UL vs SeLU

[CajunProud]

_ Ok so what you are saying is that as a mid-major we should not expect to compete for a Super Regional birth every year? I am not saying that we should be in a the Supers every year but we should be in the regionals year in and year out with a berth in Super Regionals once every 4 or 5 years.

We are not on track to accomplish the goals that "I BELIEVE" we have set for ourselves as a baseball program. Boulanger and Robe set the bar this high by winning a lot of games and consitantly getting into post season play. Last year the team sucked by our standards. This year is very early, but losing to SLU who had to replace 9 pitchers from last year and only returned 6 position players as well. Yet they came to our house and kicked our butts.

Robe has done a great job throught his tenure here. I am not calling for him to be fired either. But he does need to feel the headt when he underperforms as a Coach/Recruiter just like Lee, Bustle, Rogers, Maufouz and the Lotiefs. He gets a free pass because he is local and people like him.

He (ROBE) has set the bar high and expectations should be met in oreder to keep his job. One or two bad seasons spread out throught a 10 or 15 year tenure is acceptable. Two or three bad seasons in a row is not acceptable from a program that was top 50 for the last 20 years. _

Very well said. I am not calling for Robe's head by any means, but since 2000 (the CWS year) we have only made post season 3 times. 3 times in 8 years doesn't cut it. Not for this program, at least in my opinion, but maybe I have too high of expectations.

[ManAboutTown]

_ Not that I think the season is already over, but this is the same thing I read last year after the first weekend, and things never improved.

This team lacks a true leader. Someone that walks the walk and talks the talk. There may be some that talk the talk, but going back to last season, I don't see anyone, at least not an everyday player, doing both. Once that person steps forward, things will get better. Until then, they'll be comme ci, comme ca. _

On the contrary. They have players that most of the team look up to, yet they won't embrace that role. Those players don't want to lead. (Thad Griffen)

[cajun4life]

_ Very well said. I am not calling for Robe's head by any means, but since 2000 (the CWS year) we have only made post season 3 times. 3 times in 8 years doesn't cut it. Not for this program, at least in my opinion, but maybe I have too high of expectations. _

I don't think the our expectations are to high. USM, Houston, Tulane, Rice TCU, Troy and USA are all programs in our region who have either caught up to us or passed up by. With Rice and Tulane we were seriously closing ground on these two programs in the 90's and 2000. Since then we have fallen behind. Even with Tulane's finacial stuggles they still are a better program than we are.

[ManAboutTown]

_ Ok so what you are saying is that as a mid-major we should not expect to compete for a Super Regional birth every year? I am not saying that we should be in a the Supers every year but we should be in the regionals year in and year out with a berth in Super Regionals once every 4 or 5 years.

We are not on track to accomplish the goals that "I BELIEVE" we have set for ourselves as a baseball program. Boulanger and Robe set the bar this high by winning a lot of games and consitantly getting into post season play. Last year the team sucked by our standards. This year is very early, but losing to SLU who had to replace 9 pitchers from last year and only returned 6 position players as well. Yet they came to our house and kicked our butts.

Robe has done a great job throught his tenure here. I am not calling for him to be fired either. But he does need to feel the headt when he underperforms as a Coach/Recruiter just like Lee, Bustle, Rogers, Maufouz and the Lotiefs. He gets a free pass because he is local and people like him.

He (ROBE) has set the bar high and expectations should be met in oreder to keep his job. One or two bad seasons spread out throught a 10 or 15 year tenure is acceptable. Two or three bad seasons in a row is not acceptable from a program that was top 50 for the last 20 years. _

My mid-major comment only pointed out that our resources are minimal; in all aspects. Now, baseball is a different animal, I understand that. But it still hinders us a bit, especially when we've been losing to local teams like we have been here lately.

Robe should be held accountable. Any coach at any school should be. It's what sharpens the iron, and keeps the fire going. And yes, we under achieved last season. Duly noted. But 4life, it's game 5, a mid-week game! We through a lot of young, unproven arms (Robe's MO) and people are calling for his head! Third base is an issue on defense, but other than that and a few mental errors, the PITCHING is what cost us that game. I understand ppl being disappointed, as am I; but take this for what it was. Everyone on this forum was so quick to scream "rebuilding, rebuilding". Well, this is what happens when a team "rebuilds". Tough mid-week games in which you learn a lot about your team and rotation. I am of the small majority that thinks we're not rebuilding. I think this team has the pieces to figure it out, and take off this year. But we'll see.

[MetryCajun]

I have no problem with Robe taking some heat, but some of you guys need to get some perspective. If UL fired all of its coaches today only two would get another D1(and probably BCS) coaching job. Robe is a proven winner who gets the most out of the talent he has.
The one knock on Robe in the past few years has been the lack of recruiting success, primarily in TX. Our teams from the past were made up of many TX players. Now we have just a few. I think if we want to get back to the Super Regional level, we will have to start getting more kids from Texas.

