View Full Version : The 2009 College Baseball Season
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(arkansas wins in dramatic fashion and is the first team in the college world series)
I'm surprised this thread is all me today.
College World Series so far:
Arkansas
LSU
Cal State-Fullerton
1 win from college world series:
Ole Miss*/Virginia*
Texas
So. Miss
North Carolina
2 wins from college world series:
Clemson/Arizona St.
*TCU
*Florida
*East Carolina
* means one loss from elimination
JonInMiddleGA
06-06-2009, 10:38 PM
I'm surprised this thread is all me today.
Still got a bad taste in my mouth from the GT debacle frankly, the rest of the tournament is kind of like running into an ex-gf while she's on a date & you're out picking up a bag of Doritos and renting Decline of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years on VHS.
I understand that feeling :(
SnDvls
06-06-2009, 11:32 PM
Nice win by the Devils today 7-4
Tigercat
06-07-2009, 12:20 AM
LSU series was fairly ho-hum after the win last night; Coleman is a near guaranteed win as a starting pitcher these days. Even before Rice's star 3B got hurt, it was hard to imagine Rice really getting to Coleman today.
Florida State baseball... Will people please, please stop falling in love with what they do during the regular season with their bats (usually at home) until they start making real noise in the post season? That program is the biggest cock tease in college baseball. Not to take anything away from Arkansas though, they definitely stepped up. They remind me of last year's LSU team, turning it on well at the right time.
We are trying to make plans to get to Omaha for the CWS now. Anyone ever been and have any tips? Not the easiest thing to do given my son's condition, but we are going to try.
JonInMiddleGA
06-07-2009, 03:31 PM
UNC advances today.
Ole Miss is falling apart in the rubber game, Virginia now leading 4-1 after 5.
TCU defeats Texas 3-2 to force a game 3.
Virginia 3 outs away now, leading Ole Miss 5-1.
edit: 2 outs away
edit: 1 out away
edit: Virginia advances, dogpiling now
Radii
06-07-2009, 05:19 PM
Hell of a run by Virginia, awesome.
digamma
06-07-2009, 06:00 PM
Heck. Hell of a season by Virginia, especially when you consider 9 of their 13 losses have been by 1 run.
k0ruptr
06-07-2009, 06:22 PM
Heck. Hell of a season by Virginia, especially when you consider 9 of their 13 losses have been by 1 run.
that is impressive.
So. Miss advances to the CWS by beating Florida in 2 straight.
Tigercat
06-07-2009, 09:07 PM
Gutsy series win by Southern Miss over Florida, if you don't have great pitching, they will give you hell. What a chokejob by Florida too though... The pitching management throughout the game was questionable.
Huckleberry
06-08-2009, 09:12 PM
The Longhorns complete the field. They have to take advantage of drawing Southern Miss in the first game. I don't think they're good enough to fight through the Tarheels and the Sun Devils out of the loser's bracket.
Just ordered my tickets for game 1 at Rosenblatt!
SnDvls
06-08-2009, 10:16 PM
Just ordered my tickets for game 1 at Rosenblatt!
that's awesome. I really want to go one day too. Please keep us posted on your daily events while you are there.
Huckleberry
06-09-2009, 04:49 PM
My preview (http://www.barkingcarnival.com/huckleberry/college-world-series-preview)
Nicely done, I'll see if I can get you some hits.
Huckleberry
06-09-2009, 05:26 PM
Nicely done, I'll see if I can get you some hits.
Thank you, sir. After you're done helping me out with that, if you're still in a charitable mood I'll take some poker advice. :D
lol at your comments section now
Huckleberry
06-10-2009, 04:33 PM
Fold.
Now I know you're kidding. I am awesome at poker because I NEVER FOLD! EVER! CALLER 'TIL I DIE, BABY!
lol at your comments section now
Yeah, we do basically no moderating. It can get funny at times. Other times it can get offensive. I think we've only ever banned one IP and that was for some truly distasteful stuff.
SnDvls
06-10-2009, 05:02 PM
Nicely done, I'll see if I can get you some hits.
totally agree Huck nice write up...although I liked your first pick of ASU winning it all vs. your revised pick ;)
that's awesome. I really want to go one day too. Please keep us posted on your daily events while you are there.
In the Bellevue, NE Hampton Inn. About to go down and get breakfast and head up to Rosenblatt (about 20 minutes from here apparently). Plan is to catch the Arkansas CSF game and then grab food and see if we can get back in for the Virginia-LSU game. We have reserved seats for our game but just GA tickets for the other 2 games we will be in town for (leaving after game 3 tomorrow). GA tickets are first come-first served good for all games, so if it's full, you don't get in even with GA tickets.
Go Hogs!
Tigercat
06-13-2009, 02:08 PM
Arkansas pulls ahead 4-0 in the 3rd. If Fullerton loses this game I think they are in deep trouble against the LSU UVA loser. I am very worried about today's late game, UVA is pitching their very good lefty. As I have said several times in this thread, our hitting against lefties is atrocious. If we win today, I very much like our chances to make it to the championship series. If we lose this game, we are going to struggle to win more than one game out of the losers bracket after Coleman pitches.
We just got back to the hotel room. Arkansas won game 1 10-6. We waited forever trying to get into game 2 which is going on now. We actually got in but we had nowhere to sit or even stand to be able to see the game. We tried hanging out in the aisles for a bit, but eventually just gave up. We went to a sports bar and had a nice meal and watched a couple of innings and then came back to hotel to relax and watch the rest of it. We are debating whether or not we go to game 3 tomorrow. Not sure.
In game 2, right now LSU leads Virginia 6-4 Mid 6th.
Tigercat
06-13-2009, 09:59 PM
Wow, kind of a strange game. Would have expected much lower scoring with LSU facing two very good lefties and pitching Ranaudo. Good to see the bats finally come alive with runners in scoring position with the game in doubt. SEC showing well in Omaha, LSU belting out HRs, I was having 90s flashbacks today.
cartman
06-14-2009, 09:51 PM
Texas gets a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 9th to win 7-6 over Southern Miss. The game was 2-2 after six and half innings, then the teams woke up and started trading the lead back and forth.
Home from Omaha. Had a blast. Watched 3 of the 4 games in round 1. Wanted to listen to Texas-So. Miss on our way home, but all the ESPN Radio broadcasts except the one in Omaha were playing the dam NBA game. We tried to listen to the Omaha broadcast as long as we could, even getting it every once in awhile in SW Missouri, but never really got very much of it.
I am very sun-burned, but had a lot of fun. Sitting in general admission was a much different experience than sitting in reserved seating. In general admission, it was basically all about ticking off the security guards and taunting the fans in the other side of the GA stands. Weird.
Our reserved seats for the Arkansas game were fantastic.
SnDvls
06-15-2009, 01:21 PM
Glad you had a good time and got you see your Hogs win. Rosenblatt's last year is next year so it'd be nice to go then, but I bet next year will be super crazy.
Should be some great games in the winner brackets today and tomorrow.
I see Fullerton & UNC moving on vs. UVA and USM.
cartman
06-15-2009, 04:33 PM
#2 Cal State Fullerton is out after losing to Virginia 7-5 in an elimination game.
Huckleberry
06-15-2009, 05:04 PM
#2 Cal State Fullerton is out after losing to Virginia 7-5 in an elimination game.
Crazy development as I had them as one of the two favorites with ASU. My numbers say it's now over 87% probable there will be an SEC team in the championship series. UVa is our only hope. :p
SnDvls
06-15-2009, 05:14 PM
#2 Cal State Fullerton is out after losing to Virginia 7-5 in an elimination game.
big dissapointment in Fullerton...they played their way out of the CWS and the teams they played came to play. They overlooked Arkansas and pitched their #2 guy and got worked. Then UVA stuck it to them today. 0-2 BBQ
I swear it takes a sledge hammer to get through to Van Horn that it is time to change pitchers sometimes.
