[g-mann17]

First is there a problem or are we just young.

Second, why can't we compete to get better guys then the rest of the MAC. I'm not saying we should be able to compete with Georgia or Arizona, but we should have no problem gettin top tier MAC talent to play here. Is Lee Jackson a problem, history? Bad recruiting, coaching turnover?

Just curious what the issue is. A 9-2 whooping in front of 1800+ people really kind of sucks.

[johnnyzip84]

First is there a problem or are we just young.

Second, why can't we compete to get better guys then the rest of the MAC. I'm not saying we should be able to compete with Georgia or Arizona, but we should have no problem gettin top tier MAC talent to play here. Is Lee Jackson a problem, history? Bad recruiting, coaching turnover?

Just curious what the issue is. A 9-2 whooping in front of 1800+ people really kind of sucks.

It sort of seems like after a decent start to the season, the wheels basically came off after some disappointing MAC homestands. Were injuries a problem? The pitching really fell off as the season progressed. Maybe the club baseball team needs to lend a hand. BTW, I haven't heard too many reports on club baseball this year. What''s up with that, RFR44?

[Zipmeister]

The best way to improve the baseball team would be to move the University to Florida.

If the varsity baseball team could be improved by adding anyone from the club team, it's time to drop varsity baseball.

I have added you to the "then-than" list.

[Z.I.P.]

First is there a problem or are we just young.
A 9-2 whooping in front of 1800+ people really kind of sucks.

You must be young! Are you saying eighteen hundred people turned out to see the University of Akron baseball team? Where at? Back in the good ol' days of the OVC, when Mike Birkbeck was on the mound, they were lucky to get 18 people at the game. All I remember from Akron baseball was how more than once in the same game, the umps were unable to tell if a ball that landed deep fell inside or outside the fence, because there was just a chain link fence separating the OF from Exchange Street, with no canvas even covering it. Was that a HR or a Ground Rule Double? Ask the center fielder?

[Zipmeister]

Good point. I was going to suggest that g-mann probably has more fingers and toes than the number of college teams that average 1800+ in attendance, but I was unsure how frequently and with what degree of skill, he operates power tools.

[g-mann17]

You guys must not read much.

Beacon Story

"... before 1,827 at Canal Park."

[gozips19]

First is there a problem or are we just young.

Second, why can't we compete to get better guys then the rest of the MAC. I'm not saying we should be able to compete with Georgia or Arizona, but we should have no problem gettin top tier MAC talent to play here. Is Lee Jackson a problem, history? Bad recruiting, coaching turnover?

Just curious what the issue is. A 9-2 whooping in front of 1800+ people really kind of sucks.

great topic! this is a question that i can speak to. the answer is simple....pitching pitching pitching! if you are an above average pitching prospect in the state you are either going to osu or Can't State. the other teams fight over the rest. another issue is the facilities. the bullpen is a joke and the field needs re done badly. until they find a way to bring in quality pitching and upgrade the facilities we will continue to see teams that are young and get beat up on only to mature to .500 teams that can hit a little.


pains me to say that but that's where the program stands

[Zipmeister]

You guys must not read much.

Beacon Story

"... before 1,827 at Canal Park."

That's great. They should play more games for charity.

[mes102]

I just don't understand how we can be 2-4 in the Big Ten, lose by a total of 4 runs in 2 games to #20 in the nation, Pittsburgh, and be 3-23 in the Mid-American Conference...

[72 Roo]

First is there a problem or are we just young.

Second, why can't we compete to get better guys then the rest of the MAC. I'm not saying we should be able to compete with Georgia or Arizona, but we should have no problem gettin top tier MAC talent to play here. Is Lee Jackson a problem, history? Bad recruiting, coaching turnover?

