SCBCA Poll

-Courtesy of the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association- Final SCBCA Top 10 Baseball Polls (May 16, 2007)    Class AAAA Class AAA Class AA Class A 1.  Hartsville 1.  A.C. Flora 1.  Bishop England 1. Landrum 2.  North Augusta 2.  Riverside 2.  Mid-Carolina 2. Bamb… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well. Username Password Remember Me     Forgot Password

SCBCA Poll

-Courtesy of the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association- Final SCBCA Top 10 Baseball Polls (May 16, 2007)    Class AAAA Class AAA Class AA Class A 1.  Hartsville 1.  A.C. Flora 1.  Bishop England 1. Landrum 2.  North Augusta 2.  Riverside 2.  Mid-Carolina 2. Bamb… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

Diamond Rankings: Un-signed Pitchers

Top Un-Signed Seniors: Pitchers This week Diamond Prospects ranks the top 2006 graduates still on the market. Today we list the top ten pitchers. 1. Josh Salay, RHP, Rock Hill, 6-3/190: Potential pro guy with long and lean frame. Workable arm action that produces fastballs in the 87-89 range. Good make-up. For more on Salay (left), clic… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.

The Spring Training You Don’t See

The Spring Training You Don’t See By: Austin Alexander April 2, 2006 After watching spring training games on television recently, it prompted me to dig a little deeper as to what actually happens every March in Florida and in Arizona. We know that Spring Training is a 6-week period of time for players get back in baseball shape being shipped off to their various cities. We know that Spring Training is an opportunity for minor leaguers to work with roving instructors and try to impress the front office brass. We know that Spring Training is a trial and error period for managers to tinker with line-ups, double-play combinations and bullpen match-ups. We know that Spring Training is a time for fans to get close to the superstars. We know that Spring Training is the only time of the year that professional players work on bunt coverages, cut-offs and relays, pick-off plays and covering bases. We also know that Spring Training is a chance for some guys to get comfortable with a new position or role. But what about that cagey veteran who has made the team? How about the million-dollar man in the middle of a long-term contract whose roster spot is a lock and knows he’ll be a fixture in the rotation or everyday line-up? As Spring Training wraps up and Opening Day is peaking around the corner, what did some of the older-heads of Major League Baseball accomplish in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues? The more I talk with players, hear interviews on television and read accounts from the pre-season, I continue to find it very interesting what the established players use March for. I was speaking recently with a former teammate of mine who spent several Spring Training’s around Greg Maddux. He told me a story I found surprising but adds to the genius of “The Professor.” The day before a start Maddux was scheduled to make, the future Hall of Famer sat in the bullpen and told the relief pitchers how he was planning to pitch Met catcher Mike Piazza. He intended to feed the future Hall of Famer a steady diet of hanging curveballs, he said, “I want him to hit three homeruns off of me!” Sure enough, the next day Maddux followed suit and stuck to his game plan. Piazza doubled and homered twice. Following the game, Maddux was asked by a few teammates why he allowed Piazza to embarrass him out there. Maddux said, “Now I’ve got him right where I want him. I’ve already made this team. Spring Training is a time for me to work on things and set-up hitters I know I’ll face throughout the year and in the post-season.” He continued, “Piazza thinks that is what my curveball looks like and he probably believes I’ll be afraid to throw him a breaking ball. When I need a big out with him at the plate, I’m not going to hang a breaking ball, he’ll get my good curveball…and I’ll win. He beat me today in a Spring Training game. I’ll beat in a situation that could send us to the World Series.” Word is, later that season in a pennant race, Maddux struck Piazza out to get out of a jam in a game that propelled the Braves to another division championship. Very profound, huh? Watching John Smoltz pitch a weekend ago, I noticed he was throwing a heavy dose of curveballs and change-ups. Normally he mixes a dirty slider with a filthy split-finger and his pitch selection that day struck me as odd. A post-game interview cleared everything up. Smoltz eluded to the fact he was using a different repertoire. The veteran right-hander was toying with whether he wanted to deepen his arsenal and with one pre-season start left, he had to determine if he was going to use those two pitches or junk them. Clearly, results were a non-issue for the established anchor of the Braves rotation; in case you were wondering, he was still dominant for six innings allowing only a lone run.   This approach is not exclusive to pitchers. Hitters create their own game plan as well. Hitters will tell you that certain game’s or certain week’s, they will only swing at pitches they can drive to the opposite field. This approach may be an effort on their part to improve plate coverage, work on two-strike hitting or maybe their objective is to better use the back-side. Some hitters will pre-determine that they will only swing at breaking pitches or inside fastballs, pitches up, pitches down, etc. I remember an old interview with Pedro Guerrero that adds a flip-side to the earlier referenced Maddux example. Guerrero said when facing a pitcher in Spring Training that he was certain he’d see later in the year, that he had no qualms at purposely chasing breaking balls in the dirt, face-high fastballs, etc. He said, “I didn’t mind letting the pitcher leave Florida thinking he can get me with his best pitch.” Base-runners will often get picked off more in aiming to have good secondary leads, better jumps on steal attempts or improving their read on pitches in the dirt. As you can see, Spring Training can be many things for its invitees, what the players plan is in March is often determined by his status within the game or the organization writing his checks. A year from now, look through a different set of eyes to see if you can figure out what the All-Stars may be working on that day, it could add an educational element to your Spring Training viewing experience. Until then, Play Ball in 2006! .

