Here for the Wins

Understood. Personally I think Volantis to closer is the right move. That’d remove everyone else as part-time closer. We need Grubbs to settle in.

I’m a big believer in giving guys roles that they can prepare to fulfill. If we don’t know who is the setup guy, the closer, Tuesday guys, are you comfortable the players do? The soft non-conference boosted wins and RPI but has not prepared our non-starters. Confidence and control can be sporadic when your innings are limited and your role is unstable. Sure, we don’t know whether it’ll come together, but it won’t be because we lack capable options. Go look at LSU’s pitching stats from last year. They had several guys that walked quite a few but come playoff time they were able to shrink the staff to guys they trusted or who were pitching well. Judge post season chances based on how those min-tourneys are structured. It can look very different than the regular season. As the season progresses, I do believe we’ll see roles more defined.

And 7 top 25 teams lost tonight. And two others won and gave up 9 runs. Thats college baseball these days.

This is largely a meaningless game, but Schloss is chasing a win. There are key guys that need to build confidence- Burns, Grubbs for example. With OU looming in two days, it was a poor choice to throw them today. They both got their last out versus Auburn. Nevermind they have to be wondering what their role is. It would reasonable to expect their focus wouldn’t be at its best tonight. There was no need to insert Tinney at that point. This is a Tuesday game. It replicates nothing in the post season. Flores could have gone longer. Bing probably should have gotten second run. Pitchers do need to work through things. Particularly guys with sporadic or spot duty. We absolutely have the arms to make a postseason run. Whether it happens will have to play out. Ruger, Harrison, DV, Grubbs, Crossland, Cozart. Flores, Burns, Leffew, Walker. Now, the past 4 games, the offense had opportunities to put the opponent away and didn’t. They just need to heat up at the right time.

Walker pitched this past weekend too.

We need more points.

Indiana’s 2024 CFP team is akin to Texas Tech’s 2025 CFP team. Therefore Tech 2026 will Indiana 2025. Can I get an amen?

I gave you an opportunity to provide some depth to your point. You had no interest in doing so. It is not only what your team has that makes you a contender but those also in contention. Almost all the contenders lost more high level players than we did. We return more high level players at premium positions than anyone. Guys like Deandre Moore, Wisner, Baxter were contributors to previous contending teams. But sure all 3 are certain to be shittier next year than they have been previously. We aren’t trading for NFL first rounders and giving up JV high school players. You’ve got your opinion. I am interested in information but don’t need you to tell me anything.

So from contender to team to beat. Got it.

So you’re saying that all other teams have an Arch, a Collin Simmons, a McDonald, a Goosby? Seriously, find me 5 other teams with a core anywhere near that. The draft will tell, but there are few teams every year that produce 3 1st round picks. Then you got Wingo, January, Terry, Baker, TyAnthony Smith. Landon Jackson, Umeozulu at DE. Robertson. There’s no guarantee that a homegrown guy doesn’t take the other guard spot. Williams was solid recruit. Littleton, Black, Phillips, Roberson, Niblett as PR. I know exactly who we picked up and who we lost. Five of the top 10 teams from last year lose their QB. Miami and Tech lose much of their DLine and/or OLine. Similar for Indiana. Ohio State loses a bunch on defense. A&Ms Oline is gone. We were very competitive last year. With the most difficult schedule. With injuries. And we lost fewer high end guys than the other likely contenders. But sure, the team that’s been a top 3-5 team over the past 3 seasons would not have been a competitor.

Not near enough of this discussion.

We would have been national champ contenders without portal additions. There’s only one position group that looks to be substantially better than it would otherwise be without the impact of the portal. And that’s conceivable that the two best players are homegrown. Biles is a top addition, but it’s not as though Lefau was insignificant. Now, if you say took us to the top of the list, maybe.

And is it all they got sports-wise?

Unless the wheels come off, our biggest challenge comes in the super regional. Using these last two weeks as an example, if we close on Friday, we’ve won the series before Sunday. And another possibility is lose in 2 with us never seeing Volantis. There is a decision to make, but guys do need to be given opportunities to work thru things. Volantis needs to consistently go 7 as a starter for that to be worthwhile. The early season schedule was not ideal for building the bullpen. There weren’t many challenges and too many run rules.

Leonard Davis is the largest human I’ve been next too. Probably not a fair comparison since it was many years later, but he was larger than T Sweat. Maybe not weight-wise but just massive person.

Did his jacked up pinky scare you?

Tell me more…… At Michigan. There were two dipshit Texas fans. Probably students, weighing in at about 125 pounds each, were running their mouths talking trash. It detracted from the game. Texas-Michigan fans alike. I’m there to take in the game, the environment not some person seeking attention.

No, it’s chickenshit. What makes college sports great is playing your butt and giving all you’ve got. It’s fans celebrating their school not being mouthy to their opponents. The occasional, emotional outburst is understandable and acceptable

You being 11 explains a few things.

Volantis as a 5 inning guy is not worth the trade off from closer.

Family. You can’t live without ‘em, and they can’t pee standing up. A baseball movie reference modified for my personal enjoyment. Yes, I know it makes no sense.

Sonny Alvarado?

Unfortunately, my interest has really faded. The 80s were it though. The Never Nervous Pervis Ellison championship was pretty cool. Hated Georgetown so the Villanova win was nice. Big Syracuse fan with Stevie Thompson and Derrick Coleman. The Runnin’ Horns were fun. Certainly the NC State win over Phi Slamma Jamma was memorable. The Dean Smith over John Thompson in 1982 may have been the start. 1982-87 must have been it. Luke Jackson from Oregon may have been my last must see player.

Are the finals always in San Antonio now or will it rotate?

Gotcha. I know you’d have to report a 77 as a non-oline guy but not sure if you could plop a 34 in at guard without declaration. I’d assume do