"See you Friday at Baum," I said

Yes, we host!
Yes, we get OSU and ORU in our regional.

BUT....

"Arkansas is the only team to host as a number two seed"

Well, the SEC gets 5 hosts to the ACC's 4.  I did not think that would happen - though I believe I've made a case as to why I think it's deserved.  The Big 12/8/SWC gets further fuel to the inferiority complex fire by only getting 3 hosts.

In one move by the committee, they do their best to settle those two conference's delicate feelings.  Now all 3 conferences have the same number of #1 seeds, but the Hogs still get their deserved (see previous blog) home regional.

Why don't the northern schools (this year principally Notre Dame) just tape their annual whine-fest?  Here's a clue:  Play somebody.  Beat somebody.  Then you can be better than a 3 seed.  Try earning it instead of annually whining to have it given to you.

LSU got shafted?  MSU took the Tiggers rightful place?  I'll say this:  At least there was a time this season when MSU was 'getting it done'.  You can't say that about LSU.  They plan to renovate Alex Box - but the 'No Smoke' area will be installed before next season in the home dugout.

Arkansas played 13 of the tournament field, and have losing records to only 3 of them.  We are 1-1 against the teams in our regional.  Lots of guessing going on about when to start Nick Schmidt.  Unless he is batting, it may not make too much difference.  This team is capable of hitting any pitcher from any of the other 3 teams.  If Nick is the only pitcher who is going to put in a good performance, we will not win the regional.  I'd say pitch him Saturday, but I will not be so jackassial to think whatever Dave Van Horn and his staff decides is wrong.  My stat sheet says that these coaches have done a tremendous job to put us in second place in the SECW, and in the position to earn a home regional.  If our defense will make the routine plays, and we will hit the ball, our pitching will be adequate for us to advance.

Even as a 2 seed.

18-12, 38-19

Before the Alabama series, I heard some intelligent people discussing how many games we would win the rest of the season.  It seems they were placing the over/under line at 4.5.  This was the only time I ever saw a regional projection that did not list the Hogs as hosts. Six straight home wins and a road win put us at 7-2 down the stretch, and June baseball at Baum seemed certain.

Now everyone is in a Henny-Penny tizzy because we lost to Ole Miss and Alabama.  I could go on and on about how meaningless a conference tournament is for 8 teams that know going in that they are playing the next weekend, about how the conference office made clear this week that they like it being the Alabama Invitational, about how good teams take an early exit every year to get ready for important games.  But I won't.

I will say this:  If the Hogs are not hosting next week, then the NCAA clearly does not put any value into regular season success, conference standings, top 25 wins or RPI.  If this turns out to be the case, I will even more strongly lobby for the early-season-non-conference-tournament I talked about at the first of this year.  I further submit that road games against quality non-conference opponents will immediately go on the endangered list for the Razorbacks (although Hawaii's botched tourney may have done some damage in that direction already).

But those are moot points. 

See you Friday at Baum.

PS:  "Hit the ball!"

No 'Friday Night' for Nick

Nick Schmidt was his usual self Thursday night, allowing a bloop here or there and a run or 2, but pretty much blasting through trouble with his formidable fastball and even more wicked bender.

 

Then came the 7^th.

 

As soon as there was trouble, I announced, "They are going to do everything possible to let him finish this inning."   All around agreed.  He looked into the dugout, then at his finger – neither good signs.

 

Once the run scored, I thought Nick was gassed and was quite tiffed that there was no bullpen activity.  I also contended that leaving him in so long was particularly silly in light of a probable Wednesday or Thursday start.  Totally flabbergasted at his return in the 8th.

 

Guess he showed me.  When he came out at the end of the eighth, the dugout was asking "how many strikeouts?"   "15 - the school record's 16..."

 

Almost surprised when he stayed in the dugout for the ninth.

 

There are only about 5 or 6 times as many people watching Nick Schmidt as watched David Walling.   We knew Walling was something special.   Everyone needs to soak up what Nick is doing - these guys don't come around that often.

 

Good job with the bats.  These last 2 should be great – but we'll be back 2 Baum in 2 weeks.

Easy There...

Take a deep breath.  Calm down.  

The situation is not as bad as so many seem to think.  By the way, isn't that what I was saying before the 'Bama series?  You know, when a majority doubted we could come out of those 3 and a road trip to Oxford with a winning record?  When several proclaimed that the Hogs had lost post-season hosting duties?

Yes, we wanted a shot at the SEC title.  We lost that - but, in fact, we needed Kentucky to remember how to lose and they haven't.

Yes, we wanted the SEC West.  That looks pretty doubtful - but stranger things have happened.

Yes, seeding for the SEC tourney means something.  I guess.  It means as much as the tourney itself...

What's important now is regionals, and Arkansas is squarely in the driver's seat to have June baseball in Baum.  Don't be surprised if they match our region to a national seed that they don't think may make it out of their region (like Kentucky).

Brian Walker is getting a lot of blame for the 2 losses this weekend.  The HBP/not HBP episode has certainly been rehashed enough.  But put yourself in that squat, watching grandpa behind him award bases on balls that were not as close as that one, and consistently being inconsistent with a strike zone and usually not to the favor of the Hogs whether they are home or away.  And Sunday's foul pop-up was not his.  But Walker's fiery attitude is what put him in place to be the sparkplug for the previous 3 wins.  In my eyes, the good far outweighs the bad.  Then again, my eyes still think it might have nicked him.

