There's a school just up 33 that will probably come calling for Slanker. Based on his social media, he's a big NIL guy so this is likely to happen.

I used to have a wicked curve ball in sandlot games that worked about half the time! [Only problem was that the other half of the time it wouldn't curve right and would sail over the catcher's head.]

Lost to Marshall, dropped 2 of 3 to VMI, lost to Dayton. Ho hum. Now 9-26.

This season can’t end fast enough.

Dropped 2 of 3 to Miami. We almost had our first MAC series win and really shook up Miami's playoff standing but they blew the lead in the 8th on Sunday and lost 6-5.

Slanker had a rough weekend.

Blake Gaskey, who has started 11 games (next closest SP has 8) now has a full 9.00 ERA. I have to imagine that is the only pitcher in all of the NCAA with 10+ starts and an ERA of 9.00+. The only reason I can think you would stick with someone struggling that badly is he is young and you believe his stuff will shine thru with time...but he is a Senior. I know we don't exactly have aces waiting in the wings but throw someone, anyone else and see how they do and figure out if they can help you next year.

I hear you and agree with your points, however, I'd like to challenge your first thought. Has there ever been "effort" put into this program? What does that look like in your opinion? What are some first steps that would show effort is being made?

I really, really, dislike the half turf/half grass monstrosity that is currently occupying the Wren. It looks horrible at this point. I understand the need for northern schools to obtain a turf playing surface. I just wish somehow, someway, we did the whole damn field. That would be my first goal if I were to step in as head coach (outside of getting some arm talent in the program).

Agree here on the turf. The indoor hitting area is abysmal as well. I peaked in last time I was on campus. It’s a falling down building.

The coach might be relatively new but he’s done nothing and was with the program before getting elevated. There’s no energy around the program at all. Regardless of record, there’s nothing the team is doing that actually excites the fan base. No promotions, no good teams visiting, no baseball-specific merchandise for fans to buy. It’s just “donate to help the team” and canned graphics on social.

Carbone for all we complain about did have pride in the program, at least to a point. Really trace back a lot of issues with the program when Toadvine unexpectedly passed away. Consistently getting multiple guys drafted a year, played a tougher schedule, had quality talent, Bob Wren Stadium sparkled, new lights, etc.

So where do you start? I mean for starters, a coaching staff with pride would probably spend some of their off time fixing up the stadium they call home. Make it a team building project. Not like they are above hard labor. Like most college teams, OU players prep and tarp the field.

There’s like 20+ D1 programs within 5 hours of Athens not in the MAC. Easy road trips. Open it up to 8 hours, like 60, and quite a few with better weather. Ohio has one of the more convenient locations in the country to bus to games, so there isn’t an excuse to not schedule better.

Pitching…honestly, it’s inexcusable. The math just doesn’t add up. There are definitely guys on the staff right now who could be solid D1 arms. You don’t have to be special to be effective in college. You do have to have confidence, and that falls on the staff.

NIL changes a lot. It’s a reality for all schools. There’s talent everywhere in baseball. All sorts of guys falling through the cracks to get out of high school, JUCO, and transfers. Present a program that doesn’t look like it’s falling apart (literally the batter’s eye last year when I was there was one big torn up tarp) and you have a consistent MAC and regional player.

Well Schmidt is old and worried about his health issues I’m sure. He’s also not sitting on a ton of money compared to more modern players to just magically make everything better.

Nick Swisher donated a ton of money and his name is linked to the field at OSU now. His career could have played out much differently at OU, but the mild recruiting of the son of a legend at OU was always puzzling. He was right down the road.

Because the former head coach resigned weeks before the season started. Sound familiar? Even though said HC had sold his house in August and moved out west in the fall and his office was cleaned out before Thanksgiving. Coach Smith resigned on 1/21/2021

Bobcats drop 2 of 3 at Akron, then the universe spares us being subject to a matchup of 2 down and out programs with Ohio vs Ohio State canceled.

Tough matchup with Ball State before wrapping with WMU. Bobcats are 1 game behind NIU in the battle to avoid last place.

When was the last time you were there?

When it was built, the goal was for it to be capable of hosting regional and super regional games (with temp seating installed if necessary). I wasn’t around when it was being built, but I know Carbone played a major role in making it a reality and making it truly shine.

A lot of the little things surrounding the stadium, honestly, I believe Carbone himself would have his teams chipping in each fall. He always made players learn how to maintain a field. Everyone had a job. If it could be done by the team to save some money, it would be labeled as taking pride in where you play.

The most recent times I’ve been there, the facility looked more like a city park. Not treated with any type of pride.

I don’t care about the other MAC teams. We had the best stadium in the league, and arguably a regional standout. With some TLC, it still looks very modern, with a lack of locker rooms on sight being the only glaring missing piece.

It has rotting wood in the facing last summer, holes in the outfield wall. I could go on, but won’t help us win any games.