[cajun4life]

_ My mid-major comment only pointed out that our resources are minimal; in all aspects. Now, baseball is a different animal, I understand that. But it still hinders us a bit, especially when we've been losing to local teams like we have been here lately.

Robe should be held accountable. Any coach at any school should be. It's what sharpens the iron, and keeps the fire going. And yes, we under achieved last season. Duly noted. But 4life, it's game 5, a mid-week game! We through a lot of young, unproven arms (Robe's MO) and people are calling for his head! Third base is an issue on defense, but other than that and a few mental errors, the PITCHING is what cost us that game. I understand ppl being disappointed, as am I; but take this for what it was. Everyone on this forum was so quick to scream "rebuilding, rebuilding". Well, this is what happens when a team "rebuilds". Tough mid-week games in which you learn a lot about your team and rotation. I am of the small majority that thinks we're not rebuilding. I think this team has the pieces to figure it out, and take off this year. But we'll see. _

What I see is poor fielding and mental errors coupled with spotty hitting. I give the its early and things may turn around, which I think they will. It is my opinion that fielding is something that should not be an issue at our level of baseball.

[ManAboutTown]

_ What I see is poor fielding and mental errors coupled with spotty hitting. I give the its early and things may turn around, which I think they will. It is my opinion that fielding is something that should not be an issue at our level of baseball. _

Couldn't agree more. I think its absurd to have your Senior All-conference first baseman have a mental lapse on a bunt that loaded the bases with no outs.

I also find it hard to believe that NO ONE on the team can play third base. Maybe We should put Al Fusselier at 3rd. He can do everything else.

[jllanclos]

Ok... I understand why everyone is freaking out... we all want to see an immediate improvement from last year. But, while that has not happened, I do see an improvement on the rise... trust me, this team will be hitting the ball with lots of pop the more the season rolls on. In an odd way, I expect the freshmen to pump up this team and make them contenders. Les Smith and Alex Fuselier look very promising.. jumping on the ball quickly and hitting it hard everywhere. And Hawkins looks back into form too, sure he didn't get on base with his last two at bats, but in defense of him, he did hit a line drive straight to the right fielder on one of those and the strikeout third strike, WAS NOT A STRIKE AT ALL... I was sitting directly behind the plate and saw it for myself.

So everyone just needs to chill out a little and let the team come around... I don't know what all you were expecting... but I sure as hell wasn't expecting us to be 5-0 at this point. I mean 12 hits tonight is promising... not to mention 2 home runs. Once this team gets in a groove, they will be rolling.

Anyone else agree with me? I mean if we are still losing and not pitching well by the time conference rolls around.. then I will truly be disappointed, but for now... lets just relax and not put too much pressure on them.. they will come around.

You sold me dude...can't wait to sweep s: miss!!!

igeaux.mobi

[TuffGuy84]

_ So you're saying that you are satisfied with Robe's performance since 2002?

No wonder we are in the tank.

Oh, and both Lee and Bustle have posted winning seasons in their tenure here. _

- Since 2002 -

Bustle - 17-29 (.370 winning percentage) as head coach, 1 winning season, 2 .500 seasons, and 4 losing seasons. 1 conference championship shared

Robert Lee - 67-80 (.456 winning percentage), 1 winning season, 1 .500 season, 3 losing seasons, 1 tournament appearance 1 shared conference championship.

Vs.

Robe - 265-161 (.622 winning percentage) 6 winning seasons, 1 .500 season, NO LOSING SEASONS! 3 conference championships, 3 regionals, advanced to championship sunday twice.

You can try to spin it, but robe is twice the coach of either of them. I'm incredibly frustrated with the baseball team, but we're losing games in weird fashions which I think comes with having young guys. Before the end of the year, I think we'll click and have a fairly good team, the peices are falling into place.

[CajunRage]

_ Couldn't agree more. I think its absurd to have your Senior All-conference first baseman have a mental lapse on a bunt that loaded the bases with no outs.

I also find it hard to believe that NO ONE on the team can play third base. Maybe We should put Al Fusselier at 3rd. He can do everything else. _

What mental lapse are you talking about? If it's the one where the bunt went between Hawkins and the pitcher, that was a perfect push bunt. Hawkins was crashing hard, as he should and the second baseman was covering first as he should. You bunt the ball as hard as you can toward the second base position and if it gets past the pitcher, its a base hit every time.

[TuffGuy84]

_ Couldn't agree more. I think its absurd to have your Senior All-conference first baseman have a mental lapse on a bunt that loaded the bases with no outs.

I also find it hard to believe that NO ONE on the team can play third base. Maybe We should put Al Fusselier at 3rd. He can do everything else. _

Sorry, but Hawkins was not all conference first base, he was all conference DH. Hitting and fielding are 2 completely separate situations.

[raginsaints]

Thad Griffen is the anti-clutch.