With the college baseball season set to kick off later this month (Opening Day is Friday, Feb. 20 across the country), now is an ideal time to switch gears and talk some ping.  We’ll dedicate this week’s columns to previewing the 2009 college season.

Here’s the lineup:

Today we’ll give our Preseason Top 40.

Tomorrow we’ll provide our Preseason First Team All-Americans.

Wednesday our Preseason Second Team All-Americans will be available.

Thursday we’ll uncover the Freshman All-Americans.

Finally, Friday we’ll cover the Top 30 Recruits for 2010.

So, without further ado, here’s your Preseason Top 40 for 2009.

 

1) North Carolina

No school has a 1-2 starting pitching tandem as intimidating as Alex White and Matt Harvey. 

 

2) Louisiana State

They have college baseball's most toxic lineup with a perfect mix of speed, power and high average hitters.

 

3) Rice

Will Rick Hague be next year's Grant Green?

 

4) Texas

Chance Ruffin, Brandon Workman, Cole Green, Cameron Rupp, and Kevin Keyes give the 'Horns the best sophomore class in the nation.

 

5) Texas A&M

Barret Loux, Alex Wilson, Brooks Raley, and Clayton Ehlert represent the deepest starting pitching quartet in the country.

 

6) Stanford

Brent Milleville, Joey August, and Jeff Whitlow will add senior experience to an otherwise underwhelming lineup.

 

7) Clemson

Once again, Coach Jack Leggett fields the deepest team in the ACC.

 

8) San Diego

The million-dollar question: Will Kyle Blair be able to replace Brian Matusz at the top of USD's vaunted rotation?

 

9) Georgia Tech

Coach Hall's decision to insert freshman Mark Pope into the closer's role speaks volumes as to the sorry state of the Yellow Jackets' bullpen.

 

10) Missouri

Max Scherzer, Aaron Crow...Kyle Gibson.  Mizzou is developing quite a pitching legacy.

 

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