BURNING (ORANGE) QUESTIONS

Are Hog fans fired up about a chance to play Texas?

Yes, but....

We played in the Austin regional 2 years ago and managed 2 losses to
Lamar and no game with the host team.

Will it matter to the team that the Longhorns could be on the horizon?

Maybe....

I don't think they much liked the attitudes of the
we're-too-good-for-a-second-place-trophy jerks at the CWS matchup last
year.

Should UT be ANYONE'S main concern?

Not just no, but...

Miami of Ohio has won 7 more games than us this year, and will start a
pitcher that is 10-0. I don't care WHO they played, 10 and freaking
0!!

Should (as so many of the Razorback baseball fans - old and new - have
been discussing) Dave Van Horn start Charley Boyce on Friday and save
Schmidt for Saturday?

On the 'no' side, I think we tried that kind of thing against Texas at
Omaha. You stick with your regular rotation. Winning Friday is first
and foremost.

On the 'yes' side, Boyce recently got 2 wins in a weekend at Alabama.
He's a junior, Schmidt's a freshaman. And starting Boyce takes away
the anguish recently experienced in Hoover against Florida: When
Maday goes in, he is supposed to keep us from going to the pen for
Charley. Which begged the question: Why not Charley in the first
place? While the answer to that had to do with a 6 run lead, that
question could apply to the Friday start.

Should any Razorback fans actually think they are in position to know
better than Van Horn and Dorn who should start when?

Surely you can answer that yourself!

Waiting....

2 pm Sunday

Regional sites are announced in a little while. We sure thought we'd
be one - and, even after all that had happened, we still had a good
shot until the 5 game collapse. Going into the SEC tourney, we stood
a better chance of hosting a super-regional. We still might, if we
can win a regional and see the opposite host lose.

But it is hard to believe that our boys are going to suddenly start
playing great baseball. The good news is that we will not be playing
SEC teams - and we've only lost ONE game to a non conference team!

A trip to Waco (likely), Austin or Lincoln might be "just the ticket".
Let's hope so. The offense showed signs of life at Hoover. With
several less walks and hit batters, and a lot better defense, these
guys might catch the same spark they showed against Florida and at
Alabama.

That'd work!

HARD TO BE POSITIVE

First of all, "Thank You" to Dave Van Horn for telling Texas A&M
precisely where to get off. That was a good thing.

Yesterday's game was a perfect example of everything good and
everything bad about our Hogs. They showed the ability to score runs
against one of the best teams in the country. Kept them down for 7
innings and used speed, good defense, speed, decent pitching, speed
and timely hitting to pile up a 6 run lead. Then they showed the
too-often-seen traits of errors, bad pitching and choking at the plate
to lose 9-8.

Heartbreaking and humbling. I wonder why a pitcher who tossed 2
stellar innings against the Gators stayed in the pen. And every Hog
fan has some similar grouse; ie 'Why yank Schmidt?" (though I had no
argument with that). But don't let the collapse make you forget the
good things that WERE done.

We'll get a loss today or tomorrow, then some rest, then on to Austin,
Waco or Lincoln.

This is going to be a very good team - next year.

How different would we be, though, with Holloway, White, etc. on the
pitching staff? With all of the offensive weapons on the opening day
lineup?

At the start of the season, it looked like team depth would be a major
strength for this squad. How ironic that there are just not enough
dependable options at season's end.

As Lynard Skynard said: "Gimme Back My Bullets"!

LET THE POSTSEASON BEGIN!

As Sunday's game wound down, our section had a guy listening to the
radio, cel phone and carrier person reports from watching TV in the
boxes updating scores from the SEC. After we found that the Hogs were
in, a small boy about 5 rows up was crying. Several of us kept
cranking our necks around to see what the matter was, until I
responded for him: "I don't WANNA GO to Birmingham! I like FILTER
cigarettes!!"

New line delivered to a Diamond Doll who had just delivered balls to
the umpire: "Next time take him some brains!"

Then when the Rebel shortstop made the error which cost them the
shutout: "You may tie for the division championship and get a #1
seed, but tomorrow when you wake up you will STILL BE OLE MISS!!!"
*Still Ole Miss!* *Still Ole Miss!* *Still Ole Miss!* *Still Ole
Miss!* ...

Sad, though - what may have been the best line of the year wasn't
mine: "Hey, Blue! You couldn't call a strike if you were a labor
union leader!"

Remember last season when we went to the SEC tourney partly to avenge
our few regular season losses? Hope Florida doesn't have the same
idea...

I love the fact that these 2 tournaments let us "start over" ...
"start from scratch" ... "insert cliche here"... But I care nothing
for a bracket with 2 teams that we have recently beaten - one playing
at home (again) - and a team that just whipped us into submission.

