OPEN GAME THREAD: Stanford @ Washington State
by Craig Powers on May 2, 2009 12:30 PM PDT
in WSU Athletics
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PrintThe Cougs look to make it four straight after getting another solid outing from starter Matt Way in the series opener against the Cardinal. Way was able to go eight innings, giving up just one run while using only 96 pitches.
Wazzu was helped by the longball once again as junior Michael Weber and freshman Derek Jones both hit solo shots in the fourth. Weber had another RBI to tie the game at 1-1 in the second with a sac fly. I suppose if you HAVE to make an out, that is one of the better ways to do it.
Washington State sits a little more comfortably in second place after losses by third place UCLA, fourth place Oregon State, and fifth place USC. If you go here you will see that the Cougs are currently projected to make it to postseason play by Baseball America (thanks to ptowncoug3012 for the link).
The win gave WSU its most since the Pac 10 reunified. It's safe to say Donnie's boys are playing as well as any Cougar baseball team has in a very long time.
The game today will air on Fox Sports Northwest at 1pm (hence the game thread).
Projected Starters:
WSU: RH-Chad Arnold (5-2, 5.07 ERA)
Stanford: LH-Brett Mooneyham (4-2, 4.07 ERA)
Thanks to wsucougars.com for the stats and game information.
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I'll be here untill I leave for the Mariner game tonight.
First time I’ve seen our Second Place Coug Baseball team this year. I must say, I’m excited.
Even that idiot Brad Adams can't get Kuykendall's name right....
There is not ‘r’ in Kuykendall. Go Cougs!!!
No big news from Nik
Other than it seems that everyone likes Ken Bone, and that he’ll be trying to play for the Serbian team in the world collegiate games.
You’ve gotta wonder how we’ll end up using Nik next year. I’ve always looked at him as a Bennett system player, but maybe he can actually benefit from a coaching change.
I still have visions of him....
Three seasons ago when he was pretty productive. I think a big part of his problem is lack of confidence. I certainly don’t know that for sure, but he had a pretty rough go of it last season.
Kiilsgaard played for Garry Kuykendall's father Tim at Auburn....
Kuykendall with a ‘y.’ Come on Adams, you can do it.
Our first baseman has been doing a great job....
of digging bad throws out of the carpet. He’s saved at least three errors so far.
Great hit, off the wall
Cleared the sacks, back in it now. Go Cougs!!!
Walks will kill you every time.
And another extra base hit
Kilsgaard doesn’t look very good in right.
If Stanford baseball players could vote the Cougs out of the Pac-10....
that’s exactly what they’d do right now. Guaranteed they hate the cold and the wind.
How can they not get the players' names right?
It just doesn’t make any sense to me. And he has done exactly no homework on any of the kids in the Wazzu program. There are a bunch of things that he should know.
For instance, and I mentioned it earlier, Garry Kuykendall’s father Tim is a Coug that coached Stanford RF Kellen Kiilsgaard at Auburn HS.
This is not a good time to try to teach people about baseball, it is more appropriate to teach them about the kids in the program. I bet there are a bunch of us out here that would love to hear about the human interest side of the program. Just saying….
Chad Arnold is doing a great job....
I love how he’s using a very cerebral appproach attacking Stanford’s lineup and has great command of his pitches. He’s not trying to strike everyone out, but instead staying around the strike zone and keeping them totally off balance.
Answer their run with a few of our own....
That’s how you take their will away from them. Plus making them freeze their nads off. I love it. Cougar baseball at it’s finest!
I wanna see some runny noses too....
Stanford players can’t wait to get out of Pullman. First they get pounded and then the bus ride, then the puddle-jumper, then the flight. I love it. Go Cougs!!!
Paul Wulff up next....
Finally, something interesting to listen to. Brady Adams sucks! Mike Kincaid was a great Coug but he’s blowing his chance to promote his fellow Cougs, I think.
Wulff seems to be getting more comfortable
with interviews.
He's taken a ton of criticism that I think is totally unwarranted....
I think he’s a great man first and foremost and eventually, our football program will distinguish itself. Coach Wulff is fun to listen too. He is a very smart man and the kids in the program really love the guy, along with the rest of the staff. I can’t wait until he brings in a few more classes. But next season will be an eye-opener for many, just wait and see.
