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Post by Outsider on May 8, 2022 17:28:44 GMT -6
We do not need to lose a higher seeding and be forced to play an extra game in the championship tourney. Pitching depth is not our strongest suit. Games like today seem like must wins to me. We need to finish very strong. Not just depth but consistency from game to game.
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Post by rc on May 8, 2022 18:51:58 GMT -6
We do not need to lose a higher seeding and be forced to play an extra game in the championship tourney. Pitching depth is not our strongest suit. Games like today seem like must wins to me. We need to finish very strong. Not just depth but consistency from game to game. This one hurt. Tarleton had won only 13 games out of 46 tries before this afternoon. Anything can happen in baseball and usually does, but I had high hopes for a sweep against the Texans. Now we have three against Lamar and three to finish up against Sam Houston. We need to win at least five of those six to finish with a 30 win season. I know we can do it.
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Post by bogeyman on May 9, 2022 13:59:38 GMT -6
It has been an interesting season so far to be sure. Our pitching has been problematic but we set a record for strikeouts. We get good performances and then bad outings. We have relievers that one day are unhittable and then the next, can't throw a strike. We have 6 starting position players who are hitting over .300 with a 7th at .289 and a sub at .339 but leave an abnormal number of baserunners each game (and take called strike 3's by the score). We play a player at 2nd base whose BA continues to fall (.208) at last glance and I wonder why Bender or Jewell aren't getting some game time. We've hit 71 HRs but can't lay down a sacrifice bunt. By this time we ought to know each player's limits and comfort zones but seem to push the limits time and time again with poor results. We've got some good young arms who might be more suited to starting than relief (Huffling, Byrd) but they seem to be locked into a role. Our ace closer can't seem to get outs with runners on base but can be lights out with no one on. Curious! I'm still a big believer in the talents of this team but our road to the NCAA's will be tough. We do have enough pitching if they are consistent in what they do best. Walking the lead batter in an inning happens too often, walking or hitting the 8th or 9th place hitter should be a no-no, but we do it far too often. We have a murderous hitting lineup but can we deliver in the clutch? How can we peak at the right time? Do players who have played nearly every inning need some game rest? Do some subs, who might be called on in a tourney need some game reps? The next 6 games and the tourney will be interesting to say the least. With games vs Lamar and Sam left, the regular season is in our hands. Let's win this!
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Post by rc on May 9, 2022 17:43:05 GMT -6
Very insightful and spot on in my opinion. But my conclusion is this is not likely our year. It could be, but we will need to perform much better in the coming games and the conference tournament. GCU is very solid and predictable. We must immediately up our game to our full potential and this has to start right now. The things you mention above are so frustrating to a baseball addict. And you have analyzed our weaknesses so well. I might add, when an umpire calls third strikes just off the plate, you, the batter, must adjust. We leave a lot of runners on base because we don't adjust to umpiring tendencies. Our hitters are often right, but when patterns show up, we must adjust. There is a huge difference between runners on first and second and no outs and the same situation with one out. And I am amazed when huge shifts are in place and an ordinary or even poor bunt would work, but we don't bunt.
As for pitching... I better pass on saying much more than throw strikes within your normal motion and ability. The odds are far better than over-throwing and giving up walks and hit batters. The numbers are often shocking with so many runs scored against us with so few hits.
Bogey is right... this team holds its future in its own hands. With our offense, we could pull it off... I think, but the odds are daunting.
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Post by Outsider on May 9, 2022 19:02:56 GMT -6
This will not be our year. We have done well to win what we have these past few games. We will win a few more, but we don't have what is needed to take SHSU and GCU down. Hopefully we can keep some momentum going for next year and bring enough key players in. The season wasn't a loss, but the competition is too much to win the conference or the tourney.
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Post by rc on May 9, 2022 19:51:23 GMT -6
Please don't misunderstand me, I think we have a fine baseball team. They are impressive time and time again. It is just the little things that we must overcome to take the next step up. The WAC is a stronger baseball conference than the Southland, even though we played some of our old rivals in our division. I really want to see us take on Lamar and SHSU and win those series. We can do that.
And, while watching our games has sometimes been painful, this team is really explosive to watch and a lot of fun when they are rolling. I say finish up in style and come what may, ACU baseball is a fine program. Think about it. We beat a top 20 team and a top 10 team. And that is nationally ranked at the top division for baseball. I just want us to finish up well and continue the fine job our players and coaches have provided us.
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Post by wildcats0075 on May 10, 2022 10:50:16 GMT -6
Please don't misunderstand me, I think we have a fine baseball team. They are impressive time and time again. It is just the little things that we must overcome to take the next step up. The WAC is a stronger baseball conference than the Southland, even though we played some of our old rivals in our division. I really want to see us take on Lamar and SHSU and win those series. We can do that. And, while watching our games has sometimes been painful, this team is really explosive to watch and a lot of fun when they are rolling. I say finish up in style and come what may, ACU baseball is a fine program. Think about it. We beat a top 20 team and a top 10 team. And that is nationally ranked at the top division for baseball. I just want us to finish up well and continue the fine job our players and coaches have provided us. Kind of funny to think about beating both a top 10 and top 20 team. If we look at other major revenue sports, I think all of us believe that our basketball team or football team would get run off the court/field against a top 20 opponent in either sport. Top 20/10 in football says we are beating both NC State and Oklahoma. Top 20/10 in basketball says we are beating both a 30W/2L Murry state and Purdue. I think we can agree that basketball is closer to the ability to win one of these but not both in the same year.
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Post by Outsider on May 11, 2022 15:59:51 GMT -6
A lot of things can happen between now and May 25th. Lamar and UTRGV are tied for 2nd and only 3 games back in our division. We are only 4 games back. Lamar is our best chance to move up, I think, if we can play a great series against them. UTRGV still has to play Sam, so can easily lose a few games there. Going into the Tourney 2nd in our division will help. We just need to play well and have a couple of other games go our way... The Tourney would definitely be an uphill battle.
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Post by bogeyman on May 13, 2022 17:54:28 GMT -6
Baseball in lightening delay. Still lightening within 8 miles.
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Post by bogeyman on May 13, 2022 19:13:47 GMT -6
Has the game been cancelled?
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Post by Outsider on May 13, 2022 20:06:13 GMT -6
Has the game been cancelled? It finally started.
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Post by Outsider on May 13, 2022 20:19:02 GMT -6
ACU not starting off well. First an HR right off the bat, and now on RBI off a double. 2-0 in the 2nd Lamar.
Scratch that, 3-0 now after another RBI...
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Post by Outsider on May 13, 2022 20:32:47 GMT -6
Things just get worse....
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Post by rc on May 13, 2022 21:46:27 GMT -6
This was not what I expected...
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Post by Outsider on May 14, 2022 8:16:39 GMT -6
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde lives on. Oh well, I guess the only way to go is up. Interesting that they have the score from last night posted to today's game.
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