BB: SCAC: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Started by Ralph Turner, January 04, 2006, 11:16:50 AM

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frank_ezelle

Since this is the internet, I won't feel slighted that you need confirmation of my post.  Millsaps has the 2006 schedule on the baseball page but not the 2006 roster.  I guess we will all know for sure when Millsaps opens the season on Feburary 10th.

And while one player doesn't make the team, the hole in the offense created by the loss of both Ryan Skertich and Garner would have been huge and extremely difficult to replace.  With Garner back, I won't be surprised if the offense is as good or better than last year.  

Regarding the question historymajor just posted, I don't know all of the details but with baseball I don't think being drafted affects your status at all.  For example, think of all the high school kids who get drafted and choose college.  Also, I know with the D1 schools here they always have juniors who are drafted and then opt to come back for their senior year. 

My guess (and my hope) is that the draft last year gave Garner solid proof that he has a shot at playing pro ball and that he probably has been working harder than ever to have a great season and improve his position in the draft. 
Millsaps Athletics:  http://www.gomajors.com/
Millsaps Photo Website:  http://gomajors.smugmug.com/

Tezbaseball

The great blessing of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing we search for, without finding it

Dirty_South

Ran into this while investigating some SCAC websites....a little different from the ordinary stuff...

http://www.oglethorpe.edu/athletics/baseball/Baseball%20Preview.wmv

frank_ezelle

Interesting clip on OU baseball--it helps to have a fast internet connection for the download. 

I've taken photos at the Millsaps games for the last two years (http://photobucket.com/albums/v283/Millsaps_Majors/) but really only followed the team last season.  I was looking at the stats for the last 3 years and here's are some numbers that surprised me:

Garner Wetzel 2003:  .161 BA (5 of 31), no home runs, .194 SLG%
Garner Wetzel 2004:  .311 BA (41 of 132), 1 home run, .492 SLG%
Garner Wetzel 2005:  .407 BA (66 of 162), 12 home runs, .747 SLG%

I was surprised by the low numbers prior to 2005.  By comparison, the numbers for Jason Hadley in his first two years have been:

Jason Hadley 2004:  .383 BA (41 of 107), 1 home run, .514 SLG%
Jason Hadley 2005:  .401 BA (67 of 167), 4 home runs, .587 SLG%

Now if Hadley can increase his home run total twelvefold for his junior year like Wetzel did...that would be impressive.
Millsaps Athletics:  http://www.gomajors.com/
Millsaps Photo Website:  http://gomajors.smugmug.com/

Dirty_South

Those are some interesting numbers on Wetzel....he has also bulked up a lot in the past two years. Hadley is a good player, saw him play once and he is hard nosed and has a good swing. Doesn't it seem that Millsaps players are kind of built from the same mold? Athletic, hard nosed, and all carry a little swagger with them. Gotta love that. Jim Page has built a powerhouse over there in Jackson...can't wait to see what kind of talent he has rounded up this year...

frank_ezelle

It seems like Wetzel was being hyped as a high draft pick from the early part of last season and that's why the low numbers from his first two years surprised me.  This was one case where the hype was right since he was in the top 300 picks last year and was the 4th highest D3 player taken.

I've been thinking about doing a very unofficial preview of the Millsaps team based on returning players and their stats from previous seasons.  I might still do that when the 2006 roster gets posted on the Millsaps website, but I think the only people on the board at the moment are folks who might just go and look up those stats for themselves. 

