jacktheripper

Not sure who the favorite will be this year, but I agree that Lexington is gonna be hard to handle. They roll the pole over in West TN!!

Who is the best baseball player in West TN this year??

Cool down. There was a very big "if" mixed in there with the statement about Hayes being mediocre....... At the next level the difference in these two pitchers will be glaring. That's all I'll say b/c no one seems to want to see it now....... Yes, McKenzie has won the state championship. Congratulations to them for winning. I wasn't trying to say McKenzie doesn't deserve the title. I think in this case the championship was fair in every way. However, it was not like that in all classifications. Every championship game did not have two unbeaten teams going head to head with their no. 1's. That is why I agreed about the series system.....By the way, the state championship game has not always been winner take all the first time. In the old system of 4 teams, if a situation like that of USJ and Covington occured, then Covington would've had to beat USJ twice.

I agree with you about a 7 game series being the only way to determine for sure who is a better team. Maybe best of 5 or something, but I get your point that 1 game doesn't decide very much.....McKenzie played very well in the state tournament, but I haven't been to enough of their games this year to say they were the best 1A team...........I will take the other side on your satement about pitchers though. Minor was hands down the best pitcher in 1A this year. Something like 180 K's and 1 earned run in 80+ innings pitched. That's just on paper..........If you really want to compare Minor with McKenzie's #1 the championship game should have summed it up. Minor has better movement, better location and command, more poise, and much better mechanics. You could have taken any one of his pitches out of play, and he still would've thrown a gem. You take away Hayes's fastball(or just make him throw it below the belt) and he becomes very mediocre.

What's up man. Good to hear from you. Maybe a change in a fastball count. lol!! How's Vickie doing? You guys still in Birmingham?

I guess I just can't win. As I said earlier, it was not my intention to offend or upset anyone. Also, I was in no way degrading anyone with the word stupid. I meant petty, trivial, or etc. Bad choice of words on my part. I apologize. I have not seen you guys work. From what I've heard on here you guys do a good job. Once again, nothing personal to anyone. If I came off a condescending at all I apologize for that too. CADET seeing the valid points that your defenders made, I guess I was totally wrong about your intentions. I apologize to you personally for that. I agree we should move on and enjoy the rest of the season!! Good luck to everyone!

Sorry to get you guys so worked up! I really am. This thread just sounded like people complaining about stupid stuff to me. That's all. Never said anything about the majors or being a professional UMPIRE. I also thought I was clear in saying that you guys do your best. As for your jab, that's okay. I've heard a lot worse. Yes baseball is a game, but it isn't much fun if it isn't taken seriously enough to work hard. It is a game that deserves that kind of dedication and respect!! At the upper levels, especially when you're getting paid, you've got to treat it like a job to some degree. If not you'll have a real job soon. What amazes me is how defensive you got over a little criticism. If it is that touchy of a subject, then I sincerely apologize.

First, I know some fans are very ignorant of baseball rules and etiquette. For the most part umpires do an adequate job. Having said that, you come off a little condescending to fans in general. Umpiring high school baseball is not very difficult by any stretch of the imagination. You very seldom have to know much more than the high school scorekeeper. I know you guys will take offense to this statement. I'm sorry, but that is my take on it. I've faced 95mph and seen un-Godly breaking stuff day in and day out. I've never taken a strike that I didn't know was a strike. I've never swung at a ball that I did not know was a ball. That is all while trying to hit them. Standing behind the plate watching them come in is considerably simpler. I've done that too. The problem informed fans have is the inconsistency in some of the umpires. They have every right to that opinion. Seriously you guys are the ones getting paid! If you think about it you guys are complaining about fans not being in agreement with your personal interpretation of a black and white set of rules concerning the strike zone. When I hit in high school and college, I generally had a much more accurate knowledge of the stike zone than the umpires did. I was never the guy to show up an umpire by any means, but they were wrong a lot. If I got beat in a certain at bat, then I'd tip my hat and move on. I know you guys do your best, but you've got one of the easiest and most fun jobs in the world. No need to bash fans. What difference does it make anyway. In pro ball we would not respect an umpire at all if he tried to control the fans by reprimanding them. I've seen that happen far too much in high school baseball. I mean you'll have a guy that doesn't know the infield fly rule, and he'll be consumed by what the fans think and say. Sometimes it's ridiculous. As for a fan's knowledge of the rules, I've probably forgotten more than most high school umpires know.

