Crazy Kentucky Baseball stat

[hogfan064]

I noticed they were 10-0 and looked to see who they were playing. Well, the combined record of the OOC teams UK will play before SEC play is 2-38.  Butler, Evansville, Purdue, and Eastern Michigan are all winless teams.

Check out the results of there season so far.  Talk about padding the stats

http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2008/schedule/Kentucky

[hogman64]

I noticed they were 10-0 and looked to see who they were playing. Well, the combined record of the OOC teams UK will play before SEC play is 2-38.  Butler, Evansville, Purdue, and Eastern Michigan are all winless teams.

Check out the results of there season so far.  Talk about padding the stats

http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2008/schedule/Kentucky

They do that every year, then the SEC season starts and they get beat like a dog........

[hogfan064]

They do that every year, then the SEC season starts and they get beat like a dog........

That happened last year, but in 06 they won the SEC.

[spudhog]

I know their is some logical thinking behind having a cupcake schedule. It does build confidence and you do get a lot of pt for some inexperienced guys. In college baseball, the non con season is almost a freebie. Great if you beat real good teams but if you don't it is not the end of the world.

Question, why wouldn't one schedule a tough team or 2? Cause basically your collecting fools gold.

[valpocrusader]

Ha, yeah other than a little Notre Dame success, the state of Indiana isn't exactly known as a baseball power

[Nutts and Bolts]

Kinda like Florida in Basketball this year.... The played cupcakes early because they were going to have a young team.  Billy wanted to pad his schedule with wins... enough to keep his NCAA Tourney runs going... It will still be close for them

[PintailKiller]

The schedule is not a padded as it might seem from the outside.
Butler - 0-4, 22-33 in 2007 and 32-25 in 06 when they were Horizon League Champs and played in the NCAA Tourny.  All 4 of their losses are to Kentucky.  They have not played anyone else yet.
Evansville - 0-8, 35-23 in 07 and 43-22 in 06 when the were ranked 19th in the final coaches poll.  They do have a good history even though they are down this year.
Purdue - 0-6, 22-32 in 07.  the 3 non Kentucky loses were all 1 run losses at #15 Baylor.
Eastern Michigan - Kentucky has not played them yet, but are supposed to this weekend.  They are 0-10 and not very good.


UK's schedule has the better names on it vs the Hogs schedule so far.  Also a factor for D1 teams that are non revenue producing is that all these teams are within a few hours drive of Lexington and that is attractive to these teams.

[PintailKiller]

Ha, yeah other than a little Notre Dame success, the state of Indiana isn't exactly known as a baseball power

Butler and Evansville have had some nice success in the past.

[hawgfandude]

The schedule is not a padded as it might seem from the outside.
Butler - 0-4, 22-33 in 2007 and 32-25 in 06 when they were Horizon League Champs and played in the NCAA Tourny.  All 4 of their losses are to Kentucky.  They have not played anyone else yet.
Evansville - 0-8, 35-23 in 07 and 43-22 in 06 when the were ranked 19th in the final coaches poll.  They do have a good history even though they are down this year.
Purdue - 0-6, 22-32 in 07.  the 3 non Kentucky loses were all 1 run losses at #15 Baylor.
Eastern Michigan - Kentucky has not played them yet, but are supposed to this weekend.  They are 0-10 and not very good.


UK's schedule has the better names on it vs the Hogs schedule so far.  Also a factor for D1 teams that are non revenue producing is that all these teams are within a few hours drive of Lexington and that is attractive to these teams.

Texas A&M and Ohio State by themselves are much better names than any above and with #1 Arizona State next week, well ......

[PintailKiller]

I agree, but that was just 1 game against each.  Based on college baseball history - UK has played the better names so far.
The ASU series will tell us alot about the Hogs offensively and about the depth of the Hogs pitching.

[hogsanity]

Gotta play who you can find to play early.  I know we are going to ASU, and played in College station, but many teasm just cant find quality competiton to play early on. 

[HogBusGuy]

Gotta play who you can find to play early.  I know we are going to ASU, and played in College station, but many teasm just cant find quality competiton to play early on. 

Kentucky schedules this way "every" year.  We drove out there last year for the series vs. the Hogs.  Kentucky was 19-0 and their fans were talking about how good they were since they had been very strong in 2006.  We took them on Friday and Sunday and they limped away from the weekend at 19-2 and we boat raced them on Sunday. 

They put up great stats each year against very little competition in a little league ballpark that has a metal scoreboard in right-center that is "in-play" since the park is soo-short.  It's ridiculous.

Then they get into SEC play and get their clock cleaned.

