Haven't been able to post since the tournament started - but I like to wait a few days anyway so the emotion of the moment doesn't make me write stupid things.
For now, a few recap items from the NCAA tournament performance:
- This team did just compete for a national championship, they just came up short.
I don't know what that phrase means to anyone else, but this team was right there: they were in the college world series, they had the better overall run of play versus the #1 team in the country, and while they didn't have that advantage in the second game they had a chance to take it.
It's baseball; so the outcome has lots of randomness to it.
Just lately we've been on the downside of that randomness, but if we keep getting chances it will turn again.
- The pitching staff, overall, was good during the tournament.
Going in, I and others stated that we didn't know how Stanford could manage a 4 game regional, much less 5. However, they did manage a 5 game regional with aplomb giving up only 6 runs in those 4th and 5th games.
Overall, the team ERA in the tournament was 4.2. That's a lot better than the season 5.72. And ERAs tend to go up in the tournament as you face better competition and the summer warmth leads to the ball carrying better.
[And the main counter trend is that you sometimes only have to go with your best pitchers, which wasn't the case for Stanford as they extended the regional and super-regional as long as can be.]
- The offense was up and down.
Two double digit run games, but also lots of guys left on base in critical games.
Stanford averaged 7.0 runs per game in the tournament, versus 8.4 runs per game over the season.
- Stanford finished the season with 117 home runs. That's one behind last year's record of 118.
It is slightly higher HRs per game than last year (played one fewer game).
The team was on pace to break the record until they had zero HRs in Omaha. And only 4 in the three games vs Texas.
- It's the Wake Forest loss that feels the most like the one that got away.
The lightning delay - two picked off first base - not sending Moore home from second - Bruno couldn't get a call - the killer hit a grounder with eyes.
Versus Tennessee, we just ran into an all-time relief pitching performance. With the possible exception of the Oregon ace who blanked us, that was the best pitching performance against the team all year.
- In the regular season, Stanford was 18-3 in games that were 2 runs or less differential (including all extra innings games). In the tournament Stanford was 2-3.
- Happened to be out in the Bay Area and was able to take my son to the second and third Texas games. Those were epic in different ways and junior was thrilled. For that alone I will always appreciate this season.
[Though I do wish Rios shot had actually gone over the fence, I guess the upside is that we got to celebrate twice.]
For now, a few recap items from the NCAA tournament performance:
- This team did just compete for a national championship, they just came up short.
I don't know what that phrase means to anyone else, but this team was right there: they were in the college world series, they had the better overall run of play versus the #1 team in the country, and while they didn't have that advantage in the second game they had a chance to take it.
It's baseball; so the outcome has lots of randomness to it.
Just lately we've been on the downside of that randomness, but if we keep getting chances it will turn again.
- The pitching staff, overall, was good during the tournament.
Going in, I and others stated that we didn't know how Stanford could manage a 4 game regional, much less 5. However, they did manage a 5 game regional with aplomb giving up only 6 runs in those 4th and 5th games.
Overall, the team ERA in the tournament was 4.2. That's a lot better than the season 5.72. And ERAs tend to go up in the tournament as you face better competition and the summer warmth leads to the ball carrying better.
[And the main counter trend is that you sometimes only have to go with your best pitchers, which wasn't the case for Stanford as they extended the regional and super-regional as long as can be.]
- The offense was up and down.
Two double digit run games, but also lots of guys left on base in critical games.
Stanford averaged 7.0 runs per game in the tournament, versus 8.4 runs per game over the season.
- Stanford finished the season with 117 home runs. That's one behind last year's record of 118.
It is slightly higher HRs per game than last year (played one fewer game).
The team was on pace to break the record until they had zero HRs in Omaha. And only 4 in the three games vs Texas.
- It's the Wake Forest loss that feels the most like the one that got away.
The lightning delay - two picked off first base - not sending Moore home from second - Bruno couldn't get a call - the killer hit a grounder with eyes.
Versus Tennessee, we just ran into an all-time relief pitching performance. With the possible exception of the Oregon ace who blanked us, that was the best pitching performance against the team all year.
- In the regular season, Stanford was 18-3 in games that were 2 runs or less differential (including all extra innings games). In the tournament Stanford was 2-3.
- Happened to be out in the Bay Area and was able to take my son to the second and third Texas games. Those were epic in different ways and junior was thrilled. For that alone I will always appreciate this season.
[Though I do wish Rios shot had actually gone over the fence, I guess the upside is that we got to celebrate twice.]