This place is never devoid of knocking people on their canastas, be it an out-of-conference team or cannibalizing their own. High expectations usually tend to be met with thorns, not roses. Just ask any of the recent conference favorites. This year will be an 11-man battle royale. No holds barred.

2009 in a Paragraph:
Last year, I had James Madison as the league favorite and teams like Towson and William & Mary as contending teams. Guess what? Those three all finished below the conference Mendoza Line, at 7th place or worse. Mason rode a team-full of returning experience to roar to the conference crown by a more-than-comfortable margin. GMU, with its 40 wins and malaise setting in, made way for Georgia State to get hot at the right time and blow through the CAA tourney field. Both teams came up snake-eyes in the Big Dance, not being able to make much of a statement.

Conference RPI: 14

2009 Results:
1- George Mason, 19-5
2- Georgia State, 12-9
3- UNC Wilmington, 10-8
4- Northeastern, 13-11
4- Old Dominion, 13-11
6- Delaware, 11-10
7- James Madison, 12-11
8- Towson, 12-12
9- William & Mary, 9-14
10- Virginia Commonwealth, 8-16
11- Hofstra, 6-18

2010 in a Paragraph:
Take a quick gander down at the number of returning pitchers to this conference. Go ahead, I’ll wait… (time passes)… See? The Colonial is chock-full of flingers for just about every team in the loop. That’s great news. Look for a real jump in quality – and RPI – for the CAA in 2010. Mason should remain as the team with the bulls-eye on its back, even though they’re roster took some hits. They won’t have the luxury of clinching the title so early this year. In fact, they’ll be lucky to still have their heads above water as teams like JMU and UNCW both look ready to get back to championship caliber play. Almost everybody is given a puncher’s chance in this fight – save possibly for VCU and Hofstra. With the pitching ready to go, this race could come down to whoever can muster the best offense and play the steadiest defense. But again, anybody in the favorites role here is usually the kiss of death. Let’s find out how this plays out in 2010.

Favorites: UNC-Wilmington, JMU, Georgia State, George Mason

Contender: Old Dominion, Towson

Darkhorse: Northeastern

Can’t-Miss Series of the Year: UNCW at James Madison, April 16-18.

Best Non-Conference Series: George Mason at Winthrop, Feb. 20-21.

Hot Coach: Greg Frady, Georgia State

Hot Seat Coach: Paul Keyes, VCU

The “You Gotta See” Player: SS Jake McAloose, Old Dominion

Three Non-Conference Series CAA Opponents Better Take Seriously:
1- JMU at Baseball at the Beach, Feb. 26-28. (CCU, NCSU, UC Irvine)
2- Towson at Tulane, March 12-14
3- Georgia State at Florida State, Feb. 19-21

Three Bold Predictions:
1- CAA becomes a three-bid league for 2010.
2- UNCW won’t be in at-large consideration, but will win CAA tourney on home field.
3- Fans are going to be bummed when they realize Georgia State-JMU does not show up on the schedule this year.

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- DELAWARE (28-20, 11-10)
2009 RPI: 107
Starters Returning: 3
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
3B Carlos Alonso (.380-4-37, 12SBs)
2B Pat Dameron (.362-5-35)
1B Ryan Cuneo (.285-17-56)
RHP Corey Crispell (5-4, 3.88, 3svs)
RHP Rich O’Donald (5-4, 4.32, .244OBA)

The Good News:
The Hens made some solid strides in 2009, getting back to a winning mark and moving up to 6th place in the CAA. Most of the pitching returns from a squad that was 4th in the CAA with a 5.43 ERA. O’Donald and RHP Brian Rorick (4-3, 4.95) are weekend returnees that both threw three complete games last year. Likewise, Crispell and RHP Michael Londino (2-0, 4.56) both are good bullpenners that will step up even more this season. As you see above, three-fourths of the infield return to improve the defense.