Just curious what the issue is. A 9-2 whooping in front of 1800+ people really kind of sucks.

great topic! this is a question that i can speak to. the answer is simple....pitching pitching pitching! if you are an above average pitching prospect in the state you are either going to osu or Can't State. the other teams fight over the rest. another issue is the facilities. the bullpen is a joke and the field needs re done badly. until they find a way to bring in quality pitching and upgrade the facilities we will continue to see teams that are young and get beat up on only to mature to .500 teams that can hit a little.


pains me to say that but that's where the program stands

Why is the field so bad? It looks good to me, but I don't play on it or have walked it. I thought the put $100,000 in redoing the infield and leveling the outfield a few years back. Do the elevated bullpens really suck? Please bring me up to speed.

[zippy5]

Have you seen our facilities? That is the answer.

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/srock/srock.htm
That's a D-2 stadium I played at in HS. We have a decent high school field. It's terrible. There was more seating at every high school I played at. If you build it, They will come.

[RootforRoo44]

Many problems:

1) Terrible Facilities, my highschool and the NAIA school i played for before transferring here had much better facilities.
2) Location, kids dont want to play in the cold midwest and especially not for non established programs.
3) TERRIBLE COACHING/Recruiting We really aren't getting great talent. Compared to schools like Can't or OU (MAC wise) we have no credibility and therefore do not get the top local athletes. Add to that the fact that Bangston has to be the worst local talent evaluator possible and you have a deadly combination.

The first and easiest step to fixing these problems is obviously to fire the coach and bring in someone else with a fresh perspective on things. Bangston just isn't cutting it. Next renovate the ballpark and turn it into a REAL ballpark and then at least we could compete in a lower tier baseball conference like the MAC.

[RootforRoo44]

Why is the field so bad? It looks good to me, but I don't play on it or have walked it. I thought the put $100,000 in redoing the infield and leveling the outfield a few years back. Do the elevated bullpens really suck? Please bring me up to speed.

A big problem is the space. That should be fixed by the new soccer stadium moving north a little bit. They also need to enclose the stadium and make it a little more professional.

Playing surface wise, i've played on Lee Jackson a half dozen times or so (recently) and i would give the infield a C- in terms of quality. It wasn't built properly and has a terrible lay to it. It would need to be rebuilt entirely.

Another thing i've never liked about it is it doesn't have anything that sets it apart from other ball fields. The dimensions are boring, the layout of foul territory is boring, everything about the park is just plain boring.

[skip-zip]

First is there a problem or are we just young.

Second, why can't we compete to get better guys then the rest of the MAC. I'm not saying we should be able to compete with Georgia or Arizona, but we should have no problem gettin top tier MAC talent to play here. Is Lee Jackson a problem, history? Bad recruiting, coaching turnover?

Just curious what the issue is. A 9-2 whooping in front of 1800+ people really kind of sucks.

great topic! this is a question that i can speak to. the answer is simple....pitching pitching pitching! if you are an above average pitching prospect in the state you are either going to osu or Can't State. the other teams fight over the rest. another issue is the facilities. the bullpen is a joke and the field needs re done badly. until they find a way to bring in quality pitching and upgrade the facilities we will continue to see teams that are young and get beat up on only to mature to .500 teams that can hit a little.


pains me to say that but that's where the program stands

Just a question, since you seem so knowledgable about the baseball program.....

We won a MAC title about 10-12 years ago. Beat OU in the title game, if I remember correctly. Were the elite player not going to OSWHo and Ken+ at that time? Facilities could not have been an issue either, since I believe the facilities were the same? What did we have then that we don't have now?

And...I have watched some baseball games over the years.....I have not experienced a time where there was more than maybe....maybe....100 people at a home game on our home field.

[johnnyzip84]

In response to all the comments regarding attendance, it must be pointed out that UA and K.E.N.T. have been playing a featured game at Canal Park every year for the last few years now (as discussed in the lead story). As far as I know, this is the only game that has a an attendance figure anywhere near 1800 and much of this is because the game is part of a charity fundraiser.