The Book 2007 Ragin' Cajun Baseball

[CajunProud]

It's all a moot point. The teams will play again, beginning next season.

I am glad that we are playing LSU again. The truth is (as much as I hate to admit it) that we need them for RPI purposes. However, the real question is, is it going to be a home and home series, or is LSU going to mandate that we play them there and they will not return the trip?

[TheFan]

I will try. But in brief, yes ... good teams do experience hiccups. I have never seen that this is not the case.

In baseball, you are going to lose to all manner of teams that you would feel are somewhat inferior. This is not basketball or football. Maybe the best thing to do is to illustrate by example.

Perhaps the best teams the Cajuns have fielded (at least the best postseason accomplishments) are the 1999 and 2000 editions. The 1999 team was one game away from earning a CWS berth and played the entire postseason on the road, first winning the Houston regional knocking off Houston and Texas ... second losing 2/3 to Rice in the Super Regionals. During that regular season, the Cajuns had at least back-to-back losses on seven occasions, with the longest losing streak being four games. Some of the losses that season include @McNeese State (twice), @Lamar, Lamar, Iowa, @Northwestern State, and @Nicholls State. The Cajuns also did not win the conference tournament and finished second in the Sun Belt.

The 2000 season was the most successful season in Cajun history. Yet, the Cajuns had to work through slumps and bad losses that season as well. The Cajuns had at least back-to-back losses on three occasions, with the longest losing streak being six games. The Cajuns had a span where they lost 8 of 9 in the heart of the season. They also lost the Sun Belt title on the final weekend when they failed to win a single game at home against New Orleans (fans thought the world was ending). Some of the losses that season include @McNeese State, Lost 1/3 @SLU, and was swept by a weak UALR team on the road.

Let us also look at an extreme example ... last year's national champion Oregon State. The Beavers lost consecutive games only three times and did not lose more than two consecutive games all season. But they also had a few of what you would consider bad losses. Oregon State lost on the road to a poor UC Davis team that only won 18 games last season ... By the same 2-1 score as the other night I might add. They also lost on the road to a mediocre New Mexico state squad. In late April, Oregon State lost at home to a poor Portland squad that went 15-37 on the season and 3-18 in the Big West. They lost that game 20-13. And this was an Oregon State team that had solid pitching.

The bottom line is that it happens. And typically several times in a season. Even for the best clubs. They key is how they bounce back.

And BTW, Northwestern State is not a bad team. The Demons have played a difficult schedule thus far (more difficult than that of the Cajuns) and have now won three consecutive games (7-9 overall). On that schedule are single games against a good Louisville squad, @Southern Miss, @LSU, two vs. UL (home and home), and three road games against Houston (in which they won 2/3). Houston started well with a win over Baylor and a tough 3-2 loss to Texas A&M. They have struggled since and are 8-9, but they will be fine. The Cougars knocked off Lamar this week 7-1.

The bottom line is that I expect some losses this season against teams that are not quite the caliber of Northwestern State. Unless you have Greg Swindell and Roger Clemens in your starting rotation along with a few major leaguers, it is bound to happen.

Brian

God, I have not heard or read Greg Swindell name in a loooong time.

[Turbine]

I am glad that we are playing LSU again. The truth is (as much as I hate to admit it) that we need them for RPI purposes. However, the real question is, is it going to be a home and home series, or is LSU going to mandate that we play them there and they will not return the trip?

Jay is right it is a moot point, I just rail against the events of 2002 getting blown out of proportion as time goes by.

Anyway according to coach Robe "I heard it on the radio" we are going to go TO Tulane this year (sometime in April) and LSU next year.

I applaud coach Robe for taking the first steps back toward a series that never should have stopped in the first place.

[CajunProud]

Jay is right it is a moot point, I just rail against the events of 2002 getting blown out of proportion as time goes by.

Anyway according to coach Robe "I heard it on the radio" we are going to go TO Tulane this year (sometime in April) and LSU next year.

I applaud coach Robe for taking the first steps back toward a series that never should have stopped in the first place.

I plan on going to the Tulane game this year.

I think we also need Tulane on the schedule for RPI purposes.

I also applaud Coach for taking the first step in re-scheduling Tulane and LSU. It just infuriates me that Tulane and LSU will not play us here. What happens if we beat them at their places on a regular basis, will they stop scheduling us again unless we agree to let them win.

[Cajun Express]

I plan on going to the Tulane game this year.

I think we also need Tulane on the schedule for RPI purposes.

I also applaud Coach for taking the first step in re-scheduling Tulane and LSU. It just infuriates me that Tulane and LSU will not play us here. What happens if we beat them at their places on a regular basis, will they stop scheduling us again unless we agree to let them win.

I think in Tulane's case it was about needing the home games, and since their conference provides RPI they will not make road trips. I don't see this changing soon. As for the "Flagship", nobody has yet to figure out what is the real reason they decided to end the series, but baby steps are now in the works we will play at their place only in 2008.

