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The Louisiana Tech Baseball team opens up the highly anticipated 2023 season this weekend as they host BYU in a four-game series.
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Discuss it here.
Gonna be cold tonight -
Seen colder openers but it's still gonna be cold!
Can't wait to get the season under way
Wind blowing out which is good for home runs and those sitting behind home plate. Not so good for those in the RF Berm area.
I noticed they are putting the word out NO HEATERS allowed...
Don't think I've ever seen them do that before
What's the reasoning there?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
Any word on cusa.tv carrying the series? I still don’t see it listed.
Still no link but Tech Twitter shows CUSA.tvQuote:
Originally Posted by rlirette
Quote:
Diamond Dogs
@LATechBSB
·
5h
Opening Day Is Here BYU
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/23f0.png 6 pm CT
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f4cd.png J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f4fa.png http://CUSA.tv
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f4ca.png http://LATechSports.com/Stats
https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f4fb.png LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics app
Stating it's a violation per the State Fire Marshall's office - which it probably isQuote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Good luck tying to do that at Ruston's stadium tonight. Bayou Jam Baseball was moved over there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
It's probably not at a typical high school baseball stadium/complex - since most are seated in lawn chairs surrounding the fieldQuote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Just met some BYU fans, probably player parents. Seemed like good people. They were excited to see some good baseball here and then BYU goes to Laffy Taffy.
Wonder if it was ever considered to move the game to the afternoon to take advantage of the sun.
Doubtful.Quote:
Originally Posted by olddawgfan
The Saturday doubleheader was originally scheduled for a noon start, but that was changed to 2:00 PM. Better since at least the nightcap will be on radio. The early game will only be on cusa.tv (if it works) and the Tech app.Quote:
Originally Posted by olddawgfan
Link is active and the countdown clock is on to 6:00 PM instead of earlier as it should be.Quote:
Originally Posted by rlirette
Yea unfortunately this is expected from cusa.tv, I was previously really excited about espn+
I’m so confused. Did the game start?
I’m wondering if someone is just messing with statcast at this point.
Lineup card was just posted on Twitter, so no.Quote:
Originally Posted by rlirette
Weird statcast said byu was up 6-1Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Fincher strikes out the first batter of the game.
Radio feed is on the fritz and audio is distorted on the horrible video feed.
Radio back, but they can't keep the equipment connected. Out again.
Fincher gets out of the first after allowing a 2-out double.
Another BYU double, fly out, and a single off Fincher put BYU up 1-0 in the top of the 2nd.
Leadoff walk, another BYU double, and a 2-run single puts BYU up 3-0 in the 3rd.
Plate ump is squeezing Fincher, and he seems to have trouble when that happens.
BYU 3-0 after 4.
Harland in for Fincher to start the 5th.
Solo HR to the second batter makes it 4-0 BYU.
Aramark = idiot
Two more for BYU in the 6th, and it would have been more without a great relay throw from Myers to Bates to Corona.
Techs PA guy continues to be horrible just like Aramark
Tech batting is right there with Aramark. Way too many fly balls and popups.
BYU is hitting frozen ropes everywhere, while Tech's hitting is just frozen.
6-0 BYU through 7.
10-1 BYU final.
Tech gets a failing grade in every phase of the game, coaching included. As usual Burroughs did nothing to change the coarse of the game. To be home, the preseason favorite in conference and a potential postseason team it was an outrageously embarrassing performance.
A pet peeve of mine is the stupid 2 out, 2 strike clapping that some of our fans always do that more times than not ends up with the other team getting a hit. It shows what an immature baseball fan base we have. Just stop it!
BYU had their Friday guy on the mound. He was really good. We need another Friday guy.
Yeah, they pitched their ace and it showed. Our bats were ice cold. Let’s see how these other two games go today.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
If Burroughs believes he has 14 guys that can start, at least 4 or 5 who didn't start last night should start today.
