How many seasons does Butler get?

[Dave Stalwart]

I wonder if there is a thread on the Blue Jay Underground titled "The flaming burning predictable disaster that is Shocker Baseball"?

Because the situations are so similar?

[Shocker85]

There was marked improvement this season from about April 15 to May 22. A trend we weren't seeing often at the end of the previous regime. Things are far from perfect, but there is cause for optimism.

I have been very critical of the coaches, players and BBIQ exhibited. Most of this staff is learning new roles; teaching is an important one because the players coming in don't have the savvy they had in the past. Looking at the improvement of many of the players demonstrates they are teachable and that the coaches are learning to teach.

Injuries doomed this team early because there was not the experienced depth available. That should improve with the continuity of this staff.

This season is over and there is no benefit to beating it to death. Next season will be important to the long-term health of the program. I expect good things.

[SB Shock]

I don't believe the Butler can survive another sub .500 season next year.

You might want to go read his contract - he is not getting fired next year.

I don't know if SWMO was having a bad weekend or if WSU has gotten better (probably both) but I thought WSU should have won both games had they just been a little smarter and had a little more depth.

This is what to look for:

1. Progression for the starters during summer ball
2. See how some of the redshirts do in summer ball
3. See who we lose in the draft
4. Watch during fall ball and see if any of the newcomers (freshman) are going to live up to potential.

I'm hoping that Butler now has a base of young men who can provide some early leadership and we won't see a repeat of the first 2.5 months. If this program could have played like they did the last month for the whole season they would have been in line for at-large.

[shockerfanmas]

You might want to go read his contract - he is not getting fired next year.

I don't know if SWMO was having a bad weekend or if WSU has gotten better (probably both) but I thought WSU should have won both games had they just been a little smarter and had a little more depth.

This is what to look for:

1. Progression for the starters during summer ball
2. See how some of the redshirts do in summer ball
3. See who we lose in the draft
4. Watch during fall ball and see if any of the newcomers (freshman) are going to live up to potential.

I'm hoping that Butler now has a base of young men who can provide some early leadership and we won't see a repeat of the first 2.5 months. If this program could have played like they did the last month for the whole season they would have been in line for at-large.

I agree with you to a point. I also feel that WSU outplayed MSU both games this weekend, but lack of baseball IQ (not gonna mention talent because that is a fine line) finally caught up with them. What irritates me most is with 2 strikes, you know you have to protect the plate because anything close is going to be a strike, yet our batters continue to stand there and take strike 3 down the gut like it's no big deal. That goes back to baseball IQ.

The contract is ridiculous, I'm assuming it was Sexton who wrote that contract. If so, he ought to be fired on the spot. Who in their right mind would give an unproven coach that kind of contract? This just continues to prove the point many have made that Sexton is inept, at best, as an athletic director.

I admit I see some bright spots on this team, but I see just as many, if not more, negatives. Pitching staff really needs to pick it up, they've got to find guys that can throw strikes consistently. I think a big key is if Hilliard and/or Tinkham come back, as it is evident to me they were the heart of the team this season. If they both get drafted and sign, I can see next season being exactly like this season. It's just hard to say at this point, I'm still trying to get over the fact the team let it slip away twice this weekend.

[Ricardo del Rio]

As creator of Team A and Team B many years ago, I believe I am qualified to predict a return of Teams A and B.

As before, Team A for a new beginning and Team B for more of the same.

Dios dira'.

Asi' es la vida.

Siete anos! Cinco anos mas! Mi Dios!

[KraRam]

My prediction is we are going to be just fine. The growth for the team over the last month shows that. We were young in many positions and depth (17 Fr., 3 So. out of 37) . It takes time (Royals, Coach K). We have Kimnitz, so pitching will be fine. Offense was getting it done and the mental game was getting better (barring a couple of errs. last night). All in all I am excited about next year and will be renewing my season tickets.

[JJClamdip]

Because the situations are so similar?

Yes to a point.

Both are a mere shadow of their previous versions, except Shocker baseball was dominant for a much longer period and at a much higher level when compared to Blow Jay basketball.

Shocker baseball was nationally relevant for many years something that the BJ's have never achieved in anything but soccer. (Soccer is not really a sport and no one really cares anyway)

Shocker baseball has fallen much farther.

