The D1Baseball Podcast

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Roons and Burkie react to the end of the MLB regular season and discuss Tony Vitello leading the majors in ejections (seven), including a disputed check-swing call that sparked his latest toss and the dynamics between rookie managers and big-league umpires. They consider why the Giants’ difficult season and need for disruption made Vitello’s fiery style part of the hire, and argue his first year shouldn’t define his long-term outlook. Roons connects the conversation to Pat “Murph” Murphy’s path and success, sharing an anecdote about seeing Dustin Pedroia traveling with his fam...

VCU entered the 2015 Dallas Regional as the No. 4 seed in a loaded field featuring Texas, Oregon State and Dallas Baptist. On this episode of Sunday Night Convos, Mike Rooney looks back with Shawn Stiffler and Sean Thompson at how the Rams pulled off one of the most unlikely regional wins of the 64-team era.

01:29 Meet the Guests: Sean Thompson & Shawn Stiffler

03:43 Dallas Regional Giants

04:29 Stiffler's VCU Origin Story

06:50 Thompson's Recruiting Journey

09:40 Building VCU Baseball

16:29 The Diamond's Wow Factor

19:23 2014-2015 Season Context

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons debate two coaching approaches in college baseball: pushing hard from February because every game matters versus pacing a roster to be strongest in the postseason.

They use the 2022 Tennessee's dominant start and later normalization, plus examples like Southern Miss, Arkansas’ Kevin Kopps and 2026 Oklahoma’s late surge, to discuss peaking too early and the difficulty of sustaining “heaters.” 

The conversation then shifts to Burkie's call of a Guardians–White Sox game and how many players and coaches reached the big leagues from non-power programs or junior coll...

Burkie and Roons welcome Justin Seely to discuss how college baseball roster construction has changed from the 11.7-scholarship era to today’s 34-scholarship, revenue-share and NIL landscape. Seely explains how in-state vs. out-of-state tuition once shaped recruiting, how fully funded programs can now erase geography and build more like football, and how DSAs and strict roster deadlines are pushing smaller fall rosters with less margin for error. They outline what top programs prioritize (targeted portal additions, high-ceiling recruits, retention, impact starting pitching and elite pitching coaches) versus how mid-tier and lower-resourced programs lean more on older transfers, JUCO pipelines, an...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, David Seifert joins Burkie and Roons to break down the top college hitters in the 2027 MLB Draft class.

The group discusses Brendan Lawson, Gavin Kelly and Jimmy Janicki at the top of the board, plus rising prospects Derrick Pitts, Trent Grindlinger and Bino Watters. They also dive into why the hit tool remains so difficult to project, how swing-and-miss data is shaping the draft and why Adrian Rodriguez and Tague Davis are among the fascinating players to watch this season.

00:00 Cold Open and Guest

00:16 Fantasy Team...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons spotlight Cincinnati head coach Jordan Bischel and the Bearcats’ new “Cheetah Lab,” a dedicated space for bunting and baserunning.

They reflect on how Cincinnati has weaponized bunt hits and stolen bases since Bischel's arrival in 2024. They also debate the modern game’s reliance on walking and slugging, argue offenses should be multiple and consider whether coaches have become less involved in in-game tactics.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

02:04 Cincinnati Cheetah Lab

05:20 Why Small Ball Matters

09:50 MLB Stats on Bunts

13:07 Favorite...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons revisit a debate from last fall about which programs would win at least one CWS title in the next five years. The pair start the episode by noting Oklahoma’s 11th-place finish in the SEC and discussing how that result both validates betting on the SEC and encourages the rest of the country. They argue Oklahoma’s toughest threat came from Georgia Tech and point to other non-SEC near-misses like North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, and UCLA as evidence that a breakthrough is possible outside the league.

Th...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons react to the first weekend of college football and use it to highlight parallels with college baseball. They start with how limited fall scrimmages can mislead evaluations compared to real games, and why joint practices or preseason tune-ups could be valuable. They discuss “mind palaces” built in the offseason, overreactions to early results, and how coaches’ real trust shows up once lineups, rotations, and play-calling are revealed. They compare program arcs and “high water marks” through examples like Clemson–Dabo Swinney and Texas Tech–Tim Tadlock, and debate whether first impressi...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons continue their top transfer hitters discussion by evaluating several impact bats in the D1Baseball Top 10 Transfer Rankings and how their underlying data might translate at new programs.

They discuss Jamie Laskofski’s move from William & Mary to North Carolina, noting strong barrel and contact indicators with potential power growth for a shortstop. They break down catcher Nate Savoie’s transfer to Texas A&M, highlighting elite exit velocities, high barrel rate, and prolific home run production. The show also covers Mikey Bell (Gonzaga to Georgia) as a do...

On this episode of The D1Baseball Podcast, Mike Rooney, Kendall Rogers, Bradley Smart and Joe Healy recap offseason transfer portal activity by highlighting players ranked 1-25, 26-50 and then outside of the top 50 of the site’s recent transfer player rankings.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsors

00:23 Printers and Ink Scams

01:58 Bradley Wedding Countdown

03:22 Transfer Portal Draft Setup

04:46 Top Hitters West Virginia

06:37 Vandy and Tennessee Bats

11:42 Nate Savoie to Texas A&M

17:14 Miami’s Chase Swift, Georgia’s Marcos Paz

21:01 Trey Morris to Florid...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss the D1Baseball transfer hitter rankings, noting that transfer evaluation is inexact and citing past portal hits and misses. They introduce this year’s top ten list, then focus on Bino Watters (Notre Dame to LSU) and analyze his approach, chase rate, batted-ball tendencies, and power upside, and on Chris Ramirez (Cal Baptist to Tennessee), emphasizing his defense, contact skills, speed, and fit relative to Tennessee’s typical shortstop profile. They end by teasing a Part 2 on the remaining transfers.

00:00 Welcome Back

00...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons compare the SEC of the late 1990s/early 2000s to today’s conference. They describe a league that once had clearer tiers—especially split by divisions—versus the current SEC’s depth where nearly every team can contend.

They discuss key program shifts, including Ole Miss’ rise under Mike Bianco, South Carolina’s build under Ray Tanner, and how Tim Corbin’s transformation of Vanderbilt helped force the league to elevate its commitment. Burkie also shares a vivid memory of Skip recalling a 1999 Tennessee-LSU series and closes with details o...

Burkie and Roons discuss the Little League World Series (with Burkie live from Williamsport), sharing memories from their own Little League careers and highlighting standout players and moments from this year’s tournament. They compare the atmosphere of Williamsport to other big baseball stages, emphasizing the grandeur of the complex, the joy and nostalgia, and the unique experience of MLB players and kids interacting during the Little League Classic. Burkie also describes fan traditions like pin trading, the family-friendly accessibility, and why the LLWS belongs on any baseball fan’s bucket list.

00:00 Welcome Back!

On this episode of The D1Baseball Podcast, Joe Healy, Aaron Fitt, David Seifert and Patrick Ebert look back on the season in summer ball, with each of them running through a handful of players who caught their eye on the various circuits they cover.

00:00 Cold Open and Banter

00:47 Vivid Summer Memories

07:50 Summer Ball Roundtable Setup

09:12 Big Picture State of Summer Ball

16:04 Why Coverage Still Matters

18:00 Player Spotlights Begin

18:22 Northwoods Standout Sam Harry

20:13 Cape Arm Surprise: Christian Chatterton

23:08 Cape Power Arms...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, prompted by the recent loss of Skip Bertman and a discussion of coaching legacy, Burkie and Roons debate the college baseball “Mount Rushmore” of Rosenblatt-era coaches.

Burkie & Roons agree three picks are obvious—Rod Dedeaux (10 national titles at USC), Augie Garrido (five titles at Fullerton and Texas), and Bertman (five titles at LSU). But then, the pair has to sift through contenders for the fourth spot using College World Series wins, national titles, and broader impact. Candidates for the fourth and final spot include Ron Fraser, Cliff Gustafson, Mark Marquess, and Mi...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons welcome Ben McDonald to reflect on the passing and legacy of legendary LSU coach Skip Bertman.

The conversation centers on Bertman’s recruiting power, teaching of fundamentals and pitching specifics, individualized motivation, and program-building vision that helped transform LSU and college baseball, including the early adoption of strength, mental skills, and fan-experience initiatives. McDonald shares a final hospital visit with Bertman, plus a defining “tough love” story involving Mark LaRosa that illustrates Bertman’s methods and competitive edge.

00:00 Welcome Back!

00:19 Welcome...

Mike Rooney is joined by Prep Baseball vice president of scouting Shooter Hunt to discuss which draft-eligible high school players actually make it to college amid NIL and transfer-portal volatility. They talk about why projecting freshman impact is harder than ever, how scouting and opponent “reports” now resemble pro ball, and why opportunity matters as much as talent.