Go Hogs - Beat the Plainsmen/War Eagle/Tigers!

War Turtle!

BEAT 'BAMA

Alabama - the big sticks from Red Stick - the SEC leader - comes to Beautiful Baum Stadium tonight to start this 3 game series. The Razorbacks can still end the season well without winning the weekend, but it would be hard. Now - NOW - is the time!

To be plain - and perhaps a bit more blunt than I should be - "HIT THE BALL!" Hitting makes the pitching better. Hitting makes up for mistakes fielding. Drawing the walk will get you on base - those often seem to score, but it takes HITTING to get them in. Standing by the plate with your teeth in your mouth while strike 3 goes by accomplishes nothing.

Why do so many pine for '2004 or last year's team?' For instance, a bit of statistics research by Heath - the king of such: Clay Goodwin hit .246 last year, while Blake Parker is hitting .253. Yet Goodwin had 42 RBI, compared to the 24 RBI from Parker. It's not just Blake, it's the whole team. Even the best of the RBI guys, Hamblin, has left those ducks on the left side of the pond too many times.

I really liked the line from 'Buaman22', "The 2006 Arkansas Razorbacks - Brought to you by the letters L, O and B"

Everything is still right in front of us. The teams ahead of us in the standings are still ahead of us on the schedule. I have only seen one regional projection from the 780 or so that do it that did not have the Hogs as hosts. And if we make it there, won't you be glad you were part of it?

A few thoughts...

* ORU Tonight - Usually, there's nothing like a trip to our 'home away from home' to cure any ills - at least for one night.  BUT sadly, I believe I won't get to take in the usual fun - the trip, the dancing, the singing, the homers, the food and the putting ORU fans back in their place.

* Charley Boyce Tonight - Dave Van Horn is playing this perfectly.  Charley has 'produced' himself out of being a weekend starter or even a dependable weekend reliever.  BUT, he deserves to get the last start at his hometown and I will be delighted when he 'produces' and shocked if he doesn't.  [Yes, ORU is starting a weekend guy.  This is still the perfect call.]

* Pitching - Yes, memory seems to make it feel like the pitching is not doing the job they did at the end of 2004 or even last year - when most Hog baseball fans became Hog baseball fans.  BUT, a look at the stats show the pitchers have pulled their weight.

* Hitting - For crying out pity sakes loud, we gotta hit the dang ball!  Walks are great and homers are great, but there are a lot of other things to do at the plate - like bunting, getting runners around, CASHING THE RUNNERS AT SECOND OR THIRD with SOMETHING!!! (even a fly ball can produce a run if he's on third...).  BUT, as bad as we all portray the situation, we're still in the top half of the best conference in the NCAA, and we still have games with the two division foes ahead of us.

* Errors - Good Grief!....... BUT.... well, really, but nothing.  We gotta make the play.  It is important to realize that the guys who are supposed to be on the middle infield are not there, and the guys who are backing them up started the season pretty low on that depth chart.

* Challenges - Last night, a much-anticipated dance contest took place at LadyBack yard.  
  Recognize the opposition and give them the respect due.
  Close well.

  I'll have a preview of the home stretch in the next few days.  Feel free to comment here or email me at hognoxious@yahoo.com.

A few thoughts...

* ORU Tonight - Usually, there's nothing like a trip to our 'home away from home' to cure any ills - at least for one night.  BUT sadly, I believe I won't get to take in the usual fun - the trip, the dancing, the singing, the homers, the food and the putting ORU fans back in their place.

* Charley Boyce Tonight - Dave Van Horn is playing this perfectly.  Charley has 'produced' himself out of being a weekend starter or even a dependable weekend reliever.  BUT, he deserves to get the last start at his hometown and I will be delighted when he 'produces' and shocked if he doesn't.  [Yes, ORU is starting a weekend guy.  This is still the perfect call.]

* Pitching - Yes, memory seems to make it feel like the pitching is not doing the job they did at the end of 2004 or even last year - when most Hog baseball fans became Hog baseball fans.  BUT, a look at the stats show the pitchers have pulled their weight.

* Hitting - For crying out pity sakes loud, we gotta hit the dang ball!  Walks are great and homers are great, but there are a lot of other things to do at the plate - like bunting, getting runners around, CASHING THE RUNNERS AT SECOND OR THIRD with SOMETHING!!! (even a fly ball can produce a run if he's on third...).  BUT, as bad as we all portray the situation, we're still in the top half of the best conference in the NCAA, and we still have games with the two division foes ahead of us.

* Errors - Good Grief!....... BUT.... well, really, but nothing.  We gotta make the play.  It is important to realize that the guys who are supposed to be on the middle infield are not there, and the guys who are backing them up started the season pretty low on that depth chart.

* Challenges - Last night, a much-anticipated dance contest took place at LadyBack yard.  
  Recognize the opposition and give them the respect due.
  Close well.

  I'll have a preview of the home stretch in the next few days.  Feel free to comment here or email me at hognoxious@yahoo.com.