2020 Season Thread

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:57 pm

They were pretty good this season. Not sure if they got an at large but they could hit. Hope he gets the gig. Wonder what might happen with Lawn?

Today is also the start of the draft. I know we have a few recruits who could go early and it’s a given we will lose Q and Cannon to the draft. Wonder about Dyer, Frazier and LaBaut (sp). Next couple days should tell us about how strong we might be next year

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:45 am

azcat49 wrote:They were pretty good this season. Not sure if they got an at large but they could hit. Hope he gets the gig. Wonder what might happen with Lawn?

Today is also the start of the draft. I know we have a few recruits who could go early and it’s a given we will lose Q and Cannon to the draft. Wonder about Dyer, Frazier and LaBaut (sp). Next couple days should tell us about how strong we might be next year

They didn't get an at large, they weren't even close. RPI was like 140 or so.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 10:32 am

This probably sews up Fraizer going pro.

Also our top recruit was taken in the 3rd round and he likely won't end up on campus.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:39 pm

Here's another incoming recruit and a local kid to boot. I'm sure this will come down to money whether he ends up on campus or not.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:59 pm

And another one.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:00 pm

Typically how many recruits do we lose to the draft?

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 3:43 pm

azgreg wrote:Typically how many recruits do we lose to the draft?

Depends, last year we lost 2, the year prior 1. At this point these 3 guys are the only ones we should lose and out of the 3 only for sure Dalquist is signing.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:25 pm

Using the 3 years can really help with that signing bonus. Q and CC will get at least 1.5m each so their decision appears to be a good one. 9th round money has to be considerably less

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:52 pm

azcat49 wrote:Using the 3 years can really help with that signing bonus. Q and CC will get at least 1.5m each so their decision appears to be a good one. 9th round money has to be considerably less

Always comes down to the money.

Good news is Matt Dyer should be back next year, so Wells and him can split catching and first base duties all year. Also numerous good pitchers should make it on campus regardless what happens with Dicochea.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:19 pm

Well Choo, we thought we had numerous good pitchers coming in last year and we saw what happened. Who do you think steps up from the pen and makes a big jump performance wise. Arias? Leon?

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:29 pm

azcat49 wrote:Well Choo, we thought we had numerous good pitchers coming in last year and we saw what happened. Who do you think steps up from the pen and makes a big jump performance wise. Arias? Leon?

Obviously it's early, but I'd guess Arias and Abshier make a big bump. I think the two JUCO guys we bring in make an instant contribution and Dawson Netz will be an instant pitching contributor.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:39 pm

LaBaut stays to improve his draft opportunity in your opinion? If we could find 3 starters and a Tuesday starter with a long man that would go a long way in making us a tourney team. Seems there is a dearth if pitching in upper D1 baseball

Side note: Weems gets drafted in the 6th round as a Sr. Seems the scouts figure that his talent can be lengthened by better coaching?

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 7:20 pm

I read Dyer plans on returning.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 7:31 pm

azcat49 wrote:LaBaut stays to improve his draft opportunity in your opinion? If we could find 3 starters and a Tuesday starter with a long man that would go a long way in making us a tourney team. Seems there is a dearth if pitching in upper D1 baseball

Side note: Weems gets drafted in the 6th round as a Sr. Seems the scouts figure that his talent can be lengthened by better coaching?

Labaut probably depends on how high he goes tomorrow honestly, but I bet he returns.

Weems has good stuff, he just has control issues. Arizona couldn't fix them, but obviously the White Sox think they can.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 2:29 pm

Nardi drafted in the 16th round today, per Lev he will sign.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 2:34 pm

Labaut just went in the 35th round, I'm sure he returns.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 4:30 pm

So one would think LaBaut, Flanagan and one of the new guys for our rotation. Tuesday by committee? We had one HS pitching recruit signed but so far neither of the JUCO guys we are counting on were picked. Not sure how to view that? Maybe they are not draft eligible?

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:07 pm

azcat49 wrote:So one would think LaBaut, Flanagan and one of the new guys for our rotation. Tuesday by committee? We had one HS pitching recruit signed but so far neither of the JUCO guys we are counting on were picked. Not sure how to view that? Maybe they are not draft eligible?

One of our JUCO guys was picked with the last pick in the draft. I would expect him to come to campus. We've had two HS pitchers get picked in the top 10 rounds and one position player. Odds are they all will sign.

baycat93 · Post by **baycat93** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 9:59 am

ChooChooCat wrote:Here's another incoming recruit and a local kid to boot. I'm sure this will come down to money whether he ends up on campus or not.

Historically almost all 8th round prospects sign.