Not as many changes as I thought there might be, but there is one at the top.
https://twitter.com/LATechBSB/status...704193/photo/1
Fincher hasn’t been effective in way too long and Harland should never follow him. They throw way too similarly and are both lefties. Burroughs should know this.
Oh well we’re on to game 2 now. Go Dawgs… be better.
After watching them Dogs last night I think they must have hired Big Sim back.
Fincher might should be in the rotation, but based on last year he should not be the Friday starter. If he is the best Tech has, this year is not going to go as we hope.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
2-1 BYU after 2.
Can Tech please get just one 3-up 3-down inning? 12 innings in a row Tech hasn't retired the side in order through 3 innings of game 1 today.
Martinez hangs one to make it 4-1 BYU.
Now 5-1 BYU and Martinez is done after 2 innings plus 5 batters.
15 runs and 23 hits allowed in the first 11 innings. Finally found a pitcher who could retire three batters in a row.
Tech cuts it to 5-2 BYU after 3. Just two hits, both by Myers with both RBIs. Left the bases loaded for the second inning in a row.
BYU adds a run in the 6th, but Tech may have found a pitcher in Sparks with 9 Ks in 4 innings.
Finally got a 3-up, 3-down inning on defense in the 5th.
Finally some production from the top 3 in the order. McConnell infield single and Davis 2-run bomb to center.
6-4 BYU with Tech still batting in the 7th.
Matulia makes it 6-5 with a shot to right.
Tomkins on to start the 8th with Tech still down 6-5.
First Tech lead of the season.
McLeod HBP, Drost walks, McConnell singles to right to tie the game with Drost taking third and McConnell advancing to second. Drost scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-6 Tech, and Davis doubles off the wall in left to make it Tech 8-6.
Up to Tomkins to hold the Cougars and claim the win.
Tomkins gets a strikeout before allowing a single to left center.
Grounder to third gets the force at second for the second out.
Called third strike ends it.
Tech 8 BYU 6 FINAL
Game 2 should start right around 6:00 as on the schedule.
That's a GREAT comeback right there!Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
HBTD's!!!
Sparks won't get a save or win, but his 4 innings allowing just one run gave Tech the chance for the comeback.
If the midget behind the plate had been consistent our pitching and on base percentage would have been better. He was horrible. So was the first base guy on appeals.
The last called third strike was probably not a strike either, but at least that was consistent with him ringing Matulia up in the 8th.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
He was most inconsistent on first pitch calls. He was so short he could not see over Corona and had always set up inside on a right hand batter. He set up directly behind the plate when we were battingQuote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
BYU jumps out to a 1-0 lead in game 2.
2-0 after McLeod boots a slow grounder. Might have been tough to get the runner at first, but that ball has to be fielded to keep the lead runner at third.
Tech game 2 lineup card.
https://twitter.com/LATechBSB/status...314498/photo/1
Another fail of a quality start as BYU now up 7-0 in the 2nd.
This loss will be on the HC. We have a 270 pound guy batting in the 4 Hole…there’s your sign.
Mixing and matching lineups, how many games in before we know what we really have?
Burroughs ejected may help since he doesn’t actually coach anyway. He’s a dugout spectator and always has been.
There’s a lot to find wrong with this team right now. I don’t know why it is unless it’s just bad batting instructions but we fly out way, way, way too much. Second to that is that McLeod is not a shortstop. He plays too flatfooted and isn’t the leader we need at short. 1 error in all last year and what should be 2 this year already. Put him back at 3rd and move Bates to SS.
Burchfield is listed at 235. Is he heavier than that?
Burroughs was sick of watching the crappy play and even worse umpiring. Whatever this crew is getting paid is about five times more than than they have earned today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
Burroughs still going with a lineup based on a lefty or righty starter. Hasn't looked like it has mattered much so far.
