2026 Baseball Mega Thread

[Appmountaineers19]

I'm guessing we have quite a few unearned runs. We're giving up 6.37 runs per game.

26 unearned

We're missing a shortstop.
Neither X or Smith are SS but they are doing the best they can. Their bats are too good to sit.

We're having to throw our best pitchers as Starters thus leaving the bullpen open with question marks.
But, at some point... you just have to go with who you know can get you outs, even if that means throwing them twice in a weekend.

Clark
Harris
Fisher
Watson
(Where is Marks)
Tibbett
Smith.

I wouldn't mind going Peterson, Marks, Nolan and having DiRito go relief in 2 of the 3 weekend games. If he's going 6 innings on Friday, could he go 3 on Friday and 3 on Sunday? Need some stability back there.

When does Kam Miller come back?

I was going to ask how Marks is doing. I think he's only pitched 2 innings so far. He's coming off UCL right?

I thought he looked great against Duke. Was sitting 89-91...
Haven't seen him since.
He's a year out from surgery. Kinda odd unless something happened but I haven't heard anything.

No Marks was our Saturday starter last year then tore his UCL after his CG @ CofC mid March 2025. I think he transferred from D2 2 years ago.

That was his first 2 innings of the year. A year out from UCL surgury? That's ambitious

[311neers]

26 unearned

We're missing a shortstop.
Neither X or Smith are SS but they are doing the best they can. Their bats are too good to sit.

We're having to throw our best pitchers as Starters thus leaving the bullpen open with question marks.
But, at some point... you just have to go with who you know can get you outs, even if that means throwing them twice in a weekend.

Clark
Harris
Fisher
Watson
(Where is Marks)
Tibbett
Smith.

I wouldn't mind going Peterson, Marks, Nolan and having DiRito go relief in 2 of the 3 weekend games. If he's going 6 innings on Friday, could he go 3 on Friday and 3 on Sunday? Need some stability back there.

When does Kam Miller come back?

I was going to ask how Marks is doing. I think he's only pitched 2 innings so far. He's coming off UCL right?

I thought he looked great against Duke. Was sitting 89-91...
Haven't seen him since.
He's a year out from surgery. Kinda odd unless something happened but I haven't heard anything.

No Marks was our Saturday starter last year then tore his UCL after his CG @ CofC mid March 2025. I think he transferred from D2 2 years ago.

That was his first 2 innings of the year. A year out from UCL surgury? That's ambitious

Not sure why we would trot him out there if he wasn't cleared. All of spring reports said he was good to go and it would be a ramp up.
I thought he pitched well but we haven't seen him the last 2.5 weeks. He was supposed to be the mid-week guy according to 247...

[Appmountaineers19]

We're missing a shortstop.
Neither X or Smith are SS but they are doing the best they can. Their bats are too good to sit.

We're having to throw our best pitchers as Starters thus leaving the bullpen open with question marks.
But, at some point... you just have to go with who you know can get you outs, even if that means throwing them twice in a weekend.

Clark
Harris
Fisher
Watson
(Where is Marks)
Tibbett
Smith.

I wouldn't mind going Peterson, Marks, Nolan and having DiRito go relief in 2 of the 3 weekend games. If he's going 6 innings on Friday, could he go 3 on Friday and 3 on Sunday? Need some stability back there.

When does Kam Miller come back?

I was going to ask how Marks is doing. I think he's only pitched 2 innings so far. He's coming off UCL right?

I thought he looked great against Duke. Was sitting 89-91...
Haven't seen him since.
He's a year out from surgery. Kinda odd unless something happened but I haven't heard anything.

No Marks was our Saturday starter last year then tore his UCL after his CG @ CofC mid March 2025. I think he transferred from D2 2 years ago.

That was his first 2 innings of the year. A year out from UCL surgury? That's ambitious

Not sure why we would trot him out there if he wasn't cleared. All of spring reports said he was good to go and it would be a ramp up.
I thought he pitched well but we haven't seen him the last 2.5 weeks. He was supposed to be the mid-week guy according to 247...

Hope he isn't having a set back. Maybe just easing him for later in the season.

[AppSt94]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

[311neers]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Oh no. Our best bat. Man, we can't buy a break.

