MIF04

This is comparing apples to oranges...they're different but are both fruit and both good for you. Nevertheless, I'll jump into this with both feet:

1. First, I admit to the general bias in favor of LHP. That gives Angelle an advantage going in. I'm not sure why a LHP has that advantage (I've stayed up late at night with plenty of adult beverages to fuel the discussion on tihs point).

2. Body-wise, most think Angelle projects better. Today, Ehlert is the better physical specimen. Angelle, however, has more room to grow, improve his strength, etc. As an athlete, Ehlert is the better of the two. He is faster and the better position player (not that that matters on the bump). This makes Ehlert a much better fielding pitcher, though.

3. As far as velocity goes, I don't differentiate much between the two. I've always thought Ehlert had slightly higher velocity numbers over the course of a game. Irrespective of that, neither of them have dominant velocity for the next level at this point in their development (and, by that, I mean 94 and up such as what you see with someone like a Drabek). They both have more adequate velocity for D1 given their ability to pitch, use their 2nd pitch, etc.

4. Both have very good 'backup' pitches. Angelle's curve may be a little more 'electric'. Ehlert is probably a little more advanced in his ability to pitch but that, too, is a razor-thin margin.

5. Ehlert, over the course of his HS career, has probably pitched more games against better competition. That's no one's fault, just the reality of playing in a 3A vs. 4A program. Both have pitched (and won) big games. Both have been front line pitchers at their respective schools since their soph. seasons.

6. Ehlert has been a little more successful than Angelle on the summer circuit (for whatever that is worth). That is probably a product of Ehlert being part of the select system for a longer period of time than Angelle.

7. Ranking wise, Ehlert is ranked slightly higher by Baseball America than Angelle but they are so close it is hard to make any determination from that. Some of that is because Ehlert projects as a possible 2-way player in college and Angelle does not.

8. I'm really not sure how they project out as draft choices straight from HS. I have a general bias toward the college game and, unless you are a very early round, I lean toward the college route. I know more scouts have been at Angelle's games than Ehlert's, and that the reports on Angelle from those scouts are 'all over the board'.

All in all, I'm not sure that I could choose between the two. To put it another way, I'd take either one and be happy. How's that for a political answer? And, speaking of politics (and to answer BCBBall), I'll take Hillary.

Good luck to Bears and Cards this Friday. I (like most) am looking forward to it.

I am guessing that Dayton won the coin flip and picked a 1 game series?

For what it is worth, I never liked the 1 gamer -- always thought it should be best of 3.

Simple answer to a simple question:

Yes, they do.

Will they? That's why you play the games. LCM is in a very competitive region and a lot can happen but the Bears DO have what it takes....

Nothing like being called out....

And its kinda like asking do I want a blue Ferrarri or a black Ferrarri....heck, I just want a Ferrarri.

And, its a more 'loaded' question than some might suspect. Who is better as a high school pitcher, as a potential D1 pitcher, as a professional pitcher, more projectible, etc.?

Let me think about it a while....

Great pickup for Lamar. He is a great kid and great pitcher. He has untapped potential (he has 'hit' 90 on the radar) and great makeup. I think it is a wonderful sign for the Cards.

Silsbee ran the table in district and that includes the 2 wins over Jasper.

And so here we are...the regular season ends and the playoffs begin. For the Top Ten, we end here with our last poll for 2006 -- recognizing that from here on out we play for only one poll: the Texas State Championship. Good luck to all.

With 1 part sadness, but 2 parts optimism, here is the last Top Ten of the year:

1. LCM

The Bears are one of the best teams SE Texas has seen in some time. They are experienced, and talented. LCM presents top level pitching with quality hitting and stellar defense. Expectations were high for this team and, so far, they have met them. Next come the playoffs and a run through the toughest 4A region in the State. The reward? A trip to Austin...which may be in the cards for these Bears come June. They are that good.

2. BRIDGE CITY

The preseason #1 has not disappointed although (pitching aside) they have been (at times) inconsistent on offense and defense. The Cardinals destroyed their district foes where, many times, the biggest suspense was whether those games would go the full 7 innings. There is not a 3A team in the State that has their pitching. Angelle is anybody's ace while Haymon, Stringer and Meeks provide solid mound support. With standouts like Dishon, Jackson and Coleman adding offensive support, BC is lining up for a repeat trip to Austin

3. NEDERLAND

The Bulldogs have been one of the 'feel good' stories of the 2006 season. Preseason, they had lost too much, were in too tough a district and were picked to barely sneak into the playoffs, if at all. Instead, the 'Dogs stood 'toe to toe' with our #1 (LCM) and the nation's #1 (The Woodlands). They played as tough a schedule as anyone in 4A and, with that experience, they stand ready for all the pressures the playoffs can bring.

4. WEST BROOK

The Bruins won 20 games, and find themselves all dressed up with nowhere to go. No one questions the Bruins' ability to swing the bat (they hit nearly .350 as a team) but the feared lack of depth in their pitching corps caught up with them during district play. The silver lining is that next year's edition will return 4 of their 5 leading hitters (Ferguson, Serna, Murphy and Armstrong) along with their 3 starting pitchers (Murphy, Serna and Svoboda). Tough lament -- wait 'til next year.

5. SILSBEE

The Tigers prove the oldest adage in the game -- pitching wins. Riding the strong arms of Joel Schooling and Kevin McDonald, Silsbee knocked off preaseason state-ranked Jasper and wrestled the district crown away from the Bulldogs. There are a lot of very good teams lined up in 3A's Region III...and Silsbee, with their pitching, is one of them.

