Shocker Offense

[Dan]

We used to mash the ball. What has heppened since the days of Casey Blake, Jeff Ryan, Jason Adams, the list goes on? Seems like in the 90's we had most guys hitting in the .300's and a couple pushing .400. The past few years have been really weak offensively. Are we recruiting different type players, is it the coaching, or what?

[ShockCity]

From the looks of OU this year, I think all the mashers went there.

[ShockerFever]

A lot of WSU coaching haters will tell you it's Jim Thomas.

But that wouldn't make sense since JT became an assistant/hitting coach in 1993.

[WstateU]

From the looks of OU this year, I think all the mashers went there.

[Ed Harley]

As recently as 2004 we hit .324 as a team with three guys in double figures for dingers including the national leader. We also averaged 8.05 runs per game that year with a .508 slugging %.

In 2008, we averaged 8.01 runs per game and had two guys with 11 HR and 2 more with 8 each. We hit .314 as a team with one guy at .419 and another at .388. We also won our 1st Super regional game and officially tied for 9th in the NCAA Tourney.

We have had some very good hitting teams in the 2000's but they have been spread out more than they were in the 1990's. We used to reload; now we have to rebuild.
Last year was the worst I can remember for the combination of both draft surprises (Coleman / Watkins) and graduation.

2010 will be much improved. I'll go out on a limb and make the following predictions:

Shox hit over .300 as a team, up from .275 this year.

TEAM ERA under 4.00, down from 4.26.

40 or more wins, up from 30 and pretty incredible since they are only playing about 60 games per year now.

Slugging % over .410, up from .387.

Much more fun to watch and less frustrating. I did not say completely frustration free but rather less frustrating.