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Why are we playing at ULM again? Anyway, just win Dawgs.
Then on to Las Cruces vs. NMSU. The Aggies scare me with the way they score runs. They give up a ton of runs too, although they did sweep Jax State and did okay on the defensive/pitching side this weekend.
We can, we should, go 4-0 this week. But this is baseball, so never assume anything.
Let's get this one tonight. Would be one step closer to 40 wins.
As new as it is for Tech to get some NCAA consideration it’s seriously important that the Dawgs grit their teeth, take care of business and beat everyone that they’re statistically better than. All the players and the coaches too need to be micro focused to be at their very best. Unfortunately Tech is notorious for playing down to the competition at the worst possible times. This is exactly such a time so for crying out loud let’s not do that. Go Dawgs!
Is Greg Martinez hurt? Haven’t seen anything from him since about week 2 or 3.
More like Fouts worked his incompetent pitching coach magic for 3 years to destroy Martinez’s mechanics. About the same as he hasn’t helped Harland improve even a half mile per hour in all the years he’s been at Tech.
I forgot to include that Hooks is getting steadily worse too.
It is a win.
I like ULM's TV guy, Mike Hammond. Not once did he drone on about some small town, BBQ, his favorite Mac & Cheese dish, someone's great grandfather who played for the St. Louis Browns back in the 1920's, just focused on the baseball game. In addition to us winning, I asked myself why am I enjoying this so much? Oh, because there weren't any clowns calling the game.
Good job Dawgs!
Gonna be tougher in Las Cruces this weekend.
Other CUSA scores tonight:
DBU is clobbering SFA 19-4 late in the game.
Jax State beat Ga State 10-5
MTSU beat Northern Alabama 9-2
But, SHSU trails Texas 15-5 6th inning, and NMSU trails UNM 8-4, also in the 6th inning.
NMSU rallied for a 10-8 win.
Go Dawgs! let's win tonight and get the weekend off to a good start.
NMSU scares me, with the way they can score runs. Their coach has a great offensive mind, and they combine long-ball power with smart small ball. They will steal, hit-n-run, bunt at times, anything and everything to generate offense and they have been very successful doing it. Our middle relievers have struggled this season, and I can see NMSU having a big inning, or two, especially with LB's notoriously slow hook. We better score 10+ each game if we hope to sweep the series, or even win it. NMSU's Keith Jones (I think that's his name...) is an offensive weapon. Leads CUSA in RBIs and has power, but he will also shorten his swing just to get a base hit. He's a very good hitter, one of the best in the nation.
I'm not "scared". They have not won a series against a decent team. 21-23
Sweep expected here. 2-1 acceptable just because we are on the road. 1-2 will be due to poor coaching and errors.
Going as hoped for so far. 14-0 B of 3
AD keeps up the no-no through 3 with a T10 catch to prevent a HR
HBTD!!
A fantastic win. Congratulations Dawgs! Unfortunately Tech’s radio coverage is crap.
Great start to the weekend. Gotta get one more. A sweep would be awesome but have a feeling to get the sweep will require winning a game something like 14-13. Which is fine, just get the wins.
Go Dawgs!
I did not listen to Teddy because sometimes he is confusing, the announcers on ESPN Plus were very good tonight, very positive about Tech hitting. Hey
They still scare you. They have no pitching and as to their hitting. Not tonight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
I've stopped listening to pre-game, games, and the coaches show which is impossible for me to listen to anyway since the changed to time slot. A few times I've found the radio feed of the home team and listed to that. The NMSU radio guys were the ones calling the ESPN+ feed last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by bpennark
Speaking of changes...
Why did they change the radio show from 6:00pm Monday?
Why did they change the position players standing in place in the middle of the field during the National Anthem?
Why did Corona go to #12?
Corona has recovered his natural swing and is hitting the ball better. Looks like someone tried to tamper with his swing and early this year he struggled. Now, I see his natural upper-cut swing is back and he appears more comfortable at the plate. Hitting in the clean-up spot we need him being able to hit fly balls, deep enough to move runners, on those occasions when he doesn't "go yard!" I love his homerun that wasn't! Almost felt sorry for that NMSU outfielder, made worse for him and them, when Myers robbed them of a HR!