The Bad News:
Most of the hitting and the power from the lineup has moved on, including 57 of the 84 home runs. A new catcher and a whole new outfield must be cultivated from a crop a newbies. Despite all of the quality pitching that returns to the squad, there is still just one left-handed arm still around on the staff. And just for the record, let’s hope there is not another swine flu scare to cancel a weekend of games like the UNCW series last April.

Schedule Note:
Here’s to a warm third month.
Oddly, and despite their northern locale, the Blue Hens are scheduled to play 14 home games in the month of March. Beginning with a solid test against the Jaspers of Manhattan in a four-game weekend and concluding with a game vs. Lafayette as part of the Liberty Bell Classic. Oh, and just like last season, this team will be stuck on busses most of the season, playing all but three of their games within a couple hours drive of Newark.

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- GEORGE MASON (42-14, 19-5)
2009 RPI: 49
Starters Returning: 3
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Kevin Crum (8-4, 4.64)
RHP Kris Mengle (3-1, 4.89)
3B Mark Hill (.327-3-26)
1B Shane Davis (.318-6-29)
2B/SS Ryan Soares (.318-11-42)

The Good News:
Last pre-season I said this team was ready for a giant run to the post-season, and well, they made that run (and made me look like I knew what the hell I was talkin’ about… thanks Pats). Mason was also the first team in college baseball to clinch a conference title last season, doing so with almost three weeks left in the season. Coach Bill Brown has toiled for 28 years in Fairfax and it was good to see his ‘09 team set the school record with 42 wins. For 2010, he’s got four of the top six returning pitchers from last year’s team as valuable seniors, including weekend starters Crum and Mengle mentioned above. There is also RHP Ryan Brecko (2-1, 3.89, 6svs), the ace reliever, and LHP Dan Gerjets (3-2, 6.25), who was a mid-week starter. Keep in mind the Patriots were the best staff in the CAA at 4.45 and gave up just 164 walks. And I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not, but GMU had a school-record five players drafted last June, marking a real turning point in the program.

The Bad News:
Mason ended the 2009 season on a four-game losing streak with some pretty bad routs, including the losses to South Carolina and Binghamton. They’ll also lose a handful of arms that were really valuable, including 11-game winner Mike Modica and two solid relievers in Ben Reade and Shawn Griffith, who combined to go 7-1 and had the two best ERAs on the squad. Five batters that went .285 or better have also flown the coop including Chris Henderson, who hit .413, and Scott Krieger, who went .372. Between the two of them they hit 34 home runs and slugging percentages above .700+. Oh yeah, and they were all All CAA last season. The defense needs to be re-worked and will need 3B/2B Dan Palumbo, a part-time starter in ‘09, to revert to his 2007 form where he hit .315.

Schedule Note:
Ready to pile up the Ws again.
George Mason’s school record of 42 wins last season may get a run for its money as they’ll welcome a host of northern teams in the pre-CAA portion of the schedule. They’ll have weekenders against the likes of Monmouth, Fordham, Central Connecticut and Duquesne. The opening weekend will be the only sweat-breakers as they’ll play a pair of games at Winthrop. They’ll also get contenders like Georgia State, Old Dominion and UNC-Wilmington at home this season.

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- GEORGIA STATE (39-22, 12-9)
2009 RPI: 97
Starters Returning: 3
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4

All Conference Candidates:
3B Bradley Logan (.301-10-49, 11SBs)
UTL Brandon Williams (.310, 3rd team All CAA)
OF Mark Micowski (.365, 28SBs, All AmEast at Vermont)
RHP Ryan Moore (7-2, 4.41, 2nd team All CAA)
LHP Aidan Francis (5-1, 4.15, 3rd team All CAA)
RHP Justin Malone (1-0, 1.35, 7svs, Frosh All Am.)

