WSU vs KSU game 1

[Born2Shock]

Anybody heading up to Manhattan tomorrow? We're rolling up with 5, hope to see several more of you. KSU and KU are newly ranked this week, so its a chance to take out a ranked team on the road.

[Hovpen]

Now that is a shocker. Both Kansas "other" baseball teams ranked in the top 25.

[tru2thaduce]

I will go if I can get off of work by 4.If not ill watch on TV with the sound off and radio on.

[KC Shox]

I tought I would never see the day that both KSU and KU were both ranked in the Top 25 and we would not be included. Embarassing. Losing to KSU is easier to swallow for me than it is to KU. Perhaps when number 10 retires, we can swoop up Brad Hill for coach, I like this guy.

[ISASO]

That might be a good choice, considering #10 told KSU to hire him.

[notquiteBWing]

KC Shox

don't get down about us losing to the other kansas schools this year.

I think we all knew there would be crazy growing pains this year. it being the first year for so many.

i look at it like the girl you knew in 6th grade.
she looked pretty cute but she was just going through puberty.
and you knew next year she was gonna be a stunner.
and especailly the year after that...

i encourage you to look at it like that.
don't be embarrassed by any loses this year.

expect it.
dwell on the future possibilities.

[shocker3]

I plan on being at the game. :wsu_posters:

[ShockerFever]

Now that is a shocker. Both Kansas "other" baseball teams ranked in the top 25.

Agreed.

Totally embarrassing.



Well, I guess the bright side is we can reverse roles and get all amped up for playing a ranked team and pulling off the upset for once.

But my God.. K-State in the Top 25? How pathetic.. :roll:

[KC Shox]

KC Shox

don't get down about us losing to the other kansas schools this year.

I think we all knew there would be crazy growing pains this year. it being the first year for so many.

i look at it like the girl you knew in 6th grade.
she looked pretty cute but she was just going through puberty.
and you knew next year she was gonna be a stunner.
and especailly the year after that...

i encourage you to look at it like that.
don't be embarrassed by any loses this year.

expect it.
dwell on the future possibilities.

I do appreciate your positive spin, but the present is now. It is flat out embarassing that the best we can muster after coming off back-to-back Super Regional appearances are 18 wins and 13 losses with more to come. It is even more embarassing to see our in-state brethren overtaking us - even for only a year.

And this has been brewing for some time now. It's not like we have been totally dominating KSU and KU since 2K. It just sickens me that our only claim to fame in athletics (yea I said it), is going through this crappy season.

Genuine question, you honestly see a huge improvement in the offense next season? Pitching will be better, but our offense and defense, not so much. This translates to a marginal improvement and that sickens me too - goshdammit.

[ICT Ragman]

Hang in there KC. We're in the hunt for the Valley and we will win some more mid week games when we aren't expected to (such is baseball) in what we all knew was a rebuilding year.

I am no expert, but baseball more than any other college sport is where you can see tangible positive results based on experience from year to year. Sometimes in even just one year. Our teams in the past prove this theory ( over 30 years ) as guys you never expected to be big offensive contributors mature greatly between freshmen and sophomore years, not to mention sophomore and junior years. Add defense- knowing where to be, etc is only going to get better over time.

[Shocker85]

Genuine question, you honestly see a huge improvement in the offense next season? Pitching will be better, but our offense and defense, not so much. This translates to a marginal improvement and that sickens me too - goshdammit.

KC - I've been tracking right along with you this season on the Shox, but will depart a little here.

It always seems that offensive players improve a lot between Frosh and Soph years. I don't have stats to back that up, but have always had a gut feeling on this topic. Looking back during the Stephenson era, Mark Standiford and Joe Carter are the only Frosh to lead the team in HR and only Carter and Gillaspie led in RBI. Of course, on most squads the Frosh come in and compliment a stable of returning players, which we all know isn't the case this year. This year, Grimes and O'Brien are front-line guys and several of the Sophs were buried last year behind a pretty solid group of upperclassmen and did not play much.

Taylor Brown's Frosh to Soph improvement in a case study here. While Taylor will never be a power guy, he has an almost Kevin Hooper-like knack for hitting the ball where it is pitched and getting on base. Taylor is not the most physically gifted player, but he is certainly far better on offense (almost 200 BA points) than he was last season.

Freshman come in and most have no idea how to hit a D1 breaking ball and the grind of a 60 game schedule gets to them. Heading out of here after their Frosh seasons they have areas of focus for summer ball and can use that time to improve.

Individually, I see O'Brien, Grimes, Caster, and Rosecrans with huge up-side potential. O'Brien will hit for power and average, Grimes and Caster will hit with gap power and average, and Rosecrans may be a power guy. Baez doesn't have a sky-high ceiling, but will be solid and steal some bases. Jones and McKeever will be solid .340 guys in the middle of the order, Jones will steal bases and play great defense, and McKeever will hit occasional HR.

There are some weak points that need to be addressed with the next recruiting class, but at least new guys can come in and learn from a large group of returning players.

Just my opinion, but I think the improvement from '09 to '10 will be significant.

--'85,

[William]

I tought I would never see the day that both KSU and KU were both ranked in the Top 25 and we would not be included. Embarassing. Losing to KSU is easier to swallow for me than it is to KU. Perhaps when number 10 retires, we can swoop up Brad Hill for coach, I like this guy.

This is a great pick for our next coach, we just have to hope he isn't so good that he turns the cats into a consistent top third big 12 team. If he does then there would be no reason to make the move to wsu.

[SekShocker]

It sucks sure but remember this poll from a few years ago, it happens and it will be back to normal in the near future.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?seasonYear=2007&weekNumber=7&seasonType=2

[Shocker85]

It sucks sure but remember this poll from a few years ago, it happens and it will be back to normal in the near future.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankin...7&seasonType=2

Yes, just a reminder of how vacuous polls really are.

--'85.

[ShockerFever]

It sucks sure but remember this poll from a few years ago, it happens and it will be back to normal in the near future.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankin...7&seasonType=2

Ouch man.. that stung. :(

About Brad Hill...

How long has he been in charge of the Kittens? And what is his overall record? How many NCAA appearances does he have?