2024-25 Off-Season/Fall Ball Discussion and News

[SB Shock]

Two possible schools of thought:

1. The worse the basketball team is, the better the baseball program will be, or

2. I wonder how WSU will f*cked this up!

[ShockerFever]

Something to finally get excited about..

As always, pitching needs to improve if we wanna play in June for the first time in over a decade.

[WstateU]

[Old School "Shocker"]

After the basketball teams loss. I’m more ready for baseball season than ever. Just wish the weather was better so the guys can get outside and get work in.

I did hear some disturbing news over the holidays that the team’s leadership is not as strong as last year. That the buyin from some is not there yet. Kids were upset at who was getting how much NIL and scholarship $ and that coaches gave too much attention and power to the wrong players. Rumor is that the older guys and younger guys were not seeing eye to eye. I truly hope what I was told was wrong and if true it will fix itself in time for the season.

I have high hope for the season if the pitching staff can produce.

[WuDrWu]

Looks like the roster is updated and set for the spring. Don't expect me to explain how we're at 43 instead of 40 because I don't know.

Names omitted from the fall roster, best as I can tell:

Michael Mulhollon. Michael has struggled with injuries his entire career. I believe he'll be a part of the program but his playing days are likely over. GREAT young man.

AJ Rasmussen. Finally was throwing in the summer but it wasn't enough.

Austin Ford

Parker Morris

Carson Beavers

Eric Fernandez

Beavers and Fernandez are a bit of a surprise to me. Beavers is really fast, a quality seemingly prized by this staff. Fernandez transferred from Miami. Pretty clear he was looking for a chance to play, but I think we're pretty darned good at 3rd SS and 2nd.


These names are in addition to Charlie Anderson, Anthony Alvarez, Gradin Tascher & Trevor Lee who were not on the fall roster, again, best as I could tell.

[WuDrWu]

It would appear the roster is trimmed to 42 with Nico Rodriguez no longer listed on the roster at goshockers.com

We're taking the field in 2 weeks and 2 days. Probably start a season prognostication thread soon. I think there's a plan for a scrimmage prior to the First Pitch Banquet so perhaps we'll get a chance to get a glimpse of spring form and make some educated guesses as to game 1 lineups.

[1972Shocker]

It would appear the roster is trimmed to 42 with Nico Rodriguez no longer listed on the roster at goshockers.com

We're taking the field in 2 weeks and 2 days. Probably start a season prognostication thread soon. I think there's a plan for a scrimmage prior to the First Pitch Banquet so perhaps we'll get a chance to get a glimpse of spring form and make some educated guesses as to game 1 lineups.

So this year we still have the 40-man roster limit. 11.7 scholarships that can be spread across as many as 32 players.

Some things I was not aware of.

At the current time, Division I baseball is the ONLY sport that has a legislated roster size. However, ALL Division I sports will have a legislated roster limit starting next year. Somewhat ironically, while roster spots will be eliminated in many sports, scholarship limits will be increasing in Division I sports due to the lawsuit settlement.

• Division I programs will have more scholarships available and more flexibility to provide full or partial scholarships to team members depending on a school’s funding capability.
• Note that Mid-major and smaller D1 universities will have the option to “opt out” of the House settlement and if they do so, they will be held to current scholarship limits in their sports.

For Fall sports programs starting next year:

• Schools must finalize their roster prior to the first date of competition that counts for championship selection. In other words, athletes may be allowed to participate in a preseason scrimmage or exhibition game before being cut from the final roster to reach a team’s limit.

For Winter and Spring sports starting next year:

• Schools must set their final roster no later than December 1 or the first contest that counts for championship selection in that sport, whichever is earlier.

The House settlement is not yet official and there may be changes to the settlement before it is finalized.

https://informedathlete.com/ncaa-di-roster-and-scholarship-limits/

---

Next year, as a practical matter, with that December 1 cutoff date the "tryout period" for baseball will be fall ball as the 34-man roster will need to set before the end of the fall semester in mid-December.

The first set of bullet points above makes it pretty clear that this settlement is clearly intended to exasperate the chasm between the haves and the have nots.

[Onegreatracer]

So this year we still have the 40-man roster limit. 11.7 scholarships that can be spread across as many as 32 players.

Some things I was not aware of.

At the current time, Division I baseball is the ONLY sport that has a legislated roster size. However, ALL Division I sports will have a legislated roster limit starting next year. Somewhat ironically, while roster spots will be eliminated in many sports, scholarship limits will be increasing in Division I sports due to the lawsuit settlement.

• Division I programs will have more scholarships available and more flexibility to provide full or partial scholarships to team members depending on a school’s funding capability.
• Note that Mid-major and smaller D1 universities will have the option to “opt out” of the House settlement and if they do so, they will be held to current scholarship limits in their sports.

