Baseball rpi 3/28/22

[sportsfanatic21]

Yes and no. Some of the things we've seen this year would have happened if we were playing the Yankees or St Peters.... Overall record, though, makes a bit more sense when you consider SOS.

I think people need to differentiate criticism in terms of just win/loss record and bad baseball that we've seen at times this year. We could be playing solid baseball and just getting beat because of the schedule we've played. The team has been very inconsistent this year and we've lost games that we shouldn't have regardless of who we're playing.

All of that is in the past, and if the team is clicking, we have an opportunity to make a run in conference. Then anything can happen. We know what we are capable of. Now just need to continue to execute and win ballgames.

You make some valid points, but there is also the fact that even the best of the best teams make those kinds of mistakes. Perhaps not as often, but we are talking about amateur baseball here. Guys will make errors. Guys will strike out in crucial situations. Pitchers will walk more guys than anyone wants to see. Hell, that happens in MLB.

When you are playing good teams, those things can be the difference in winning and losing. Do it against crappy teams, and (most of the time) it wont affect the outcome.

That said, elite teams lose games they shouldn’t either. Fans just aren’t emotionally invested enough to notice when another team does it…or just may not watch any other games that their team isn’t playing in.

I absolutely agree that Texas St is a very good team, but if the Cajuns had played the schedule that they have played, I’m guessing UL would probably have 17 or 18 wins right now. And the tone on RP would be different.

[zeppelincajun]

You make some valid points, but there is also the fact that even the best of the best teams make those kinds of mistakes. Perhaps not as often, but we are talking about amateur baseball here. Guys will make errors. Guys will strike out in crucial situations. Pitchers will walk more guys than anyone wants to see. Hell, that happens in MLB.

When you are playing good teams, those things can be the difference in winning and losing. Do it against crappy teams, and (most of the time) it wont affect the outcome.

That said, elite teams lose games they shouldn’t either. Fans just aren’t emotionally invested enough to notice when another team does it…or just may not watch any other games that their team isn’t playing in.

I absolutely agree that Texas St is a very good team, but if the Cajuns had played the schedule that they have played, I’m guessing UL would probably have 17 or 18 wins right now. And the tone on RP would be different.

These other teams where fans aren’t emotionally invested enough to notice…are they selling 4,000 tickets per game? You can ____ and moan about the fans all you want. The expectations come with the fans. Can’t have one without the other. You can either have fans complaining when we underperform or you can have basketball where half the games don’t even muster up a thread. Pick one.

You can make the argument about everybody messes up sometimes. That’s true. Regional teams don’t consistently underperform. We have consistently underperformed on the road. We consistently make too many errors (another 4 this weekend), and we consistently walk too many (handed Saturday’s game over after a gutsy performance by Schultz). There’s one clear path to less complaints from the fans, and it’s not from a lowering of expectations.

Babineaux should and has been commended for the EXCELLENT schedule put together this year. The performance just needs to be there.

[sportsfanatic21]

These other teams where fans aren’t emotionally invested enough to notice…are they selling 4,000 tickets per game? You can ____ and moan about the fans all you want. The expectations come with the fans. Can’t have one without the other. You can either have fans complaining when we underperform or you can have basketball where half the games don’t even muster up a thread. Pick one.

You can make the argument about everybody messes up sometimes. That’s true. Regional teams don’t consistently underperform. We have consistently underperformed on the road. We consistently make too many errors (another 4 this weekend), and we consistently walk too many (handed Saturday’s game over after a gutsy performance by Schultz). There’s one clear path to less complaints from the fans, and it’s not from a lowering of expectations.

Babineaux should and has been commended for the EXCELLENT schedule put together this year. The performance just needs to be there.

You misunderstood my point. What I’m saying is that many fans don’t watch many (or any) college baseball games that their favorite team isn’t playing in. And if they do, these same mistakes are made by other teams, but aren’t magnified due to the emotional attachment when it’s your team that makes them. And when your team is playing the type of schedule that the Cajuns are playing…they are magnified even more.

For example, most emotionally invested fans of a MLB team will usually think their closer is terrible. And it’s because the few times they blow a save its gut wrenching. And they will ____ and moan about the guy all season. And when its all said and done, the guy ends up with a good ERA and among the league leader in saves. And fans of more than half the other teams in the league would LOVE to have that guy.

As for expectations, you can have yours at whatever level you’d like. Same for anyone else. But that doesn’t mean they are realistic. You think the 4,000 fans are only buying those tickets because they EXPECT to be in a regional? If so, how does that make sense when the program is in a regional less than half the time….and that’s beginning with the first time they did make one?

