Aaron

Last game starting now against Maryland. 0-0 after 1/2 inning. Kaletha made an amazing catch to rob Maryland of Home Run for third out jumping at center field wall than falling forward. Perfectly timed.

Cleanest game we've played in a while besides Saturday Nebraska game last week. Thank god Milto is back and he looks much more like an ace than Stiever right now and we may want to consider starting him in opening games of postseason. We gave Milto a quick 1-0 lead in 1st than he kept them off the board and looked solid all the way till 6th when Maryland tied it but we responded right away in bottom half on 2 run Sowers single. It makes such a difference to have the lead in the early innings and battle from ahead all game as oppose to being down. Miller continues to be red hot and added a HR in 8th as did Gorski. It does appear Milto and Millers return is making a huge difference right now as both have been fantastic. Bullpen was again shaky but nothing terrible as Saalfrank pitched 7th and 8th and again has that nasty pitch he throws in dirt hitters chase at times. However, if they don't chase it and often times teams adjust he gets wild and is not as good with his other stuff and gets frustrated. However, Maryland hitters chased just enough in the 2 innings he pitched before any runs happened. Sabol was also shaky in 9th but not horrible and tying run never made it to plate. As I said clean game and solid win and lets bring out the brooms tomorrow.

Maryland is complete punks. Two years in a row we rally with a late HR and then they proceed to fight us and throw a pitch at Fineman's head this time. Clearly they can’t handle us beating them. I was in Bloomington for once tonight as I had company from overseas and I drove them to Btown to see old friends. I was planning to go to the end of the game after we finished as soon as it started raining and was going to go back to Indy but instead went to Lenny's for a bit and came for the last 2 innings after the rain delay ended and glad I did. For the first time this year we literally stole a game we really had no business winning. Again Stiever was decent but he needs to be better as the Friday guy. Can’t surrender early runs and is always working out of trouble lately even when other team doesn’t score. It’s not a ton of runs but even to give up 1 or 2 early as he has been doing on Friday against the other team’s best pitcher really puts you behind the eight ball and is asking for trouble. Tonight we finally pulled one out but to play from behind all night usually never ends well and that keeps happening with Stiever where he gives up a run or 2 early and settles down but then it’s an uphill battle. With that said this team has guts and never quits unlike Maryland where when they hit adversity they get violent instead of getting even. My company remarked (we were on a skype call when Maryland pulled these shenanigans last year) that Maryland seems like a dirty team and joked they would fight us once we won the game. They are not huge baseball fans but follow a little and I tell them some and they happened to be in the right spot both times Maryland players went WWE. On a lighter note very happy to see Luke Miller have such a great night and get the big homer to win it. Also Lloyd closed it with a clean easy 9th after leadoff walk which has not always happened lately. I was in Chicago all weekend at a family gathering which is why I posted so little during Nebraska series. I was at Cubs game Monday when Kris Bryant flew out for third out with bases loaded down 1 for a thrilling but frustrating loss. Tonight I got to witness in person Miller do what Bryant was unable to for a thrilling win instead of thrilling loss which I was extremely happy about. Overall this does very little in terms of our resume but we needed the win to keep momentum moving forward and did lock up a spot in both Big Ten and NCAA tourney no matter what happens I think. Shout out to the diehard fans who stuck out the rain delay and it was great to see a thrilling ending. If you are going to go to a game for 2 innings this was a perfect game to do it. Since I was so late they no longer charging as well so I got in free which was even better

This probably locks up an NCAA tourney spot for us barrring a collapse against Maryland. Didn't see game again but gutty win. However, I still want to understand why our bullpen is having such troubles after being so good all year and they yet again nearly cost us the game. If we want to make any noise in NCAA tourney this has to change or it will be a quick out. On a different note we have owned Louisville completely in last few years and for the second straight year a big win against them has removed any doubt we make tourney. For whatever issues we have now as a program our dominance of the Cardinals shows how far we have has come. Pre 2013 we were not even on same wave length and could rarely beat them and since then have owned them and been just as successful almost as a program.

Woah. I actually missed every part of this weekend except 9th inning today because of family gathering. I am not sure what in the world has happened to Stiever and our bullpen but at least our offense returned the last two games as did Milto literally on Saturday which was huge. Got the series win we needed and RPI still 27 so we stay in position to make both Big Ten and NCAA tournament. However, we were literally about 1 foot from losing game today as Sowers caught ball on wall with 2 runners on up 8-6 which would put us in a very different spot right now if that ball left yard but fortunately it didn't. I don't understand how Lloyd (except yesterday) Krueger and to a lesser extent Sabol who are the bread and butter of the back end of our bullpen have hit such a wall. For the whole year I felt comfortable with a late lead with these guys and now I don't. On a better note I think if we go 2 out of 3 against Maryland or get 1 against Maryland and Beat Louisville we are safely in NCAA tourney. 1 win against Maryland also locks up spot in Big Ten tourney so we should be OK there.

One good thing I will say is Lemonis confirmed in post game presser that he removed Kaletha specifically for his base running error to send a message and nothing physically wrong with him. Hopefully it sends team a message as they need a good kick to get back into gear right now.

If we miss tourney Lemonis may be gone and Smith coming back assuming he is canned at ASU. Again I could be wrong but I have a hunch this could happen (and a reason why I think that and its a little more than a guess). Just trust me but remember I could be wrong.

