#IUBASE - 2017 NCAA Tournament

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

I made the trip down to Lexington. Even though we lost I'm glad I went. Their stadium is decent but feels a little dated and not nearly as big as Bart Kaufman.

The two areas of improvement this team needs to make offensively are base running and hitting off speed pitches. The base running was atrocious (cost us the game with Dedelow stopping at third). The terrible swings at offspeed pitches weren't apparent sitting behind home plate in the game vs. UL but today they were. There wasn't a batter that looked completely fooled on at least one offspeed pitch.

I hate that feeling of being the better team but shooting yourself in the foot.

That Fineman foul looked so good for so long.

Hope the cameraman is feeling better. He got absolutely rocked.

[LamarCheeks 19,094]

I'm a native Hoosier and an IU grad who now lives in Virginia. Just happened to check the local paper's website and saw that our Triple-A team (Norfolk Tides) is playing Rochester this weekend. Aaron Slegers is taking the bump Saturday night for the Red Wings. If I didn't have something else going on, I'd love to go watch him pitch. 

[ccgeneral 38,084]

#2 Indiana vs #4 Ohio @ Noon ET. I'll probably miss most of this one.

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[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

The last three games IU has lost has been due to the bullpen. You can't have a bad bullpen and expect to do major things come tournament time. It's just that simple. Postseason baseball games come down to pitching, defense and execution. IU didn't have any of those last night and hasn't for most of the season. Both runs in the 12th inning were unearned. You just can't win in the postseason without pitching, defense and execution

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

The last three games IU has lost has been due to the bullpen. You can't have a bad bullpen and expect to do major things come tournament time. It's just that simple. Postseason baseball games come down to pitching, defense and execution. IU didn't have any of those last night and hasn't for most of the season. Both runs in the 12th inning were unearned. You just can't win in the postseason without pitching, defense and execution

The bullpen wasn't the problem Matt Lloyd gave up one run on a solo shot. Krupa not closing his glove on a fly to deep left, the error on a ready made double in the 12th, and Deeds not going home all were a much bigger factor than relief pitching.

[TXHoosierDaddy 1,375]

I watched the entire game yesterday. The base running was horrendous. We were picked off twice (once in the 1st when we had all the momentum). Also, should have scored at least two more runs but for whatever reason guys stopped at third. Also, the Krupa error was bad and the Houston error very costly. Really disappointed in the fundamentals because the hitting and pitching were good enough to win.

Today is not off to a great start. Steiver all over the place. The bats better come alive!

[LamarCheeks 19,094]

Stiever, who has walked six guys all season, put three on base in the first inning today -- including walking in a run. Yikes. 

[TXHoosierDaddy 1,375]

Really undisciplined hitting. The scouting report is clear. Throw offspeed stuff preferably out of the strike zone and we will go after it. 

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

52 minutes ago, HoosierAloha said:

The bullpen wasn't the problem Matt Lloyd gave up one run on a solo shot. Krupa not closing his glove on a fly to deep left, the error on a ready made double in the 12th, and Deeds not going home all were a much bigger factor than relief pitching.

The bullpen still gave up the lead in the 8th inning. And I mentioned the unearned runs in the 12th inning. That's why I said you need pitching, defense and execution. Of course, the unearned runs don't happen if Lloyd shuts down the game

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

2-1 Ohio after two innings of play. This could've been a rout if not for that DP ball to end the first. IU still has a fighting chance

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

The bullpen still gave up the lead in the 8th inning. And I mentioned the unearned runs in the 12th inning. That's why I said you need pitching, defense and execution. Of course, the unearned runs don't happen if Lloyd shuts down the game

The if game...

If Krupa makes the catch in the first the homer Lloyd gave up means nothing.

If Deeds rounds third, sits down to sip his bourbon, takes a nap, and then crawls home the homer Lloyd gave up means nothing.

That solo shot wasn't the reason we lost the game. A solo shot when you have a 2-3 run lead doesn't lose you the game.

I was walking out to the bleachers in left field when NC State hit that homer. It was pretty deep and a kid biffed it down the stairs trying to get to it. Glad he ended up with the HR ball even if he was a kensucky fan.

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

Bats coming alive. 4-2 IU with 1 out in the top of the 4th.

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

That 1st inning escape might have saved IU for one more day. We'll find out if they can finally hold a lead though

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

5 minutes ago, HoosierAloha said:

The if game...

If Krupa makes the catch in the first the homer Lloyd gave up means nothing.

If Deeds rounds third, sits down to sip his bourbon, takes a nap, and then crawls home the homer Lloyd gave up means nothing.

That solo shot wasn't the reason we lost the game. A solo shot when you have a 2-3 run lead doesn't lose you the game.

I was walking out to the bleachers in left field when NC State hit that homer. It was pretty deep and a kid biffed it down the stairs trying to get to it. Glad he ended up with the HR ball even if he was a kensucky fan.

The point is that IU had a late lead and once again, they couldn't hold it

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

The point is that IU had a late lead and once again, they couldn't hold it

And it wasn't the pitching (especially Lloyd) that cost them the game.

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

Just now, HoosierAloha said:

And it wasn't the pitching (especially Lloyd) that cost them the game.

It was 5-4 in the 8th inning. I get that there were mistakes on the base paths. Base running is very important. But when you have a lead in the 8th or 9th inning, the rest of the game is irrelevant. All it comes down to is whether or not you held the lead

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

Interesting that the announcers have been all over the IU hitters about breaking balls. It was painfully obvious watching yesterday.

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

Stiever has definitely settled in after that 1st inning. Hopefully, he can go at least 7 innings. The less innings the bullpen has to pitch, the better IUs chances of winning

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

It was 5-4 in the 8th inning. I get that there were mistakes on the base paths. Base running is very important. But when you have a lead in the 8th or 9th inning, the rest of the game is irrelevant. All it comes down to is whether or not you held the lead

Again, IF there weren't mistakes in the first 7 innings that solo shot is okay. A 6-4 lead and a solo shot doesn't mean anything.

[Hoosier Guy 7,529]

4 minutes ago, HoosierAloha said:

Again, IF there weren't mistakes in the first 7 innings that solo shot is okay. A 6-4 lead and a solo shot doesn't mean anything.

True on both accounts