MVC Tournament Conclusion

[1972Shocker]

MSU was the beneficiary of 4 walks in the top of the 1st to take an early 1-0 lead on Dallas Baptist.

Had the bases loaded with 1 out but ended the inning with back-to-back strike outs. Very Shocker-like.

[1972Shocker]

DBU ties it up 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd with an approach that pretty much symbolizes College Baseball in the BBCOR Era.

DBU had runners the corners with 1-out. The 7-hole hitter, DBU's DH Talamantes, was at the plate.

Heefner called for a bunt. Not sure if it was a suicide squeeze or a safety squeeze but the runner from 3rd score and the runner on 1st advanced to second. The batter was credited it a Sac Bunt and a RBI. Talamantes is only a 0.214 hitter with 7 RBI on the season so that no doubt had a lot to do with the decision to have him bunt. They at least got a productive AB out of one of their weakest hitters.

[Cdizzle]

I am kindof tired of the bats. I believe I read somewhere about the NCAA changing the baseballs next year to something that would make it slightly harder for pitchers to throw breaking balls, and reduce drag so that they would carry more.

[1972Shocker]

DBU's starter has allowed no hits and struck out 5, but has 6 walks in 3 innings with a pitch count at 65. I guess that is what you call effectively wild more or less.

[1972Shocker]

I am kindof tired of the bats. I believe I read somewhere about the NCAA changing the baseballs next year to something that would make it slightly harder for pitchers to throw breaking balls, and reduce drag so that they would carry more.

http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2013-11-05/di-committee-changes-flat-seamed-baseballs-2015-championship

How many home runs would Casey have had this year if some of his well struck long fly outs had travelled another 20 feet? Maybe another 10 to 15.

[shoxlax]

DBU ties it up 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd with an approach that pretty much symbolizes College Baseball in the BBCOR Era.

DBU had runners the corners with 1-out. The 7-hole hitter, DBU's DH Talamantes, was at the plate.

Heefner called for a bunt. Not sure if it was a suicide squeeze or a safety squeeze but the runner from 3rd score and the runner on 1st advanced to second. The batter was credited it a Sac Bunt and a RBI. Talamantes is only a 0.214 hitter with 7 RBI on the season so that no doubt had a lot to do with the decision to have him bunt. They at least got a productive AB out of one of their weakest hitters.

Be nice if we had someone that could do that

[1972Shocker]

Moved to http://shockernet.net/forum/showthre...s-Sunday/page2

[1972Shocker]

MSU scores a BBCOR run in the top of the 7th to take a 2-1 lead.

Bunt single -- Steal 2nd -- Sac Bunt Runner to 3rd -- Score on FC grounder to 2B

[1972Shocker]

MSU increases their lead in the 8th to 3-1 with a 2-out rally.

Walk -- Walk -- Single.

2 of MSU's runs pretty much the result of 6 walks by DBU pitchers. The two DBU pitchers have given up 11 walks in 9 innings.

[1972Shocker]

DBU got back-to-back singles in the 9th to put runners at 1st and 2nd. They had there 7-hole DH, Talamantes up. Talamantes had already been called upon to lay down 2 sac bunts earlier in the game, one of which scored DBU's only run. I was almost sure he would be sacrificing in this situation to get the tying runs into scoring position. He may have tried and failed. I don't know. But on a 1-2 count he hit into a double play. The next batter doubled to Left Center to make the score 3-2. However, DBU's 9-hole hitter, Nash Knight, singled to right on a 3-2 pitch to score the runner from 2nd and tie the game at 3-all. Knight went to second on the throw to the plate. MSU walked the next batter to set up a force play's at 1st, 2nd and 3rd. MSU struck out DBU 1B Mike Weselowski to end the inning. To extra's they go.

Illinois State hoping they go another 5 or 6 innings with MSU winning so they can do it again this evening.

[1972Shocker]

MSU plated 2 unearned runs in the Top of the 10th on a walk -- sac bunt -- single -- error -- wild pitch and then put down DBU in order in the bottom of the half to win 5-3 and force a 2nd bracket finals game later today.

Illinois State smiling, resting and waiting.

[Veritas]

Bruce Haertl's comments on the Shockers Valley tournament performance and the state of the Shocker program.

http://www.kwch.com/blogs/bruces-for-what-its-worth/for-what-its-worth-nasal-strips-the-shocks-moose/26120882

Interesting comment about the players knowing that a purge is coming and that may have affected the team's focus this year and in the tournament.

Bruce closed with:



Hard to argue that point, although I suppose it is just stating the obvious.

Excluding salary, I'm curious as to how much WSU spends for baseball contrasted to the top 10 or 15. I know we slipped and I know most completely blame Gene, but I'd like to see a little more analysis.
Was it all Gene? Is it all on the Butler?
-- salary - top 30?
-- stadium - used to be top 10. Now top 30?
-- recruiting budget?
-- how do teams travel? Competitive edge?
What other issues can make WSU a national power again?

[ShockTalk]

Excluding salary, I'm curious as to how much WSU spends for baseball contrasted to the top 10 or 15. I know we slipped and I know most completely blame Gene, but I'd like to see a little more analysis.
Was it all Gene? Is it all on the Butler?
-- salary - top 30?
-- stadium - used to be top 10. Now top 30?
-- recruiting budget?
-- how do teams travel? Competitive edge?
What other issues can make WSU a national power again?

Might suggest starting a new thread or dig up an old one on this. Not that I won't discuss it, just that this topic is set to derail yet another thread not about that topic.

[1972Shocker]

Might suggest starting a new thread or dig up an old one on this. Not that I won't discuss it, just that this topic is set to derail yet another thread not about that topic.

My fault. I had posted a blog by Bruce Haertl that talked both about the Shocks performance in the Valley Tournament and the state of the program. I moved that post to: http://shockernet.net/forum/showthre...s-Sunday/page2

[ShockTalk]

My fault. I had posted a blog by Bruce Haertl that talked both about the Shocks performance in the Valley Tournament and the state of the program.

You're being gracious. Haertl was the voice of the MVC tourney on ESPN3, he saw all the Valley teams, and made a statement based on play in the tourney and WSU's position within the conference. We have not dominated the Valley for a number of years now.

That has nothing to do with the Gene vs Butler, national power, top 10-30 facilities, or recruiting budget to compete with the big boys. We have been doing less with more (compared to the other Valley schools) for a while now. I will discuss with @Veritas: the items he listed elsewhere.