For Fall sports programs starting next year:

• Schools must finalize their roster prior to the first date of competition that counts for championship selection. In other words, athletes may be allowed to participate in a preseason scrimmage or exhibition game before being cut from the final roster to reach a team’s limit.

For Winter and Spring sports starting next year:

• Schools must set their final roster no later than December 1 or the first contest that counts for championship selection in that sport, whichever is earlier.

The House settlement is not yet official and there may be changes to the settlement before it is finalized.

https://informedathlete.com/ncaa-di-roster-and-scholarship-limits/

---

Next year, as a practical matter, with that December 1 cutoff date the "tryout period" for baseball will be fall ball as the 34-man roster will need to set before the end of the fall semester in mid-December.

The first set of bullet points above makes it pretty clear that this settlement is clearly intended to exasperate the chasm between the haves and the have nots.

With how successful baseball has been in revitalizing donors and connecting with the community I believe we will be a “HAVE” not a have not

[1972Shocker]

With how successful baseball has been in revitalizing donors and connecting with the community I believe we will be a “HAVE” not a have not

I suppose that is possible for baseball but I was thinking more in terms of the athletic program as a whole.

[WuDrWu]

First pitch banquet last night.

Unlike the schedule, I will keep this short, feel free to ask questions and I'll answer best as I can.

Big crowd, tons of baseball alumni. Mike Sweeney had some powerful messages. I thought the Bison analogy was pretty cool.

The new seats were on display. Seems like more room, side and leg, everywhere there are new seats. The half moon loge seating on the 1B side will come with Minuteman Room access (free drinks, non alcohol, and snacks) with season purchase. Announced new left field Kosich Pavilion (thank you AGAIN, Thomas!) which looks kick ass. The bleachers will be moved to Wilkins. There will be a see through wall with comfy seating and then a raised area behind it. It looks fantastic.

New pitching lab will be dedicated to Brent Kemnitz. He didn't know about this and was clearly moved.

They are planning a bronze statue for 10 sometime in the near future to greet arriving fans. Also some kind of mural inside the stadium (not on the field but perhaps just beyond the gates as you enter?) that pays homage to Gene.

Daniel Zang has apparently had surgery and his throwing arm was in one of those complicated "I'm not throwing for 6 months" kind of slings.

I realize everyone is positive with high expectations, but these guys and coaches 100% believe they are going to be playing in June. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it's not just a theme for them. They 100% believe it's the next step.

[1972Shocker]

Can you expound on the Bison analogy?

Nevermind WuDrWu -- I see Paul Suellentrop covered that in his report:

RH: "I Knew There Was Something Different"

My favorite quote from this report was:

"It had been a while since I had been in this great city," Mike Sweeney said to a crowd of around 600 in the Aetna Multi-Purpose Center at Koch Arena. "When I stepped on campus here, I knew there was something different. When I met coach (Brian) Green and his coaching staff, I knew they were setting themselves apart from every other staff in the country."

"I could care less whether my son gets one at-bat here, or he's a two-time All-American that plays in the major leagues," Mike Sweeney said. "If my son has three years with this coaching staff . . . that is my dream for my son that he can spend three years with mentors like that. That's why I'm here."

[WuDrWu]

Mike had a lot of passion in his speech. A LOT of passion.

It's 2025 and you can't believe anything or anyone when it comes to commitment in college athletics and the NIL era. And I'm not trying to be a smartass, but part of me wants to see MJ hit about .475 with 24 bombs this spring just to see the other programs go nuts over him. Because if I ever believed a young man and his family were committed to a program, it's these folks. They are all in and I wish them the very best.

[BostonWu]

In early December before Sweeney signed the priest out at St Paul's told me they had planned a visit to the campus parish. Guessing that doesn't happen a lot with recruiting visits.

[SubGod22]

Mike had a lot of passion in his speech. A LOT of passion.

It's 2025 and you can't believe anything or anyone when it comes to commitment in college athletics and the NIL era. And I'm not trying to be a smartass, but part of me wants to see MJ hit about .475 with 24 bombs this spring just to see the other programs go nuts over him. Because if I ever believed a young man and his family were committed to a program, it's these folks. They are all in and I wish them the very best.

If there's anyone you can believe and trust, I would think that it would be Sweeney Dog! He may be the most salt of the earth millionaire you ever come across. Can't speak for MJ, but I'd guess he's been raised right and knows he doesn't need to chase NIL dollars. No doubt he wants a chance at being a professional and it sounds like he really believes that this is the place for him to achieve that. Unless there's some kind of falling out while he's here, I wouldn't be overly concerned with the Sweeney's.

[Onegreatracer]

Any info on when most schools put single gamers on sale? Already got Globe Life tickets and travel arrangements for Nebraska, but curious when most of the other regional schools throw their tickets up.