[shox1989]

You might want to go read his contract - he is not getting fired next year.

I don't know if SWMO was having a bad weekend or if WSU has gotten better (probably both) but I thought WSU should have won both games had they just been a little smarter and had a little more depth.

This is what to look for:

1. Progression for the starters during summer ball
2. See how some of the redshirts do in summer ball
3. See who we lose in the draft
4. Watch during fall ball and see if any of the newcomers (freshman) are going to live up to potential.

I'm hoping that Butler now has a base of young men who can provide some early leadership and we won't see a repeat of the first 2.5 months. If this program could have played like they did the last month for the whole season they would have been in line for at-large.

I said if WSU finishes below .500 next year, I don't see how he survives. I know WSU signed a ridiculously stupid 7 year contract. But I don't think the fans and WSU supporters would stand for another sub .500 season. This is something that hasn't been experienced since the program was dropped in 1970. They practically gave away season tickets this year and still had dismal support. Another losing season and I don't think there will be much of a program left to salvage.

[shockerfanmas]

I'm just gonna add, there's a reason all-session tickets for the mvc tournament were 45 for lower box. Average 3 bucks a game. There's a reason 90% of the seats in the stadium are empty all season long. This program has been on a downhill slide since the back to back super regionals. Nobody wants to come out and watch a team that used to compete for titles year in and year out and now has a baseball IQ that is seriously lacking. Nobody wants to come out and watch division 1 baseball players make mistakes that they should have gotten out of their system years ago, head coach included.

If I haven't made it clear that Im not the biggest Butler fan, I'll say it now. I'm not a fan of Butler, I thought it was a terrible hire from the beginning, and I doubt if I'll ever be a fan of Butler, even if he were to take the Shox back to the promised land. He just rubs me the wrong way, kind of like Jody Adams and the women's team.

I want the baseball program to succeed just as much as the next guy, and I'll support them as well as I possibly can. At the risk of ruffling feathers, I don't see myself ever throwing my support for Butler.

For the record I wasn't the biggest Gene fan either, I thought we made a mistake by letting him come back after he took the OU job.

[SB Shock]

I said if WSU finishes below .500 next year, I don't see how he survives. I know WSU signed a ridiculously stupid 7 year contract. But I don't think the fans and WSU supporters would stand for another sub .500 season.

I know what you said, and he is not going to be fired, regardless. He will get more than a fair chance to resurrect the program.

He was given a 7 year contract because it was well understood the WSU program was just a mere shadow of itself and broken. It had no recruits, the coaches were not out recruiting and as we found out mere months after adult leadership was put in charge of the program was violating NCAA rules. And from Gene own testimony we found out that he wasn't really around anymore, even when in the office he wasn't there.

[shockfan89_]

And for the record we signed the recruiting coordinator to 7 years too... Gene was fired for a 3 year absence from NCAA, we are now 2 years negative under Butler...

[shockfan89_]

And 2010 we ddeserved a bid so really it was 2 years during personal issues. MSU stuck with their coach and they are hosting. Where are we?

[Ricardo del Rio]

Kemnitz too!

Contractually, what a mess.

[vancedave56]

I'm not worried.

[ShockerFever]

I'm just gonna add, there's a reason all-session tickets for the mvc tournament were 45 for lower box. Average 3 bucks a game. There's a reason 90% of the seats in the stadium are empty all season long. This program has been on a downhill slide since the back to back super regionals. Nobody wants to come out and watch a team that used to compete for titles year in and year out and now has a baseball IQ that is seriously lacking. Nobody wants to come out and watch division 1 baseball players make mistakes that they should have gotten out of their system years ago, head coach included.

If I haven't made it clear that Im not the biggest Butler fan, I'll say it now. I'm not a fan of Butler, I thought it was a terrible hire from the beginning, and I doubt if I'll ever be a fan of Butler, even if he were to take the Shox back to the promised land. He just rubs me the wrong way, kind of like Jody Adams and the women's team.

I want the baseball program to succeed just as much as the next guy, and I'll support them as well as I possibly can. At the risk of ruffling feathers, I don't see myself ever throwing my support for Butler.

For the record I wasn't the biggest Gene fan either, I thought we made a mistake by letting him come back after he took the OU job.

Ok, so what's the answer Nostradamus?