Opening Series - Bowling Green

[78pike]

This was an interesting Google result for "cold humidity vs hot humidity as far as a baseball travels"...

Distance Impact: A ball can travel 20 to 30 feet farther in hot, humid conditions compared to cold, dry ones

Temperature Impact: For every 10 degrees F

increase, a ball can travel approximately three feet farther

Hot/Humid (Best for distance): Higher temperatures expand air molecules, making the air thinner and less dense, allowing the ball to travel farther.

Cold/Humid (Worst for distance): Cold air is much denser, acting as a "thicker" medium that slows the ball down. Additionally, cold, humid air can make a baseball absorb moisture, making it heavier and less bouncy.

A bigger impact is the elevation where a baseball travels an additional 6 to 7 feet per thousand feet of elevation. So the fact that Atlanta is more humid and stands at about a thousand feet of elevation adds another 10 feet of travel compared to the sea level teams along the east and west coasts. Combined with short down the line fences and you have a "launching pad".

 

[78pike]

Oh, I agree 100%. Alex Hernandez will have a better pro career than Drew Burress at the plate. His biggest issue is his defensive position...he doesn't have a clear one for the next level.

I disagree. He is clearly a right fielder with the strength of his arm.

 

[Home Park Jacket]

I just think we are blessed enough to have those two guys on our roster.

And to add on - Alex has a major league arm from RF. We are blessed to have him.

 

[GT33]

Schmidt has to be the most underrated guy on the team. All kinds of honors and national pub for 4 of the top 5 guys in our order and then there's Kent in the 3-hole amongst them all with very little hype from the media. I get it, but last year (his first at Tech after a freshman year at Ga Southern) he put up a BA of .397, OPS of 1.061, and Slug % of .596 which is excellent (even though he doesn't hit a lot of homers). And, he committed zero errors. We are fortunate to have him. Maybe the lack of so-called "hype" means we keep him next year for a senior season. I know going back to Statesboro Tuesday night will be special for him. Hope he has a monster game.

We're so lucky to have gotten him. Just a good kid that plays great. I do miss the hot dog bat.

 

[scb222]

Is Hernandez draft eligible this summer?

 

[DecaturJacket]

I was able to catch game 1 Friday night. I streamed the other two. Here are my quick thoughts:

• Holy flashy helmets. I hated them initially, but they grew on me as I sat there (maybe I was just cold and the reflection of the sun off of them was keeping me warm). I liked them better with the Game 3 unis than the Friday ones.
• What a way to start the season offensively - called out for turning into a pitch. I rewatched it on the stream when I got home. It was close. I guess by definition he did, but hate to see that called unless it's super obvious. Imo, that wasn't super obvious. Whatever though.
• Offensively, Drew looked to be pressing a bit to me. He'll settle in and is the last person to worry about though.
• Love Advincula's approach. He looks like he's going to live up to the hype.
• Zuckerman is gonna be a beast. He was already a great hitter for power, but I think Ramsey has him being a complete hitter now.
• My guy Daniel continues to impress.
• Loved what we saw from Baker. He had stretches where he was solid last season, but his approach looks much improved. Hopefully those improvements lead to a full season of living up to his potential.
• 50 runs with only 2 balls leaving the yard ... wow
• Bench guys looked as impressive as they could have
• Tate was Tate. Love the way he pitches. 5 innings is on par with last season. Hopefully we see that go up this season as it warms up. We have depth, but I'd still like to see our starters get 6 most nights.
• Mason was solid. Same with the length. If he's going to stay in this starter role, hopefully he stretches out into 6 inning territory.
• Underwood and Willcox both showed impressive stuff, but also that it's going to take a little to adjust to the college game. Warmer weather and having the first game jitters behind them will definitely help. Excited to see them next weekend.
• Our other new toys, Loy and Shadek, both looked impressive as well.
• There's too many positives to list everything and everybody, but that was about as impressive as we could've looked opening weekend.

Interested to see how the rotation ends up. Tate isn't moving and I expect to see Mason back out. They may want to play with it the first couple of weekends though, so we could see Loy and Willcox or even somebody else out there.

If you weren't excited about this team before, hopefully you're warming up now.

 

[GT33]

We have pitcher Adam McKelvey who is listed at 6'4" and 248.

That kid's a load.

 

[DecaturJacket]

Is Hernandez draft eligible this summer?

Unfortunately.

 

[scb222]

Unfortunately.

How is that? I thought I heard him listed as a “draft-eligible sophomore” but never heard the context of why.

 

[gtbeak]

How is that? I thought I heard him listed as a “draft-eligible sophomore” but never heard the context of why.

He will turn 21 in July, and the cut-off is turn 21 before September 1st. Drew Rogers is in the same boat.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

Kinda random I admit, but stumbled across this and just passing along. Didn't feel it needed a thread of its own.

Michael Dee and Coleman Lewis will play this summer for the Green Bay Rockers.

Source: https://wtaq.com/2026/02/16/green-bay-rockers-add-a-pair-of-players/

 

[DecaturJacket]

Kinda random I admit, but stumbled across this and just passing along. Didn't feel it needed a thread of its own.

