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Kendall,
You've seemingly left the Shocks out of the Top 25. Surely, you've made a simple mistake, right?
Thanks,
VBird53
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Kendall,
You've seemingly left the Shocks out of the Top 25. Surely, you've made a simple mistake, right?
Thanks,
VBird53 -
Nothing wrong with this projection. Heck, I wouldn't have us in the preseason top 25 either. We lost a ton this season both in hitting and pitching. I'd say we are a borderline top 50 team heading into the season but we definately have the potential to get into the top 25 if these young guys can play. -
As much as I would like to rag on Kendal because of his B12 and BCS bias - this time it's probably justified. The WSU program in the 80's and 90's routinely reloaded each year.
But thing's changed in 2001 - WSU started a cycle of having to rebuild (albeit the rebuilding period is usually a year). MVC standings and WSU final ranking in Collegiate Baseball:
2001 - 2nd MVC (Not Ranked)
2002 - 1st MVC (22nd)
2003 - 2nd MVC (Not Ranked)
2004 - 1st MVC (28th)
2005 - 2nd MVC (27th)
2006 - 3rd MVC (Not Ranked)
2007 - 1st MVC (13th)
2008 - 1st MVC (12th)
2009 - ??
Prior to 2001, WSU had won I think 13 MVC Regular Season Titles and had a average ranking of 12th in the nation (with 5 Top 10 finishes).
I think there is a variety of reason of why this has happend:
1. Recruiting classed in '99/'00 that was decimated by the draft if I recall correctly. WSU has struggled since this time to put together a full team. It's been good hitting, with so-so pitching or great pitching with so-so hitting or like this year, good hitting, good starting pitching, no bullpen/closer.
2. College landscape has changed. More opportunties out there. More schools taking it serious, mean harder recruiting - but there is no reason why WSU shouldn't win the MVC year in and year out (but this is just IMO).
3. Gene got sidetracked on the "Stadium" in the early 2000's. He was spending more time fundraising, architec, contracter, etc than worrying about baseball. He even admitted to it.
I'm sure there are other reasons that have all accumulated to pull the program back. I have even heard rumors that Gene had some scout friends who would give him leads but retired in the late 90's/early 00's.
2009 will in my eyes show us whether the coaching staff have got this program back to reloading, or will they continue to go through the cycle of having to rebuilding for a year or two and then get a good stretch for a couple of years.Comment
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Good post SB. I also think the Christensen incident that happened in 1999 hurt us more in recruiting than many believe. That incident along with the combination of the BCS schools putting more of an emphasis on baseball really set our program back for a few years. We have recovered well from that setback, now we need to see if we can keep the level of success that we have had over the past two years.Comment
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I couldn't agree more... Gene has publicly admitted that the BC incident was a major blow to the program. I have heard him say on more than one occasion that one 'boneheaded' decision by a former player cost the program more than anyone will ever know.Originally posted by shocks771
I believe the success of the past 2 years has finally healed the ‘black eye’ and 'exercised the demons' created by that horrible and unfortunate incident. Regardless, the university and baseball program didn’t deserve the repercussions that followed. We can thank the former EU coach and also the national media for their desire to completely fabricate a story.
To this day, I continue to correct people who have the audacity to insist that Molina was hit while he stood inside the on-deck circle. Not to beat a dead horse or defend what BC did, but Molina was standing adjacent to the batters box near the circle around home plate. The story grew like an old fishing tale."You Just Want to Slap The #### Outta Some People"Comment
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I would submit that after Gene's acceptance of the OU job, and then deciding against it has in some way propelled him and the coaching staff to refocus their efforts on the success at Wichita State.Comment
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Thats a very good point and I agree. It's a black this program will always have. I'm hopefull that the two Sweet 16's in row will help elevate the program to sustain it's recent success and eventually lead back to Omaha.Originally posted by shocks771Comment
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Well...if "adjacent" to the batters box means about 24 feet away....but Molina was standing adjacent to the batters box near the circle around home plate. The story grew like an old fishing tale.
"As Christensen threw, Molina stood on the first base side of home plate. He was 24 feet away. We know it was 24 feet because investigators later measured the distance from the plate to the bloodstains."
Sources vary from 24 feet from home plate to 15 feet away from the batters box. However, whether the distance be 15 feet or 24 feet away is totally irrelevant...this was a purposeful act with horrendous consequence. If it was just an act committed by a young kid on impulse, there would have been less impact on WSU. The fact that the pitching coach had instructed the pitcher to fire a pitch close to a guy in this situation (out of the batters circle) made it more of an "institutional" thing.
It did reverberate thoughout the sports world and probably did hurt WSU some for a while.
Labeling is pernicious, and I am sure some folks "labeled" WSU. Heck, fifteen years after a few football players got a pair of free sneakers, we still hear the Free Shoes schtick about FSU.
You would never know that Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Penn State, and many other programs have had more football players arrested the last six years than has Miami...but Miami will live with "Thug U" because that label has been affixed.
Fans rightfully get angry about labeling. It is common, it is ugly, it is very hurtful and very difficult to combat.Comment
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For the uninformed.Originally posted by billybud
I don't condone what BC and still don't know what he could be thinking, but there was a chain of events that should never have occured to even allow BC to make that stupid decision.Comment
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Great job SB! I don't think most people realize that Molina was on the WRONG SIDE OF HOME PLATE. He was closer to the WSU dugout than the batter's box where he is REQUIRED by the rulebook to be.
Actually the farther he was from home plate the more he is to blame for inciting that fateful pitch.Originally posted by billybudComment
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What an embarrassment that was for us, the incident was absolutely horrific only to be upstaged by the comments that followed. I didn't attend a game for 5 years after this happened, I was totally ashamed and still am.THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
You can call me BillComment
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Well thank you Mr. Bill Molina... now we know the rest of the story. :good:Originally posted by WilliamSFL is back!Comment
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Most of the country doesn't really care about what side of the field a batter was standing...that is left for the apologists..
The salient facts:
...the pitcher turned sideways in his motion and deliberately fired a ball at a players head.
...the player was at least 15 to 24 feet from the catcher and the ball was not accidentally thrown.
...the player, who was not watching the pitch, was severely injured.
It was an ugly play...and it was compounded by the fact that the pitcher was doing what he had been taught to do by his coach.
It's done, it's old news now...time to move on.
It was what it was...but, gawd, that was a long time ago and is now ancient history.Comment
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Of course you were!Originally posted by William
Ashamed of what? BC's actions? are you BC? Or are you suggesting Brent or Gene told him to plug the guy in the dome?
I'm glad you stayed away from the ball park for 5 years and wish it was longer.Comment
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Well said, FSU fan.It's done, it's old news now...time to move on.
It was what it was...but, gawd, that was a long time ago and is now ancient history.Comment
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