The Baum Shelter

BRINGIN' THE HATE FOR OLE MISS

2008-10-23T08:29:00.000-05:00

I miss the old Southwest conference rivalries, but I was happy when we changed – mostly because of Texas. I hate the Horns, always have and always will, but the obsession with that one solitary game and team each year was not healthy for Hog fans. Only one game was even on the schedule for some, and now it's happening again. Surprisingly, in a year we play the hated Horns, THAT team is to the east.

Everyone had been forced ad nauseum to hear the many tales of Houston Nutt's sins against the Razorback team, the recruits, the program and all humanity in general until even those in support of the coach were ready for a change to be made. The TV sportscasters and newspaper guys went on and on about how charged up the entire state was about Bobby Petrino's employment as the head coach and the fantastic wide open balanced offense to follow. Instead, ticket sales were not much different than the last several years, and the Razorback Radio Network couldn't even sell all of the statewide sponsorships.

Now, the same media guys want to regale again all of the past, as each of their stories this week point out how the returning ex-coach is enemy number one. "Houston Nutt brings his Rebels to Fayetteville Saturday, and Bobby Petrino and his team is fired up about it!" But then the coaches and players have a different take. The players respect the man - all but one of them committed to come hear and play for him. Anyone who thinks they won't try with their all to win this game for their team is either deluded or stupid. What does the head coach say? "I have absolutely nothing against Houston Nutt. He did a great job here. He was here for 10 years - very, very, very well-respected coach. We're competing against him this week, so we want to beat him." Doesn't quite match the venom some are craving.

For 10 months, we've heard that the reaction when the coach comes out will be like nothing ever witnessed, but I don't believe the opposing coach is ever introduced. Don't we always generally boo the opponents, especially those from the SEC? And some Hog fans don't share the hateful attitude that some want to believe unites us all. After being embarrassed by the way the Nutt children were treated at school events, the shame of the national spotlight on the 2-dozen man marches, lawsuits, banners and such – there are some lifelong Razorback fans that wish for a loss because it would serve those right. OOOOooooo!!! That just makes the black shirts want to scream even louder! But, after the boos, cheers and indifference rain on the visitors and the ball is kicked off, the coaches and teams say it will just be like any other game...

Most Razorback fans just want to know who'll win. Both squads are 3 and 4. Arkansas did some things right against Alabama but were on the wrong end of a 49 to 14 score. Ole Miss nearly beat them last week. The Hogs played well for a half hosting Florida, but the Rebels finished the job – winning at the Swamp. Even without a huge question mark beside Michael Smith's roster spot, it doesn't look good for the pitchfork and torches few.

It will be great, though, to have all those who are filled with so much hate aiming at the enemy for a change.

"Huggers" and "Haters"

2008-04-30T13:01:00.001-05:00

Hate seems to be driving a good deal of sports discussion on the radio and internet. It used to be about trying to say something funny or clever, but now it always seems to be about slapping someone down in order to build yourself up.
"Owned!"
Once you've drawn a line in the sand, you get really defensive to try and make sure everyone knows you are right – even if they really don't know who you are. The vast majority of Razorback fans want to support the Hogs, no matter the record, the players or the coaches. But you don't hear much from them – unless you start a Hog call. The fans who have been most vocal have screamed 'hugger' and 'hater' at each other so much the last several years that many still seem antagonistic and spiteful.
Is it silly? Of course.
Am I guilty? Yep.
If I had a dollar for every time I've been called a hugger or had derogatory statements made because I supported Houston Nutt when he was our coach I wouldn't need to win the lottery! But I am anxiously and eagerly anticipating a football game where we don't call a timeout after a commercial timeout, where we keep all offensive options open and will be willing to keep doing what is working, and where the coach responsible for great wins is willing to accept the blame for horrible decisions. Sound more like a hugger or a hater?
Odd, there's no one left to hate, and all this expended on someone who is no longer here seems rather useless. Yet, if you want to genereate response on a talk show or message board, just start talking about Nutt. In fact, almost every comment praising Bobby Petrino is accompanied by some comment about how things "are better now" - And that is the part with passion. I'd really like to hear and discuss what is happening now instead of slapfests over someone who's gone and being constantly told to go to Oxford.
Ain't rooting for the Weebils.
Never have.
Never will.
Grow up – and I'll try to do the same.

I Just Don't Understand

2008-03-26T10:51:00.001-05:00

Heard the song "Parents just don't understand" on the radio yesterday, and was struck by the vast array of different ways we've seen and heard Will Smith over the decades since. It also reminded me that there are some things I just don't get, either...

I don't understand why more Hog fans don't come to baseball games in bigger numbers. I know, they will when the weather is 75 degrees or over, but there's not a stadium in Arkansas you can sit in for a complete game without eventually thinking its too cool or too hot. Arkansas fans have so many options in sports that they are seldom charged about any team not nationally ranked. I guess that's OK. Games like the Centenary series opener are reserved as a little slice of heaven for the few of us there.

I don't understand how so many people continue to loudly claim proof that we have no pitching, when we continue to have performances on the mound like Travis Hill's 6 innings of shutout work combined with Evan Cox's similar 3 innings. The Gents were 13-4 coming in, and managed to load the bases in the 3^rd – but other than that, the Razorback staff put 3 down for each 3 up every other inning for crying out pity sakes loud. Sam Murphy – today's starter at 3 – Dallas Keuchel and several others have put in plenty of quality stretches lately. I still contend there are more quality arms on this staff than usual, we just got spoiled knowing Schmidt was good for at least 6 or 7 every Friday. The bats are still banging the Home Runs – I don't see how we're gonna keep Darr's bat out of the line-up and I don't see how fans think Cisterna's prowess behind the plate is not worth only an occasional quality appearance at it. Even when they are getting beat, these Hogs seem to have that never-quit attitude we Razorbacks fans expect and admire. Well, except for Georgia – and that's another thing I don't understand: Why does a come-back from a 9 run deficit on Saturday take the momentum away from us for the rest of a home weekend, but we can't make that work FOR us against LSU?

I don't get what "a tradition unlike any other" means. Isn't EVERY tradition unlike any other? It's a golf tournament. The winner gets a green jacket. It's pretty. It's ancient. It's tradition – something major league baseball seems to have tossed out the window. A 5 am opening day half a world away? The goobers that run this sport killed a world series for a strike and allowed and encouraged the players to inject themselves with enough performance enhancers to besmirch the entire record book, but it continues to survive and thrive a great deal due to tradition. Opening day is valuable. It was bad to let ESPN have the first game the night before, but this may really scar a lot more fans.

I don't understand how Bobby Petrino expects Razorback Stadium to be full for the Red-White game. It's true that not much else is scheduled – last year featured baseball, the Arkansas Derby and bad weather – and its true that fans are excited about a new coach and a new start. But the previous weekend will have the Real Deal on the Hill, SEC baseball and a home appearance by the legendary track program. Yankees and West-coasters think there's nothing to do in Arkansas, and I'd prefer that to remain their opinion so they'll quit moving here in droves. Alabama may be able to nearly fill a stadium for a spring scrimmage – would have filled it had it not been for that pesky no smoking policy – but they're still clinging to some resurrection theory of the Bear, and that shell of the football program is all they've got. Maybe I'll be wrong, but I suspect the folks who think we can get more than 30 thousand have been reading message boards too much.

I don't understand how our coaches get no credit for keeping in-state talent at home, but get roasted when one of those decides to go elsewhere. I don't understand why one of the best and brightest of those, Freddie Fairchild, doesn't think his future is important enough to preserve. Battery and false imprisonment? Yikes!

Did you know that many women are having there toes surgically shortened so that they can wear expensive shoes? I just don't understand…

My Congratulations To Chuck Barrett!!

2007-06-22T00:34:00.001-05:00

As hoped, it looks for sure that Chuck Barrett will be adding football play-by-play to his baseball announcing duties with the University along with the ARN sports reports in the mornings. This will allow Scott Inman to be available to take Mike Nail's spot when he decides to hang it up. It would seem that everything has worked out for the best. But you are going to hear some wailing and gnashing of teeth with claims such as "I'll just listen to the other team's radio" or "This is only being done to slap us in the face." The folks making this kinds of comments will be easy to identify. Same crowd that wanted to donate to a statewide newspaper ad and participate in the 2 dozen man march. Same type who think FOIs and lawsuits are how "real fans" are supposed to support the program they claim to love. You'll also find that the overwhelming majority of these have something in common - a history of either posting on, reading or moderating the Hogville message board.

I was watching a replay of the 2002 Alabama game in the rain. I think a great deal of those who read the daily - sometimes hourly - messages from Hogville or some of it's many spawns would be quite surprised to find out Houston Nutt has ever had any offense besides right tackle, left tackle, smoke draw and punt. For 2 years this clan has incestuously huddled together and repeated their mantra so often that they believe it, and have convinced many others that it is so. But watching film from other years just proves it is not so. Three and 4 receiver sets, pass after pass...
Do I think that we have needed to get our passing attack to at-least-adequate for some time? Yes.
Did I think the Vanderbilt loss was essentially the long-needed end of Houston Nutt serving as his own Offensive Coordinator? Yes.
Was I unhappy about 2 losing seasons? Yes. But last year was just the first of what I plan to be one of my rewards for sticking with it then.
The problem is - these folks worked themselves into a pitchforks and torches frenzy where they stated that they wanted Houston Nutt gone at any cost. And that agenda still rings today with every action and reaction. Now, after endless hopeful predictions of the demise of our head coach, rumors upon rumors of buyouts, a half page ad, black T-shirts, a weak protest, FOI requests, lawsuits and polls - the very people instigating and supporting such action now try to say "Let's put all this behind us". Hey, twit, you clowns are the ones who wanted it in front of us. Giggled with glee about it getting to the national media. Only - the reaction around the country was to scratch their heads and wonder what was wrong with the fans in Arkansas.