Michael Dee and Coleman Lewis will play this summer for the Green Bay Rockers.

Source: https://wtaq.com/2026/02/16/green-bay-rockers-add-a-pair-of-players/

Northwoods is the 2nd best summer league, so that's great. Don't think either of them is going to get enough action to build the hype they'd need to get a Cape invite.

 

[MWBATL]

I was able to catch game 1 Friday night. I streamed the other two. Here are my quick thoughts:

• Holy flashy helmets. I hated them initially, but they grew on me as I sat there (maybe I was just cold and the reflection of the sun off of them was keeping me warm). I liked them better with the Game 3 unis than the Friday ones.
• What a way to start the season offensively - called out for turning into a pitch. I rewatched it on the stream when I got home. It was close. I guess by definition he did, but hate to see that called unless it's super obvious. Imo, that wasn't super obvious. Whatever though.
• Offensively, Drew looked to be pressing a bit to me. He'll settle in and is the last person to worry about though.
• Love Advincula's approach. He looks like he's going to live up to the hype.
• Zuckerman is gonna be a beast. He was already a great hitter for power, but I think Ramsey has him being a complete hitter now.
• My guy Daniel continues to impress.
• Loved what we saw from Baker. He had stretches where he was solid last season, but his approach looks much improved. Hopefully those improvements lead to a full season of living up to his potential.
• 50 runs with only 2 balls leaving the yard ... wow
• Bench guys looked as impressive as they could have
• Tate was Tate. Love the way he pitches. 5 innings is on par with last season. Hopefully we see that go up this season as it warms up. We have depth, but I'd still like to see our starters get 6 most nights.
• Mason was solid. Same with the length. If he's going to stay in this starter role, hopefully he stretches out into 6 inning territory.
• Underwood and Willcox both showed impressive stuff, but also that it's going to take a little to adjust to the college game. Warmer weather and having the first game jitters behind them will definitely help. Excited to see them next weekend.
• Our other new toys, Loy and Shadek, both looked impressive as well.
• There's too many positives to list everything and everybody, but that was about as impressive as we could've looked opening weekend.

Interested to see how the rotation ends up. Tate isn't moving and I expect to see Mason back out. They may want to play with it the first couple of weekends though, so we could see Loy and Willcox or even somebody else out there.

If you weren't excited about this team before, hopefully you're warming up now.

You forgot Buursema, who imho had the most impressive outing of the weekend

 

[DecaturJacket]

You forgot Buursema, who imho had the most impressive outing of the weekend

Buursema is my guy, as I've been pushing for him to be in the rotation all offseason, BUT he's gotta hone in his control. The 2 walks lessens his 3 k's in his inning imo. I still think he's got some of the best stuff on the staff, but he can't give out freebies and he can't live in so many 3 ball counts.

 

[gtbeak]

Buursema is my guy, as I've been pushing for him to be in the rotation all offseason, BUT he's gotta hone in his control. The 2 walks lessens his 3 k's in his inning imo. I still think he's got some of the best stuff on the staff, but he can't give out freebies and he can't live in so many 3 ball counts.

I didn't see him pitch, but will note that he threw 18 strikes out of 28 total pitches, which isn't bad. I agree that a 40% walk rate isn't sustainable, but am hopeful that throwing 64% strikes will not result in a 40% walk rate long-term.

The strike % is my biggest concern with 2 of the freshmen. But I do agree with you and others that, with it being their first collegiate game, nerves likely played a role. That should improve, and that bodes well.

 

[Eli]

He will turn 21 in July, and the cut-off is turn 21 before September 1st. Drew Rogers is in the same boat.

Rogers will most certainly stay. He could improve his draft stock 10x with another year at Tech.

 

[Eli]

Northwoods is the 2nd best summer league, so that's great. Don't think either of them is going to get enough action to build the hype they'd need to get a Cape invite.

I really like Lewis watching him in person this weekend. He is a big kid for only 5’9 and has a smooth swing from the left side.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

One thing I found interesting and noteworthy was that Schmidt walked 5 times this weekend after walking only 17 times all last season. I'm hoping this is an example of improved strike zone discipline from him, but that his AVE/SLG doesn't take too much of a hit to go with that improved discipline. I didn't see much of the action this weekend, so maybe this is just an example of BGSU's pitchers lacking control and not throwing anything even close, but I'm hopeful it is a case of improved discipline.

The other noteworthy aspect for me were the bunt attempts. Vahn Lackey had one on a 1 strike count after a swing. And he is fast enough to bunt for hit at a high percentage. I think I saw or heard two other attempts. Anything to make the other team have to think more about having to defend a bunt is good.

D1 discussed Advincula as potential Player of the Year. Burress and the UCLA dude are co favorites.

I have no idea who is going to do best this year. And it doesn't matter. Our team is stacked.

Oops, I meant Golden Spikes award not Player of the Year.

 

[Bogey]

Why isnt our BG series being shown on the ESPN app On Demand games?

 

[DecaturJacket]

Why isnt our BG series being shown on the ESPN app On Demand games?

Shows for me: