Let's Review

[CrazyCajun]

Deggs way is sure starting to look like it works, regardless of how we feel about it. In 8 full years as a head coach he is headed to his 4th regional, which included a rebuild. Certainly frustrating at times but cant really argue with the results. He also seems to build teams that show up for tournaments.

[ManAboutTown]

I'll bite.

I very rarely come to this site during games just to see what folks are talking about. It's usually because something happened and I want to discuss. So, when things are going well, I don't really have a need to come here. I also don't believe in saying "great job team, you did everything you were supposed to" on a message board as often as some of you would like. I have posted it several times throughout the season but will not come here and congratulate the team on every victory. I'm also bit of a baseball purist and Deggs style of coaching is not very conducive to that. There's a reason he's getting paid and I'm on a message board, but I don't have to like everything he does. I'm going to mention it every single time because I believe that there's a reason that many baseball strategies have stood the test of time. The biggest pet peeve of mine, though, and likely the biggest reason that I lean to the negative side and get into arguments is that there are some that will claim to be Robe "disciples" (for lack of better term) but will go out of their way to justify things that Tony would be rolling in his grave over. A couple examples, pitching staff management and poor baserunning (both by players and coaches). Saying Deggs is the man now is one thing. Talking about how it's smart and good strategy is another.

All that said, I love this school and love this program. My dad wore Cajuns across his chest and every one of his children holds a degree from here. I want the best for the program and hope this team can hoist a trophy in a few weeks doing it whatever way they can.

Really well said.

[CajunVic]

What gets me is that when one comes here to give a counter point to an objector, all of the regular objectors show up and have fits, like only objections should be welcome here. There is definitely something way wrong with that picture . . .

Also, there are those who come here only to throw shade on our university, it’s players and it’s coaches. You know who you are. I don’t consider those a fan of this university and neither should it.

[Turbine]

I'll bite.

I very rarely come to this site during games just to see what folks are talking about. It's usually because something happened and I want to discuss. So, when things are going well, I don't really have a need to come here. I also don't believe in saying "great job team, you did everything you were supposed to" on a message board as often as some of you would like. I have posted it several times throughout the season but will not come here and congratulate the team on every victory. I'm also bit of a baseball purist and Deggs style of coaching is not very conducive to that. There's a reason he's getting paid and I'm on a message board, but I don't have to like everything he does. I'm going to mention it every single time because I believe that there's a reason that many baseball strategies have stood the test of time. The biggest pet peeve of mine, though, and likely the biggest reason that I lean to the negative side and get into arguments is that there are some that will claim to be Robe "disciples" (for lack of better term) but will go out of their way to justify things that Tony would be rolling in his grave over. A couple examples, pitching staff management and poor baserunning (both by players and coaches). Saying Deggs is the man now is one thing. Talking about how it's smart and good strategy is another.

All that said, I love this school and love this program. My dad wore Cajuns across his chest and every one of his children holds a degree from here. I want the best for the program and hope this team can hoist a trophy in a few weeks doing it whatever way they can.

Whether on the couch, in the stadium, on the sidelines, or on a message board, strategy discussions are what make sports fun.

Some think strategy discussions are off limits, and I think this stance has led to attendance declines.

If you don't discuss the nuances of the game, there are fewer people who understand the game.

If you don't understand the game, you are less likely to attend.

[ZoomZoom]

Exactly what’s been on my mind the entire baseball season. And last year too for that matter.

If following a team makes you SO aggravated/unhappy/embarrassed, etc, then why are you even paying attention?

It’s obvious in the threads. The certain group has nothing to say during wins and 8 pages of bashing and criticism for losses.

Well actually, they gripe about a lot of wins too. Opponent was terrible, should have won by more, the coach is stupid, players should be left in the city where they made a mistake, and on and on.

I just don’t get the personality trait that makes folks feel the need to publicly and relentlessly bash something they are supposedly a supporter of. It’s mind boggling.