The Spring Training You Don’t See

The Spring Training You Don’t See By: Austin Alexander April 2, 2006 After watching spring training games on television recently, it prompted me to dig a little deeper as to what actually happens every March in Florida and in Arizona. We know that Spring Training is a 6-week period of time for players get back in baseball shape being shipped off to their various cities. We know that Spring Training is an opportunity for minor leaguers to work with roving instructors and try to impress the front office brass. We know that Spring Training is a trial and error period for managers to tinker with line-ups, double-play combinations and bullpen match-ups. We know that Spring Training is a time for fans to get close to the superstars. We know that Spring Training is the only time of the year that professional players work on bunt coverages, cut-offs and relays, pick-off plays and covering bases. We also know that Spring Training is a chance for some guys to get comfortable with a new position or role. But what about that cagey veteran who has made the team? How about the million-dollar man in the middle of a long-term contract whose roster spot is a lock and knows he’ll be a fixture in the rotation or everyday line-up? As Spring Training wraps up and Opening Day is peaking around the corner, what did some of the older-heads of Major League Baseball accomplish in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues? The more I talk with players, hear interviews on television and read accounts from the pre-season, I continue to find it very interesting what the established players use March for. I was speaking recently with a former teammate of mine who spent several Spring Training’s around Greg Maddux. He told me a story I found surprising but adds to the genius of “The Professor.” The day before a start Maddux was scheduled to make, the future Hall of Famer sat in the bullpen and told the relief pitchers how he was planning to pitch Met catcher Mike Piazza. He intended to feed the future Hall of Famer a steady diet of hanging curveballs, he said, “I want him to hit three homeruns off of me!” Sure enough, the next day Maddux followed suit and stuck to his game plan. Piazza doubled and homered twice. Following the game, Maddux was asked by a few teammates why he allowed Piazza to embarrass him out there. Maddux said, “Now I’ve got him right where I want him. I’ve already made this team. Spring Training is a time for me to work on things and set-up hitters I know I’ll face throughout the year and in the post-season.” He continued, “Piazza thinks that is what my curveball looks like and he probably believes I’ll be afraid to throw him a breaking ball. When I need a big out with him at the plate, I’m not going to hang a breaking ball, he’ll get my good curveball…and I’ll win. He beat me today in a Spring Training game. I’ll beat in a situation that could send us to the World Series.” Word is, later that season in a pennant race, Maddux struck Piazza out to get out of a jam in a game that propelled the Braves to another division championship. Very profound, huh? Watching John Smoltz pitch a weekend ago, I noticed he was throwing a heavy dose of curveballs and change-ups. Normally he mixes a dirty slider with a filthy split-finger and his pitch selection that day struck me as odd. A post-game interview cleared everything up. Smoltz eluded to the fact he was using a different repertoire. The veteran right-hander was toying with whether he wanted to deepen his arsenal and with one pre-season start left, he had to determine if he was going to use those two pitches or junk them. Clearly, results were a non-issue for the established anchor of the Braves rotation; in case you were wondering, he was still dominant for six innings allowing only a lone run.   This approach is not exclusive to pitchers. Hitters create their own game plan as well. Hitters will tell you that certain game’s or certain week’s, they will only swing at pitches they can drive to the opposite field. This approach may be an effort on their part to improve plate coverage, work on two-strike hitting or maybe their objective is to better use the back-side. Some hitters will pre-determine that they will only swing at breaking pitches or inside fastballs, pitches up, pitches down, etc. I remember an old interview with Pedro Guerrero that adds a flip-side to the earlier referenced Maddux example. Guerrero said when facing a pitcher in Spring Training that he was certain he’d see later in the year, that he had no qualms at purposely chasing breaking balls in the dirt, face-high fastballs, etc. He said, “I didn’t mind letting the pitcher leave Florida thinking he can get me with his best pitch.” Base-runners will often get picked off more in aiming to have good secondary leads, better jumps on steal attempts or improving their read on pitches in the dirt. As you can see, Spring Training can be many things for its invitees, what the players plan is in March is often determined by his status within the game or the organization writing his checks. A year from now, look through a different set of eyes to see if you can figure out what the All-Stars may be working on that day, it could add an educational element to your Spring Training viewing experience. Until then, Play Ball in 2006! .

