Shocks vs Bears - Game 1

[1972Shocker]

Shocks open the MVC season on the road at Missouri State this weekend.

Tim Kelley on the shelf this weekend. Josh Smith, Charlie Lowell and TBA going for the Shocks. Sunday will probably be either Albert Minnis or Brian Flynn. Either way that would be three lefties going for the Shocks.

MSU has a 0.317 team BA vs 0.274 for the Shocks. Not sure how MSU does against lefties. 2 of their top 4 (and 3 of the top 9) hitters are lefthanded.

MSU's pitching staff has a 4.66 ERA vs 3.22 for the Shocks. Unfortunately the Shocks will be without Tim Kelley and his 1.69 ERA.

I think we need our starting pitchers to be solid and give us at least 6 good innings each outing for the Shocks to be successful this weekend.

I guess we will find out if the batting practice against Alcorn State was a positive or negative exercise.

[SB Shock]

This is probably a very unfortunate series to open the season up with.

MSU has the 2nd best RPI in the league at 86 (CU has the best at 81) - WSU at 131

MSU is 8-2 in their last 10 (WSU is 5-5)

MSU is 2-3 versus Top 50 RPI (WSU hasn't played any Top 50 RPI teams)

Top 50 wins - Texas St, OSU
Top 50 losses - blowout losses to Southern Miss

MSU SOS - 156 (WSU SOS 207)

MSU is the best hitting team in the MVC at 0.317
WSU is the 2nd worst hitting team in the MVC at 0.274

MSU leads WSU in every hitting category except Double (64 to 51), BB and SB.

MSU is the worst pitching team in the league with 4.66 ERA and opponents are batting 0.283 with 15 HR in 27 games.

WSU is tied for the best pitching in the league with 3.22 ERA (though that is somewhat decieving due to the high unearned run totals they give up) with a opponent batting average of 0.236.

Looking at WSU batting numbers in context with the rest of the MVC is really depressing. That bat excuse is just that and "excuse" for the program to hide behind because they don't have the energy any more to get out there and get it done on getting talent into the program.

WSU hitting has always been their at the top of the MVC, now they are 2nd to last?

[SB Shock]

Also, lets hope that Grimes doesn't pull a Tanner Welch and single handedly lose the series to MSU at their place like Tanner Welch did.

[SB Shock]

Kennedy opened acting like there was good news with Kelly - but in Gene pre-game comments he indicated they are thinking possibly talking about Tommy John surgery.

[tru2thaduce]

Kennedy is having an off year calling baseball.Just said Springfield is coming to bat.

[tru2thaduce]

Let's get a run or 2.We need someone beside's OB to step it up!

[SB Shock]

After 2 1/2 innings

SWMO 1, WSU 0

WSU guys with helmets on their heads sat down with 6 pitches last inning.

[Ta town]

Somebody explain to me how the rest of the valley gets hitters and WSU doesn't.

[SB Shock]

After 3 innings

SWMO 2, WSU 0

SWMO hits a double (2nd of the game), sac bunt and sac fly to score.

[tru2thaduce]

There is a whole generation that hasn't seen a WSU team that can hit.

[Ta town]

nice execution springer, goodness

[tru2thaduce]

Springer and Coy are 2 guys I had high hopes for this season.So far not so good.

[tru2thaduce]

OB double wasted.

[Rosewood]

OB double wasted.

Wasting a leadoff double makes me as angry as a bull with his testicles in a vice.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks are adjusting to playing with the new bats. But they decided to skip playing small ball and go right to miniscule ball. They seem to be very good at it.

:(