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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 7:41:37 GMT -6
We squeaked out two ugly ones today against inferior competition. Glass half full would say good teams find a way to win those games. Glass half empty would be concerned. I'll just say it will be nice when we get into a consistent pitching rotation. These trips and early season injuries really put you in a bind on the hill. We've played 8 games in 9 days, and held up pretty well, especially when you keep in mind our ace has only thrown 3 innings. I'd expect him to start tomorrow, but I'm assuming they have him on a very strict (and low) pitch count. I'd really like for them to beat Kansas tomorrow. We only beat Mt. St. Mary's 12-9. The had 13 hits, 4 HBP and 7 BB to our 11, 1 and 3. 3 of our runs came off of 3 errors by MSM. MSM stranded 15 runners. This game could've had a totally different outcome. Luckily, we played error-free ball, but still giving a lot of free passes to 1st. We win the St. Joe's game 7-5. We out hit them 11-8, but again, we gave up 7 BBs and 2 HBPs. St. Joe's strands 10. Not a prolific win and we didn't close well, giving up 2 in the bottom of the 9th. Kansas Jayhawks game was supposed to start today at 9:30 am ET. Looks like they started at 9:00 am. KU already up 2-0 (scored both runs with 2 outs in the inning). Baker on the mound. Hope we turn it up a notch before returning to Muncie. Live Stats |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 8:04:59 GMT -6
Dinger by Navarro in B1. KU 2 BSU 1 in 3rd
Baker has 3K's, 1H thru 2.0 innings
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 8:06:14 GMT -6
Navarro homers in 1st. 2-1 game. Kansas seems to be taking Baker deep into the count. He's already thrown 42 pitches in 2 innings (3 Ks, 2 BBs). I think they realize Baker is on the mend and probably has a pitch limit for this outing. They'll wait him out and look for our relief staff.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 8:10:29 GMT -6
Navarro homers in 1st. 2-1 game. Kansas seems to be taking Baker deep into the count. He's already thrown 42 pitches in 2 innings (3 Ks, 2 BBs). I think they realize Baker is on the mend and probably has a pitch limit for this outing. They'll wait him out and look for our relief staff. Looks like Baker is settling in and getting ahead in counts. Only threw 10 pitches to get out of 3rd. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 8:28:25 GMT -6
Kansas up 3-1 in B4.
BTW, all 3 Kansas runs are unearned. Two runs scored in the 1st came with two outs, after 3B fielding error kept inning going (next batter hits a triple, 2 RBIs). One run scored in 4th with a SS fielding error. Base runner eventually scored.
Baker out after 4 complete (68 pitches).
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Post by cardfan on Mar 10, 2019 8:42:46 GMT -6
Errors continue to be a major problem.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 9:05:27 GMT -6
Errors continue to be a major problem. Yep. 4-1 on another SS error. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 10:25:07 GMT -6
BSU Loses 6-1 on 4 unearned runs. Gave up 7 hits, 6 BBs & 1 HBP (as many free passes as hits). Committed 4 errors.
Kansas is a marginal program. We have to clean it it up.
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Post by redbirdman on Mar 10, 2019 10:36:49 GMT -6
The defense is hurting us as much as the bbs. If we can clean that up by MAC season we could be an extremely good team. I am not counting on the hitting changing a lot except the opponents pitchers may not be as good as Kansas. I do think Kansas is better than 90% of MAC teams.
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Post by cardfan on Mar 10, 2019 10:37:53 GMT -6
Clearly need a lot of practice time to work on fundamentals.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 10:51:58 GMT -6
The defense is hurting us as much as the bbs. If we can clean that up by MAC season we could be an extremely good team. I am not counting on the hitting changing a lot except the opponents pitchers may not be as good as Kansas. I do think Kansas is better than 90% of MAC teams. I'd prefer to play solid defense (pitching & the field) and hold opponents from scoring. Our offense seems weak. Ideally, I'd rather hold opponents to 0 runs because it makes it easier to generate a single run for the win. We're giving up 5.8 runs per game. When you have to figure out how to get 6 (per average) to win each game, it becomes a challenge. A realistic goal is to not allow more than three runs per game. |
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Post by CallingBS on Mar 10, 2019 14:56:52 GMT -6
The defense is hurting us as much as the bbs. If we can clean that up by MAC season we could be an extremely good team. I am not counting on the hitting changing a lot except the opponents pitchers may not be as good as Kansas. I do think Kansas is better than 90% of MAC teams. I'd prefer to play solid defense (pitching & the field) and hold opponents from scoring. Our offense seems weak. Ideally, I'd rather hold opponents to 0 runs because it makes it easier to generate a single run for the win. We're giving up 5.8 runs per game. When you have to figure out how to get 6 (per average) to win each game, it becomes a challenge. A realistic goal is to not allow more than three runs per game. This team wasn't recruited for offense, but guys who were good hitters last year have started the season very slowly (to put it mildly). Not making excuses, but I'm guessing the team has not been outside once in Muncie with the awful weather the Midwest has had. The fielding is of concern, but looking at the new faces at so many positions and the shuffling of lineups, I'd like to think the defense gets shored up soon. The potentially exciting thing about this team is that if our top 5-6 pitchers are playing at the level they are expected to, we are going to be really hard to beat on weekends, and no one would want to play us in an NCAA regional or beyond. I know, getting ahead of myself, but the pitching has the potential to be incredible... |
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Post by CallingBS on Mar 10, 2019 14:59:17 GMT -6
I should add that baseball is a very weird sport, because MLB scouts are all over the Internet drooling over pitchers who have not yet produced for us. It's interesting how metrics rule sports today. You guys think Whitford is all about metrics (and he is), these MLB scouts live by them too.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 16:50:02 GMT -6
I'd prefer to play solid defense (pitching & the field) and hold opponents from scoring. Our offense seems weak. Ideally, I'd rather hold opponents to 0 runs because it makes it easier to generate a single run for the win. We're giving up 5.8 runs per game. When you have to figure out how to get 6 (per average) to win each game, it becomes a challenge. A realistic goal is to not allow more than three runs per game. This team wasn't recruited for offense, but guys who were good hitters last year have started the season very slowly (to put it mildly). Not making excuses, but I'm guessing the team has not been outside once in Muncie with the awful weather the Midwest has had. The fielding is of concern, but looking at the new faces at so many positions and the shuffling of lineups, I'd like to think the defense gets shored up soon. The potentially exciting thing about this team is that if our top 5-6 pitchers are playing at the level they are expected to, we are going to be really hard to beat on weekends, and no one would want to play us in an NCAA regional or beyond. I know, getting ahead of myself, but the pitching has the potential to be incredible... I think they have been outdoors in Muncie at least 4 times. Helps to have a real indoor field facility, with a high ceiling. |
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Post by redbirdman on Mar 10, 2019 17:50:49 GMT -6
I too am optimistic I think the fielding will improve & bbs will drop. The hitting will get better whether its do to our facing poorer pitchers or we get better. I think barring injuries we will be a good MAC team.
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