Shox vs. Bradley Game 1

[shox1989]

This is the big one. If they get this one they should sweep Bradley.

Coming into tonight's game Joe Bircher's era was 2.00 the rest of their pitching staff has an average era of 5.26.

[1972Shocker]

Coming into tonight's game Joe Bircher's era was 2.00 the rest of their pitching staff has an average era of 5.26.

Watch it now!

[WSUwatcher]

Good news, although just a slight RPI bump (from .5605 and 45th at gametime to .5615 and 44th now, according to Warren Nolan), because as SB noted, this figured to be the toughest game of the weekend. And, yes, the Shocks SHOULD sweep, as they historically do against Bradley. And they probably will need to do it to avoid backsliding a bit in the RPI numbers -- playing at home (thus, working against the road bonus) vs. a 25-20 team, a split of the next two would almost surely not help the cause.

But considering the Shocks' performance in MVC play so far, one can't blame the skeptics for not believing in a sweep until it happens. I'm optimistic (surprise!), and I like the way WSU's young pitchers have started to step up -- actually, in Gardner's case, he stepped up a while back, and kudos to Kemnitz for treating his performance accordingly (now I wish BK would flip-flop Elam and Vielock, at least for a while). This is a young team on the rise, and the coaches are using their personnel accordingly. I even like their postseason chances (okay, doomsters, open fire).

Still, not even I plan to start counting my chickens just yet. Lots of business to be taken care of before that happens.

[shox1989]

Watch it now!

Hey, I was just backing up what SB said with the actual pitching stats. It stands to reason that if WSU can get 11 hits in 6 innings against their ace WSU should be able to do even better against the rest of the pitching staff. But you never know. Some guy with a 15+ era could come in and pitch a shut out. I like our odds though.

[ShockerFever]

Went to the game. Gillaspie is a stud, just like his bro. Johnny's dinger was a smash right off the bat. I'm rather surprised Gene didn't sub him out in the 7th after his walk. Good thing he didn't.

Dogget's throw-out in the 4th? was also a very key momentum changer. I didn't think he would have a chance but wow what a laser. Great play.

Anything less than a sweep against a team we haven't lost at home since 1996 would be very disappointing.

Nice to see Pelfrey there behind the Shocker dugout, injured arm and all.

[ShockerFever]

Hey, I was just backing up what SB said with the actual pitching stats. It stands to reason that if WSU can get 11 hits in 6 innings against their ace WSU should be able to do even better against the rest of the pitching staff. But you never know. Some guy with a 15+ era could come in and pitch a shut out. I like our odds though.

You're not very bright to assume anything, especially with this team.

[shox1989]

Good news, although just a slight RPI bump (from .5605 and 45th at gametime to .5615 and 44th now, according to Warren Nolan), because as SB noted, this figured to be the toughest game of the weekend. And, yes, the Shocks SHOULD sweep, as they historically do against Bradley. And they probably will need to do it to avoid backsliding a bit in the RPI numbers -- playing at home (thus, working against the road bonus) vs. a 25-20 team, a split of the next two would almost surely not help the cause.

But considering the Shocks' performance in MVC play so far, one can't blame the skeptics for not believing in a sweep until it happens. I'm optimistic (surprise!), and I like the way WSU's young pitchers have started to step up -- actually, in Gardner's case, he stepped up a while back, and kudos to Kemnitz for treating his performance accordingly (now I wish BK would flip-flop Elam and Vielock, at least for a while). This is a young team on the rise, and the coaches are using their personnel accordingly. I even like their postseason chances (okay, doomsters, open fire).

Still, not even I plan to start counting my chickens just yet. Lots of business to be taken care of before that happens.

I agree. A lot of business left ahead to be taken care of, but we are off to a great start!

[shox1989]

Went to the game. Gillaspie is a stud, just like his bro. Johnny's dinger was a smash right off the bat. I'm rather surprised Gene didn't sub him out in the 7th after his walk. Good thing he didn't.

Dogget's throw-out in the 4th? was also a very key momentum changer. I didn't think he would have a chance but wow what a laser. Great play.

Anything less than a sweep against a team we haven't lost at home since 1996 would be very disappointing.

Nice to see Pelfrey there behind the Shocker dugout, injured arm and all.

You know I forgot about Doggett's throw in the fourth, that WAS HUGE. If he doesn't get that out, BU goes up 2-0 and there is only one out in that inning with a chance for BU to score some more runs. It might end up being a completely different game.

[shocker3]

Great night at the yard. The weather was nice, I got to talk to Kevin Hooper before the game, saw Mike Pelfrey and watched the Shockers play a great game. Couldn't ask for anything better.

And I almost forgot to add it was 50 cent hot dog night (I liked it much better back in the days when it was 10 cent hot dog night)
and we got a free package of Shocker trading cards.

[shocker3]

Shox win 7-1

Josh Smith goes 8 innings and gives up 1 run. Vielock finishes it off with 1 inning of relief.

Gillespie goes 5-5, is now hitting .290 on the season. Coy drops his 7th bomb of the season.

Josh pitched great and he didn't let that one solo homer bother him. Casey's hitting was nice to see. I especially liked the first one because it kind of broke the ice with Joe Bircher. It was also nice to get another bomb after a little drought. It is a lot easier to do a homer run trot around the bases then it is to leg out a single or double.

[shocker3]

Went to the game. Gillaspie is a stud, just like his bro. Johnny's dinger was a smash right off the bat. I'm rather surprised Gene didn't sub him out in the 7th after his walk. Good thing he didn't.

