ORU vs. WSU

[SekShocker]

From 1996 thru 2001 WSU went 332 games without being shutout.

I can't find the record for number of times we have been shutout.

Record for number of times we shutout opponents in a season is 17.

How many times have we shut out opponents this year?

It's nice to have the 'team-can-do-no-wrong' fans, but there's a point to where some of these fans lose touch with reality.

Again I know you weren't asking me but we have 1 shutout this season v Southern Illinois, 10-0, 7 inning run rule in the Friday night game.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

From 1996 thru 2001 WSU went 332 games without being shutout.

I can't find the record for number of times we have been shutout.

Record for number of times we shutout opponents in a season is 17.

How many times have we shut out opponents this year?

It's nice to have the 'team-can-do-no-wrong' fans, but there's a point to where some of these fans lose touch with reality.

I'm sorry SF, which one of those stats are not reality? And which one says that the team is performing well? And which one says that they can do no wrong?

I'm confused...

[7hottamales]

I agree, I'm betting that Dusty will be back, but you never know.

You seriously think Dusty is gonna get drafted?

Do you have any idea how many players are drafted each year?

[7hottamales]

Unless Dusty is on pace to graduate early, he will be making a tragic mistake if he chooses to sign a professional contract this summer.

Tragic mistake.

I actually am not real sure about this. There's an excellent chance that the best signing bonus he's going to see is this year. We haven't done well with enhancing "projectable" position players in quite some time. There's no reason to think he's going to significantly refine his skill set in the next 12 months to improve his draft stock and you really can't wait till your senior year in baseball as you have zero negotiating leverage at that point.

Combine the fact that there's an excellent chance that Dusty's ability to earn will be at it's greatest this year with the fact that his ability to develop his game is probably better in pro ball and the smart advice could very possibly be to take the $ and run.

[ISASO]

The frustration and despair at this point in the baseball season is far and away more than I felt at any point during the 11-20 basketball season. The basketball team was never this disappointing or embarrassing. The reason is, like someone mentioned, we have hope for the future of basketball based on who is returning and coming in for next season.

I wish I could say the same for baseball. There used to be a day when this program played with a chip on its shoulder, with something to prove.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

The frustration and despair at this point in the baseball season is far and away more than I felt at any point during the 11-20 basketball season. The basketball team was never this disappointing or embarrassing. The reason is, like someone mentioned, we have hope for the future of basketball based on who is returning and coming in for next season.

I wish I could say the same for baseball. There used to be a day when this program played with a chip on its shoulder, with something to prove.

From watching this team, and reading accounts, it seems to me that they have hit a spot that Duke hit back in 1995 or 1996. They assumed, "We're Duke", we'll get to the NCAA's and we are good enough on any given night. Coach K really had to shake things up, both in the way he recruited, and the way he coached to get the kids to realize nothing is given, you have to take it.

[shocks771]

I sure hope that Gene makes some recruiting adjustments fast. That is the biggest problem that I and many others on this board can see. We seem to have a bunch of clones out there playing for us. They are all between 5'11" and 6'2" and can all run pretty well. They are athletes, not baseball players. Gene has always thought that he could mold them into players, but unfortunately that doesn't always happen. We need to get players who can center the ball on the bat, then develop them further from there. There are three spots in the lineup, DH, 1B and LF that you can plug in players who do not have to be spectacular defensively. Those three spots are where we need to look for guys who can mash the ball. We haven't had one of those guys for a while and it needs to change.

[7hottamales]

I sure hope that Gene makes some recruiting adjustments fast. That is the biggest problem that I and many others on this board can see. We seem to have a bunch of clones out there playing for us. They are all between 5'11" and 6'2" and can all run pretty well. They are athletes, not baseball players. Gene has always thought that he could mold them into players, but unfortunately that doesn't always happen. We need to get players who can center the ball on the bat, then develop them further from there. There are three spots in the lineup, DH, 1B and LF that you can plug in players who do not have to be spectacular defensively. Those three spots are where we need to look for guys who can mash the ball. We haven't had one of those guys for a while and it needs to change.

Excellent post. I also fear that we are as bad at developing position players as we are good at developing pitchers. If that is truly the case, then finding the guys you describe is all the more critical.

[kstarheel]

I just want a kid that can park a ball on 21st street often.

[hiboy]

this goes along with several previous posts. 1) the staff needs to get outside of the mold they have for college ball players. 2)hutch juco's 5'6" power plant, stewart hoover, could be a quick fix. guys that fit the mold that can really play get drafted, so why not take a guy who produces the same way, but maybe is too short, too slow, etc. we could have had some really good PLAYERS in the past year or two had we done that.

[BostonWu]

My main concern is whether at this late stage if Gene & Co. can change their ways (mainly recruiting patterns).

[7hottamales]

My main concern is whether at this late stage if Gene & Co. can change their ways (mainly recruiting patterns).

I would love it if someone could sneak into his office, steal his copy of Scout's Honor, and replace it with Moneyball until we find someone to enhance our ability to coach up position players.

[WSUwatcher]

Yes!

Exactly right, 7hot.

As reflected in Moneyball, the A's showed that you can sign guys who don't look like baseball players or athletes, but who know the strike zone and can HIT, and end up with prospects that no one else would have considered. Unfortunately, WSU has not yet learned that lesson in its recruiting of position player -- or has forgotten it since Pat Magness lumbered onto the campus.

This is also one reason I'd like to see JT move on and be replaced by someone with a different perspective on recruiting position guys.

[ISASO]

I don't recall if Todd Dreifort, Tim and Dan Raley were fast or not - I'm thinking not. Would we have recruited them today?

[Hill Sitter]

Recruiting is a tough proposition in college baseball. Recruit 'too well' and they all go pro. That's tougher competition than other schools, really.