Mostly I feel like we are trying to go to a shootout with considerably
less bullets in our guns than the opposition...

But we'll be looking at the same thing at Austin, Waco or Lincoln.

Texas A&M believes that, come season's end, Dave Van Horn will be
visiting College Station to take the head coaching job. And that Deggs
will go with him. I have trouble believing that, after having Broyles
commit to the expansion and renovation to what was still a pretty new
ballpark, that DVH would not honor that commitment. I think he still
believes he has work to do here, and I think that going to the Big
12/8/SWC would certainly be a step down. Backwards.

A win over Florida would be mighty nice, but don't fall into a funk if
it doesn't happen. The SEC tourney field is better than any 3
regionals, and 2 NCAA teams didn't get to go!

MAKING THE SEC TOURNAMENT SOOTHES SOME WOUNDS

First off:

Why is it a stike when the opposition throws it but not when we do?

Why do they have the guts for a called third strike when they are
pitching but can't muster the gumption when we are pitching - at least
not until a game is out of reach??

Not shocked to see it, just asking why this is ALWAYS the case in
league games.

I'm not saying that's why we lost 3 this weekend - although most Rebel
run outbursts were begun after someone SHOULD have been a 'K' on the
scorecard...

A sweep would have had us hosting a regional. The NCAA told us even
if we only won 2 of 3 to not let the rooms go. Heard plenty of folks
Sunday who still think a strong showing in the SEC tourney will sway
the NCAA.

Forget it! Any chance we had to host hopped over second base
Saturday. Any doubt was revoved on Sunday.

I hate to hit this next point, because I love Hode. But if you are a
senior leader in a crucial game when mistakes just cannot be made, you
have to make it clear from the shortstop position who is going behind
the base to field the ball and who is covering the base. Basic. Not
the only defensive mistake made this weekend or this season, but a
clear microcosm of the season's troubles.

Another moment from Saturday that stuck in my mind: Foul ball
dribbles toward the Hog dugout. Nobody jumps out to get it, then out
comes Walker. The catcher. The guy on the team that has to get up
and down for every pitch and colided with and kicked in the face at
the plate. IS THE NOT SOME OTHER PLAYER IN THE DUGOUT WITH THEIR HEAD
IN THE GAME ENOUGH TO GET OFF THEIR BEHINDS TO GET THAT BALL????????

I did a rain dance after the second inning Sunday, convinced that a
rainout would be best. I had convinced myself that finishing 9th and
getting a week and a half to rest and recover might give us a our best
chance in a regional.

A couple of thoughts have my opinion changed:

* Some years from now, we might be one of the few to be able to say we
have made every one of however-many-in-a-row SEC tournaments.

* If we hope to make any noise in a regional, we need to find a way to
win - and win in a tournament setting.

No, I don't think Ole Miss is the best we've seen this year. But this
is the best I have EVER seen Ole Miss play at this stage of a season.
And they sure showed enough this weekend to kick my well-endowed
shaking fanny!

Ouch!

BUMMER

That hurt.

Record regular season crowd - and the Razorbacks took them out of the
game time after time.

Yes, Ole Miss pitching was good. But you can't expect to do well in
post season if you can't cash in 1st and 3rd with no outs and several
other scoring opportunities.

The only guy to do his job all the time he was in the game was James Gilbert.

We are short on players. But this team often seems to try too hard in
front of the huge crowd.

Yes, there is a lot of pressure. But that pressure was created by
losses at home to LSU and MSU, at UK, etc. (said this already, didn't
I?)

The way we were playing, I felt at least 2500 of those would have left
around the 6th or 7th, but were staying for the fireworks. Then about
half of the big crowd piled out before the lights dimmed. Very odd, I
thought.

Looks like we are probably in the SEC tourney, but we need to win.
Would not like the NCAA to consider moving us to a 3 seed...

I hope I can get a better frame of mind before 3:06 pm. Hope we all can!

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Before the season the team and the fans planned to be a host in the
postseason and make another run at the College World Series. Those
goals are still within reach, but they rest on three games at Baum
Stadium. This team has played its way out of already having that
clinched - and it matters not a bit now as to whether we lost our best
two offensive cogs and our best out of the pen and now our current
second starter. These game are not more important than the home games
with LSU and MSU or road trips at Kentucky or Tennessee, but they are
the only ones that we can do anything about.

At present, the best league - bar none - in the country is slayed for
4 regionals. Florida and LSU look to be locks. Somehow, Tennessee
seems so too - they are 16-10. Ole Miss is considered already having
a host spot, but a sweep this weekend would give us an identical SEC
record. It also looks like there will be enough top 16 seeds to host
without having to have a #2 team host a regional.

