What are our chances...(not good)

[martymoose]

Our chances in terms of winning the Valley seem very slim at this point. We're currently sitting in 3rd, 2 games out of first and 1 game out of second. We play at Bradley this week and MSU plays at Creighton.

Creighton 12-5
Missouri State 11-6
Wichita State 10-7

Our only scenario at this point which I don't see happening, would be for us to go 3-0 at Bradley and for MSU to go 2-1 at Creighton. That would put all 3 teams at 13-7, sharing the Valley regular season title. That would also give us the #2 seed for the tournament.

[WuDrWu]

Actually, with MSU having 1 rainout, a WSU sweep combined with anything except a sweep out of Omaha (if either CU or MSU sweeps they win outright) would equal a regular season championship and #1 seed.

Also, a sweep of Bradley guarantees the Shocks the #2 seed at least. No possible scenario could put them in 3rd. Likewise, there is no scenario they can finish 1st without sweeping Bradley.


The Braves have some pitching and there is no reason to think this will be a walk in the park for WSU. Their ace is a handful.

[Ta town]

Re: What are our chances...(not good)

Our chances in terms of winning the Valley seem very slim at this point. We're currently sitting in 3rd, 2 games out of first and 1 game out of second. We play at Bradley this week and MSU plays at Creighton.

Creighton 12-5
Missouri State 11-6
Wichita State 10-7

Our only scenario at this point which I don't see happening, would be for us to go 3-0 at Bradley and for MSU to go 2-1 at Creighton. That would put all 3 teams at 13-7, sharing the Valley regular season title. That would also give us the #2 seed for the tournament.

uh, WSU is 11-7

[WuDrWu]

Here's a better question:


What do you do about pitching in the MVC tourney? I know Gene likes to keep things the same, but if the goal is to win the tourney (and that's the only goal at this point because nothing else matters) then do you try and save Charlie for a more important matchup?

[Ta town]

Here's a better question:


What do you do about pitching in the MVC tourney? I know Gene likes to keep things the same, but if the goal is to win the tourney (and that's the only goal at this point because nothing else matters) then do you try and save Charlie for a more important matchup?

what is the tourney format this year?

pool play or double elim

[Shocker85]

Crappy MVC staff can't get their web-site updated in a timely manner.

Real records are:
sCUm 12-6
MSU 11-6
WSU 11-7

The scenarios worked out interestingly. Shox still have to sweep BU, but so do both teams ahead of them if either wants to be the #1. Going to be a dog-fight in Omaha (especially game 1) and MSU is pretty hot right now.

As far as the pitching, I think you have to try to win each game as it it comes. The only possible exception is BU, and their #1 guy Bircher's stats are pretty good. Losing the first game puts a lot of pressure on the pitching staff. It certainly would be a nice luxury to have a consistent starter behind Lowell.

Tournament is double elimination like last year. Same as the old CWS bracket before the 3 game championship series came to be. http://mvc.org/baseball/2011BaseballBracket.pdf

--'85.

[martymoose]

That makes more sense! I was trying to figure out how we fell 2 games behind CU...apparently they aren't very quick at updating the MVC site.

[WuDrWu]

Thinking about the scenarios it probably makes the most sense to pitch Charlie right out of the gate. I do think you have to at least consider pitching Josh in the 2 slot. At a minimum, Gene and Brent have to have a short leash on everyone except Charlie.

The team has plenty of arms, they just need to find the right combination to get 27 outs, somehow, someway. I'd dearly love to take our chances against, for instance, an Oklahoma with Chas on the mound.

[Shocker85]

Thinking about the scenarios it probably makes the most sense to pitch Charlie right out of the gate. I do think you have to at least consider pitching Josh in the 2 slot. At a minimum, Gene and Brent have to have a short leash on everyone except Charlie.

The team has plenty of arms, they just need to find the right combination to get 27 outs, somehow, someway. I'd dearly love to take our chances against, for instance, an Oklahoma with Chas on the mound.

Charlie has been amazing to close out the season. sub 0.79 ERA in conference-only games - that's nuts.

The rest of the staff has been so inconsistent. As you said, the hook needs to be pretty quick for everyone else. Almost everyone has had some really good outings, but all have flopped a time or two. It has be be maddening for the coaches to try to figure out which button to push to get the good version of each pitcher.

I'm a concerned about the offense, too. Some days they just rake, then others they look like a deer in the headlights and stand there and watch strike after strike sail by.

I too, would take Charlie vs. OU in Norman.

--'85.

[SB Shock]

I always go with my best first. Your going to face their best so I can't assume you going to handle him well. Wsu didn't handle isub #1 or 2 and they are lower division.

Also If you start Lowell on the first game you have the option of bringing him back on 3 days rest to start the championship game.

[1972Shocker]

Here's a better question:


What do you do about pitching in the MVC tourney? I know Gene likes to keep things the same, but if the goal is to win the tourney (and that's the only goal at this point because nothing else matters) then do you try and save Charlie for a more important matchup?

what is the tourney format this year?

pool play or double elim

Two 4-team, double elimination pools with the winners of each pool playing in a one-game Championship.

Win Games 1 and 2 you have a chance to win your pool in 3 games, but it might take 4. Lose Game 1 or 2 and you will have to play 5 to win your pool.

I say pitch Charlie in Game 1 on Tuesday and maybe bring him back for the Championship game on Saturday if you are lucky enough to get there.

[Shocker85]

Two 4-team, double elimination pools with the winners of each pool playing in a one-game Championship.

Win Games 1 and 2 you have a chance to win your pool in 3 games, but it might take 4. Lose Game 1 or 2 and you will have to play 5 to win your pool.

I say pitch Charlie in Game 1 on Tuesday and maybe bring him back for the Championship game on Saturday if you are lucky enough to get there.

I hesitate to use the word "pool" because that implies a round-robin tournament like we had for a short while and everyone hated. It is indeed two 4-team double elimination brackets with each bracket winner in a winner-take-all championship game.

I think the past demonstrates that Brent/Gene are unlikely to send a high draft pick #1 pitcher (or any other starter) to the mound to start on 3 days rest.

--'85.

[Born2Shock]

Didnt Cooper pitch Tuesday/Saturday last year? (saturday didnt work out so well...)

[small tyme baller]

I don't think we'll sweep BU becuz of one player ... Brian Flynn. Will he even win another game in a Shocker jersey?!?!? talk about a guy with all the tools not living up to ANY expectations. I hope we DO sweep and somehow get this regular season title but until we get a solid weekend rotation, I don't think it matters

[SB Shock]

I think the past demonstrates that Brent/Gene are unlikely to send a high draft pick #1 pitcher (or any other starter) to the mound to start on 3 days rest.

--'85.

There was a time I would agree with you. But wsu in the past few years has been extending their starters (due bullpen depth issues) to the point where wsu has shown up on Boyd's PAP list. Wsu used to never be close to making the list.

Wsu brought Cooper back last year in the mvc tournament. Wsu has IIRC pitched at times guys in the mid- week and came back on 3 days rest.