So don't be impressed with their stats.  They pad them with the schedule...they pad them in that little park of theirs....and after being there last year and seeing the games in person, their official scorekeeper pads their stats with their hit or error rulings.

Rinky-dink!

[hogsanity]

Kentucky schedules this way "every" year.  We drove out there last year for the series vs. the Hogs.  Kentucky was 19-0 and their fans were talking about how good they were since they had been very strong in 2006.  We took them on Friday and Sunday and they limped away from the weekend at 19-2 and we boat raced them on Sunday. 

They put up great stats each year against very little competition in a little league ballpark that has a metal scoreboard in right-center that is "in-play" since the park is soo-short.  It's ridiculous.

Then they get into SEC play and get their clock cleaned.

So don't be impressed with their stats.  They pad them with the schedule...they pad them in that little park of theirs....and after being there last year and seeing the games in person, their official scorekeeper pads their stats with their hit or error rulings.

Rinky-dink!

id not say i was impressed, but with 2 family members who played college ball, al be it non-d1, I know how hard it can be to schedule. If they are good, they will hold their own in the sec, if not, well, we saw that last year.

[valpocrusader]

Butler and Evansville have had some nice success in the past?

Making the now-expanded tournament isn't exactly success when you beat up on the other Horizon League baseball powerhouses.  Decent, winning seasons-yes.  Hell, by that statement Stan Heath had some "nice success."  Come on

[jbcarol]

We saw Kentucky's first loss last year to Nick Schmidt and the Hogs in 20 degree weather at Cliff Hagan.

[chiefsfan]

a couple years ago, Arkansas State played Kentucky in a tournament down at Lamar.  The Cats were undefeated going into the game, so we all thought we would get killed.   Never realized until later they had played no one with a pulse until that weekend.   All I remember is that an Arkansas State team that didnt sniff .500 all year beat them up pretty good, with both teams throwing their top starter at each other

Its a Kentucky thing, they race through nonconference ever year, then struggle to make the tourney once SEC play starts.

But we dont play Kentucky in this 2 year rotation of East Squads, so im not worried too much about them

[PintailKiller]

Butler and Evansville have had some nice success in the past?

Making the now-expanded tournament isn't exactly success when you beat up on the other Horizon League baseball powerhouses.  Decent, winning seasons-yes.  Hell, by that statement Stan Heath had some "nice success."  Come on

Evansville is in the Missouri Valley Conference and that is a good conference.  Evansville has produced several NCAA teams in a league in which the bids traditionally go to Wichita St or Creighton and has produced several top draft picks including NCAA player of the Year Andy Benes.  So yea, they've had some decent success.
Arkansas got ranked by sweeping Wright St of the Horizon League.  So maybe Butler has only been descent since 2000 or so.

[valpocrusader]

Dude...

Evansville is NOT a regular contender in the MVC.  They were decent in the Heartland and the MCC (now Horizon), not so in the MVC.  They have been to 3-count 'em 3-NCAA tournaments in 30 years.

And thanks for proving my point...which was INDIANA SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOOD IN BASEBALL.  Bids traditionally go to Wichita St. & Creighton-hmm, last time I checked neither one of those schools are in the Hoosier state.

And they have had ONE top draft pick.  ONE.  Andy Benes?!?!  That was 20 years ago.  Back then he was lighting up IUPUI and Ivy Tech.

And last, I really don't think BaseballAmerica saw Arkansas sweep of Wright St. and went, "Oh my God!  We absolutely HAVE to put them in the top 25!"  I think a little more went into it that just beating them.

Point of the thread:  Kentucky's OOC schedule is soft.  If any Indiana teams are on it, then yes, it is.  They have had very little success. 

Thanks for playing though, enjoy the parting gifts

[dqhog33]

You love Bryce Drew dont you?

[catfanNar]

They do that every year, then the SEC season starts and they get beat like a dog........

Well so far you are wrong, 3-0 SEC start with a sweep of Alabama

[hogfan064]

Well so far you are wrong, 3-0 SEC start with a sweep of Alabama

Bama is 8-8 this year.  When you beat Vandy, USC, or Ole Miss then it will show you're legit.

[PorcineSublime]

Bama is 8-8 this year.  When you beat Vandy, USC, or Ole Miss then it will show you're legit.

I don't know about you, but I ain't talking smack after a pair of beatdowns in our house by a mediocre Georgia team. I'm just saying...... 

[hogfan064]

I don't know about you, but I ain't talking smack after a pair of beatdowns in our house by a mediocre Georgia team. I'm just saying...... 

Well, I know our team is young this year and likely will be down.  But if a UK fan wants to come on an Arkansas baseball board and talk smack then he needs to realize his Cats have a poor baseball tradition compared to ours.  UK might have a better team this year, but most years the Hogs are better.

