07 ABCA Slugger Insert

BA’s Preseason Top 50 Rankings • A Look At The Major Leagues Through College Eyes
INTRODUCING EXOGRID.
EXTREME DOMINATION CONTINUES.
ONE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION
The competition’s two-piece designs result in weakness at the
handle/barrel joint. Our one-piece construction ensures
maximum strength and better performance.
INTERNAL CARBON COMPOSITE SLEEVE
A carbon sleeve provides greater handle stiffness than aluminum, alone, ever could.
CARBON COMPOSITE INSERTS
The metal is trimmed in a grid pattern, then replaced with carbon composite inserts
that are several times stronger and lighter than the original metal.
EXCLUSIVE EXOGRID FUSION PROCESS
Using heat and extreme pressure, the sleeve, inserts and
metal wall are bonded to function as a single, solid unit.
ST+20 ALLOY
The toughest bat alloy
available today.
®
© 2007 Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. All rights reserved.
Exogrid & Bi/Fusion are trademarks of VyaTek Sports.
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CRAFTED FROM
SELECT MAPLE.
THE M9 FROM
LOUISVILLE SLUGGER.
From the most legendary name
in bats comes a legend in the making:
the Louisville Slugger M9.
BORN OF PURE
HERITAGE.
The M9 uses our finest, select, rockhard maple. This is the hard-surfaced,
hard-hitting wood that’s been sending greats like Craig Biggio, Adam
Dunn, Edgar Renteria and Miguel
Tejada trotting around the bases.
And it can do the same for you.
For the powerful performance
that can only come from premium
rock-hard maple, swing the M9
from Louisville Slugger. You’ll be
swinging the best there is, with a
120-year record to prove it.
www.slugger.com
The Official Bat of Major League Baseball.®
© 2007 Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. Major
League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major
League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit the official website at MLB.com
2007 PRESEASON TOP 25
1
Rice (57-13)
If healthy, LHP/1B Joe Savery gives Owls an ace to go with deep staff, dangerous lineup
2
Miami (42-24)
2B Jemile Weeks (.361-6-40), 1B Yonder Alonso (.295-10-69) lead potent offense
3
Clemson (53-16)
Tigers lost entire weekend rotation, but will plug in other veterans without missing a beat
4
Texas (41-21)
’Horns have pitching depth to overcome elbow injury to RHP Kenn Kasparek
5
North Carolina (54-15)
With first-rounders Andrew Miller, Daniel Bard gone, Heels will lean on deep, versatile lineup
6
South Carolina (41-25)
Offense is fearsome, but Tommy John surgery will sideline ace Arik Hempy until March
7
Arkansas (39-21)
JC transfers Jess Todd, Duke Welker could be nation’s two most important newcomers
8
Vanderbilt (38-27)
LHP David Price and 3B Pedro Alvarez could both vie for national player of year honors
9
Virginia (47-15)
LHP/1B Sean Doolittle (11-2, 2.38; .324-4-57) leads one of nation’s best pitching staffs
10
Wichita State (46-22)
As good as Damon Sublett (.395-10-45) is at the plate, he’s allowed 0 ER in 31 career IP
11
Tennessee (31-24)
C J.P. Arencibia, CF Julio Borbon and LHP James Adkins could all be first-rounders
12
Georgia Tech (50-18)
Will mash as usual, but LHP David Duncan and co. need to take steps forward on mound
13
UCLA (33-25)
Young Bruins will play defense with the best and rely on stud freshmen in rotation
14
Cal State Fullerton (50-15)
Fr. SS Nate Bridges and OF Khris Davis have big shoes to fill, but Titans will pitch
15
Tulane (43-21)
Despite losing Mark Hamilton’s power bat, Tulane should score enough to support power arms
16
Oregon State (50-16)
Mike Stutes, Daniel Turpen must repeat CWS heroics to replace departed stalwarts
17
Nebraska (42-17)
Lucky for Huskers, SS Ryan Wehrle and LHP Tony Watson didn’t sign as eligible sophs
18
Florida State (44-21)
Sr. RHPs Bryan Henry, Michael Hyde, Luke Tucker know their way around harsh ACC
19
Pepperdine (42-21)
With slugging C Chad Tracy gone, pitching will carry Waves, led by ace Barry Enright
20
Arizona State (37-21)
JC transfer Brian Flores steps into Friday starter spot; will enjoy plenty of run support
21
Evansville (43-22)
Elite freshmen Wade Kapteyn, Jared Baehl bolster experienced Aces, fresh off MVC title
22
Oklahoma State (41-20)
Power-hitting Fr. Dylan Brown joins brother Corey to lead scary-good Cowboy offense
23
