Selecting the All Gotham Teams is hard. Selecting the All Gotham
Division II & III team, well, it makes picking the Division I team
seem easy. Trying to determine who is the best – after taking into
account level of competition – is no easy task. Division II versus
Division III is a rough comparision, especially in Gotham where the
BEAST of the EAST, the New Jersey Athletic Conference resides.
After a banner year in 2007, optimism was high for 2008 for Gotham’s
Division I baseball programs. But despite an improved showing in the
post-season by St. John’s, it was a down season in Gotham, as both
Monmouth and Army missed post-season, despite winning regular season
championships. Several high-profile players moved on at the end of
2007, but several returned for another go in 2008. Did they shine, or
did they struggle? It was a mixed bag.
One of the great things about college baseball is that youth is served
annually. Every year, talented freshmen come in and make an impact,
quickly becoming standouts. The past season was no different. However,
few programs were impacted more greatly than that of Army. The Black
Knights, whose prgram is gaining national prominence over the last few
years (not that anyone seems to notice), had 16 freshmen on their
roster, and several made an impact. Other schools, like St, John's and
Rutgers, who have had some of their best players drafted into the major
leagues, have seen some of their first-year players make some real
progress as well.
The name Caleb Campbell may mean nothing to most Gotham Baseball
readers. Some might recognize the name once it is given some context,
but wonder how it impact Gotham Baseball. It also opens a whole can of
political issues, some of which could influence whom you would vote for
as President of the US.
Campbell, a 7th round selection of the Detroit Lions, played his
football at Army. He was planning on attending the Lions camp, with a
good shot at making the team, utilizing the Army’s Alternative Service
Orders, which allowed Campbell to play football while working as a
recruiter for the Army. Earlier this week, the Army rescinded that
policy, ending Campbell’s participation.
Selecting the All Gotham Teams is hard. Selecting the All Gotham
Division II & III team, well, it makes picking the Division I team
seem easy. Trying to determine who is the best – after taking into
account level of competition – is no easy task. Division II versus
Division III is a rough comparision, especially in Gotham where the
BEAST of the EAST, the New Jersey Athletic Conference resides.
After a banner year in 2007, optimism was high for 2008 for Gotham’s
Division I baseball programs. But despite an improved showing in the
post-season by St. John’s, it was a down season in Gotham, as both
Monmouth and Army missed post-season, despite winning regular season
championships. Several high-profile players moved on at the end of
2007, but several returned for another go in 2008. Did they shine, or
did they struggle? It was a mixed bag.