2012 NCAA Tournament

[WSUwatcher]

Bret Bascue?

Yes, 1972, him too. Thanks for the correction -- I've edited my previous post.

[ShockTalk]

Interesting observation for the many doomsters on here who assume that WSU is headed hopelessly downhill. Sometimes players actually figure it out and get better, and not just at Florida State (e.g., Bret Bascue), or come in and have an impact right away (Kris Gardner, or, on other recent teams, Jordan Cooper and Aaron Shafer).

Considering that the Shocks have three freshman all-Americans and a number of other previously inexperienced guys who took over spots and made WSU a distinctly better team in their last 30 games than they were in the first 30 (from 16-14 with five wins over North Dakota and Alcorn to 19-11 against nobody outside the RPI top 150, including a series win vs. Dallas Baptist), and that their two best veteran offensive players (Coy and Bayliff) figure to be back -- and hopefully, in Bayliff's case, healthy at last -- it's not hard to see why even our notorious gloom pumper KC thinks good things are on the horizon.

I have hopes for our largely young roster to improve next year, too, but let's not go comparing us to FSU's situation at this point. FSU had the depth and recruiting class to absorb its problems while barely missing a beat in the #2 RPI conference. All the while compiling a #3 RPI for itself with a 47-15 record and #5 SoS.

[SB Shock]

Interesting observation for the many doomsters on here who assume that WSU is headed hopelessly downhill. Sometimes players actually figure it out and get better, and not just at Florida State (e.g., Bret Bascue), or come in and have an impact right away (Kris Gardner, or, on other recent teams, Jordan Cooper and Aaron Shafer).

Considering that the Shocks have three freshman all-Americans and a number of other previously inexperienced guys who took over spots and made WSU a distinctly better team in their last 30 games than they were in the first 30 (from 16-14 with five wins over North Dakota and Alcorn to 19-11 against nobody outside the RPI top 150, including a series win vs. Dallas Baptist), and that their two best veteran offensive players (Coy and Bayliff) figure to be back -- and hopefully, in Bayliff's case, healthy at last -- it's not hard to see why even our notorious gloom pumper KC thinks good things are on the horizon.

Thanks JT for your insight.

[ShockerFever]

Also wanted to congratulate worthy Shockernet contributor CharlieHog on her Razorbacks for getting back to Omaha. Well done!

[CharlieHog]

Also wanted to congratulate worthy Shockernet contributor CharlieHog on her Razorbacks for getting back to Omaha. Well done!

Thanks! We can't hit at all but we sure can pitch.

[WSUwatcher]

I'm certainly not comparing WSU to Florida State, Talk -- but I am pointing out that sometimes players can come in and have an immediate impact, and that sometimes players can improve, even dramatically. And that can happen here, too, just as it has in the past on numerous occasions.

Oh, and SB -- if you can arrange for me to get JT's salary, I'll gladly absorb the criticism he gets from you, and Doc, and DU, and all of the others on here (myself included at times). Just send your letters, e-mails, and checks to WSUwatcher.

[ShockTalk]

I'm certainly not comparing WSU to Florida State, Talk -- but I am pointing out that sometimes players can come in and have an immediate impact, and that sometimes players can improve, even dramatically. And that can happen here, too, just as it has in the past on numerous occasions.

Oh, and SB -- if you can arrange for me to get JT's salary, I'll gladly absorb the criticism he gets from you, and Doc, and DU, and all of the others on here (myself included at times). Just send your letters, e-mails, and checks to WSUwatcher.

I know exactly what you were driving at, watcher. Of course players can come in and have an immediate impact. Unfortunately, that impact was out of necessity due to a lack of improvement of players, which can also happen. Next year, this team will be depending on some of the same players that under-performed this year, so, yes, hopefully they improve.

Let me emphasize again my barometer for the first level of success of this program....how did they do in the Valley? It matters not how the Valley compares to other conferences, but how we compare to the teams within the Valley. If the Valley is up, we should be up. If the Valley is down, we should completely dominate. With all our facilities, great fans, history, and pay level of staff, there is no excuse. A single down year, sure. Four straight years, never.

[WSUwatcher]

If the Valley is up, we should be up. If the Valley is down, we should completely dominate. With all our facilities, great fans, history, and pay level of staff, there is no excuse. A single down year, sure. Four straight years, never.

Exactly, Talk. People question me as a pumper, but I'm with you 100% in your belief that WSU should set the standard for the Valley. When that doesn't happen, especially for an extended period, it's perfectly legitimate to wonder what the heck is going on. I'd even go a step further and say that three years is long enough not to be a regional contender (i.e., winner or at least finalist) -- and it's way too long not even to be in one.

[shox1989]

Stony Brook goes 0-2 to be the first team eliminated in the CWS. They looked great at LSU but they got blown out in 2 games in Omaha. Hopefully Kent State can avoid elimination tomorrow or my interest in this year's CWS will all but disappear.

[WSUwatcher]

Stony Brook goes 0-2 to be the first team eliminated in the CWS. They looked great at LSU but they got blown out in 2 games in Omaha. Hopefully Kent State can avoid elimination tomorrow or my interest in this year's CWS will all but disappear.

Stony Brook? Kent State? Your interest in what? You mean they're still playing college baseball?

[billybud]

Stony Brook didn't have the pitching needed at Omaha. Their guys would hang one up in the zone every so often. Resulted in 3 doubles and 2 home runs for FSU. The six two out RBI's were a back breaker.

Against the Bruins, they gave up 11 hits and 8 walks.

I really wonder how they had LSU batting .153 against their pitching? Completely different games re the effectiveness of their pitching staff.

[CharlieHog]

Sometimes teams show up in Omaha and are just happy to be there and that usually doesn't turn out very well for them.

[billybud]

Charlie...that sure sounds like my team.

No chance to beat UCLA and take two from Arizona. Pitching isn't deep enough. With the major pitchers already played, pitching by "allstaff" will have to suffice. And there is nobody with stats worth talking about.

That 12th inning loss against Zona was a killer.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Stony Brook didn't have the pitching needed at Omaha. Their guys would hang one up in the zone every so often. Resulted in 3 doubles and 2 home runs for FSU. The six two out RBI's were a back breaker.

Against the Bruins, they gave up 11 hits and 8 walks.

I really wonder how they had LSU batting .153 against their pitching? Completely different games re the effectiveness of their pitching staff.

LSU was an EXTREMELY poor hitting team all year. What they did well was pitch and out coach other teams to take advantage of scoring opportunities. They bunted well, was smart on the basepaths and rode Guzman and Nola as far as they could.

[Rlh04d]

Charlie...that sure sounds like my team.

No chance to beat UCLA and take two from Arizona. Pitching isn't deep enough. With the major pitchers already played, pitching by "allstaff" will have to suffice. And there is nobody with stats worth talking about.

That 12th inning loss against Zona was a killer.

At least we played a well rounded, intelligent game against Arizona, and didn't lose strictly because of a SS's poor play and a coaching staff's poor decisions regarding pitchers.

Oh.