[Appmountaineers19]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

[AppSt94]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

Agree. He has the sweetest swing on the team. IMO

[Appmountaineers19]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

Agree. He has the sweetest swing on the team. IMO

If they can keep the ERA around 5.75 they have a chance

[BambooRdApp]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

Are the prior years ..all year or year to date comparable times in season. We typically play a relatively easier OOC schedule whether record shows it or not..just curious on your comparisons....and
Is the total team era or just relievers?
I thought Friday and Saturday starters looked good. From a visual perspective, our relievers all weekend did not give much hope that we could save games.

[Appmountaineers19]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

Are the prior years ..all year or year to date comparable times in season. We typically play a relatively easier OOC schedule whether record shows it or not..just curious on your comparisons....and
Is the total team era or just relievers?
I thought Friday and Saturday starters looked good. From a visual perspective, our relievers all weekend did not give much hope that we could save games.

‘26 OOC SOS 173 OOC RPI 258
‘25 OOC SOS 167 OOC RPI 223
‘24 OOC SOS 57 OOC RPI 227
‘23 OOC SOS 139 OOC RPI 110

So after doing research, you have a valid This is the OOC.


Conference SOS is incomplete because they only have three games but they are ranked fifth as a conference this year. In ‘23 the conference was ranked sixth. In ‘24 the conference is fifth. And currently this year they are fifth as well.

Relievers ERA are significantly lower than those previous years, but are incomplete because not as many innings pitched that’s why I prefaced by saying as of now. SOS are comparable with one outlier in 24. RPI is comparable with the outlier being 2023.

That being said ‘26 has the worst numbers schedule wise at this point. I’ll take a look at it again after a few series in conference.

It’s only been three games but their ERA is 1.35 less so far very small sample size

Batting average is down .17 as well the first three games into the conference

[AppSt94]

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

Agree. He has the sweetest swing on the team. IMO

If they can keep the ERA around 5.75 they have a chance

For me the frustrating thing is that it seems to always come down to one inning where it snowballs out of control. One mistake gets compounded by another etc.

[311neers]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

I recall we were hitting about .320 last year, then lost 11 in a row and the average dipped 30ish points to .282ish.

[Appmountaineers19]

My personal opinion as it relates to this year. Not sure how we could be top 5 or 6 with our relief staff. In addition, lacking power hitters with guys injured.
I hope, wish we were. I am just not seeing it unless the SBC is down in talent compared to prior years.

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

I recall we were hitting about .320 last year, then lost 11 in a row and the average dipped 30ish points to .282ish.

You are absolutely correct. And believe it or not in 24 they actually started slow and worked their way up to where they were.

[311neers]

Well here's some surprising stats - * I say this as of now - in 2023 Team over .500 7.92 '24 team w/ XH - ERA 6.92

Right now in '26 - ERA is 5.10 - thats almost 2 earned runs less - injured guys luckily aren't season ending. League is top heavy but the rest are very similar so far.

DuPont might be out awhile.

Well as of right now team BA is .292 tough one if he's out for awhile. KM should be back soon hopefully that will bolster the line up.

2024 .296
2023 .288

They are still on pace with their best 2 years record wise in 10-12 years.
On pace for best ERA since 2011

I do expect the batting average to go down a little bit, but even if they stay within 10 points still very acceptable

I recall we were hitting about .320 last year, then lost 11 in a row and the average dipped 30ish points to .282ish.

You are absolutely correct. And believe it or not in 24 they actually started slow and worked their way up to where they were.

Banks Tolley.
We probably won't ever see that again.

There were a few of them though that just absolutely raked.
And just got on base all the time.

Terrell, our 9 hole just really was a solid hitter but no where else to put him but 9! That was an awesome year.

[Stonewall]

It was a fun team to watch. Last year and this year, not so much.

[Appmountaineers19]

On one of the betting sites it has APP as a slight favorite -125 O/U 12.5

[Appmountaineers19]

Should’ve took the over

[WataugaMan]

Wow, terrible.

[Stonewall]

More of the same. Not a surprise.

[BambooRdApp]

I do not follow the the injury list for baseball as some others. Are we missing one or two relievers we thought we may have at this point in the season?