Surprises me more kids don't go to college. I get that these kids are not on full scholarships. But an in-state kid would not have too much exposure to debt if his parents could not float the bill. I would imagine at a school like AZ they can provide all the kids food at minimum.

The odds of succeeding in MLB are so very low. Especially for an 8th round pick. I wonder if any of these kids spend 15 minutes of their lives looking at the draft statistics.

8th rounders w/ MLB logged time:
2010: 0 HS pitchers
2011: 0 HS pitchers
2012: 0 HS pitchers
2013: 1 HS pitcher - 12-13 w/ 3.59era and 150k
2014: 2 HS pitchers 3.75 and 5.14 ERA combined 4-0 w/ 48k
2015: 1 HS pitcher 4-4 2.97 ERA 66k

Sure makes going to college for 3 years sound like a lot of fun.

prh · Post by **prh** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 10:17 am

Baycat, where did you generate that data? I would be interested in the results of 8th round college pitchers. I know that's not perfect for comparison, because they'd likely be drafted elsewhere, but it's still interesting.

baycat93 · Post by **baycat93** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 10:39 am

prh wrote:Baycat, where did you generate that data? I would be interested in the results of 8th round college pitchers. I know that's not perfect for comparison, because they'd likely be drafted elsewhere, but it's still interesting.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/draft/dr ... ft_type=JR" target="_blank

prh · Post by **prh** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:16 am

baycat93 wrote:
prh wrote:Baycat, where did you generate that data? I would be interested in the results of 8th round college pitchers. I know that's not perfect for comparison, because they'd likely be drafted elsewhere, but it's still interesting.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/draft/dr ... ft_type=JR" target="_blank

Awesome thanks.

For 4-year university pitchers (no JUCO):
2010: 4 w/ MLB experience, 13-12
2011: 3, 75-58
2012: 2, 5-7
2013: 1, 23-29
2014: 1, 2-3
2015: 1, 3-4

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:26 am

Great post Baycat and yeah I saw a stat that 98% of players drafted in the top 10 rounds sign, I imagine all 3 of our HS guys drafted will sign. Oddly enough 3 1st rounders didn't sign last year though.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Thu Jun 06, 2019 1:19 pm

Sounds like Randy Labaut is going to sign and go pro, that's leaves Flannagan as the only returning starter.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Fri Jun 07, 2019 5:28 am

Michael Lev's projected lineup for next season:

C - Austin Wells/Michael Dyer
1B - Michael Dyer/Austin Wells
2B - Dayton Dooney
SS - Jacob Blas/Kyson Donahue(if Blas is injured)
3B - Tony Bullard
LF - Branden Boissiere
CF - Donta Williams
RF - Tate Soderstrom/Blake Paugh
DH - Ryan Holgate

Starters:
RHP - Quinn Flannagan
LHP - Garrett Irvin - JUCO Transfer
LHP - Ian Churchill - JUCO Transfer
RHP - Dawson Netz - Freshman

Closer - RHP Davis Vainer - Grad Transfer
Bullpen - RHP Vince Vannelle

baycat93 · Post by **baycat93** » Fri Jun 07, 2019 9:40 am

ChooChooCat wrote:Sounds like Randy Labaut is going to sign and go pro, that's leaves Flannagan as the only returning starter.

This does not seem shocking considering the sentiment on this board is the pitching coach needs to be replaced. He may feel his growth will be better served with new, professional voices.

prh · Post by **prh** » Fri Jun 07, 2019 10:26 am

ASU just hired Washington's pitching coach, who was an assistant coach of the year (some award I don't care to look back up).

Seems like we missed out there

baycat93 · Post by **baycat93** » Fri Jun 07, 2019 10:33 am

prh wrote:ASU just hired Washington's pitching coach, who was an assistant coach of the year (some award I don't care to look back up).

Seems like we missed out there

Interesting point. Not making a quick move here and giving Labaut (others) a new option might have been a mistake.

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Mon Jun 17, 2019 9:23 pm

Bryce Reagan is transferring from the University of Texas.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:04 am

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:06 am

baycat93 wrote:
prh wrote:ASU just hired Washington's pitching coach, who was an assistant coach of the year (some award I don't care to look back up).

Seems like we missed out there
Interesting point. Not making a quick move here and giving Labaut (others) a new option might have been a mistake.

Dave Lawn ain't going nowhere. He's got way too long of a positive track record to can him at the moment. If things aren't better next season though then I'm sure he'll fall on the sword.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:23 pm

Just have to wonder when some of our arms took money lower than their slot indicates if that isn’t a sign that they think they cN improve more with minor league coaching. At least three past guys have seen a real uptick in their performance in the minors.

