Stillwater Regional - Welcome MSU, GCU, and UA to Stillwater!

[SanditeCowboy]

Overall a good season. The team definitely fell short of expectations. You earn a national seed, regional and super regional - but cannot even get out of your own regional. This regional was very winnable and the Cowboys should have won it at home.

Arkansas made the plays in the big moments tonight and OSU folded, no other way to put it. Very disappointing the players/coaches did not step up when it mattered most. I was sure OSU would take the lead in the bottom of 8 with the bases loaded and only one out. The Cowboys didn’t even score, wow.

The other thing I want to talk about is attendance. I was shocked the regional did not sell out on Tuesday. I saw a 5700 number for session tickets sold. Between the thirsty OSU fans and Arkansas fans I was shocked it didn’t sell out. And the people wringing their hands about Arkansas “taking over” the stadium - we now know was hyperbole. Arkansas had a nice group of fans that traveled but they did not run OSU out of the stadium like I heard the Chief say on one of the radio broadcasts and on Twitter. Thought this was very unprofessional of him and I really love him and Rex both. Listen to them every game.

Finally, when I saw all the players posting on social media and asking fans to show up tonight I was concerned. Then perform like they did, it just did not look good. The fan atmosphere tonight was the best I saw all season - I had season tickets and regional tickets, so feel like I have good perspective on this.

One more thing, do you think any of Gary Wards’ players would have been on social media (if it were around then) asking fans to show up? I don’t think so. All they wanted to do was get to the ballpark and kick some a$$. Maybe it is just a reflection of society today or I am just old.


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[OState77]

Thanks to some of the baseball loyalists for the baseball discussion, updates, game play by play, etc all season. Agree with many here in that the team no doubt showed a ton of heart yesterday but this will go down as a disappointment. A tough draw no doubt in getting Arkansas as the 2-seed, but this was a team with the talent to make a run to Omaha and maybe make some noise there.

Osmond's injury certainly didn't help but it's the latest in a trend of at least one arm breaking down by the end of the year and not enough depth developed throughout the year. I think we are ready for some new blood at the pitching coach position but not sure that's likely to happen. I thought the crowd the last 2 nights was the best home crowd we've seen at O'Brate and I hope that's something that continues next year. It'll be interesting to see the roster comings and goings between now and the fall. I continue to think one of Josh's greatest failings is he's failed to create a culture where the teams seems to embrace pressure moments. He needs to take a hard look at why that continues to be a trend for his teams.

This is as good and well put complete synopsis of the baseball program as I have seen. Very well done!!!!!

 

[SloPoke]

Overall a good season. The team definitely fell short of expectations. You earn a national seed, regional and super regional - but cannot even get out of your own regional. This regional was very winnable and the Cowboys should have won it at home.

Arkansas made the plays in the big moments tonight and OSU folded, no other way to put it. Very disappointing the players/coaches did not step up when it mattered most. I was sure OSU would take the lead in the bottom of 8 with the bases loaded and only one out. The Cowboys didn’t even score, wow.

The other thing I want to talk about is attendance. I was shocked the regional did not sell out on Tuesday. I saw a 5700 number for session tickets sold. Between the thirsty OSU fans and Arkansas fans I was shocked it didn’t sell out. And the people wringing their hands about Arkansas “taking over” the stadium - we now know was hyperbole. Arkansas had a nice group of fans that traveled but they did not run OSU out of the stadium like I heard the Chief say on one of the radio broadcasts and on Twitter. Thought this was very unprofessional of him and I really love him and Rex both. Listen to them every game.

Finally, when I saw all the players posting on social media and asking fans to show up tonight I was concerned. Then perform like they did, it just did not look good. The fan atmosphere tonight was the best I saw all season - I had season tickets and regional tickets, so feel like I have good perspective on this.

One more thing, do you think any of Gary Wards’ players would have been on social media (if it were around then) asking fans to show up? I don’t think so. All they wanted to do was get to the ballpark and kick some a$$. Maybe it is just a reflection of society today or I am just old.


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A lot of fans were in OKC tonight also.

 

[Chairman of the Board]

Well thanks to everyone who joined in this year on the baseball threads, especially those way back in February. It was mostly a lot of fun, with the frustrations of following a college baseball team through its ups and downs. As fun as yesterday was, today was quite the opposite. Ugh, why do we do this to ourselves?

I don't join in much during football season but I'll be back and ready to talk about Coach Boynton and his turnaround season and national titles in our winter and spring sports.

Go Pokes Forever

 

[HacklemanPoke]

A good foundation to build on offensively, assuming they all hang around.

With Marcus Brown and Mendham back that solidifies our infield and those 2 also have bats.

it seems like our biggest needs are pitching and long ball (Nolan and Griff).

I feel like offensively we can be ok. Are we going to be ok arm wise?

 

[OkstateKerr]

Well thanks to everyone who joined in this year on the baseball threads, especially those way back in February. It was mostly a lot of fun, with the frustrations of following a college baseball team through its ups and downs. As fun as yesterday was, today was quite the opposite. Ugh, why do we do this to ourselves?

