General Pre-Season Questions

[GraceNugent]

Hello IC baseball community,

As the season rapidly approaches (24 days!) I just wanted to say on behalf of Tommy and I that we can't wait to give y'all another year of coverage. We are hoping to make it even better than last season and take a few more road trips.

With media day coming up and other opportunities we’ll have with Forbes, I wanted to check in and see if there are any specific questions you’d like us to address or that we could try to get answered by the head coach. Additionally, if there are any stats or particular storylines you’d like us to track throughout the season, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Also a thank you in advance for everyone's thoughts, engagement and community building we have here at IC.

Yours truly,
Grace

 

[Carolinarebel4910]

Excited for the season and all of the awesome IC baseball content!

 

[premn]

Would like to hear how, after a fall roster cutdown cycle under their belt, the new roster/scholarship rules are impacting their approach to recruiting. And/or how the two late arrivals/early arrivals worked with the roster limits.

 

[HeelYeah2012]

Glad to have you and Tommy covering the team again this year!

 

[TommyAshley]

Would like to hear how, after a fall roster cutdown cycle under their belt, the new roster/scholarship rules are impacting their approach to recruiting. And/or how the two late arrivals/early arrivals worked with the roster limits.

There are ways to deal with the limits’ across all the sports. Baseball is no different. DSA’s provide more leeway for schools/teams. “Designated student athletes”

 

[UNC76]

Were any of the coaches or players ready to give up after reading here that we were a bubble team, and probably would win just one more series the entire season?

A more serious question... why are we usually the last ACC team to release our schedule?

 

[TheManitowocManiac]

Who is your top candidate for this years breakout player? And best newcomer?

 

[unctar2001]

Loved the coverage last year. Was ramped up big time and very informative. I would say for me, I don't really follow baseball recruiting or portal. I follow the season and then after the season is over, I'm on to different things.

I'm sure y'all will do this, but, just looking for a look at the roster, likely starters, key portal additions and key freshmen potential impact players. Something along those lines.

Thank y'all for your work.

 

[GoHeels834]

Who do you think the closer will be this?

 

[floridahighschoolcoach]

will the Tar Heels hit with power this season?

 

[BCox83]

Hello IC baseball community,

As the season rapidly approaches (24 days!) I just wanted to say on behalf of Tommy and I that we can't wait to give y'all another year of coverage. We are hoping to make it even better than last season and take a few more road trips.

With media day coming up and other opportunities we’ll have with Forbes, I wanted to check in and see if there are any specific questions you’d like us to address or that we could try to get answered by the head coach. Additionally, if there are any stats or particular storylines you’d like us to track throughout the season, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Also a thank you in advance for everyone's thoughts, engagement and community building we have here at IC.

Yours truly,
Grace

The pitching looks solid again. What can we expect at the plate? Got spoiled with the 2024 power production.

 

[premn]

Is a year we see a catcher rotation like Forbes has mentioned or is Winslow head and shoulders above Hynek

 

[Bradheel33]

There are ways to deal with the limits’ across all the sports. Baseball is no different. DSA’s provide more leeway for schools/teams. “Designated student athletes”

Dsa is just a one year thing or until that player runs out of eligibility
At some point soon there will only be the 34

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

I’d love to hear a few of our hitters talk about the new pitching machine technology and how it is already helping and if they’ve ever seen anything like it before.

 

[J4Heels704]

Would love to hear if there have been any freshman that have stood out so far and could make an impact this season

 

[premn]

Dsa is just a one year thing or until that player runs out of eligibility
At some point soon there will only be the 34

Yeah I want to see if they’ve found a need to adjust high school recruiting—maybe they haven’t! Interesting either way.

 

[unc80]

It's fun. Last season was awesome. But you and Tommy make it more funner.

 

[SeaHeel]

Selfishly, I'd like to know if they plan to have a fireworks night this season. When is it planned for (realize it's weather dependent)? Traveling from across the country.

