Sun Devil Baseball 2017

[Kel Varnsen]

ASU baseball begins its season ranked outside of the Top 25. Let's see if they can move up during the season. Go Devils!

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2017-preseason-college-top-25/#icKARJGxOSeEGkV2.97

 

[Ronin]

Jacob Janower‏@JanowerJacob 39m39 minutes ago
Per @JustinCToscano, junior OFs Andrew Shaps and Ryan Lillard are no longer with the ASU Baseball team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a link to an article written by Jeff Metcalfe at azcentral which talks about the departure of players from the ASU baseball team. This is an addition to Ronin's post above.

This season has been especially disappointing.

ASU baseball coach Tracy Smith has four years left on his contract

Five players have departed the program this week. Sophomore pitchers Zach Dixon and Chris Isbell left after being told they would not be on the travel squad for the final month of the season and likely would have a limited role next season. Dixon pitched in five games this season with three starts and Isbell had four relief appearances.

Anderson said he "unequivocally" supports third-year coach Tracy Smith.

"Our head coach is doing everything the right way and has this program on the correct trajectory," Anderson said. "We expected rough spots, and those are occurring. We are going to continue to navigate our way through to a very bright future with Tracy as our head coach."

Dan Dixon, whose son Zach is one of the departed players, said that "there is lots of turmoil and conflict" on the team.

"It wasn't like this at all last year," Dan Dixon said. "They're letting these guys go left and right and destroying whole premise of the team."

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-hosts-stanford-softball-hosts-cal/308620001/

 

[Ronin]

Even with a 9-6 win over No. 14 Stanford on Sunday, the Sun Devils are 20-24 and must finish 8-3 to avoid their first losing season in 32 years (not including 2007 when ASU vacated 44 wins due to NCAA sanctions). Their chances of a 55th consecutive 30-win season are almost extinguished, requiring a 10-1 record to close out the next three weeks.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-hosts-stanford-softball-hosts-cal/308620001/

 

[Kel Varnsen]

It's been a very disappointing season.

I was excited about the hiring of the new coach, so hopefully they can finish strong this season and build on it next year.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's been a very disappointing season.

I was excited about the hiring of the new coach, so hopefully they can finish strong this season and build on it next year.

I can't help but wonder about the head coach but I am far away from the program. Hopefully this season is just a bump in the road.

 

[Mainstreet]

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-hosts-stanford-softball-hosts-cal/308620001/

I would be happy with a winning season at this point but it is probably not in the cards.

 

[overseascardfan]

Will Smith last much longer? I can't understand why ASU has fallen to this point. They should be killing recruiting and Smith led IU no back to back CWS so we know he can coach...I just don't get it.

 

[chickenhead]

My understanding is that Smith lacks regional connections for recruiting. Maybe towards the end of his contract he'll have them but that's a long time to wait. I'm with the crowd that thinks Murphy should be the coach.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

My understanding is that Smith lacks regional connections for recruiting. Maybe towards the end of his contract he'll have them but that's a long time to wait. I'm with the crowd that thinks Murphy should be the coach.

Do you mean that he should still be the coach or that they should bring him back?

 

[Shaggy]

My understanding is that Smith lacks regional connections for recruiting. Maybe towards the end of his contract he'll have them but that's a long time to wait. I'm with the crowd that thinks Murphy should be the coach.

Bet he is happy as a bench coach for Milwaukee.

 

[chickenhead]

Do you mean that he should still be the coach or that they should bring him back?

Both! Not that I think that #2 will happen. I'm sad about ASU baseball.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Smith has recruited well, at least according to internet rankings (5th on Perfect Game last year) but all these sudden dismissals are just weird.

 

[lacostejapan]

It's looking more and more like that 11-7 scrimmage "loss" to JUCO CAC this past fall was more of predictor of things to come than a wait and see what unfolds.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

It's looking more and more like that 11-7 scrimmage "loss" to JUCO CAC this past fall was more of predictor of things to come than a wait and see what unfolds.

Welcome to the board!

Pretty cool that your first post is on ASU baseball.