Tigercat
06-15-2009, 07:07 PM
Coleman doesn't have his best stuff today, but it shows how difficult he is that he is still looking solid thus far. Even on days when his movement isn't all there, he can be damn tough with that delivery and very good location.
Weird to see Forrest pitch for Arkansas, doesn't seem like too long ago I was watching him pitch for LSU.
Forrest has a calming effect for us lately. I feel a lot better about our chances now that he is in. I'd be surprised if he doesn't give us 5 or 6 good innings.
Good grief, nice blown call at first, Leavitt was safe by a mile.
Huckleberry
06-15-2009, 08:09 PM
Good grief, nice blown call at first, Leavitt was safe by a mile.
Well, I think he was safe but it was pretty close.
The only interesting thing is that the ump at 1B tonight is the same ump that was at 3B for the LSU/Virginia game that blew that call in the left field corner. Called a Virginia ball foul that was fair by 18 inches or so. Ended up costing the Cavaliers a run when it was a close ballgame.
Tigercat
06-15-2009, 08:13 PM
Yea safe by a mile doesn't make sense in that situation; it was a tie and the ump gave the benefit of the doubt to the good defensive play and perhaps what he might have heard. He should have been safe because Ochinko's foot came off the bag.
Ochinko's effort at first in the next inning was quite nice.
Tigercat
06-15-2009, 08:21 PM
Huck, I think we have another answer to new Alex Box's hitter effects. Against worse pitching than we have faced against UVA and ARkansas, we haven't looked this potent HR wise since the beginning of the season. Gorilla ball-esque.
StLee
06-15-2009, 08:32 PM
I'll take the 9-1 lead in the 6th. Way to geaux Nola and Dean!
Congrats to LSU. Hope to see an SEC winner of this whole thing. I'd rather it be Arkansas, but if not, go Tigers.
i hate everyone
Tigercat
06-15-2009, 09:45 PM
i hate everyone
Fresno State proved last year that any good team can be hot and win the NC even in this format, but I don't think Van Horn has yet fielded the kind of team he is capable of fielding to make a true run for the title. I don't know why Van Horn hasn't fielded that complete team yet, but I have a hard time thinking it won't happen eventually.
Huckleberry
06-15-2009, 09:45 PM
Huck, I think we have another answer to new Alex Box's hitter effects. Against worse pitching than we have faced against UVA and ARkansas, we haven't looked this potent HR wise since the beginning of the season. Gorilla ball-esque.
I got 0.89 for the new stadium's park factor this year. Obviously one year isn't enough, especially with the shorter college schedule, but it's pretty clearly a pitcher's park right now. The old stadium was 1.24 according to Boyd Nation's numbers, I believe. Maybe 1.20, not sure and too lazy to look right now.
Fresno State proved last year that any good team can be hot and win the NC even in this format, but I don't think Van Horn has yet fielded the kind of team he is capable of fielding to make a true run for the title. I don't know why Van Horn hasn't fielded that complete team yet, but I have a hard time thinking it won't happen eventually.
I agree with this basically. I don't think this team quite has it, but they have definitely been hot.
Tigercat
06-16-2009, 06:11 PM
Sean McDonough should have stayed at home sick, he is pretty brutal to listen to right now.
Would definitely like to see Texas win this game, a hot Arizona State team in the championship series would be scary. Even more so than Texas's excellent pitching.
SnDvls
06-16-2009, 09:38 PM
my Devils have fallen apart tonight. up 6-0 and now we're down 8-6 man this sucks. At least we'll have Leake vs UNC.
cartman
06-16-2009, 10:16 PM
Holy crap what a comeback by the 'Horns!!! Down 6-0, they charge back and win 10-6, after they publicly got a fire lit under their ass by the coach, Augie Garrido.
Huckleberry
06-16-2009, 10:17 PM
my Devils have fallen apart tonight. up 6-0 and now we're down 8-6 man this sucks. At least we'll have Leake vs UNC.