Disclaimer: this IS NOT about the fans that make observations about things they don’t agree with. That’s perfectly normal. So don’t get offended if my post doesn’t pertain to you. The ones it’s referring to know who they are. And I’m not bashing them, I’m just making an observation that I think it’s weird as hell to be so emotional about something you obviously don’t even like.

It’s not just baseball. It’s pretty much all year abet the summer break.

[CajunRage]

Deggs way is sure starting to look like it works, regardless of how we feel about it. In 8 full years as a head coach he is headed to his 4th regional, which included a rebuild. Certainly frustrating at times but cant really argue with the results. He also seems to build teams that show up for tournaments.

I'm not sure the results you are citing validate anything just yet. He took over a SHSU program that had just gone to 3 straight regionals. He made a super regional but also missed postseason 3 of his 5 years. Then, this year and last, the sunbelt tournament is why we are in. Last year won the tourney, no at-large chance. Until we played (and won 4) 5 RPI favorable games in the tourney this year, we were not an at-large team either. For comparison, is what Tulane's coach doing working? They are in the postseason.

"Working" to me is playing at-large baseball year in and year out.

As for teams built for tournaments. Wouldn't that include regionals as well?

Before the defenders come, just trying to have a healthy debate. His strategy and style may work and I hope it does, but the results are not proving out yet in my opinion.

[sportsfanatic21]

Whether on the couch, in the stadium, on the sidelines, or on a message board, strategy discussions are what make sports fun.

Some think strategy discussions are off limits, and I think this stance has led to attendance declines.

If you don't discuss the nuances of the game, there are fewer people who understand the game.

If you don't understand the game, you are less likely to attend.

You also may be less likely to attend if you are constantly reading on here how stupid the coaches are and how bad the team is.

Just a thought.

That said, discussing strategy has absolutely nothing to do with the post I made about this. In fact, I specifically said it in the post.

And like Cajunrage’s last posts here point out, there are just certain personality types that are just born to complain, regardless of results. Last year the team ONLY made a regional because they won the SBC tourney. Now (ALREADY) this year, it’s just because they did well in the tourney! I mean…come on man. When all the games were played, they received a bid. Wild.

As for being a “baseball purist”, get on line and find some games to watch from the 70s and 80s. Specifically, watch the St. Louis Cardinals win a World Series (and play in two others) in the 1980s and see what they were doing. And they were far from alone in the way they played offensive baseball.

[CajunRage]

You also may be less likely to attend if you are constantly reading on here how stupid the coaches are and how bad the team is.

Just a thought.

That said, discussing strategy has absolutely nothing to do with the post I made about this. In fact, I specifically said it in the post.

And like Cajunrage’s last posts here point out, there are just certain personality types that are just born to complain, regardless of results. Last year the team ONLY made a regional because they won the SBC tourney. Now (ALREADY) this year, it’s just because they did well in the tourney! I mean…come on man. When all the games were played, they received a bid. Wild.

As for being a “baseball purist”, get on line and find some games to watch from the 70s and 80s. Specifically, watch the St. Louis Cardinals win a World Series (and play in two others) in the 1980s and see what they were doing. And they were far from alone in the way they played offensive baseball.

Fact: body of work last year was not good enough for regional outside of a tourney win
Fact: body of work this year was good enough for a regional (it was by the thinnest of margins and most likely would have changed by simply being on the other side of the sbc bracket)
Fact: baseball has been around for more than 2 decades and there have been spurts of different strategy. But as I said, stood the test of time.

I'm a Braves fan and love watching Acuna run wild, but even he dials it down in certain situations. This style worked in 2014 because we had a complete squad. They could lay down a bunt just as easily as putting a ball in the pine trees. We had an amazing pitching staff. This style falters when you are missing certain pieces. If Deggs is able to put together a dominate pitching staff, have at it with the chaos approach. Call me a complainer. I can't say things are "working" when you have to hold your breath every time there's a decision to send a runner or someone is coming out of the pen (minus a couple on the staff).

[CharlieK]

We have been in for three days now and you are still complaining . . .