We have a Heisman trophy candidate in Darren McFadden, a big-time receiver in Marcus Monk and an All-American defensive candidate in Jonathan Luigs - each of who has stated their support for their coach and asked their fans to unite behind all of them. Along with Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis and on and on playing a favorable yet still dangerous SEC schedule, the season should be anticipated anxiously and with great hope. But you can tell quickly who don't want to see promise or actually hope against it. They'll be the ones reading conspiracy and doom into Chuck Barrett just moving up a chair in the booth he's been working in for years. Hey, I'm 'Hognoxious' at the baseball games - I know a little something about being a jerk. And I'll tell those folks the same thing I've heard a time or 2 - "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!!"

New AD for the U of A

2007-06-11T07:29:00.001-05:00

For many years, I have thought - if and when the time ever came to replace Frank Broyles - that the only three candidates should be Terry Don Phillips, TDP and TDP. He played under Frank Broyles from 1966-1969 and was his graduate assistant from '70-71. His undergraduate and law degrees are from Arkansas, and he's a member of the Arkansas Bar Association. His brother Lloyd is both a state and university Hall Of Famer. He left here to be AD at Oklahoma State, and did a great job there. Most thought he was biding his time until he came back home (I know, he's a Texan by birth, but considering that history - Arkansas is home. His hometown of Longview, Texas, isn't very far)

While there's not much buzz here about what's going on, my friends at Clemson are quite up in arms about the situation. As father time marched on and he never got the call from the Razorbacks, he took the Clemson AD position in 2002 in what seemed to be a marriage made in heaven. He has built facilities, hired good coaches and handled controversy - and the folks in South Carolina want and intend to keep him. When questioned last Tuesday, his response twice was, "I don't have to cross that bridge yet." Not exactly the dismissive attitude Tiger fans were hoping for.

Some folks here want a guy with no previous ties to get the job here at the UofA. That's silly. Not as ridiculous as the notion that Terry Don Phillips would be just a puppet for Frank Broyles, but silly nonetheless. This man has been a successful athletic director at 2 BCS schools, and would do the job as HE sees fit. His many previous ties to the UofA would smooth the transition greatly, and a man with his experience will be able to handle the job independently.

I think there is no better choice. I hope to hear more weeping and gnashing of teeth from Clemson. I like Terry Don Phillips statement "I've got strong allegiances, but that doesn't mean it overrides everything." and sincerely hope he can find his way home.

What's happened to the Hog's bats??

2007-05-21T10:46:00.001-05:00

When you look at attendance figures for the SEC, you see Razorback fans set the bar in the most attended conference in America. 8 out of the top ten home crowds in the SEC were at Baum. We averaged over 8000 per game - the only team to do that. But when you look closer to the numbers, you see that we had less home games than any other conference team.

But Hog fans once again packed the stands to watch their team lose a series - which has happened 3 times this season. How can this be? Mid-season this team was looking like a lock for a national seed, but some are doubting we will even host a regional, now.

I'm not.
Here's how things are going to go:

The Hogs play Alabama on Wednesday morning in the Alabama Invitational, sometimes known as the SEC Tournament. If you are going to have to play the Tide with their home crowd, 10am on a weekday is the right time to do it. The tourney is double elimination, and the Razorbacks have to remember how to win before they lose 2. They will - you can take it to the bank. If we can get to the Sunday championship game, we just might get back in the picture for a Top 8 seed in the NCAA.

Then we will be hosting four teams come the first of June (one of them might be Texas A&M or Oklahoma State, since they may have played themselves out of hosting this past weekend). I see us being matched with a low national seed - right now I'd guess San Diego or Missouri - that hasn't got top-notch campus facilities and might not survive their own regional. Remember the best news, everything changes come regional time - we get umpires with better-than-SEC-mentality. The Nick Schmidt then Jess Todd 1-2 punch is perfect for us to start each of these tourneys, and if we can find those missing bats we can make some loud post season noise.

On the other hand (as a friend reminded me this weekend) the tournaments are mostly a crapshoot anyways. If Brady Toops' long fly ball doesn't clear the fence, the 2004 team doesn't advance out of the regional just like 2003, 2005 and 2006. If Brian Walker's long fly hits the wall or goes over, who knows how far the Hogs would have gone last year.

Also, I want to address the current discussion about who will be do radio play-by-play for the Razorbacks. Mike Nail is still in those seats, but even my buddy Mike would admit that he ain't gonna be in them forever. We learned long ago that we really shouldn't have the same voice for both, and I think the very best situation for Razorback fans in five years or so would be if Scott Inman was doing basketball play-by-play - he's proven to be great at it, and Chuck Barrett can slide from his third chair in the football broadcasts to the first chair as well as doing the baseball. Hog fans are the winners all around.

What Have We Got So Far This Season?

2007-03-20T22:44:00.000-05:00

We have some good experience on the road for some non-conference game.
We got a revenge win over the ORU my-number-is-so-golden-you-can't-read-it Eagles.
We start the conference season on the road against an undefeated team and end the first weekend tied for first place.

A decent start.

But the loss of Seibert reminds us of seasons past when a stocked cupboard looked so suddenly bare. What looked like a sure thing in the bullpen now starts on Saturdays. I thought Todd was going to end up like Phil (Can't Touch This) Stidham. Truth be told, I still think he should be there. What kind of baseball fan doesn't think he knows better than the coach, at least about something?? Dave Van Horn says, "There's no use in having somebody for the late inning if we can't get to the late innings." And he generally seems to know better than me. Quit laughing.

No matter how over rated Kentucky may or may not have been, winning the series down in that dump is big. Look at the conference standings: The team at the bottom of the West is the team with the best overall record, and the worst overall record in the East is in first place. There may be plenty of near-.500 conference records by really good teams.

Now number 1 Vanderbilt comes to town. There have been several series that were looked at a being as big, but I can't recall a regular season game being any bigger than Friday night's matchup of Schmidt and Price. Probably means there'll be 25 runs scored...

See you this weekend!

Season recap

2007-01-12T13:37:00.000-06:00

The Razorbacks lost to that highly rated west coast team at the start of the season - were in it for a while and showed some promise, but it was a bad loss at the end.

We started the conference season very shaky, but eventually did really well despite having to shuffle some players. Relying on our stud and our supporting horses, there was a complete domination of Auburn and we put ourselves in good position for the post season. The conference championship performance had too many mistakes for us to overcome, but there was still plenty of reason to believe the season could end on an upswing. But that was not to be, either. Very disappointing to finish that way, given so much had been built up.

My question is - why does a season like this not leave a bad taste for Hog fans with Dave Van Horn?

I think everyone who reads this knows DVH is my favorite coach.
But the similarities of the past season are as similar for both sport's coaches as the promise of their next season.
Both have run off good players.
Both want complete control.
Both are head strong and stubborn.
Both have brought about massive, almost ridiculous improvements in their facility.
Yet one is universally a hero and the other is often called a bum.

Our coaching staff at Baum has put together the most solid looking team from top to bottom that I have seen, and I've seen a bunch of them. I dare say that I can guarantee we've never seen this kind of quality depth on the pitching staff. Of course, we get to start another season with the best college baseball field in construction.

HOW DID IT GET LIKE THIS?

2006-12-17T21:44:00.000-06:00

It seems that a percentage of Arkansas Razorback fans are unhappy.
Contentious, even.
Still so, amazingly, after a SECW championship and with a trip to the Capital One Bowl on deck.
And it might be more than 5%.
They certainly make more than 5% of the posts on message boards and calls to radio shows.

How did we get here?

It all seems very similar to a period when Ken Hatfield was taking the Hogs to Cotton Bowls, but a lot of people voiced displeasure with his offense. This was about the time that some spots in Arkansas started having different voices talking in authoritative tones about their team other than the two state newspapers and the play-by-play man. Even though it was grinding out wins, people got loud groaning at "3 yards and a cloud of dust" plays with Hatfield's option which seldom saw the option of the forward pass. When a TV broadcaster said during a Texas game that any Arkansas pass would be successful since the Longhorns were stacking 9 in the box, many more Hog fans moved to the position of thinking they knew more than the head coach than ever before. When Hatfield started the weekly coach's show after a Little Rock beat-down by Miami with the Bible quote "Jesus wept", they certainly knew they wanted another coach. And sports-talk shows letting them begin to voice their opinions.

When Houston Nutt was hired, only a few Razorback fans were doing much over the internet besides email. But that already was showing a turn in the way things were done. Orville Henry thought Tommy Tuberville was the man for the job, and would have explained in his column how he was hired by Frank Broyles. But Frank Broyles was no longer solely in charge of the hiring. And many Hog fans were happy about that. After all, he had punted on third down all those many years ago as coach, and now many thought he was too old to make any responsible decisions. But there was still more to come for Broyles to do and people to dislike.

The good news was that Razorback Stadium - long in need of an SEC-caliber upgrade - was being remodeled with money raised in a fever pitch of enthusiasm for the football program. The bad news was that War Memorial Stadium - long refused proceeds from Little Rock for an upgrade - seemed to be about to meet a 'phasing out', and the Great Stadium Debate caused hurt in the Razoback nation. And much resentment still lingers from that. Nolan's Richardson's departure caused similar resentment - much along racial lines. Sports-talk radio was much more widespread by now, and different opinions - often shouted - pointed out that it was indeed a divided house. Several internet message boards had become quite popular by this time, but most fans were still not really aware of them.

After Clint Stoerner left, Houston Nutt tried a revolving door of quarterbacks to try and match the ability of the running backs recruited. His offense worked through the air plenty while he was at Murray State, but the QBs and wide receivers never could be a better option than running - couldn't get to 'even'. Matt Jones stepped on campus and Nutt saw the opportunity for the big-time receiver, starting every year with him trying to catch passes. There just never was a QB that could run the offense and get Matt the ball, and soon it would be apparent that the best plan was to get the ball in Matt's hands and give him some options. Despite the kind of offense that Houston Nutt had shown the desire to run in the early part of his career, and despite what he said he wanted to do at this point, it was just widely repeated and accepted that all he ever wanted to do was over tackle and draw plays.

The 2003 season started with big wins and much promise, and with it Razorback fans' expectations skyrocketed. Consecutive losses to Auburn and Florida soured many, and a trip to the Independence Bowl was even less appetizing. In the hours and days following, most of that team departed - and it looked like Houston Nutt might, too. But he didn't "get on that plane" because he "loves that helmet", and told all who would listen that the next 2 years would be lean. Many were done with him, and during the next two losing seasons and a consideration to interview for the LSU job, they got even more unhappy. By this time, the various internet message boards were much more populated, and the unhappy group started embracing the title "Darksiders" and refered to those still in support of Houston Nutt "Sunshine Pumpers" and "Huggers" who were "drinking Kool-Aid". A clear line was drawn, but the message boards were still dismissed by most as cultish and inconsequential.

Before leaving as Arkansas' QB coach, Joe Ferguson said the only way the Hogs would ever get a big-time passing quarterback was if one sprouted in Razorback country, who already wanted to be here - reputation would preclude getting one to come in from afar. That opportunity seemed to present itself when Mitch Mustain was put at the helm of Gus Malzahn's offense at Springdale High School. Going into the 2005 season, after losing the state championship in 2004, that team looked to produce plenty of D-1 talent and a coveted coaching mind by seasons end. Malzahn, who many thought was already in line for an assistant position at Arkansas after the season, wanted his seniors to commit before the season started. Of the "Springdale 5", 2 committed to the Hogs, 2 to Florida and one to Notre Dame. The attention to this bunch all year was resented by many in the state, and that went double for those already mad about Central Arkansas losing Razorback games.

Houston Nutt had long refused to have an offensive coordinator, but after his first losing season at UA named a "passing game coordinator" and "running game coordinator" for 2005. In an important drive in the Vanderbilt game, the "passing game coordinator" called for plays which charged the team down inside the 5 in short order. At this point, the "running game coordinator" called 4 unsuccessful tries for the endzone. The result was a smashed clipboard by the "passing game coordinator", a loss to Vandy (which many compared to the fateful "Citadel loss") and discontent at an all-time high. After yet another losing season, it was clear that Houston Nutt would be naming an offensive coordinator, and that he had to get that QB who had now decided he was reconsidering his commitment.

The "passing game coordinator" was the head that rolled (and he could have been the OC, as he should have been going into the season), but he was the one who had recruited Mustain. After David Cuttcliff decided to stay at Tennessee, the next best candidate for OC was the man already headed to Arkansas in some capacity - Gus Malzahn. Along with the new QB coach Alex Wood, they were able to not only get Mustain to stay, they were able to get the coveted tight end and wide receiver to switch from Florida. During the process, The message board "Hogville" boasted posts by Mitch Mustain's mother and - it turns out - Mitch himself. This "inside" information - coupled with endorsement and promotion of longtime KFSM-TV sports director Mike Irwin - allowed "Hogville to separate itself from the pack.

Excitement surged as talk of Arkansas' game "getting vertical", and Hog fans looked to an opening game to get revenge from a 70 point embarassment to USC. Because of injury to Casey Dick's back, Robert Johnson started the game. Five turnovers later, the final score was only a little better than the previous year. The outcome was in doubt much longer than in California, but was no longer in doubt when Johnson was replaced with Mitch Mustain. The crowd roared and the offense charged down the field for a quick touchdown. Mustain was named the next morning as the new starting quarterback, and he was for the next 8 games - all wins. More controversy came about, though, as some saw Johnson's fall to backup receiver as a racial slight.

Even though Houston Nutt went into the season with his job on the line, and the situation clearly set up for credit for anything good to be given to Gus Malzahn and blame for anything bad to lay at his feet, his team went on a 10 game win streak. Beating Auburn on the Plains put the Hogs in position to win the SEC West, and the ESPN Gameday crew saw the Hogs climb into the driver's seat with a convincing victory over Tennessee. Naysayers continued to point back at missed kicks by opponents Vanderbilt and Alabama, but for the most part was overshadowed by the tantalizing posibilities 2 more wins might achieve. Mustain threw an interception and was benched for the now-healthy Casey Dick, but the Hogs won. Peyton Hillis was injured and was dearly missed in the game at Mississippi, but the Hogs won. Darren McFadden was getting attention as a Heisman candidate, and the Hogs were headed for the conference championship game, after a visit in Little Rock from LSU.

The Hogs lost both games to those 2 BCS teams, and it instantly seemed that nothing had gone right during the season. A book about Springdale's championship season was released with unflattering comments from Mitch Mustain about Houston Nutt inside. That was smoothed over, but 3 of those Springdale freshman had parents visit Frank Broyles to ask about the direction of the offense in the future. Tight end Ben Cleveland and Mustain decided to stay, but Damian Williams decided to leave the team.

So we've reviewed at least 23 points of contention. Many of these are rehashed daily on those message boards, but it is hard to determine how much of the Razorback fan base is reflected by that. If Houston Nutt was "on the hot seat" before the season, wouldn't 10-3 and a division championship secure his job? Can Razorback fans be so universally unhappy with an offense that produced the Doak Walker award winner for the best running back and second place in the Heisman voting?

In conclusion, the most important questions may be:
Can a New Year's Day victory over Wisconsin in the Capital One bowl heal the Hog Nation?
With so many factions pulling in so many different directions, can Razorback fans ever again be united?

"See you Friday at Baum," I said

2006-05-29T21:54:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-27T10:41:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-19T14:08:00.000-05:00

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...

2006-05-16T07:09:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-05T13:05:00.000-05:00

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...

2006-05-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

* 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...

2006-05-02T07:20:00.000-05:00

WHAT DID WE LEARN FRIDAY NIGHT?

2006-04-15T09:05:00.000-05:00

Kentucky literally gave a game to the Razorbacks with 6 runs on 2 hits and 1 error in the ninth.
Lessons?:

"Never give up"
About 4000 (give or take a HogPen full) learned the hard way that leaving in the 7th or 8th may leave you shaking your head as to how you could go to the trouble, time and expense to watch a ballgame only to miss the best part. I have to admit - so often I see folks leave early and say "How...why...?"; then, 5 pitching changes later, I wonder "why" I didn't go with them. Last night was enough reward for nearly half of those.

"Homers don't always win ballgames"
The stouthearted ("real fans" as my colleague behind me stated) could see the ninth inning shaping up with the homering hammer of Hamblin looming, then sauntering to the plate. The air in that balloon seriously deflated when he made the second out of the inning down on strikes. Don't get me wrong - that swing is what Danny does, it is what he's supposed to do. A couple of Tuesday nights ago we watched Southwest Missouri State score 6 runs in the first - 3 of those hits were 2-strike just-stick-out-the-bat-and-bloop-it-over-the-infield cheapies. 'Chicks do dig the longball', we all do. But there are more ways to win, and some of them might even be more fun. Three and four run homers are just as much the result of the guys who got on base as the big bat.

"Friday nights are worth the admission"
I said several times Friday night, "If it weren't for seeing Nick pitch, I don't know why I need to come on Friday night - we don't HIT the ball. We don't even seem to CARE TO!" Along the lines of the previous paragraph: Get on base. Bunt the ball (good grief, talk about a 'lost art'). Make an out that moves a runner (like Walker did late). Take the dang walk! If this team learned a lesson, the remaining Friday nights will make me eat my words.

"Them SEC teams are really good"
All of them. I'm not sure that the SEC West and the SEC East are not the top 2 conferences - BY THEMSELVES! It is easy to see how Kentucky has won all but one of its conference series. The middle infield made stellar plays, and made them look routine. Good hitting. Good pitching. Oh, exclude the 9th on that last one...

"Hey, Wildcats! Just because you have won more than in the last 108 years, that doesn't mean you get to score from third when the catcher goes to the mound. That doesn't mean you can call time during a pitch and actually be granted it. That doen't mean we won't force 3 errors in the 5th to tie the game. That doesn't mean that rowdy, hardcore fans can't get right into the pitcher's noggin. This is baseball... and YOU ARE STILL KENTUCKY!"

hognoxious@yahoo.com

A FEW THINGS I AM TIRED OF HEARING

2006-04-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

* Why can't we get any consistent pitching?

For those who just got on the train, college pitching staffs are a bit different than the Cardinals. More than 2 really good starters is often a luxury. SEC caliber batters with aluminum bats can make even great pitchers look average on occasion.

* If we could get some good relief pitching, we'd be winning 'em all...

How about, 'If we were getting production from the bats in the middle of the lineup, the pitchers might keep us in the game!"? Tuesday night, 3 of the first 4 hits were 2-strike bloops over the infield. And while they did score 6 runs in the first, we got the score to 6-5 and had several chances to tie or take the lead. Hit the ball....

* Charley Boyce just doesn't look like he did in 2004.

Do you mean ALL of 2004, or just the post-season? Because a lot of the things Charley is doing now greatly resemble his pitching the first half of both of the last seasons. We just are not scoring runs late like we did in 2004.

* Too many errors!

Ain't that the truth. I'm tired of hearing it. I'm tired of seeing it. Injuries/experience/depth/youth - all of that is viable. But we HAVE to close up the dike.

* Infield Fly Guys should not be seen or heard

Don't guess I can argue with that - at least on my part. But I am already aching from missing the other guys - in a couple of years, the complainers will be saying, "I sure miss the old days when everybody was having such a good time..."

* Jon Williams

Great morning DJ. Poor replacement for Larry Shank. This comment may be constued as self-serving, but everyone was complaining...

* "Hogs lose the ball game"

Lets get some more of that "Hogs Win!" going on!

2006 Season Begins In Earnest

2006-03-21T21:54:00.000-06:00

Why should I write a new blog? Seems like we are trying to live by the same script as last year!

I like:

* The way these Hogs are swinging the bats. Less strikeouts, particularly less 'easy' strikeouts (ie' working the count) and much more pop.

* Continuing, maybe even bettering, the usual Dave Van Horn theory of pressing the other team - stealing, taking the extra base, etc.

* Depth in the outfield - this is almost to a fault, now (familiar)

* This pitching staff. They want the ball. More often than not, they know what to do with it.

I don't like:

* Injuries. They seem to always hit where we are weakest. And we are suddenly quite vulnerable on the middle infield.

* Mistakes. 3 losses - all started on the downhill slide when we made critical mistakes. It's so much fun to be on the other end of that candle.

Yes, yes - it's baseball and you can't win them all. I'm actually much less upset about the losses to Florida than most of the fans seem to be. It has been pointed out that the loser of that series has finished on top of the SEC the last 2 years. Danny points out that its better to have this kind of thing now when you have time to get over it and build towards the end of the season.

Very much scrutiny for the games this weekend. We will probably put too much into the Georgia series, be it good or bad results. But I missed the first 2 of the La Tech series, and I don't feel like I have seen enough of MY team yet.

Did I mention I don't like so many road games? I think Van Horn is right on every reason he gives for starting the season like we have, instead of an extra weekend of games at home against a team we are superior to. But it didn't work out so well at Hawaii, we did all that to play games against a team 5 1/2 hours away. We are expanding Baum stadium seating after this season yet again, and I think we should be having a tournament towards the first of the year. I know, the weather here is unpredictable. But our field drains better than most any weve ever been to, and I think teams of substance would love to come here late Feb / early March. Minnesota did it, and their Big 10 brethren who suddenly see a cash cow in post-season college baseball on the horizon look at our weather then as tropical.

Enjoy the weekend - this should be great.
Enjoy this season - these guys could be great, they should be really good.
But I hope we can look at hosting a pre-conference tournament - at least every other year - as a priority.

Third choice might be the best - My thoughts

2005-12-10T22:17:00.000-06:00

Sometime in the next several years, it is likely that we will look back on the Friday announcement of Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator as a the day when it all finally came together, when the final piece of the puzzle was laid. There exists the good chance that Mitch Mustain will continue to flirt with Notre Dame for a while, but eventually decide to come play for his coach at the school he committed to, but even if that doesn't happen - this was the right move now.

The best move would have been to put Wittke in charge of the offense BEFORE this season started, then we would be talking about Malzahn joining an offensive staff on the way to a bowl game. That not being done then effectively removed the option of promoting him now, because the pitchfork-and-torches crowd need more change. Cutcliffe or one of the other experienced OC's coming in might have been the second best option, affording Malzahn the chance to be on the staff, improve the offense with his input, yet learn the college and SEC nuances without having all the responsibility. Soon, he could have taken over the offense.

Which brings us to the third - yet probably the best - option. For some time now, it was known that Malzahn would be in the Razorback coaches' offensive meetings next year. Yesterday's press conference was to announce the capacity that has been decided for his job. Folks on the outside looking in may see it as a decision to get more of the Springdale kids. I would, were I in thier shoes, and I would also be uneasy about the Hog offense moving out of the classification "proven commodity". But since he was already coming, that is not the factor it is painted by so many who wish to diparage this hire.

While it is a gamble to thrust a high school coach into the mouths of SEC defenses, Gus Malzahn is the offensive mind for the job. He has good/great tools already in place, and just might have some more on the way. Nonetheless, this move solves the problems plaguing Arkansas' offense for some time. No more timeouts to decide the next play. No more of the head coach having to split attention during the game between the officials and the game calling. We have a real chance to get the offense running as a well oiled machine. Good timing, too, since Reggie Herring is solving the defensive problems.

I have always felt if the problems could be fixed, the Razorback football program would be best served with Houston Nutt as the head coach. I feel certain that the Razorbacks and thier fans are headed for a whole new level of success.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO HOUSTON NUTT

2005-12-01T22:04:00.000-06:00

"We are SO CLOSE"

Close to winning the SEC?
Close to winning the West?
Close to operating an SEC level offense and defense in the same game?
Close to 9 wins?
8?
7?
Close to a bowl season?

I'm sorry, Houston. I know what you mean, and you're right. We are very close.

We were close this year. In the Vandy game, we were moving the offense until someone decided to completely abandon any idea of a multi-faceted offense. Four similar running plays failed to get us a score. But we were close.

Several times during the season, scenarios just like this presented themselves - short yardage, and the running game fails to pick up the game-changing/game-deciding first down. Yes, sometimes we tried to pass. But the plays called for the 'running game' - our eventual pronounced strength - failed when the games were on the line. that would sort of go against the description of us as a "running team".

Third quarter of the SC game winding down, and Spurrier's team gets the ball with the wind behind them, on the less windy end of the field, and 6 seconds on the clock. Yes, you told the defense to watch for the deep pass. Perhaps that was a GOOD spot for a timeout, but our team spends TOO MANY of those just to get plays in - just to plan for McFadden off-tackle.

I have defended your offense for several years, and have pointed continually to production enough from the offense to win many games we did not. You offense has been good. But just a few wrong play calls, a few ill-used timeouts, a few frantic times of not being able to do everything at once - and the Hog football team lands on the wrong side of "close".

You should have the right to garner the praise when this assemblage of talent starts to produce as so many of us feel we are "close" to doing. Hire someone from outside to come in and call the plays during the game, and a 'pretty good' season of 7 or 8 wins and much promise for next year keeps your job for 2007. If you promote Wittke or continue to call the plays yourself, and you may have to win 9 or 10. Auburn, 'Bama, USC, LSU and Spurrier are still on the schedule, last I checked. "Close" is not gonna cut it under those circumstances.

I personally think Wittke should run the offense, and he and Gus should call ALL of the plays. It will still be your offense, you'll still get the credit. And you just might settle into a long stint here at your dream job. Frank Broyles seems to be saying the ball is squarely in your court. Sounds to me like someone giving a coach enough rope to hang himself.

Make the right call.

We need someone to do ONLY the job of an OC during the game. You have lots of things to do.

We are so close.

ANSWERS TO STATEMENTS ABOUT THE FOOTBALL TEAM

2005-10-28T07:57:00.000-05:00

Chuck Barrett asked this week, "Is it that Arkansas can't pass, or that Arkansas won't pass?" It seems that most Hog fans have decided that Houton Nutt WANTS to run the ball all the time, WANTS to run the option, and never WANTS to pass the ball.
I think we can all agree that John McDonnell is the best track coach of all time. Do you think he could make a relay team out of Wally, Chuck, you and me? I was wrong about our receivers for this year (and last for that matter). Thier pedigree says they should consistently catch balls thrown thier way. Which puts Monk in double coverage most of the game. When you add that to the inconsistencies at QB, we very simply CAN'T pass. I was obviously also wrong thinking that RJ, Mortenson and Barthel would compete and that at least one of them would be proven to be the one who would produce a consitent passing threat.

"Houston's an idiot for not playing another QB last Saturday!" The staff decided the best chance to win a game AT Georgia was to play RJ. Without giving them 3 [THREE!!!, III!!!] first downs with penalties and a punt fumble in the red zone, we probably win that game. Hard to argue that we at least didn't have a 'chance' to win.

"He's had 4 years to get a QB to replace Matt Jones!" Didn't HDN start each of those 4 years preseasons trying to get plays to work with MJ at receiver? KInda shoots a hole in your "HDN only wants to run the option" theory. Do you remember the Ole Miss 7 OT game on an ESPN Thursday night? So did every top-notch QB prospect for the next 3 years. Would YOU have come to Arkansas thinking you were gonna knock THAT GUY out of the lineup? Not if you're intelligent enough to go to college.