After reviewing some hits and misses from last year’s freshman projections, Hunt names five potential immediate-impact newcomers: Oregon State's Blake Bowen, South Carolina's Ethan Bass, Vanderbilt's Gunnar Skelton, Clemson's Chase Kiker, and Vanderbilt's James Tronstein. They also cover Duke’s...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons break down college baseball's biggest offseason winners. Using Kendall Rogers' offseason recap as a guide, they evaluate which programs are best positioned for 2027 after balancing roster retention, transfer portal additions and incoming recruiting classes.

The duo discusses why LSU and Tennessee set the standard this summer, how Oklahoma continues to defy expectations under Skip Johnson and why Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Southern California and Texas A&M all have compelling cases as offseason winners despite different roster outlooks.

They also share why Mississippi State deserves...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss how college coaches can help hitters with chase and in-zone contact challenges, especially as more talented power hitters slip through the draft due to swing-and-miss concerns.

The duo explores why some high-strikeout hitters are still worth betting on, using examples like Jac Caglianone, Vance Honeycutt and Tague Davis, and breaks down the difference between improving chase decisions and improving contact ability. They discuss how training tools, better swing decisions and count-specific approaches can help hitters maximize their offensive impact.

Burkie and Roons also debate...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons run back Part 2 on the top 2027 draft-eligible hitters. They dig into Brodie Johnston’s year-over-year improvement at Vanderbilt, Trent Grindlinger’s standout contact and barrel metrics and the importance of proving he can catch, and why Jimmy Janicki’s big-stage performance could keep him in top-15 territory.

The conversation also covers Nate Savoie’s track record and power indicators heading into SEC play, Adrian “A-Rod” Rodriguez’s massive postseason surge and shortstop outlook, Bino Watters as a wait-and-see power bet at LSU, and Stanford’s Teddy Tokheim’s elite zone-conta...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss the top pitching prospects in the 2027 MLB Draft.

They start the episode, however, by recapping Burkie’s weekend at the Prep Baseball Futures Games in Atlanta, noting how turf at LakePoint helped games resume quickly after weather delays and describing the varied coach “vibes” and challenges of evaluating players in showcase settings. They discuss how modern roster limits and nonstop portal/combine recruiting force programs to prioritize only a few targets, and how recruiting remains unstable even after commitments.

The episode then shifts to 2027 draft...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss early 2027 draft outlooks, focusing on a standout group of sophomore (rising junior) hitters. They start with Brendan Lawson’s combination of power and strike-zone control, debate his long-term defensive home, and note improved defense late in the year, contrasting traditional stats with underlying data.

They cover Landon Hairston’s elite at-bats and top-10 potential despite a smaller left-field profile, then break down West Virginia’s Gavin Kelly as a rapidly improving bat with emerging power and possible catcher/second-base versatility.

The conversation highlights Chase Fralic...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss upcoming rules aimed at speeding up college baseball, including ABS (automated balls and strikes) approved for 2027 and two experimental conference-only rules: a two-disengagement limit and a three-batter minimum for pitchers.

Burkie shares observations from Hoover, explaining how ABS may effectively expand the strike zone via a buffer area, leading to more called strikes, and how challenge strategy can influence outcomes.

They also cover practical implementation details for schools with TrackMan but limited video board capabilities. The duo debates...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss the winners of the draft and go through notable college players returning to school or going undrafted.

The duo highlights top players returning to college baseball in 2027, led by Oklahoma State slugger Kollin Ritchie (31 HR) and several UNC returners, plus names like Ryan Zuckerman, Ricky Ojeda, Jarren Purify, Tyler Minick, Caden McDonald, and Ethan Mendoza.

They discuss how NIL money, extra eligibility, and changing draft economics are keeping players in college longer, and debate what that means for MLB development and today’s faster-moving mi...

Burkie and Roons recap a rapidly changing MLB Draft landscape, focusing on how NIL, expanded college eligibility, and a shortened development path are influencing player leverage and pushing more talent toward college baseball. They discuss MLB’s apparent shift toward prioritizing contact and track record over swing-and-miss profiles and pure home-run totals, using examples such as Derek Curiel, Zion Rose, AJ Gracia, and the "slide" of toolsy but "lower-contact" hitters like Justin LeBron and Daniel Jackson.

The episode runs through notable first-round storylines, including Roch Cholowsky, Vahn Lackey, top arm Jackson Flora, surprise pick Jake Schaffner, Ace Re...

Mike Rooney and D1Baseball/Prep Baseball’s David Seifert preview this weekend's MLB Draft. They discuss D1Baseball’s Top 250 Collegiate Prospect Ranking list, mock drafts and draft recaps, and how signability & team preferences could shuffle the top of the board among Grady Emerson, Roch Cholowsky, and Vahn Lackey.

