WSU vs Florida Atlantic (Apr 12 - 14)

[Kung Wu]

Let me guess ... we'll bunt here.

[Cdizzle]

We have Cam Johnson bunt in the first inning but not Birge. I can't with the thinking process.

Hopefully Durnin is ok.

[Kung Wu]

2-2 ... lets keep it going.

[Kung Wu]

Yes!! 4-2 Shox!

[1972Shocker]

FAU is even more charitable than the Shocks in the 2nd.

[1972Shocker]

Maybe. We certainly don't seem to coming through as often on 2-out RISP opportunities.

Shane Dennis just reported that the Shocks are hitting .200 with RISP over their last 6 games. So far in this game I have them at 1 for 6 with RISP.

Make that 1-8 today through 3 innings.

[1972Shocker]

What an ugly game so far. Who ever doesn't want it the most will lose.

[Cdizzle]

One team is appropriately taking advantage of the wind. One team is bunting.

[Kung Wu]

Gonna be a high scoring affair potentially.

[BAShocker]

I usually get the whole righty/lefty thing. But why on a day with the wind blowing a million miles per hour out to left, that we don’t load up the line up with a bunch of righti-handed batters.

Guess that’s why I’m not a D1 baseball coach.

[1972Shocker]

I usually get the whole righty/lefty thing. But why on a day with the wind blowing a million miles per hour out to left, that we don’t load up the line up with a bunch of righti-handed batters.

Guess that’s why I’m not a D1 baseball coach.

Perhaps one of the "weaknesses" of the Shocker roster is that it is heavily weighted with lefthanded hitters. The only one I can think of who is not in the lineup today is Mo which is a bit of concern because he is usually in the lineup against both lefties and righties. Not that Mo is a big home run threat with 1 homer in 142 at bats this season. Not sure why you pick this came to rest Mo which makes me wonder about an injury.

[Cdizzle]

Gonna be a high scoring affair potentially.

Was always going to take 12 runs to win today. Which is just another reason bunting in the first inning was asinine.

[Stickboy46]

As John Wooden would say: Goodness gracious sakes alive! That could be either very good news or very bad news. I sure hope it is the former.

Doc won the lottery and is now going to personally fund a national championship level NIL for both Baseball and Basketball.

[ShockerExpress]

It's never one thing.

In our last 8 games:

I don't know the fielding percentages, but our opponents have only committed 5 errors over 8 games (and 2 of those were basically meaningless in the OSU game)

We've only committed 7. That's probably around a .980% (just guessing) and .990 for our opponents.

We're getting walked an average of 1.38 times a game (and HBP the exact same number). In the 27 games prior those numbers were 3.78 & 2.48


We're getting scouted. Throw strikes (especially first pitch because we are rarely swinging) and don't throw it inside (1 you'll hit us and 2 you don't have to because we can't hit).

Likewise, take pitches. We can't or won't throw strikes.

We're hitting the same number of their players (11) over the last 8 games. AND we've walked 41. FORTY one. More than 5 a game. That number is skewed by OU and OSU to be honest.

The main point is a big part of our offense, walks and HPB has been reduced by half. We must adjust, if we can. But it's not going to change until we start punishing the opposition for throwing easy first pitch strikes (and again to be fair, a TON of FAU 1st pitch strikes last night were premium pitches. There were a few just "get em over" strikes, but far more outside black that were just good pitches.


And, clearly, we're not getting hits at the right time (average is still .292) or extra base hits.


So in conclusion:

Higher quality opponents

Those opponents playing VERY clean

Very few extra base hits

Giving up extra base hits and homers

Not walking or getting hit

Walking and hitting them



And all of this is absolutely weighing negatively on the coaches (who keep moving things around trying to spark a change) and the players who are trying to do things they can't do (swinging too hard, pitching too carefully).

I've said many times, this team isn't talented enough to make mistakes and beat good teams. We are absolutely living that right now. We are not playing poorly, we're just missing several things a little bit.


And you know what? None of it means dick, especially when you get the news I just did.

yikes to all.

[Cdizzle]

This is painful. Still there for the winning.