Georgia is at Tennessee, Alabama is at Auburn; Florida is at
Vanderbilt, LSU is at Mississippi State series and Kentucky is at
South Carolina. The conference standings could look a lot different
by SEC Tournament seeding time, and at least one of the teams left out
will still get to the NCAA. Again - I am very convinced that regional
hosts will be decided by Tuesday. The SEC tourney might adjust the
seeding of some teams.

Many around here doubted the heart of this team mid-season, and with
good reason. But the last 2 weekends have righted that ship.

As the best fans in America, we should not let this team have any
reason to doubt our heart. This weekend is a no-holds-barred,
foot-to-the-floor opportunity for rabid Razorback fans to once again
make the difference.

Beat Ole Miss. C'mon - we OWN these guys!

QUESTIONS

Wouldn't it be funny if the rainout game that has kept MSU a half-game
ahead of us for what seems like 3/4 of the season kept them out of the
conference tourney?

I said before the Florida games that if we could stay above .500 the
rest of the way we would be a regional host - maybe even as a #2 seed.
Current projections have LSU and Ole Miss hosting from the West, and
Florida and Tennessee hosting from the East. Again I ask - How can UT
expect to support a regional when they don't support the Vols? How
does a conference whose separate divisions are better than any
confence in America, and with better facilities and weather, only host
4? Who does Ole Miss play this weekend?

I would think after the shattered attendance records at Baum last year
the NCAA would like to get back here. But that offended the
sensibilities of most of the "old guard" and the northern schools who
feel left out.

And who around here would believe the NCAA would do anything with any
amount of reason?

Don't give me any talk about how many we have to win in the conference
tournament. Hosting sites will be set before then - no matter what
they say.

Yes, I think we are still in position to host. We may have to sweep
Ole Miss to do so.

I HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO, BUT...

I told you so!

The Razorbacks played top-level SEC baseball 2 weekends against the
top level teams in the SEC. We are CLEARLY in the best division of
what is CLEARLY the best conference in America. And it is still
possible for us to tie for the championship. That says a lot about
the quality of the league, but just as much about our ability to
compete in it. Don't think we'll be winning it, but WE control OUR
OWN conference tournament berth. I also said that winning would put
us squarely back in a regional hosting spot.

All this in front of us, and the Rebels come to Baum for 3. Should be
beautiful weather...

Let me make clear - Ole Miss has been playing top-level SEC ball, too.

BUT

They are NOT playing thier best ball of the year - a common malady for
Ole Miss in May.

And we own these guys. Always have. Always will. (At least that's
the way the congregation in our section hears it - and the
congregation said, "Amen!")

From a blog in March, right after that horrific Friday night:

"I think most viewed Charley as the ace from last year, and expected
the same this year. And told him so. And he thought so, too. So much
so that I think he decided his pitching ability was better than his
coaching. I love Charley Boyce. But his wins came from guts, guile and
tons of 'smarts'.

The problem is not with Charley's arm. And I still think the junior
will get his head straight and make a difference for his team before
the year's end."

Two wins in one weekend at a place we have been owned for a dozen games.

I hate to say I told you so...

HOGS WIN! HOGS WIN!

That was dang near unbelievable - and I'M the one who said "I believe"!

Dear Jim Wells (who, when asked about moving the Sunday gametime due
to curfew, said "We have to do something about Arkansas") - Guess so.

Dear SEC umpires - Don't you think it odd that you can't show guts
enough to call a third strike while the Hogs are pitching and the game
is on the line, but if the Hogs are batting you CAN? Do you think
nobody notices, even though you do it EVERY TIME??!!?!?!?!!???

Dear Charley Boyce - Throw strikes. We'd rather get beat 13-0 because
the other team hit it than lose a one or two run game due to walks and
hit batters. I know you are working at a disadvantage with Bozo
behind the plate, but we do have some fielders, too...

Dear Razorback Pitching Staff - If we would say this to Charley Boyce,
it probably goes at least that much to you. And we know you already
knew all of that...

Dear Fans Complaining About Rick Shaeffer - He sounds the way most
fans do when a line drive or long fly is hit. Excitement is a GOOD
thing! But we did miss Chuck... [wait...we've won every confence
game at Alabama that Rick did solo...]

Dear Ole Miss Rebel Fans - So suprising to see your team go into a
late season swoon. It only happens EVERY YEAR!

To contrast - the Razorbacks are playing about as well as they've
played all year right now. That's how you are SUPPOSED to do it. Five
games to get to .500 in conference. A win today or tomorrow makes
things look pretty darn good! And something about this team waiting
'til the last possible moment to pull the rabbit out of the hat seems
mighty familiar!

