2025 Season Thread

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:12 am

For those that don’t want to click…

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

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:30 pm

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

EastCoastCat · Post by **EastCoastCat** » Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:36 pm

According to this thread title are we just skipping the 2024 season? I guess with that prediction might as well...

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Sat Apr 13, 2024 9:27 pm

azcat49 wrote: Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:30 pm 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

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.

wyo-cat · Post by **wyo-cat** » Sat Apr 13, 2024 9:36 pm

His pitching coach has been nails. He’s gotta be assistant coach of the year.

Prolly saved Chips ass.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Tue Jun 25, 2024 9:10 pm

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Wed Jul 03, 2024 1:01 pm

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 · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:42 am

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.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 6:28 am

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.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 1:36 pm

Curious Choo if you share some of the optimistic predictions of a possible run to Omaha next year?

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Tue Jul 16, 2024 8:41 pm

azcat49 wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2024 1:36 pm Curious Choo if you share some of the optimistic predictions of a possible run to Omaha next year?

They lost all three starters. If the Cats make it to Omaha next year, Chip deserves a lifetime contract.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Jul 17, 2024 5:15 am

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

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Wed Jul 17, 2024 6:32 am

azcat49 wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2024 5:15 am 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

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.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » 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

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Wed Jul 24, 2024 9:22 pm

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

With Oklahoma State (#15) being the only other ranked Big-12 school, the Big-12 looks like it could be wide open.

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:09 pm

Great news.

ChooChooCat · Post by **ChooChooCat** » Mon Jul 29, 2024 7:29 am

Irish27 wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:09 pm Great news.

Not sure how it'll play out, but this is my lineup:

C- Guzman/Splaine
1B- Cain/Splaine
2B- Caulfield
3B- Mihalakis
SS- White
LF- Breyfogle
CF- Summerhill
RF- Walton/Adams
DH- Whoever is hot

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Wed Jul 31, 2024 8:22 pm

I accidentally had posted this on the former Cats thread.

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Wed Sep 04, 2024 8:44 pm

The Cats open the season against Ole Miss.
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-b ... as-rangers

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Wed Oct 16, 2024 7:05 am

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:37 pm

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:33 pm

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 2:12 pm

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:26 pm

Dang, that’s really much better than I thought. I did see where they have been picked by several as a team that could be in Omaha.

Losing your whole starting staff is hard to overcome. Got to give up to Chip Hale who has put together a really strong staff of people to help him

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Mon Jan 06, 2025 3:35 pm

Full rankings

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Thu Jan 23, 2025 7:32 pm

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/arizona-b ... rhill-2025

Cats picked to finish second in the Big XII this year. Summerhill and White get picked for all conference and D-1 baseball picks us at #21

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Thu Feb 13, 2025 11:06 am

Tomorrow we get it started with Ole Miss up first in Arlington. Follow that with #15 Clemson and then Louisville. I have not read who our Friday night guy is but it should be interesting to see how these guys look this weekend

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:43 pm

First two batters in T9 walked, then sac bunt, K, intentional walk, and a fly out to end the game. #15 Clemson tomorrow morning. Collin McKinney started and went 4.1 giving up a run in the 5th, then Casey Hintz came in, giving up another run in the 5th before shutting them out the rest of the way. Mason White hit a solo shot for us in the 8th, but too little too late.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:45 pm

O-fer today with RISP which really sucked. Need a quality win from this tournament but they looked pretty good today

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Sat Feb 15, 2025 3:00 pm

RHP Owen Kramkowski got tattooed and didn't make it out of the first inning, giving up 7 runs on 8 hits, as the Cats lost to Clemson in Arlington 16-5. They'll wrap up the tournament with another early morning game tomorrow and try to salvage something against Louisville. Next weekend, they've got three at Hi Corbett against the USD Torreros. Then, the following weekend, it's another brutal tournament against ranked teams, this time in the Astros ballpark, against A&M, Mississippi St, and Tennessee.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:46 pm

Lost 13-1 to Louisville. 0-3 to start the season.