Winthrop (46-18)
RHP Alex Wilson (13-3, 3.78), coming off All-Freshman season, leads balanced Eagles
24
Texas Christian (39-23)
All-American RHP Jake Arrieta (14-4, 2.35) is difference-maker atop strong staff
25
Mississippi (44-22)
Rebels seek third straight super-regional; SS Zack Cozart, RHP Cody Satterwhite will be key
THE NEXT 25
1
26
UC Riverside
39
Louisiana-Lafayette
27
Georgia
40
Michigan
28
North Carolina State
41
Texas Tech
29
Southern California
42
Central Michigan
30
Kentucky
43
Delaware
31
Stanford
44
Elon
32
San Francisco
45
Notre Dame
33
San Diego State
46
San Diego
34
Oral Roberts
47
Ohio State
35
Oklahoma
48
Miami (Ohio)
36
Auburn
49
Texas A&M
37
Baylor
50
Louisiana State
38
UC Irvine
10
DAMON
SUBLETT
RHP/2B WICHITA
STATE
JOE
SAVERY
LHP/1B RICE
BaseballAmerica.com
JOHN WILLIAMSON (2)
________Creative Dir. ________Prod. Mgr. ________Acct. Exec. ________Acct. Supv. _________________________________________________________Client ________________Date
GodwinGroup: HB 4260-9 M9 Revised 8”x10.625” Baseball America Preview Guide (Inside Front Cover) ____Spell Check ________Prod. Artist ________Art Dir. ________Copywriter ________Copy Editor
The 2007 preseason rankings were compiled by the Baseball America staff. Each team’s ’06 record (without ties) is indicated in parentheses.
MAJOR LEAGUE CONFERENCE CALL
BY JOHN MANUEL
I
t’s bowl season, and so frequently at this time of year, college
football fans discuss which conferences are best. In 2006,
the debate has centered on the Big Ten and Southeastern
conferences, whose champions, Ohio State and Florida, were set to
meet in the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 8.
The BCS has six constituent conferences that rake in BCS football revenue. But if baseball drove the BCS train, two of those
leagues—the Big Ten and Big East—would not be welcome to the
party. Meanwhile, one conference that doesn’t even sponsor Division
I-A football, the Big West, would take its place at the table with
the best conferences in the country, while Conference USA—an
amalgamation of programs left out when the BCS leagues formed
and were transformed over the last decade—could also claim inclusion in the top six conferences.
One way to define college conference success is on the field, particularly the one at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. Claims
by the Atlantic Coast Conference, for example, of being the nation’s best league fall on mostly deaf ears thanks to the fact no
member of the ACC has won a national championship as a member
of the league since 1955 (Wake Forest, which coincidentally is the
current ACC football champ).
But in true Baseball America fashion, we decided to measure
conference strength another way—by looking at alumni of each of
these conferences in a major league context. Below, we present our
All-Conference teams of major league players who were active in
2006, though we listed them with their current major league teams
(as of Dec. 15). For players who attended more than one school,
we referenced only the school the player attended when he was
drafted—so UC Santa Barbara can’t claim Barry Zito, who played
there as a freshman. He goes with Southern California, where he
played as a junior. We also used three-man weekend rotations, as
if these “teams” were heading into super-regionals, with starters
listed in alphabetical order. As has been the case in Omaha, Southern California and the Pacific-10 Conference still reigns supreme,
with the SEC rapidly closing the gap.
ACC
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Jason Varitek, Red Sox (Georgia Tech)
SP Kris Benson, Orioles (Clemson)
1B Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers (Georgia Tech) SP David Bush, Brewers (Wake Forest)
SP Chris Capuano, Brewers (Duke)
2B Alex Cora, Red Sox (Miami)
RP Mike MacDougal, White Sox (Wake Forest)
3B Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals (Virginia)
SS Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks (Florida State)
LF Pat Burrell, Phillies (Miami)
CF Corey Sullivan, Rockies (Wake Forest)
RF J.D. Drew, Red Sox (Florida State)
DH Mark Teixeria, Rangers (Georgia Tech)
Other Notables: Khalil Greene, Padres (Clemson); Aubrey Huff, Astros (Miami); Andrew Miller,
Tigers (North Carolina); Matt Murton, Cubs (Georgia Tech); Jay Payton, Orioles (Georgia Tech).