6. HUFFMAN

The Falcons earned the bye, winning their district and vanquishing BH twice in the process. Like every other team in Region III, Huffman is staring down the barrell of Bridge City but a lot can happen in the playoffs. Whether it happens here only time will tell.

7. WOODVILLE

The Eagles continue as the 'class' of 2A and are prepared for another run to Austin. Branden Riley and crew stand poised to give Coach Hennigan another crown. Good players, good coach....all the ingredients to make up a recipe for a state championship.

8. JASPER

While most teams wouldn't be disappointed with the Bulldogs' season, you can rest assured that up north Jasper considers their injury-riddled 2nd place district finish unacceptable. It is a long fall from the #3 team in the State to a playoff underdog but remember this -- these 'Dogs are the only 3A team to play BC close and that makes them dangerous.

9. BARBERS HILL

BH possesses a glistening season record, with 2 tough losses to Huffman costing them their chance at a district championship. Those losses, though, flipped the Eagles into a tough bi-district series with #10 Hamshire-Fannett.

10. HAMSHIRE FANNETT

Once the darling of SE Texas, the Longhorns have ridden a roller coaster of late. A late season loss to HJ cost HF the 2nd place slot, pushing them into an underdog role in their bi-district matchup vs. Barbers Hill. By this time next week, one really good team will be at home.

And that's it for 2006. Thanks for the ride, but the real ride is just beginning.

They coulda had Tony LaRussa and (a) parents would still complain and ( still wouldn't have made the playoffs.

Amen.

New coach in a very tough district. The team was thin talent-wise, and the record reflects that. You can blame the coach but that's simply not his fault. Now, in time, it may be his fault for not building his program, but he wasn't dealt a strong hand.

Check that -- WB has the HJ vs. Spendora series.

That's news to me....not that they run the schedule thru me. Who?

It is a tune up game....a practice game. Maybe the parents put more in it than that....but its just a practice game. BC may not even see Ehlert, depending on how Griff decides to handle his rotation. Of course, LCM may not see Angelle, depending on how Billy decides to do his rotation.

I said this before on the board -- the winner (or loser) of this game is of little consequence. Could either team play this game to win? Sure. Will they? I doubt it very much. Its just a chance to let a bunch of very talented kids on the field at the same time.

The McDonald kid is a good pitcher. Congrats to him on such a good showing in a big game.

Its beyond impressive -- its dominant. There is not a better team in SE Texas ...and maybe not a better 4A team in the State.

We'll host 'em over at West Brook.

Congrats to both. Both good kids.

Maybe not the team I'd pick but a lot of talent on that list. Congrats to all.

BC is very good. They are #1 in 3A for a reason. And Angelle is also very good. As far as what happens when they run into a team that can really hit and Angelle is not on the mound, I think you undersell Broc Haymon, a good pitcher in his own right. Also, by the time that happens, the other team will be down 1-0 in the playoffs....

Coaches vote.

Others who merit strong consideration:

PNG - Harwood and Powell, both as pitchers. It is hard to pick anyone offensively as a 1st teamer since they have had a lot of problems scoring.

LCM - A lot of guys here merit consideration. Ehlert (if not Womack) should be the prohibitive favorite to be MVP. They're 1st teamers. Rowell is probably the best C in the district and Schneider (whose offense is vastly improved this year) is as good a defensive SS as there is. Dugas should be a lock as the utility guy. He simply did anything and everything for the Bears this season.

If it is done strictly on merit, the 1st team (and a lot of the 2nd team) should be dominated by the 3 playoff teams. Politics....that's another story.

Ehlert is a wonderful player (and, quite frankly, a steal for A & M). He may be the best 'baseball player' in SE Texas this year. He has been evaluated by PG, the last time in June 2005. He may not have the raw speed that Dishon has but is still plenty fast (he ran 6.8 last June but is probably closer to a 6.7). His arm is 90+ from the OF and his offense solid. Pitching-wise, his velocity is at 90 (with some plus or minus) with a solid breaking pitch and a developing change. His is a bulldog on the mound and should be a two-way player in college.

If I recall right, he was ranked in the Top 200 in the most recent release published by Baseball America. He is the top ranked player in the 2006 release for the SE Texas area.

As with most things, it was a combination of things for the Bruins this year. As predicted, they hit the ball very well (.330 as a team in a very tough district) but, as predicted, their pitching was a thin. When Murphy (4-0 at the time) was unable to pitch due to shoulder problems, this caught up to WB (ERA in district of nearly 5.00).

Over a 4 day period, the turned a 9-3 lead in the 7th to a 10-9 loss to Kingwood and followed it with a 'hangover' 8-6 loss to Spring. That was simply too much for WB to overcome in the always competitive 22-5A race.

Next year should be interesting with re-districing (losing the 2 Spring schools but picking up the new Humble/KW school and Channelview). The Bruins return the nucleus of this year's team (the significant loss is 1B John Michael Falgout) including Ferguson, Serna, Murphy and Armstrong. The pitching staff returns their 'top 3' in Serna, Svoboda and Murphy. They will need to find some more pitching and hope to stay injury free.

I don't know if Kerusso is on crack but I think it'll be a great game....just like the first one.

They'll play to win. They've got 2 warmup games to get everyone in, etc. They may throw more than 1 or 2 pitchers, though