[jbcarol]

Report from last year's opener with the Cats:

Lexington, KY (JBC):  Dave Van Horn's Arkansas Razorback baseball team ended the Kentucky Wildcats 19-0 season opening streak with a 10-2 smiting at Cliff Hagan Stadium.  With wind chill in the 20's at game time, the Razorback cold steel bats came out of the hickory smoker to blister Cats starter Chris Rusin (2-1) in the opening inning.  The deep freeze was put on the Cats' bats by Arkansas' 6-5 lefty starter Nick Schmidt.

The top of the first looked like a game to be decided by the home town umps.  As the ump-in-chief pulled into the Cliff Hagan lot in his gold SUV an experienced observer of the SEC scene noted that it could be a long nite for the Hawgs.  The umps did not disappoint the Spring Break depleted crowd right off the bat.  Jake Dugger lined Rusin's first pitch for a stone cold double.  Sean Jones then hit a shot down the right field line.  Our view was obscured by the practice barn the Cats had erected to be near their first base side dugout (apparently lots of these 20 degree games are played up north).  Next was a scenario you could not even imagine at an eight and nine-year-old game with a teen age ump at Tyson Park during Fall Ball.

Well after Jones had reached second, Dugger had crossed the plate, the scoreboard had registered "one" and a scorecard had been scratched in with frozen ink, the first base umpire decided that you did not hear me correctly in the cold.  It was a foul ball.  On the deciding pitch, Cat's cather Sean Coughlin blocked it in the dirt, tagged Jones, and simultaneously made his appeal to the first base ump (Jack Coughlin, 2140 University Drive, Lexington).  Umpire Coughlin immediately punched Jones out as if choreographed. 

But it did not matter.  After Coon was sent a message with an HBP off his left foot, Logan Forsythe torched Rusin for the only home run in the first five innings.  It was 3-0 Razorbacks.  After Schmidt survived the first giving up 3 scratch singles to yield one run the matter was to be left to the relief pitchers.  In the fifth, UK's on base percentage specialist, Carroll, struck out on a wicked pitch.  Arkansas catcher, Brian Walker made a great block and threw Carroll out at first by a whisker.  It was time to thaw out and catch the NCAA tournament action. 

Of course, only the Kentucky game was shown in the local market and at the half, CBS fixated on the Florida game.  We were spared.

At least 50 Razorback fans braved the bitter cold and made the better choice of travelling team to support.  Included was one bald headed announcer who models mediocrity on an afternoon radio sports show in the Arkansas market.  Also included were a morbidly obese Razorback fan and his son sitting with his UK host on the UK side of the stadium.  (Included here only based on what he said after Mr. jb paid him a sincere compliment on the great showing of the Hawgs team and wished him safe travels and a great visit in the Lexington area.)

How cold was it?  After the game, the young son needed to hit the Men's Room.  He came out and reported that the rest room was full of men blocking the urinals.  Mr. jb went in to "watch his back" not realizing the pervert ratio had increased in Lexington that much.  It became clear it was a place Hawgs and Cats who did not have access to either the Sky/Press Box or the Women's Rest Room, could come together as a model of sportsmanship and find some warmth despite the stench left by a spring break depleted janitorial staff.

[catfanNar]

Well, I know our team is young this year and likely will be down.  But if a UK fan wants to come on an Arkansas baseball board and talk smack then he needs to realize his Cats have a poor baseball tradition compared to ours.  UK might have a better team this year, but most years the Hogs are better.

That was hardly talking trash.

[msudawgs64]

as long as John Cohen stays in Lexington <secretly wishing that he will replace Ron Polk when he steps down>, the Cats will be a competitive program.   

[hogwildinhouston]

as long as John Cohen stays in Lexington <secretly wishing that he will replace Ron Polk when he steps down>, the Cats will be a competitive program.  

You are exactly right.  Cohen has done a great job in a short time at UK.  What has been left out of this bashing Kentucky for their weak schedule thread is that the won the SEC regular season title in 2006 in Cohen's third season.  They were down somewhat last year, but in 06 they complied a pretty damn good SEC record of 20-10. 

[hogfan064]

You are exactly right.  Cohen has done a great job in a short time at UK.  What has been left out of this bashing Kentucky for their weak schedule thread is that the won the SEC regular season title in 2006 in Cohen's third season.  They were down somewhat last year, but in 06 they complied a pretty damn good SEC record of 20-10. 

He's done a good job of getting kids in the Big 10 regions and selling them on playing in the best conference in college baseball.  He's definitely a good coach, but I'm happy with DVH.  With the exception of South Carolina, Arkansas has the most consecutive appearances in the postseason in the SEC right now.