Best All-Time Alum: Kevin Brown, Georgia Tech
The ACC’s team is a lot like the league—talented, but frankly a bit under-achieving. Burrell, both
Drew brothers, Benson and Teixeira all were either the No. 1 picks in their drafts (Benson ’96, Burrell
’98) or considered among the top two to four talents in their drafts. Teixeira has fulfilled his potential,
while J.D. Drew (despite his contracts) and Burrell have left major league teams unfulfilled. Stephen
Drew and Zimmerman are coming off noteworthy rookie seasons.
JASON
VARITEK
ANDREW WOOLLEY
BIG 12
HUSTON
STREET
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Josh Bard, Padres (Texas Tech)
SP Roger Clemens, Astros (Texas)
1B Dan Johnson, Athletics (Nebraska)
SP Jason Jennings, Astros (Baylor)
SP Mark Redman, Royals (Oklahoma)
2B Ian Kinsler, Rangers (Missouri)
3B Greg Dobbs, Mariners (Oklahoma)
RP Huston Street, Athletics (Texas)
SS Jason Bartlett, Twins (Oklahoma)
OF Luke Scott, Astros (Oklahoma State)
OF Darin Erstad, Angels (Nebraska)
OF Greg Norton, Devil Rays (Oklahoma)
DH Jeromy Burnitz, Pirates (Oklahoma State)
Other Notables: Scott Baker (Oklahoma State); Brendan Fahey (Texas); Josh Fields (Oklahoma
State); Casey Fossum (Texas A&M); Jason Tyner (Texas A&M).
Best All-Time Alum: Clemens.
It’s surprising how few impact hitters the Big 12 has produced, and the best peak big leaguers
here—Clemens, Burnitz, Erstad—predate the league, having played in its antecedents, the Southwest
and Big 8 conferences. Minor League Player of the Year Alex Gordon (Nebraska) and Josh Fields
(Oklahoma State) are rushing to the majors to supplant Dobbs, but no one can truly replace Clemens,
who gives the league the distinction of having produced perhaps the greatest pitcher of all time.
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Robert Fick, Nationals (Cal State Northridge) SP Kirk Saarloos, Athletics (Cal State Fullerton)
1B Jason Giambi, Yankees (Long Beach State)
SP Steve Trachsel, Mets (Long Beach State)
2B Adam Kennedy, Cardinals (Cal State Northridge) SP Jered Weaver, Angels (Long Beach State)
RP Chad Cordero, Nationals (Cal State Fullerton)
3B Mike Lamb, Astros (Cal State Fullerton)
SS Bobby Crosby, Athletics (Long Beach State)
OF Reed Johnson, Blue Jays (Cal State Fullerton)
OF Mark Kotsay, Athletics (Cal State Fullerton)
OF Aaron Rowand, Phillies (Cal State Fullerton)
DH Michael Young, Rangers (UC Santa Barbara)
Other Notables: Shane Costa, Royals (Cal State Fullerton); Chris Gomez, Orioles (Long Beach
State); Phil Nevin, Cubs (Cal State Fullerton); Jeremy Reed, Mariners (Long Beach State); Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies (Long Beach State).
Best All-Time Alum: Ozzie Smith, ss, Cal Poly.
As expected, league powers Fullerton and Long Beach dominate this list, which is happy to have had
Fick return behind the plate in 2006—otherwise, the best option would be Titans alum Kurt Suzuki,
who hasn’t played past Double-A yet. Scrappy Titans dominate the outfield. Crosby gets the nod over
Young at short based on defense, but Young would likely bat third in a Big West lineup.
MARK
KOTSAY
TODD
HELTON
DENNIS HUBBARD
BIG WEST
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Chris Snyder, Diamondbacks (Houston)
SP Philip Humber, Mets (Rice)
SP Mike Maroth, Tigers (Central Florida)
1B Lance Berkman, Astros (Rice)
2B Dan Uggla, Marlins (Memphis)
SP Woody Williams, Padres (Houston)
RP Jesse Crain, Twins (Houston)
3B Chad Tracy, Diamondbacks (East Carolina)
SS Andy Cannizaro, Yankees (Tulane)
OF Jose Cruz Jr., Padres (Rice)
OF Michael Bourn, Phillies (Houston)
OF Bubba Crosby, Reds (Rice)
DH Chad Mottola, Blue Jays (Central Florida)
Other Notables: David Aardsma, Cubs (Rice); Chad Bradford, Orioles (Southern Mississippi); Tim
Byrdak, Orioles (Rice); Tony Giarratano, Tigers (Tulane).