Round Up-February

February Round-up By: Austin Alexander March 1, 2006 Baseball season is underway and Diamond Prospects hit the ground running. With the exception of all the rain at the Michelin Classic, weather held up enough for us to take in some very good baseball. Below is a rundown of the highlights of the first month of hardball this spring. Diamond Prospects Statistics: Teams covered-33 Games seen-15 Fields-12 Rainouts-3 Coaches without rosters-7 Miles traveled-2,294 Quickest game: Wando-Fort Dorchester, 1 hour 17 minutes Best game: Dorman 4 Landrum 2, 9 innings Best comeback: Wade Hampton (almost), five runs in bottom of the 7th but fell short 8-7 to Cullman (AL) High School Best home to first time: Alex Dozier (Dorman HS) 4.09 Best home to first time (turn): Alex Lee (Blythewood HS) 4.38 in the mud Best pop time: Trent Kline (USC) 1.88 Longest homerun: Nate Horton (Byrnes HS) On two occasions Best defensive play: Chris Price (Elon) Several diving grabs versus USC Best pitcher’s duel: Nick Sprowls (Wando HS)-Mark Henderson (Fort Dorchester HS) Most dominant pitching performance: Blake Cooper (Edisto vs. Barnwell) Hardest fastball: Arik Hempy (USC), Jeff Jeffords (USC) 92 mph Best baseball name: Cash Collins (Barnwell HS) Milestones witnessed: Chris Carter (Byrnes HS)-100th career win; Blythewood High School-First win in school history. .

Round Up-February

February Round-up By: Austin Alexander March 1, 2006 Baseball season is underway and Diamond Prospects hit the ground running. With the exception of all the rain at the Michelin Classic, weather held up enough for us to take in some very good baseball. Below is a rundown of the highlights of the first month of hardball this spring. Diamond Prospects Statistics: Teams covered-33 Games seen-15 Fields-12 Rainouts-3 Coaches without rosters-7 Miles traveled-2,294 Quickest game: Wando-Fort Dorchester, 1 hour 17 minutes Best game: Dorman 4 Landrum 2, 9 innings Best comeback: Wade Hampton (almost), five runs in bottom of the 7th but fell short 8-7 to Cullman (AL) High School Best home to first time: Alex Dozier (Dorman HS) 4.09 Best home to first time (turn): Alex Lee (Blythewood HS) 4.38 in the mud Best pop time: Trent Kline (USC) 1.88 Longest homerun: Nate Horton (Byrnes HS) On two occasions Best defensive play: Chris Price (Elon) Several diving grabs versus USC Best pitcher’s duel: Nick Sprowls (Wando HS)-Mark Henderson (Fort Dorchester HS) Most dominant pitching performance: Blake Cooper (Edisto vs. Barnwell) Hardest fastball: Arik Hempy (USC), Jeff Jeffords (USC) 92 mph Best baseball name: Cash Collins (Barnwell HS) Milestones witnessed: Chris Carter (Byrnes HS)-100th career win; Blythewood High School-First win in school history. .