Roons & Seif break down top college arms Jackson Flora and Tyler Bremner, Seifert’s preference for pitchers with feel for spin, and debates key top-10 talents Tyler Bell, Drew Burress, and Chris Hacopian. They also highlight late risers from Omaha and beyond, including Owen Hull, Cam Kozeal, Brenda...

On this episode of D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons recap Super Regionals, starting with Oklahoma’s dominant performance over Kansas and the impact of Kyson Witherspoon and the Sooners’ relentless offense. They break down North Carolina’s tight, compelling series with USC, discuss Texas sweeping Oregon in Austin, and debate Oregon’s inability to “knock down the last door.” 

The duo highlights Ole Miss’ clean play in a strong showing against Auburn and celebrates Little Rock, Cal Poly, and St. John’s reaching the Supers stage. They then turn their discussion to the Georgia–Mississippi State Super, in particular, an a...

Burkie and Roons open by apologizing for being off their game on the previous podcast, then refocus on 2026 “Squeeze Play” takeaways from the NCAA baseball regionals. They highlight the paradox of seven SEC teams reaching supers alongside two four-seeds (Little Rock and St. John’s) winning regionals, plus standout winner-take-all results like Oklahoma and Troy winning game sevens and UCLA’s collapse. They recall memorable atmospheres and storylines, including Kentucky vs. West Virginia, Lincoln’s extra-inning battles, Alabama State vs. Oklahoma State, and cold-weather teams surging late like Milwaukee and St. John’s. They note stats such as eight leagues repr...

Burkie and Roons return to the D1 Daily Podcast after a broadcasting hiatus to recap a memorable NCAA baseball postseason and Oklahoma’s historic national championship run. They discuss how Oklahoma won on the road against Big 12 champ Kansas and ACC champ Georgia Tech. They review the unlikely offensive surges from players like Deiten LaChance and Kyle Branch, and key pitching contributions from Cord Rager, LJ Mercurius, and Gavin Jones....among many others.

Burkie and Roons then compare Oklahoma’s run to past champions like Ole Miss and Fresno State, debate whether the power display was sustainable, and...

Kendall Rogers, Aaron Fitt, Bradley Smart, and Joe Healy are LIVE at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to preview the 2026 Men's College World Series field. They go team by team, discussing how each team got to Omaha, players to watch, and how each could take the title. The guys also make their picks for each side of the bracket and then the 2026 champ!

00:00 WELCOME TO OMAHA!

01:26 BRACKET ONE

02:03 WEST VIRGINIA

08:13 TROY

13:09 NORTH CAROLINA

20:14 OLE MISS

31:42 BRACKET ONE PICKS

35:50 BRACKET TWO<...

On this episode of the D1Baseball Podcast, Mike Rooney, Aaron Fitt, Kendall Rogers, and Bradley Smart recap an upset-filled regional weekend and look ahead to the eight super regional contests.

07:02 Pressure and Clutch Debate

11:38 Regional Weekend Highlights

13:08 ACC Fallout and Little Rock Buzz

14:51 West Virginia Song Moment

16:37 USC Upsets Texas A&M

21:03 Super Regional: Cal Poly vs. WVU

27:38 Little Rock at Troy Preview

35:34 USC Pitching and Table Setters

38:20 UNC vs USC Matchup Keys

43:15 Auburn vs Ole Miss Preview<...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons share how fans can interact during Opening Day of Squeeze Play by tweeting their viewing setups, snacks, best GIFs, and in-game “Hey Now” and “Real Dude” moments, plus alerts for the “oh my gosh we’re gonna win” and “low oxygen” zones. They discuss potential pressure points for hosts like Texas and Mississippi State, debate pitching strategy and “pitching off,”.

The Real Dudes segment highlights Golden Spikes contenders Roch Cholowsky, Landon Hairston, and Daniel “Rhino” Jackson, plus Owen Hull’s RBI totals and RISP production.

On this episode of the D1Baseball Podcast, Mike Rooney, Aaron Fitt, Kendall Rogers, Mark Etheridge, and Bradley Smart preview all 16 regionals set to take place this weekend, giving their players to watch and major themes for each team.