The difference will be noticable.
I was neutral on Wulff when he was hired
I thought at least he will stick around and won’t cost WSU too much. Maybe in time he will turn things around as he figures out the Pac 10.
I was totally wrong. He has come in with an outstanding plan and totally changed the culture on this team to exactly the kind it needs to compete. He and the staff have obviously worked their asses off. I think Wulff is the perfect fit and I admit to being ignorant on what he would bring to WSU.
I’m excited for next year but realize WSU will still take some lumps. I totally support Wulff and will give him the time he needs to turn things around. He’s done a great job so far. You don’t usually say that after a season like last year.
If you don't know much about the program....
or take the time to find out what’s really going on, it’s easy to make him the scapegoat for last season. But just take a look at what he’s trying to do and what he’s actually accomplished so far. I think he deserves plenty of kudos. It’s not an enviable situation but he’s attacked the problems one step at a time and the results so far are very noticeable.
The results will come. His ‘09 recruiting class is loaded with talented, smart kids. Expect the same from him in the future. The three signees for the ’10 class are more of the same. Paul Wulff knows what he’s doing. I agree with your assessment but from the start, I was in his corner.
Attack is a good way to put it
Last season was not Wulff’s fault. No question Wulff and the staff made some mistakes but every single staff makes their share. Last season was about the lack of discipline in the program since the end of Doba’s time. I love Coach Doba but things went very bad in recruiting, development, discipline, and on and on.
The ’09 class is easily the best group of players WSU has brought in since ’98 and ’99. Every kid seems high on character as well and smart just like you said. When Wulff laid out what he wanted to do with Grippi my reaction was WOW! He not only gets it but can clearly communicate it. This is going to get done in 3 or 4 years especially if they get some good luck.
If the first 3 kids are indication of the class they sign in 2010 it could surpass last years class. He is getting exactly the kind of player I have wanted to see come in. Tall, athletic kids that will continue to grow. If you have seen video on Dunn he looks like a warrior. Great motor and he looks like he loves the game. That seems typical of the kind of player Wulff is bring in as well. Those type of kids are fun to watch as they develop over time.
There are some absolutely phenomenal athletes coming into the program....
I’ve seen tape on all of them and some in person playing basketball. I’ve been extremely impressed with what I’ve seen, especially when you compare it to what we put on the field last season.
Doba really didn’t do the program any favors. If he’d of stayed one more year, it would have been almost impossible to dig out the situation, as if it wasn’t already.
I lost reception for a bit. Satellite went out because of the hail.
Wulff looks like a great talent evaluator
I think other programs are already following the kids they find. He has found some real diamonds. Nobody was on Louis Bland for instance and he did a great job as a true freshman last year.
Everybody talks too much about the stars by a kids name....
from those recruiting sites, but I don’t think they mean squat. You are exactly right about other schools recruiting Wulff kids.
It also works to his advantage when they see the results he going to be getting. I used to pay attention to all the kudos kids were getting from the name schools. Not any more. I’m looking more to the results on the field and what the staff does with what they get. That carries more weight with me.
For example, Jake Heaps is getting way too much ink. There’s no way he will ever be able to live up to all the hype. It’s just not warranted. Wait and see, there will be other kids that do as well or better than he ends up doing. Time will tell.
Especially eastern Washington kids
They just don’t get as much coverage. I listen to what the kids are saying. A lot of recruits are seeing the change in the program. They seem to like the changes as well and the development and change in size that has come about over the last year. That sells the program all on its own.
We'll continue this conversation at a later date....
If you’re okay with that. I’m headed off for a poker party with my UO and OSU friends. Go Cougs!!! Tough break today but there is always a tomorrow, especially in baseball.
Captain obvious here
Could use a double play here
Man, it is rainy in Pullman...
And nobody is at the game. Nobody at all. Even I am just sitting here in my dorm watching on TV. Granted I just got through with a brunch, but still, who wants to go watch a game in that weather.
Marquess looks
like he is freezing his ass off.
Need to take advantage of that error....
A base hit would sure be nice, or a passed ball, or a wild pitch!
Bummer guys
I had to miss the game. Need to get the win tommorrow to keep it going!
This is where per game statistics go to die.
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