Speaking of HRs that weren't. Was watching the end of the A&M-LSU game last night and the umps made a horrible ruling. An LSU hitter drove one to the wall in left, the Aggie outfielder leaped for it trying to rob him of a HR because it was close, but the ball hit inches shy of going over and stayed in the ballpark. The outfielder never touched the ball and neither did a goofy LSU fan who leaned over the wall with his glove trying to catch the ball. The replay clearly showed the fan did not touch the ball either. The ball hit the wall and stayed in the park. The initial ruling was a HR and the LSU hitter circled the bases and returned to the dugout thinking he had a HR. A&M appealed asking for a review. After the review, the TV guys expecting, like I was, a "ground rule double" to be declared, the run taken off the board and the LSU hitter sent to 2nd base...play on. It was also clear LSU expected the same thing because the batter put on his helmet and was walking toward 2nd base as the ump was about to announce the ruling. Instead, the ump declared the hitter out due to "attempted fan interference."
LSU won 6-4 anyway. Does an LSU success this weekend help or hurt our chances for an at-large bid? At the start of the day we sat at 42 in RPI and LSU was right behind us at 43. Beating A&M and certainly winning the series over #1 ranked A&M will send LSU surging in RPI, easily leapfrogging us. But we played LSU, not A&M, and LSU's rise should also help us in RPI too, right?
I have been watching a lot, and I mean a LOT of college baseball this year. I like it on HULU as every game being played can be watched live.
DBU's game vs. Jax State was suspended in the 9th inning last night due to lightening and will be resumed today. DBU is holding on to a narrow 10-9 lead. Never expected DBU to struggle with last place Jax State like this. DBU will probably hold on and sweep the weekend series, but DBU continues to show kinks in their armor.
FIU and Liberty split a DH and conclude their 3-game series today. Doesn't matter who wins as for as Tech is concerned. They are both middle-of-the-pack and both will be in Ruston for the tournament.
WKU lost to UNC-Ashville, MTSU and SHSU both won non-conference games last night.
DBU is 4-1 since losing to us on Sunday. The loss came to TCU 2-5. They swept FIU at FIU. They are 32-11. What part of their game has kinks?Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Beating up on lousy CUSA teams does not mean you are ready for Omaha, or even to make a run in the playoffs. Didn't think I'd have to explain this to a knowledgeable fan such as yourself. And, on top of that, what is DBU's record in CUSA? Let's see...10-5 sitting in 3rd place at the moment. I expect them to sweep lowly Jax State to move to 13-5 and depending on what we do and what WKU does in its next CUSA series, DBU could move up. So? Since when is WKU a powerhouse, or even Tech, such a powerhouse in college baseball? Never, really. Just mediocre like so many others. Is that what you're measuring DBU against...CUSA? Really? Please tell me you know better...Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
If DBU was destroying CUSA competition and winning some games outside the conference against very good teams, I'd think, yeah, DBU is the real deal. But that isn't happening.
So you don’t believe in late season RPI or other national rankings?
I see that DBU is ranked 25th in one poll, maybe in others too. They just re-entered the poll yesterday.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
I think DBU has earned the reputation of having a good baseball program, and I am thrilled they have joined CUSA. But like Gonzaga in hoops, their reputation has provided bias toward their rankings and RPI ratings. Benefit of the doubt, you understand. Yes, of course, they did something over the years to earn that rep, but that doesn't mean the 2024 version is anything special. They are good, yes. But...with some kinks in their armor.
RPI is not an opinion which is why WKU is at 86, which is where we were when we started conference play.
I certainly don't want to get into a discussion about RPI, but come on, man! It's an artificially created algorithm with biases built into the formulas. But, you know that.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
DBU finished off Jax State 10-9 in that suspended game. Their game 2 starts shortly.
MTSU lost game 2 to Binghamton, whatever that is, evening that series.
Oh oh.....DBU lost to last place Jax State 12-11, after getting lucky to win 10-9. But nah, no kinks in that armor, :rolleyes:.
What are the kinks? Losing a game?
Good to see Bates swinging the bat well today. Can't keep a good hitter down for long.
9-2 Dawgs after 6. Starter has done his job. Offense has too so far.
9-4 after 7. Broderson gives up a walk and a HR. The HR was a bomb on a good pitch.
10-4 good buddy after 7 1/2. Corona with another HR
10-5 now w/2out in 8th. Bates in.
FWIW Broderson threw strike 3 for second out, but it didn’t get called and cost us a run
10-10 now.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
#12…
4 walks in 1 2/3 innings is inexcusable for a set up reliever. Probably even more so for a coach to let it happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Wow! Been playing baseball forever and try to make an uncatchable catch.
What’s the deal with all the HR’s? Are they playing on a little league field?
Thin air… like ColoradoQuote:
Originally Posted by glm47
Home plate ump is definitely a homer or a hater.
It’s a toss up between Allen and Burroughs who’s more infuriating and incompetent. Allen absolutely can’t announce a game and Burroughs can’t coach.
