[OutsiderFan]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

[OutsiderFan]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

[Goose]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

Doesn't it at least have something to do with your expectations about the batter actually being able to get a hit? If the batter is an "average" hitter then I can see your point. But if the hitter isn't very good, or for some reason can't hit the particular opposing pitcher, isn't it better to get a productive out than just an out? Or worse, a double play? However, if the batter also can't bunt very well either, you really have a problem!

[Goose]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

Doesn't it at least have something to do with your expectations about the batter actually being able to get a hit? If the batter is an "average" hitter then I can see your point. But if the hitter isn't very good, or for some reason can't hit the particular opposing pitcher, isn't it better to get a productive out than just an out? Or worse, a double play? However, if the batter also can't bunt very well either, you really have a problem!

[Hulk01]

The Key Three (Dasch, Stowers, and Tawa)"
5-10, 7-12 on base, .700 slugging.

And we beat their ace reliever, Mora.
(Of course, they got to our ace, too.)


The middle of our order--Wulff, Matt, Dasch, Stowets, andf Tawaz: Wow.

---

I am declaring the end to the Dasch/Stowers/Tawa Watch ("will they staring hitting?"

Last twelve games, combined:
.354 batting
.429 on base
.619 slugging
1.048 OPS

Wulff (.921) and Matthiesen (.952) at three and four.

[Hulk01]

The Key Three (Dasch, Stowers, and Tawa)"
5-10, 7-12 on base, .700 slugging.

And we beat their ace reliever, Mora.
(Of course, they got to our ace, too.)


The middle of our order--Wulff, Matt, Dasch, Stowets, andf Tawaz: Wow.

---

I am declaring the end to the Dasch/Stowers/Tawa Watch ("will they staring hitting?"

Last twelve games, combined:
.354 batting
.429 on base
.619 slugging
1.048 OPS

Wulff (.921) and Matthiesen (.952) at three and four.

[StanfordMatt]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

I don’t doubt that’s true but the number of bunts Esquer calls for isn’t even in the same stratosphere as Marquess. #9 would call for a bunt in the top of the first inning after a leadoff single.

I didn’t have a problem with Esquer’s decision to have Wilson bunt in the 9th; however, I would’ve called it off after two strikes.

[StanfordMatt]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

I don’t doubt that’s true but the number of bunts Esquer calls for isn’t even in the same stratosphere as Marquess. #9 would call for a bunt in the top of the first inning after a leadoff single.

I didn’t have a problem with Esquer’s decision to have Wilson bunt in the 9th; however, I would’ve called it off after two strikes.

[Mr. Baseball]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

I don’t doubt that’s true but the number of bunts Esquer calls for isn’t even in the same stratosphere as Marquess. #9 would call for a bunt in the top of the first inning after a leadoff single.

I didn’t have a problem with Esquer’s decision to have Wilson bunt in the 9th; however, I would’ve called it off after two strikes.

I do not like bunting with two strikes, especially with Wilson, whose fake bunt swing away approach has been very effective in the past.

I also am worried about our CF defense with Robinson in there. I've seen his hesitancy too much already.

Great job by Beck. Lots of grit!

[Mr. Baseball]

Cal fans HATED Esquer and his proclivity to bunt. They felt he cost them many wins by sacrificing too much. The only time I would ever bunt is 1st and 2nd and no out if I needed one run to tie or take lead after 6 innings. If you have the lead, never bunt, ever. It’s best to try extending the lead and keep max pressure on the opposing pitchers. Don’t help them by giving up an out yourself.

I don’t doubt that’s true but the number of bunts Esquer calls for isn’t even in the same stratosphere as Marquess. #9 would call for a bunt in the top of the first inning after a leadoff single.

I didn’t have a problem with Esquer’s decision to have Wilson bunt in the 9th; however, I would’ve called it off after two strikes.

I do not like bunting with two strikes, especially with Wilson, whose fake bunt swing away approach has been very effective in the past.

I also am worried about our CF defense with Robinson in there. I've seen his hesitancy too much already.

Great job by Beck. Lots of grit!

[82lsju]

Will Matthiessen's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning sent the home fans packing in No. 2 Stanford's 3-2 win over No. 1 UCLA on Friday night at Sunken Diamond.

https://gostanford.com/news/2019/4/6/bas...hrill.aspx

[82lsju]

Will Matthiessen's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning sent the home fans packing in No. 2 Stanford's 3-2 win over No. 1 UCLA on Friday night at Sunken Diamond.

https://gostanford.com/news/2019/4/6/bas...hrill.aspx

[BobK]

Sometimes it’s best to have your 156 hitter bunt with two strikes.

Great pitching btw The top team in the country scored just twice

[BobK]

Sometimes it’s best to have your 156 hitter bunt with two strikes.

Great pitching btw The top team in the country scored just twice

[Mr. Baseball]

Sometimes it’s best to have your 156 hitter bunt with two strikes.  

Great pitching btw    The top team in the country scored just twice

Do not agree. Three of his six hits were for extra bases...

[Mr. Baseball]

Sometimes it’s best to have your 156 hitter bunt with two strikes.  

Great pitching btw    The top team in the country scored just twice

Do not agree. Three of his six hits were for extra bases...

