next year

[1972Shocker]

honestly the 2009 team IMO,was the worst team I've seen.Just got lucky and won the Valley tourney that year.For what it's worth Mikel Mucha did tell me today he will be back next year.Ran into him after the championship game at the Eck.He did an interview for KSN that may be seen on tonight's news.

Mikel was one of the guys who came on strong down the stretch and had a very good tournament. I could see him having a very solid senior year. I for one would love to see that.

[strongisbeautiful17]

So mainly the ones that still have ties to Gene? Is that what you are saying?

1 was Gene's the rest TB recruits. Mucha is a Gene guy

[zeptepi]

To be at this time of year once again without being able to get excited about Monday's selection show, speculate about our regional foes, or read about Shocker baseball in all the pre-regional write-ups is a really hard thing to stomach, but can't help feel like there are some things to be optimistic about. I can get excited about a foundation built on guys like Troutwine, Vickers, and Tewes.


Brent talked a bit about next season on his show Saturday. He talked about having an experienced infield in Vickers, Kirk, Tinkham, and Rader. He then talked about the outfield, saying there were holes to fill, and mentioned Mucha returning. I thought it was interesting that he didn't mention Hilliard and Kihle when talking about the outfield, but specifically named Tinkham when talking about the infield. Having Tinkham back would be huge. That would be an incredibly solid, experienced infield; not to mention Tinkham in the 3-hole with a stronger, more experienced Troutwine batting cleanup behind him. I'm sure one of those outfield spots is Keenan Eaton's to lose.


It's comforting knowing we'll have Tewes (though, I thought the same thing at this time last year…), and if Schwanke also got a medical redshirt, we definitely have a shot at getting him back even if he gets drafted, as he'd still have draft leverage as a RS junior. Anderson is a question mark, but possible. It's not like his numbers were lights out. Ditto Hayes. Chase Williams could very likely return, and if he builds on what he did down the stretch, then that is a solid 3 or 4-man starting rotation. He reminded me of Kyle Touchatt with his power-arm wildness early on, but kudos to him for having figured it out quicker than Touchatt did. Bargfeldt was put in an unenviable situation and usually stepped up when he had to. Hopefully, injuries are kinder to us in 2016.


I do not think Butler can survive another sub-par year. He has to make a big statement this next year. That doesn't mean he has to have a '15 Missouri State-style season, but I think he needs to come pretty close to a '15 Bradley-style season. I know there are still some very heavy hitters when it comes to baseball donors who will not give up on Shocker baseball. The money for a buy-out will be there if it absolutely has to. I really hope it doesn't come to that and instead, at this time next year, we're getting excited about the selection show once again.

[1972Shocker]

I do not think Butler can survive another sub-par year.

So you seriously think WSU will come up with a $1.2 million+ buyout of HCTB plus possibly a buyout of PCBK after next year.

I don't see it but okay.

[shoxlax]

Tanner Dearman according to Twitter appears to be the first exit.

A Gene recruit.

[1972Shocker]

Tanner Dearman according to Twitter appears to be the first exit.

A Gene recruit.

Perhaps more importantly a singles hitter with a well below average .321 OBA and a .243 SLG% for an OPS of .564 vs the team average OPS of .759 (.363 + .396) who had pretty much been relegated to pinch running duty during the last part of his junior season on a team that was searching for a solid lead off hitter. I think Tanner, with his speed, was given ample opportunities to become that guy in his 2-years under HCTB and unfortunately it simply did not happen for him. Was being a Gene recruit a factor? I couldn't say one way or the other nor do I have any knowledge of whether Tanner was on scholarship or not.

[shoxlax]

I don't have any idea either but I think it will be interesting to see if the other poster's numbers turn out to be true.

In any event, good luck Tanner!

I get people not liking results under HCTB but Gene was mailing it in the last few years when it came to recruiting. It wasn't going to get any better unless Gene hired a HCIW who did all of the scouting and chasing of players.

I personally think TB can get it done. He just needs a couple of breaks with the draft and team health next year. FWIW I am absolutely not willing to risk any material object on this prediction, however, because like I said before baseball is just too weird.

[1972Shocker]

I don't have any idea either but I think it will be interesting to see if the other poster's numbers turn out to be true.

In any event, good luck Tanner!

I get people not liking results under HCTB but Gene was mailing it in the last few years when it came to recruiting. It wasn't going to get any better unless Gene hired a HCIW who did all of the scouting and chasing of players.

I personally think TB can get it done. He just needs a couple of breaks with the draft and team health next year. FWIW I am absolutely not willing to risk any material object on this prediction, however, because like I said before baseball is just too weird.

I agree with you in wishing Tanner well. Personally I was really pulling for Tanner to succeed. I like seeing the little guys succeed and we have had some great little guys over the years in this program. Kevin Hooper and Blake Blasi perhaps being my favorites. Unfortunately, it just didn't click for Tanner at this level.