Just not sure what to make of Lawn. I thought he was one of the best in the conference when he was at Cal(at least I think he was there). We need arms and we need them developed

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:42 pm

azcat49 wrote:Just have to wonder when some of our arms took money lower than their slot indicates if that isn’t a sign that they think they cN improve more with minor league coaching. At least three past guys have seen a real uptick in their performance in the minors.

Just not sure what to make of Lawn. I thought he was one of the best in the conference when he was at Cal(at least I think he was there). We need arms and we need them developed

College Seniors have absolutely zero bargaining power. The Chicago White Sox drafted 6 College seniors from rounds 4-10 (Avery Weems included) and each of them signed for 10k total, 10K! Their draft slots pay was all 6 figures and they barely got 5 figures. Most players don't stick around until they're seniors for that very reason. Them signing has little to nothing to do with the coaching they were receiving.

baycat93 · Post by **baycat93** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:57 pm

Thanks CCC, great insight, especially how it related to Dalquist.

I did not see anywhere that Bartlett signed.. any chance he makes it to campus?

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:59 pm

baycat93 wrote:Thanks CCC, great insight, especially how it related to Dalquist.

I did not see anywhere that Bartlett signed.. any chance he makes it to campus?

He signed yesterday. If a HS kid is drafted in the top 10 rounds always expect him to sign.

baycat93 · Post by **baycat93** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:04 pm

Good for him going over slot. nearly double. That seems like a lot. He must have been holding out a bit as he did not sign with the initial group of players.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:21 pm

baycat93 wrote:Good for him going over slot. nearly double. That seems like a lot. He must have been holding out a bit as he did not sign with the initial group of players.

HS players have ALLLLL the leverage. You don't want to pay them over slot? Fine. They'll just go to college and you wasted a top 10 draft pick on them.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 6:31 pm

Thx Choo, makes sense. Hope you are right on Lawn

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:14 pm

Johnson adds three players, including Vanderbilt commit Wesley Scott, https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2019/7/8/ ... tt-bingham" target="_blank

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:18 pm

That must be what this tweet was about.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:59 pm

Irish27 wrote:Johnson adds three players, including Vanderbilt commit Wesley Scott, https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2019/7/8/ ... tt-bingham" target="_blank

There's also a sit out transfer coming in from Texas.

https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Pla ... ?ID=409620" target="_blank

Jay has improved the arms for next year ten fold.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jul 09, 2019 4:25 pm

Rumor is Jay intends to hire a pitching coach to replace Lopez, Lawn however will remain on staff.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:04 am

Lopez? Where did he go? I thought Lawn was the pitching coach anyway? Welcomed news in any event

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:48 am

azcat49 wrote:Lopez? Where did he go? I thought Lawn was the pitching coach anyway? Welcomed news in any event

Lopez left to be the associate head coach at his alma mater, Cal State Fullerton.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Sat Jul 13, 2019 6:40 pm

Thx Choo. Watching the performance of the pitchers this off season and they have seemingly thrown well. Do these leagues in Alaska and on the east coast transfer any hope?

Also saw Flanagan’s 8 wins as a freshman was the most by a freshman in a long time if not ever. Looking forward to all of our sports starting soon but still love CAT baseball

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Mon Jul 15, 2019 6:28 pm

Jay Johnson announced right-handed pitcher Davis Vainer (Alabama), right-handed pitcher Chandler Murphy (Liberty HS – Peoria, Ariz.), outfielder Mac Bingham (Torrey Pines HS – San Diego, Calif.), and left-handed pitcher Garrett Irvin (Riverside City College – Riverside, Calif.) will all forgo professional opportunities and play at Hi Corbett Field next year.
https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2019/7 ... -cats.aspx" target="_blank

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:25 am

Irish27 wrote:Jay Johnson announced right-handed pitcher Davis Vainer (Alabama), right-handed pitcher Chandler Murphy (Liberty HS – Peoria, Ariz.), outfielder Mac Bingham (Torrey Pines HS – San Diego, Calif.), and left-handed pitcher Garrett Irvin (Riverside City College – Riverside, Calif.) will all forgo professional opportunities and play at Hi Corbett Field next year.
https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2019/7 ... -cats.aspx" target="_blank

Our two best pitchers of the class weren't even drafted because one pulled out of the draft altogether and the other told teams he was going the college route unless he was a top 2 round pick.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:19 am

Really looking forward to next season now.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:22 pm

This is a massive hire.

Per Lev, Dave Lawn stays on the coaching staff as a "defensive coordinator/program manager" type role.

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