Baseball isn’t a driver of realignment, but the old Big 12 playing at just nine teams and losing its most prestigious program was going to deal a blow to its competitive strength.
For fans of quality baseball programs that legitimately try to invest in winning, the additions of Arizona and Arizona State are pretty massive.
Arizona:
Stadium capacity is 9,500
4x National Champions
18 College World Series appearances
Ninth most wins all-time
Eighth best all-time win percentage
Arizona State:
Stadium capacity is 8,775
5x National Champions
22 College World Series appearances
More players in MLB than any other school
These are extremely welcome additions to the Big 12. Combine these programs with Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and TCU and that’s a pretty sturdy top of the conference that should keep strength of schedule and national perception strong. West Virginia looks to have momentum as a program, Baylor is capable, and UCF has tons of potential if they invest in baseball. LFG
2025 Season Thread
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- Chicat
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2025 Season Thread
For those that don’t want to click…
Of the 12 coaches, Rush picked the one whose fans have the deepest passion, the longest memories, the greatest lung capacity and … did I mention deep passion?
Re: 2025 Season Thread
Cats picked to finish 9th out of 11 teams in the last PAC go around. This is unacceptable IMO. I guess we had warnings about the Chipster so I wonder how long the new AD will stomach mediocrity
Waiting at the Rose Bowl patiently for the cats to arrive
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
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"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
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- EastCoastCat
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
According to this thread title are we just skipping the 2024 season? I guess with that prediction might as well...
Re: 2025 Season Thread
This team is not finishing in 9th and Chip is not going to be fired after this year. Maybe Willie Bloomquist will get fired since asu's players are not producing like they were expected.
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- wyo-cat
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
His pitching coach has been nails. He’s gotta be assistant coach of the year.
Prolly saved Chips ass.
Prolly saved Chips ass.
- TheCatInTheHat
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
I tend to look forward, so I had to refresh my memory about our recent post-season performances. Four straight NCAAs is fine, but it's a large field, and with our history in baseball, you'd think we should usually be in it, just like in hoops. A 5-9 record isn't great, but there's a trip to the CWS as part of it. However, even looking at it though the rosiest of lenses, the whole thing is propped up by Johnson's last year, with a 5-3 post-season record, two-and-barbecue in Omaha, and the sour aftertaste when he left. I doubt with all the other issues and the unknowns of a new league that there's any undue pressure on Chip this coming season. But, when you're oh-fer the post-season three years running, you finish in the final Top 25, and you lose at home to two unranked teams, it's a legitimate story line. So, it'll be Year One in the Big XII, Year Two with Kevin Vance, and Year Four with Chip Hale, and then we'll see about any heated seat cushions.
- TheCatInTheHat
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
Glad to see the Star story about the transfers (5 pitchers and an outfielder.) A couple of big (6-5 and 6-6) pitchers, so we'll see how they do under Vance's coaching.
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
Arizona's top two recruits: Mason Russell & Smith Bailey, both didn't go drafted in the top 10 rounds of the MLB Draft. That basically pretty much guarantees they will arrive on campus next season.
Re: 2025 Season Thread
Curious Choo if you share some of the optimistic predictions of a possible run to Omaha next year?
Waiting at the Rose Bowl patiently for the cats to arrive
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
2019 BDW Survivor Pool Champion
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
2019 BDW Survivor Pool Champion
Re: 2025 Season Thread
They lost all three starters. If the Cats make it to Omaha next year, Chip deserves a lifetime contract.
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
Oh I agree but there have been a few people who have picked them to be a team that could be in Omaha.
Saw a tweet that picked them as one of the Omaha 8
Saw a tweet that picked them as one of the Omaha 8
Waiting at the Rose Bowl patiently for the cats to arrive
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
2019 BDW Survivor Pool Champion
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
2019 BDW Survivor Pool Champion
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
I guess if Kevin Vance is a miracle worker then sure Omaha is possible. At this point he's got to fix two talented transfers that had bad years or ride the arm of a D-III transfer & two highly rated freshmen. If our staff is legit next year and we get to Omaha, I'm paying Chip to retire and hiring Vance as our coach immediately, because otherwise we're losing him.
Re: 2025 Season Thread
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -for-2025/
Ranked 20th by D1 for next year. Have to wonder if the elimination of the 11.7 partial scholarships will negate some of the NIL advantages some schools have
Ranked 20th by D1 for next year. Have to wonder if the elimination of the 11.7 partial scholarships will negate some of the NIL advantages some schools have
Waiting at the Rose Bowl patiently for the cats to arrive
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
2019 BDW Survivor Pool Champion
"I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more wildcat sports"
2019 BDW Survivor Pool Champion
Re: 2025 Season Thread
With Oklahoma State (#15) being the only other ranked Big-12 school, the Big-12 looks like it could be wide open.azcat49 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 5:40 pm https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -for-2025/
Ranked 20th by D1 for next year. Have to wonder if the elimination of the 11.7 partial scholarships will negate some of the NIL advantages some schools have
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
I accidentally had posted this on the former Cats thread.
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Re: 2025 Season Thread
The Cats open the season against Ole Miss.
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-b ... as-rangers
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-b ... as-rangers
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