Very surprising, but Texas' offense has had a tendency to get going once we get in a situation where not even Garrido will call a bunt.
The Sun Devils are definitely not out of it. They're a great team and I have a hunch they'll react well. Their body language in the 8th and 9th wasn't good but they will have a night to sleep on it.
Huckleberry
06-17-2009, 04:51 PM
Elimination game tonight between Arkansas and Virginia. Sorry, MJ4H, but I'm pulling for Virginia because I think they're more likely to take the first game against LSU than the Razorbacks are. Not probable, just more probable.
Should be a good matchup either way.
lol if I apologized everytime I rooted for the team Texas was playing I'd be permanently hoarse.
digamma
06-17-2009, 05:14 PM
Let's go Hoos!
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 05:24 PM
It's not just that I think we stand a better chance against Arkansas, but I'll also get behind the SEC team. I don't have a good feeling about Arkansas winning tonight though, would be nice to be proven wrong.
Huckleberry
06-17-2009, 06:46 PM
lol if I apologized everytime I rooted for the team Texas was playing I'd be permanently hoarse.
Texas' having actually won national championships in football and baseball means I can root for the Razorbacks when it helps Texas (e.g., against Fullerton in the CWS). I guess you're not quite sure what that's like, though. :p
Huckleberry
06-17-2009, 06:47 PM
Hahaha. They just showed another missed call in the field and it's the same ump with the other two big screwups in Bracket 1 so far. That guy's terrible.
Texas' having actually won national championships in football and baseball means I can root for the Razorbacks when it helps Texas (e.g., against Fullerton in the CWS). I guess you're not quite sure what that's like, though. :p
Arkansas has won championships in basketball, football, and many other sports (especially track) thank you very much.
Huckleberry
06-17-2009, 07:15 PM
Arkansas has won championships in basketball, football, and many other sports (especially track) thank you very much.
Well, you should have won football in 1964 but you weren't actually awarded either of the major championships at the time, right?
And you definitely have a kickass track program. How exactly did y'all let the Aggies win both the outdoor track titles this year? I swear, you can't depend on Arkansas for anything.
Hahaha. They just showed another missed call in the field and it's the same ump with the other two big screwups in Bracket 1 so far. That guy's terrible.
Yeah he blew that one, too, but I think this one it was a little harder to see the ball wasn't in the glove.
Well, you should have won football in 1964 but you weren't actually awarded either of the major championships at the time, right?
And you definitely have a kickass track program. How exactly did y'all let the Aggies win both the outdoor track titles this year? I swear, you can't depend on Arkansas for anything.
hehe our legendary coach retired, that's pretty much it (and yes we were awarded one of the national championships in 1964 (none of them were official, major is debatable), and it is pretty obvious in retrospect that Arkansas was the national champ that year based on resume).
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 07:24 PM
How exactly did y'all let the Aggies win both the outdoor track titles this year? I swear, you can't depend on Arkansas for anything.
That would be *our* fault. Pat Henry, who won 19 national championships at LSU, split pretty well between men and women, is at A&M now because Skip Bertman wouldn't pony up enough $ to pay Henry when Skip was AD.
LSU's track still does well, but it isn't as successful as it was under Henry.
Karlifornia
06-17-2009, 08:31 PM
Virginia and Arkansas are playing a tight elimination game right now. 2-1 Virginia, going to the bottom of the 7th I believe.
well that was a no-doubter
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 09:16 PM
Ha-Ha! I love how the announcers were calling this game over, only to see Arkansas tie it at 3 in the 9th off of a 2 out HR.
Seriously, you would think veteran announcers would know better with the tying run at the plate.
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 09:17 PM
Dola, come on 15 inning+ game! Lets see a classic one tonight! No biased desire from me whatsoever.
Karlifornia
06-17-2009, 09:18 PM
Ha-Ha! I love how the announcers were calling this game over, only to see Arkansas tie it at 3 in the 9th off of a 2 out HR.
