But the schedule, with 31 games against preseason Top 25 teams, would be a tough challenge even for a team favored to go to Omaha.
One big change around the conference and nation this year will be in the bats. A new testing standard was put into place earlier this year, and the expectation is an overall drop in power numbers.
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James
February 16th, 2011
5:35 pm
Now how many of those players have been using -3 wood bats of late? Where do those batters rank with bat head speed. A top power hitter may have some drop in D1, but it should not be that much against the staffs in D1. Bat head speed is power. A lot of sore hands and bodies will come from hours in the old batting cage with -3 or -2.5 wood bats. It is good to see the change.
At the end of last season the Diamond Dawgs played well. I thought their series with Florida in Gainesville provide some better feeling for 2011. But the problem with the Dawgs is their pitching. It has not been there since 2008. Not close. If there is no major improvement it will be interesting to see what changes are made.
Ally
February 16th, 2011
10:13 pm
I’d just like to point out that the Lady Dawgs (Softball) are already off to a hot start this season & are ranked #2 in the country (the highest ranking in program history, btw) after 2 consecutive seasons at the Women’s College World Series. Go Lady Dawgs!
Ans i’d put these girls up against whatever Perno is fielding this season any day of the week.