BearcatMan
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(04-28-2019 09:15 PM)geef Wrote: (04-28-2019 02:30 PM)bearcatfan Wrote: Next weekend is big. UC hosts first place and nationally ranked ECU.
Really an unbelievable turnaround. This team now has a 102 RPI, after being around 275 for the first few weeks. If we had won just a few more games against a few of the really crappy teams that took series from us (Houston Baptist and Niagara), we'd be talking about this ECU series as a way to get a tourney bid if we won 2 of 3.
As it stands, this team still has 11 games against teams with solid RPIs (and one stinker in NKU), with a chance to go into next year incredibly strong. We have a few veteran pitchers, but an otherwise young squad and a first-year coach with a fantastic track record.
I doubt we'd be even close to a tourney bid even with a reverse of a few early fixtures, but I said earlier in the thread, we lost 4 one-run games against absolutely awful teams (Houston Baptist and Niagara)...if we even win 3/4 of those we'd be at 25-19, which is more than respectable for how young this team is in most places. As it stands, they started 1-9 and are now 22-22...I'd say that's a pretty solid season once things got loosened up. Being a northern team, we're at a severe disadvantage with all of the early season travel every year, which was amplified with how many young guys are on the roster this season.
The issue with next season is that we're losing basically our entire back-end pitching staff, our Friday starter, and arguably our best all around field player in Bumpass...it's going to be interesting to see how the pitching staff turns over next season, although Kroger (Saturday Starter to start the season) pitched well early prior to injury, Murray and Murphy (two freshmen) have put in some quality long relief, and our closer (Thompson) is coming back and has been very solid outside of three outings (2.1 innings, 9 ER...only 3 ER in his remaining 19 innings).
(This post was last modified: 04-29-2019 01:38 PM by BearcatMan.)
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04-29-2019 01:25 PM |
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bearcat18
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
I actually think they will be solid next year, barring any unforeseen MLB draft entrants. Bumpass will be a huge loss but Bellini, Wiemer, Stapp, Santiago, Johnson, Mercer, Bremner, and Griffin Merritt could all be back. Merritt (LaSalle freshman) is hitting over .300 in AAC play and has come on strong late this year.
They will definitely need some starters and relievers to step up. They are bringing in Moeller's ace (Pacetti) and Mason's ace (Kemp).
Coach Googins and his staff also dipped into the transfer market with Stapp and Johnson so I'm sure he'll have a few names in mind for next year.
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04-29-2019 02:40 PM |
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BearcatMan
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(04-29-2019 02:40 PM)bearcat18 Wrote: I actually think they will be solid next year, barring any unforeseen MLB draft entrants. Bumpass will be a huge loss but Bellini, Wiemer, Stapp, Santiago, Johnson, Mercer, Bremner, and Griffin Merritt could all be back. Merritt (LaSalle freshman) is hitting over .300 in AAC play and has come on strong late this year.
They will definitely need some starters and relievers to step up. They are bringing in Moeller's ace (Pacetti) and Mason's ace (Kemp).
Coach Googins and his staff also dipped into the transfer market with Stapp and Johnson so I'm sure he'll have a few names in mind for next year.
Yeah, if they can figure out their weekend starters and Kroger comes back at 100% next year could be VERY solid. I don't know that I'd call Pacetti Moeller's Ace though...Austin Strickland is having a better year by almost every metric.
(This post was last modified: 04-29-2019 03:03 PM by BearcatMan.)
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04-29-2019 03:01 PM |
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CliftonAve
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
It was teased yesterday on twitter, but sounds as if an announcement will be made today about playing the UC/XU series at Great American Ballpark next season. Not 100% of the details, but like I said more to come on this.
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05-07-2019 09:34 AM |
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crex043
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-07-2019 09:34 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: It was teased yesterday on twitter, but sounds as if an announcement will be made today about playing the UC/XU series at Great American Ballpark next season. Not 100% of the details, but like I said more to come on this.
They also said something about another team down the Ohio River. Would that be UofL?
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05-07-2019 10:42 AM |
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geef
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-07-2019 10:42 AM)crex043 Wrote: (05-07-2019 09:34 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: It was teased yesterday on twitter, but sounds as if an announcement will be made today about playing the UC/XU series at Great American Ballpark next season. Not 100% of the details, but like I said more to come on this.
They also said something about another team down the Ohio River. Would that be UofL?
Honestly, that would make more sense that Xavier. Probably not logistically possible, but a day-night doubleheader with UC-Louisville followed by the Reds could draw quite a few folks from down thataway.
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05-07-2019 10:50 AM |
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dubcat14
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-07-2019 10:42 AM)crex043 Wrote: (05-07-2019 09:34 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: It was teased yesterday on twitter, but sounds as if an announcement will be made today about playing the UC/XU series at Great American Ballpark next season. Not 100% of the details, but like I said more to come on this.
They also said something about another team down the Ohio River. Would that be UofL?
I was confused about that too.. I think they just mean the Cincinnati Reds as the "team that plays along the Ohio River." and using their ballpark as part of the deal.