"I'm a fan that doesn't accept mediocrity! We pay our coach a lot of money and have built great facilities! We should be a consistent Top 10 team!" Are we the only school paying a football coach well? Have you looked at the teams on our schedule? Some Georgia football fans gripe constantly about Richt. Tennessee fans are grousing about Fulmer. Florida fans are questioning the Urban Meyer hire - you know, the firing and hiring that Hog fans thought we should be doing at the end of last year. LSU went through a stretch of 'mediocrity' and having a new coach every two years or so - Alabama went through a stretch with coaches every TWO WEEKS or so! Everyone in this conference wants to be at the top, and 10 teams won't fit in the top 3. Despite what many think, Wal-Mart money doesn't trump the coffers of everyone else. We have the toughest schedule in the country, filled with teams who have as many resources (or more), as good facilities (or better), and have been trying to get to the very top longer.

"Why are we having these 2 bad years in a row?" You've been given actual reasons.

"I'm so tired of EXCUSES!" Then don't continue to ask 'Why?', and then turn those reasons into 'making excuses'. You hear so much more sports radio and have so much more info and opinions over the internet than you did 8 years ago, its no wonder we all 'get tired' of hearing anything over and over.

"I'm so tired of looking bad on TV!" Twenty years ago we just wanted to consistently be ON TV.

"Houston Nutt has been here long enough!" I don't think he's through. From the looks of McFadden, Jones, Monk and the incoming talent, I'd say he's not through.

"He doesn't care about winning, he just wants that fat paycheck!" See "he's not through" above and grow a brain.

"All you do is kiss his butt!!!" I expect to win the next 3 games. Less than 2 wins may cost Houston the job - and as long as that doesn't lose the committed class, it probably should! There is way too many plays getting in late, costing timeouts and delay of game penalties. Too many 'woulda, shoulda, couldas' on play calling after the game. These scream for an offensive coordinator. Houston: How about "I was wrong."? You need to take responsibility for problems in the offense. Yes, the offense has often produced enough to win if the defense didn't let us down. You can take credit for that - but in turn you must solely take the blame for the 1-3 goof-ups that happen on that side of the ball and can be pointed to in retrospect after each loss. Maybe the defense needs the occasional pressence of the head coach. No matter the reason, you need an offensive coordinator calling the plays during the game. You can still put those plays in the gameplan. It will still be your offense. You'll still get credit when it works. But someone else needs the sole responsibilty of calling the specific plays. You no longer have a leg to stand on with this. Hire an OC - shift staff to name an OC - whatever. Do it or hit the road. No, you don't get to take those recruits with you.

"Butch Davis will turn all this around!" Who is his coaching staff? I've already seen a good/great coach come in and try to assemble a staff hodgepodge from leftovers and strays. From his last coaching results, I fail to see the proof that improvement will definitely come.

I still maintain the HDN gives us the best chance right now to get us where we want to be. It is squarely his job to convince you, keep me convinced, and get there. A good deal of convincing starts next Saturday against South Carolina.

TALE OF A FOUL BALL IN AUSTIN

2005-06-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago tonight, I made the pilgrimage to the "mecca" of college
baseball. I had made some friends with the Texas fans who came up to
the SWC tourney in Fayetteville. That was the Saturday night that had
me emerging from the bathroom dressed in a burnt orange sweatsuit as
it became clear that UT and A&M would be vying for the championship on
Sunday. The meeting with some of those same fans in Omaha later
cemented my belief that there are good Longhorn fans out there.
Experiences the last several years, and now my first - hopefully only
- trip to Austin indicate that those folks are long gone.

Following the instructions of the ever-so-knowing
almost-annual-regional-host Texas staff, I bought tickets as close as
possible to the Razorback dugout "with the other Arkansas fans". As
you may have guessed, that put us with a bird's eye view of the inside
of the Hog players - high above the opposite side of the sauna. As
has been my dutiful habit since way back in the old George Cole Field
days, I brought my glove. Being on the first base side, I would put
it on for a right-handed batter.

And then it happened: line drive, straight at me. Only the Texan to
my right even stood up to make an attempt, but I could not be moved.
*WHACK!* Right in the center of the pocket. Then, just as quickly,
bouncing off the palm and down 3 rows. Harmlessly away from me.
Harmless, of couse, to every one BUT ME - since it was AWAY FROM ME!!!
It was as if the Longhorn crowd had been watching and been on me the
same as the fans in beautiful Baum Stadium. I threw the glove to the
ground in disgust and stomped on it, to the delight of all. Longhorn
fan behind me was thankful for me "saving his life"...

Then immediately I get 2 cel phone calls from back in NWA. It seems
Chuck Barrett reported the incident on the air. Thanx, Chuck - oh,
and thanx for repeating it on Monday, too. At once a great moment,
and yet a horrific one as well.

In my defense:
* I had only worn my new glasses to 3 other ballgames, and depth
perception has been difficult.
* I was in a strange stadium.
* I was too high in the stands.
* I was on the wrong side of the field. Clearly "Having to play out
of position" has never applied more!
* This was the first foul ball hit to me after losing the ring finger
on my glove hand. I did not realize just how much that would affect
my ability to close on the ball.
* It was very hot.
* And very humid.
* And in a different state. A 'hole other country', or so I hear.
* Didn't cookout before the game.
* I was tired.
* And depressed. No matter how hard the guys tried - and we were
scoring runs - the Horns just scored more. (It was fun watching them
murmur and squirm each time we would rally. I guess the spanking we
gave them the previous night had them kinda gun-shy)
* I usually have to fight those around me for the catch. This was
like an uncontested layup with defenders all around, yet no contact.
* I usually have to account for wind. Believe me, there wasn't even a
HINT of breeze at the "mecca". Lot of hot air....

To sum up, it would have simply been a miracle had I made the catch.
But oh how sweet it would have been had I been able to finish it off.

Very much like the past season, I suppose.

GROUSING

2005-06-14T21:17:00.000-05:00

Repeating a comment made on the last day of the regular season :"You
may tie for the division championship and get a #1 seed, but tomorrow
when you wake up you will STILL BE OLE MISS!!!"

Rebel words to live by. One of the most - if not THE most - talented
baseball teams ever in the SEC can't win one of 2 as a host.

Down 2 with the bases loaded on Sunday, Longhorn throws the ball at
your hip... AND YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY?!?!?!!! Good thing you didn't
take that free run - if you were on base you couldn't have hit into
that GAMEFREAKINGENDING DOUBLE PLAY!!!

Rebel!

Don't ever talk to me in reverent tones about "Ole Miss Baseball"
again. When you compare some of the choking times we had at the plate
with 'ducks on the pond' this season with this 2 game collapse by the
Hotty-Totties, we actually look "clutch"...

And don't take that kind of tone about "Texas Baseball" either. I've
been to the "mecca" now. How ironic that any school could refer to
the opponents as 'hillbillies' or 'trash' while looking at Ryder
trucks with pallets holding drunkards on top who won't/can't sit in
the stands. Don't tell me about the great Longhorn fans when your G A
seats are more empty for games to decide a regional championship than
ours are for mid-week against Northern Colorado.

Texas gets to Omaha, but "elite" is passing them by.

GOTTA BEAT US TWICE, NOW!!!

2005-06-04T20:59:00.000-05:00

A memo to Austin Regional Fans:

Welcome to what once may have been one of the meccas of college
baseball. It sure isn't anymore. The University of Texas lords have
never seen fit to actually build a state-of-the-art stadium to replace
this state-of-disrepair excuse of a facility. It really is a shame.
Cliff Gustafson coached here. Roger Clemens pitched here. Spike Owen
picked grounders here. Nolan Ryan threw here in an exhibition. John
Elway threw a dart at home plate from against the right-field wall
here.

But this facility would be at best the 4th worst facility in the
so-called "overseeded and overhyped" Southeastern Conference. At
Disch-Falk Mausoleum the ghosts elbow out the pigeons for living
quarters, but it appears ghosts are most of what's left here. It
certainly appeared there wasn't a ghost of a chance for Texas last
night against that "overseeded and overhyped" SEC team from Arkansas.

Kirk Bohls from the Austin American Statesman seemed it quite a sure
bet the Longhorns and RedHawks would be playing on Sunday. Hope you
put money on that, and that "Miami has pitching, too. Lots of it. And
this is a pitchers' park." If Texas gets a lead Sunday, "don't forget
to take some snapshots."

College baseball is passing these ghosts by. And intelligent Longhorn
fans might actually know it. Baum Stadium at Fayetteville has been
built and remodeled twice - with another upgrade on the way - since
anything substantial has been done to Disch-Falk. And it appears
their team needs some upgrading, too. Razorback fans watched the home
team get beat in the Saturday winner's bracket game, only to win 3
straight and take the regional. But the 9-2 rump-thumping the Hogs
laid on Texas may add to the questions about this Horn team. They
finished the regular season 9-5 against less-than-stellar (read Big
8/12/SWC) competition, and were never in the game against
complete-game-pitcher Nick Schmidt. And the Horns used 3 of their
best pitchers in the loss...

Of course, they don't need a trophy to know they are second rate!

BURNING (ORANGE) QUESTIONS

2005-05-31T22:23:00.000-05:00

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....

2005-05-29T14:10:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-26T07:11:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-05-24T22:30:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-21T00:47:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-20T07:55:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-18T07:12:00.000-05:00

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...

2005-05-15T21:45:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-05-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

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!!!

2005-05-08T18:23:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-08T10:40:00.000-05:00

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!

2005-05-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

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

2005-05-01T21:45:00.000-05:00

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...

TWO OUTTA THREE WOULDN'T BE BAD!

2005-04-30T22:16:00.000-05:00

Back on the winning track in game one - too many runs allowed early in
game two. 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. Dang!