Best All-Time Alum: Berkman
Conference USA’s team lags behind the other power conferences, despite Rice’s recent surge and addition to the conference. Recent first-round picks such as Michael Aubrey (Tulane), Jeff Niemann (Rice)
and Brad Sullivan (Houston) have yet to pan out due to injuries, though Niemann could join this rotation
sooner than later. The lineup has a chance to have some pop, thanks mostly to Berkman, who leads a
group of Owls hitters much more significant than their pitching contributions.
CHRIS
SNYDER
LARRY GOREN
C-USA
PAC-10
Continue d on next pag e
TROY
GLAUS
JEFF GOLDEN
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Paul Lo Duca, Mets (Arizona State)
SP Randy Johnson, Yankees (Southern California)
1B Jeff Kent, Dodgers (California)
SP Mike Mussina, Yankees (Stanford)
2B Chase Utley, Phillies (UCLA)
SP Barry Zito, Athletics (Southern California)
3B Troy Glaus, Blue Jays (UCLA)
RP Trevor Hoffman, Padres (Arizona)
SS Eric Bruntlett, Astros (Stanford)
OF Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks (UCLA)
OF Kenny Lofton, Rangers (Arizona)
OF Jacque Jones, Cubs (Southern California)
DH Barry Bonds, Giants (Arizona State)
Other Notables: Garret Atkins (UCLA); Morgan Ensberg (Southern California); Andre Ethier (Arizona State); Mark Prior (Southern California); Carlos Quentin (Stanford).
Best All-Time Alum: Bonds.
Who would win—the current Pac-10 team, which has only one non-regular (Bruntlett, the best of a
surprisingly short list of shortstops) in the lineup? Or the old-timer Pac-10 team, which would have the
likes of Mark McGwire, Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson on the field and on the mound? This lineup gets
bolstered by some ’80s holdovers such as Bonds, Johnson and Lofton, as well as a shift to first for Kent
to accommodate both him and Utley, one of the young reinforcements the league has on the way.
MAJOR LEAGUE CONFERENCE CALL
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
SP Tim Hudson, Braves (Auburn)
C David Ross, Reds (Florida)
SP Cliff Lee, Indians (Arkansas)
1B Todd Helton, Rockies (Tennessee)
2B Brian Roberts, Orioles (South Carolina)
SP Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks (Kentucky)
RP Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox (Mississippi State)
3B Todd Walker, Padres (Louisiana State)
SS David Eckstein, Cardinals (Florida)
OF Brad Hawpe, Rockies (Louisiana State)
OF Brad Wilkerson, Rangers (Florida)
OF David Dellucci, Indians (Mississippi)
DH Frank Thomas, Blue Jays (Auburn)
Other Notables: Joe Blanton, Athletics (Kentucky); Paul Byrd, Indians (LSU); Mark Ellis, Athletics
(Florida); Adam Everett, Astros (South Carolina); Jeremy Sowers, Indians (Vanderbilt).
All-Time Alum: Thomas.
Just like the SEC itself, this team has depth, and while it produced stars in the ’80s—such as LSU’s
Albert Belle and Mississippi State’s quartet of Jeff Brantley, Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro and Bobby
Thigpen—the league keeps getting better. That’s particularly true on the mound, with a reigning Cy
Young Award winner in Webb and plenty of young depth, from Blanton and Sowers to Paul Maholm
(Mississippi State) and Taylor Tankersley (Alabama).
TODD
WALKER
JOE MIXAN
SEC
■ BE S T OF T HE RE S T
Let’s make this an Omaha-style eight-team field. Two other leagues earn plaudits for being able to field complete teams of big leaguers: the Big East
and Missouri Valley.
BIG EAST
ROBERT GURGANUS
MATT
MORRIS
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Chris Heintz, Twins (South Florida)
SP Matt Morris, Giants (Seton Hall)
SP Aaron Heilman, Mets (Notre Dame)
1B Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox (Cincinnati)
2B Craig Counsell, Brewers (Notre Dame)
SP Jason Grilli, Tigers (Seton Hall)
3B Rich Aurilia, Giants (St. John’s)
RP Brad Lidge, Astros (Notre Dame)
SS John MacDonald, Blue Jays (Providence)
OF Eric Young, Padres (Rutgers)
OF Ross Gload, Royals (South Florida)
OF David DeJesus, Royals (Rutgers)
DH Craig Biggio, Astros (Seton Hall)
Other Notables: Lou Merloni, Indians (Providence); Craig Hansen (St. John’s); Steve Kline (West
Virginia); Dustin Nippert (West Virginia); Pete Walker (Connecticut).
