Around the horn on a few topics that surfaced here ...
- During the game it didn't really dawn on me how well Williams was pitching, I think because we were getting plenty of offense so it wasn't like the 1-0 complete game shut out that Beck threw a few weeks ago.
A complete game, 2 hit, 1 walk, 1 HBP shutout in a super regional is all-time level great performance. And one of the two hits was a miss that somehow ended up a perfect bunt on a big swing and the walk was, at the least, a close call.
- That was the easiest trot through this level of playoff we're ever going to see. But remember this team lost games during the season by scores of 0-13 (Santa Clara), 2-20 (Arizona), 1-9 (OSU). Sometimes things steamroll in baseball, even for good teams. Perhaps this give some karmic balance for 2012 super regional where Stanford got spanked by FSU in Tallahasee 1-17, 7-18. Apparently Stanford baseball players prefer a dry heat.
- There was considerable angst on this board when Esquer was hired. While I was a backer of Esquer, partly because he was an old friend and dorm mate, I was also interested in the rumor they had a chance at Bakich from Michigan - though Bakich didn't have west coast ties since high school as far as I know. Never thought Garko had the right experience. While Esquer has been great, the theme of "getting the team to this level so quickly" seems a little off to me. Marquess' final team was a national 8 seed. There was lots to work with right away, though a bit of a recruiting hole looming also. Certainly this particular team has gone further than I expected.
- On the fans, most every fan base derides the opposition before the game - lauds it afterwards, particularly if they win. So I am not particularly surprised or worked up over any Tech fans blathering about Pac 12 or west coast kids being soft or other insults. I am somewhat more concerned about the insinuation that that the Tech fans were yelling racial slurs at Park - hits a little close to home. However, I also don't like the insinuation itself. Either one knows they were doing so and should state it (so we can be suitably outraged) or one doesn't know and should leave it be.
- While Stanford seems to hit a ton of home runs, 8 teams in the final 16 have hit more (including Texas Tech), though only 4 have more per game. I can't find overall NCAA home runs per game for this year, but it seems back up towards 2010 levels which led to the introduction of BBCOR bats in 2011. Will there be another rules adjustment?
- During the game it didn't really dawn on me how well Williams was pitching, I think because we were getting plenty of offense so it wasn't like the 1-0 complete game shut out that Beck threw a few weeks ago.
A complete game, 2 hit, 1 walk, 1 HBP shutout in a super regional is all-time level great performance. And one of the two hits was a miss that somehow ended up a perfect bunt on a big swing and the walk was, at the least, a close call.
- That was the easiest trot through this level of playoff we're ever going to see. But remember this team lost games during the season by scores of 0-13 (Santa Clara), 2-20 (Arizona), 1-9 (OSU). Sometimes things steamroll in baseball, even for good teams. Perhaps this give some karmic balance for 2012 super regional where Stanford got spanked by FSU in Tallahasee 1-17, 7-18. Apparently Stanford baseball players prefer a dry heat.
- There was considerable angst on this board when Esquer was hired. While I was a backer of Esquer, partly because he was an old friend and dorm mate, I was also interested in the rumor they had a chance at Bakich from Michigan - though Bakich didn't have west coast ties since high school as far as I know. Never thought Garko had the right experience. While Esquer has been great, the theme of "getting the team to this level so quickly" seems a little off to me. Marquess' final team was a national 8 seed. There was lots to work with right away, though a bit of a recruiting hole looming also. Certainly this particular team has gone further than I expected.
- On the fans, most every fan base derides the opposition before the game - lauds it afterwards, particularly if they win. So I am not particularly surprised or worked up over any Tech fans blathering about Pac 12 or west coast kids being soft or other insults. I am somewhat more concerned about the insinuation that that the Tech fans were yelling racial slurs at Park - hits a little close to home. However, I also don't like the insinuation itself. Either one knows they were doing so and should state it (so we can be suitably outraged) or one doesn't know and should leave it be.
- While Stanford seems to hit a ton of home runs, 8 teams in the final 16 have hit more (including Texas Tech), though only 4 have more per game. I can't find overall NCAA home runs per game for this year, but it seems back up towards 2010 levels which led to the introduction of BBCOR bats in 2011. Will there be another rules adjustment?