To get this turned around the No. 1 priority has to be to rebuild the quality and depth of the pitching staff. No doubt the injuries to Tewes and Schwanke were huge blows this year. Even Isaac Anderson missed some time and had to ease back into a full load. However, outside of John Hayes our bullpen was simply woeful this year.

Actually our 2015 numbers relative to our opponent pitching numbers were not horrible:

ERA: Shocks 5.10 - Opponents 5.24
WHIP: Shocks 1.70 - Opponents 1.63 (I include HBP - same as a walk IMO)
OBA: Shocks .275 - Opponents .274

However, relative to the kind of Shocker pitching numbers we have grown accustomed to these numbers are pretty poor.

Even last year the Shockers pitching numbers were much better:

ERA: 3.43
WHIP: 1.40
OBA: .258

How much of the deterioration in numbers was due to the loss of Tewes and Schwanke is hard to say. Tewes had a 2.42 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and .214 OBA in 22.1 innings and Schwanke had a 3.00 ERA 1.48 WHIP and .267 OBA in 33 innings.

Rebuilding the pitching staff has to be Job No. 1. If we can get both Tewes and Schwanke back 100% healthy that will certainly help but we also have to find some effective arms for the bullpen as well.

[SB Shock]

I agree with you in wishing Tanner well. Personally I was really pulling for Tanner to succeed. I like seeing the little guys succeed and we have had some great little guys over the years in this program. Kevin Hooper and Blake Blasi perhaps being my favorites. Unfortunately, it just didn't click for Tanner at this level.

To get this turned around the No. 1 priority has to be to rebuild the quality and depth of the pitching staff. No doubt the injuries to Tewes and Schwanke were huge blows this year. Even Isaac Anderson missed some time and had to ease back into a full load. However, outside of John Hayes our bullpen was simply woeful this year.

Actually our 2015 numbers relative to our opponent pitching numbers were not horrible:

ERA: Shocks 5.10 - Opponents 5.24
WHIP: Shocks 1.70 - Opponents 1.63 (I include HBP - same as a walk IMO)
OBA: Shocks .275 - Opponents .274

However, relative to the kind of Shocker pitching numbers we have grown accustomed to these numbers are pretty poor.

Even last year the Shockers pitching numbers were much better:

ERA: 3.43
WHIP: 1.40
OBA: .258

How much of the deterioration in numbers was due to the loss of Tewes and Schwanke is hard to say. Tewes had a 2.42 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and .214 OBA in 22.1 innings and Schwanke had a 3.00 ERA 1.48 WHIP and .267 OBA in 33 innings.

Rebuilding the pitching staff has to be Job No. 1. If we can get both Tewes and Schwanke back 100% healthy that will certainly help but we also have to find some effective arms for the bullpen as well.

Part of the issue was WSU had a SOS of 27 for 2015. Over the last 15 years WSU average SOS was in the 80's and in their best years was in the 50's. This team probably wasn't ready for this type of schedule.

[1972Shocker]

Part of the issue was WSU had a SOS of 27 for 2015. Over the last 15 years WSU average SOS was in the 80's and in their best years was in the 50's. This team probably wasn't ready for this type of schedule.

We have not had many years where the Valley actually elevated our SOS.

[SB Shock]

We have not had many years where the Valley actually elevated our SOS.

This was probably a missed opportunity for WSU. I expect DBU to reload as they have a proven sustained track record, but SWOMO and BU probably won't reload, but have to rebuild.

[RoyalShock]

From Sully:

Paul Suellentrop @PaulS:uellentrop
2 WSU baseball players moving on. Tanner Dearman to Southwest Oklahoma St. Michael Burns undecided.

[Ashockalypse]

True - then he went to Oklahoma and that all ended.

BS

[SB Shock]

BS

The facts speak for themselves.

1. Up Through 1999, WSU played on a national level where they were competing what is now referred to today as a National Seed.

2. After the Molina incident, whether by coincidence or not, the program took a hit and dropped to being just a regional team. There was slow recovery and it looked like it might get back to the same level in the late 90's.

3. After the 2005 season - Gene announce he was leaving for OU because

"we’ve done all we can do at Wichita State”

4. The results was a meteoric decline from a College Baseball Dynasty to just another average college team hoping to win their conference auto-bid and struggled to win their conference that they once dominated.

[SB Shock]

BS

The facts speak for themselves.

1. Up Through 1999, WSU played on a national level where they were competing what is now referred to today as a National Seed.

2. After the Molina incident, whether by coincidence or not, the program took a hit and dropped to being just a regional team. There was slow recovery and it looked like it might get back to the same level in the late 90's.

3. After the 2005 season - Gene announce he was leaving for OU because

"we’ve done all we can do at Wichita State”

4. The results was a meteoric decline from a College Baseball Dynasty to just another average college team hoping to win their conference auto-bid and struggled to win their conference that they once dominated.