The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Uc is in a much better place with Googins than before Googins. They haven't made that next leap yet that we'd like them to make. He deserves a couple more years and will be judged on whether he does that.

(04-02-2022 01:20 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  I’m curious as to what our win/ loss record over the last few years is against Xavier, Miami of Ohio, Wright State, Indiana and other schools that face the same weather conditions and work the same recruiting areas that UC does. My guess is UC’s resources are more ample than those of Miami, Xavier or Wright State. I think it’s simply foolish to say we can’t win in the pre-conference season against other regional opponents. And yes, I am a multi-year donor to the bearcat baseball program. I’ve seen enough mediocrity over the years while teams like Xavier, Wright State, and Kent State of all schools have made deep runs into the NCAA tournament—not to mention traditional contender Louisville. Our baseball program is simply mediocre. And yet both the AAC and Big XII are good baseball conferences and UC has excellent facilities and good academics to use as lures for greater individual talent and a more competitive team overall.

Our baseball facilities are a complete joke compared to most of the teams we would be competing with...but that's ok, because baseball is not nearly as important to the fan base in general (considering we have had soccer games with larger crowds than the apparent record attendance they hit earlier this year). I completely understand the sentiment that we should have a better team, but Wright State and Xavier are completely different athletic departments, and Kent State plays in arguably the worst conference in D1 for baseball, which inflates records quite a bit. They also had a one season fluky run based in riding one pitcher into career ending surgery after the season, so, not exactly a high bar.

Should we be better? Sure...but I'm pretty sure we've invested in the sports that matter to the long term success of the AD (one of which two of your comparative teams don't have) now that we're getting into a position to have more external revenue, maybe we can finally invest. There is definitely a ceiling that northern teams have in place based on their lack of training opportunities over 4 months of the year...basically Michigan and Louisville are the only teams who have found a way to raise that a bit consistently. I hope we find a way to get up to another level, and think Big 12 play will help elevate our recruiting tremendously...can't say that I'd let 3 one-run losses be the reason why you run off a coach who has done a solid job of building something from literally nothing.

It's a program I follow intermittently and enjoy but I don't really expect much success. When it happens I'm pleasantly surprised.

I'm sure Goggin likes the jump in pay and facilities compared to X but it's often an easier path to the CWS in a lower level conference than it is up the food chain unless you are a traditional power, in the south, etc. B12 is going to be a big challenge.

There are talented local kids who opt to go to JUCO over schools like UC...not because of grades but because it's easier to get exposure in TX or Florida...exposure to high D1 programs and you can be drafted in any year of JUCO. Goggin is primarily looking for decent players who want to keep playing the game and who will be mostly paying their own way to do so.

(04-02-2022 01:20 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  I’m curious as to what our win/ loss record over the last few years is against Xavier, Miami of Ohio, Wright State, Indiana and other schools that face the same weather conditions and work the same recruiting areas that UC does. My guess is UC’s resources are more ample than those of Miami, Xavier or Wright State. I think it’s simply foolish to say we can’t win in the pre-conference season against other regional opponents. And yes, I am a multi-year donor to the bearcat baseball program. I’ve seen enough mediocrity over the years while teams like Xavier, Wright State, and Kent State of all schools have made deep runs into the NCAA tournament—not to mention traditional contender Louisville. Our baseball program is simply mediocre. And yet both the AAC and Big XII are good baseball conferences and UC has excellent facilities and good academics to use as lures for greater individual talent and a more competitive team overall.

Wright State actually has decent baseball facilities. They basically have two sports they put money into, basketball and baseball. I think our stadium is superior but they have some nice player amenities like their own locker room and some nice signage outside the stadium:





The other thing I notice is they have more assistant coaches than we do. Outside of Googs we have two paid assistants and a volunteer coach plus Andy Nagel who's title is Director of Baseball Operations. They have three assistants (include one dedicated to recruiting) and separately a Director of Hitting Development, Director of Pitching Development and Director of Player Development.

Another loss, 12-10. UC let UC jump out in front 10-3 early, they tied back up 10-10 before giving up two late runs. This game is a microcosm of the season.

The Bearcats beat Houston today 9-6, and more importantly take two out of three this weekend. Yesterday the Cats beat them 13-3 and the 10-run rule was invoked. The record has improved to 13-17. They travel to Louisville to take on the Cards Tuesday night.

All that matters anymore if UC's seed in the conference tournament. Currently tied for 4th at 3-3. Would be nice to get up to a #3 seed.

(04-10-2022 04:08 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  All that matters anymore if UC's seed in the conference tournament. Currently tied for 4th at 3-3. Would be nice to get up to a #3 seed.

True, pitching seems to be improving and the bats and defense are performing about as well as expected. Tulane has raced ahead in the early conference standings and if the Green Wave continues to dominate series as they have so far, it may be open season on tournament seeding for the rest.

UC wins in 14 innings 7-5 and clinches the series win at Wichita State.
Now 5-3 in the AAC and tied for second.

Looks like their luck is turning around....they 8 losses by two runs or less this season. Would look completely different if they could've locked things down on the mound earlier or found another hit at a clutch time. As it stands, thos season looks similar to most every other one in recent memory, figuring things out for conference play and getting things rolling for the conference tourney. One thing is for sure, the bats have been hot as hell all year at the top.