[evangelinetiger]

I think in Tulane's case it was about needing the home games, and since their conference provides RPI they will not make road trips. I don't see this changing soon. As for the "Flagship", nobody has yet to figure out what is the real reason they decided to end the series, but baby steps are now in the works we will play at their place only in 2008.

Laval ran the program into the ground quickly. LSU has not recruited the high caliber players it used to get. Also parity comes into to play. When LSU had its big streak, 89-00, it was the only game in town. Now the SEC and the rest of the state schools have made huge leaps and caught up to LSU in terms of recruiting and fan interest.

No one will see domination like that again.

Hopefully the new coach will improve the situation over the yr or two.

[Clutch0364]

I will try. But in brief, yes ... good teams do experience hiccups. I have never seen that this is not the case.

In baseball, you are going to lose to all manner of teams that you would feel are somewhat inferior. This is not basketball or football. Maybe the best thing to do is to illustrate by example.

Perhaps the best teams the Cajuns have fielded (at least the best postseason accomplishments) are the 1999 and 2000 editions. The 1999 team was one game away from earning a CWS berth and played the entire postseason on the road, first winning the Houston regional knocking off Houston and Texas ... second losing 2/3 to Rice in the Super Regionals. During that regular season, the Cajuns had at least back-to-back losses on seven occasions, with the longest losing streak being four games. Some of the losses that season include @McNeese State (twice), @Lamar, Lamar, Iowa, @Northwestern State, and @Nicholls State. The Cajuns also did not win the conference tournament and finished second in the Sun Belt.

The 2000 season was the most successful season in Cajun history. Yet, the Cajuns had to work through slumps and bad losses that season as well. The Cajuns had at least back-to-back losses on three occasions, with the longest losing streak being six games. The Cajuns had a span where they lost 8 of 9 in the heart of the season. They also lost the Sun Belt title on the final weekend when they failed to win a single game at home against New Orleans (fans thought the world was ending). Some of the losses that season include @McNeese State, Lost 1/3 @SLU, and was swept by a weak UALR team on the road.

Let us also look at an extreme example ... last year's national champion Oregon State. The Beavers lost consecutive games only three times and did not lose more than two consecutive games all season. But they also had a few of what you would consider bad losses. Oregon State lost on the road to a poor UC Davis team that only won 18 games last season ... By the same 2-1 score as the other night I might add. They also lost on the road to a mediocre New Mexico state squad. In late April, Oregon State lost at home to a poor Portland squad that went 15-37 on the season and 3-18 in the Big West. They lost that game 20-13. And this was an Oregon State team that had solid pitching.

The bottom line is that it happens. And typically several times in a season. Even for the best clubs. They key is how they bounce back.

And BTW, Northwestern State is not a bad team. The Demons have played a difficult schedule thus far (more difficult than that of the Cajuns) and have now won three consecutive games (7-9 overall). On that schedule are single games against a good Louisville squad, @Southern Miss, @LSU, two vs. UL (home and home), and three road games against Houston (in which they won 2/3). Houston started well with a win over Baylor and a tough 3-2 loss to Texas A&M. They have struggled since and are 8-9, but they will be fine. The Cougars knocked off Lamar this week 7-1.

The bottom line is that I expect some losses this season against teams that are not quite the caliber of Northwestern State. Unless you have Greg Swindell and Roger Clemens in your starting rotation along with a few major leaguers, it is bound to happen.

Brian

Brian good stuff on Birds Eye View yesterday! College baseball is difficult to cover but you do it better than anybody. Thanks for the input on pagin.

Now to my question, what is the best record anyone has finished with?

[cjr3888]

How did Smoke run the program into the ground? He only had one bad year. As the head coach he accomplished:

2002: Regional Championship

2003: SEC Championship; Regional and Super Regional Champions; CWS

2004: Regional and Super Regional Champions; CWS

2005: SEC West Division Champs

2006: Bad year


Thats 1 SEC Championship and 2 trips to the CWS in 5 years. The fans didnt like him because he is not Skip Bertman. Unfortunately, the new coach will have the same problem because college sports has turned into a 'what have you done for me lately' business.

[CrazyCajun]

Laval ran the program into the ground quickly. LSU has not recruited the high caliber players it used to get. Also parity comes into to play. When LSU had its big streak, 89-00, it was the only game in town. Now the SEC and the rest of the state schools have made huge leaps and caught up to LSU in terms of recruiting and fan interest.

No one will see domination like that again.

Hopefully the new coach will improve the situation over the yr or two.

ok so it was alright to schedule us when lsu dominated the nation but as soon as smoke started to run the program into the ground his old biuddy skip decided to pull the plug. If that is not chicken _____ i don't know what is. Now if you can't see how that looks then you are not nearly as intelligent as you claim to be my friend!

[CajunAmos]

We probably want to drop LSU next year because of the RPI hit we'll take by playing them.

[Just1More]

We probably want to drop LSU next year because of the RPI hit we'll take by playing them.

Oh gee... like we didn't have enough to get ET all fired up again. Gotta admit, that is pretty funny.

[Dad04]

Oh gee... like we didn't have enough to get ET all fired up again. Gotta admit, that is pretty funny.

Playing them on the road won't tank our RPI too bad.