Tech starting pitching has gone a combined 10 innings giving up 15 runs (11 ER, 9.90 ERA) and 21 hits with an opponent batting average of .412 (51 AB). Pathetic any way you cut it.
The 1-2 record Tech likely will have after this one actually flatters Tech.
BYU now up 8-0 in the 7th after another HR.
Tech responds with a run but leaves the bases loaded again.
BYU wins game 2 8-2.
He is 235 from the hips down. Slow as cold molasses. LB loves him.Quote:
Originally Posted by techman05
I love him too considering he is batting .400 (2-5) on a team hitting .196. He went 1-4 as DH in the nightcap to replace Matulia who is at only .143 (1-7).Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Burroughs is going to be totally overwhelmed trying to figure out this out of sorts and mostly dysfunctional team. I tend to think he isn’t really capable of actually fixing anything. He’ll just wait to let things settle out on their own and we’ll be that. He’s not an orchestrator of anything type of coach.
A little example of this would be when Tech was well behind in game 3, the team was flat, McConnell was batting, there were 2 outs with a runner on first and the calls at the plate weren’t going Tech’s way. What Burroughs should done was try to steal 2nd early enough in the count to motivate Cole and to obviously get a runner into scoring position. If the runner was thrown out at least McConnell would’ve led off the next inning. Instead Burroughs did nothing and Cole struck out. It was essentially 2 outs in one at bat because we wasted a potential good leadoff the next inning at a time when we were desperate to get something going.
Spoke volumes when Burroughs said he didn't send a single signal the entire game Friday night. I know Tech didn't have many baserunners, but if Burroughs isn't going to signal EVERY time Tech gets a runner on, he needs to go sit in his office.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
Whatever...nice evaluation three games in. .213 in 2022. I want speed on the bases, not a liability.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Good to see the baseball team has jumped on the losing bandwagon. They don’t want football and hoops to have all the fun. 🤪
Burroughs seems to be coaching with about as much deep thinking as someone makes scrambled eggs. He must be using tarot cards to decide who plays because it’s sure not based on performance. It’s inexplicable why Myers wasn’t playing in game 3.
What has Burchfield done lately? He has at least one hit in the last 6 games he has played going to back to the last 4 he played last year. Just hitting .500 (7-14) over that stretch.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Burchfield was at .182 (18-99) before finishing last year .556 (5-9).
I want speed on base too, but the speed other than Myers and McConnell isn't getting on base consistently enough.
OB% for players who have started games
Myers .571 (3 singles and a BB in 7 PA)
McConnell .462 (3 singles, 2 BB, HBP in 13 PA)
Burchfield .400 (single and double in 5 PA)
McLeod .333 (double, BB, HBP in 9 PA)
Matulia .333 (HR and 2 BB in 9 PA)
Davis .308 (single, 2 doubles, HR in 13 PA)
Bates .300 (2 singles and a BB in 10 PA)
Safford .286 (2 BB in 7 PA)
Hegwood .250 (single in 4 PA)
Hogart .222 (single and HBP in 9 PA, all leadoff)
Corona .182 (single and HBP in 11 PA)
Drost .111 (BB in 9 PA, BB in 5 leadoff PA)
A .297 team OB% just isn't good enough, especially just .214 (3-14) from the leadoff spot (Hogart and Drost). In the first 14 leadoff PA last year, Young was on base 9 times.
But pitching is a bigger worry for me. 6.67 team ERA with 9.90 from the starters has put the struggling offense behind the 8-ball.
I hope we get to see a lot more J Ince at SS. Kid can hit and probably has a better glove than we had this weekend.
Tonight's lineup card.
https://twitter.com/LATechBSB/status...081345/photo/1
BYU up and down in order in the 1st.
No radio yet, and no audio on the video feed that is barely watchable.
Drost walks to start the Tech 1st and moves to second on a wild pitch.
McConnell grounds to second to move Drost to third.
Davis grounds to short to drive in Drost. Tech 1-0.
Matulia strikes out to end the 1st.
