[d4cohn]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

I'm new to softball so curious to hear your thoughts. Will a recruiting class of just 5 come back to bite the team in a few years position/depth wise, similar to when FB was having small/unbalanced classes?

I don't think roster size (on the whole) will necessarily come back to bite our team. With Vawter transferring, my biggest concern is do we have enough pitching depth in the event of an injury if Houston is a contributor but not immediately an ace like Canady was. 

Gabi Peters was I believe a Gatorade player of the year from Idaho, and unfortunately only pitched 5 innings in her Cardinal career. I say that to say that being (one of) the best HS player in one's state unfortunately does not always translate to the college game. We will just have to see with Houston in February/March. 

I do disagree with Bob on 4-5 players and whether that is a "small" class or not. Programs with a lot more turnover and players in the portal sometimes have classes with double digit recruits. The reason we don't have classes of those size or even 7-8 players very often is we rarely have outbound transfers, and more rarely inbound transfers.

[d4cohn]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

I'm new to softball so curious to hear your thoughts. Will a recruiting class of just 5 come back to bite the team in a few years position/depth wise, similar to when FB was having small/unbalanced classes?

I don't think roster size (on the whole) will necessarily come back to bite our team. With Vawter transferring, my biggest concern is do we have enough pitching depth in the event of an injury if Houston is a contributor but not immediately an ace like Canady was. 

Gabi Peters was I believe a Gatorade player of the year from Idaho, and unfortunately only pitched 5 innings in her Cardinal career. I say that to say that being (one of) the best HS player in one's state unfortunately does not always translate to the college game. We will just have to see with Houston in February/March. 

I do disagree with Bob on 4-5 players and whether that is a "small" class or not. Programs with a lot more turnover and players in the portal sometimes have classes with double digit recruits. The reason we don't have classes of those size or even 7-8 players very often is we rarely have outbound transfers, and more rarely inbound transfers.