Round Up-March

March Round-Up By: Austin Alexander Fool’s Day, 2006 A dry March resulted in some quality baseball played around the Palmetto State. Diamond Prospects breaks down some of the highlights. Diamond Prospects Statistics: Teams covered-40 Games seen-25 Fields-14 Rainouts-0 Coaches without rosters-14 Players on a cell phone behind the dugout during the game-1 Miles traveled-2,471 Possums hit-1 Quickest game: Didn’t see one. Best game: North Augusta 13 West Carteret (NC) 11 Best comeback: Tough call…GOLD Medal-Trailing 11-1 headed to the bottom of the sixth, North Augusta scored six runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh, winning 13-11 on a walk-off bomb. SILVER Medal-Manning’s 11-run fourth, after trailing 9-0, and went on to win 12-10. Weirdest play: Dillon defeated Myrtle Beach when a runner who was already out got hung up in a run-down allowing another runner, who had started at second base,  to score the winning run. Best home to first time: Andrew Greene (Furman) 3.84 on a push bunt Best home to first time (turn): Michael Ross Collins (West Florence) Best pop time: Drew Wingo (Mauldin HS) 1.91 Longest homerun: Brett Thomas (AC Flora) Best defensive play: James Harlan (Georgetown) Diving grab headed back and towards left-center field gap at the IP Classic, the height on his lounge at the ball won this category for him.  Best pitcher’s duel: Michael Ghizzoni (Wren HS) versus Nick Osterman (Stratford HS), Wren 2-1 in 8 innings at the IP Classic. Most dominant pitching performance: Michael Ghizzoni (Wren versus Stratford in the IP Classic) Hardest fastball: Jason Place 91 mph Best baseball name: (tie) Hamp Parler (White Knoll HS) and Kodiak Quick (Kansas University) Cleanest round of pre-game: Dutch Fork HS Top Fungo Guy: Mike Pulaski-Dutch Fork HS Best Dressed Evaluator: Ron Smith (Furman University) Best Catcher’s Pop-up: Frankie Ward (Manning HS), no competition in this category! Best Argument with an Umpire: Chris Carter (Byrnes HS), no competition in this category either! Best line from a mom in the bleachers: “That call was bullcrap Blue.” Best Playing Surface: Mauldin High HS, Manning HS Best pre-game tunes: (tie) Richland Northeast HS and Myrtle Beach HS  February’s Round-Up .

Round Up-March

March Round-Up By: Austin Alexander Fool’s Day, 2006 A dry March resulted in some quality baseball played around the Palmetto State. Diamond Prospects breaks down some of the highlights. Diamond Prospects Statistics: Teams covered-40 Games seen-25 Fields-14 Rainouts-0 Coaches without rosters-14 Players on a cell phone behind the dugout during the game-1 Miles traveled-2,471 Possums hit-1 Quickest game: Didn’t see one. Best game: North Augusta 13 West Carteret (NC) 11 Best comeback: Tough call…GOLD Medal-Trailing 11-1 headed to the bottom of the sixth, North Augusta scored six runs in the sixth and six more in the seventh, winning 13-11 on a walk-off bomb. SILVER Medal-Manning’s 11-run fourth, after trailing 9-0, and went on to win 12-10. Weirdest play: Dillon defeated Myrtle Beach when a runner who was already out got hung up in a run-down allowing another runner, who had started at second base,  to score the winning run. Best home to first time: Andrew Greene (Furman) 3.84 on a push bunt Best home to first time (turn): Michael Ross Collins (West Florence) Best pop time: Drew Wingo (Mauldin HS) 1.91 Longest homerun: Brett Thomas (AC Flora) Best defensive play: James Harlan (Georgetown) Diving grab headed back and towards left-center field gap at the IP Classic, the height on his lounge at the ball won this category for him.  Best pitcher’s duel: Michael Ghizzoni (Wren HS) versus Nick Osterman (Stratford HS), Wren 2-1 in 8 innings at the IP Classic. Most dominant pitching performance: Michael Ghizzoni (Wren versus Stratford in the IP Classic) Hardest fastball: Jason Place 91 mph Best baseball name: (tie) Hamp Parler (White Knoll HS) and Kodiak Quick (Kansas University) Cleanest round of pre-game: Dutch Fork HS Top Fungo Guy: Mike Pulaski-Dutch Fork HS Best Dressed Evaluator: Ron Smith (Furman University) Best Catcher’s Pop-up: Frankie Ward (Manning HS), no competition in this category! Best Argument with an Umpire: Chris Carter (Byrnes HS), no competition in this category either! Best line from a mom in the bleachers: “That call was bullcrap Blue.” Best Playing Surface: Mauldin High HS, Manning HS Best pre-game tunes: (tie) Richland Northeast HS and Myrtle Beach HS  February’s Round-Up .

Diamond Spotlight: Robert Woodard

Robert Woodard is a right-handed pitcher for #4 ranked North Carolina. He is entering his junior season after two very impressive campaigns in the Tar Heel rotation and will attract pro attention this spring as he attempts to pitch North Carolina into the College World Series. Prior to landing at Chapel Hill, Woodard ran the roads and spent quite a… The new DP website is here. For all the great DP content, subscribe. If you have any login/subscription issues, please contact our support team. Your feedback on the new experience is appreciated as well.