Darnell & Smoak Honored by Louisville Slugger

[Snake]

Baseball | Darnell, Smoak rate national attention

Louisville Slugger names pair second-team Preseason All-Americans

By From Staff Reports

USC junior third baseman James Darnell and junior first baseman Justin Smoak were second team All-America selections on the 2008 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America team announced Monday by Collegiate Baseball.

The Gamecocks are ranked No. 2 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball and will begin the season Feb. 22 playing host to East Carolina in a three-game series at Sarge Frye Field.

Smoak was a third team All-America selection by Baseball America last year after batting .315 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI for the Gamecocks.

He has 39 home runs in two seasons for Carolina and is eight shy of the school record of 48 set by Hank Small (1972-73-74-75).

Darnell earned second team All-SEC honors at third base last year and was the team’s leading hitter with a .331 average with 19 home runs and 63 RBI.

Darnell earned All-Star accolades this summer in his second season in the Cape Cod Summer League, where he was tied for second in the league in home runs with eight.

Both players are also listed among the top 30 college prospects for the 2008 MLB Draft as compiled by Baseball America through discussions with scouts. Smoak is listed at No. 3 with Darnell coming in at No. 25.

http://www.thestate.com/gamecocks/story/266733.html

[spartcock77]

Darnell would be first team last year in the SEC if it wasnt for Alvarez from Vandy who is a heck of a player and I would not be surprised if Smoak ends up 1st team AA at the end of the year beating out the guy from Arizona State. Also, I have a feeling that Havens bat is going to catch up to his defense this year and he will finish with 2nd or 3rd AA honors.

[USCbaseballguy]

Just wish we still had Travis Jones. He was the man.. But i have high expectations for this team. Lets hope they live up to there number 2 ranking and maybe when the final poll comes out they might slide up a spot? Whos ready for some carolina baseball???:clap:

[cack]

Just wish we still had Travis Jones. He was the man.. But i have high expectations for this team. Lets hope they live up to there number 2 ranking and maybe when the final poll comes out they might slide up a spot? Whos ready for some carolina baseball???:clap:

they would have to already engrave South Carolina on that national title if that was the case

like also ... we have some sticks and gloves ... need that pitching we also saw in the early 2000s

[cack]

oh yeah ... Congrats Guys

[Cocklover]

Congratulations to the both of them! They deserve any honor that comes their way. I think one problem that we need to solve is who is going to be our Friday night pitcher. I think we'll have a great season and end up in omaha this time. GO COCKS!!

[usc1]

Hopefully we'll have another Travis Jones to fill his spot.

[Spur20001]

Congratulations to the both of them! They deserve any honor that comes their way. I think one problem that we need to solve is who is going to be our Friday night pitcher. I think we'll have a great season and end up in omaha this time. GO COCKS!!

The Friday night pitcher is the key to us having a good season. Sorry to say, I don't think we have the dominant Friday night pitcher again this year. Pitching overall is a big question mark, and without great pitching, we won't make it to Omaha. We have a solid infield, but other than that, we have lots of question marks.

[Snake]

The Friday night pitcher is the key to us having a good season. Sorry to say, I don't think we have the dominant Friday night pitcher again this year. Pitching overall is a big question mark, and without great pitching, we won't make it to Omaha. We have a solid infield, but other than that, we have lots of question marks.I agree with you, but, Saturdays were the days in the series where we went something like (2-8) in SEC series last year.

However.......getting that victory on a Friday night really sets the tone for the rest of the weekend knowing you only need to split the rest of the weekend to win the series

[Cocklover]

you're right, on friday nights we were able to know we would come out with a win, saturdays were always iffy and sundays were a sure win also. Now, its the friday spot that we need to fill and yes pitching overall does have question marks, but we know that tanner will have it together unlike some basketball coach i know, lol.

[Rooster2007]

I know this is a little off the subject, but I was reading that the new baseball stadium now will not open until the 2009 season??? Are we back at the Sarge this year?

[Cocklover]

Yes Rooster, we are back at the sarge for 08. Thanks for waking up, now will ya keep up, LOL!!!

[CockyChrisCox]

okay this makes zero sense.

smoak is currently projected as the number 3 pick in the MLB draft...but he's only SECOND TEAM AA???

it seems like this people don't really think when they put these things together.

whos the first team 1B?

[hardcock2]

Whos ready for some carolina baseball???:clap:

I know I am!!!:swingcoc: :cocky:

Congrats Justin and James!...now prove them wrong and earn 1st team baby!:woo:

[GCocks]

okay this makes zero sense.

smoak is currently projected as the number 3 pick in the MLB draft...but he's only SECOND TEAM AA???

it seems like this people don't really think when they put these things together.

whos the first team 1B?

If I had to guess i would say that kid from Arizona State.
Its beyond me how you can say smoak aint first team? great player and hopefully he will prove it this year.

[Waya]

If I had to guess i would say that kid from Arizona State.
Its beyond me how you can say smoak aint first team? great player and hopefully he will prove it this year.

Smoakie IS THE SHIT...and dont' y'all forget it!! I can't freakin wait for Gamecock baseball this year!! Super stoked!! I don't need anymore proof than what I have seen as he has grown up! Unbelievable!!!

:swingcoc: Go Justin! I'll be sittin' in the stands for sure!!!

[22cocky]

Congrats to both; Go COCKS

[gacock]

Congrats to Jimmy Dean and Smoaks; funny thing is, they mention their offensive stats... which you would expect. But these guys are better than average defensive players on the infield, and you can't take that away from them.

Their combined margin of error is extremely low for first and third basemen. Smoak is a backstop and I haven't been as comfortable with a 3rd baseman covering gaps as I have been with Darnell since Buscher played at 3B.

I hear you concerning Travis Jones. He was my favorite early on last year; worked before, during and after practices to improve his defensive play (covering the gap, throw to second). Worked harder than all in the off-season last year to "make" the team. He bled Garnet.

Travis had the quicks; just needed the coaching to get him on par with other great 2nd basemen we've seen at Carolina. He was dedicated to two things: winning and getting better at his position. Tanner pushed him, as he has done with others at 2B.

Andrew Crisp will take that position, and Coach Tanner is very much sold on his ability to play second. Coach can create an infield position player with just about any kid who has raw talent... Jones, Mellilo are two examples that come to mind.

Coach said this about Crisp and the 2nd base position in a post-Fall ball interview:

"Now those two (Crisp and Merrifield) could flip-flop on occasion, but we like having the more veteran, experienced guy in the infield. I think Andrew's a true middle infielder. He has a very good hands and is a little older now, and I think it takes a little bit of the pressure off of Whit by putting him in the outfield."

Crisp played 2b a little when Jones was briefly injured last year. Did a good job. He will cover the gap as well as anyone has in that position. If he can't, obviously Merrifield will get a look. I have confidence that Coach will get Crisp to play up - and beyond - his potential.

Darnell and Smoak covering the lines; Havens and Crisp covering the gaps. Doesn't get better than that.

Go Gamecocks!!!

gacock

[acejrock]

Just wish we still had Travis Jones. He was the man.. But i have high expectations for this team. Lets hope they live up to there number 2 ranking and maybe when the final poll comes out they might slide up a spot? Whos ready for some carolina baseball???:clap:


I am! Not too far off now!