IU Baseball

[WayneFleekHoosier]

Need to start winning games like this one.  

[cbp4iu]

I think Mercer is a good recruiter but it might be time for a new voice in the clubhouse. I think he’s had his chances and pitching seems to be getting worse. 102-75 in 8 years (2-5 this season.) I like him as a person but I think he’s not getting us any closer to the CWS

[Aaron]

5 hours ago, cbp4iu said:

I think Mercer is a good recruiter but it might be time for a new voice in the clubhouse. I think he’s had his chances and pitching seems to be getting worse. 102-75 in 8 years (2-5 this season.) I like him as a person but I think he’s not getting us any closer to the CWS

No coach in the north is getting you to a CWS regularly. There is a reason IU and Michigan are only two Big Ten teams to make it this century.

The Big Ten in baseball is not the Big Ten of other sports. It is basically the Mountain West as the equivalent of the best Mid-Major in the country. Now with that said, IU should be the equivalent of what San Diego State basketball is to the Mountain West and should be the league winner and get an NCAA bid most years.

Mercer definitely is very hit or miss right now and the execution in timely hitting and pitching and defense is lacking. The recruiting is top notch and players are developing into pros. However, the little things that come with winning seem to be missing the last 2-3 years, especially on the mound. 

I agree the program is in a rut and it clearly goes beyond changing the pitching coach like they did this year. So far the same issues are happening still.

Lets make sure though we understand what realistic expectations are. Mercer is not meeting them right now and it has nothing to do with getting to the CWS which is a totally unrealistic expectation for a Big Ten team more than once every decade or two.

[cbp4iu]

1 hour ago, Aaron said:

No coach in the north is getting you to a CWS regularly. There is a reason IU and Michigan are only two Big Ten teams to make it this century.

The Big Ten in baseball is not the Big Ten of other sports. It is basically the Mountain West as the equivalent of the best Mid-Major in the country. Now with that said, IU should be the equivalent of what San Diego State basketball is to the Mountain West and should be the league winner and get an NCAA bid most years.

Mercer definitely is very hit or miss right now and the execution in timely hitting and pitching and defense is lacking. The recruiting is top notch and players are developing into pros. However, the little things that come with winning seem to be missing the last 2-3 years, especially on the mound. 

I agree the program is in a rut and it clearly goes beyond changing the pitching coach like they did this year. So far the same issues are happening still.

Lets make sure though we understand what realistic expectations are. Mercer is not meeting them right now and it has nothing to do with getting to the CWS which is a totally unrealistic expectation for a Big Ten team more than once every decade or two.

I meant the CWS post season (Regionals) in itself. I agree making it to the actual CWS is beyond what  would expect… I see no reason we can’t be a consistent 2/3seed in a region. I think winning 38-40 games is a reasonable expectation. Especially with the Big 10 stinking. 

[Aaron]

1 hour ago, cbp4iu said:

I meant the CWS post season (Regionals) in itself. I agree making it to the actual CWS is beyond what  would expect… I see no reason we can’t be a consistent 2/3seed in a region. I think winning 38-40 games is a reasonable expectation. Especially with the Big 10 stinking. 

100%. I said as well they should make NCAA Tourney almost every year and be San Diego St of baseball for Big Ten.

We are in complete agreement. Misunderstood what you meant.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

19 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

 Tuesday evening we'll be in Cincinnati to play Xavier.  

Game moved to Wednesday at 2:00.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Hoosiers pick up a 10-4 mid-week win over Xavier.  7 IU pitchers gave up 9 hits and walked 2.  We had 15 hits led by Crouse and Hanley each with 3.  Moore had 4 RBI and Hanley 3.  This weekend we're in Bowling Green, KY for 4-games against Western KY.

• Friday at 4:00
• Saturday at 2:00 and again at 5:00
• Sunday at 2:00

Radio All 4 Games

Live Stats All 4 Games

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Hoosiers lose the opener 4-1.  Neubeck started and pitched into the 5th allowing 4 hits, no walks and charged with 1 run.  Sarhatt and Vogel combined to give up just 2 hits but they walked 4 and together allowed WKU's 3 additional runs.  4 of the 6 hits the staff allowed were doubles.  We had just 7 hits with Malamazian getting the only RBI.  Doubleheader on Saturday.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Hoosiers take today's opener 3-1.  Second game just getting underway.  Thomas started and pitched 4 innings; Seebold and Yarberry finished up.  They combined to scatter 4 WKU hits and issue 3BB.  We had 10 hits none for extra bases.  Ricketts had 3 and 3 others had 2 each.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Second game on Saturday was a slugfest with both teams getting 14 hits.  Unfortunately, we only scored 12 runs and WKU scored 14.  Rivera started and never made it past the first inning giving up 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 BB.  4 more IU pitchers gave up the other 8 WKU hits and 9 runs.  Collectively they walked 9 and gave up 5 doubles and 1 HR.  Koskie had 2 hits and 4 RBI.  Hanley 3 hits and 3 RBI.  Final game of the weekend scheduled to start at 2:00. 

Tuesday night we're scheduled to host Northern Kentucky at 5:00.  Next weekend is the start of B1G conference play with us hosting Washington for the 3-game series. 

[Aaron]

This weekend so far is why I refuse to solely blame pitching and more the system as a whole. While pitching is the biggest culprit, the offense also cost you Friday's game and has far to many times when it goes cold similar to IU basketball's three point shooting coming and going.

The talent is there, but there are so many little problems right now holding the team back from being anything more than mediocre. It starts with pitching, but the offenses ability to go cold at the wrong times and not hit off-speed pitching, plus the defensive errors, show it is a lot of small issues that are easily fixable but does not seem to be happening. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

We salvage a  split for the weekend winning today 7-3.  Bergman started and pitched 5 innings giving up 5 hits and 2 runs; walked 2.  Linn relieved and pitched 3 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 run.  Yarberry closed it out.  We had 9 hits.  Ricketts had 3 and Malamazian 2.  2 of Ricketts 5 were HR and he finished with RBI.

Tuesday night we host Northern Kentucky and open conference play on Friday hosting Washington.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

BREAKING NEWS!  Tuesday game with Northern KY has been canceled due expected inclement weather.