You folks know how much I hate to say "I told you so", but...

Beat 'Bama. Again.

GATORS BITE BACK - BUT HOGS STILL FIGHTING!!!

What a shame the umpire didn't have the guts to call that third strike
on Florida in the top of the first...

What a shame the same Bozo decided to make an even more borderline 3rd
strike call to end the game...

What a shame a foul ball was called a home run...

What a shame Florida scored in the seventh...

What a shame we tried to score the runner in the 9th when Hode was hit
by the throw...

What a shame the previously refered to Bozo made the wrong call at the plate...

What a shame those great Hog fans sitting through the rain and
cheering their team to the comeback didn't get to go home happy...

What a shame rain didn't wash out the whole mess....

What a shame that 2 outta 3 against #4 feels bad when you lose this
way on the last game!

HEADS UP!! We got the series win! One win at Alabama puts us in
pretty good shape hosting Ole Miss! You may not know this, but "WE
OWN THOSE GUYS!!" One win at 'Bama puts us into
planning-to-host-a-regional mode - 2 wins puts us into
jockeying-for-NCAA-seed mode!

We had big expectations for this season, and quite a lot of that was
based on expecting them to play like they played this past weekend.
Things are looking pretty good - despite spotting them to a 10-1 lead
and then falling just short - and all the goals we set out are still
in reach.

Taking the Tide is a tall task - but quite a few here didn't think we
would come that close to a sweep of the Gators. The series win gets
us back, and - even in the loss - the effort put out at the end today
restores the faith in many of those same fans.

I believe!

RAINING BIG CROCODILE TEARS

Saturday's game with Florida saw us do everything right defensively to
win the game. Good thing. Because we did nearly everything wrong
offensively to lose it. Last week many of us moaned, "Why in the
world are we not using our RUNNING GAME?" "Have we forgotten how to
try and BUNT - or STEAL??" Yesterday we failed to make that produce
on enough occassions that we coulda/shoulda lost...

I thought the Parker-then Duggar to bat-with Robison coming for
defense move was great, but Jake just couldn't get to the ball after
the failed stolen base attempt. Van Horn still comes out smelling
like a rose for it, though - Parker's probably the only guy to get
that throw to third for the out, but he never gets the ball that
Robison caught...

Before you start - yes, I know MSU has the tiebreaker over us. But
the last several weeks they have been 1/2 game ahead of us and Auburn
after the weekend bue to a rainout. It looks like today's game is a
wash. That gives us back one non-conference game and puts us with MSU
- ahead of those without the rainout. And assures the Gator Sweep -
although they looked pretty shot out there on the field and we all
liked our chances today...

Solid defense got us 2 wins over the #4 team in the country. Don't
get swept at 'Bama and we've got it all in front of us for Ole Miss
weekend.

Looks a lot better now, doesn't it? Even if it is raining...

GATOR PURSES AND WALLETS FOR EVERYONE!

I felt bad that I had not posted before the Florida series started.

I certainly had some things to say.

The 2005 Baseball Razorbacks said it all for me Friday night....!

And all I needed to see of Florida was seen in 3 moments:
* Player wants to blame our infield and start a fight when HE was the
one getting picked off.
* High fiveing and 'Hulking up' with pride for a 399 foot out in
front of a 400 foot fence.
* Getting Tschepikow to fall for the "Hold up, it's foul" double play
at second.

I've been known to look silly once in a while, but if I was a Gator I
STILL wouldn't wear alligator skin cleats to pitch even if I had 'em!

Great performance against a really good team - by the fans also. How
about 2 more?

CLAWED

Words after Saturday's loss: "It seems any error snowballs on us in
exactly the manor that Dave Van Horn's style of coaching is designed
to do to the opposition."...

A recent post was titled 'Live By the Big Inning, Die By the Big Inning"...

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

As expected, the rest of the conference beat pretty equally on each
other. That bodes well for our Hogs. But there is no need to worry
about anyone else - we gotta win OUR games! If we can take this week
to rest, regroup and then come out swinging....

I think a regional host bid is still in reach if we win the rest of
the series. If we don't find a way to play better - that is a mighty
tall order. Pretty tall anyway - but one thing's for sure: WE FANS
HAVE TO 'BRING IT' FRIDAY NIGHT!!!!

Dave Van Horn stated before the Sunday game that the size of
Kentucky's park and the wind blowing to left might change of the usual
thoughts of bunting early in the game. Three of the first 4 innings
had us not bunting (not stealing either) and watching double plays
erase everyone. I told the sweetie before the second double play that
I would have bunted. You know what they say about hindsight...