Seriously, you would think veteran announcers would know better with the tying run at the plate.
Yeah they were saying something about the coaches reuniting, and the one guy said "Yeah, they will". I was kind of surprised.
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 09:42 PM
Oh no, it would suck to see another team go home on a walk off walk.
hahah how many heart attacks am I gonna have
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 09:43 PM
Good job Hogs! 3-3 going to the 10th, inning ended on a bases loaded double play.
Karlifornia
06-17-2009, 09:46 PM
This game is entering once-in-a-lifetime stuff for Arkansas. They just need to win it now.
If we could get an ounce of production from 3-4-5 maybe. This is the exact reason we went in a death spiral down the stretch. When 3-4-5 woke up in the regionals, we were unstoppable again.
larrymcg421
06-17-2009, 09:58 PM
Wow, this is some terrible baserunning.
It really is that guy is a total mess.
larrymcg421
06-17-2009, 10:47 PM
Are they really sac bunting with a .356, 16 HR hitter?
That was the craziest thing ever. Arkansas wins 4-3.
Tigercat
06-17-2009, 11:03 PM
Another gutsy win by Arkansas. They deserve at least a share of third place this year with the way they've fought in the post season.
Anything can happen of course, but LSU has the perfect set-up from this game. The less potent offense won, and Arkansas's star lefty had to pitch at least 50 pitches in relief. Keuchel will still probably pitch the if necessary though, so if it does go to that game things will be very interesting.
Yeah you pretty much got exactly what you were hoping for. :D
Huckleberry
06-17-2009, 11:11 PM
Great game.
Congratulations to the SEC on their 4th CWS runner-up finish this decade.
:D
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digamma
06-18-2009, 11:39 AM
How do you go all Lonnie Smith there, Halley? Virginia has no one to blame but themselves. So many opportunities. Kudos to the Hogs for hanging in there.
JonInMiddleGA
06-18-2009, 12:42 PM
And as a little reminder of the other end of the spectrum, Tennessee just had a player turn down a scholarship offer in order to attend a community college, basically saying that it was a better opportunity for him for his pro aspirations (he's a catcher that figured UT would try to convert him).
Regardless, turning down a ride at a D1 for a truly typical community college (it's in my wife's hometown so I'm not totally unfamiliar) is a pretty good indication of how far the program has sunk.
StLee
06-18-2009, 07:24 PM
And as a little reminder of the other end of the spectrum, Tennessee just had a player turn down a scholarship offer in order to attend a community college, basically saying that it was a better opportunity for him for his pro aspirations (he's a catcher that figured UT would try to convert him).
Regardless, turning down a ride at a D1 for a truly typical community college (it's in my wife's hometown so I'm not totally unfamiliar) is a pretty good indication of how far the program has sunk.
In baseball, I wouldn't take that the same way since players do NOT get full rides. Baseball has limited scholarships, so most baseball players get something like a third of a scholarship. Many players over the years have done the same thing as that recruit. As an example, Arkansas' pitcher Forrest was an LSU recruit and player, but decided to transfer to Bossier City Community College to improve his draft stock. After he was not drafted as highly as he would've liked (somewhere around the 30th round), he transferred to Arkansas.
SnDvls
06-18-2009, 10:19 PM
Nice birthday win by ASU to move on vs. Texas tomorrow
Tigercat
06-19-2009, 01:10 PM
I blame Arkansas and their crappy rain luck for this rain delay. Someone on that team must have one of those permanent rain clouds following over their head.
haha I hear that
FWIW, if anyone missed any of the Arkansas-Virginia game, it is being replayed now and WELL worth the watch. One of the most intense baseball games you'll get to see.
StLee
06-19-2009, 04:30 PM
LSU out to a big start by getting some early hits and chasing Arkansas' starter (who is actually their closer--not enough pitchers to take two against LSU) after 2 innings and 3 batters faced in the third. LSU up 4-0 in the 3rd.
StLee
06-19-2009, 05:19 PM
A couple of solo homers makes it 6-0 LSU in the 6th.
