| 1996 | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1998 | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
11/10/98 Go here to view pictures of the Dudy Noble Stadium expansion. As I mentioned earlier, I will have weekly updates each Monday or Tuesday.12/23/98 - In Baseball America's 1999 College Baseball Preview issue, Miss State is ranked 39th. Other SEC teams ranked in the Top 40 are LSU (7th), Alabama (10th), Auburn (12th), Florida (14th), Arkansas (18th), Tennessee (28th).
What they said about MSU:
"On the surface, it looks like a major rebuilding job for Mississippi State in 1999 as only three position player starters return and two key pitchers. The Bulldogs lost senior starters at first, shortstop, catcher, leftfield and centerfield along with a pair of drafted junior pitchers from the starting rotation. The situation may be much better than many think with transfers Ty Martin (Florida infielder) and solid hitting Cliff Wren (transfer from Southern Mississippi) along with the addition of several quality junior college players including C Chris Curry, a transfer from Meridian JC, who is a tremendous prospect."
MSU players to watch: 3B Travis Chapman, OF Brian Wiese, RHP Matt Ginter and C Chris Curry.
If you don't subscribe to Baseball America and you are a big fan of college baseball, then I highly recommend subscribing. Click here for subscription informaion.
12/17/98 - MSU Assistant Baseball Coach Tommy Raffo and his wife Paula Raffo are proud parents (second time) of a baby girl: Anna Winifred Raffo. Anna was borned last Friday at 4:23. She is Tommy and Paula's second girl. Claudia Raffo, 2 and a half years old, was their first. Congrats Tommy and Paula from all MSU Bulldog fans worldwide.
12/14/98 - The next Johnny Bench? Maybe that is stretching it at the moment, but that is MSU signee Mark Obradovich's nickname around Tuscaloosa. His arm is so strong, it is rumored he can throw a football 100 yards.
12/13/98 - Now that all of the MSU Fall baseball signees have been announced, I thought you guys would enjoy reading the official MSU announcements for each signee:
Based on info I have received, I expect Butler and King will have a chance to be very high draft picks. Five or six of the other signees could also be drafted by MLB this coming June.
12/10/98 - MSU announces their final signee of this signing year, Chris Young (RHP, 6-3, 185) of Stow, OH. Chris, who is one of the top 5 players in the state of Ohio, has played in various all-star games. He has a better than average fastball (86-87 mph), very good changeup and fair curve. Chris, who was also recruited by Ohio State and the University of North Carolina - Charlotte, has very good potential and has the chance, with his makeup, to really come on strong this coming baseball season.
12/09/98 - MSU signed Hattiesburg High School standout RHP Matt Butler (6-2, 180) to a baseball scholarship. Matt, probably the top pro baseball prospect in the state of Mississippi this year, has a consistent 88-89 mph fastball and reaches the 90+ mph range very, very often. He has a very good changeup and good curve. Hattiesburg HS coach Larry Knight has done an exceptional job coaching Matt and his teammate Jeff Lacher, another of this year's MSU signees. All of the major college programs in the South showed a lot of interest in Matt and he could have sign with any of them. However, he has been an MSU fan for quite sometime and wants to be a Bulldog. He is expected to be a high draft pick in the June MLB Draft. My source told me Matt is an outstanding youngster who will make our university proud not only as a athlete but as a person as well.
12/08/98 - The latest MSU baseball signee is J. T. Hardcastle (2B/SS) of East Union HS in Manteca, Cal. J.T. is a two-year MSU camper who has excellent speed (6.8 speed in the sixty), is a switchhitter, works very hard, and has very good baseball instincts. He also played quarterback and was recruited for football by quite a few smaller schools. Santa Clara was MSU's main baseball competition for J.T. BTW, J.T. won't be the only Hardcastle at MSU next year. His sister, Jesse, also is presently at State on a track scholarship. Plus, his grandmother lives in Mathiston, Miss.
12/01/98 - Here's a little more info on MSU's latest baseball signee, Jonathan Papelbon (P/IB, 6-4, 195). Jonathan is an excellent athlete who was also recruited for not only baseball but for football as a tight end by numerous colleges, including Central Florida. He attended MSU's nationally renowned baseball camp the past two summers. He is a pitcher who throws in the 84-85 range but projects as a harder thrower as he matures physically.