02:34 Format and Bracket Plan

04:35 Los Angeles Regional

08:33 Morgantown Regional

11:45 Hattiesburg Regional

16:33 Gainesville Regional

20:20 Chapel Hill Regional

25:21 College Station Regional

29:52 Lincoln Regional

33:59 Auburn Regional

37:22 Atlanta Regional

42:04 Lawrence Regional

48:07 Tallahassee Regional

51:31 Tuscaloosa Regional

55:23 Austin...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons kick off Regional week with bracket excitement, travel nerves, and anticipation for blending their podcast community with the Squeeze Play crew. They share big-picture NCAA tournament reactions—praising Georgia, UCLA, and Georgia Tech for winning both regular-season and tournament titles, while debating UCLA’s recent close-game vibe and tough regional draw.

They highlight intriguing regionals and matchups, including (former) Pac-12 rivals colliding in Eugene, Miami heading to Florida despite defensive issues, Missouri State vs. Arkansas, North Carolina’s difficult path, and a potential A&M offense vs. USC pi...

On this episode of The D1Baseball Podcast, Aaron Fitt, Kendall Rogers and Mark Etheridge react to the unveiling of the 2026 NCAA tournament field.

00:00 Bracket Is Set

00:23 Mercer Snub Debate

01:21 Sun Belt vs Bubble Teams

02:18 Kentucky Gets In

03:44 Seeding Surprises

05:26 S Curve Seeding Theory

07:47 Last Four In Out

08:56 Committee Favoritism Check

10:16 Toughest Regionals

11:07 Oregon State, USC Undervalued

13:05 Starkville Draw Talk

15:13 Best 1 vs 4 Matchups

16:34 Georgia Tech Looks Unstoppable

17:40 First-Time Hosts Pressure

Kendall Rogers and Aaron Fitt are joined by D1Baseball’s resident bracketologist, Mark Etheridge, to discuss how the Field of 64 looks on the eve of Selection Monday!

00:40 Selection Eve Kickoff

01:36 Conference Double Champs

02:28 Host Picks Debate

06:37 Oregon State/USC Snubs

08:43 Ranking Top Seeds

10:28 Auburn/UNC/Texas

13:49 Top Eight Bubble

21:51 Committee Conflict Talk

25:20 Final Host Order

31:23 Seeding Through 32

36:57 Two Seed Debates

39:26 Arizona State Case

42:59 Seed List Locked In

43:37 A10 and ACC Au...

On this episode of Sidearm Delivery, the head coaches of the first two teams to punch their tickets to the NCAA Tournament join Shotgun Spratling.

0:00 Welcome Back!

02:26 Yale's Brian Hamm

29:45 Holy Cross' Ed Kahovec

First, Yale head coach Brian Hamm chats about taking the Bulldogs back to a regional for the first time since 2017 and only second time in more than 30 years. Hamm talks about what the title means for the program they are building in New Haven where they continue to attract top talent...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons kick off conference tournament week and look ahead to regionals and Selection Monday. They discuss the rising Big Ten/West Coast presence after watching Oregon vs. USC, including the idea of multiple Big Ten teams reaching Omaha. Burkie shares in-person takeaways on Georgia, spotlighting Daniel Jackson’s SEC Triple Crown, base-stealing impact, and Golden Spikes case, plus Georgia’s depth, vibes, and matchup-based roster usage under Wes Johnson. Roons recaps seeing Georgia Tech vs. Boston College, praising Tech’s star power, depth, hit tool, and ACC-leading ERA.

They c...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons recap weekend standouts with their “Real Dudes”, highlighting Hawaii RHP Isaiah Magdaleno’s dominant recent stretch and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey’s huge week while noting the Yellow Jackets’ loaded lineup. They spotlight Texas A&M’s Gavin Grahovac as one of the nation’s hottest hitters since late March, plus big production from Maryland’s Paul Jones II and continued power from Quinton Coats. The pitching conversation turns to a National Pitcher of the Year debate between Mason Edwards and UC Santa Barbara’s Jackson Flora. They finish the show wi...

Kendall Rogers and Aaron Fitt are joined by D1Baseball’s resident bracketologist, Mark Etheridge, to discuss how the Field of 64 looks heading into conference tournament week!

00:00 Regular-Season Wrap

00:17 Debating Top Seed

00:48 Georgia Tech vs UCLA

03:23 Georgia's Case

04:21 Next Seeds Debate

06:46 Texas vs Auburn

09:28 Alabama Jumps In

11:52 Southern Miss Argument

20:21 Texas A&M Gets Nod

24:30 Hosts 12-16

30:10 Oregon vs Oregon State

35:09 Sorting Next Tier

37:52 Two-Seed Picture

41:06 Bubble Two Seeds

44:48 Co...