I don't join in much during football season but I'll be back and ready to talk about Coach Boynton and his turnaround season and national titles in our winter and spring sports.

Go Pokes Forever

Thank you for all the play by play throughout the season. Was an interesting one.

 

[pokes2omaha]

Well thanks to everyone who joined in this year on the baseball threads, especially those way back in February. It was mostly a lot of fun, with the frustrations of following a college baseball team through its ups and downs. As fun as yesterday was, today was quite the opposite. Ugh, why do we do this to ourselves?

I don't join in much during football season but I'll be back and ready to talk about Coach Boynton and his turnaround season and national titles in our winter and spring sports.

Go Pokes Forever

Thanks, you are one of those baseball loyalists I referred to in my last posts. Appreciate the constant updates and game play by play going all the way back to the beginning of the year. Look forward to hearing from you again next February!

 

[pokelore]

At least the softball team is playing well in game two

5-0 lead with Maxwell pitching is almost a lock.

Just saw this...what in the hell were you thinking?

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[andylicious]

Overall a good season. The team definitely fell short of expectations. You earn a national seed, regional and super regional - but cannot even get out of your own regional. This regional was very winnable and the Cowboys should have won it at home.

Arkansas made the plays in the big moments tonight and OSU folded, no other way to put it. Very disappointing the players/coaches did not step up when it mattered most. I was sure OSU would take the lead in the bottom of 8 with the bases loaded and only one out. The Cowboys didn’t even score, wow.

The other thing I want to talk about is attendance. I was shocked the regional did not sell out on Tuesday. I saw a 5700 number for session tickets sold. Between the thirsty OSU fans and Arkansas fans I was shocked it didn’t sell out. And the people wringing their hands about Arkansas “taking over” the stadium - we now know was hyperbole. Arkansas had a nice group of fans that traveled but they did not run OSU out of the stadium like I heard the Chief say on one of the radio broadcasts and on Twitter. Thought this was very unprofessional of him and I really love him and Rex both. Listen to them every game.

Finally, when I saw all the players posting on social media and asking fans to show up tonight I was concerned. Then perform like they did, it just did not look good. The fan atmosphere tonight was the best I saw all season - I had season tickets and regional tickets, so feel like I have good perspective on this.

One more thing, do you think any of Gary Wards’ players would have been on social media (if it were around then) asking fans to show up? I don’t think so. All they wanted to do was get to the ballpark and kick some a$$. Maybe it is just a reflection of society today or I am just old.


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When my brother was in college he called over to the baseball office to find out if the game was still on after it rained that morning. Who answers but Gary Ward himself. Coach told him the game was still on and he expected him there. When Gary Ward tells you that you show up.

 

[andylicious]

Thanks, you are one of those baseball loyalists I referred to in my last posts. Appreciate the constant updates and game play by play going all the way back to the beginning of the year. Look forward to hearing from you again next February!

He's the Chairman for a reason.
Go Pokes

 

[OSU9953]

With Marcus Brown and Mendham back that solidifies our infield and those 2 also have bats.

it seems like our biggest needs are pitching and long ball (Nolan and Griff).

I feel like offensively we can be ok. Are we going to be ok arm wise?

Expect the draft to deplete the pitching staff, as well as graduation. It will be a total rebuild!!

 

[OstatePokes]

Expect the draft to deplete the pitching staff, as well as graduation. It will be a total rebuild!!

Yeah I’m sitting here looking ahead and hoping Bogusz and Ure can step up.
Who do we have coming in that could be a difference maker? I don’t see a lot of big time starters right now. Any chance Huey comes back and continues to grow as a pitcher?

 

[OSU9953]

Yeah I’m sitting here looking ahead and hoping Bogusz and Ure can step up.
Who do we have coming in that could be a difference maker? I don’t see a lot of big time starters right now. Any chance Huey comes back and continues to grow as a pitcher?

Bogusz isn't a starting pitcher, that was lightning in a bottle. He's a multi-inning reliever at best! Ryan Ure is a weekend guy that needs refinement. The staff really is high on him. Huey could come back for his COVID year assuming he doesn't get drafted, but we'll see. Do he want to commit to pitching full-time? We've tried the position thing and the bat doesn't play and with Roc and Brown manning the middle I don't see it happening. Does Huey leave and transfer if he wants to play in the infield?

Truthfully we don't have any reliable pitchers coming back. Bayden Root and Dillion Marsh come back but they were consistently inconsistent. Root couldn't find the strikezone to save his life. Trevor Martin is a draft eligible sophomore but I could see him being drafted and signing, but if he does come back, he's got to be in the conversation as a weekend guy? Solomon Washington, JUCO pitcher redshirted as did freshman Drew Blake (stillwater native).

You have a bunch of young talented freshman coming to campus. A couple could be draft casualties but most should make it. You also have some JUCO pitches like RHP Luke Young from Miland College and Iowa Western pitchers LHP Brant Hogue and Evan O'Toole. Isaac Stebens (Stillwater native) from Cowley Country (national runner-ups) will be coming in as well. Of course you have the transfer portal, but we whiffed on the portal in the pitching department.

