(03-18-2023 01:50 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Oh, you're going to love this ... (sarcasm intended) ...

Earlier in the post, someone mentioned former NIU coach/now North Central Coach Ed Mathey and the success he had before departure. I checked the NC website, and their pitching coach is Tim Stoddard. You remember Stoddard. Pitched Baltimore to the Game 4 win over the Phillies in the '83 World Series. Was with the Division winning Cubs in '84. Also played with San Diego, the NY Yankees and finished up with Cleveland in '89.

How many former pro pitchers are out there and why don't we have one?

Now look at NIU's pitching coach: Josh Pethoud. His profile says that "After three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach, Josh Pethoud was named an assistant coach for the NIU baseball team in the summer of 2021. He will work primarily with the Huskies' pitching staff."

Not knocking Pethoud at all. Don't even know the guy. And he's not in charge. He didn't hire himself.

So is the issue -- as it seems with many Huskies programs -- what resources are available and how are those resources used? NIU is spending a ton of money to rebuild the baseball stadium. Can't stop now, with many $100ks into it. And no, I am not a proponent of dropping baseball.

But that brings into question NIU's commitment to its programs. Do we have some of these because that's the "thing to do?" The questions, I think, are a lot larger than that. Did the baseball stadium project get launched because STF needed a ribbon to cut for his resume? You take it from there if you want.

Almost sounds like our AD is underperforming, and in dire need of replacement...

(Today 09:14 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(03-18-2023 01:50 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Oh, you're going to love this ... (sarcasm intended) ...

Earlier in the post, someone mentioned former NIU coach/now North Central Coach Ed Mathey and the success he had before departure. I checked the NC website, and their pitching coach is Tim Stoddard. You remember Stoddard. Pitched Baltimore to the Game 4 win over the Phillies in the '83 World Series. Was with the Division winning Cubs in '84. Also played with San Diego, the NY Yankees and finished up with Cleveland in '89.

How many former pro pitchers are out there and why don't we have one?

Now look at NIU's pitching coach: Josh Pethoud. His profile says that "After three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach, Josh Pethoud was named an assistant coach for the NIU baseball team in the summer of 2021. He will work primarily with the Huskies' pitching staff."

Not knocking Pethoud at all. Don't even know the guy. And he's not in charge. He didn't hire himself.

So is the issue -- as it seems with many Huskies programs -- what resources are available and how are those resources used? NIU is spending a ton of money to rebuild the baseball stadium. Can't stop now, with many $100ks into it. And no, I am not a proponent of dropping baseball.

But that brings into question NIU's commitment to its programs. Do we have some of these because that's the "thing to do?" The questions, I think, are a lot larger than that. Did the baseball stadium project get launched because STF needed a ribbon to cut for his resume? You take it from there if you want.

Almost sounds like our AD is underperforming, and in dire need of replacement...

I've seen high schools and community colleges with better baseball facilities than us. I was also a frequenter of Huskie baseball. It's a nice little activity to sober up to on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the warm spring sun.