2017 Predictions

[ShockerFever]

Predictions are 100% so far.

6 games down, 50 more to go.

[1972Shocker]

could be hurt? We would have seen him by now the way HCTB has been talking him up.

It was announced a week or so ago that Segal had some tightness in his forearm. Said they checked it out and did not think it was anything serious but I don't know how many times "tightness in the forearm" turns out to be more serious than expected. Havn't heard any updates since then.

If he is okay maybe he will get an inning or two against Omaha on Wednesday.

[ShockerVille]

If Shockers can win Wednesday against a struggling 1-7 Nebraska-Omaha team. Then they will head to Rustin, La to take on a now 7-0 Louisianna tech. La Tech has two against arkansas this weekend, but as of right now has a team ERA below 2.0. This could make for a fun weekend for our hitters, team.

[1972Shocker]

I don't know how valuable RPI or just about any other metric is this early in the season but the Shocks have an RPI of 15 and LaTech has an RPI of 88 per WarrenNolan.com implying that the Shocks may have played just a bit tougher schedule so far. However, that may simply be skewed due to GCU's success against Oklahoma State.

LaTech's wins are against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-6), Arkansas-Little Rock (2-5) and Texas-Arlington (2-6). A combined record for those 3 teams of 4-8 against other competition.

The Shocks wins are against Utah Valley (1-5) and Grand Canyon (2-4). A combined record of 3-3 against other competition.

Bottom line is that I think LaTech and Wichita State are kind of in the same boat at this point in time. Both are off to good starts but wondering what they really have at this point.

Looking forward to the LaTech, OU, LSU 7-game stretch to get a better feel for where this Shocker team really is.

[ShockerFever]

Utah Valley - Sweep (3-0)
GCU - Sweep (6-0)
Omaha - W (7-0)
@ La. Tech - 2-1 (9-1)
@OU - W (10-1)
@LSU - 1-2 (11-3, recevieing votes)
Northern Colorado - 2-0 (13-3)
@Cal Poly - 2-1 (15-4)
@ORU - W (16-4)
Sacramento State - W (17-4)
Texas Tech - 2-1 (19-5)
@OkState - L (19-6)
Valpo - 3-0 (22-6)
OkState - W (23-6)
SIU - 3-0 (26-6)
@Kansas - W (27-6)
@bradley - 2-1 (29-7)
Kansas - W (30-7)
@MSU - 1-2 (31-9)
@Creighton - W (32-9)
Illinois State - 3-0 (35-9)
@KState - W (36-9)
@DBU - 2-1 (38-10)
ORU - W (39-10)
Evansville - 2-1 (41-11)
KSU - W (42-11)
@ISUb 2-1 (44-12)


Call me crazy but I think this team is good.

You've hit a cold front.

[shockfan89_]

He's only one game off so far. At this rate though it isn't looking good for the next two games either...

[Onegreatracer]

Ehhhh not sure about OU anymore. Still think we take tomorrow and 1 against the Tigers.

[ShockerFever]

Ehhhh not sure about OU anymore. Still think we take tomorrow and 1 against the Tigers.

Don't ever go to Vegas.

[ShockerFever]

Well, we're halfway to 12 losses, a quarter of the way through the season.

[jdmee]

while it is true we are half way to 12 losses already, but on the bright side.... this time last year we were already at 12 losses.

[Play Angry]

I'd give us a B- so far this year. We've done a great job beating the teams we should beat, which have all been at home, and we've generally lost the games we should lose, which have all been against good or great teams on the road. The lone outlier is our win at OU. The loss in game 3 at Louisiana Tech is especially frustrating in hindsight at this point - win that one, and I'd probably bump us to a B+ and would have considerably more optimism.

There is still room to either have a nice season and make a run at an at-large or totally fall apart and throw in the towel like last season. Either of those would be nice because it might produce closure - the most frustrating would be a middle path where we muddle along at .500 and perhaps do just well enough to give Butler another season without inspiring any real cause for hope.

Our RPI with a win this afternoon will continue to hover around ~50. It's still too early for this to be very relevant, but we've played enough games that this season's RPI tiers are beginning to take shape. The next few weekends should shake things out for us more decidedly - we finally go on the road against a "meh" team (Cal Poly) where we absolutely have to win at least 2 of 3 to sustain much hope, and then we finally get an excellent team at home (Texas Tech) where we can see if home field makes a difference for us against top-tier competition. Sandwiched in between are mid-week contests at Oral Roberts and vs. Sacramento State, who are both decent but not world-beaters - splitting would be okay, a sweep would be big in either direction.

I'm still in wait and see mode for the season I guess. We are improved, definitely, how much remains the question.

[Onegreatracer]

Finish strong

[ShockerFever]

Utah Valley - Sweep (3-0)
GCU - Sweep (6-0)
Omaha - W (7-0)
@ La. Tech - 2-1 (9-1)
@OU - W (10-1)
@LSU - 1-2 (11-3, recevieing votes)
Northern Colorado - 2-0 (13-3)
@Cal Poly - 2-1 (15-4)
@ORU - W (16-4)
Sacramento State - W (17-4)
Texas Tech - 2-1 (19-5)
@OkState - L (19-6)
Valpo - 3-0 (22-6)
OkState - W (23-6)
SIU - 3-0 (26-6)
@Kansas - W (27-6)
@bradley - 2-1 (29-7)
Kansas - W (30-7)
@MSU - 1-2 (31-9)
@Creighton - W (32-9)
Illinois State - 3-0 (35-9)
@KState - W (36-9)
@DBU - 2-1 (38-10)
ORU - W (39-10)
Evansville - 2-1 (41-11)
KSU - W (42-11)
@ISUb 2-1 (44-12)


Call me crazy but I think this team is good.

[ShockerVille]

I know I'm one of the few who believe this team can finish strong. I'm really hoping that they can put together a full game. Where the hitters compete and hit, and the pitchers dominate. We know whoever is in the game the team defense will be good, but hitting has been embarrassing. We've seen spots of light occasionally like against Utah Valley and GCU but not really any other times. Just want 1/3 this weekend against Tech. Doubtful to happen, but it might. Good result in an upset

[DUShock]

I am hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. I sincerely hope they get it together, I fear they will not because of the level of baseball IQ shown to date.

Go Shocks!