All year long Burroughs has called on Broderson to pitch the 8th. Tonight he pitches him in the 7th and then in the 8th he blows up and the game goes to shit. Leave it to Burroughs to sink the Dawgs.
Home plate umpire finally called a strike a strike
LOL…. 21 combined HR’s in two games. Is everyone wearing an oxygen mask?Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
That SOB is Horrible
LOL this is what the park is known for. Try to keep up.Quote:
Originally Posted by glm47
I am keeping up. Bates’ ERA was around 2.50, now it’s 3.96.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Allen steadily prophesying bad outcomes for Tech. Any other school would can him.
Yes Bates is Horrible:laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by glm47
Why are you listening to him? Find the NMSU feed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
A wild pitch fitting end to lose the game. That was a horrible loss! Tech should be ashamed of that crappy late performance. Burroughs ain’t the guy. Anytime he gets involved in the outcome of a game it won’t be good.
I blame Burroughs letting Broderson walk 3 guys to put a major funk on the team and motivate NMS. Burroughs getting involved in a game only leads to losses.
This loss and the Arizona Friday night loss are hard to swallow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
This was a very typical game for NMSU. They have been involved in games exactly like this all year, sometimes they lose, sometimes they win wild, high-scoring games, but they have them quite regularly. I said as much prior to the start of this series. No surprises here. When Davis looked like a lost T-baller and failed to catch that pop-up, I said to myself, "we just lost this game." Next pitch...grand slam. So effing predictable.
Bates throws VERY hittable pitches. He does not have an over-powering fast ball, and half his breaking stuff...doesn't. He gets away with it against lousy and mediocre hitters, but a good-hitting team, which NMSU is, will feast on his mediocre stuff. Same thing will happen today, so I hope LB has the sense not to pitch him today. Broderson too, way too many walks, gets himself in trouble.
I will be surprised if we win today and win the series. Hope we do, but I ain't counting on it. That Walker dude who pitched the last two innings is the best pitcher on either team's roster and he'll start today and give them 6-7 good innings, their offense will have scored 10 by then, and it'll be game over.
On the positive side, good outings by Nichols and Hubka. Our hitters are swinging the bats, but I have seen many, many teams do this in games at NMSU.
The critical play of the game IMO, but that was on Corona, not Davis. It was Davis' ball to catch running from 1B, but Corona was calling for it and should have been running away from the play not under the ball. No way Corona could make that catch and no way Davis could get to it with Corona out of position. Pretty sure this was the 3rd misplayed infield pop up of the year involving 5th or 6th year guys.Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
Also, the home plate umpire decided to change his strike zone in the 8th inning. He was not giving the corners to Broderson. At least two of those walks were strikeouts.
Who said "NMSU doesn't scare me..."? They are crushing us, and even IF their pitching/defense lets them down today, they will still score a ton of runs. Like I said. I think today is going to be ugly for us, probably 10-run-ruled and done in 7 innings.
It’s over. Starter couldn’t give us 5 innings. We’re done
Tech getting pounded early 7-0 in the 2nd inning. It sounds like we’re already done. Giving up this many runs this early sounds like they’ll score in the 20s. It’s funny how whoever Tech plays has some sort of record breaking performance against us whether it’s as an individual or a team. It’s no surprise really. Tech always plays close to being something special but then the Burroughs underachieving coaching factor kicks in and we come crashing back to Earth being nothing special.
We're back in it, now down 7-5. But we still have to hold them from scoring too much more to have a chance.
Why can't Safford and Bates lay down bunts down the 3rd base line when they put on that shift? My gawd! surely they can handle the bat well enough to get down a damn bunt. Doesn't even have to be a great bunt, anything will do. Sheesh!
And Myers looks horrible when he strikes out. He couldn't reach the pitches he swings at with a broom.
I’ve said for years now that if someone, anyone would coach Myers up to take even a half step closer to the plate he’d be a much better hitter. Doesn’t our well experience hitting coach or head coach see this? Even a T-ball coach could make that change.
Can a runner slide halfway between bags to avoid a tag?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dawg80
The fundamentals eacape us
Tech had a chance to come back with bases loaded and 1 out when McConnell hit into a double play. Chances are running out with our best players not coming through.
We are completely out of pitching
#6 Swinging for HR instead of opo like last weekend
How is that possible? We haven’t seen Martinez in months and Harland in a week or so. There are more pitchers on the roster. So, what have they been doing all year under Fouts? Surely they’re practiced up and ready to play.
Tech outhit 16-5 so far today. That’s just plain embarrassing by a veteran senior team in a home run half swing park. Burroughs and Gaspard have to be proud.