Tech 1-0 after 1.
Bases loaded for BYU to open the 2nd on two singles to center and a walk.
2-1 BYU on a another single straight up the middle.
Audio finally on for both radio and the video stream that is still barely watchable.
Tech back up 3-2 on a 2-out 2 RBI single by Drost after Myers reached on an HBP and walks to McLeod and Hegwood.
McConnell walks to load the bases again and then Davis drives in a run on another HBP.
Tech 4-2 and a BYU pitching change.
Matulia strikes out to leave the bases loaded.
Tech 4-2 after 2.
Video finally adjusted bright enough to watch.
BYU up and down in the 3rd.
I was told Tech has one person to handle video production, for all sports. Have no idea if that’s true, but it would be so Tech.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Tech makes it 5-2 after 6.
Myers starts it with an infield single, steals second and third, and scores on a throwing error on an infield grounder by McLeod.
8-2 Tech in the 7th on a 3-run bomb to right by Matulia.
McConnell led off with a double, Davis walked, and the runners moved up on a wild pitch before the HR.
Corona doubles to left and moves to third on a wild pitch. Myers walks to force another BYU pitching change with nobody out.
9-2 on a sac fly by Safford.
Nice job by Bates in relief after the start by Smith.
Tomkins on in the 8th to try to nail it down, and he retires the Cougars in order in the 8th.
Drost bomb to center to make it 10-2 Tech. Two hits and a walk in 5 PA. That's more like it.
Tomkins mows them down again in the 9th.
Tech 10-2 final
Myers is clearly our leadoff. Surely Burroughs can’t miss that. He’s the closest thing we’ve got to a Taylor Young at the plate.
Finally an all around good performance minus some unacceptable bunting performances and a couple more times that Burroughs should’ve called for bunts but didn’t… like usual for him.
I’m happy to be 2-2 after how things started. This was the only game that we played like the better team from start to finish.
Complete performance from just about start to finish. The pitching hiccup by Smith in the 2nd was limited to 2 runs after bases loaded nobody out. And to immediately answer back in the bottom of the 2nd to score 3 with just one hit was big.
Actually liked tonight's lineup best of the four with McLeod back at third and Bates in a relief pitching role.
I don't disagree about Myers leading off if for nothing more than Drost appearing to have more consistent power than Myers.
Out #1 at 3rd base was unbelievable call by our HC.
That was a bad one on HCLB.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Hegwood even had the play in front of him rounding second and should have been able to judge to stop at second even with the green light. The throw wasn't perfect and still had him dead at the bag.
Tells me something good about Safford...he does what his HC tells him to do which is part of baseball 101. It's been a while since LB made one of these calls. Glad it didn't cost us the game like it has in the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Now, lets see if we have coaches who can coach bunting 101.
It sure does appear that there is little-to-no prep work done for many of these productions. It seems more of a show up one minute before and wing it for the first 30 minutes to get things going borderline adequately. I expect it is a thankless and low budgeted job, and, as you said, so Tech.Quote:
Originally Posted by glm47
There is ample data showing that sacrifice bunting is rarely the smart play at higher levels of baseball because of how it reduces the number of runs a team is expected to score that inning. The only situation where win expectancy increases as a result of a sacrifice bunt is when there is a runner on second with no outs in the 8th inning or later, and the game is tied. In other words, we should hardly be bunting at all, and never should have last night because we led the entire game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
Bunting for a hit is a little different, but that's something the overwhelming majority of players can't do at a greater rate than getting a hit while swinging anyway.
Thinking about bunting….
When I played, bunting in a “bunting” situation almost never worked out. However, we all knew how to bunt and practiced every day. Any one of us could bunt with any runner on second and no outs to get a man to 3rd in a 1 run game as you sort of describe. Power hitter and slow runner could execute it just like the faster runner and prototypical bunter. We almost never bunted a man over to 2nd and gave up the out at first just to get in scoring position.
