New pitching coach - Mike Steele

[im4wsu]

Phone interview with Kunkel.

Talking with Kunkel is strike one against the new coach

[1972Shocker]

No, he's not. And it can backfire if it doesn't work out. But frankly, this program needs a whole lot more people breathing fire and ready to take names than the zero involved the past few years.

Coach Steele only has a 1 year contract so probably doesn't matter what he says. If he can't produce he won't be around either way. I don't mind the confident approach. Some would say it is just positive thinking. Brent was big on positive thinking.

[1972Shocker]

This is a storied program of whipping ass and taking names, I like the cut of his jib already.

Here's hoping his jib is up to the task.

[1972Shocker]

Phone interview with Kunkel.

Confidence indeed:

"Give us 4 to 5 runs a game and were going to win 40."

Perhaps more positive thinking than anything. Hopefully, it is not a false confidence or over confidence. In any case, Coach Steele is not afraid to put himself in the cross hairs.

[Cdizzle]

Coach Steele only has a 1 year contract so probably doesn't matter what he says. If he can't produce he won't be around either way. I don't mind the confident approach. Some would say it is just positive thinking. Brent was big on positive thinking.

Agreed. No offense to Mr. Steele, but I'm happy with the 1 year contract. Succeed? Great, more contract. Don't? Well, it's time we started getting out from under the financial mess with the baseball program.

[1972Shocker]

Agreed. No offense to Mr. Steele, but I'm happy with the 1 year contract. Succeed? Great, more contract. Don't? Well, it's time we started getting out from under the financial mess with the baseball program.

To bad we didn't take more of the same approach when replacing Gene.

[SHOCKvalue]

It is in the article but I do not believe it has been raised on here - the contract length is 1 year for $100k.

That really is a shot across the bow at Butler, one would assume. Great get, but I'm still shocked the guy is giving up a roughly equivalent job and uprooting his family across the country for those terms.

[Cdizzle]

That really is a shot across the bow at Butler, one would assume. Great get, but I'm still shocked the guy is giving up a roughly equivalent job and uprooting his family across the country for those terms.

I believe a lot of assistant coaches at many schools, in many sports are on 1 year contracts.

[ShockerFever]

Let's face it. It's at least a 3 year contract. He ain't going anywhere for a while.

[Metalkatz]

Maybe, but not really a natural recruiting area for the Shocks. Going from SoCal to Wichita is both a culture and weather Shock. Not sure how many California kids we have had over the years but I don't think it qualifies as a plethora. I think Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado will remain our bread and butter. Coach Steele only spent 2 seasons at LBSU so not sure how much of a network he would have built up. I don't think that will be much, if any, of a factor.

sure, but Colorado is the #1 destination for people in California leaving the state. Its colder than in KS, albeit slightly prettier.

[XManCometh]

Confidence indeed:

"Give us 4 to 5 runs a game and were going to win 40."

Perhaps more positive thinking than anything. Hopefully, it is not a false confidence or over confidence. In any case, Coach Steele is not afraid to put himself in the cross hairs.

I'd rather a guy come in spewing confidence, even if it's fake or a little overboard, and saying stuff like, "We're going to win 40" than a guy who walks in and says: "Eh I'm not sure how we'll do. Time will tell." Even if he fails and the staff is horrendous next year you have to give the guy credit for being excited for the task.

Let's face it. It's at least a 3 year contract. He ain't going anywhere for a while.

If Butler gets canned after next year, he won't be sticking around. That's for sure. It's probably a 1 year deal with a school option or something like that.

[OregonShocker]

Let's face it. It's at least a 3 year contract. He ain't going anywhere for a while.

Yeah, I agree. I wonder if the one year is for some reason based on the year remaining on BK's contract?

[OregonShocker]

While I like the fire displayed in the interview, it seems to downplay BK's talents. Cut in half just by watching film? Imply the staff had no structure under BK? Maybe I missed it, but this seems to say BK gave up...

[im4wsu]

sure, but Colorado is the #1 destination for people in California leaving the state. Its colder than in KS, albeit slightly prettier.

About 4 degrees different between my home and Boulder Colorado

	Great Bend, KS			Boulder, CO
	Min	Max	Avg	Min	Max	Avg
Year	40	67.9	54	36.5	65.2	50.9
January	15.1	40.9	28	19.2	45.7	32.5
February	19.3	47.3	33.3	22.5	49.1	35.8
March	28.1	56.7	42.4	27.7	55.8	41.8
April	37.9	66.9	52.4	33.9	62.7	48.3
May	49.8	76.3	63.1	42	71.7	56.9
June	60.2	87.4	73.8	50.5	82.2	66.4
July	65.4	93.8	79.6	55.9	87.2	71.6
August	63.2	91.7	77.5	55	85	70
September	53.9	83.2	68.6	46.8	77.4	62.1
October	40.8	71.7	56.3	37.1	66.7	51.9
November	27.3	54.8	41.1	26.8	52.6	39.7
December	18.9	44.2	31.6	20.6	46.1	33.4

[SHOCKvalue]

About 4 degrees different between my home and Boulder Colorado

	Great Bend, KS			Boulder, CO
	Min	Max	Avg	Min	Max	Avg
Year	40	67.9	54	36.5	65.2	50.9
January	15.1	40.9	28	19.2	45.7	32.5
February	19.3	47.3	33.3	22.5	49.1	35.8
March	28.1	56.7	42.4	27.7	55.8	41.8
April	37.9	66.9	52.4	33.9	62.7	48.3
May	49.8	76.3	63.1	42	71.7	56.9
June	60.2	87.4	73.8	50.5	82.2	66.4
July	65.4	93.8	79.6	55.9	87.2	71.6
August	63.2	91.7	77.5	55	85	70
September	53.9	83.2	68.6	46.8	77.4	62.1
October	40.8	71.7	56.3	37.1	66.7	51.9
November	27.3	54.8	41.1	26.8	52.6	39.7
December	18.9	44.2	31.6	20.6	46.1	33.4

Average dewpoint and humidity just might be relevant additional information there. I'd trade the typical atmospheric conditions (meaning, nothing to do with views or recreational opportunities) of Boulder with Wichita without even stopping to think about it. I bet you could go outside anytime in the next three months in Boulder weather and actually enjoy an outdoor activity, as compared to soaking through all your clothes on the way to and from the mailbox here in Durrrr-Dah.

*This tangent brought to you by im4wsu, and my severe dislike of summers in Kansas.