We accidentally won 40 games and are in a regional. In spite of how horrible we are at coaching and playing baseball.

[CajunVic]

We accidentally won 40 games and are in a regional. In spite of how horrible we are at coaching and playing baseball.

We accidentally won 40 while 42 of the 64 teams failed to even reach that milestone despite the fact of how great they were at coaching and playing baseball . . . how ironic . . .

[sportsfanatic21]

Fact: body of work last year was not good enough for regional outside of a tourney win
Fact: body of work this year was good enough for a regional (it was by the thinnest of margins and most likely would have changed by simply being on the other side of the sbc bracket)
Fact: baseball has been around for more than 2 decades and there have been spurts of different strategy. But as I said, stood the test of time.

I'm a Braves fan and love watching Acuna run wild, but even he dials it down in certain situations. This style worked in 2014 because we had a complete squad. They could lay down a bunt just as easily as putting a ball in the pine trees. We had an amazing pitching staff. This style falters when you are missing certain pieces. If Deggs is able to put together a dominate pitching staff, have at it with the chaos approach. Call me a complainer. I can't say things are "working" when you have to hold your breath every time there's a decision to send a runner or someone is coming out of the pen (minus a couple on the staff).

So making regionals is only good enough (and a coach is only successful) if it’s done playing a style that you like?

And each of the last two seasons were failures…until they weren’t?

Lol. This is exactly what I’m referring to. I’m not arguing with you. I was just pointing out what a strange outlook that is, at least to me. Maybe I’m the odd one though.

To me, results are results. And they aren’t the result until the end. I’ve never understood being upset about what MIGHT happen. I prefer to enjoy the process along the way and wait for something bad to happen before being mad about it. And if the end result is good, be happy about it. Like each of the last 2 seasons.

To each his own though. Hopefully next season the team goes 50-6 and everyone is happy. Unless they lose the first game of the season to someone like Eastern Illinois. Then I’m sure the pitchforks will be out in full effect.

Just FYI, this years team’s ERA is better in relation to the median ERA in the Sun Belt than the 2014 team’s was.

And this years team has a higher success rate stealing bases than the 2014 team did. This team has hit more HRs per game than the 2014 team did (and are just 2 behind the 2014 total). This team has a higher fielding % than the 2014 did.

That team had 3 starters that were true starting types, and they all stayed healthy all season. This one does not, and did not.

The point is, this team is good. And whether or not they earned their at large bid in the first week or the last week is irrelevant. After 62 games, they were one of the teams chosen to play in the NCAA tournament based on their results in those 62 games.

[ManAboutTown]

So making regionals is only good enough (and a coach is only successful) if it’s done playing a style that you like?

And each of the last two seasons were failures…until they weren’t?

Lol. This is exactly what I’m referring to. I’m not arguing with you. I was just pointing out what a strange outlook that is, at least to me. Maybe I’m the odd one though.

To me, results are results. And they aren’t the result until the end. I’ve never understood being upset about what MIGHT happen. I prefer to enjoy the process along the way and wait for something bad to happen before being mad about it. And if the end result is good, be happy about it. Like each of the last 2 seasons.

To each his own though. Hopefully next season the team goes 50-6 and everyone is happy. Unless they lose the first game of the season to someone like Eastern Illinois. Then I’m sure the pitchforks will be out in full effect.

Just FYI, this years team’s ERA is better in relation to the median ERA in the Sun Belt than the 2014 team’s was.

And this years team has a higher success rate stealing bases than the 2014 team did. This team has hit more HRs per game than the 2014 team did (and are just 2 behind the 2014 total). This team has a higher fielding % than the 2014 did.

That team had 3 starters that were true starting types, and they all stayed healthy all season. This one does not, and did not.

The point is, this team is good. And whether or not they earned their at large bid in the first week or the last week is irrelevant. After 62 games, they were one of the teams chosen to play in the NCAA tournament based on their results in those 62 games.

Some people are interested in the nuances and some people are bottom line. Neither is right or wrong.