There is no way to spin it. NC State is not a world beater, and they probably won’t get past Stanford. We just wasted the best chance we will ever have to win a baseball natty. Let that sink in. We were #1 for over 2 months, but we just let a very average pitching staff make us look stupid. This loss wasn’t on Kopps. He pitched well today, but he had absolutely zero run support. It’s just an absolute shame, and quite honestly, embarrassing.
I’m sorry you are embarrassed. Poor guy.
How do you think the players, coaches, and their families feel right now?
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Honestly, I hope they are embarrassed too. This team had everything going for them. Absolutely everything. There was no reason to go out with a whimper, but yet we did.
We did not choke. We were beat by a better pitching staff that had bull pen depth and more dynamic offenses. We were great at hitting home runs but struggle to manufacture runs when needed by playing small ball.
We were beat by a 5 pitcher pitching staff that didn’t even win their own conference. We choked. Period.
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Heartbreaking loss. Very poor hitting performance cost us the series. And, I’m sure DVH wishes he had the last two games back – some questionable decisions but easy to say after the fact.
As great as this team was this year, with so much heart and determination, I don’t believe we had the make up to win the natty. One effective (not dominate) starting pitcher and an outstanding reliever is simply not enough to get it done. Other starters and relievers were suspect and inconsistent all year long. And, as the past two series showed, that was not going to change.
Don’t get me wrong. We are clearly a top 10 team and probably top 5. Just not NC caliber. Sadly, that was the team that lost to Oregon State a few years ago.
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Agree, I just wanted us to make it to Omaha but didn’t think we had the pitching to win it all.
Who were are 5 quality pitchers. I saw one outstanding and one quality pitcher on our staff at the end of the season.
Oh come on. Choked? They lost. Embarrassed? There are some 350 or so D1 baseball teams. All but 8 are not going to the CWS. When people think of Razorback baseball, no one thinks “embarrassing.” That’s just absurd. Don’t let the pain of this evening cloud the full picture.
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Jeremy, why don’t you walk up to a UA player or coach, face to face, and tell them you used to wash jocks for NR and you are totally embarrassed by their performance.
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Exactly. He wouldn’t have the nerve to say it to any of them but he’s a tough guy on here.
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That’s a word that few really understand in sports, mainly used by those who have not been in this type of event. The difference between winning and losing in a 1-run game or hitting a 95 mph fast ball or missing is tiny.
Use that word if you want if it makes you feel better. I won’t.
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It is called baseball! Sometimes the best team doesn’t win! To say our hogs choked after the season we just watched is a bit harsh.
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No Jeremy you are the one who is an embarrassment!
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That’s fine guys. Attack me all you want, but there is no way we shouldn’t be in Omaha after the year we had.
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Omaha is not about the year. It’s ALWAYS about the last two weeks and winning a few close games. You surely know that. It’s about playing your best at the end and being healthy at the right time.
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That may be the case, Clay, but how do you reconcile the fact that the best team (us) is eliminated by a team that we should have been better than?
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I do not reconcile it. I know it. The difference in a 1-run game is tiny. They won a LOT of 1-run games and rallied a year. They were grinders. I don’t think they choked any more than Tennessee did in losing 3 times to this team.
That’s your word. Use it anytime you want. I’m not going to hang it on college players. I’m saddened when I see that done. Actually extremely sad.
This team lost a game almost every weekend. This weekend they lost two, both by one run.
I’ll remember them as a great team and that it was a great season. Rarely does anyone do what they did against that schedule in so many TIGHT games.
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I don’t know exactly what it is, but for unknown reasons, we have a problem rising to the occasion. Some call it the Arkansas inferiority complex. I have seen it in just about all of our sports programs but Track and Field. I posted in another thread something similar. Yes, we had a great baseball season and yes, the players, coaches and their families are devastated and the fanbase is crushed. I have said it’s tough to be an Arkansas fan. I have supported all the sports teams and will continue to support the teams through thick and thin. Maybe one day before I die there will be a team of destiny that does rise to the occasion and win a NC and make us proud.
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As upset as I am that the season has ended, I’ll tip my hat to the players and coaches and thank them for the ride…until next year.
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