Shox get a juco shortstop for 2012-13

[Wuzee]

Heartland Community College head baseball coach Nate Metzger has announced that Cody Bobbitt has decided to take an offer to play baseball at Wichita State University. Bobbitt recently completed his freshman season at Heartland, where he was the starting shortstop. He played his high school baseball at Palatine (IL) High School.

Bobbitt led the Hawks with 80 runs, 24 doubles, and an astounding 32 of 33 stolen bases. His batting average was .348 and he was second only to Chad Klein in games played with 60. His 79 hits were second on the team to Dylan Johnson. He was named to the Midwest Athletic Conference second team for the 2012 season.

http://cornbeltbaseball.com/?p=15682

[SPEShockAlum]

Why does the name Nathan Metzger sound familiar?

[Ta town]

Why does the name Nathan Metzger sound familiar?

funny....I thought the name Bobbitt sounded familiar.

[Ta town]

This quote from the above linked article cracked me up.

"Prior to one of our podcast sessions this spring over at his Heartland Community College office, Coach Metzger showed me an envelope that had just arrived – it was addressed to Cody Bobbitt and the return address was Wichita State. Nate said that he had received a call from Wichita State’s head recruiter about a week prior inquiring about some of Heartland’s players. He mentioned that while the Shockers were in town to play Illinois State he noticed that the number three, four, and five hitters in a very potent Redbird lineup were all from Heartland. He pretty much admitted that he didn’t know anything about Heartland. Well, it appears that now they do."

What does this say about WSU recruiting? I don't know myself, I don't know if they should be aware of good players in an illinois JUCO league but then again why wouldn't they be?

[SB Shock]

All it shows me is that wsu now recruiting to compete at the mvc level - not at the national level anymore.

[Ta town]

All it shows me is that wsu now recruiting to compete at the mvc level - not at the national level anymore.

Well competing at the MVC level again would be a first step, no?

[BAShocker]

WSU recruits in baseball?

[Spaulding]

Well competing at the MVC level again would be a first step, no?

The problem is, due to the slide into the abyss, we have sunk to the level where competing at the MVC level is even a step at all. It should not be a step.

[1972Shocker]

If this kid proves to be a player we might be able to move Eric Harbutz back to 3rd. I know there were some concerns about Eric's range at shortstop and 3rd was somewhat of an issue for us last year.

[Ta town]

The problem is, due to the slide into the abyss, we have sunk to the level where competing at the MVC level is even a step at all. It should not be a step.

no crap, but it is

I'm not suggesting WSU should be pulling people out of Illinois JUCO league on a regular basis. My initial point was why wouldn't WSU recruiters be familiar enough with the league to know of the really good players? It's not 1990 anymore, WSU isn't getting the best Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma has to offer. Expand your search a little please. Sure WSU still gets some good ones but not nearly enough, so to me expanding the recruiting footprint could help increase the talent depth.

BTW, this kid looks like a pretty descent offensive hitter. The .355 isn't too whippy but his .454 on base, 24 doubles, 32 SB look pretty good. Also was hit 8 times, so maybe this guy can be a spark plug. Made the All tourney team at the DII juco world series and team finished 3rd. I like this signing this late, not getting my hopes up but at least this points to a slightly different approach in recruiting. (who knows if that means anything different, but glad to see they are at least looking in new places).

[Ta town]

If this kid proves to be a player we might be able to move Eric Harbutz back to 3rd. I know there were some concerns about Eric's range at shortstop and 3rd was somewhat of an issue for us last yea.

Harbutz was .954 this kid had a .951 percentage but he also had a lot more putouts/assist so I'm going to assume more range.

[SB Shock]

My initial point was why wouldn't WSU recruiters be familiar enough with the league to know of the really good players?

Probably a good question. Does the baseball coaches spend all summer traveling the region looking at talent like the basketball coaches do?

[WSUwatcher]

Probably a good question. Does the baseball coaches spend all summer traveling the region looking at talent like the basketball coaches do?

Thomas travels a lot; Kemnitz some, too. I could be wrong, but I don't think Gene does much summer scouting / recruiting, or that he has for a long time.

So, for those who speak of a slide into the abyss, I don't think Gene's relative lack of travel is an explanation -- I don't believe he was beating the bushes much in the summer even back when the Shocks were CWS regulars.

[shox1989]

Thomas travels a lot; Kemnitz some, too. I could be wrong, but I don't think Gene does much summer scouting / recruiting, or that he has for a long time.

So, for those who speak of a slide into the abyss, I don't think Gene's relative lack of travel is an explanation -- I don't believe he was beating the bushes much in the summer even back when the Shocks were CWS regulars.

NCAA rules only allow 2 coaches to be on the road recruiting at the same time. Most of the time it is JT and Brent but sometimes Gene does hit the road (but he can't do it when both of the other two are).

[Ed Harley]

"Harbutz was .954 this kid had a .951 percentage but he also had a lot more putouts/assist so I'm going to assume more range."

I'm guessing he didn't play his home games on turf, so the fielding % may go up.