Righto! I was quoting Luke Martin without thinking! Not sure what he was referring to.
No, you were not quoting me and incorrect. Said multiple times that SIU had not won a “rubber” game all MVC season. That means we hadn’t won a series in the third game of the weekend. Our two series wins were both sweeps, as pointed out in the thread.
Maybe quote was the wrong word - more like half-assed listening. My bad!
Not sure I’m onboard with Coach Rhodes approach to recruiting only JUCO players. This hasn’t paid off in terms of post season appearances. I also think we need a tougher schedule. I was hopeful, but my faith in this staff getting SIU back to the NCAA Tournament is waning.
Not sure I’m onboard with Coach Rhodes approach to recruiting only JUCO players. This hasn’t paid off in terms of post season appearances. I also think we need a tougher schedule. I was hopeful, but my faith in this staff getting SIU back to the NCAA Tournament is waning.
Disappointing year for sure. Wimpy schedule and no freshmen. Decent offensive team but pitching wasn't very good for the most part.
The JUCO only recruiting is bound to fail IMO. Back in 2022 when we were really good, we had 4 year guys like Farmer, Epps, Weber, etc. That's the way to build a program.
How I miss the days of SIU being a national baseball power. Watching the teams of the 1970’s from a seat in the hill was so much fun.
Those teams were a combination of high school recruits and junior college players. They had players from the Chicago area, the St. Louis area, and junior college players from junior college powerhouses, plus some small town high schools that were often overlooked by other colleges. They also had one of the best teachers of baseball in the country in Coach Jones and an excellent assistant in Coach Newman.
The pitching this year was suspect from the beginning and unfortunately performed as such. The schedule was also pretty uninspiring. With the facilities they now have, both should be better.
Not sure I’m onboard with Coach Rhodes approach to recruiting only JUCO players. This hasn’t paid off in terms of post season appearances. I also think we need a tougher schedule. I was hopeful, but my faith in this staff getting SIU back to the NCAA Tournament is waning.
Disappointing year for sure. Wimpy schedule and no freshmen. Decent offensive team but pitching wasn't very good for the most part.
The JUCO only recruiting is bound to fail IMO. Back in 2022 when we were really good, we had 4 year guys like Farmer, Epps, Weber, etc. That's the way to build a program.
To be fair, it's not just JUCO players, but also transfers...albeit typically JR/SR transfers. I think he went in to detail about why he doesn't recruit FR players (TLDR...they transfer to bigger programs before you get the payoff). I still think you have to run that risk for some roster stability, but alas I'm not a D1 coach.
I do know one thing...if he and the pitching coach can't figure out a staff for next year, something needs to change b/c the last two years have been pretty rough...
Team stats 2023: 5.55 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 0.273 Opp Batting Average
Team stats 2024: 5.68 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 0.274 Opp Batting Average
On top of that, you are about to lose all your best bullpen arms (Dermondy, Riffe, and Pron). A lot of work to do for Rhodes and staff over the next year.
Not sure I’m onboard with Coach Rhodes approach to recruiting only JUCO players. This hasn’t paid off in terms of post season appearances. I also think we need a tougher schedule. I was hopeful, but my faith in this staff getting SIU back to the NCAA Tournament is waning.
Disappointing year for sure. Wimpy schedule and no freshmen. Decent offensive team but pitching wasn't very good for the most part.
The JUCO only recruiting is bound to fail IMO. Back in 2022 when we were really good, we had 4 year guys like Farmer, Epps, Weber, etc. That's the way to build a program.
No sophomores, either. There are 35 players on this team and 34 are JUCOs or transfers from other schools.
They just gave Rhodes a 5 year extension so 5 more years of mediocrity and only having players for 2 years, acting like a glorified community college.
Not sure I’m onboard with Coach Rhodes approach to recruiting only JUCO players. This hasn’t paid off in terms of post season appearances. I also think we need a tougher schedule. I was hopeful, but my faith in this staff getting SIU back to the NCAA Tournament is waning.
Disappointing year for sure. Wimpy schedule and no freshmen. Decent offensive team but pitching wasn't very good for the most part.
The JUCO only recruiting is bound to fail IMO. Back in 2022 when we were really good, we had 4 year guys like Farmer, Epps, Weber, etc. That's the way to build a program.
No sophomores, either. There are 35 players on this team and 34 are JUCOs or transfers from other schools.
They just gave Rhodes a 5 year extension so 5 more years of mediocrity and only having players for 2 years, acting like a glorified community college.
Rhodes is still a big upgrade over what they’ve had the last 20 years or so and I think he’s been slightly above mediocre (they won the MVC Regular Season a few years ago). I do agree all the JUCO and roster movement is ok when you’re winning but really sucks when you’re a .500 team with a shit schedule.
I guess I’d prefer to see us bring in more prep guys, but baseball seems like a sport where you don’t really benefit THAT much from bringing in freshman and coaching them up as opposed to grabbing experienced JUCOs with a couple years of eligibility.
How hard can it be for someone to come in contribute? No system to get familiar with; no playbook to memorize.
Rhodes won 44 games and the regular season conference title just 2 seasons ago. He’s the man for the job.
I felt it was ironic that SIU replaced a basketball coach after five years when it has been decades since the baseball program was meaningful. Since Coach Jones left and before Coach Rhodes, they had an overall losing record. The program has not been to the NCAA tournament since 1990.
@freedawg think that shows you where baseball falls in importance according to the athletic department. They loved Callahan and kept him forever but his success was so so I think.
SIU vs. Belmont at 6PM Tuesday - on ESPN+. We swept Belmont there this season.
We looked good again MSU. Here’s a chance to finish the season on an upswing.
Heck, I’ll just call it now. We beat Belmont and then upset Murray.
Salukis take a 3-2 lead after 5