After doing this to us twice if LSU doesn't pound Texas into oblivion I'll never forgive em.
edit: if it winds up being Arizona St. I won't be so upset, but I still hope SEC wins. Losing to Texas = don't even come back home, though.
Tigercat
06-19-2009, 05:45 PM
I think IF, and it may/may not be a big if, LSU hitting ever heats up to the talent potential, we are the clear best team in the nation. And that is something I would have never said at this point in the season about any other LSU baseball team. We have hit well below our potential so far as a team, and we are still #2 or #4 in the nation in all the polls.
Texas and Arizona State are no slouches and are plenty talented, but looks like my prediction from earlier in the year has come true. Seen a lot of great LSU teams, but this probably is the best LSU CWS team I have ever seen, relative to the year they are playing in. Shame to see Arkansas play so hard only to see their wheels come off now.
Eh, this is exactly how we looked down the regular season stretch. It almost looks like a mental block against SEC West teams.
Tigercat
06-19-2009, 06:50 PM
Arkansas is one spunky team.
StLee
06-19-2009, 07:24 PM
Final: LSU 14, Arkansas 5
Tigercat
06-19-2009, 10:52 PM
Alright Huck, it's on now!
cartman
06-19-2009, 10:54 PM
Holy crap! No offense for 8 1/3 innings, then get two homers in the bottom of the 9th! The Horns have had a ton of great games this post season.
Alright Huck, it's on now!
God I hate saying this but go tigers
Tigercat
06-19-2009, 11:44 PM
God I hate saying this but geaux tigers
Come on, fight back the gag and go all out tacky-cajun!
There is one thing that really scares me about Texas, Austin Wood. Watching him pitch he is exactly the kind of lefty that can really handcuff LSU. I would assume Augie will know LSU's tendencies and will start him one game. Still, if Coleman and Ranaudo have their usual stuff it will be hard to bet against LSU on the days they start.
I will never do the eaux thing. Never.
cartman
06-22-2009, 07:16 PM
Wait, which team practices gorilla ball? Three solo shots (so far) in the 4th for Texas.
Tigercat
06-22-2009, 08:15 PM
Texas has earned having a lead, better starting pitching and better job at hitting, but the ump behind the plate has really screwed LSU over. His strike zone between the two starters early was horribly inconsistent, and that "wild pitch" hit the Texas batter square in back.
Tigercat
06-22-2009, 08:30 PM
Coleman just didn't have his good stuff in the CWS, think he pitched too much during the season. What a gutsy year for him, too bad he couldn't end on a better note.
cartman
06-22-2009, 09:17 PM
I really hope these teams play three games. This is some entertaining baseball!
Tigercat
06-22-2009, 10:01 PM
I don't know if I could take two more games like THIS. Workman has some serious gas, hope for my sake that one of our big bats here can get solid metal on one.
cartman
06-22-2009, 10:21 PM
LSU gets the clutch hit in the 11th, and keeps the Horns from scoring the bottom of the inning to take Game 1, 7-6.
Tigercat
06-22-2009, 10:24 PM
LSU had the weaker starting pitcher and the stronger bullpen tonight, while hitting quite a few less HRs than Texas. Never would have guessed any of that going into tonight, but that's baseball.
cartman
06-23-2009, 10:55 PM
Texas bounces back nicely from the disappointing loss last night to beat LSU 5-1. Tomorrow night is the winner takes all game!
Tigercat
06-23-2009, 11:10 PM
One of those games where you just tip your cap to the opposing pitcher, he mixed pitches very well, and when he missed bad out of the zone he would paint the ump's zone perfectly with the next pitch.
I like our chances with big Anthony pitching the final game, but nothing feels close to safe with Texas hitting with that kind of confidence right now.
Tigercat
06-24-2009, 06:43 PM
Good start for LSU, 3-0 in the 2nd. Need Ranaudo to keep the ball low for 6 more innings to hold on to the lead.
