The D1Baseball Podcast

Burkie and Roons open by discussing how baseball prospects generally face less hype and “bust” labeling than football stars like Arch Manning, while noting that high draft picks who choose college can still carry heavy expectations. They debate whether athletes would prefer today’s world of constant online scrutiny with the chance to make millions versus an earlier era with less public pressure but only scholarship benefits, emphasizing discipline and the idea that “the internet is not real life.”

Shifting to baseball, they use the World Series/playoff lens to examine roster construction, prioritizing unflappable makeup, athleticism, defense, r...

Burkie and Roons discuss D1Baseball’s release of its biennial Top 100 Programs list. Roons describes the staff-wide process and internal debates, noting especially tricky evaluations outside the top tier.

The conversation highlights Texas at No. 2 as a projection based on sustained Omaha appearances and perceived title trajectory, and Oklahoma at No. 7 as a unique case balancing two recent finals appearances with more uneven seasons and a different roster-building model. They identify major movers including Vanderbilt dropping from No. 4 to No. 17 due to recent postseason exits, debate Georgia’s placement at No. 14, and cite heated discussion around the...

Highlighted by seven College World Series appearances, including four-straight trips to Omaha from 2006-2009, Mike Fox built a consistent contender in Chapel Hill over his 22-year stretch. On this episode of Sunday Night Conversations, Mike Rooney is joined by Fox, Robert Woodard and Chad Flack to take a look back at what led up to the initial Omaha run in 2006.

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Mike Rooney and Burkie discuss recent NCAA tournament expansions in college basketball and the College Football Playoff, weighing how added teams might affect entertainment value, regular-season stakes, and bowl relevance.

They then shift to college baseball, proposing an expanded field (e.g., 68 teams) with play-in games: the weakest recent auto-bid leagues playing at the top two national seeds and the “first four out” playing into regionals hosted by the top two-seeds that missed hosting, using five-year RPI and tournament results to determine leagues. They debate potential benefits like compelling Thursday-night TV and more on-campus postseason games versus conc...

Burkie and Roons discuss why the baseball world has embraced Brewers manager Pat Murphy. They argue Murphy’s appeal is that he brings a “baseball coach” mindset to MLB, highlighted by his famous bunt story and Derek Jeter’s praise, and discuss broader differences between coaching in college baseball and managing in the pros. The conversation connects MLB postseason baseball to college conference and tournament play, emphasizing urgency, flexible roles, matchup-based decisions, and doing whatever it takes to win. They note Murphy’s long pro experience, Craig Counsell’s influence, and why adaptable, complete offenses matter, then mention additional college ties...

Winning two national titles and an NCAA-record 22 straight postseason games, Ray Tanner's legacy is cemented in Columbia and across college baseball. On this episode of Sunday Night Conversations, Mike Rooney and Tanner relive the Gamecocks' era of dominance from 2010-2012.

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On this episode of The D1Baseball Podcast, Joe Healy, Kendall Rogers and Aaron Fitt discuss the recently completed top 100 program rankings. They dive deep into the top 10 programs before talking about the team most likely to usurp LSU at the top of the rankings in two years, the team outside the top 10 that will jump into the top 10, big risers, falling teams that will bounce back and teams of note outside the top 100.

00:00 Purgatory Podcast Intro

00:48 Pat Murphy Brewers Buzz

05:33 Murphy Stories and Comparisons

07:27 Top 100 Rankings Setup

09:16 Who...

What separates a good postgame press conference from a bad one? On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss how coaches can handle tough questions, manage their emotions and communicate with their fan bases when things aren't going well. From self-deprecation and humility to avoiding defensiveness and understanding what reporters are really there to do, they break down the do's and don'ts of facing the media after a tough loss.

The guys also discuss Caitlin Clark's impressive end-of-season press conference, why coaches shouldn't take criticism personally and how listening to outside perspectives can help...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss how the low-payroll Rays repeatedly outplayed the Yankees and compare that clash of styles to Oklahoma’s win over Georgia in Omaha, focusing on how resource-limited teams build a clear identity by “zigging” with speed, defense, contact, and situational play. They explore how big-budget organizations can get trapped chasing offseason wins and long contracts for aging players, and why modern efficiency can revive old-school tenets like bunting and athleticism without abandoning power. Drawing on their Arizona State experience, they relate the allure of recruiting-class hype versus solving underlying issues...

The 2012 Stony Brook Seawolves "shocked the world," winning a program-record and NCAA-best 52 games for the team's first College World Series appearance. From winning a regional in Coral Gables to taking down the Tigers in the Baton Rouge Super Regional, the Seawolves became just the second fourth-seed at the time to advance to Omaha. On this episode of Sunday Night Convos, Mike Rooney is joined by Joe Pennucci and Mike Marron to relive the magic of the Seawolves' 2012 season.

Sunday Night Conversations are presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals is the Official Netting Partner of D1Baseball. Netting...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons discuss how SEC football’s week-to-week volatility mirrors modern college baseball parity, driven by the spread of impact transfer-portal talent and the SEC’s disproportionate NIL resources. They emphasize that NIL and the portal are different forces, noting mid-majors can thrive via portal-driven roster age and experience, and arguing the concentration of money in the SEC can still produce MLB-like parity because top transfers get distributed across many motivated programs. The conversation explores how thin margins can hinge on a few under-the-radar players, citing Oklahoma’s title run and other...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Roons and Burkie dive into the MLB postseason, highlighting how elite relief pitching and heightened playoff focus mirror college postseason pressure. They break down key late-inning at-bats against Mason Miller, emphasizing pre–two-strike vs. two-strike approaches, pitch selection, taking walks, and the importance of baserunning, citing moments from players like Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and Sal Frelick. The conversation shifts to MLB’s competitive health, noting that several remaining playoff teams rank low in payroll and arguing baseball’s structure produces more parity than football and basketball. Roons shares a Conor Jackson story...

Coaching 40 years, earning 17 College World Series appearances and becoming the NCAA's all-time winningest head coach are enough to create a legacy. But, Mike Martin's passion for college baseball cements his name in history beyond the record books. On this episode of Sunday Night Convos, Mike Rooney is joined by Link Jarrett, Chris Hart, James Ramsey and Mike Bell to remember the life and impact of Martin, also known as "11."

Sunday Night Conversations are presented by Netting Pros & Stadionic. Netting Professionals is the Official Netting Partner of D1Baseball. Netting Pros' netting and wall padding...

On this episode of the D1 Daily, Burkie and Roons take a look at the former college baseball players expected to make an impact in the MLB playoffs, highlighting stars from programs across the country — including Cam Schlittler (Northeastern), Parker Messick (Florida State), Chase DeLauter (James Madison), Drake Baldwin (Missouri State) and Drew Rasmussen (Oregon State). 

They also discuss Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman, Sonny Gray and others, while giving flowers to standout seasons from players who missed the postseason, including Alec Burleson, Nolan McLean and Pete Alonso. Plus, a look at the remarkable diversity of college backgrounds rep...

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...