The Good News:
Talk about impressive, coach Frady led the Panthers to a school record win total for the second straight year, nearly missing the 40-win plateau. Oh yeah, and there’s that CAA tourney championship and that whole going-to-the-NCAAs thing too. Bravo peeps. Moore, Francis and the talented Malone are good hurlers to rebuild around. Despite some losses, there is plenty of talent coming in to the program this season. Keep tabs on Mikowski, who comes in from Vermont after their program was discontinued and brings great speed. Also watch for RHP David Buchanan, an incoming J.C. All American and 6th round draft pick of the Mets who should make a huge splash right from pitch No. 1.

The Bad News:
The 2009 team was chock full of seniors as five of the top seven hitters are gone from last year as are three of the top four starting pitchers on the staff. The Panther pitchers threw 474 strikeouts last season, but most of those are gone from the team for this season. The infield will see an infusion of new talent around 3B Logan and must mesh together. Look for new 2B Rob Lind, a J.C. All American, to bring some stability and try to improve on last year’s .961 fielding percentage.

Schedule Note:
Seminole chopped, then easier sailing.
Georgia State opens the season at FSU as sacrificial lambs, but the remainder of the pre-conference schedule is much more manageable and will help the Panthers build some confidence going into CAA play. Games at New Mexico State should be interesting, as will the pair of mid-weekers against Kennessaw State. Thus is the life of a good mid-major.

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- HOFSTRA (11-32, 6-18)
2009 RPI: 249
Starters Returning: 2
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 1

All Conference Candidates:
OF John Kenny (.288, 16SBs)
2B/3B Matt Prokipowicz (.344)
RHP Rob Kumbatovic (4-8, 7.61)
RHP Jeff Guthridge (4-2, 4.38, 3svs)

The Good News:
Head coach Patrick Anderson brought re-newed enthusiasm and is in his second year at the helm. And you know how a program usually improves in its second season under new leadership. Though modest it may be, Hofstra won its final four games from last year, including a sweep of William & Mary. Kenny and Prokopowicz are legit threats at the dish and lead by example. Good newcomers, including OF Ethan Paquette, who hit .296-9-46 at Vermont last season. Also watch for Iona transfer 3B Mike Walraven and C Kevin Flynn, a JC All American last year.

The Bad News:
Since changing their nickname from the not-offensive “Flying Dutchmen” to the confusing “Pride” Hofstra has finished in last place each of the last four CAA seasons. Sorry guys, time to change your name back. There was a lot of experience going into last year and still the win total dipped to just 11 Ws. Is there hope for this program? Lots of new players will mean some bumps along the way until the team jells. Let’s hope their confidence is still intact at that time.

Schedule Note:
Just doesn’t seem fair.
How is it this team still keeps playing such murderous non-conference schedules? Once again the Pride will take a dose in Tallahassee against Florida State (3 games) and will also play at Troy, at Maryland and at Penn State before CAA play starts. There are some winnable games against the likes of Temple, Villanova, St. Joseph’s and Fairfield.

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- JAMES MADISON (30-24, 12-11)
2009 RPI: 98
Starters Returning: 8
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 5

All Conference Candidates:
1B/RHP Trevor Knight (.377-14-55/3-2, 4.32, 56Ks in 41inns)
RHP Kevin Munson (3-3, 2.85, 9svs)
RHP Turner Phelps (8-2, 5.33, 90Ks)
OF Matt Townsend (.390-17-59, 17SBs)
SS David Herbek (.370-10-54, 18SBs)
2B Mike Fabiaschi (.328, 13SBs)
OF Alex Foltz (.351, 14SBs)
OF Matt Browning (.376-9-59, 14SBs)
RHP Kyle Hoffman (6-5, 6.64 in ‘08)

The Good News:
There’s a reason Spanky McFarland is grinning from ear to ear right about now. Lots, lots, lots of experience returns to his team, including the top six hitters (who hit .328 or better), two weekend starters (Turner and Evan Scott, 5-4/6.93) and his relief ace (Munson). Look at the numbers above, these guys have some mad skills, as everyone can smoke the ball and steal bases. Expect a lot of energy from this high-octane offense in 2010. Hoffman, a former Friday starter, is a welcome addition after sitting out with an injury in ‘09. Also keep an eye on LHP Sean Teirney, a former Virginia Cavalier and 35th round pick of Boston, who should help solidify an already deep pitching staff.

