The D1Baseball Podcast

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 concentr...

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 J...

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...

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 Ky...

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...

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:...

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...

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 pushin...

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 sh...

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 consid...

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 Te...

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 h...

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 shorts...

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 Hitter...

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),...

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 Co...

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 player...

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 St...

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 ha...

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, menta...

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...

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...

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...

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 Savo...

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...