If you want my impression about this year's team (based on absolutely no inside infomation and no great baseball knowledge), I'll give you two impressions.  First, I think they will be a better team than the 2005 SCAC Tournament winners based on the stats of the returning players.  I think that's a fairly solid statement.  My second impression is that I'm almost hearing too little about the team.  Maybe it's just that it's January, it's baseball, and it's D3 sports, but I almost get the feeling that no one wants to come out and say just how good they think this team can be.  They have a lot of senior pitchers on this team and if they all round into form, this might just be a very special year.  I'm looking forward to mid-Feb. and the first home game.
Millsaps Athletics:  http://www.gomajors.com/
Millsaps Photo Website:  http://gomajors.smugmug.com/

scacman

Dirty_south...  from my knowledge... Page is a punk....  maybe he can recruit.. and maybe he can coach... but over the last ten years,,,, he's been a punk....  Maybe Wetzel can carry the load, but SW, DPU and TU will all have something to say about the SCAC AC....

frank_ezelle

As Meatloaf sang years ago, "Two out of three ain't bad".  At least there is recognition that Jim Page can coach and he must be a fairly decent guy since he can recruit and they sure seem to have a good retention rate with their players at Millsaps.  I'm going to have to look deeper into that punk thing because I think one time out of the corner of my eye I just might have seen him snear one time.  I'm going to be looking for other signs of punkness.

Of course, sometimes being labeled a punk comes with the territory of having been named SCAC coach of the year a record 6 times and leading your team to 7 SCAC Championships.  I'd put up with a little name calling if it went along with such a resume of success.
Millsaps Athletics:  http://www.gomajors.com/
Millsaps Photo Website:  http://gomajors.smugmug.com/

Dirty_South

SCACMan

What is your definition of a 'punk'?? Terrell Owens is a punk, Ron artest is a punk, Jim Page is not a punk. I bet you are a Trinity fan?? Right? And you are reacting to the incident back at the 2000 SCAC Championships in Millington? Right?? And what is this "knowledge" you talk about? Do you actually know the man or has your son been on the losing side of too many games against the Page led Majors? Its pretty coward to sit there and call a man a 'punk' if you do not know...

I agree SW, TU and DPU will be very good teams this year and will compete for the crown. I think the Majors return a wealth of talent and a team that is capable of reaching Appleton...they are my preseason favorites to win the West and the SCAC.

In fact here are my January predictions--This should spark some conversations! I'm basing this on very little inside information...just returning players, past stats and posted 2006 schedules...

West

Millsaps            33-11 SCAC Champs- DIII World Series
Trinity               29-13 Pool-c bid, SCAC 3rd place
Southwestern  28-15
Rhodes            16-24
Hendrix            10-30

East

DePauw            30-14 SCAC runner-up, Pool C bid
Rose-Hulman    25-17
Centre              21-22
Sewanee          18-22
Oglethorpe       15-25

frank_ezelle

I was up at a Millsaps basketball game this afternoon and Coach Page and just about all of the baseball players were at the game.  I briefly spoke with Garner Wetzel about a person we both know.  It was just a two minute conversation but he seems like a pretty good guy.  I don't know if he has gotten any bigger since last year but I won't be surprised if he goes well over the 12 HR total that he had last season. 

I also was listening in on a story Coach Page was telling regarding Wetzel.  I think it is "Baseball Weekly" that has named Wetzel as their preseason player of the year for D3 and they have him ranked as the 28th best senior in the country at any level of college ball.  I may not have that exactly right but that's the gist of what I heard. Of course preseason rankings are just opinions about potential so they have to be taken with a grain of salt.  Since Wetzel was the fourth D3 player taken in the draft last year it doesn't seem like an outrageous pick by to me. 

Other than the above story I didn't pick up much of anything new.  They have a lot of good players back and they have some new players who have the potential to help right away.  I guess we'll know more in a few weeks.  I don't know when the SCAC coaches do their preseason rankings but I think we'll see them pick Millsaps as the team to beat.
Millsaps Athletics:  http://www.gomajors.com/
Millsaps Photo Website:  http://gomajors.smugmug.com/

consultant


As a Millsaps insider, particularly baseball, I'll shine some light on the Garner Wetzel situation.  Wetzel is returning for his senior season.  He was drafted in the 10th round of last year's MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies as the 298th selection overall.  Before reporting for rookie ball in mid-summer, he played on some local summer league teams in Mississippi in preparation for pro ball.  Just before he was to report to Colorado, he tore a ligament in his throwing arm (right) which requried him to have tommy john surgery.  He never signed a contract and never talked to an agent.  Therefore, he never had the opportunity to claim his hefty signing bonus. 