Russo Park is one of the best venues in the country. And the program is good. And they have been pretty damn competitive with the 4th toughest schedule in the country. Is it so difficult to enjoy being at the park and watching some pretty good baseball without having to make yourself miserable because you think your team should be the best they’ve ever been every single day? Hell, it doesnt even take the team losing for people to gripe about every single thing. I had to remind folks that we were winning half way through the game yesterday because every post was about how the pitchers suck, or the fielding is terrible, or the coach is a moron.

Most people that have played the game at a relatively high level know that baseball is a game of failure. It’s pretty easy to see who on here never played above little league when its a complete meltdown every time something doesnt go the Cajuns way.

You pointed out “another 4 errors” this weekend. You know how many unearned runs S. Al scored this weekend? The answer is zero. But hey, at least its something to gripe about after winning a series against a pretty darn good team who also happens to be the biggest rival.

[zeppelincajun]

You misunderstood my point. What I’m saying is that many fans don’t watch many (or any) college baseball games that their favorite team isn’t playing in. And if they do, these same mistakes are made by other teams, but aren’t magnified due to the emotional attachment when it’s your team that makes them. And when your team is playing the type of schedule that the Cajuns are playing…they are magnified even more.

For example, most emotionally invested fans of a MLB team will usually think their closer is terrible. And it’s because the few times they blow a save its gut wrenching. And they will ____ and moan about the guy all season. And when its all said and done, the guy ends up with a good ERA and among the league leader in saves. And fans of more than half the other teams in the league would LOVE to have that guy.

As for expectations, you can have yours at whatever level you’d like. Same for anyone else. But that doesn’t mean they are realistic. You think the 4,000 fans are only buying those tickets because they EXPECT to be in a regional? If so, how does that make sense when the program is in a regional less than half the time….and that’s beginning with the first time they did make one?

Russo Park is one of the best venues in the country. And the program is good. And they have been pretty damn competitive with the 4th toughest schedule in the country. Is it so difficult to enjoy being at the park and watching some pretty good baseball without having to make yourself miserable because you think your team should be the best they’ve ever been every single day? Hell, it doesnt even take the team losing for people to gripe about every single thing. I had to remind folks that we were winning half way through the game yesterday because every post was about how the pitchers suck, or the fielding is terrible, or the coach is a moron.

Most people that have played the game at a relatively high level know that baseball is a game of failure. It’s pretty easy to see who on here never played above little league when its a complete meltdown every time something doesnt go the Cajuns way.

You pointed out “another 4 errors” this weekend. You know how many unearned runs S. Al scored this weekend? The answer is zero. But hey, at least its something to gripe about after winning a series against a pretty darn good team who also happens to be the biggest rival.

I never said Wilson sucked in the game thread. I said he was getting tagged and gave the score at the time. He was getting tagged to start the game. 2 out of the first 3 batters got extra base hits and the 4th batter hit the ball to the track. He settled in nicely and I posted that too. You are unbelievably sensitive any time any thing "negative" is said. People can't even discuss what is happening in the games without your little sensitive ass popping up. Why can't you just enjoy a day at the ball park? Why do you feel the need to chastise the fans in every other thread?

Here are some questions for you genius: how many errors did we make against Nicholls? How many unearned runs did we allow? How much did we lose by? The sloppy play needs to be corrected, even if it hurts your feelings.

[sportsfanatic21]

lol. I’m not sure I’m the one who’s sensitive here.

I’m realistic. And I know my fair share about the game.

You want to discuss Nicholls? Cajuns made 2 errors and allowed 2 unearned runs. And lost the game by 1 run. So you are obviously right!!!

Except…like someone said, this is amateur baseball. And someone said fans are too emotionally tied to notice other things. Why don’t you tell me how many errors Nicholls made? And how many unearned runs they gave up?

[zeppelincajun]

And you bet your ass I think we sell a lot of tickets because expectations are high with this program. You don't get fans without expectations. Basketball is a perfect example of the number of people who are willing to turn up going in to the season with no expectation of success. It is unrealistic to believe tickets sales in the Top 30 of the nation will continue without more sustained success.

[zeppelincajun]

lol. I’m not sure I’m the one who’s sensitive here.

I’m realistic. And I know my fair share about the game.

You want to discuss Nicholls? Cajuns made 2 errors and allowed 2 unearned runs. And lost the game by 1 run. So you are obviously right!!!

Except…like someone said, this is amateur baseball. And someone said fans are too emotionally tied to notice other things. Why don’t you tell me how many errors Nicholls made? And how many unearned runs they gave up?

Every thread when something negative is said...here you come. And you aren't even correct. Never said the guy sucked. He was getting hit hard. Why does it hurt your feelings so much to hear that?