 

[PokeSaladAnnie]

ARK fans were claiming the Super Regional would be in Fayetteville if they won in Stillwater, but currently it is slated to be at North Carolina.

 

[jetman]

OSU gonna OSU

 

[orangerulez]

OSU gonna OSU

And we do it so well.

 

[cowboys_r_us]

In my opinion here's how I viewed the season without taking a deep dive into the numbers:

Offense- made improvements that are positive compared to the previous 3 years. The reduction in strikeouts is good, need a similar improvement again next year. Need better hitting with RISP.

Defense- too many errors late in the season but had a good year overall even though it was a step back from prior years.

Pitching- injuries hurt (Benge, Osmond) and too much free baseball late in the season. We continue to see significant fatigue to good arms year after year that hurts us late. Maybe we are riding our best arms too long early in the year? Not sure.

Coaching- offensive coaching looks like a step in the right direction, but we're overthinking some situations (Stealing vs OU with Griff at the plate, bunting with 8,9 up, pinch hitting Trenkle, etc).

Pitching decisions are the weakness of the team IMO. We say year after year that we waited too long to make changes and we saw it too many times to count down the stretch. Somebody has to keep Walton in check or find a new pitching coach. We had a bunch of 3+ run innings late in the year that ended this team's run. It also seems that we waste too many pitches when we're ahead 0-2 or 1-2 and nibble the corners too often - especially early in the year.

Overall I like the trajectory the program is headed vs last year or 2019, but something has to shift with the pitching because you can't lose your regional when you score ~70 runs.

 

[FredtheMonkey]

SanditeCowboy, post: "One more thing, do you think any of Gary Wards’ players would have been on social media (if it were around then) asking fans to show up? I don’t think so. All they wanted to do was get to the ballpark and kick some a$$. Maybe it is just a reflection of society today or I am just old."

This constant guilt-tripping of fans seems a program-wide issue for baseball that starts at the top.

How about you focus on winning the baseball game. Or at least, have some awareness of the world around you. Because half the population is still afraid to breath air within 6' of other another human, (after 2 years of 'News-programming'). And right now, it costs $60 to drive to Stillwater from OKC or Tulsa, where most alumni live. And the softball team was playing for a chance at the finals, at the exact same time as you last night. And some people spent 10 hours watching you play the day before.

Just play baseball. That's your job. Playing, or broadcasting, or promoting OSU baseball. Stop trying to control the fans. Or if you are unable to stop worrying about fans, at the very least, employ a little self-control and stop guilt-tripping them every broadcast or with your OSU twitter accounts.

 

[SanditeCowboy]

Overall a good season. The team definitely fell short of expectations. You earn a national seed, regional and super regional - but cannot even get out of your own regional. This regional was very winnable and the Cowboys should have won it at home.

Arkansas made the plays in the big moments tonight and OSU folded, no other way to put it. Very disappointing the players/coaches did not step up when it mattered most. I was sure OSU would take the lead in the bottom of 8 with the bases loaded and only one out. The Cowboys didn’t even score, wow.

The other thing I want to talk about is attendance. I was shocked the regional did not sell out on Tuesday. I saw a 5700 number for session tickets sold. Between the thirsty OSU fans and Arkansas fans I was shocked it didn’t sell out. And the people wringing their hands about Arkansas “taking over” the stadium - we now know was hyperbole. Arkansas had a nice group of fans that traveled but they did not run OSU out of the stadium like I heard the Chief say on one of the radio broadcasts and on Twitter. Thought this was very unprofessional of him and I really love him and Rex both. Listen to them every game.

Finally, when I saw all the players posting on social media and asking fans to show up tonight I was concerned. Then perform like they did, it just did not look good. The fan atmosphere tonight was the best I saw all season - I had season tickets and regional tickets, so feel like I have good perspective on this.

One more thing, do you think any of Gary Wards’ players would have been on social media (if it were around then) asking fans to show up? I don’t think so. All they wanted to do was get to the ballpark and kick some a$$. Maybe it is just a reflection of society today or I am just old.


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When my brother was in college he called over to the baseball office to find out if the game was still on after it rained that morning. Who answers but Gary Ward himself. Coach told him the game was still on and he expected him there. When Gary Ward tells you that you show up.

It was definitely a different era of college baseball then. Probably not always fair to compare Josh and his teams to then. But sure would be nice to see this program back in Omaha consistently.


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[goPOKES918]

Tough one to swallow. Not a huge baseball fan, but that had me pacing around the room and changing the channel when it gets too tough to watch like a football game. So many opportunities.

Goes to show how natural a rivalry we have with Arkansas. Also confirmed how much I hate them. Far more than Texas or Baylor or anyone besides OU. Might have to do with their massive presence in Tulsa. I don't have to see Texas, Tech, Kstate, or Baylor fans. Arky fans outnumber Tulsa fans here. I see a Razorback decal EVERY time I drive more than 5 minutes