I wouldn't consider U of Louisville as "on the Ohio River" any more than I'd consider UC "on the Ohio River".
(This post was last modified: 05-07-2019 11:03 AM by dubcat14.)
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05-07-2019 11:01 AM |
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bearcatfan
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
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05-07-2019 11:08 AM |
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CliftonAve
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
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05-08-2019 11:47 AM |
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bearcatfan
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
UC won their final AAC game 4-2 at Memphis today and took the series 2 games to 1. UC finished 13-11 in the AAC. After being picked to finish last, UC is currently in third place.
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05-12-2019 03:43 PM |
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bearcatmark
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-12-2019 03:43 PM)bearcatfan Wrote: UC won their final AAC game 4-2 at Memphis today and took the series 2 games to 1. UC finished 13-11 in the AAC. After being picked to finish last, UC is currently in third place.
Aac is a really good baseball conference. Quite the accomplishment for this young team. Be nice to make a run in the conference tournament.
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05-12-2019 03:49 PM |
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OKIcat
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
13-11 in the AAC this season and a first game matchup with Memphis in the conference tournament in Clearwater. Regular season performance was a bit erratic, especially losing 2 of the final 3 to X to fall 3 games below .500 for the season.
The conference record though is a step forward as the American is expected to place three in postseason play (ECU, UCONN and Houston) and UC was picked at or near the bottom preseason. Now it's time for UC to break through and win a conference postseason game for the first time in the American. Go 'Cats!
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05-20-2019 07:17 AM |
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Bearcat419
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
I admittedly haven't followed baseball all that close since the campana and Harrison days.
I never knew why Neal was fired, and heard promising things about Googins when he was hired. What's the low down with this team? Is it high turnover? Youth? Lack of depth?
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05-20-2019 05:18 PM |
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geef
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-20-2019 05:18 PM)Bearcat419 Wrote: I admittedly haven't followed baseball all that close since the campana and Harrison days.
I never knew why Neal was fired, and heard promising things about Googins when he was hired. What's the low down with this team? Is it high turnover? Youth? Lack of depth?
These questions seem to suggest that the team underachieved this year. It was quite the opposite. They're quite young, and were expected to finish last in the American. Instead, they finished 2nd, albeit by a hair. Googins led them to their first winning season in 8 years last year, then had to replace quite a few players and started this year 1-10. Their recovery in conference play was remarkable. He's got the program heading in the right direction.
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05-20-2019 05:33 PM |
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bearcatdp
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-20-2019 05:33 PM)geef Wrote: (05-20-2019 05:18 PM)Bearcat419 Wrote: I admittedly haven't followed baseball all that close since the campana and Harrison days.
I never knew why Neal was fired, and heard promising things about Googins when he was hired. What's the low down with this team? Is it high turnover? Youth? Lack of depth?
These questions seem to suggest that the team underachieved this year. It was quite the opposite. They're quite young, and were expected to finish last in the American. Instead, they finished 2nd, albeit by a hair. Googins led them to their first winning season in 8 years last year, then had to replace quite a few players and started this year 1-10. Their recovery in conference play was remarkable. He's got the program heading in the right direction.
What is turnover looking like for this off-season? Hopefully Googins can continue to build.
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05-21-2019 06:29 AM |
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Bearcat419
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(05-21-2019 06:29 AM)bearcatdp Wrote: (05-20-2019 05:33 PM)geef Wrote: (05-20-2019 05:18 PM)Bearcat419 Wrote: I admittedly haven't followed baseball all that close since the campana and Harrison days.
I never knew why Neal was fired, and heard promising things about Googins when he was hired. What's the low down with this team? Is it high turnover? Youth? Lack of depth?
These questions seem to suggest that the team underachieved this year. It was quite the opposite. They're quite young, and were expected to finish last in the American. Instead, they finished 2nd, albeit by a hair. Googins led them to their first winning season in 8 years last year, then had to replace quite a few players and started this year 1-10. Their recovery in conference play was remarkable. He's got the program heading in the right direction.
What is turnover looking like for this off-season? Hopefully Googins can continue to build.
Sorry, I was more referring to the struggles from last season to this season. I thought I remembered them being young last season as well.
Just trying to reacquaint myself.
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05-21-2019 07:41 AM |
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Bearcat2012
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(This post was last modified: 05-21-2019 04:36 PM by Bearcat2012.)
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05-21-2019 02:47 PM |
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geef
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
UC leading big in the 6th - 9-4. Interesting day so far. #8 seed Wichita State knocked off ECU, and now ECU has to play Houston, a bubble team who will be fighting for their lives. Looks like a wide open tournament.
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05-21-2019 06:33 PM |
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bearcatmark
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
Only one thing left to do. Win the whole f-ing thing.
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05-21-2019 06:49 PM |
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bearcatfan
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RE: 2019 UC Baseball Thread
(This post was last modified: 05-21-2019 06:57 PM by bearcatfan.)
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05-21-2019 06:56 PM |
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