College baseball

[TheRealVille]

Is so hard to watch. I love MLB and the difference in execution and decision making is night and day. No way should Burdi have thrown that slider after the Fullerton batter couldn't catch up to the fastball. I was saying aloud keep throwing the heat. The thing is, who called the pitch? The coach calls the pitches a lot of the time in college baseball. Whoever did it was dumb.

Also, what in the hell is wrong with Rogers? This isn't football or basketball. His selfish tirade may end up costing the game. He was cruising until that. He had to come out because almost everyone there couldn't believe how he acted. He knew it and he lost the edge he had.

I swear I will never understand today's youth and their need to pound their chest and trash talk. You never saw that in baseball. I'm a huge Cardinal fan but if they end up losing this game, they only have themselves to blame. You would think a team who has been to back to back world series would be more poised.

 

[TheRealVille]

Is so hard to watch. I love MLB and the difference in execution and decision making is night and day. No way should Burdi have thrown that slider after the Fullerton batter couldn't catch up to the fastball. I was saying aloud keep throwing the heat. The thing is, who called the pitch? The coach calls the pitches a lot of the time in college baseball. Whoever did it was dumb.

Also, what in the hell is wrong with Rogers? This isn't football or basketball. His selfish tirade may end up costing the game. He was cruising until that. He had to come out because almost everyone there couldn't believe how he acted. He knew it and he lost the edge he had.

I swear I will never understand today's youth and their need to pound their chest and trash talk. You never saw that in baseball. I'm a huge Cardinal fan but if they end up losing this game, they only have themselves to blame. You would think a team who has been to back to back world series would be more poised.

Again the Cards are not showing any poise. Smith had to tag up on that deep drive to right field. A man on 3rd puts all kinds of pressure on the pitcher in the bottom of the 9th. Coach maybe should have pinch run for Smith but I don't think he has confident with his back up catcher. Guys are over swinging, trying to be the hero. I will not be surprised if this game is won on a error or wild pitch.

 

[TheRealVille]

Again the Cards are not showing any poise. Smith had to tag up on that deep drive to right field. A man on 3rd puts all kinds of pressure on the pitcher in the bottom of the 9th. Coach maybe should have pinch run for Smith but I don't think he has confident with his back up catcher. Guys are over swinging, trying to be the hero. I will not be surprised if this game is won on a error or wild pitch.

Well, maybe this team will remember this game for a long time. How they totally imploded when they were so full of themselves. They made mistake after mistake after Rogers emotional rant to the Fullerton bench. If there is a such thing as the baseball gods, they were watching tonight. A lucky break on the bad throw by the Fullerton catcher and a opposite field home run an inch fair.

I hate this loss being a huge Cardinal fan, but something about it doesn't bother me as much as it should. Fullerton looked like a team that has a long history of going to the world series while the Cards looked like a team who expected to go without finishing the job. A lot to learn here that's for sure. McDonnell has to reign in this notion from his players that they're already there. In baseball you have to be poised and focused at all times. Once the emotional outburst came, the team lost that and then lost the game.

 

[Money cardinal]

Lots and I means lots of mistakes in this game from the cards.

Could have had a big 6th with runners on first and third with 1 out. Grounder back to the pitcher and guy on third takes off for home gets tagged out and then they throw at the batter trying to get to second to end the inning. Cards still led 3-1

Rodgers was very emotional and I liked his fire but he may have went a bit too far with the taunting. He was feeling it though and I think they should have left him in. The other mistake was if you are going to take him out with 6 outs left in the game why don't you go straight to Burdi. A walk, a single,and another walk to load the bases before they bring burdi in. One bad pitch and the game was tied.

Still think they should have left Rodgers in unless he put a couple on base. Oh well they had a great season and just had a unlucky night.

 

[zipp]

Is so hard to watch. I love MLB and the difference in execution and decision making is night and day...

Sorry, your credibility went straight to hell--and I stopped reading--when you admitted your preference for the professional equivalent.

 

[Steelers2012]

Too many mistakes and missed opportunities to comment on, and it's a little raw still. But I got a knot in the pit of my stomach when Rogers taunted the CSF bench that told me some bad karma was coming our way.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

Sorry, your credibility went straight to hell--and I stopped reading--when you admitted your preference for the professional equivalent.

I'm pretty much in the same place

Sorry, your credibility went straight to hell--and I stopped reading--when you admitted your preference for the professional equivalent.

I am in the same condition as you. One tough loss. Rogers' tirade was uncalled for. He is young and will hopefully learn that you don't waste your edge as a pitcher on misplaced emotion.

CSF is a gritty bunch and will represent well in Omaha.

If college BB is so bad, why am I watching it after midnight?

 

[Cue Card]

I swear I will never understand today's youth and their need to pound their chest and trash talk. You never saw that in baseball.

I watched the game last night and I was astounded at the amount of trash talking that was going on. I freely admit that I haven't watched much baseball since the last MLB strike (I do watch the LLWS every year), so maybe that's the norm with how the game is played today. IDK, but I do know the Cards got exactly what they earned. The season is now over for this Cardinals baseball team that had enough talent to win it all, but didn't have the self discipline needed to take that next step.

