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Story in Tuesday's Herald. I'd feel better if last year's ballyhooed class had done a bit more, but still...

Mervyl Melendez seems like he can recruit, but the results on the field are less than acceptable. We continue to underachieve even though he has all of "his" players on the roster. His two year record of mediocrity is proof. I must admit that I initially thought this was a good hire but I'm beginning to have my reservations. Melendez wasn't hired to be a .500 coach - we had that with Turtle Thomas. I know we were "young" last year, blah, blah.... Coach Melendez, it's time to put up, shut up or go away...

His first year he didn’t have time to recruit. Last season was his true first year here, and results were just around .500. While I don’t share your extreme sense of urgency, it’s evident Meléndez has to have a good first year. I’m actually confident FIU will start seeing a winner and consistency in this program soon. He’s been pretty successful at both places he has coached. Go Panthers!

Last year we had a great class, but because they were so great, many of the best players went on to MLB minor league teams

I don't care for the recruiting rankings.... Just win already.

Football at least is showing a correlation between improved recruiting and improved play (wins)

You cannot write someone off two years in. It takes four years to really judge a coach.

FIU is up to number 8 in national rankings.

Not writing anyone off. But, I must say, it's really not what I expected year two to be.
This is a big year for Merv.

I'm sure we'll buy some version of season tickets (I loved the old flex pack).

#PawsUp

Merv's built a winner everywhere he's been, especially at the conference level.

He turned BCU into the cream of the MEAC, which is no easy feat.

That says everything I need to know.

I think FIU will be fine, even if he loses a lot of his top guys to the draft every year.

I wouldn't judge him all that much by the recruiting ranking. When you're recruiting at that level, you're going to lose guys to the pros. It's everyone else that will matter. Hopefully, he can develop them, and I think he will.

I'm ready for baseball! Let's go...

#FIU Beisbol

I agree with you FIUPHIL. I also think that this may be a bad hire. Sure MM did well in the SWAC but that's not saying much. My grandma can win the SWAC. And he hired a tournament ball coach as his assistant. Really!!! Who does that. Also he had a better record his first year with TT recruits. I don't think MM is the solution to this team's success. FIU should have made a better hire!

Baseball14. Thanks for the response to my original post. I'm not an "anti MM" person but I do expect results as a fan and strong supporter of the all the programs on campus. Butch Davis turned the football team around (from 4-8 to 8-4) in less than one season and only "had half of a recruiting class" to start with. In season two, we have a chance to make school history - and had a chance to win a conference championship. THAT'S the type of results I expected from the hire of MM. Here's hoping that he is the winner that he is supposed to be. FIUPhil