Shocks vs Jayhawks - May 7th

[KC Shox]

Actually, Doc, they have some talent. But it would be hard to find a worse situational team than this one, and when that's the case the results aren't going to match up with the potential.

That's what tonight, and especially the 5th inning, really exemplified more than anything else: their knack for extracting the minimum from a situation both on defense and on offense. In the top half, yet another case of being unable to get the third out and of giving up a flock of runs in the process. (Maybe someone like SB who has the time and inclination to research such things can answer this, but it sure seems to me that this year's Shocker pitching staff gives up an exceptionally high proportion of opponents' runs with two out, and in many cases with two out and no huge, obvious threat brewing.)

And then in the bottom half, a bases loaded opportunity with less than two out squandered for the umpteenth time -- maybe umpteenth squared -- this year. Another question for SB, and maybe I'm just focusing on Harbutz because I used to think of him as a promising hitter, though a .265 BA and .332 SA tell a different story for a fourth year junior, and again the situational bugaboo was really the killer for him tonight: a nice enough line of 4 1 2 1 in the box, but that 5th inning strikeout pretty much offsets whatever good he did in his other ABs. So here's the question, SB: who's the more deadly rally-killer on the season so far, Harbutz or Coy? And, of course, the larger question for both of them, as well as for the coaching staff: why is Harbutz not getting any better from one year to the next; and why is Coy getting worse?

You're right, this team does have talent, compared to Baker University. Going 0 - 4 against KU and KSU is unacceptable. That's the final nail in the coffin for me. Something needs to be done before this program is completely flushed down the toilet. Losing stinks, but losing to those in-state programs who are laughing their asses off at us and knowing we are the worst program in the state we once dominated is just unbearable.

[ShockerFever]

The lights going out seemed to be the most exciting story of the night. Maybe it was nature's sign that the lights were going out on the Shocker baseball program?

Beautiful night out at the park, for once, with shitty results per the new usual.

[WSUwatcher]

Actually, KC, if they didn't have talent compared to programs at a much higher level than Baker, they wouldn't be in most of the games they lose against good to very good teams, which in fact they are. That's what's so frustrating about this bunch: their ability to find ways to lose close games that they could, maybe should, win.

Having said that, though, you're exactly right about the bottom line. Close doesn't count, and 0-4 against the Kansas Big 12 teams -- geez, even Texas managed to go 2-4 against them -- is not acceptable, nor is 0-10 (!) against the RPI top 50 (Warren Nolan). The Valley has descended into serious mediocrity, and the Shocks have followed right along, maybe even leading the charge this year. At some point, it isn't good enough to have some talent; you have to play like it, too, or it doesn't matter.

By the way, '85, good point about Coy. If not tonight, when?

[ABC]

Suellentrop's lead in today's Eagle article pretty much says it all. KU was afraid of losing to WSU b/c it would hurt their at-large chances.

[ShockTalk]

Suellentrop's lead in today's Eagle article pretty much says it all. KU was afraid of losing to WSU b/c it would hurt their at-large chances.

Ugh.

[Spaulding]

Exactly my thoughts as the whole thing unfolded. Additionally, the throw to 3rd had NO CHANCE of getting the runner and was a good 10' from the 3rd baseman. Ugh.

The inability to even put the ball in play with RISP haunted this team all season. They get plenty of hits and plenty of runners but the lack of clutch hitting is beyond belief. It is particularly bad in the middle innings then they're always playing from behind. Tonight, KU's middle relief gave the Shox multiple chances and the Shox refused to capitalize.

One more thing I wonder about - KU puts a guy on the bump who throws 90-93 MPH fastballs almost exclusively. Why not start Coy and let him face a guy who isn't going to toss garbage at him all night? I do like how most of the young guys are playing, but as '72 says, we really could use his bat.

BTW, kudos to '72 - nice peek into tonight's game a day ahead.

I'm sure if you ask gene, it's all the players fault. They just don't get it. Krusty must go!

[WSUwatcher]

I'm sure if you ask gene, it's all the players fault. They just don't get it. Krusty must go!

Maybe you should ask him the next time he has a call-in show, Spaulding.

I'm not sure who you'd blame, though: did Gene make the throw that Baker himself said should never have happened, or fail to put the ball in play when Harbutz was up with the bases juiced and one out in the bottom of the inning? Or did Kemnitz (who somehow seems to get a pass in all the "Fire Gene" threads even though his pitchers either aren't that good or have severely underperformed this year) fail to get the third out with just two runs in and a man on even after Baker's misfire?

Coaches coach, but players play, and baseball -- more than any of the major sports -- is a game of execution, not fancy strategies or Xs and Os.

[ShockerFever]

Maybe you should ask him the next time he has a call-in show, Spaulding.

I'm not sure who you'd blame, though: did Gene make the throw that Baker himself said should never have happened, or fail to put the ball in play when Harbutz was up with the bases juiced and one out in the bottom of the inning? Or did Kemnitz (who somehow seems to get a pass in all the "Fire Gene" threads even though his pitchers either aren't that good or have severely underperformed this year) fail to get the third out with just two runs in and a man on even after Baker's misfire?

Coaches coach, but players play, and baseball -- more than any of the major sports -- is a game of execution, not fancy strategies or Xs and Os.

Who recruits the players, genius?

In your grand way of thinking, Gene is incapable of doing wrong. He can be credited for Greg Brummett throwing the last strike in the 1989 National Championship Game or Jim Audley throwing out Creighton in 1991, but can't be penalized for players not hitting the ball now.

You're blinded, in more ways than one.