BJ Sabol who has been great gives up another HR after being flawless all yr for second straight game. It costs us the game as Ashley homered in bottom half which would of tied it otherwise. We cost ourselves 2 runs with base running and left a ton of men on again. These losses are infuriating and this is the last one we can lose without affecting NCAA tourney status. This actually was an entertaining game and crowd was even better but we still don't know how to play team ball and it has to change now or we will play our way out of tourney. We are still firmly in and this is about a 2-3 spot penalty only in RPI which will be in mid to high 20's still but play sub 100 teams in 6 of last 7 games so any losses now will knock us to bubble. Probably need to go 4-3 down stretch to stay firmly in.

Another wasted opportunity as Sowers gets a good swing but flies out. Really UK tried to give us one there and we couldn't take it. Its the stuff earlier in the game that really irritates.

Lemo ball not smart there. Fineman who is not a good bunter pops bunt to pitcher. I understand trying to get Gorski to 3rd there and I won't say it was a terrible decision but I would of had him swing away. Bradley moves runner to 3rd now with 2 outs.

UK just dropped a leadoff popup by Gorski behind 1st so we have a runner at second to start inning again.

UK brings in their best pitcher and closer to try for a 6 out save. 3.16 ERA and 8 saves which for SEC is really good.

We load bases in 7th. Great at bat by Houston who ultimately struck out after a long battle than Crail was even more patient and worked a walk to load bases in 7th. However, in most important bat of game so far with 2 outs Lloyd bangs first pitch into ground for easy out at first against struggling pitcher. Patience is a problem at worst times. 6-5 to 8th.

And Fineman singles so we are officially 1 run behind and 2 runs off the board because of base running mistakes. 6-5 end 6.

Crail Kaletha's replacement gets thrown out rounding 2nd after a Lloyd single. You could clearly see Lemonis throw his stop sign up as he got to second and Crail did not listen. Lemonis having an intense discussion with him about how costly that was but at some point the fact that it keeps happening is on Lemonis.

Some nasty stuff from Sommer gets us out of the 6th inning unscratched. Another guy with great stuff and all the potential in the world to be a weekend starter. I am just worried if Lemonis can get him to reach his potential.

Fineman just knocked a 2 run HR to Center and its 6-5. The last 2 games our offense is better but pitching struggles. When you are not playing well that is the kind of things that happen.

Well as I said Gorski has been great as his RBI single makes it 6-3. Everyone else has gone in the toilet.

Krueger was awesome until this recent slump and than has fallen apart like everyone else.

Lemonis just removed Kaletha from the game. I am not sure if he is hurt or if Lemonis is trying to send a message for his atrocious base running in 3rd that cost us a run. If its the latter that's probably the best thing we have seen as a coaching move all season. Nothing else is working and its time to hold guys accountable. If its an injury than thats the last thing we need. UK just hit a HR to make it 6-2. Suddenly Krueger can't pitch. Literally no one but Gorski can do anything right at the moment.

I've had just about enough of Lemonis' inability to develop players and every problem we have stems from it. As I will keep saying he recruits with the best of them and his in game management is fine (as example he got Saalfrank out quickly when he could not find zone tonight) but his inability to make players better and teach execution is just painful to watch. IU down 4-2 after 4th and every mistake we have made relates to player development. Saalfrank absolutely has the stuff to be a weekend starter but he is so wild he can't pitch more than in bit roles since he is not developed right. 10 straight balls to open 4th and taken out and Krueger suddenly can't pitch and gives up 3 more runs. In 3rd we cost ourselves a run because of fundamentals because Kaletha got picked off 2nd. Also we are so impatient still at plate (player development again) we can't hit some of their worst pitchers with ERA's in 5 and 6's (You can shave a run or 2 off that since SEC is ridiculously good but still we should do better).

Don't like that idea. I'd rather Herrin go Tuesday than Milto in an unfamiliar spot when he has not pitched in a while. We really need Milto Saturday as Minny throws their ace always that day who is really good. As good as Beauchamp has been I would really rather have Milto for this game Saturday against a great Minny offense. Friday it's Stiever vs their 2 guy so that's good and advantage us slightly and Sunday Minny has had a mess of finding a good person to pitch so either Beauchamp or Herrin would be fine but if we don't want to be at a significant disadvantage Saturday we really need Milto.

Well either Milto has had set back or IU's website guy is to lazy to update or they are being extra cautious. After Lemonis told IDS yesterday Milto was ready to go this weekend in their preview story, the preview on iuhoosiers.com lists Beauchamp and Herrin as starters Saturday and Sunday. I don't think IU in general (and this is with all sports) is very honest or forthcoming with injuries always so not sure whats going on but my alarm bells are raised a bit again until we hear more.

Great news on injuries per Mike Miller. Milto was available out of pen today and almost pitched if game was closer which makes me think he'll start next weekend. Also obviously Miller pinch hit each game this weekend and should hopefully return full time at Minny. That's huge for what is our biggest series of season next weekend at Minny. Sat and Sun games on BTN.

Iowa won 2 out of 3 to bring Michigan back to pack this weekend and OSU got Minnesota today so we are 9-5 just 3 games behind Mich and 2 behind Minny. If we can win 2 of 3 at Minny this weekend we are right in it as Mich still has series with red hot PU and Illinois. Its a long shot but enough happened around us to leave the door open. Finally looked like ourselves today as well! Also great we had sellouts all weekend with the weather nice as expected! Lastly RPI so tight today's win moved us up to 20. If we win 2 of 3 at Minny and hold serve against others and win UK or UL game hosting still looks possible.