Right now, we are out of the SEC Tourney. I would expect that to mean
we would be out of regional hosting duties. But the tourney is not
tomorrow. A win tomorrow would put us in the thick of the race. A
race we don't HAVE to win, but a race we HAVE to get back in.

Upon hearing the rainout of Friday night, I just shrugged. But as I
heard the possibility of a rainout for Saturday, I began to panic...
That would have been worse than the split, I gar-ron-tee!!! Of course
the up-to-the-minute SEC office was on the ball - telling us those 7
inning affairs to try to make doubleheaders tolerable are just not
allowed... AT NINE FREAKING PM!!!

Gotta win Sunday!

How in bloomin'-blue-blazes are the Vols a candidate for a regional???
They don't even support the HOME team (well, not to Kentucky
levels...), who do they think would show for the non-host games?

Talk to you Monday morning!!!

Here, Kitty, Kitty!

2005-04-28T22:25:00.000-05:00

Isn't this the perfect time to play Kentucky? (Is it too late to get
Georgia on the schedule?)

Or is this a perfect time for a crash? We often seem to play down to
the level of our competition.

It really doesn't matter - The Hogs MUST win 2. A sweep would be
fine, but it is not necessary. A series win is.

To the ORU coach: "If you want to get a hit, shouldn't you be
actually SWINGING THE BAT???!!?!? C'mon coach - 'Expect a Miracle'!"

That ninth inning was just tooooo deja vu!!!

Only 2 non-conference games left before the regional. Those who
thought we were playing too many games will be missing them soon...

Listen Hard!!

"LOST" WEEKEND

2005-04-26T07:37:00.000-05:00

Many fans (and folks who call themselves fans) say this weekend was
when we really missed Rowlett and Bridges. They are right. We are
hitting enough, we just don't get the big hit at the right time. And
one defensive lapse seems to spawn 2 or 3 more...

...That this weekend was when we really missed Holloway and White.
They are right. We needed more options on the mound...

BUT - If our pitchers had gotten the same calls on balls and strikes
that LSU's pitchers had, Hog hurlers could have had career days. If
their pitchers had gotten the same calls on balls and strikes that our
pitchers had, we could have mounted some offense. Those that think
that is bunk, or just making excuses, only need to look at the pitch
calls in the seventh inning of Saturday's so-called-game. That's when
this particular fan took a walk. I could have made better use of a
sunny Saturday than to see poor umps do a poor, oned-sided job. Fans
- a whole lot of them - paid for a game. They should all demand a
refund from the SEC.

Another point that may only slightly be related is that this past
series may have had it's fate sealed last year at Alex Box. LSU
baseball pride - a dynamic force - took a mighty blow on the chin when
we took 3 straight from them in 2004. Their team, coaches, and fans
have had their jaw set on payback for a very long time. That was a
huge factor this past weekend. I would like to think that the SEC was
not trying to make that up to their baseball bell-cow, but what I saw
leads me to believe that was a factor as well.

Dwelling on that does nothing but harm. We have to get better. You
can point back at about 4 big innings that we have allowed the
opposing team for nearly every slump the 2005 Hogs have suffered.
That has gotta stop. Playing Kentucky should help. Playing at home
should help. The rest of this unbelievably tough conference having to
play each other will help. The things that Dave Van Horn has already
started should help.

This is not the time to turn sour on OUR team - and I'm talking to myself, too.

Starts tonight. Opponents smell blood in the water, and ORU made hay
last year with a last-out rally and late victory at Baum.

Take a lesson from the purple Cajuns - make 'em pay!

LIVE BY THE BIG INNING, DIE BY THE BIG INNING

2005-04-22T23:56:00.000-05:00

Looks like the SEC umpiring crew knew Smoke's job was on the line. A
check swing strike to Parker is not a check swing strike for them. A
third strike almost a foot from the ball is somehow called a foul. A
hit batter is somehow put back at the plate with a 1 strike count.
They sucked - period. But it was expected...

What we should have expected was another big inning from the
opposition served on a silver platter. Hit Batter/Walk (does it make
any difference?) - Dropped Fly Ball - Two Botched Infield Plays -
Homer....

Let's put it this way: If you score 7 runs at home, you gotta win...

In the fateful 9th, after Charley Boyce got the unrecognized 3rd out
on the strikeout (which counts if Walker holds on) he shakes off
Walker's sign. BOOM - 3 run homer.

We got 13 hits to their 9, but we gave them 3-5 extra outs...

Bad taste in our mouths...

THE GOOD NEWS:

Precisely the same feeling as last year after the Friday night debacle
at home against the Crimson Tide. The next 5 SEC games defined the
season.

There is hope.

Now we find out what this team is made of. We may find out what the
fans are made of...

IT'S FINALLY HERE! TIGERS COME TO TOWN...

2005-04-21T21:19:00.000-05:00

What a time we're gonna have this weekend! LSU comes up here needing
to right their ship - maybe to save the season. The team, the coaches
and the multitude of Tiger fans piling in Baum are still steaming
about the 3 game whipping we gave them last year, and streaming more
about the way things have gone for them the last month. Those fans
may not let Smoke get on the bus back if they lay a 3 game egg... Not
the corner you really want these guys to be in.

Why did we not plunk an SMS bear? They were smacking us with the ball
more than they were smacking the ball with their bats. I hope that it
was a show to them that we weren't gonna stoop to their level - and we
did - but I thought some retaliation was due.

We'll never play them again. They play in a nice park - it's not
theirs, and they sure did a poor job of trying to replicate Baum.
Their fans were rude - but neiother smart or clever or funny. I hate
those bears.

You see why I was pleased about the Friday night win at Tenn? We were
1 foot short on a Goodwin foul ball or a few feet short on Duggar's
late fly from a tie game, and a likely win...

3 of the last 5 series are in Baum. And 1 that's not is in Kentucky.

It all starts in hours.....

Go Hogs!

CAN'T ASK FOR MUCH MORE THAN THAT!

2005-04-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

Great Googily Moogily! Eight games in a row!

Avoiding a sweep at Auburn was important. Getting in 2 wins around
the rain at home was important. Sweeping Vandy was important. Moving
from last to second in the SEC West was important. Continuing our
ownership of the Oral Roberts "Field of Champions" was important. Not
letting up against sub-SEC opponents was important, and responding
when they challenged was important. The nuclear explosion of Dave Van
Horn was important (about time in my humble opinion). Getting all of
that in a week and a half was HUGE!

But these pale in comparison to one single thing: The Saturday
Comeback Against Vanderbilt. I said it in the blog below, and I have
a feeling I'll be saying it still at the end of the year. The team
proved to it's fan's, coaches and themselves that we still had enough
offense - even facing great pitching and missing 2 very key
ingredients - to put the tying and winning runs on the board. For
those not around until the end of last year, that's how we did it over
and over. And no one was really sure we still could.

Those 2 ingredients to the offense are not coming back either. Folks
should just quit asking.

I have thoughts on the SMSU game, but I'm going to hold off on most of
those until after Tuesday's 'Picnic Time For Teddy
Bears'....hehehehehe Should make for an entertaining trip!

Don't get discouraged - the problem with an 8 game streak is that you
expect 8 more. Don't quite believe the opposition is going to be such
to let that happen. But we sure have set ourselves up for a heckuva
stretch run!

THE TURTLE

2005-04-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

For those who have not seen...

When we are in need of a rally, the baseball team will sometimes draw
a turtle in the dirt in front of the Hogs dugout. Shell, legs,
head... then they proceed to spit in the circle that represents the
shell until it is an unbelievably disgusting pool... This has worked
for a comeback 2 out of 3 times we know of this year, and numerous
times last year.

James Gilbert was one of the ones teaching the new guys how "the power
of the turtle" works this season. Add to that his good performances
on the mound, and he has moved from one of our favorite guys in the
dugout to "# 32 in your programs, #1 in our hearts".
Hence the turtle on the 'Gilbert's Groupies' shirts, and the slogan on the back.

Fear the Turtle!

Can't ask for things to go much better than they have since the last
game at Auburn. Wins vaulted us from last to second in the SEC West,
but - more importantly - the team learned they could mount a rally
with the players we have to finish this season with. The fans did
too.

We needed 2 against Vandy - wanted 3, and got 'em. We need to not
lose at ORU and to SMSU - want to win both.

See you in Tulsa or on the tube tonight!

DID YOU LEAVE EARLY??

2005-04-09T23:35:00.000-05:00

I often think "Why do all those people leave early when we can still
win the game?" I'll bet the 2000 or more who piled out Saturday are
asking themselves the same thing...

The home plate umpire seemed to want to prove himself as being as
ignorant as the one Friday night. He passed with flying colors! But
his competition proved from his spot at third that he was still a
class 'A' Bozo. These guys have been AWFUL!!!

Many said that "We HAD to have a sweep this weekend!" We HAD to win
the series - and we HAD to get back to the team believing in itself.
I said this weekend was pivotal. When the season ends, we may look
back on Saturday's comeback win against Vanderbilt as the turning
point...

"Reverse the Curse" Saturday: We wore our traditional Parker shirts
inside out (reverse), I pulled out the 'clapping hat' for only the
second time this year, and the "Hey Blue, what are you using to call
balls and strikes out there?" routine had not been heard since before
the Eastern Illinois series - the last Saturday win for the Hogs.
That - and the forceful Hog Call in the bottom of the ninth - seemed
to do the trick!

By the way, the Commodores were 18-0 when leading after 8 innings this
year... [I'll not mention how they should have had a much bigger lead
with all the opportunities we gave them during the game, especially
the first 2 innings...]