All-Time Alum: Sandy Koufax, Cincinnati. (Since creation of the Big East in 1979: Biggio.)
Better than you thought, right? Well, Heintz is a bit of a stretch, but he did play (albeit briefly) for
the Twins in ’06. The league’s recent realignments actually help more than they hurt, because Miami
didn’t play Big East baseball, and Cincinnati and South Florida make key contributions.
MISSOURI VALLEY
Proposed Lineup
Pitchers
C Doug Mirabelli, Red Sox (Wichita State)
SP Shaun Marcum, Blue Jays (Missouri State)
1B Ryan Howard, Phillies (Missouri State)
SP Mike Pelfrey, Mets (Wichita State)
2B Jamey Carroll, Rockies (Evansville)
SP Nate Robertson, Tigers (Wichita State)
RP Braden Looper, Cardinals (Wichita State)
3B Bill Mueller, Dodgers (Missouri State)
SS Clint Barmes, Rockies (Indiana State)
OF Casey Blake, Indians (Wichita State)
OF Steve Finley, Giants (Southern Illinois)
OF Jerry Hairston, Rangers (Southern Illinois)
DH Sal Fasano, Phillies (Evansville)
Other Notables: Matt Cepicky, Marlins (Missouri State); Neal Cotts, Cubs (Illinois State); Jason Frasor,
Blue Jays (Southern Illinois); John Rheinecker, Rangers (Missouri State); Brian Shouse, Brewers (Bradley).
All-Time Alum: Bob Gibson, Creighton.
While Wichita State contributes the lion’s share of talent, six schools are represented here overall,
a nice indication of the league’s depth. Gibson is from Omaha, and one street that abuts Rosenblatt
Stadium is named in his honor. Could Howard, fresh off a National League MVP award-winning season,
surpass him one day? (Don’t tell Gibson we said that . . . )
©2007 BASEBALL AMERICA CUSTOM PUBLISHING. PRESIDENT: CATHERINE SILVER; PUBLISHER: LEE FOLGER; EDITORS: JOHN MANUEL, AARON FITT; DESIGN/PRODUCTION: PHILLIP DAQUILA.
MIKE
PELFREY
BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
TH
TS
TWO KINDS O
E
R
FB
EA
A
R
E
:
THOSE WITH FLEXIBLE
HANDLES AND THOSE
WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
For seven of the past nine years the national
championship has gone to teams swinging
Louisville Slugger TPX bats.
This makes a good argument for our stiffhandle technology. And a good argument
against the trendy flexible handle designs.
As top players and coaches will tell you, a
flexible handle actually reduces performance
for most players. That’s because it bends just
when you don’t want it to–while the ball is in
contact with the bat.
Optimum performance comes from a stiff
handle combined with a flexible barrel for
maximum trampoline effect. That’s the timeproven Louisville Slugger® design that has
helped teams like Cal-State Fullerton and Rice
win championship after championship.
If you want technology that looks good on
paper, go with the flexible handles. But if you
want technology that performs at the plate,
you want Louisville Slugger – the bat that has
turned players into legends since 1884.
The last thing you want at the moment of contact is for
your bat handle to bend. When the handle flexes, the
barrel can’t — and that reduces trampoline effect. A stiff
handle produces more barrel flex, resulting in maximum
trampoline effect and, ultimately, greater ball travel.
www.slugger.com
© 2007 Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. All rights reserved.
THE
GREATEST
NAMES IN BASEBALL
HAVE ONE NAME
IN COMMON
From the earliest days of the game to
the present, baseball’s top players and
teams have turned to one name in bats:
Louisville Slugger.
Legendary players from Ty Cobb to Babe
Ruth to A-Rod earned their places in baseball history swinging Louisville Slugger
wood bats. And in the past decade alone,
seven national college championships went
to teams using the performance technology
of Louisville Slugger TPX.
Whether you’re swinging wood or aluminum, reach for the name that’s turned
players into legends since 1884: Louisville
Slugger. When you’re serious about the
game, it’s the only name you need to know.
www.slugger.com
The Official Bat of Major League Baseball.®
© 2007 Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights
are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit the official website at MLB.com
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