So, in your opinion, is there ever a valid time for a coach to argue with an umpire?

Whatever, dude. Next time if you're going to sneak in a jab, don't pull it back when you get called on it.

Weren't you on here in Feb. saying that USJ will struggle and even making a crack about their new facility? Now the cream is starting to rise, and your singing their praises. Worst of all, you are even ripping on a player's age. What's the best way for an athlete to stay HEALTY? Is there a cream or something for that? If you're going to be positive, then be positive. Don't pretend to be and have an agenda.

September, that sounds a little early to me. Sure they will be ready to throw 100+ pitches. I think they may be overworked by the time the season starts though. I guess if you have enough pitching to give everyone five or six days rest between starts, it will work out o.k. If I were you I would not assume that the most qualified baseball people in this area are the coaches. Nolan Ryan said, "I never picked up a baseball until the first of the year."I don't know you or your motives, so I won't attack you personally. I the J. White case, I would say the coach has to shoulder some of the blame. He's had arm problems in the past, he's coming off a serious injury, and it's very early in the year. I think it it pretty safe to say, Milan has not been throwing since September. Good luck, and a speedy recovery to Jonathan!!!

Congrats to Florida teams. Please don't put Milan in the same class as Ootlewah or Farragut. Milan is not even in the top 15 teams in the state. I doubt anyone in any state would really hammer the aces on either Farragut or Ootlewah on a regular basis.

I wasn't too surprised when I read this morning that USJ beat Covington last night. Two very good teams! Both teams were tough last year. Sounds like it was a pitching duel. Probably will be more of the same tonight.

Oh, I agree totally that they are much easier to get today. I guess you do have a point that kids have more money on average as well. Yes, I think there should be something to prevent kids from using steroids in high school. However, I'm not sure the use in HS today warrants a testing program. Let's say the problem was as bad in this region as it is in say California, or Miami, or even Texas. Tests for anabolic steroids are very expensive. In college, at the D-1 level, not everyone is tested for steroids. The only ones that get tested are a couple random players and players under suspicion. I wouldn't be surprised if state official are having the same conversation as you and I in five or ten years.

Who is Sweetwater's coach this year?

I agree about the relative ease of getting these drugs. Although, $150 will not get a very long supply of them. I know when I was in high school, I certainly did not have that kind of money to spend with no questions asked.The problem with them being relatively easy to get is that you are not sure what you are getting. Seriods alone can cause damage, not to mention when they are cut with other substances!! I definitely would not mention HGH when concerning high school use. There is no way of getting that for even close to $150 dollars. I do agree on the consequences of steriod use though. I guess it is like any other drug. You are probably right about each person deciding on their own.

I was wondering what everyone thinks about the biggest differences in high school and college baseball. Some of you guys on here have probably played at the college level. What do you guys think?

I don't totally disagree with you there. Garrett does throw the ball fairly hard though. I wouldn't be surprised if he threw mid 80's on a regular basis. He might have the potential to flirt with upper 80's. I have not seen him get over 84-85 though. I definitely would not dismiss his capabilities!! He locates pretty well.

I agree the young guys have definitely helped out so far! It always helps to have a solid 3rd or 4th starter. They should really help get the team over the hump in the pitching department. The young infielder can hit a little as well!

I saw one or two scrimmages, and I thought the kid that played third and pitched had good potential! Plenty of arm, and a good bat too. He's a pretty big kid as well. Not sure of his name, but I think he is an 8th grader.

Lexington does have probably the deepest pitching staff around! How do you think they will handle some of the better pitchers in 2A this year. Good luck to Lexington! I'm just asking since it sounds like you guys have been beating up on average pitching. Sounds like you know Lexington as good as anyone. What do you think?

What are you talking about? I said I think Mckenzie matches up VERY WELL with Huntingdon. How do you find that to say Huntingdon cannot match up with Mckenzie? As far as I know saying one team matches up with another implies the two teams are on the same level. I would say the man on the mound does the majority of the steering. Wouldn't you? How hard is it to win when your pitcher throws a shutout?

I don't know what his credentials are. I would definitely agree with "jbo89" in saying that he is a hitting coach, but that is only because i saw their "pitching" last season!!!!!

I don't know avout 15 k's every time Hayes pitches, but I definately look for him to record 15+ against Huntingdon. I would say Mckenzie mathces up very well top to bottom with Huntingdon. Huntingdon is nowhere near strong enough to be predicting a district championship at this point!