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Ohio Baseball

Topic: Change

Topic: Change

Author

Message

Donuts
General User

Member Since: 9/22/2010
Post Count: 715

Status: Offline

Change

Posted: 4/17/2014 9:22:37 AM

Yes, it is only going to be two seasons into a new regime, but a changes need to be made as soon as the end of this season. We have turned into an absolute joke of a baseball team, and this latest loss to Rio Grande makes me wonder what our record would be at the high school level. By the way, don't kid yourself...that is actually how anemic our offense is. We would not make it out of districts at the D1 high school level.

According to Jason Arkley, we could be heading towards arguably our worst season in franchise history. The worst season? Just last year, when we won just 14 games (fewest since 1961).

As some who follow this board might remember, I was a strong supporter of finding a new head coach. I still do feel that way, and all you have to do is look at Joe Carbone's fading success to see the game was passing him by. However, never in my wildest dreams would I think that in just two short years, I would be longing for the days of going .500 in the MAC.

It goes further than just results though, and that is what the most frustrating thing is. Why did we take the players out of summer baseball? Why did we change up the logos on hats? Why can't we stay healthy? Why are we so quick to alienate alumni? Why do we insist on bunting and double stealing like an 8-year old learning the new controls on MLB the Show?

The only thing that held Ohio back from having the best baseball facilities in the MAC was an indoor practice facility. Well guess what, we have one now. We also still have the best field and the best weather. We also still arguably have the best history, although it is ancient history these days. This job should be as enticing as the basketball job for any coach looking to do well regionally.

Smith hasn't won a series, and I don't really see that changing this year. We have no one on staff who is familiar with the Ohio area to scout, which is kind of a big deal when you are working with a baseball budget.

Carbone, ever the quote machine, used to say "when you win, it's 'us,' but when you lose, it's 'them.'"

Well, I have had it with "them" this season. I won't stand for us getting punked by a NAIA team that split a series with Miami-Hamilton and barely squeaked out a 4-3 win against Ohio University-Chillicothe. I was all in on this hire, but there is no excuse for the program to take this type of nose dive.

Last Edited: 4/17/2014 9:24:58 AM by Donuts

Andrew Ruck
General User

Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,695

Status: Offline

RE: Change

Posted: 4/17/2014 9:59:41 AM

I like to think I am a pretty patient and level headed guy, but I can't disagree with any of that. I loved the hire, and trust Schaus to find the right coach for the job...But man oh man, this one just looks like a whiff. We could give him another year, but it isn't even remotely feasible to expect a somewhat competitive team next year. Even if we gave him a full 4 years, what s the b est case scenario? There is just nothing encouraging present right now.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

JSF
General User

Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
Post Count: 6,335

Status: Offline

RE: Change

Posted: 4/17/2014 10:17:35 AM

This is the one hire that broke Schaus's post-Groce philosophy of only hiring coaches with experience.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,280

Status: Online

RE: Change

Posted: 4/17/2014 11:36:19 AM

Move fast, and be the school willing to give Joe Sottolano a second chance (after doing due diligence on his case, of course). If the feeling is that he'll get a second chance somewhere, it should be OU. This is a guy who turned Army into a perennial NCAA tournament team and has turned down many a big time job. He has experience leading a program, understands the issues facing cold weather schools, and has had nothing but success.

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