[StanfordMatt]

Our weak link remains shortstop (and reliable pitching).

Unfortunately, or shortstop didn't hold on to a terrific throw by our catcher and some runs scored. He also had a chance with the bat to make a difference and didn't.

In general, I agree that reliable pitching is a concern but I won't pin last night's loss on the pitching. Dugan pitched the game of his life and it was clear that Esquer wasn't going to touch his top arms out of the bullpen (unless you put Pancer in this category).

I also don't understand the disappointment in Cobb. This is a senior who barely saw the field prior to this season and nothing was expected from. All he's done is slash .328/.373/.484. I'll grant that the errors have been a weak spot.

As I mentioned in another post, the guy who we need to get going is Bowser. Unlike Cobb, Bowser was a Preseason All-American who was supposed to be a cog in the middle of the lineup. Through last night, he's slashed .276/.339/.507. His production is down across the board from last year.

It's gotten to the point where I wonder if Esquer isn't considering giving Bowser a day off to clear his head. I know he had two hits against the Bears but I believe one was an Arizona chopper where he pounded the ball into the dirt in front of home plate and beat it out. He's just not making solid contact. Worst of all, I may not be a sports therapist but his struggles at the plate seem to be affecting his play in the field. He had an error on Wednesday night and again last night. The problem with the throw he sailed in the 9th wasn't so much the throw itself as it was the decision to make the throw in the first place. He had no chance to throw out the runner but it looked like he was trying to be the hero and do too much.

I don't mean this to be a Bowser bashing post. The guy has immense talent. The chances of Esquer giving him a day off in the semifinals are probably next to none but I'm much more concerned about our games in June than the ones today and tomorrow. I think we're going to need him to get back on track if we have a chance to make a deep run in Omaha.

[StanfordMatt]

Our weak link remains shortstop (and reliable pitching).

Unfortunately, or shortstop didn't hold on to a terrific throw by our catcher and some runs scored. He also had a chance with the bat to make a difference and didn't.

In general, I agree that reliable pitching is a concern but I won't pin last night's loss on the pitching. Dugan pitched the game of his life and it was clear that Esquer wasn't going to touch his top arms out of the bullpen (unless you put Pancer in this category).

I also don't understand the disappointment in Cobb. This is a senior who barely saw the field prior to this season and nothing was expected from. All he's done is slash .328/.373/.484. I'll grant that the errors have been a weak spot.

As I mentioned in another post, the guy who we need to get going is Bowser. Unlike Cobb, Bowser was a Preseason All-American who was supposed to be a cog in the middle of the lineup. Through last night, he's slashed .276/.339/.507. His production is down across the board from last year.

It's gotten to the point where I wonder if Esquer isn't considering giving Bowser a day off to clear his head. I know he had two hits against the Bears but I believe one was an Arizona chopper where he pounded the ball into the dirt in front of home plate and beat it out. He's just not making solid contact. Worst of all, I may not be a sports therapist but his struggles at the plate seem to be affecting his play in the field. He had an error on Wednesday night and again last night. The problem with the throw he sailed in the 9th wasn't so much the throw itself as it was the decision to make the throw in the first place. He had no chance to throw out the runner but it looked like he was trying to be the hero and do too much.

I don't mean this to be a Bowser bashing post. The guy has immense talent. The chances of Esquer giving him a day off in the semifinals are probably next to none but I'm much more concerned about our games in June than the ones today and tomorrow. I think we're going to need him to get back on track if we have a chance to make a deep run in Omaha.