Nicholls made 2 errors and gave up 2 unearned runs. They gave us an opportunity to step on their neck with their sloppy play, and we didn't. We gave them the same opportunity, and they got it done. We lost. I'm not sure why it hurts your feelings so much to hear that we need to make less errors and walk less people to succeed at a high level. We are under .500 overall and in conference.

[zeppelincajun]

171st in the nation in fielding percentage and 147th in walks allowed per 9. Yet if you say these areas could be improved you know nothing about the game and are just looking for something to gripe about.

[sportsfanatic21]

Every thread when something negative is said...here you come. And you aren't even correct. Never said the guy sucked. He was getting hit hard. Why does it hurt your feelings so much to hear that?

Nicholls made 2 errors and gave up 2 unearned runs. They gave us an opportunity to step on their neck with their sloppy play, and we didn't. We gave them the same opportunity, and they got it done. We lost. I'm not sure why it hurts your feelings so much to hear that we need to make less errors and walk less people to succeed at a high level. We are under .500 overall and in conference.

There’s a lot of games left to play.

And look, I agree that the defense has been shoddy at times. And the staff, as a whole, walks (and hits) way too many batters.

I’m also knowledgeable enough to know that this team is a good arm or two short of being pretty darn salty. Probably a bat too. So my expectations aren’t the same as some people’s. Yes, I expect the team to compete with whomever they play and to make the postseason every few years, but I know its not gonna happen every year. And I acknowledge that its been a little while now. I also think that this team is better than last year’s and looks like its best baseball may be ahead of it. Time will tell.

I’m also just as big of a fan as anyone else, and I want the team to win every game.

I just don’t feel the need, nor do I think its fair to the players and coaches, to bash them every time they don’t get a runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs. Or don’t get a bunt down. Or make an error or walk in a run.

And I didnt intend to make it sound like YOU are the one and only poster that gets bent out of shape. I just happened to have replied to your post. There are some that are worse about it for sure. I was out there at one time, and I assure you, those guys aren’t trying to fail. I also have kids now that play high school sports and listen to the same things in the stands all the time, so I may have a different perspective than some of the other posters.

All of that said, this is a fan message board where people come to give their opinions (good or bad) and rant when they aren’t happy. So I will back off about it.

[zeppelincajun]

There’s a lot of games left to play.

And look, I agree that the defense has been shoddy at times. And the staff, as a whole, walks (and hits) way too many batters.

I’m also knowledgeable enough to know that this team is a good arm or two short of being pretty darn salty. Probably a bat too. So my expectations aren’t the same as some people’s. Yes, I expect the team to compete with whomever they play and to make the postseason every few years, but I know its not gonna happen every year. And I acknowledge that its been a little while now. I also think that this team is better than last year’s and looks like its best baseball may be ahead of it. Time will tell.

I’m also just as big of a fan as anyone else, and I want the team to win every game.

I just don’t feel the need, nor do I think its fair to the players and coaches, to bash them every time they don’t get a runner in from 3rd with less than 2 outs. Or don’t get a bunt down. Or make an error or walk in a run.

And I didnt intend to make it sound like YOU are the one and only poster that gets bent out of shape. I just happened to have replied to your post. There are some that are worse about it for sure. I was out there at one time, and I assure you, those guys aren’t trying to fail. I also have kids now that play high school sports and listen to the same things in the stands all the time, so I may have a different perspective than some of the other posters.

All of that said, this is a fan message board where people come to give their opinions (good or bad) and rant when they aren’t happy. So I will back off about it.

Surface level frustration in the way we pitch sometimes makes it seem really bad, but you really are correct about us being an arm or two off. It's just the damn freebies. Encouraging side there is that is in our control.

Pitching/defensive stats through 3/27:
Double plays: tied 175
ERA: 84
Field %: 171
Hit batters: tied 83 (This is given from most to least, so 83rd most in the country.)
Hits allowed/9: 76
Strikeouts to walk ratio: 93
Strikeouts/9: 52
WHIP: 91
Walks allowed/9: 147

Hitting on the other hand...yikes:
Walks: 265
BA: 243
Doubles: tied 252
Hit by Pitch: tied 119
Hits: tied 210
HRs: 151
OBP: 269
Runs/game: tied 240
Slugging: 198
Stolen bases: tied 20
Tripes: tied 8th

Just not getting on base enough to take advantage of our biggest asset (speed). We won't play the 4th best SoS the rest of the way out, so hopefully this improves just by the arms getting a little easier. The offensive output is honestly what concerns me the most with our pitching. High stress innings are gonna stack up, and we are thin to begin with. Need to break some games open and give these guys on the mound a second to breathe.

[Dad04]

This year there is no such thing as low stress, low leverage innings to develop arms. Hopefully the offense can give them a break or two soon.

[KajunKrazy]

Can anyone confirm that jack Clark has been kicked off the team? He would have been your other option at 2nd with Recones out.