We all realize this team will not make the NCAA's unless it wins the B1G, so games like today's against Western allow the coaches an opportunity to see some players in action who may not be playing in a B1G series on a regular basis.
That said, it doesn't mean the coaching staff should leave at the bottom of the 8th along with the fans thinking that a 4 run lead is safe and the win has been chalked up. At least not with this team.
M basically played its usual positional starters, but the mound staff was, as somewhat expected, a committee assignment.
Allen started on the bump and spotted WMU 4 in the top of the second. His did not have a consisted strike zone, but give WMU some credit too. They are 2nd in the MAC right now coming off a weekend sweep and are a representative MW team which was also looking to send a committee to the mound. M scored 5 in the bottom of the 2nd and the game did not seem in jeopardy the rest of the way as Allen seemed to settle down and went 5 2/3 before being relieved.
M added 1 in the 3rd and 2 in the 5th and held a 8-4 lead going into the later innings. The teams traded runs in the 8th and the 4 run lead looked solid when Kidd took the mound. He allowed some base runners but also got some outs, but the coaches seemed content with letting him close out the game, and didn't have anyone warming up in the pen. I'm not sure if that was because M had nobody else or if they were not concerned.
Well you guessed it, slowly WMU chipped away at the lead. It started when the leadoff batter walked on 4 pitches... To quote Bob Uecker in Major League, "How could he lay off pitches so close?" but that didn't phase M's pitching coach. To Kidd's credit he struck out the next atter on three pitches. But then gave up two straight singles which plated a run, cutting the lead to 3. Ahh, nothing to worry about... a seeing eye single loaded the bases. Kidd did get a big strike out of a leading WMU hitter, who happened to be 3 for 4 up to that at bat. Should we have had someone in the pen warming up, just in case? Ahh, it's an exhibition game. We can win it on talent alone. I can see Herb Brooks turning in his grave, sans his quote.
Well Dr Jeckyl/Mr Kidd struck out might Casey on 3 pitches... and all seemed good. He even started off the next batter with a strike. The it must have felt like Yesterday's eclipse and everything went dark when WMU's batter (somewhat appropriately named SWINEHART) hit the next pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam giving WMU a 10-9 lead.
WMU then brought in it's 9th and 10th pitcher to toss in the bottom of the 9th. I guess, their manager didn't leave the game in the 8th inning, like M's staff did. Oh M got a runner on, but never really threatened.
So in the scheme of the B1G, what does it mean? Nothing, except the realization that outside of Voit, Rogers, Vigue, Barr and Denner, M's bullpen committee if shaky at best and remains consistently, inconsistent. Tough to win with 5 arms and continued question marks.
But Alas, perhaps our coaching staff was holding some pitchers back to face the WIsconsin Milwaukee on Wednesday. Perhaps they were concerned over The Panthers 5-23 record.
We're still young, but it's nice to win the games one is supposed to win.
That said, it doesn't mean the coaching staff should leave at the bottom of the 8th along with the fans thinking that a 4 run lead is safe and the win has been chalked up. At least not with this team.
M basically played its usual positional starters, but the mound staff was, as somewhat expected, a committee assignment.
Allen started on the bump and spotted WMU 4 in the top of the second. His did not have a consisted strike zone, but give WMU some credit too. They are 2nd in the MAC right now coming off a weekend sweep and are a representative MW team which was also looking to send a committee to the mound. M scored 5 in the bottom of the 2nd and the game did not seem in jeopardy the rest of the way as Allen seemed to settle down and went 5 2/3 before being relieved.
M added 1 in the 3rd and 2 in the 5th and held a 8-4 lead going into the later innings. The teams traded runs in the 8th and the 4 run lead looked solid when Kidd took the mound. He allowed some base runners but also got some outs, but the coaches seemed content with letting him close out the game, and didn't have anyone warming up in the pen. I'm not sure if that was because M had nobody else or if they were not concerned.
Well you guessed it, slowly WMU chipped away at the lead. It started when the leadoff batter walked on 4 pitches... To quote Bob Uecker in Major League, "How could he lay off pitches so close?" but that didn't phase M's pitching coach. To Kidd's credit he struck out the next atter on three pitches. But then gave up two straight singles which plated a run, cutting the lead to 3. Ahh, nothing to worry about... a seeing eye single loaded the bases. Kidd did get a big strike out of a leading WMU hitter, who happened to be 3 for 4 up to that at bat. Should we have had someone in the pen warming up, just in case? Ahh, it's an exhibition game. We can win it on talent alone. I can see Herb Brooks turning in his grave, sans his quote.
Well Dr Jeckyl/Mr Kidd struck out might Casey on 3 pitches... and all seemed good. He even started off the next batter with a strike. The it must have felt like Yesterday's eclipse and everything went dark when WMU's batter (somewhat appropriately named SWINEHART) hit the next pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam giving WMU a 10-9 lead.
WMU then brought in it's 9th and 10th pitcher to toss in the bottom of the 9th. I guess, their manager didn't leave the game in the 8th inning, like M's staff did. Oh M got a runner on, but never really threatened.
So in the scheme of the B1G, what does it mean? Nothing, except the realization that outside of Voit, Rogers, Vigue, Barr and Denner, M's bullpen committee if shaky at best and remains consistently, inconsistent. Tough to win with 5 arms and continued question marks.
But Alas, perhaps our coaching staff was holding some pitchers back to face the WIsconsin Milwaukee on Wednesday. Perhaps they were concerned over The Panthers 5-23 record.
We're still young, but it's nice to win the games one is supposed to win.
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