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:46 pm

0-3 on the Rangers' field in Arlington. Smith Baily started, went 4 and pitched a 3-hit shutout. Michael Hilker came on in relief in the 5th and was shelled, giving up 8 runs on 7 hits. Not sure why Vance is leaving people out on the mound so long when they're obviously having a bad day, but I guess he's finding some things out. After hearing so much about the pitching lab in the Francona Center, seems like it's back to "let's see what this guy can do" in the real games.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:28 pm

Just like last season, our bats are super quiet to start the year. Only put up multiple runs in ONE inning over the 27 we played. Our BA with RISP was sub .100. Just an abysmal start to the year. Going to be interesting to hear what Chip says

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:39 pm

I don't follow baseball closely. Should I be concerned by this start? Because we're not just losing, we were blown out the past two games.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Sun Feb 16, 2025 4:08 pm

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Sat Feb 22, 2025 9:22 am

Two consecutive run rule shut outs this week. Play again today at 2pm on ESPIN+. Then we are off on a 4 game roadie at Rice, vs #1 Texas A&M, vs #18 Miss St and finishing with #4 Tennessee. Now that’s a really tough road trip

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:57 am

We're going to learn a lot about this team in the next week. Hope they're finally on track now.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Sat Feb 22, 2025 5:15 pm

Gave up 3 in the 9th to tie it up but scored one in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off

wyo-cat · Post by **wyo-cat** » Sat Feb 22, 2025 7:33 pm

That was a bomb!

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Mon Feb 24, 2025 10:45 am

People talk about the hitting "coming around", which is fine, and you can get away with pummeling average teams with gorilla ball. But whether it's college or the majors, when you face elite teams, they shut you down with their pitching, and you have to match them in that area. For the moment, we seem to have settled on a weekend rotation of McKinney, Kramkowski, and Baily, with Hintz as the closer. In the season-opening series at the Rangers' ballpark in Arlington, they faced Mississippi, Clemson, and Louisville, giving up 2, 16, and 13 runs. At home against the USD Toreros, they gave up 0, 4, and 6, which is obviously better. But now, in the Astros' ballpark in Houston, they'll face the toughest lineup yet in Texas A&M, Mississippi St, and Tennessee. Not thriving against that level of competition wouldn't be the end of the world, but we can hopefully make a better showing in the second and third games than we did in Arlington.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Thu Feb 27, 2025 5:50 pm

Cats picked up a nice road win @Rice last night winning 11-8. 5 in the 7th put us up after losing a 4-1 lead. Guzman went yard and the bats stayed hot.

Now we up against #1 Texas A&M and their Friday night guy tomorrow. Bear down cats and let’s go 3-0 vs the SEC this week and troll JJ

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:54 am

I tried the link to the Astros subscription YouTube channel this morning, and an early live game between Mississippi St and Rice came up with no problem, so that might be worth a try for our games.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:56 am

This one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSOi3mJ1fow

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 11:05 am

It's the same channel the Baseball twitter is advertising, so yeah we should be good.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 5:17 pm

Start time is now 6:35 Tucson time.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 9:41 pm

Way to Bear Down, Cats!

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 9:42 pm

Great comeback as the Cats scored 2 in the top of the 9th to win 3-2. Bottom of the 9th had drama as it took 10 minutes to review an out call at third.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 9:43 pm

TheCatInTheHat wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 10:54 am I tried the link to the Astros subscription YouTube channel this morning, and an early live game between Mississippi St and Rice came up with no problem, so that might be worth a try for our games.

Thanks for the YouTube info.

mofo · Post by **mofo** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 9:45 pm

What a game! That was a hell of a pitching performance and some clutch hitting.

Postmaster · Post by **Postmaster** » Fri Feb 28, 2025 11:36 pm

They are replaying it on MLBTV right now.

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