Dogget's throw-out in the 4th? was also a very key momentum changer. I didn't think he would have a chance but wow what a laser. Great play.

Anything less than a sweep against a team we haven't lost at home since 1996 would be very disappointing.

Nice to see Pelfrey there behind the Shocker dugout, injured arm and all.

Dog's throw out at the plate was the play of the game. I agree that it was a key momentum changer and it brought back great memories of "the throw".

BTW- Fever you go to a game and we win again. If I am not mistaken the Shox are still undefeated this season when you attend.

[1979Shocker]

The Shox ended up getting 11 hits and 5 earned runs against Bircher in 6 innings. The Shox only struck out 3 times against Bircher.

The Shox 5 earned runs in 6 innings caused Joe Bircher's era to go from 2.0 to 2.45. (His total earned runs given up went from 21 to 26 for the season).

It seemed like the Shockers were more aggressive at the plate. Maybe that's why they didn't strike out as much. I know in past games they seemed to always take a lot of pitches.

[shox1989]

Good news, although just a slight RPI bump (from .5605 and 45th at gametime to .5615 and 44th now, according to Warren Nolan), because as SB noted, this figured to be the toughest game of the weekend. And, yes, the Shocks SHOULD sweep, as they historically do against Bradley. And they probably will need to do it to avoid backsliding a bit in the RPI numbers -- playing at home (thus, working against the road bonus) vs. a 25-20 team, a split of the next two would almost surely not help the cause.

But considering the Shocks' performance in MVC play so far, one can't blame the skeptics for not believing in a sweep until it happens. I'm optimistic (surprise!), and I like the way WSU's young pitchers have started to step up -- actually, in Gardner's case, he stepped up a while back, and kudos to Kemnitz for treating his performance accordingly (now I wish BK would flip-flop Elam and Vielock, at least for a while). This is a young team on the rise, and the coaches are using their personnel accordingly. I even like their postseason chances (okay, doomsters, open fire).

Still, not even I plan to start counting my chickens just yet. Lots of business to be taken care of before that happens.

Warren Nolan shows the Shox rpi tonight at #44 and the SOS at #29. He predicts that WSU will finish with a rpi of #39 and a SOS of #32.

[Shocker85]

It was a double bonus for me to get out on a nearly perfect evening and for the Shox to play pretty well. I thought Josh Smith might not have had his best stuff early in the game, but the HR seemed to help him really focus and he began to dominate the BU hitters. The Shox battled hard at the plate, although a couple of their best scoring chances were minimized by some poor ABs. In the inning where the Shox scored 4, Bircher struck out 3 batters. He was struggling to locate his pitches, but the Shox let him stay in the game. Thankfully, Smith beat the Braves down hard.

Some players on this team have been steadily improving, IMO. I don't think anyone can disagree that Casey Gillaspie was a pretty raw talent his first month. Now, he is a legit D1 hitter and his work at 1B has been getting better all the time. Dayne Parker is now showing in games what we've seen in fall ball - he's a ball player (not to be confused with a fast ballplayer ;) ). Doggett has unseated a 4-year starter and is really scrappy. There are a slew of sophs who contribute every day. Pitching consistency is going to have a lot to do with any successes from this point on. There is a pretty good core and as long as the offense is scoring, the pitching should be able to hold the fort.

I have to also single out Micah Green. Season after season, Micah has been buried on the bench with minimal playing time only to emerge with 75% of the schedule already played and he gets his chance and performs well. Some players are better under the bright lights. Turn on the lights - I am a Micah Green fan.

--'85.

[shox1989]

It was a double bonus for me to get out on a nearly perfect evening and for the Shox to play pretty well. I thought Josh Smith might not have had his best stuff early in the game, but the HR seemed to help him really focus and he began to dominate the BU hitters. The Shox battled hard at the plate, although a couple of their best scoring chances were minimized by some poor ABs. In the inning where the Shox scored 4, Bircher struck out 3 batters. He was struggling to locate his pitches, but the Shox let him stay in the game. Thankfully, Smith beat the Braves down hard.

Some players on this team have been steadily improving, IMO. I don't think anyone can disagree that Casey Gillaspie was a pretty raw talent his first month. Now, he is a legit D1 hitter and his work at 1B has been getting better all the time. Dayne Parker is now showing in games what we've seen in fall ball - he's a ball player (not to be confused with a fast ballplayer ;) ). Doggett has unseated a 4-year starter and is really scrappy. There are a slew of sophs who contribute every day. Pitching consistency is going to have a lot to do with any successes from this point on. There is a pretty good core and as long as the offense is scoring, the pitching should be able to hold the fort.

I have to also single out Micah Green. Season after season, Micah has been buried on the bench with minimal playing time only to emerge with 75% of the schedule already played and he gets his chance and performs well. Some players are better under the bright lights. Turn on the lights - I am a Micah Green fan.

--'85.

I agree with all of your points but I think you overstate Micah Green's lack of playing time.

I am a Micah Green fan too, but saying "season after season he has been buried on the bench with minimal playing time only to emerge with 75% of the schedule already played" is a little bit of a stretch. He is just a red-shirt sophomore. So I guess you are talking about last season and this season. Last season, his freshman season, he played in 58 of the 65 games (including 36 starts). That is actually pretty good playing time for a freshman. This season he has played in 35 of the 52 games (including many early season games, he started getting less playing time after he went into a batting slump).

While I am a big Micah Green fan and I would love to see him get even more playing time, he hasn't exactly been "buried on the bench with minimal playing time.... " I will also add that Micah Green started the big 4 run rally in the sixth inning last night.