 

[Knucklehank1]

The team was 0-17 with Runners in Scoring Position in games 1 & 3. That was some of the worst situational hitting I have ever seen. Also I appreciate their aggressiveness but some of the base-running is ridiculous. In tight games, you just can't give away outs. They remind me of the basketball team that does so much right, but cannot hit free throws.

 

[clearthebases]

Thank you Coach Dan McDonnell for an outstanding year. In addition, thank you for representing the University with class and being a super role model to the players and staff.

 

[Steelers2012]

Thank you Coach Dan McDonnell for an outstanding year. In addition, thank you for representing the University with class and being a super role model to the players and staff.

I could NOT agree more with this. Even being very emotional, he handled everything last night with so much class and positivity. He essentially said this (the loss on such a big stage) is part and parcel of being an elite program. You WANT to be in games like this, and sometimes you lose games like this to other great teams. This is a coach we can all look at proudly as an outstanding role model to our players.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

The games are never televised on the major ESPN networks. I think a few of our guys failed to handle their emotions as others have said. On the surface it appears the opposition did, but I think we should be careful in making assumptions. Clearly, Rogers just went bonkers. But who knows what was being said to him throughout the game, or to others. I'm not condoning his actions I'm just not ready to blast our guys either.

Sometimes it's just not meant to be. Of the big 3 sports, baseball can produce the largest upsets because one player, a P - can dominate a game. Our guys didn't go deep into counts. Each team had a different approach, and for this 3 game set the more conservative style won out. We have free swingers. It's a shame they didn't adjust against their lefty he was throwing junk. They should have known he was avoiding the strike zone they saw him Friday.

Whatever, they are kids.

GO CARDS!

 

[zipp]

I think a few too many U of L baseball "fans" currently believe the season starts around the first of May. In time, my guess is that changes...

 

[tn00nan]

Is so hard to watch. I love MLB and the difference in execution and decision making is night and day. No way should Burdi have thrown that slider after the Fullerton batter couldn't catch up to the fastball. I was saying aloud keep throwing the heat. The thing is, who called the pitch? The coach calls the pitches a lot of the time in college baseball. Whoever did it was dumb.

Also, what in the hell is wrong with Rogers? This isn't football or basketball. His selfish tirade may end up costing the game. He was cruising until that. He had to come out because almost everyone there couldn't believe how he acted. He knew it and he lost the edge he had.

I swear I will never understand today's youth and their need to pound their chest and trash talk. You never saw that in baseball. I'm a huge Cardinal fan but if they end up losing this game, they only have themselves to blame. You would think a team who has been to back to back world series would be more poised.

COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS. There's a lot of blame to go around, Rogers, whoever called for the breaking ball from Bundi, his execution of the pitch, the lack of ability to bunt runners over when they had runners on 1st and 2nd (can't remember which inning). But I was so embarrassed with Rogers behavior. Such unsportsmanlike behavior. He appeared to be getting a 'talking to' afterwards, but the damage was done. I understand these kids get fired up, but there is STILL NO EXCUSE! A very good season and so close to a great one.

 

[zipp]

I was more disappointed in Rogers until I found out why he was reacting. And in truth, the CSF 3rd base "coach" was every bit as out of line. Hell, that guy is supposed to be the adult setting the example. What was he gonna do without the umpire there, attack the college kid?

Knowing now what happened and why, the biggest issue I have with Rogers is that he let it psyche him out of the game. He needed to keep his emotions in enough check that he could have continued to play. In the end, that could have cost us the game.

FYI, my wife's family knows the Rogers family pretty well. Josh is a great kid as is his family. He just let his emotions take over his game...

 

[Cardsmack29]

Just to make sure you all aren't flaming over the behavior from Monday and not taking into account the facts here. First, the trash talking goes back to game one when CSF was doing exactly the same thing and celebrating every big hit like it was the world series final squirting water bottles all over the dugout and yelling towards the UofL dugout and players. Second, Rogers was reacting to the CSF 3rd base coach stealing pitch signs. While not illegal it is considered unethical in the game. He yelled in his direction telling him it didn't matter.

So when you start hating for the trash talking from our team...make sure you know what led up to the trash talking and why Dan McDonnell didn't squash it right away. CSF's head coach is a cursing dickweed himself an he hides that in his interviews. He's arrogant and instills that in his players and coaching staff. The trash talk was perfectly fine in my book when in retaliation. I just wish it didn't kill our momentum when Rogers got yanked.

 

[TheRealVille]

Two wrongs don't make a right. Who ended up suffering for their actions? Rogers! Even if CSF was guilty of bad sportsmanship it was Louisville who lost the momentum for acting the same way. And it's not hating to criticize.

I watched the entire game and the Cards were cruising to victory until Rogers rant where everything changed. That behavior merits criticism but I still love Rogers and the Cards.

 

[had1- 2manyCardfan]

Its the difference between playing sports and watching sports. I know I know everyone on here was a huge athlete back in the day and played every sport known to man, but not on this stage in this atmosphere at this level and with this much on the line. You don't make it to the level Josh has without having an edge that most others don't. Everyone was loving it when the crowd and team were fired up and the CSF team was rattled while Lucas ran around the bases like he was playing with a little league team. But always gotta point the finger somewhere and since Josh made the most noise it had to be him.