[JJJ]

Same Bat Channel today. 
Palisch gave up 3 T1 but we’re up 4-3 M3.

[JJJ]

Same Bat Channel today. 
Palisch gave up 3 T1 but we’re up 4-3 M3.

[martyup]

We got bombed in the 5th.  Now down 9-6 in the 6th.

[martyup]

We got bombed in the 5th.  Now down 9-6 in the 6th.

[martyup]

Ouch.  11-5 in the 7th.

[martyup]

Ouch.  11-5 in the 7th.

[martyup]

Final is 11-5.  Flush it and move on.

[martyup]

Final is 11-5.  Flush it and move on.

[82lsju]

write-up at gostanford.com

https://gostanford.com/news/2019/4/6/bas...at-11.aspx

[82lsju]

write-up at gostanford.com

https://gostanford.com/news/2019/4/6/bas...at-11.aspx

[StanfordMatt]

Sloppy baseball leads to an early 1-0 lead for the Bruins in Game 3. Error by Daschbach, walk, and passed ball allow the visitors to score without recording a hit.

[StanfordMatt]

Sloppy baseball leads to an early 1-0 lead for the Bruins in Game 3. Error by Daschbach, walk, and passed ball allow the visitors to score without recording a hit.

[JJJ]

“Tawa of Power” goes yard to tie it up 1-1.

---

Didn’t see any of it but Will the Thrill apparently hit a massive 3-run HR to give us a 4-2 lead after 3.

[JJJ]

“Tawa of Power” goes yard to tie it up 1-1.

---

Didn’t see any of it but Will the Thrill apparently hit a massive 3-run HR to give us a 4-2 lead after 3.

[StanfordMatt]

Matthiessen with a brobdingnagian two-out, three-run homer in the 3rd gives us a 4-2 lead. The Bruins get one back in the top of the 4th before Miller gives way to Matthiessen on the mound. Matthissen comes in and quickly mows down the Bruins in order in the 5th. First 1-2-3 inning of the day for Stanford pitchers.

Hulk noted that Stanford has five players in D1Baseball's top 150 prospects. Matthiessen isn't in that group but he'd get my vote for team MVP. Just a rock solid two-way player.

---

I jinxed him. In the 7th, the Bruins get a duck snort bloop single followed by another single and then a big two-run double to reclaim a 5-4 lead. Matthiessen still on the mound, UCLA has a runner on 2nd with one out.

[StanfordMatt]

Matthiessen with a brobdingnagian two-out, three-run homer in the 3rd gives us a 4-2 lead. The Bruins get one back in the top of the 4th before Miller gives way to Matthiessen on the mound. Matthissen comes in and quickly mows down the Bruins in order in the 5th. First 1-2-3 inning of the day for Stanford pitchers.

Hulk noted that Stanford has five players in D1Baseball's top 150 prospects. Matthiessen isn't in that group but he'd get my vote for team MVP. Just a rock solid two-way player.

---

I jinxed him. In the 7th, the Bruins get a duck snort bloop single followed by another single and then a big two-run double to reclaim a 5-4 lead. Matthiessen still on the mound, UCLA has a runner on 2nd with one out.

[StanfordMatt]

Bruins have blown it open. Now 9-4 and still in the 7th inning. They simply are the better team right now. If I'm being honest, I think we're a little lucky to have avoided a sweep.

[StanfordMatt]

Bruins have blown it open. Now 9-4 and still in the 7th inning. They simply are the better team right now. If I'm being honest, I think we're a little lucky to have avoided a sweep.

[JJJ]

And we fall 10-7.

[JJJ]

And we fall 10-7.

[82lsju]

And we fall 10-7.

https://gostanford.com/news/2019/4/7/bas...dinal.aspx

[82lsju]

And we fall 10-7.

https://gostanford.com/news/2019/4/7/bas...dinal.aspx

[CTcard]

One key feature of the weekend series was the failure of the bullpen. 

The bullpen had struggles in all three games. While neither Palisch nor Miller were lights out, they gave performances that didn't doom the team the way the pen did. (maybe game two the doom had a pretty even contribution)
The offense was okay considering the quality of the pitching staff they were facing, with 15 runs for the series, 23 hits, and 6 home runs. 

So, all told I am not sure if I am now overly worried because what I thought was a solid bullpen fell apart so maybe it isn't so great; or I am fairly sanguine because the bullpen has proven itself over a season and a half now and long term should be fine. (And hey, it's baseball - there's enough randomness that a single series can go any which way.)

[CTcard]

One key feature of the weekend series was the failure of the bullpen. 

The bullpen had struggles in all three games. While neither Palisch nor Miller were lights out, they gave performances that didn't doom the team the way the pen did. (maybe game two the doom had a pretty even contribution)
The offense was okay considering the quality of the pitching staff they were facing, with 15 runs for the series, 23 hits, and 6 home runs. 

So, all told I am not sure if I am now overly worried because what I thought was a solid bullpen fell apart so maybe it isn't so great; or I am fairly sanguine because the bullpen has proven itself over a season and a half now and long term should be fine. (And hey, it's baseball - there's enough randomness that a single series can go any which way.)