Alabama Baseball Thread : (2-1) Goff still kinda good

New Coach : Greg Goff

Greg Goff
* Montevallo (2004-2007) : 152-84, 1 D2 CWS, 2 D2 NCAAT
* Campbell (2008-2014) : 224-174, 1 NCAAT
* Louisiana Tech (2015-2016) : 67-47, 1 NCAAT

- Campbell's record the 5 years before Goff : 100-174
- Campbell's record Goff's last 3 years : 131-49

- Louisiana Tech's record the 3 years before Goff : 61-100
- Louisiana Tech's record Goff's last year : 19-11 (NCAAT)

So, Goff clearly has experience taking over programs that need to be resuscitated. We aren't on the level that those programs were, but we are clearly a notch below the top 1/3 of the SEC and have been stuck in a holding pattern of mediocrity for about a decade now.


Best Returning Players
Nick Eicholtz (SR) (RHP)- 13rd round pick by the Marlins, decided to return to school. 4-3 record, 2.30 ERA in 2017

Jake Walters (JR) (RHP) - 5-4 record, 2.67 ERA, 11.8 K/9 in 2017

Chandler Taylor (SO) (RF) - .274 AVG, .409 OBP, .482 SLG, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 7 SB

Cobie Vance (SO) (2B) - .258 AVG, .345 OBP, .329 SLG, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 2 SB

Chandler Avant (SO) (SS) - .278 AVG, .319 OBP, .406 SLG, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 5 SB


Expectations : Alabama is not ranked in any polls, and is picked in the lower 1/3 of the Western Division by most picks. The pre-SEC OOC schedule is very weak (3 vs Presbyterian, USM, 3 vs Oral Roberts, Jax St, 3 vs ULM, Troy, 4 vs Ark-PB, Eastern Illinois, Samford), so don't get too excited if Alabama enters SEC play with a 15-4/14-5 record. After a relatively easy start to SEC play outside of a trip to Columbia SC (by SEC standards), the gauntlet heats up to end the year : vs #3 LSU, @ Auburn, vs #2 Florida, @ #6 Vanderbilt. All in all, 40% of Alabama's SEC series will be against teams in the Top 6 nationally. Half will be against teams in the Top 25.

As in past years, the pitching should be above average. The key to the season, as it always seems to be, will be whether this team can score enough runs and develop some pop. The change in coaching staffs will hopefully show some results, but I wouldn't expect massive improvement from years past.

Another 30 win season, a record near .500 in the league and a trip to the SECT should probably be considered a success in year 1 for Goff. A trip to the NCAAT would be icing on the cake.