IU Baseball

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Milestone tonight for Devin Taylor.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

4-2 Hoosiers lose the weekend opener.  We managed just 5 hits in the game.  4 IU pitchers gave up 7 hits and walked 5.   Try again Saturday.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Like the softballers did earlier, the men brought out the lumber pounding out 11 hits in a 12-3 win.  Koskie and Denny each with 3 hits and each with 3 RBI as well.  Grable and Gilley limited Illinois to 7 hits and issued only 2 walks.  Men go for the series win tomorrow at 2:00.

[Aaron]

The first two games of this series are a perfect example of why starting so slow each yr is such an issue. Losing a close low scoring game yesterday with a dominant victory today, is nothing to be ashamed of on the road against a decent Illini squad.

However, with RPI stuck around 70, it places an unnecessary premium on tomorrow to stay in NCAA Tourney contention realistically.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

We used Illini pitchers for batting practice on Saturday and they're returning the favor today.   Illinois batting in the 5th leading 14-0 with the bases loaded and 1 out. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

 

Final score 15-1 in a run rule shortened game.  Illinois finished with 15 hits; we had 4.  In 1.1 innings Seebold was rocked for 8 runs on 5 hits.  Holderfield in 1.2 innings allowed just 1 run on 2 hits but he walked 3.  In 1.1 innings, Decker-Petty gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and walked 2 one of which was a bases loaded walk.  Thomas and Brummel also saw mound duty.

Tuesday evening at 6:00 we host Indiana State.  Next weekend Maryland visits Bloomington for a 3-game series.

[Aaron]

You can thank Glant for Seebold’s inconsistency and lack of pitching depth. He is a great talent but the inconsistency is direct result of Glant’s hard to grasp system.

Until Mercer realizes this, IU baseball will always be a rollercoaster.

[12345Brad]

On 4/13/2025 at 5:40 PM, Aaron said:

You can thank Glant for Seebold’s inconsistency and lack of pitching depth. He is a great talent but the inconsistency is direct result of Glant’s hard to grasp system.

Until Mercer realizes this, IU baseball will always be a rollercoaster.

What does his system consist of?  What makes it hard to grasp?

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

8 hours ago, 12345Brad said:

What does his system consist of?  What makes it hard to grasp?

Good question.  I've wondered that myself.  Hope someone can provide an answer.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Tonight at 6:00 we host Indiana State (18-17) for a re-match.  In early March we won 9-4 in Terre Haute.  Televised on B1G+.  Looks like temp will be around 50 with overcast skies and a 15-20 mph WNW breeze.

Preview

Radio

Live Stats

 

[Aaron]

10 hours ago, 12345Brad said:

What does his system consist of?  What makes it hard to grasp?

I don't totally understand it myself but somehow it consists of spinning the ball and focus on locating it perfectly for strikes. When it works, there is no better way as it makes the pitches pretty much unhittable. However, if the location and spin are not perfect, it can lead to a lot of walks and wild pitches or getting shelled if thrown in wrong spot.

In other words it is very boom or bust and is harder to grasp hence a lot of strikeouts but also a good amount of negative. With top talent, it could work great. However, as northern baseball with second tier players who need to be developed, it can take more time to figure out for some, hence the slow starts.    

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

ISU goes back to Terre Haute with a 7-5 win.  As typical for a mid-week game we went through the pitching staff using 9 in all.  It was all well and good until the 4th when Rushing took the mound.  In 1.1 innings he faced 10 batters and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and walked 2 and ISU never trailed after that  ISU added 2 more in the 6th off Brummel and another in the 8th off Oliver.  All total, we gave up 11 hits and 8 BB.  On the flip side, we had 7 hits, the "highlight" being a solo HR from Devin Taylor.  This was his 47th career blast and ties him for the IU career record with Alex Dickerson, Mike Smith and Mike Sabo.  We tried to make it interesting in the bottom of the 9th scoring 2 runs but it was another case of too little, too late.

This coming weekend Maryland is in Bloomington.

