Season scheduled to start this weekend with 4 at Tennessee Tech (one on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday).

Here's a link to the schedule -

http://www.utrockets.com/schedule.aspx?p...e_id_16095


Apparently the preseason coaches' poll isn't out yet (at least I can't find it). Assuming I haven't overlooked it, it should be out soon. No sign of it on the UT site or the MAC site as of Monday morning.

But Baseball America has a conference preview. Here's its take on the Rockets.

"Toledo went 19-38-1 last season, its worst record since 2005, but the Rockets should see improvement this spring as they bring back their whole rotation and closer. Seniors Steven Calhoun, Ross Achter and Sam Shutes give Toledo plenty of experience in the rotation, while sophomore lefthander Michael Jacob (8 SV, 3.43 ERA) gives them an aggressive strike-thrower at the back of the bullpen. If the Rockets can find an answer at shortstop after two-time MAC defensive player of the year Deion Tansel was drafted in the 32nd round by the Rays, they could be a team to watch in the West."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...R8B6iQd.99

It's an age old question: is it a good thing to have everyone back from your worst season in years?

Home town paper article on Rocket Michael Jacob
http://www.timesleaderonline.com/sports/...ge-higher/

For Rocket fans in Florida:

USF- March 3,4,5 (Tampa)
Boston College-March 7, Northeastern U-March 8 (Port Charlotte)
FAU-March 10,11,12 (Boca Raton)

Coaches pick the Rockets to finish 3rd in the MAC West. UT received one first place vote and also received a vote to win the MAC tournament.

http://mac-sports.com/news/2017/2/16/BB_0216172717.aspx

And here are links to previews of this weekend's series against Tennessee Tech. Looks like there might be rain this weekend

From the UT site -

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/2/16/...h=baseball

From Tennessee Tech -

http://www.ttusports.com/sports/bsb/2016...0216m0llrl

UT loses the season opener 7-5. Rockets led 5-2 at the stretch but gave up two in the bottom of the seventh and three in the bottom of the eighth.

They lost to Tennessee Tech...? Can't we just cut the baseball program and then put that money towards football?

(02-17-2017 07:26 PM)cnyrocketfan Wrote:  UT loses the season opener 7-5. Rockets led 5-2 at the stretch but gave up two in the bottom of the seventh and three in the bottom of the eighth.

Here's a link to the game story

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/2/17/...h=baseball

Toledo lost game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader to Tennessee Tech. 10-2 final.

Rockets lost game 2 on Saturday 10-0. Series with Tennessee Tech concludes Sunday.

http://www.utrockets.com/news/2017/2/18/...h=baseball

(02-13-2017 10:35 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  It's an age old question: is it a good thing to have everyone back from your worst season in years?

Looks like they're picking up where they left off last year...yikes...getting smoked by Tenn Tech...didn't even know there was a Tenn Tech. They may want to get in a game vs. my sons HS team when they visit Tampa...would probably be a competitive game.

(02-19-2017 11:09 AM)TampaRocket Wrote:  

(02-13-2017 10:35 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  It's an age old question: is it a good thing to have everyone back from your worst season in years?

Looks like they're picking up where they left off last year...yikes...getting smoked by Tenn Tech...didn't even know there was a Tenn Tech. They may want to get in a game vs. my sons HS team when they visit Tampa...would probably be a competitive game.

Wow. Your son's team is that bad?

Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

(02-19-2017 12:34 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

Nope... Akron dropped men's baseball a couple years ago... Maybe UT should reconsider the plan to move spring sports from Scott Park and scrap baseball and softball all together...
Possibly reconfigure the track for women's soccer and introduce a men's program along with womens & men's lacrosse... I would rather see a nice indoor track facility (as promised) at Carter field... The money spent on new ball fields /press box/grandstands would be better served elsewhere...

(02-19-2017 03:30 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 12:34 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

Nope... Akron dropped men's baseball a couple years ago... Maybe UT should reconsider the plan to move spring sports from Scott Park and scrap baseball and softball all together...
Possibly reconfigure the track for women's soccer and introduce a men's program along with womens & men's lacrosse... I would rather see a nice indoor track facility (as promised) at Carter field... The money spent on new ball fields /press box/grandstands would be better served elsewhere...