His surgery was successful, and his arm is strong, although he will not be playing shortstop this year for the Majors. Instead, look for him to play left field or first base.  As far as the Baseball Weekly pre-season accolades are concerned, they are all correct.   Wetzel is listed as the pre-season player of the year for D3 and they have him ranked as the 28th best senior in the country at any level of college ball.   Plus, he is a pre-season 1st team All-America selection. 

I spoke with Wetzel earlier today.  He is feeling good about the move to the outfield, and seems confident that he can learn how to play first base if needed.  At a cool 6-3, 230 lbs, he's a pretty big target at either position. 

I'll have more updates as I get them.

Dirty_South

Few questions:

1) 6-3 230!!!!!

Why is he listed on the Millsaps 2005 roster as 6-1 210??? Are you telling me that he grew 2 inches and put on 20 pounds this offseason while rehabbing from tommy john??

2) Since when do you report to camp if you have not signed a contract?? I'm sure he is eligible and did not contact an agent but the timing of the whole thing is a little strange. My point a) why in the hell was he playing in a non sanctioned summer league when he was getting ready to report? b) why was he plannning on reporting with out a signed contract? c) How is he ready to throw less than 6 months after tommy john?

And one last point....10th round picks don't get hefty signing bonus'...maybe $5,000 to $10,000 if that....and about $1200 a month to play....

consultant

Dirty,

Regarding Wetzel:

On average, 10th round draft picks get signing bonuses anywhere from $5,000 to $135,000.  Wetzel's was to be shy of the $135,000 mark but was to be well above $5,000. 

I'm not sure why Wetzel was playing ball this past summer, but I suspect it was allowed.  Also, I'm sure there must be some protocol with regard to the signing of contracts, and Wetzel never got that chance.

With regard to recovery time from Tommy John surgery, it's not a 9 month or a one year deal anymore.....in fact, two other Millsaps' players had Tommy John surgery and recovered in similar time frames as Wetzel has.  2005 senior Doug Garner, the SCAC's all-time career wins leader, had TJ surgery in April of 2004, and was back throwing by November.  2006 senior John Fox had surgery in March of 2003 and was back throwing in November of 2003. 

Per Wetzel's physical stats on the 2005 roster, the website is inaccurate.  If Wetzel is not 6-3, then he is 6-2 at the shortest.  If he's not 230, then he is 225.  He was 210 pounds when he came to school as a freshman. 

frank_ezelle

As was pointed out by historymajor, no SCAC team was ranked or mentioned in the "Other Top Teams" in the preseason poll put out by "Collegiate Baseball".  I counted up the teams and that means that at least 47 teams are considered better than the best of the SCAC.

Millsaps played in the Mideast Regional last year and they dropped a pair of 1-run games.  I wonder if the long layoff between the SCAC Tournament and the regionals contributed to those close losses.  Millsaps lost their first game to Manchester 5-4.  Manchester, the preseason #24, lost in the Mideast twice to Otterbein, 4-3 and 6-3.  Otterbein, the preseason #15, lost twice in the Mideast to Wooster, 7-6 and 5-4.  Wooster lost in the national championship and is the preseason #1.

One way to look at the regionals last year is that Millsaps and Webster (lost to Wooster 7-5) both tied for last at 0-2.  Another way to look at it is that all of the team in the Mideast Regional last year were fairly close in talent so an improved Millsaps team might have a decent shot at breaking through to the D3 World Series this year.  Or, if Trinity or Southwestern or DePauw are better then Millsaps, then they should have a decent shot at getting to the World Series.  I'd like to see someone from the SCAC get there this season.

Millsaps Athletics:  http://www.gomajors.com/
Millsaps Photo Website:  http://gomajors.smugmug.com/