But for the third straight game the umpires are giving Texas a much better low part of the strikezone than LSU. Hopefully, like the other two games, that won't affect the outcome.
Tigercat
06-24-2009, 09:13 PM
LSU up 9-4 in the 8th and threatening to pull away more.
Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, I have much legit respect for Texas. In my 20 or so years of watching college baseball, this Texas team is the best fundamentally coached team I have ever seen. By a decent margin. Amazingly disciplined hitters and pitchers that have a real understanding of the game.
cartman
06-24-2009, 09:52 PM
Congrats to LSU. Texas finally gave up the big inning to LSU, and were not able to get their own big inning early on when they had the bases loaded twice. What might have been if LSU didn't get that two out double in the 9th of Game 1.
JonInMiddleGA
06-24-2009, 09:59 PM
LSU earned it and deserves it.
Huckleberry
06-24-2009, 10:19 PM
Wow, completely different take here. Texas played terribly in the field the entire CWS. It was as night and day from the rest of the year as the home runs were. LSU definitely deserves the title because they outplayed Texas, but Texas didn't make LSU play their best in order to win due to their own subpar performance in the field.
Congratulations to LSU, for sure, though.
Tigercat
06-24-2009, 10:48 PM
Texas played terribly in the field the entire CWS. It was as night and day from the rest of the year as the home runs were. LSU definitely deserves the title because they outplayed Texas, but Texas didn't make LSU play their best in order to win due to their own subpar performance in the field.
What errors really cost Texas? I think the superhuman efforts at the plate far and away canceled out any bad fielding. How many good pitches did Texas foul off at the plate? Almost anytime a LSU pitcher made a bad pitch, and a few times they didn't, Texas jacked it.
Again, I have been watching CWS action since the late 80s, even when LSU wasn't there, and I have never seen a more disciplined group of hitters and pitchers.
If anyone/anything "gave away the series" it was the managerial decision to overplay the bullpen and make too many defensive subs in the first game. If Texas didn't play a good series against LSU, I have never seen a good team against a LSU championship team in Omaha.
I thought Texas played WAY better than I thought they would, and way better than I had seen them play in the NCAA Tournament up to this point.
ShaneTheMaster
06-25-2009, 05:57 AM
Geaux Tigers!
Huckleberry
06-25-2009, 06:57 AM
What errors really cost Texas? I think the superhuman efforts at the plate far and away canceled out any bad fielding. How many good pitches did Texas foul off at the plate? Almost anytime a LSU pitcher made a bad pitch, and a few times they didn't, Texas jacked it.
Again, I have been watching CWS action since the late 80s, even when LSU wasn't there, and I have never seen a more disciplined group of hitters and pitchers.
If anyone/anything "gave away the series" it was the managerial decision to overplay the bullpen and make too many defensive subs in the first game. If Texas didn't play a good series against LSU, I have never seen a good team against a LSU championship team in Omaha.
Well, a passed ball and an error set up the 5-run inning last night to name two.
I'm not saying Texas played badly overall. But they didn't play close to their best within the defensive half of the game. Jungmann rescued terrible fielding the previous night, for example. It's just a little disappointing. I'm certainly not saying that Texas would have won if they had played to their standard in the field, it just was frustrating to watch.
And if you expected Texas to play worse than that then you simply didn't know how good Texas was, to be honest. Offensively, okay, I'll grant you that. But that was far from the standard Texas set defensively this year. Not just in the field, but pitching as well (other than Jungmann on Tuesday night). Lots of control issues that didn't exist previously, although these plagued LSU some as well. I don't think either team played their best overall, to be honest. There were some exciting games but I don't think they were that well-played by both teams. I think when Texas got swept by Fullerton in 2004 it was a much better example of both teams playing well. And Fullerton threw in some pitching performances of a lifetime to finish Texas off.
edit - By the way, this isn't meant to take anything away from LSU's championship. For example, Texas won a very sloppy championship game against South Carolina in 2002. Didn't bother me a bit then and doesn't now. A national title is a national title.
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