It seems like it's been quite awhile since we were relevant in either baseball or softball. Do many people go to the home games? Maybe switching some sports out would be worth looking at. Women's lacrosse, men's soccer? Both seem to be popular around here so recruiting initially might not be all that difficult.

(02-19-2017 03:36 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 03:30 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 12:34 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

Nope... Akron dropped men's baseball a couple years ago... Maybe UT should reconsider the plan to move spring sports from Scott Park and scrap baseball and softball all together...
Possibly reconfigure the track for women's soccer and introduce a men's program along with womens & men's lacrosse... I would rather see a nice indoor track facility (as promised) at Carter field... The money spent on new ball fields /press box/grandstands would be better served elsewhere...

It seems like it's been quite awhile since we were relevant in either baseball or softball. Do many people go to the home games? Maybe switching some sports out would be worth looking at. Women's lacrosse, men's soccer? Both seem to be popular around here so recruiting initially might not be all that difficult.

Relevant? We've been playing baseball in the MAC for 65 years and have never won a title. Dump baseball and bring back wrestling. At least we had All-Americans in that sport.

(02-19-2017 04:04 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 03:36 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 03:30 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 12:34 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

Nope... Akron dropped men's baseball a couple years ago... Maybe UT should reconsider the plan to move spring sports from Scott Park and scrap baseball and softball all together...
Possibly reconfigure the track for women's soccer and introduce a men's program along with womens & men's lacrosse... I would rather see a nice indoor track facility (as promised) at Carter field... The money spent on new ball fields /press box/grandstands would be better served elsewhere...

Yep, wrestling had a rich tradition at UT and would not tie up a lot of money for new facilities/scholarships...
It seems like it's been quite awhile since we were relevant in either baseball or softball. Do many people go to the home games? Maybe switching some sports out would be worth looking at. Women's lacrosse, men's soccer? Both seem to be popular around here so recruiting initially might not be all that difficult.

Relevant? We've been playing baseball in the MAC for 65 years and have never won a title. Dump baseball and bring back wrestling. At least we had All-Americans in that sport.

Yep, wrestling, brought back would be great... A rich tradition in years past at the old field house... Facilities/scholarships would not entail a lot of $$$, though gender equity would need to be addressed...

UT starts the season 0-4. Lost the series finale to Tennessee Tech 2-0.

(02-19-2017 03:30 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 12:34 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

Nope... Akron dropped men's baseball a couple years ago... Maybe UT should reconsider the plan to move spring sports from Scott Park and scrap baseball and softball all together...
Possibly reconfigure the track for women's soccer and introduce a men's program along with womens & men's lacrosse... I would rather see a nice indoor track facility (as promised) at Carter field... The money spent on new ball fields /press box/grandstands would be better served elsewhere...

Sounds like a brilliant plan. Both our baseball & softball programs are so far behind the times, scrap the programs & put that money towards football because there's real potential with our football program.

(02-19-2017 04:20 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 04:04 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 03:36 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 03:30 PM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(02-19-2017 12:34 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Does the MAC require us to have baseball & softball? I'm guessing that's the case...

Nope... Akron dropped men's baseball a couple years ago... Maybe UT should reconsider the plan to move spring sports from Scott Park and scrap baseball and softball all together...
Possibly reconfigure the track for women's soccer and introduce a men's program along with womens & men's lacrosse... I would rather see a nice indoor track facility (as promised) at Carter field... The money spent on new ball fields /press box/grandstands would be better served elsewhere...

Yep, wrestling had a rich tradition at UT and would not tie up a lot of money for new facilities/scholarships...
It seems like it's been quite awhile since we were relevant in either baseball or softball. Do many people go to the home games? Maybe switching some sports out would be worth looking at. Women's lacrosse, men's soccer? Both seem to be popular around here so recruiting initially might not be all that difficult.

Relevant? We've been playing baseball in the MAC for 65 years and have never won a title. Dump baseball and bring back wrestling. At least we had All-Americans in that sport.

Yep, wrestling, brought back would be great... A rich tradition in years past at the old field house... Facilities/scholarships would not entail a lot of $$$, though gender equity would need to be addressed...

And again, wrestling is pretty popular in NW Ohio, and we always seem to have some strong HS programs, so start-up recruiting may be easy.

Tough for UT to recruit many of the better local/regional HS baseball or softball players, as we have little tradition in either sport and better players would likely choose a southern program for a few good reasons--namely the months in the year.