Top Ten ranked LSU is now 5-6 in the conference and at the bottom of
the SEC West. All we HAVE to do is win all the series at home and not
get swept on the road. If we do, the rest of the conference may crush
each other...

Don't forget your BROOMS!

WHAT'S THAT ERA NOW??

2005-04-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

Let's reflect on the tale of 2 Friday nights... The worst of times
and the best of times...

Charley Boyce was really good against Vanderbilt. But Dave Van Horn
yanked him before the ninth - which looked like a decent idea because
it WAS a good idea. All of the things that Charley needed confidence
wise were attained. If he had lost it in the ninth, all that would be
lost, and recovery may have been long and hard. But as Lee Land and
the defense behind him fell apart, and the 2 run lead was sliced in
half and the bases were loaded, the memories of MSU Friday night were
hard to shake. For all who said Van Horn was loopy to not have
brought in Land that fateful night, I guess that settles that.

And for those who say if that last spectacular sliding catch is not
made, we lose: IT WAS A FOUL BALL!!

One down, two to go...

We certainly put a dent in that miniscule ERA on Vandy's starter.
Hopefully a dent to that confidence, too.

I think the bandwagon is less crowded, and some still on it don't
quite have the same conviction. I think a series win may get a lot of
that back. And I think finishing this 6 1/2 game home stretch with 1
loss or less will cure most ills for the team and the fans...

Thanx to all who are reading - feel free to post a comment!

BE THERE!

2005-04-07T23:21:00.000-05:00

This may just be THE pivotal weekend in the 2005 Razorback baseball
season. In the midst of a 6 1/2 game homestand, Vanderbilt rolls into
town with one of the best pitching staffs in recent SEC history. As
James Whitmore said in 'The Shawshank Redemption' - "Easy, Peezy,
Japanesey": The Hogs have gotta hit that ball! Yes, the defense and
pitching must not give up runs in bunches - but the offense MUST
produce.

I (of course) think a rabid crowd can help. One thing's for sure - it
can't hurt! The weather should be great for at least the first 2.

I know folks have already pointed to the LSU series as 'critical', but
this team needs this weekend right now and even worse. I think we got
everything we needed to out of the 2 mid-week games. The second game
was actually really good.

NCAA CURFEW RULING

Someone said that the NCAA just wanted to show that the level of
stupidity with rules has not hit its limits just yet. However, let me
take you back 2 weekends: When MSU came to town, we did not know if
weather was going to allow any more games after Friday night. My
question to Matt Shanklin, Mike Erwin and Chuck Barett was "Why are we
not moving Saturday's gametime to noon? It may not rain until later
in the afternoon..." Don't give me this stuff about not being able to
change gametimes on short notice - anyone not actually present for the
END of a Saturday SEC game has no real definite time for the Sunday
game! BTW - no rain at noon, it started sprinkling during the
national anthem........................"Brilliant!"

Now we face the real prospect of 9:30 AM Sunday starts. Guess we'll
cook out AFTER the game...

2004 SEEMS SO FAR AWAY...

2005-04-03T17:48:00.000-05:00

Since I last talked here, we sat through some rain and cold for a
Saturday butt-kicking at the hands of the Gamecocks, and then our Hogs
put on a gutty gritty performance on Sunday. Boyce came back after
the Friday night collapse and looked like the Charley of old.

Then the one, two, three punches in the gut for the team, the coach
and the fans. Best and second best hitters and base-stealers and the
most dependable reliever are all likely out for the season. As much as
this hurts, it hurts most for two seniors who thought they were doing
the best they could to help lead this team back to the post-season
promised land. Lots of new converts to Arkansas baseball have now
shugged their shoulders and have given up on the team and the season.
Some have done the same thing with the sport.

The rest of us convinced ourselves that the 'team would pull
together'. That 'the collection of talent that was forced to the
bench due to a surplus of starting-quality fielders would step up and
make up for the difference"...

And now Auburn has taken the series and goes for the sweep today. On
a late cold wet Friday night, Schmidt uncharacteristically walked 5
and took his first loss. As many sensible folks predicted, the Hogs
had trouble firing on offense without their two best bullets.
Saturday, Boyce gave up runs - perhaps was left in too long for that
last home run, but seemed to pitch well the next inning - and the 5
run lead was too much to overcome when the Razorbacks mounted the
comeback.

I hate to refer to 2004 again, but this team in general was behind at
mid-point of an awful lot of ballgames last year - just like last
night - they just found a way to score those last 2 runs. Boyce did
not 'mow down' opponents, he (and the rest of the Brannon-Boyce-TBA
SEC staff) more often would just keep things under control enough for
their teamates to mount a comeback.

We may not be the same as last year - but I can assure you that Auburn
and Missisippi State are better and are playing better than their 2004
editions. That's a real factor in our SEC start - "weak preseason
competition left us unprepared for the SEC" is not. That's bunk.
Some folks listen to Dick Vitale too much.

Still a lot of season left. And I think there's still a lot in the
tank for the 2005 Baseball Razorbacks.

I doubt very seriously they will throw in the towel at this point.
The fans shouldn't either!

A Few Things From Friday Night

2005-03-26T12:12:00.000-06:00

FRIDAY NIGHT'S DEBACLE AGAINST MISSISSIPPI STATE

I made this comment to my long-time baseball companion Russ in the
sixth or seventh inning - "We deserve to lose this game because we
have choked one opportunity after another to score..." Every player
in the lineup made at least one mistake - whether it was not getting
the bunt down the line, letting a ball past you in the outfield,
striking out or grounding out when we needed a clutch hit, even
grooving one pitch to the #9 hitter - to share in the blame. Many
played good - and Schmidt was exceptional - but you have to cash in
when the 'ducks are on the pond'...

THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLEY

In a previous blog below I said, "Don't worry about Charley..." Many
- especially including Boyce - thought he was pulled too early last
Saturday against USC. Many have wondered if his velocity or his
movement has lost something. Some even decided that Gene was right.

After last night, some think he will be starting weekday games now.
Or: "We think you would be more valuable pitching every day....for
batting practice."

My take? 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 senior
will get his head straight and make a difference for his team before
the year's end.

WAS THAT A DAVE VAN HORN MISTAKE?

Why did he not yank Boyce? And if the answer is 'No one was ready',
then why not?

Boyce earned the right to be put in that situation - he's come through
too many times before.

If we were to lose 1 or 2 games to weather, you had a chance to save
Friday night's game with your senior weekend starter.

The decision to pull Schmidt was the right one. Seven innings (even
though the pitch count was low), cold weather - get the freshman out
with his arm in good shape and a good shot at a win.

It didn't work. "That's baseball". And certainly SEC baseball.

WEATHER AND THE CROWD

Seems a lot of relatively new fans got a taste of college baseball
last night, and rain could show many what it's been like without them.
I'm headed to Baum, but I still think we'll play more than one game on
Sunday.

Don't panic.

Go Hogs!

A Great Start!

2005-03-20T14:23:00.000-06:00

First, let me apologize for being gone from my duties here so long.
Between computer issues and personal matters, I've had more problems
than an algebra class...

What have we learned so far:

This Razorback team can REALLY SMACK THAT BALL!!! And the things that
come from a total team attitude that made last year's team such a
smashing success continue on. Reckon that has a lot to do with the
coach? I was asked why we keep 'running into double plays', instead
of stopping/slowing to make the fielder only be able to make one out.
Well, it goes to the same kind of attitude that got Hode nailed at
third Sunday when dang near everyone in the park - including Hode, I
think - wanted him to stop at second. When the outfielder bobbles it
- even a second - force the play. Even if the third baseman is
fielding the ball, keep going. Overall, the total hustle attitude
will get you enough good plays to more than offset any negatives. And
you never want the players hesitating...thinking... just go!

Sweeping 3 straight weekends at home is a great way to begin a season.
One bad inning from a perfect start.

Every game, someone who should be in the lineup is gonna be on the
bench. Quality depth at this many positions has not been seen very
often 'roud here. And we've seen some teams that hit the ball like
this be very good in the SEC for long periods of time. I said to
enjoy all the "gravy" we enjoyed for the last month of 2004's season -
that "this doesn't always happen, even for really good teams". Late
in a road game this year, Chuck Barrett came back from commercial
wondering why Coach Van Horn was chatting lineup with the umpire.
After going through all the fielders, he finally found that we had
replaced catchers. Shortly after that, Walker pounced on a ball in
front of the plate to squash a rally. Dave still seems to pull all
the right strings.

About that really weak crowd and the facilities at Stillwater....
OSU's stadium WAS a top facility - along with Wichita St and some
others - and baseball WAS a bigger deal. But to compare what is
happening at Baum to these just emphasizes how much bigger baseball
suddenly is here, and why the NCAA is considering rethinking super
regional sites. Yes, Hog fans packed Baum in record numbers for our
stadium and for NCAA records. But you should remember that we had the
highest attendance for the regional the only other time we hosted of
sites without the host playing on Sunday (only 2 sites beat us that
year). Given a winner, Arkansas fans will ALWAYS do bigger and better.

But, you should also remember I spent a lot of last year trying to get
folks to go to see the 2004 team - FOR FREE!!!!

If Arkansas fans continue to support college baseball at this pace,
they will pretty much guarantee a host spot for post-season as long as
the team is Top-15. This used to belong to OSU or WSU....

Is The Sky Falling?

2005-03-20T00:26:00.000-06:00

Please look elsewhere for Chicken Little.

