Just noticed NIU will play its first 19 games of the season on the road before our first home game. Would have been 22 games if the first series against Memphis wasn't canceled.

Kent State has already played 9 home games.

(03-21-2021 07:15 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Just noticed NIU will play its first 19 games of the season on the road before our first home game. Would have been 22 games if the first series against Memphis wasn't canceled.

Kent State has already played 9 home games.

They have a FieldTurf facility, which makes a huge difference. You can remove the snow and play pretty much immediately. I am sure ours has been a mud pit once all the snow melted.

So having an improper field for baseball in the north may be costing us more in road travel money than just paying for field turf?

We either need to invest in our baseball program or just get rid of it.

(03-21-2021 07:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  So having an improper field for baseball in the north may be costing us more in road travel money than just paying for field turf?

We either need to invest in our baseball program or just get rid of it.

It's part of the plan. https://d81ldo19jx3e0.cloudfront.net/niu...s-Park.pdf

I really wish they had some sort of visible tracker that shows progress to each of the goals.

Like it did to a lot of other things, the Covid-19 pandemic exploded, as I recall a short time after this effort was announced, which put the kabosh on it. Hopefully, it will be revived and take off, with the success of the team helping it along. I was there when the Kane County Cougars first got going in Geneva, and it was exciting to watch the hope-to-be stars of MLB playing minor league baseball. Imo college baseball can be the same.

That tracker is a very good idea, and not just for baseball. I'd like to see where we're at on all projects.

(03-22-2021 08:48 AM)UnknownScout Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 07:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  So having an improper field for baseball in the north may be costing us more in road travel money than just paying for field turf?

We either need to invest in our baseball program or just get rid of it.

It's part of the plan. https://d81ldo19jx3e0.cloudfront.net/niu...s-Park.pdf

I really wish they had some sort of visible tracker that shows progress to each of the goals.

I recall this now, I made a donation to it last year. I recall the entire baseball facilities were supposed to be moved but I'm guessing they couldn't raise funds to make that happen.

Crazy to think that the same awful facilities they had when I started college are what they have nearly 20 years later.

(03-21-2021 07:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  So having an improper field for baseball in the north may be costing us more in road travel money than just paying for field turf?

We either need to invest in our baseball program or just get rid of it.

Consider it like credit card debt. If you're carrying a high balance, can you pay off the balance or just a smaller amount knowing you're going to pay more in the long run but there is no other option.

It sucks. I wish they had the money for upgrades to the program. The field was well below standard when I was there in the 90s and it's the same field with no upgrades some 20 years later.

Unfortunately, we don't have a contract to ride out or hope Temple comes along and takes it off our hands when it comes to the field/"stadium".

(03-22-2021 10:10 AM)Big Red Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 07:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  So having an improper field for baseball in the north may be costing us more in road travel money than just paying for field turf?

We either need to invest in our baseball program or just get rid of it.

Consider it like credit card debt. If you're carrying a high balance, can you pay off the balance or just a smaller amount knowing you're going to pay more in the long run but there is no other option.

It sucks. I wish they had the money for upgrades to the program. The field was well below standard when I was there in the 90s and it's the same field with no upgrades some 20 years later.

Unfortunately, we don't have a contract to ride out or hope Temple comes along and takes it off our hands when it comes to the field/"stadium".

Heck, it is the same field as when I was there from 1970 to 1974.

(03-22-2021 12:22 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(03-22-2021 10:10 AM)Big Red Wrote:  

(03-21-2021 07:39 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  So having an improper field for baseball in the north may be costing us more in road travel money than just paying for field turf?

We either need to invest in our baseball program or just get rid of it.

Consider it like credit card debt. If you're carrying a high balance, can you pay off the balance or just a smaller amount knowing you're going to pay more in the long run but there is no other option.

It sucks. I wish they had the money for upgrades to the program. The field was well below standard when I was there in the 90s and it's the same field with no upgrades some 20 years later.

Unfortunately, we don't have a contract to ride out or hope Temple comes along and takes it off our hands when it comes to the field/"stadium".

Heck, it is the same field as when I was there from 1970 to 1974.

That's sad, and I would believe it. That stadium and the lack of fan concessions and rickety aluminum stands were pathetic when I was there in early 2000s.

I'm guessing Phase 1 of these plans never happened. I made a donation to the plans and never heard anything since then.

For the third time in his 5 starts this season, the bullpen blew a late lead for Michael Lasiewicz. He could be 4-1 but instead he is 1-1.

(03-26-2021 06:41 PM)StevenNIU Wrote:  For the third time in his 5 starts this season, the bullpen blew a late lead for Michael Lasiewicz. He could be 4-1 but instead he is 1-1.

They have very little pitching depth. Las is really, really good and they continue to lose games late. It’s really a shame.

I absolutely don’t understand not using Nate Thomas to close the 9th inning yesterday with a one run lead, but, bringing him in to pitch the B7 in a tie game today (7 inning games today). Why didn’t he close yesterday?

Our lineup in the ninth inning of today’s first game has exactly two guys hitting above .219, which I guess fits right in with our team batting average of .222.

Lost 3-1 in 11 innings, now 4-13, 3-3.

Lost 2nd game 7-6 with tying run thrown out at the plate for the final out.

4-14, 3-4