The Bad News:
The Dukes took the “favorites” role into last season, but saw them crumble to finish 7th and out of the CAA post-season. A 1-5 stretch at the end killed their hopes of advancing. When they lost, they tended to lose pretty badly. Out of the 24 losses, only five were by less than three runs. The pitchers have experience and all, but their numbers must improve as well, as they had a team ERA of 6.84 and opponents hit .300 off of them… nothing an additional year of season couldn’t cure, right? Let’s hope so.

Schedule Note:
Noticeably tougher.
This year’s slate is quite the challenge. In one five-day stretch in week two of the season, JMU will play Coastal Carolina, N.C. State, UC Irvine and Virginia. They’ll also take a road trip to Kennessaw State and play at East Carolina this year. But again, they should have the team that could handle such rigors.

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- UNC-WILMINGTON (31-23, 10-8)
2009 RPI: 64
Starters Returning: 8
Weekend Starters: 3
Mid-Week Starters: 3
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 5

All Conference Candidates:
C Cody Stanley (.332-12-56)
2B Ben Thielsen (.309)
LHP Steven Davis (5-2, 5.01, 3svs)
RHP Stephen Harrold (4-1, 5.08)
OF Grayson Evans (.314)
RHP Daniel Cropper (5-2, 5.46)

The Good News:
It says a good bit about your program when a team finishes in third place in its conference and wins 31 games and it’s considered a “down” season. That’s UNCW for you. The ‘Hawks come back with just about their whole team intact from last season. There’s a lot to like about this team, including the double-play combo of Thielsen and SS Mike Rooney (.341), who should improve the .966 defense. The offense only hit .292 (don’t worry, they’ll get better), but did whatever they had to getting on base, including 231BBs, 63HBPs and only hit into 27 double plays. That’s good discipline. The best name in college baseball may be RHP Blaze Tart, who was also a 33rd round pick for the Red Sox and comes to the Wilmington campus.

The Bad News:
UNCW started out 17-3 last season, then lost to UNC, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, George Mason and N.C. State as part of an eight-game skid. The Seahawks played sporadically from that point on. The weekend rotation returns but had ERAs of 5.46, 5.76 and 6.70. Because of that, look for RHP Tyler McSwain (2-1, 3.80) to pick up more responsibility this season. Other than McSwain, ace reliever Bran Booth (2-1, 3.31, 6svs) was the only other hurler with an ERA less than 5.00. A dominant Friday starter needs to be found. Stanley and Rooney combined for 12 triples last season, but only stole 15 bases between them. They’ll have to apply more pressure this season.

Schedule Note:
34.
The Seahawks will play 34 home games this season, including 22 of 24 home dates between February 26th and April 4th. Unfortunately, the pre-CAA slate is pretty easy, except for the hosting of Rhode Island in the weekend before the conference dogfight begins… keep this fact in mind when it comes to comparing RPIs in May. They’ll host both George Mason and Georgia State in CAA play.

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- NORTHEASTERN (28-25, 13-11)
2009 RPI: 117
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 2

All Conference Candidates:
LHP Andrew Leenhouts (1-1, 2.37, 3svs)
LHP Charly Bashara (3-1, 2.84, .262OBA)
RHP Les Williams (1-3, 3.96)
OF Frank Compagnone (.343)
OF Matt Miller (.310)
1B Brendan Stokes (.299-5-20)

The Good News:
Huskies hope to ride the momentum of a 4th place finish in 2009. Not bad for a program stuck way up in New England playing against a lot of southern conference mates. Coach Neil McPhee always puts a heavy emphasis on bringing in good pitchers and builds his teams with a lean toward a disciplined plate attack and he’ll have a good bit coming back for 2010. Best of all, four of the six returnees will be left-handed flingers, including weekend starter Ryan Quigley (3-5, 6.35, .268OBA) and mid-week starter J.T. Ross (5-1, 3.90, .251OBA). Typical of the Huskies, they finished 2009 with the 2nd-best ERA in the conference at 4.60. SS Ryan Maguire (.295-6-23) will team with Stokes to get the infield re-built and improve on the .964 defense.

