Lmao at this thread. TSU is a top 40, senior-laden ball club. They are better than a lot of SBC and just abt all SLC teams. We are a team with many high potentia players playing in their 3rd D1 game. Most people thought TSU would go 3-0 this wkd.
Interesting responses, I suppose my expectations for baseball are affected by my expectations for basketball and I know it a ridiculous comparison but I just think we are playing below our abilities more in baseball than basketball. Lee essentially destroyed a top 50 program and Marlin and his team are making progress but I suppose we were expecting more ourselves back a few years ago and Marlin has only been here 2 years. Roby has been here a while but lifetimecajun says things have changed significantly. Perhaps so and maybe its unreasonable to have high expectations. I wish the best for the team. It occurred to me that Texas State might have been up for this game and we, meaning the players, took them to lightly. From a distance, its hard to figure why they are not about at least 20% more competitive i.e. win between 10 and 20% more games than they do. I apologize if that an unreasonable expectation.
Guys,
Not to make excuses but UL had just 7 returning pitchers with D1 experience coming into this year. 3 were out with injuries this weekend. Traffica is gone for the year with an elbow injury, and Kellog and Frith were out with a sprain and a strain.
The Cajuns scored enough runs to win all three games.
The pitching will need to come around.
I sort of agree with wgwillis. I love Robe and want him to stay here as long as he wants and retire here but, will we ever be able to get back to the level that we had in 2000? It seems unlikely considering all the changes that have taken place over the years. I remember growing up and watching a top 25 ranked team. The past few years we've had a good team but no where near the top 25. There was a time when getting past the Regionals was expected (I was young during this time so correct me if I'm wrong about that). Now it is something that is possible but not necessarily expected. I still think we have a very solid program and am very excited about some of the young players we have.
I don't think getting past a regional was ever "expected." I think getting TO a regional was, especially after we did it four straight years (1997-2000).
Since then, the Sun Belt has become a better league overall (it used to be just USA and USL) and, of the ten schools in the league that play baseball, every one of them except ULM and Arkansas State have an NCAA appearance since 2000.
Now, having said all that.
I think the recruiting we've had the last two years has been very, very good. Leonards, Conrad, Compton, Strentz, Francia, and Butler are all going to be considered for all SBC before they're through.
And, I like the young pitchers as well.
This year will be a learning experience. The two years after that we should be good. And, the way we're recruiting now, I think the foundation is being laid for us to be good for several years to come.
This year? Not so much. We're just too damn young.
Good point.
5 runs (total) would have won 11 more games last year and sent another into extra innings, for a record of at least 42-16 with a with a swing game.
Just to be balanced, scoring (only) 5 points a game would have cost 3 wins and sent 2 games into extra innings.
Speaking of a program on the rise, Erath is that program. They have good coaches on every level and the backing from boosters that will grow that program.
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