Gm 46 - vs Bradley (1 of 3)

[SB Shock]

WSU (22-23) host Bradley (20-19, 143 RPI). Bradley has a decent hitting team (0.279/0.377/0.390) with 4 players hitting over 0.300. Bradley downfall is their pitching is not that good once you get beyond their 1st and 2nd starter. Should be an opportunity for WSU to get to or above 0.500, but over course so was last weekend.

WSU needs are 10-0 the rest of the way. Fat lady is now on the stage warming up.

[ShockerFever]

WSU needs are 10-0 the rest of the way. Fat lady is now on the stage warming up.

You're hysterical, SB. The fat lady is just now on the stage warming up? Bahahahahaaa.

[SB Shock]

You're hysterical, SB. The fat lady is just now on the stage warming up? Bahahahahaaa.

In days like this have to keep a sense of humor, or one would have to replace a lot of portable expensive portable electronic devices.

In retrospect we will probably learn the fat lady had sang when gene had recruited this class, and she has just been doing requested encores.

[1972Shocker]

It's kind of amazing that the Shocks are 22-23 yet they have outscored their opponents 227-177 on the year. As a team we are hitting 0.281 (not great) and holding our opponents to 0.261. Our OPS is 0.756 and our opponents OPS in those 45 games is 0.670. Our fielding percentage is about the same as our opponents. We have 27 home runs and have only allowed 9 home runs. We have drawn 162 walks and given up 132 walks.

Simply put this team just doesn't make sense. Part of it is that we win bigger and lose smaller. In our 22 wins the average score is 8.1 to 2.7 for an average winning margin of 5.4 run. In our 23 losses the average score is 5.0 - 3.9 for an average losing margin of 1.1 runs.

I guess the numbers pretty much back up what our eyes are telling us. This team simply does not perform well under pressure and in the clutch. In tight games when we really have to come through with big pitches or a key hit with RISP we simply can't get it done.

Last night's loss to OSU was a perfect example. While Kris Gardner pitched very well he could not get a big 3rd out in 4th inning instead giving up a 2-out, 2-run double on an 0-1 pitch.

In the Shocker 4th we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Koeiman struck out looking and Dearman went down swinging on 3 pitches.

Then in the Shocker 7th Koeiman doubled and Dearman reached on an infield single with one out showing that yes they are capable of putting the ball in play. But Dearman get's thrown out at 2nd attempting to steal on a pitch in the "dirt" that didn't get very far away IIRC. Then Kihle strikes out.

These kind of circumstances have played out all too often this season.

The bottom line is that for some reason this team just doesn't respond well to pressure situations and simply performs very poorly in clutch situations.

Perhaps it is a team that doesn't have a brain, a heart or courage. Unfortunately, the Wizard of Oz doesn't seem to be around to fix it.

[Play Angry]

It's kind of amazing that the Shocks are 22-23 yet they have outscored their opponents 227-177 on the year. As a team we are hitting 0.281 (not great) and holding our opponents to 0.261. Our OPS is 0.756 and our opponents OPS in those 45 games is 0.670. Our fielding percentage is about the same as our opponents. We have 27 home runs and have only allowed 9 home runs. We have drawn 162 walks and given up 132 walks.

Simply put this team just doesn't make sense. Part of it is that we win bigger and lose smaller. In our 22 wins the average score is 8.1 to 2.7 for an average winning margin of 5.4 run. In our 23 losses the average score is 5.0 - 3.9 for an average losing margin of 1.1 runs.

I guess the numbers pretty much back up what our eyes are telling us. This team simply does not perform well under pressure and in the clutch. In tight games when we really have to come through with big pitches or a key hit with RISP we simply can't get it done.

Last night's loss to OSU was a perfect example. While Kris Gardner pitched very well he could not get a big 3rd out in 4th inning instead giving up a 2-out, 2-run double on an 0-1 pitch.

In the Shocker 4th we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Koeiman struck out looking and Dearman went down swinging on 3 pitches.

Then in the Shocker 7th Koeiman doubled and Dearman reached on an infield single with one out showing that yes they are capable of putting the ball in play. But Dearman get's thrown out at 2nd attempting to steal on a pitch in the "dirt" that didn't get very far away IIRC. Then Kihle strikes out.

These kind of circumstances have played out all too often this season.

The bottom line is that for some reason this team just doesn't respond well to pressure situations and simply performs very poorly in clutch situations.

Perhaps it is a team that doesn't have a brain, a heart or courage. Unfortunately, the Wizard of Oz doesn't seem to be around to fix it.

Good post- you sum it up very well.

[1972Shocker]

If we were a young team you might be able to attribute the poor performance in the clutch to a lack of experience.

But we have 8 seniors (4 of whom are redshirt seniors) and 12 juniors (3 redshirts). So that excuse is not available to us.

Hopefully, the Shocks can jump out to early leads on Bradley and take the pressure off.

[Iamsecond]

In response to 1972Shocker, Maybe a younger team might provide more passion, toughness, will to win and productivity. What would it hurt to try Bobbit, Phillips, Haddox, McIntyre and Austin Gardner? Young Blood ready to "Play Angry"

[ShockTalk]

In response to 1972Shocker, Maybe a younger team might provide more passion, toughness, will to win and productivity. What would it hurt to try Bobbit, Phillips, Haddox, McIntyre and Austin Gardner? Young Blood ready to "Play Angry"

May not hurt, however, Bobbit and Haddox appear to be a couple of the players that may not be responding well to the coaching change. While both averaged around .300 last year in limited playing time, they're batting about a buck fifty together this year with not that many fewer at bats per game. Also, Phillips, like Haddox, clearly have the highest SO% per at bat (although the sample size is small).

Again, not necessarily saying the coaching change is the problem. If not, it may be time to put more energy and time into the youth.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Or, perhaps players like Phillips should play better. Top of the 9th, 1 out, go in to pinch run. Gets picked off from HOME PLATE because he is not paying attention.

[Rosewood]

Tie game on a little league play turned error.

[Rosewood]

This team angers me in ways I didn't know were possible

[1972Shocker]

Had to make sure A.J. wouldn't get a win. You would like to be able say A.J. is just a hard luck pitcher but I'm not sure luck has much to do with it. Ain't no way A.J. will come back for his senior year and put up with this lack of support from his teammates.

[Rosewood]

Up to the plate in the 9th in a tied game? Try just watching 3 pitches go by!

[tru2thaduce]

Lead off double.Lets see of Bradley can show us how to play baseball.Sad,Sad days for the Shockers.

[tru2thaduce]

I also want to say this.If Dearman is still in the lineup tomorrow and they don't at least try someone else,I will have to start to wonder about this staff.