Well, the spring break games are in the books and PSAC play will soon be upon us. The baseball team is 7-9 so far this season, one in which they are clearly in rebuilding mode. The softball team, meanwhile, sits at 17-4 and is a contender at the national level.
As mentioned earlier this year, I will begin covering the games in depth once conference play begins. The softball team's first home game will be against Indiana (Pa) on Mar. 25 and the baseball team will be at home this Friday, Mar. 21 to take on Wilmington. Both teams will open PSAC East play on Mar. 28 when the softball team heads to Millersville and the baseball team is in Bloomsburg.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Divisional play nears
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9 comments:
See, I still have qualms about the statement that KU baseball is "clearly in rebuilding mode."
It's very evident that KU baseball is retooling this year with its youngers players. But rebuilding, to me at least, is a scenario where a team gives up hope of doing anything substantial in the season and just tries to develop its younger players while exiling its older group.
KU isn't doing that. The Golden Bears are 7-9 and several of their losses have been by 3-runs or less.
That means the talent is there, and with a few errors or swings going in KU's favor, you might have a 10-6 record instead.
The sign of a very good system is when a team like KU wins game that maybe it isn't supposed to win, considering its young core.
It just goes to show what kind of talent is there at this juncture and what it can do in the next couple of years.
But even this year, PSACs aren't out of the question. If I'm not mistaken, it is the top three teams from each division that make the playoffs. KU is chillin' at the three-spot.
Rebuilding implies no chance at playoff.
The GB's aren't out of it yet.
I'm not sure where you got your definition of "rebuilding", but we clearly got it from two different places.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this is a down year by KU standards. Keep in mind that the baseball team was number one in the nation last season, but isn't even going to be ranked this year. They lost almost their entire starting lineup and most of their top pitchers. It is clearly a rebuilding year, whether you want to admit it or not.
I never claimed the rebuilding effort was without talent. Most teams (at any level) who lost as much as KU did would be struggling to win even a few games, but the talent pool brought in by Coach Blum has allowed them to compete despite the youth and experience.
The Golden Bears are 7-9 this year as you mentioned. They went 49-7 last year, 43-13 in 2006, 39-18 in 2005, 37-16 in 2004, and 25-15 in 2003. Notice a trend? Coach Blum built up a top team and rode them to their climax last season.
This year is obviously a down year and a time for rebuilding. A losing record is by no means an acceptable record for a program that generally competes nationally. You can bet they will be back to contending in a year or so, but not in 2008.
You mentioned they will likely make PSACs. I agree 100%. But, will they contend with 17-2 West Chester? Unlikely.
Florida won the NCAA tournament last year. They're not even in it this year.
They were 21-11.
Did they rebuild or retool?
I guess it depends on your definition or how you look at it.
Obviously, KU isn't going to put up 40 wins. Not even close. Most know that.
But high 20's is very possible, much like that 2003 team.
In 2003 that was just the start of something special for KU baseball. We weren't used to seeing that kind of sustained play throughout. In the following years, KU improved to a point where it climaxed last year. Best in the program.
Now our system is cycling through, with a predominantly younger clan.
You can't compare last year's club with this year. We don't have the seniors. You may say, "Well that's my point!!!! Duhhh."
But again--I mean, they're 7-9 so say what you will--if they reach 25+ wins, I don't call that a rebuilding year. 10 games over 500 isn't a rebuilding year. That's retooling. That's winning with your talent. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils win with young talent every year. They don't rebuild. They win.
That's my point here. KU has had such success in the last five years, Blum has been able to recruit guys we might've not been able to get in '03. Guys who can win right away.
Though, if they drop off considerably and finish below .500, I'll be the first to say i'm flat out wrong.
35 games left (schedule could change slightly, who knows). I think it's safe to say that the GBs should win 80 percent of those games.
If we finish someone in the vicinity of 32-19, do you still call that a rebuilding year?
P.S. Mike, think of this as banter, not criticism.
Sort of like PTI, although it's you and me, not Korny and Wilbon.
I'm pretty sure we don't have the same audience.
Pretty sure.
Hi KU mom's and dad's!!! (Possibly Ryan Howard, too. I'm not sure if Adrienne's got him into KU athletics yet. haha)
If they finish 10 games over .500, it's possible I'll reconsider my position. With that said, even then I still need to see a team on the field who can seriously contend for the division title. If we don't have anything for a team like West Chester, then there is no doubt we are rebuilding.
My point is that KU is a perennial contender for the PSAC title. Since they lost all that talent and are grooming their future in 2008, they are what you call rebuilding. Unless this team is just struggling out of the gate and manages to go on a huge tear the rest of the way, I couldn't disagree with your comments more.
Also, do I know you, Mo?
I am pretty sure the KU baseball team needs to pick up FA Cody Lev. He was in the top, if not the best, pitcher in intramurals last year. I don't think anyone in the league can hit his amazing underhand toss.
P.S. Have any of the KU baseball guys from last year made it to the pros or anything yet?
Kyle Sadlowski is with the Cardinals, Matt Maradeo with the Cubs, Jason Mills with the Orioles, and Mike McCardell is flying through the Twins system. All four are pitchers.
Depending on how the Twins end up this year, McCardell could be with the Twins as soon as next year.
Mills, considering he's with the Orioles, could be as well, although I highly doubt it. I mean, ca mon, it's the Orioles for goodness sakes.
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