Yes we got our heads handed to us by USC Saturday. But we did the
deed first on Friday night. And - going in - I felt like 1 win this
weekend would be pretty good. USC at home should be capable of a
sweep. Of course, I said the same thing last year before we went to
Alex Box and swept the mighty Tiggers!

Sunday's game may have very little bearing on the big picture. But it
may make a difference in next weekends crowds. Most Hog fans - at
heart - still have a 'football season' mentality; ie: A couple of
losses is bad, and each one after that sinks your season. We learned
a little when Eddie taught us basketball, but we still agonize
horribly about any 'L'. For some, the magic could fade for many of
those who just caught baseball fever in June.

But it seems pretty clear that - no matter what happens Sunday
afternoon in Columbia - the 2005 Hogs haven't lost that magic touch.

And don't worry about Charley Boyce. There's lots of season left.

Email me - hognoxious@yahoo.com

A Great Start!

2005-03-16T13:38:00.000-06:00

First, let me apologize for being gone from my duties here so long. Between computer issues and personal matters, I've had more problems than an algebra class...

What have we learned so far:

This Razorback team can REALLY SMACK THAT BALL!!! And the things that come from a total team attitude that made last year's team such a smashing success continue on. Reckon that has a lot to do with the coach? I was asked why we keep 'running into double plays', instead of stopping/slowing to make the fielder only be able to make one out. Well, it goes to the same kind of attitude that got Hode nailed at third Sunday when dang near everyone in the park - including Hode, I think - wanted him to stop at second. When the outfielder bobbles it - even a second - force the play. Even if the third baseman is fielding the ball, keep going. Overall, the total hustle attitude will get you enough good plays to more than offset any negatives. And you never want the players hesitating...thinking... just go!

Sweeping 3 straight weekends at home is a great way to begin a season. One bad inning from a perfect start.

Every game, someone who should be in the lineup is gonna be on the bench. Quality depth at this many positions has not been seen very often 'roud here. And we've seen some teams that hit the ball like this be very good in the SEC for long periods of time. I said to enjoy all the "gravy" we enjoyed for the last month of 2004's season - that "this doesn't always happen, even for really good teams". Late in a road game this year, Chuck Barrett came back from commercial wondering why Coach Van Horn was chatting lineup with the umpire. After going through all the fielders, he finally found that we had replaced catchers. Shortly after that, Walker pounced on a ball in front of the plate to squash a rally. Dave still seems to pull all the right strings.

About that really weak crowd and the facilities at Stillwater.... OSU's stadium WAS a top facility - along with Wichita St and some others - and baseball WAS a bigger deal. But to compare what is happening at Baum to these just emphasizes how much bigger baseball suddenly is here, and why the NCAA is considering rethinking super regional sites. Yes, Hog fans packed Baum in record numbers for our stadium and for NCAA records. But you should remember that we had the highest attendance for the regional the only other time we hosted of sites without the host playing on Sunday (only 2 sites beat us that year). Given a winner, Arkansas fans will ALWAYS do bigger and better.

But, you should also remember I spent a lot of last year trying to get folks to go to see the 2004 team - FOR FREE!!!!

If Arkansas fans continue to support college baseball at this pace, they will pretty much guarantee a host spot for post-season as long as the team is Top-15. This used to belong to OSU or WSU....

Changes in Attitude, Changes in Latitude

2005-02-09T08:21:00.000-06:00

It is upon us.  Opening day of the baseball season.



Last year saw just a few of the tables in the PigPen

occupied, but I can tell you the food was great.  A

team predicted to finish 11th in a 12 team league took

the field to cheers from those of us there - a much

less than capacity crowd.  Soon, the crowds were

settling in to the usual 14-1900 or so of us.



But the crowds at the end of the yearwere so much

different.  The fans as well.  Now the excitement and

expectations for this season are at a pitch that has

NEVER been seen before.



And we open in Texas.



I've got a theory on that, and it goes directly to the

change in attitude towards the Razor-Bats.  Dave Van

Horn made it very clear in the fall - 2004 is in the

past.  This years team is not about last year.  And

the truth is, if we started the season at home the

first couple of opponents - per the usual - all that

us fans would be about is 2004.  Coach knew that. I

believe that is why he is starting with 2 road trips.



I'd tell you why the coach is always right, but it

would involve too much reflection on the past.



By the way, don't put too much stock in the lineups

and starters for this weekend.  By the end of next

weekend, we should have a clearer idea of how we can

expect to fill those scorecards the rest of the

season.

2005-01-30T21:39:00.000-06:00

Freezing rain and snow - twice this past week in Northwest Arkansas. Must be nearly baseball season....

For nearly every one of the last 20 years, the baseball program has had an alumni game the Saturday before opening day. The weather is beautiful, at worst 'mild'. The cold front comes in about 3 days before, some precipitation of some kind falls the next day, and we open against Missouri Southern in considerably less desirable conditions than we had for the previous Saturday.

One year we lost the opener to weather, which meant we would open on Saturday for a 2 game set against highly-ranked Wichita State. On Thursday, the snowstorm ended - and Friday they pushed the snow off the turf at old George Cole Field. Saturday's forecast was for sun and 55 to 60 degrees! Going down early for the big day, and basking in the sunshine, I strolled in to find the team going through some warmups. Problem was: The fielders would "disappear" into a thick cloud covering the entire outfield. Looked like 'Field of Dreams'!!! I walked up to Doug Clark to ask about the status of the first pitch. "Oh, we can't play today... But a cold front is coming in tonight, and the steam will be gone!" The season opened on Sunday in 35 '...baseball degrees...'

I'm fine with Missouri Southern not being the opener - they cost me $5 two years ago. I confidently stated that we "NEVER" played them twice in a season, forgetting the couple of times we scheduled them later in the season to make up for rainouts - even though we had opened the season with them. This is another case of Dave Van Horn putting 'his' stamp on the way things will be done now, and that's just fine with me!

Opening on the road is no big deal either. Those of us who have had to drag heaters and sleeping bags to survive the first weekends know mid-February is often not the time for baseball north of the Ozarks. We'll have season openers at home some years. I really like the idea of getting as many games in the first 2 weekends as possible - there are so many things to establish right away. This season is no different - "Who's the catcher?" joins the usual questions about which pitchers should start, and which should come out of the bullpen...

Good to see the reaction at Bud Walton for the baseball Hogs during halftime of the Kentucky basketball game. Much deserved. Not surprising. Razorback Baseball may never be the same thanks to that fantastic 2004 team and thier amazing regional and super-regional.

You can email me at hognoxious@uatrough.com

Play Ball!!!!

Hognoxious preview of 2005 Baseball

2005-01-18T07:25:00.000-06:00

Dave Van Horn. The 2004 Razorback Baseball Team. When you discuss the prospects for Razorback baseball in 2005, that's where you start. Van Horn took a program that Norm DeBryin built and made it his own. This guy is a great coach. He made Nebraska Baseball out of nothing. But the incredible ride to the College World Series last year was a touch of coaching genius. A group of players who couldn't place individually in the top 5 of any SEC stats won the West and tied with Georgia for the overall title. I've seen decades of Hog baseball, but there has never been a group that worked better together as a "team". And it's Van Horn that puts it together, pulls the strings, pushes the buttons and motivates and teaches winning baseball. Now the job is to try to stay at this level, and make some noise once we get there. Daunting.

Pitching starts with junior team captain Charley Boyce, who would have been my Friday night starter last year if I had been coach (think there's a reason I'm in the stands?). I saw Justin White in the summer, and I think he will be a strong starter. Daryl Maday started some in 2004. Lee Land and Josh Smith are recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Josh would likely have been starting on the weekends last year. Shaun Siebert, Devon Collis, T.J. Sinovich and Phillip Graham will be tried mid-week and some during the weekends as starters, too. I would suspect we'll see Trey Holloway, though I haven't heard him talked about much lately. It would be nice to think that any 2 or 3 of those could do what Jay Swatski did on the way to the CWS.

How could you ask for better than 3 seniors on the infield? Clay Goodwin makes me shake my tailfeathers every time he comes to bat, and his absence at third coincided with our only real slump a year ago. Scott Hode is at shortstop and Scott Bridges is at second - newcomers John Henry Marquardt and Ben Tschepikow could play at either position and Brock Bond could play at second. Remember that Danny Hamblin couldn't play first base (or 3rd when Goodwin was injured) because he needed off-season shoulder surgery, and still ended up a freshman All-American.

Some of us thought at the start of 2004 that Blake Parker would replace Toooooooops at catcher by the end of the season. [see Coach Van Horn in the first paragraph] Now that Toops is gone, he may not be able to beat Brian Walker out behind the plate. Clint Arnold was one of the best hitters in the fall, and he wants that position, too.

Jake Dugger should be back in leftfield (as long as off-field issues are settled), and senior Casey Rowlett should be returning to center field. That leaves the rightfield and DH spots to be Chris Hollensworth, Stephen Robison, transfer Craig Gentry (a true lead-off guy) and those mentioned above who are not starters.

As you can see, team depth is building. Van Horn states that we may not be all that much better in the starting lineup, but the players who can come in give us very little drop-off. Competition for spots is usually a good thing. So is more talent.

Last year was a fantastic ride. A year ahead of schedule, but a promising taste of things to come. The 2005 Hogs will have more fans and more pressure from higher expectations. But I think what we've already seen proves that Dave Van Horn knows what he's doing.

Hognoxious