The Bad News:
Lots of attrition in the batting order, including leading hitter Mike Tamsin and No. 3 hitter James Donaldson, both of whom manned spots in the infield as well. Those are big losses. There is a virtual power-outage as well since only 20 home runs return to the lineup card. Saves specialists like Russ Lloyd and Dan Zehr, both of whom had ERAs in the low 3s, have also hit the road for this season, as has Jeff Thompson, who was the most-used pitcher in the arsenal. Northeastern also had the lowest batting average in the CAA at a wimpy .287.

Schedule Note:
Most of the right ones at home.
CAA contenders like George Mason, UNCW and ODU will all make the longest trek in the conference up to Boston to play the Huskies. But the ending will be a bit on the harsh side, playing at Maine, at Georgia State, at Rhode Island and at Delaware in their final eight games of the season. Let’s hope NU doesn’t get worn down from that.

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- OLD DOMINION (22-27, 13-11)
2009 RPI: 157
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 2

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Ben Tomchick (5-3, 3.51)
SS Jake McAloose (.413-6-44, 1st team All-CAA)
RHP/1B Brett Harris (6-4, 4.95/.303)

The Good News:
Most of the team returns for 2010, including 19 of the 24 lettermen. Gotta love the leadership of McAloose and having a pair of anchors behind the plate like Joe Valleggia (.281-4-12, injury-shortened ‘09), who was drafted by the Orioles this past summer but returns to ODU, and Edgar Hernandez (.981 fielding). OF Josh Wright (.263-11-49) is a good power source who led the Monarchs in yard calls. Harris had a great frosh year at the dish and on the rubber and should only get better, which is scary. Lots of arms return from a youthful staff (5.51 team ERA).

The Bad News:
Ever since their pre-season top 25 ranking before the 2008 season, ODU has crumbled to a pair of losing seasons. McAloose and Wright are the only bats with some power remaining on a team that hit just 35HRs. Much of the infield that accounted for a solid .972 fielding percentage must be replaced. Cameron Scott (.254, 18SBs) must get on base more to utilize his speed. Need to establish a dominant closer.

Schedule Note:
Expect a hot start.
With weekenders like Fordham, Bucknell and LaSalle, the Monarchs should get out to a good start to the season. But the CAA part of the slate gets off to a rousing start with home weekends against Georgia State and James Madison, two of the expected contenders.

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- TOWSON (28-25, 12-12)
2009 RPI: 152
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 3
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
SS Nick Natoli (.349 in ‘08)
CF Kevin Collins (.335-14-56, 11SBs, 2nd team All CAA)
2B Chris Wychock (.310-14-51, 2nd team All CAA)
OF Austin Harclerode (.329-9-29)

The Good News:
It has become typical of the Tigers, but this team had a lot of bite at the dish last year and it will carry over to 2010. Always potent, they went out and set a new school mark with their .321 team average and blasted a CAA-best 97 HRs. Damn. They’ll have four of the top six hitters from that lineup returning. Best news of the off-season was that SS Nick Natoli will return to his infield leadership post after sitting out ‘09. He was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year in ‘08. His example on infield mates 3B Steve Yarsinsky (.332-8-49) and 2B Chris Wychock (.310) will make them better.