 

[uncbornbred]

Hello IC baseball community,

As the season rapidly approaches (24 days!) I just wanted to say on behalf of Tommy and I that we can't wait to give y'all another year of coverage. We are hoping to make it even better than last season and take a few more road trips.

With media day coming up and other opportunities we’ll have with Forbes, I wanted to check in and see if there are any specific questions you’d like us to address or that we could try to get answered by the head coach. Additionally, if there are any stats or particular storylines you’d like us to track throughout the season, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Also a thank you in advance for everyone's thoughts, engagement and community building we have here at IC.

Yours truly,
Grace

I like Tommy and enjoy his input ... but I have to say (no disrespect meant here, Tommy ) ... Ms. Grace, your detailed analysis, back stories and in-depth knowledge of our team/players and opponents are, bar-none, my most anticipated and appreciated aspect of IC UNC Baseball coverage ... ya'll have set the bar really, really high, so surpassing that standard is a tall task, but I have no doubt, you're up to the task.

CAN'T WAIT.

GO HEELS

 

[DuckFook]

I wouldn't mind if yall were able to speak to Terri Jo about her day to day with baseball team and how she runs her rehab / recovery programs. This way those here could get a better idea of what baseball athletes go through weekly just to be able to play. I think what the pitchers do + what she does for the pitching staff for recovery is pretty amazing from an Athletic Training standpoint. And of course we can't forget Remington !

 

[UNC76]

I wouldn't mind if yall were able to speak to Terri Jo about her day to day with baseball team and how she runs her rehab / recovery programs. This way those here could get a better idea of what baseball athletes go through weekly just to be able to play. I think what the pitchers do + what she does for the pitching staff for recovery is pretty amazing from an Athletic Training standpoint. And of course we can't forget Remington !

Good suggestion... Remy was at the First Pitch Dinner, and my wife talked with Terri Jo about his "retirement" status.

 

[UNCAlum83]

I like Tommy and enjoy his input ... but I have to say (no disrespect meant here, Tommy ) ... Ms. Grace, your detailed analysis, back stories and in-depth knowledge of our team/players and opponents are, bar-none, my most anticipated and appreciated aspect of IC UNC Baseball coverage ... ya'll have set the bar really, really high, so surpassing that standard is a tall task, but I have no doubt, you're up to the task.

CAN'T WAIT.

GO HEELS

Safe to say Tommy agrees!

 

[SpanishHeel]

Would love to hear from Bryant Gaines about some of the nitty gritty of managing a pitching staff at the college level--how it is different from and similar to minor league/pro pitching staffs, what it is like to balance technical coaching with some of the mental stuff, how they manage workload, etc.

 

[HoopsHeel]

Would love to know where the “power” will come from. Not worried about pitching or defense but who are the “power bats” in the lineup? Is Gallagher it?

 

[premn]

Would love to know where the “power” will come from. Not worried about pitching or defense but who are the “power bats” in the lineup? Is Gallagher it?

Cooper Nicholson

Cooper Nicholson

www.ictritons.com

 

[TommyAshley]

Would love to hear from Bryant Gaines about some of the nitty gritty of managing a pitching staff at the college level--how it is different from and similar to minor league/pro pitching staffs, what it is like to balance technical coaching with some of the mental stuff, how they manage workload, etc.

Will definitely get Coach Gaines on this season as much as possible but here’s our show w him last season….relevant every year.

 

[MattClements]

Grace and Tommy have been so amazing on the beat that I've shifted completely to the photo team after a couple of decades of interviewing Coach Fox then Forbes each week. I can't wait to work alongside them in the Bosh this season.

 

[fireandrain]

Really appreciate the improved baseball coverage!! My biggest question is how to we keep Grace in Chapel Hill after this year?

 

[DiamondHeel14]

I notice Forbes mentioning rev share and just money overall more this year. Would love to hear his thoughts about NCAA potentially pushing the college baseball season back a couple of weeks to get better weather and more fans at games earlier in the season to help bring in more revenue. Would also have Omaha stand alone in late June / early July without having to compete with NBA Finals on tv which would bring way more eyeballs and money. Thank y’all for the coverage!