A couple of baseball questions and a comment

[kayak15]

I noticed that this year's WSU baseball team had a considerable number of underclassmen. Why? Recruiting success, a fluke, upperclassmen quitting or some other reason?

Posts have been made regarding Marbut's supposed lack of popularity with players, donors, the AD staff, etc. Why? Lack of success on the field, some personality failure or another reason? What's going on there?

Many posters have noted Pullman's weather being a problem for baseball. I am probably wrong again but I don't see it that way at all. Sure, it is cold in January and early February but an IPF would solve much of that issue. Early Spring is much more favorable in Pullman than other NW teams. The sun is shining, birds are chirping in Pullman when the Willamette Valley and Seattle are still overcast with water dripping from the eaves and their playing fields are in various states of sogginess. An IPF transitioning into a Palouse Springtime does it for me. Is there a factor that I am not aware of?

 

[Coug95man2]

I noticed that this year's WSU baseball team had a considerable number of underclassmen. Why? Recruiting success, a fluke, upperclassmen quitting or some other reason?

Posts have been made regarding Marbut's supposed lack of popularity with players, donors, the AD staff, etc. Why? Lack of success on the field, some personality failure or another reason? What's going on there?

Many posters have noted Pullman's weather being a problem for baseball. I am probably wrong again but I don't see it that way at all. Sure, it is cold in January and early February but an IPF would solve much of that issue. Early Spring is much more favorable in Pullman than other NW teams. The sun is shining, birds are chirping in Pullman when the Willamette Valley and Seattle are still overcast with water dripping from the eaves and their playing fields are in various states of sogginess. An IPF transitioning into a Palouse Springtime does it for me. Is there a factor that I am not aware of?

Regarding the underclassmen, you are right there were a boatload playing this year. Some played because they beat out upperclassmen, though. Some played because there were holes. Combine those two reasons and there were times, we were playing 6 freshman. Is that an indication of poor recruiting in the past? Maybe. I'll be honest, I don't follow the recruiting in baseball as much as I do football. Love baseball more just don't follow the recruiting… Others might be able to comment more accurately on the past years recruiting. But realize some of them were playing because they were better than the older boys.

I can't say much regarding why Mr. Marbut dug the political hole he did, but it was there. All the interactions I've ever had with Mr. Marbut have been nice and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Kind you'd like to go have a beer with, kinda thing. But politically, I've always heard rumblings. He's known for being fairly "aggressive", lets say. The kind of situations where, being politically correct should be utilized and he wouldn't.

Pullmans weather has become a facilities point. Yeah, Pullman's weather isn't that big a deal and the IPF is right there but man, that bubble is uuuuuugly. While OSU, UO and UW have "crappier" weather, they have facilities that outshine us by a long shot. Cripes, the UW softball field/facilities outshine our baseball field/facilities. So that's what is really going on, IMHO. When they are complaining about the weather, they are also comparing facilities.

I will say, the last series, when the game was delayed due to lightning, then rescheduled for the next day… SUCKED. Wait around for 2 hours just to find out that they are rescheduling for the next day… So in a generic sense, OSU, UO and UW don't have the kind of lightning storms WSU has, either. So there is THAT difference.

The thing I'd love to hear is an open, honest discussion from players and/or coaches about the turf field. I've heard all the mantra about how great it is for our weather, it drains well, it doesn't get muddy, it's consistent during play, yadda yadda. But it seems like that's all the "propaganda" stuff more than what the coaches/players really think. Seems like all those points are budget issues. I'm sure the turf is great on the budget! Hardly any upkeep! So I'd love to have a REAL perspective on that. Is the turf hurting, helping, or a non-issue for the players/coaches. Does it hurt our recruiting… ?

 

[kayak15]

I was thinking about the addition of the new and improved IPF. Yes, the one we have now is ugly but so am I but I am still functional. From what I am hearing the old bubble is not only ugly but apparently lacks some functionality.

Good question about the turf. Do the uw, U of O and OSU play on turf or natural grass? Do the kids consider this when selecting a school?

Your observation that the uw's softball facilities are vastly superior to our men's baseball facilities is spot on and embarrassing. Maybe I am just being sexist but still..... Hardball is more important to me than softball. We sorely need upgrades but I don't know where Moos is going to find the money for everything we desire or even need.

 

[Coug95man2]

I was thinking about the addition of the new and improved IPF. Yes, the one we have now is ugly but so am I but I am still functional. From what I am hearing the old bubble is not only ugly but apparently lacks some functionality.

Good question about the turf. Do the uw, U of O and OSU play on turf or natural grass? Do the kids consider this when selecting a school?

Your observation that the uw's softball facilities are vastly superior to our men's baseball facilities is spot on and embarrassing. Maybe I am just being sexist but still..... Hardball is more important to me than softball. We sorely need upgrades but I don't know where Moos is going to find the money for everything we desire or even need.

Shows you how much I know… UW, UO and OSU all have Field Turf… We are the only ones that have a pitchers mound of Turf. All others have clay. But all the fields are turf. Call me a dork for not doing my "due diligence".