According to the roster we have a boat load of pitchers. Unfortunately we’re not good at recruiting or developing pitchers because we don’t have any coaching.Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
12-6 final, at least they didn't 10-run-rule us, that's a blessing :icon_roll:
We are mediocre and lot of that has to do with inferior coaching. NMSU has a good hitting coach as you just never see those guys get themselves out at the plate, which is why they are so good on offense.
Martinez is the one I don’t get. I was impressed with his stuff his 1st year. But he has regressed ever since.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
Yeah Fouts went to work on him and completely ruined his whole baseball life. It’s a good thing the majority of our pitchers are seniors otherwise in another year he’d ruin them too.
LB was in an intense conversation with the NMSU coach post game. Reckon what that was about?
LB was saying, "you have to stop all this great coaching you're doing, else someone is gonna expect that of me too."Quote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Their coach was very aggressive on the bases, stretching singles into doubles and runs scored from 1st base. Our outfielders looked lost on ball handling hits all weekend. We never got a throw close to getting a guy out stretching bases. Possibly they watered the crap out of the OF before the game today?
Maybe so, but a wet field wasn’t what ultimately beat Tech. It was simply their better pitching and hitting. All a result of their better coaching.
Only Tech could score 39 runs in a series and lose it lol
Rumor is that is was about sign stealing with binoculars on SaturdayQuote:
Originally Posted by PawDawg
Burroughs’ 97.7 radio show today at 11:30 could be very interesting if he’s honest. Chances are though that he’ll brag about what a good team NMS was and of course we all know “it’s not who you play but when you play them.” Burroughs is going to have to do some serious coaching to pull his team together to finish the year. The Dawgs have some big issues that are beginning to boil up that could manifest into a meltdown if some competent leadership doesn’t take shape.
Teddy will be throwing softballs
NMSU is a good team, on offense. They are also well-coached, on offense. They score runs in bunches against a lot of opponents, it's what they do. I have been watching them play all year, especially when they play at home because usually they are entertaining games. They also tend to punish their opponents when given a 4th out in an inning, like we gave them in the 8th inning Saturday. I watched them score 8 runs AFTER there were two outs in inning earlier this year. They had runners on 1st and 2nd, one out, no runs had scored that inning (yet). A routine groundball to the SS should have been an inning-ending double play but they were slow in turning it, the batter just beat the throw at 1st. No harm done, right. Runners at the corners, now two outs. Eight runs later that inning finally ended. That is what they do. Which is why when Corona-Davis let the 3rd out drop between them, I said to myself, "we just lost the game."Quote:
Originally Posted by Bone_afide_Dawg
All that to say, if we are to criticize LB for the runs allowed this weekend, well then he has to take a number and stand in line, because a lot of coaches are in the same boat.
I agree, LB has issues, and he has bungled decisions and cost us some games. But, I also point to the players. Don't give them a free pass. As PawDawg pointed we've had seniors making dumb plays, or NOT making plays when they should have. And why doesn't Myers simply NOT swing at those sweeping breaking balls he never, and I mean, never hits? If a lousy ump calls one of those balls a strike, so be it. But still, don't swing. Most of the time they'll be called balls because they miss the strike zone so badly! Hasn't Myers struck out enough by now to know to lay off those pitches?
This is a senior-laden team, they should be playing solid, smart baseball all the time. No excuses for mental errors.
The one thing of note that I picked up on during Burroughs’ show that I’m sure he’s said before but I didn’t catch was that when he talks about talking to the team and telling them that the league title is still their’s for the taking that all they have to do is win the games is that it’s “them” or “their” and not “us”. It’s as if he’s not including himself or the other coaches in the mix. Yes, I get it that it’s the players in the game, on the field who do the work to win, but the coaches have their important and necessary parts to play to. I sure hope Burroughs isn’t trying to set it up in his mind that he’s not responsible for the outcome of things so he can excuse himself and sleep better. Obviously however perfectly a team plays the game a coach can still lose the game for everyone in one simply stupid moment.
I think he has always had that separation of its them not him. It is obvious that coaching has cost us several games over his tenure, and I can't recall him ever taking an L on his shoulders or his staff for that matter (please feel free to correct me because I admittedly don't listen to him that often anymore).
Flat fastball with no movement, and changes his delivery to telegraph the slider. They attempted to change his delivery and he got worse. Hard throwing kid, so I'd like to see him get more chances. It was also pointed out that he needs a clean inning. If he inherits runners, they have already scored.Quote:
Originally Posted by glm47
Him and Harland both have to have clean slates -Quote:
Originally Posted by DocMarvin362
Once they get you that inning - get them out
Don't try to press them for 3 more outs which is his tendency
LB is not gifted at being able to read the room or situation
His kids play hard for him and he seems to be a better than avg recruiter