Gm 49 - vs KSU

[1972Shocker]

WSU was supposed to be much better this year compared to last years NCAA team. Instead they're worse.

Maybe, maybe not. True we had pretty much the same team as last year and you would hope they would be one year older and one year better but we seem to be one year the same. I think losing Minnis and Peterson out of the bullpen to the draft hurt us more than I anticipated it would, much more. We have no dependable closer. Our only graduating seniors were McGreevey and Coy. Not sure anyone has stepped up to improve on McGreevey's 3.99 ERA in middle relief and Chase Simpson is not much, if any, better than Johnny Coy. Garrett Brummett gave up 5 earned runs in 38.2 innings last year and has given up 16 earned runs in 11.1 innings this year. Aaron Labrie is not as good this year as last year. Kris Gardner is still closer to his last year form than his freshman year form.

Throw in the suspensions, injury issues (Mucha, Kihle, Harbutz, Parker, Zimmerman, Baker and Bayliff), the tougher schedule and a seemingly improved Valley (although the Valley seems to be backtracking lately) then realistically we are probably about where you would expect us to be. A 0.500 baseball team.

I would think expectations for next year will be very tempered as we are losing most of the core of what quality players we do have. Next year we have Sam Tewes and nothing else proven on the mound, one +0.300 hitter in Daniel Kihle while we lose well over half of our home run production and Tyler Baker who I think has been very good defensively this year but he is only hitting 0.239. Basically, we are starting from scratch next year and will be dependent on how a bunch of newcomers perform. Keep in mind this 1st recruiting class was put together with what Coach Butler considers a late start. Personally, I think this rebuild will take a couple more recruiting classes to complete and be pretty solid again by the 2017 season.

As far as this year goes a nice strong finish would at least serve to wash away some of the bad taste in our mouths. With no mid-week games left and with Elam, Ladwing and Tewes starting all our remaining regular season games and our 1st three Valley Tournament games we at least have a shot at a strong finish although our offense and our bullpen issues may be too much to overcome. At the very least I hope Casey Gillaspie finishes his career with a flourish.

[shockerofandover0943]

Last years team was so good and so consistent. It's a joke they fired Gene and it's also a joke that Butler doesn't have the group in position to host a regional. All the talent in the world with no direction.

[SHOXAAC]

Last years team was so good and so consistent. It's a joke they fired Gene and it's also a joke that Butler doesn't have the group in position to host a regional. All the talent in the world with no direction.

The meter is on high alert.

[Dave Stalwart]

What are we gonna do if we somehow win the Valley? Or if we win the tournament?

I have to laugh because aren't both of those things actually possible?

I gather that we are 9-6 while 1st place is 11-4 and there more than enough games left for the stars to align.

Yes, I'm nuts. Somebody remind me why it won't happen

[Cdizzle]

What are we gonna do if we somehow win the Valley? Or if we win the tournament?

Support the team, hope for the best. Same as always.

Yes, I'm nuts. Somebody remind me why it won't happen

This team doesn't have nearly enough clutch to come through when it matters. We'll have to be clutch for 10 games to win the Valley title and the Valley tourney title.

[1972Shocker]

What are we gonna do if we somehow win the Valley? Or if we win the tournament?

I have to laugh because aren't both of those things actually possible?

I gather that we are 9-6 while 1st place is 11-4 and there more than enough games left for the stars to align.

Yes, I'm nuts. Somebody remind me why it won't happen

Yes, that is possible. As @Cdizzle points out if it does happen we support the team and hope for the best. However, I will point out that we are just as close to 6th place as we are to 1st place and we probably have about the same chances of finishes 6th as we do finishing 1st. Either is a possibility. In our favor is our weekend starting pitching and Casey Gillaspie. Working against us is about everything else. If our SP falters at all I don't think Casey by himself can bail us out.

Also on the positive side is that we did win the Valley Tournament last year by winning 5 straight after losing our opening game. We can debate what this year's team brings to the table but one thing most of this year's team has is that experience.

Bottom line, IMHO, is that if our SP is nails throughout the remainder of the season we have a reasonable chance. If our SP falters at all not so much.

[mjbaker84]

when was the last season of shocker baseball with a .500 or worse season record?
I hope they don't drop any more games... but thats probably not likely

[1972Shocker]

when was the last season of shocker baseball with a .500 or worse season record?
I hope they don't drop any more games... but thats probably not likely

I believe that would be 1970 when the team went 6-17 before they shut the program down until Gene was hired for the 1978 season. I do not believe Gene ever had a 0.500 season during his tenure. 2009 was the closest he came when the Shocks went 30-27.

It would be nice if we could at least keep that streak in tact.

[1972Shocker]

Our Big 3 starting rotation of Ladwig, Elam and Tewes has been pretty solid all year. They have a combined ERA of 2.01 and a combined WHIP of 1.10 (and that includes free passes from HBP) in a combined 223.2 innings. I'm not sure we could really ask more from this group.

These guys have made a total of 35 appearances this year all in starting roles. Our record in those games is 20-15 (Elam 7-4, Ladwing 5-7 and Tewes 8-4). It is really quite astonishing that we are not better than that with the kind of numbers these guys have been able to produce.

In games not started by the Big 3 the Shocks are 5-9. The rest of the pitching staff has an ERA of 4.80 and a WHIP of 1.74 in 210 innings.

So I guess a reason why the scenario @DJ06Shocker: wishes for may not happen is that even in games started by our Big 3 we have only won 57% of the time.

[Cdizzle]

Those SP numbers are amazing. It is really sad that we haven't been able to get a whole ton of fruitful things to enjoy from the team as a whole, but the starters and Gillaspie are a lot of fun to watch. A Friday night guy with a 1.16 ERA in 12 starts? That's ridiculous.

[1979Shocker]

What are we gonna do if we somehow win the Valley? Or if we win the tournament?

I have to laugh because aren't both of those things actually possible?

I gather that we are 9-6 while 1st place is 11-4 and there more than enough games left for the stars to align.

Yes, I'm nuts. Somebody remind me why it won't happen

Winning the lottery is possible, too.

[1972Shocker]

I only heard bits and pieces of HCTB's radio show Monday but did he say he may move Elam into the leadoff role and move A.J. back to the #2.

I believe his thinking was that if you can stay in the winner's bracket you can win the Valley Tournament by winning 4 consecutive games. Whoever starts the Tuesday game might be able to come back on 3-days rest and pitch in the Championship game on Saturday in this scenario. I believe the thinking is Cale would be the most likely to be able to do this because of his history as a relief pitcher.

It will interesting to see if they make that switch beginning this weekend against DBU.

If I understood this to be the case then it is would appear HCTB doesn't have faith in any of our other guys as a 4th starter which is understandable at this point.

[WstateU]

Last years team was so good and so consistent. It's a joke they fired Gene and it's also a joke that Butler doesn't have the group in position to host a regional. All the talent in the world with no direction.

The meter is on high alert.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Obviously the 1st time I've seen this team play.

Just wondering how D-1 collegiate baseball players do not understand basic base running fundamentals.

Why was Baker rounding 2nd base on a fly to center?
Is this the norm for this team?

Looking for one of the SN baseball followers to help me understand what is going on with this group.

I'll hang up an listen.

That is all.

Depth of fly ball.
Arm strength of center fielder.
Controlled rounding of second.
Third base coach.
Speed of runner.
Quickness of runner.

Lotsa variables, but your premise is so correcto.

To answer your question, I have no idea other than lack of talent and training.