The Bad News:
In eight years of CAA play, Towson has still had only two winning CAA campaigns. That season-ending loss to Northeastern last May cost them a spot in the CAA tourney. On top of that, a horrible 7.81 team ERA makes you wonder how this team won 28 games. SS Gary Helmick, a 3rd team All American, has gone missing, along with No. 2 hitter Matt Collins. All the pitchers need to batten down the hatches this year if they’re going to have a chance.

Schedule Note:
Not good places to go with weak pitching.
You guys ready to skew the numbers a bit? That’s what early season trips to play four games against Arizona State and Tulane will do to the numbers. Hell, even the weekend at High Point could be a bruise to the ego. Oh, then look down the slate some more, here’s another out of conference weekend with a trip to… gulp, N.C. State. Let’s hope the pitching staff stays intact.

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- VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH (20-26, 8-16)
2009 RPI: 187
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 0
Mid-Week Starters: 0
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 2

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Robbie Andrews (1-1, 5.56, 2svs)
3B Joe Van Meter (.347)
SS Doug Otto (.343)
OF Andrew Dimino (.323, 25SBs)

The Good News:
Last year VCU seemed ready to make that post-season run, especially after sitting at 18-12 and 6-4 in the first 30 games. The infield play of Van Meter and Otto should solidify the infield and improve the .958 defense. The offense improved from .283 in ‘08 to .299 last season, and also got an infusion of speed (77SBs) that should carry over to this year. Good news is on the way too as Collegiate Baseball ranked the VCU recruiting class as the best in the Colonial and has gems in RHP Blake Hauser (25th round pick of Cleveland) and OF John Lenherr, a J.C. All American.

The Bad News:
Aye! 2009 was the Rams’ second straight losing season, the only two losing marks since 1995. The 2-14 finish doomed them to a sub-.500 mark. And the big problem for this year, obviously, is the dearth of pitching. The Rams are just about the only team in the CAA not to return a host of experience on the rubber. So lots of new arms must perform right away. Last year’s staff only struck out 268 batters, so they’ll need to establish more of a presence in ‘10.

Schedule Note:
A false sense of security coming.
Judging by the Ram schedule for 2010, it looks like an easy start to the regular season (Charleston Southern, Fairfield and Cleveland State) and especially to the CAA play (William & Mary and Hofstra). So get your wins early guys, it could be a rough ending again.

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- WILLIAM & MARY (24-25, 9-14)
2009 RPI: 165
Starters Returning: 4
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
C Chris Forsten (.282)
1B Tadd Bower (.279)
RHP Matt Davenport (6-2, 4.71)
RHP Jay McCarthy (2-3, 5.23, .248OBA)
RHP Logan Billbrough (3-3, 4.20, 3svs)

The Good News:
Fiery head coach Frank Leoni is going to like his pitching staff for 2010, particularly the depth, which will give his team a better chance at success. The team ERA of 5.79 and the defense turning 56 double plays (15th in the nation) shows there are signs of light at the end of the tunnel. Billbrough, McCarthy and RHP Garrison Sarrett (0-1, 4.70, 30.2inns) are decent bullpen arms and bring a change of pace with their varied style. Forsten is a good commander to have them toss strikes to as well, always a comfort for a team to have.

The Bad News:
The Tribe started out last year going 5-12 in pre-conference play and never fully recovered. The only bats to hit .300 or better are all graduated now, leaving a power-outage and a big loss of speed on the basepaths. Cole Shain (2-2, 8.22) and Tim Norton (3-3, 6.42) had 17 starts between them in ‘09, but must post better numbers and less walks. The defense played well below par, at a CAA-worst .950 pace. Tsk. Tsk.

Schedule Note:
Easy… except that 800-pound gorilla in the room.
W&M’s 2010 slate is a little easier and should help them build some confidence that the Tribe seemed to lose early on last season. But then again, there’s that weekend No. 2 staring them in the face. That’s the weekend they travel to LSU. Yep. That national championship team. If they survive with their dignity intact, weekends against UMES, Seton Hall, Quinnipiac and UMass should allow for some Ws before CAA play.