(04-15-2022 10:44 PM)bearcatfan Wrote:  UC wins in 14 innings 7-5 and clinches the series win at Wichita State.
Now 5-3 in the AAC and tied for second.

Great news. I threw in the towel and turned off ESPN+ with it tied 5-5 after 11 innings. That WSU reliever Holden, was lights out during innings 9-11. Announcer said in his appearances YTD he has had 23 strikeouts and zero walks. Wow, could the Bearcats have ever used a guy like that at the end of the Michigan State game and several other late inning losses this season.

Still, it's exciting to see the Bearcats coming off the mat and winning in conference play. If we get some decent weather for remaining home games it should bring more fans out too.

(04-16-2022 07:24 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(04-15-2022 10:44 PM)bearcatfan Wrote:  UC wins in 14 innings 7-5 and clinches the series win at Wichita State.
Now 5-3 in the AAC and tied for second.

Great news. I threw in the towel and turned off ESPN+ with it tied 5-5 after 11 innings. That WSU reliever Holden, was lights out during innings 9-11. Announcer said in his appearances YTD he has had 23 strikeouts and zero walks. Wow, could the Bearcats have ever used a guy like that at the end of the Michigan State game and several other late inning losses this season.

Still, it's exciting to see the Bearcats coming off the mat and winning in conference play. If we get some decent weather for remaining home games it should bring more fans out too.

Whenever I see control stats like that from a pitcher I think back to Osterbrock from about a decade ago...kid had like a 50/1 K to BB ratio in his senior year here and showed similarly filthy control in the Twins system.

(04-16-2022 07:43 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-16-2022 07:24 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(04-15-2022 10:44 PM)bearcatfan Wrote:  UC wins in 14 innings 7-5 and clinches the series win at Wichita State.
Now 5-3 in the AAC and tied for second.

Great news. I threw in the towel and turned off ESPN+ with it tied 5-5 after 11 innings. That WSU reliever Holden, was lights out during innings 9-11. Announcer said in his appearances YTD he has had 23 strikeouts and zero walks. Wow, could the Bearcats have ever used a guy like that at the end of the Michigan State game and several other late inning losses this season.

Still, it's exciting to see the Bearcats coming off the mat and winning in conference play. If we get some decent weather for remaining home games it should bring more fans out too.

Whenever I see control stats like that from a pitcher I think back to Osterbrock from about a decade ago...kid had like a 50/1 K to BB ratio in his senior year here and showed similarly filthy control in the Twins system.

It really stands out at the collegiate level doesn't it?

Holden was a transfer from Murray State to Wichita State. It gives me some hope that in the coming years we'll have players who experience some success at places such as Wright State or assorted MAC schools and want to step up to Big 12 baseball competition.

Bearcats win 4-0 and sweep Wichita state

It was a 2 hitter by the UC pitching staff today. They need more of that!

(04-16-2022 02:48 PM)the_dude Wrote:  Bearcats win 4-0 and sweep Wichita state

A road series sweep and all of a sudden our Bearcats are back in the hunt for a decent seed in the AAC postseason. The pitching was particularly encouraging and with the way this bunch hit and score it provides hope this could be much better than we expected a few short weeks ago.

Current AAC Baseball Standings:

East Carolina
7-2 (conference record)
22-15 (overall)
Tulane
6-3
24-12-1
Cincinnati
6-3
16-18
Houston
5-4
23-13
UCF
5-4
21-15
Memphis
3-6
15-16
South Florida
2-7
20-16
Wichita State
2-7
13-22

The Bearcats can still win this thing.

I can't even imagine how ****** the Wichita State fans feel about this move to the AAC. They were a prime mid-major property (a notch below Gonzaga, but still way up there) in the MVC in basketball, and their baseball program had been rocking and rolling (28 NCAA Tourney appearances from 1980-2009 along with 18 conference championships in that same time) but have yet to really do much of anything while in the AAC. They really don't have much else, and their main benefactor has since passed as well...must suck to be a Shocker fan.

(04-18-2022 09:06 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I can't even imagine how ****** the Wichita State fans feel about this move to the AAC. They were a prime mid-major property (a notch below Gonzaga, but still way up there) in the MVC in basketball, and their baseball program had been rocking and rolling (28 NCAA Tourney appearances from 1980-2009 along with 18 conference championships in that same time) but have yet to really do much of anything while in the AAC. They really don't have much else, and their main benefactor has since passed as well...must suck to be a Shocker fan.

I just remember seeing them on the AAC board woofing about how they were going to come in here kicking a$$ and taking names.

(04-18-2022 09:06 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I can't even imagine how ****** the Wichita State fans feel about this move to the AAC. They were a prime mid-major property (a notch below Gonzaga, but still way up there) in the MVC in basketball, and their baseball program had been rocking and rolling (28 NCAA Tourney appearances from 1980-2009 along with 18 conference championships in that same time) but have yet to really do much of anything while in the AAC. They really don't have much else, and their main benefactor has since passed as well...must suck to be a Shocker fan.

IIRC their baseball got in trouble a few years ago for playing ineligible players. They hired former Cleveland Indians/Guardians HC Eric Wedge in 2019 and he has not gotten it done for them.