 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

ISU goes back to Terre Haute with a 7-5 win.  As typical for a mid-week game we went through the pitching staff using 9 in all.  It was all well and good until the 4th when Rushing took the mound.  In 1.1 innings he faced 10 batters and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and walked 2 and ISU never trailed after that  ISU added 2 more in the 6th off Brummel and another in the 8th off Oliver.  All total, we gave up 11 hits and 8 BB.  On the flip side, we had 7 hits, the "highlight" being a solo HR from Devin Taylor.  This was his 47th career blast and ties him for the IU career record with Alex Dickerson, Mike Smith and Mike Sabo.  We tried to make it interesting in the bottom of the 9th scoring 2 runs but it was another case of too little, too late.
This coming weekend Maryland is in Bloomington.
 

Forgetful season. Wasting a solid offensive team week by week.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

[Aaron]

The Mercer quirk of struggling with mediocre pitching while pounding elite guys happened yesterday with all the mediocre ISU arms paraded out there. As I have said, these occasional losses and this issue could be overlooked if IU had its own pitching in order since this cancels out on offense.

Once again this loss in isolation is not awful, but given where team is at due to its own woes on mound, and overly hard pitching program (see above), yesterday was pretty much a must win and season is going down the tubes.

Larger picture, if all this talent enters the portal after season I would not blame them. Mercer's tenure going forward will likely rest on what he decides to do with Glant. Glant has become to Mercer what Darren Hiller did to Tom Allen and Mercer has a choice. If Mercer wants to, he can make the move Allen refused to on Glant and save his career here or fall off further and likely be fired in a couple of years.

Mercers legacy could either be like the Tom's (Allen and Crean) with some success and not a terrible coach but also too much of a roller coaster and gone. However, if he makes the move to the pitching that is needed, he could be here a decade or more similar to Moren and Yeagley with more ups then downs.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

On a season that just doesn't look like it's going anywhere our Hoosiers (20-17) (10-8) host Maryland (17-21) (4-11)    for a 3-game weekend series.  All 3 games televised on B1G+.  At this point in time, Mother Nature may have a say in the weekend schedule.  Friday's game looks good.  Temps in the upper 70's with a 15-20 mph SSW wind.  Saturday's game looks iffy with rain and thunderstorms predicted throughout the day.  Sunday's forecast calls for am showers with temps in the mid 70's and a 10-15 mph ESE breeze.

Friday @ 6:00

Saturday @ 2:00

Sunday @ 1:00

Radio

Live Stats

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Will Moore with an rbi single in the bottom of the 9th for a 7-6 Hoosier win.  Ironically, it was Moore who scored the tying run in the bottom of the 8th.  Ryan Kraft pitched 4 innings in relief for his 76th career appearance moving into the top 5.  On the night, Hoosiers had 10 hits, Dickerson with 3 and Hanley with 2.  Denny and Malamazian each with 2 rbi.  Yarberry started but lasted just 2 innings allowing 4 runs on 2 hits but unfortunately 1 of them was a grand slam HR.  He walked 3.  That's when Kraft made his appearance and he was followed by Vogel and then Grable.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Between the Hoosiers and the Cubs, wild day of baseball.  Kinda feel like we need the sweep and a run here at the end.  Hopefully this is a turning point but I’m not holding my breath. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Hoosiers lose 17-4 in a run rule shortened game. Maryland used 5 Hoosier pitchers for batting practice banging out 15 hits that included 5 HR.  Ouch!  We managed just 6 hits but one was very memorable for Devin Taylor hitting his 48th career HR a new program record.

https://x.com/i/status/1913691361859039648

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

First pitch for Sunday's game has been moved up to noon.

[Aaron]

Glant has been teetering for a long time and the dam has finally broken this yr with no trust worthy pitchers. This year they clearly are not finding reliable arms down the stretch. 

Mercer has a choice. He can replace Glant after the season with a competent pitching coach and have a long career in Bloomington or he can do what Tom Allen did with Darren Hiller and sink with him. Its Mercers choice and will tell us a lot if he is a long term fixture here.

You have thrown away Devin Taylor's final year and would not blame these good young players if they enter portal if Mercer doesn't make some major changes to the pitching staff.

Huge offseason for program and we will see if Mercer is willing to make some tough changes. This year its to late to do anything now unless team wins Big Ten Tourney.