Welp...

...it's now officially football season.

Only half joking.

This is the way the season ends for EVERY Virginia team you really care about.  With a loss.  Don't let that depress you, though!  It's the voyage that counts.  The joy is in the journey.

We'll have a baseball season wrap-up soon, along with a preview of what to expect with the MLB draft and how it could impact the Hoos, plus a comprehensive look at the incoming baseball recruiting class. This week? Maybe?

I think it's really fun projecting the next baseball season right after the current one ends. It's really difficult, given so many moving parts, but it's fun.

One thing to wrap your mind around: In 2013, Virginia Baseball will take the field without a Werman at 2nd base. Crazy.

*sigh*

We just ran into a buzzsaw in Oklahoma's Collin Overton tonight. Halley didn't have his best stuff, King and Fisher couldn't put the bat on the ball. Oh well.

This is a quality program we have here. Quality. No reason for anything other than pride, and excitement for next year.

And one [tongue-in-cheek] silver lining: At least this way we don't have to see what kind of kitchen sink we would have thrown out onto the mound in tomorrow's game(s). Sheesh.

And I'm not going to play the what-if game. Coach O'Connor surprised a lot of people by starting Branden Kline against Army, but Oak's a great coach who had his reasons for making that move. Branden Kline isn't some magic elixir out there. He was a very ordinary pitcher when he wasn't "on," and he was off more often than he was on. He needs to bring his ass back next season and learn how to be a staff ace.

Otherwise, I'm still excited about the starting options for next year: Lewicki, Mayberry (if he's back and healthy), Crockett, Howard, Lisle, Kirby, Sborz. Lots of talented arms, many ready to really mature into quality college starters.

And look at all of these young guys - FRESHMEN - who played a lot of ball this year: Fisher, Irving, Howard, Downes, Towns, Papi (what the hell happened to him, btw???), Cogswell. Man, that's a lot of talent.

Big decisions loom for King, Taylor, Kline, Gragnani, Bruno, and Harrington. Any of those guys we bring back, it's gravy.

39 wins in an obvious rebuilding year, with major problems up and down the pitching staff.  I'd say that's pretty damn good.

Oak's on an every-other-year Omaha rhythm, hitting on the odd years. Next year is 2013. Odd year.

GO HOOS!

Thanks for a great season, Virginia Baseball.