Ask why we could t ever take advantage of the momentum swing we had several times? How about why Solak coudnt get a simple bunt down n the bottom of the 10th which would have put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and Ray at the plate. He wouldn't have even had to think about a breaking pitch at that point and could have been loaded up to swing away. A fly ball to the outfield could have ended the game. How about Smith not tagging from second with one out and the right fielder running to the fence? he gets to third and the pitcher startds feeling the pressure of a pass ball and his whole objective of that at bat changes.

I could go on and on about real baseball mistakes we made in this game and this series, like bringing in the go ahead run by hitting a batter with bases loaded and 2 outs right after White takes one yard to tie game 1 and give us all the momentum. But yeah I think the way Josh let his emotions get away from him in game 3 of a series against CSF with a trip to Omaha on the line with 6000 screaming fans in an inning he would have never seen the end of regaurdless since we never let our pitchers go past 7 is what we should dwell on most. Our pen let us down in two of the three games btw

 

[TheRealVille]

Look I have said both times in this thread all the mistakes the team made after Rogers bad behavior. The team looked like they lost their poise and focus. Maybe it was just coincidence. But to me the momentum changed and the Cards lost the game that they acted like they had already won. Had we won the game there would be less complaining about Rogers behavior for sure. But I still would have been critical of it. Call me old school because I see no reason to pound your chest and scream in the 6th inning.

 

[zipp]

Its the difference between playing sports and watching sports. I know I know everyone on here was a huge athlete back in the day and played every sport known to man, but not on this stage in this atmosphere at this level and with this much on the line. You don't make it to the level Josh has without having an edge that most others don't...

I'd expand that to competing aggressively at anything, not just sports. I never played any of the major organized sports, but I understand and respect the attitude that a guy like Rogers displayed. You just can't let it affect your own game negatively.

For old schoolers, I was always amazed at how US professional tennis player John McEnroe played. The guy had his share of critics. But the more emotional and irritated he got, the better he played. Few can carry that off...

 

[Money cardinal]

Two wrongs don't make a right. Who ended up suffering for their actions? Rogers! Even if CSF was guilty of bad sportsmanship it was Louisville who lost the momentum for acting the same way. And it's not hating to criticize.

I watched the entire game and the Cards were cruising to victory until Rogers rant where everything changed. That behavior merits criticism but I still love Rogers and the Cards.

Sorry to disagree but the momentum changed when Rodgers threw 1 wild pitch. I mean it was a 2-0 count on the first batter of the inning. He had been dominating up to that point and he throws 1 wild pitch and gets yanked?

Changing pitchers switched the momentum. Not Rodgers talking a little shiot. Leave him in and I'd say the cards are in Omaha

 

[Money cardinal]

Call me old school because I see no reason to pound your chest and scream in the 6th inning.[/QUOTE]

It was the 7th just to be fair.

The 5th or 6th is when he caught the line drive and gave a little shimmy haha

 

[TheRealVille]

No I believe it was the end of the 6th inning when he got the 3rd out with a strikeout. When he came out for the 7th inning is when he threw two pitches and was yanked. I may be wrong but that's what I seem to recall.

I do also believe had Rogers stayed in the game the outcome would have been different. But we're not privy to what transpired in the dugout after his outburst that got CSF so mad. Emotions can be very fickle especially with young people. I think McDonnell knew Rogers lost his edge after those two bad pitches. He envisioned walks or hit batters and wanted to save his young pitcher from any more negatively.

So it's my opinion had he kept his cool and not screamed and gestured at the CSF bench he would have least pitched 8 innings.

 

[vivid_red]

Sorry to disagree but the momentum changed when Rodgers threw 1 wild pitch. I mean it was a 2-0 count on the first batter of the inning. He had been dominating up to that point and he throws 1 wild pitch and gets yanked?

Changing pitchers switched the momentum. Not Rodgers talking a little shiot. Leave him in and I'd say the cards are in Omaha

I agree 100% should have let him fight through it

 

[had1- 2manyCardfan]

Leaving him in or taking him out shoudnt have even been an issue. We have one of if not the top bullpen in the nation which is why our starting pitchers never pitch past the 7th anyway. Our pen didn't get it done in either game we lost in this series. I don't blame them because bad base running and questionable at bats and pitch calling are what caused us to be in the position to begin with but when your pen has been shut down 90% of the season and then blow a tie and a lead in one inning each time then that's equivalent to saying your high scoring point guard who only scored a handful of points in two tournament games didn't show up on the big stage

 

[had1- 2manyCardfan]

I know one thing, this may be the first year since I can remember that I wont be able to bring myself to watch the College World Series. As bad as it sucks to feel like this, I guess it shows how far this program has come that not making it leaves a bad enough taste in my mouth that it effects my desire to watch one of my favorite sporting events of the year

 

[had1- 2manyCardfan]

And it doesn't help that I thought Josh might stay one more year. That's gonna hurt next year