Earl Weaver said if you play for one run, that's all you'll score in an inning. Weaver advocated for 3-run homers, and great pitching and defense.
That said, one of my finest moments...and very rare moments in baseball...was a suicide squeeze bunt I laid down to tie the score in a playoff game, our last at bat, one out, runner on third. We went on to win in extra innings 5-4. As I went up to bat, our coach called me aside, "Can you bunt?" I nodded yes. He said, "No, I mean REALLY bunt!" I nodded again. He says, "Okay, suicide squeeze on the first pitch." No pressure or anything...:icon_roll:
(I was a .270 hitter...I don't think he trusted I would deliver the tying run by swinging away!)
What we were tying to do last night was move runners over into scoring position and we were not leading by much. A sac bunt is better than a pop up for an out. A sac bunt is better than a weak grounder for a double play. Any hitter can make the bunt work in favor of the team, including bunting for a base hit at times. Taylor Young was the prime example of how to make the bunt work in favor of his personal on base percentage as well as for the team and he did it from the right side. A lefty has two fewer steps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dowty
Outs are the currency of baseball, and they are extremely valuable. In a sacrifice situation, you concede one of those outs for baserunner position. Sure, the advance in baserunner position is great, but because you traded an out for it, the cost is greater than the gain in terms of run expectancy.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Of course a sac bunt is better than a GIDP, but you're comparing outcomes. Signs are called based on expectation. When you tell the hitter to swing away, you don't know going into it that the guy is going to GIDP, but you have to be willing to take that risk because the percentages tell you there's a better chance of an even more advantageous situation than what the sac bunt would provide.
I understand and appreciate your position, but the downside to your position is that bunting is NEVER an option.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dowty
IMO, bunting is a useful part of the game in certain situations.
Our situation last night was guys with no HR or deep sac power ( the wind howling in ) and/or young inexperienced (Strike out risk) players who we needed to sacrifice a runner over.
It was Hegwood, not Safford, who got thrown out at third.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Thanks for the correction. Tells me something good about Hegwood. I love coachable young men who are not prima donnas. FWIW, I admired LB for not saying a word to the player. He knew it was on him and he ate it.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
This is my way of thinking too. Sometimes little victories can be big momentum moments that can propel things as opposed to a weak out that can crush a team’s optimism.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
I expect Hegwood gets chewed out if he stopped at 2nd and LB believes he should be standing safe at 3rd with no outs. Hegwood was smart to obey the coaches call. He was booking it too around the bases from the batters box. Really sucked at the time to get that out considering our small lead in the game and knowing BYU had been hitting and scoring like a video game all weekend. Just iffy to try for the triple with no outs and the top of the lineup due.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
I wouldn't say it's never an option, as I did highlight the situation in which it increases win expectancy, but it should definitely be more limited than it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
It's also not a given that the guy is going to execute the bunt properly. I saw a stat one time that said something like 50% of attempted bunts in pro ball result in a fair ball. I'd rather the hitter swing away and trust he'll find a hole than try a bunt that I know is only going to use the first 30-40' of the field if he puts it in play.
In youth and high school baseball, all of this goes out the window because teams are much more error prone and it can really throw things into chaos for the defense. It's much easier to make the case for fewer bunts in college ball and up.
Early returns from BYU's first two games at ULL don't make Tech look good. BYU has lost 4-3 and 11-0.
BYU hitting that went .305 (46-151) at Tech has gone .197 (12-61) in two games at Lafayette.
BYU's ace that gave up 1 run and 1 hit in 7 innings last Friday gave up 8 runs in 4.1 IP tonight.
I’m still in the camp of withholding judgement for a few series. We have had series when everybody looked like they just saw a baseball for the first time. We have had them when every area of our game couldn’t miss.
It was the first week. We went 2/2. Things will change as the season goes on.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Lots of top teams lost to nobody competition tonight. It will happen.