1. Simply unreal being in that stadium last night. The fans brought it. We lost a few as the night went on (I guess some people didn't feel they could stay too late with work this morning), but truly fantastic atmosphere. I suppose baseball casuals probably didn't love the low-hit pitching duel kind of game, but purists probably love it.
2. Can't say enough about our pitching staff during this NCAA tournament. They had a rough patch in the last month of the season, but they're really pitching well right now. We are getting innings out of guys like O'Brien that I didn't see coming.
3. This game was extremely frustrating at the plate, but I guess that guy was PAC 12 player of the year for a reason. Uncharacteristically bad weekend from Waldy at the plate, but Mccarthy picked up the slack and was the MVP of this game (for a variety of reasons).
4. I still think that we need to get SOMETHING at the plate from Burkes, McCoy, and Smith. Those three are almost automatic outs right now, and it's tough to win if a third of your lineup simply never gets a hit.
5. Mason Moore is so good in spots, but he really struggles with walks. Good Mason Moore was game 3 against Florida. Strugglebus mason Moore is last night. Still got 3 great innings, but feels like it could have been a lot more.
6. One thing I love about this team is the resilience. Grant Smith makes a horrendous error in the field, but responds with an unbelievable run saving catch an inning or two later. Mitch Daly was kind of bad early in the year, but last night he was one of the few guys raking and he also makes the second out in the 9th inning with an outstanding defensive play. Robbie Hummel was left for dead after South Carolina, but comes in and gets the last out in the biggest game in school history with a man on third base ready to break our hearts. Really a lot of life lessons here.
7. People still get frustrated (albeit less so) with some of Ming's decisions (the bunting, the stealing third, the leaving a pitcher in too long, etc), but almost everything that guy has done has worked in this tournament (starting Niman in Game 1 of the regional, the levers he pulled last night, calling on Hummel to get the last out, etc).
8. Best weekend in school history for baseball. Really special to be there.
9. Omaha. Trying to decide if my attitude is just "go out there and enjoy it regardless of outcome" or if I will be disappointed if we go 0-2. Going to try and be level headed. With that said, we can win the whole thing. Tennessee is the best team, but their pitching has some holes in it. Florida is the hottest team and I wish they were on the other side of the bracket b/c I hate them. Texas A&M is up there, though they have some real injury issues. Let's see what happens and enjoy the ride.
2. Can't say enough about our pitching staff during this NCAA tournament. They had a rough patch in the last month of the season, but they're really pitching well right now. We are getting innings out of guys like O'Brien that I didn't see coming.
3. This game was extremely frustrating at the plate, but I guess that guy was PAC 12 player of the year for a reason. Uncharacteristically bad weekend from Waldy at the plate, but Mccarthy picked up the slack and was the MVP of this game (for a variety of reasons).
4. I still think that we need to get SOMETHING at the plate from Burkes, McCoy, and Smith. Those three are almost automatic outs right now, and it's tough to win if a third of your lineup simply never gets a hit.
5. Mason Moore is so good in spots, but he really struggles with walks. Good Mason Moore was game 3 against Florida. Strugglebus mason Moore is last night. Still got 3 great innings, but feels like it could have been a lot more.
6. One thing I love about this team is the resilience. Grant Smith makes a horrendous error in the field, but responds with an unbelievable run saving catch an inning or two later. Mitch Daly was kind of bad early in the year, but last night he was one of the few guys raking and he also makes the second out in the 9th inning with an outstanding defensive play. Robbie Hummel was left for dead after South Carolina, but comes in and gets the last out in the biggest game in school history with a man on third base ready to break our hearts. Really a lot of life lessons here.
7. People still get frustrated (albeit less so) with some of Ming's decisions (the bunting, the stealing third, the leaving a pitcher in too long, etc), but almost everything that guy has done has worked in this tournament (starting Niman in Game 1 of the regional, the levers he pulled last night, calling on Hummel to get the last out, etc).
8. Best weekend in school history for baseball. Really special to be there.
9. Omaha. Trying to decide if my attitude is just "go out there and enjoy it regardless of outcome" or if I will be disappointed if we go 0-2. Going to try and be level headed. With that said, we can win the whole thing. Tennessee is the best team, but their pitching has some holes in it. Florida is the hottest team and I wish they were on the other side of the bracket b/c I hate them. Texas A&M is up there, though they have some real injury issues. Let's see what happens and enjoy the ride.
