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Post by circle70 on May 22, 2016 15:47:35 GMT -6
So we go into the tournament as the #4 seed. I would venture to say that that is our worst seed in the last 10-15 years. Again, anything can happen and frequently the best team doesn't win it.
I was watching one of the Wright State games on ESPN3 and the goober announcer said that since Wright State had already clinched 1st place, that this series was important only from the standpoint of building momentum for the tournament and the standings didn't matter.
I beg to differ. The 2nd place team gets a bye (as does the league champion). Also, a new wrinkle to the tourney this year: losers of day 1 action (seeds 3-6) are eliminated---no more double elimination for everybody.
As I mentioned at the top of this post, anything can happen, but under these new rules, the new format stacks the deck in favor of the top 2 seeds.
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Post by UICJohn on May 22, 2016 21:13:33 GMT -6
Anything can happen. That is true. However, this team isn't trending upwards. The team and program as a whole is stagnant. It's a week conference aside from Wright State and we are the #4 seed.
I have very low expectations heading into the tournament.
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Post by Big D on May 23, 2016 8:47:36 GMT -6
UIC can't even win tournaments at home as the number 1 seed...see baseball...see soccer...see softball (2 years in a row I think)...most of these teams don't even advance past the second day.
UIC baseball has no chance of winning this. Any time they want to begin proving otherwise, I'm ready.
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Post by UICJohn on May 26, 2016 19:52:04 GMT -6
UIC lives up to our expectations finally - lost both games today, including a drubbing to the hands of the vastly superior Wright State Raiders, and the season is done.
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Post by circle70 on May 26, 2016 20:18:39 GMT -6
Well, we're eliminated---for the 8th consecutive year!!!
Although we made it through the elimination game on Wednesday, even that was a lucky win. We beat a horrid Oakland team 10-9. We would have lost that one if not for a Little League-quality play by Oakland. Believe it or not, we scored THREE runs on a bases-loaded wild pitch (and 2 throwing errors).
We finished the regular season in 4th place and the HL Tournament in 4th place. Even though we finished only a game and a half out of 2nd place during the regular season, we were absolutely no better than the 4th best team in the league. If you look at the stats, we were 4th or 5th in the HL in virtually all hitting and pitching categories.
Lousy pitching led to our downfall, not only in the Tourney but throughout the season. A good offense would have mitigated that somewhat. But the offense was bad also.
Someone had mentioned that Wright State was light years ahead of us. Here's the proof: they were 1st in the HL in ERA and 1st in Runs Scored, by a substantial margin over the 2nd place team. We were 4th in both. Our team ERA was a huge 1.12 runs per game higher than Wright State. To make matters worse for next year, we lose our Friday starter (ace of the staff) and the HL Relief Pitcher of the Year.
I don't want to hear any excuses about injuries and the fact that we started a lot of Freshmen and Sophomores. Injuries are part of the game and all teams have them---that's where depth comes in. Regarding youth, UIC is not a startup program. If the lineup is young it's because we recruited poor players for the last few years. Also, these were all position players. All of the primary pitchers are either Juniors or Seniors.
Given all of the advantages UIC has over the other schools (Granderson Stadium, top-notch practice facilities, big budget, excellent education opportunity, etc.), 8 consecutive years of no post-season is totally unacceptable.
I hope that Schmidt and Chancellor Amiridis take a look at the state of the program and decide that it's time for Dee & Company to "pursue other interests".
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Post by uic53 on May 27, 2016 2:19:12 GMT -6
Another horrid showing in the HL tourney. It is definitely time for a coaching change. This university spends a ridiculous amount of money on baseball and has nothing to show for it. The facilities are amazing as well and we can't even finish .500. Heck, Milwaukee plays in a city park and has a better program. Coach Dee brought an amazing run of success to this program and he and the staff should be applauded and thanked for that. However, that success ended many years ago and it is time to move on. It is time to put a winning program inside beautiful Granderson Stadium.
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Post by Chuck A on May 27, 2016 2:33:15 GMT -6
Another horrid showing in the HL tourney. It is definitely time for a coaching change. This university spends a ridiculous amount of money on baseball and has nothing to show for it. The facilities are amazing as well and we can't even finish .500. Heck, Milwaukee plays in a city park and has a better program. Coach Dee brought an amazing run of success to this program and he and the staff should be applauded and thanked for that. However, that success ended many years ago and it is time to move on. It is time to put a winning program inside beautiful Granderson Stadium. Agreed, I think a change is needed, but I think Schmidt and Amiridis will give Dee maybe one more year or two before making that change. Recruiting and developing players is a problem. I mentioned in another post you can't win with pitchers throwing 82-86 mph. I can hit that! Dee is the winningest coach in UIC history. Give him his props, his walking papers and let's move this program forward!
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Post by UICJohn on May 27, 2016 6:04:05 GMT -6
It's the same debate about Jimmy Collins. He took the program to levels that they had never been (most notably the NCAA tournament). However, his time has run its course and we needed a change. It seems that the same has happened with Coach Dee.
The baseball program has had some excellent years. Consistently had players drafted with Curtis Granderson being the highlight. The problem is that these are well in the past now.
If it was up to me, this staff has had time. Thanks for everything, we will honor Coach Dee for all of his contributions, but time to move on now.
I certainly don't see this happening and I picture a few more years of very underwhelming baseball seasons.
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Post by uicc79 on May 27, 2016 7:08:21 GMT -6
I agree with all of the above. Coach Dee took this program to a height it had never seen, but not making the NCAA tourney for 8 years seems to signify that it's time to make a change and move on. To wait much longer just means we'll have to dig ourselves out from a deeper hole. It's time.
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Post by Big D on May 30, 2016 13:48:50 GMT -6
One has to wonder if Dee hasn't been given carte blanche based on his relationship with Granderson. Dee is responsible for bringing in and developing one of the truly great UIC alums who has been extremely generous with his money and time and is very supportive of the team.
The one thing Schmidt cannot do is let Dee go without a courtesy call to Granderson. I think he deserves at least that.
I agree the results haven't been there. But this is a different, delicate situation, because you don't want to piss off Granderson...which is why I think Dee has a much longer leash. Honestly, I'd love to see Granderson coaching at UIC some day...if that is something he wants to do.
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Post by UICJohn on May 31, 2016 7:39:24 GMT -6
Good point, Big D.
Granderson has been a big supporter of UIC baseball between the obvious donation, having his camps at UIC and even things like tweeting about them. We cannot possibly lose an ally to our program like that. However, we also can't keep wasting money on a baseball program that is giving no results.
I guess the most likely/possible outcome at this time would be to see other members of the staff let go? As some have said before, the recruiting is really lacking especially compared to where we have been. When I was at UIC, we recruited a few Wisconsin Player of the Year. Even other guys, like Granderson, might not have been as highly recruited but obviously had the talent and improved. That isn't the case in the past few years. That isn't even close.
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Post by circle70 on May 31, 2016 8:12:54 GMT -6
I wouldn't assume that Granderson would be pissed off if Coach Dee was let go. As an MLB player he knows all too well that "managers are hired to be fired" as the saying goes. As a courtesy for all that Curtis has done for the program, I DO think that Schmidt/Amiridis should talk to him first with what they hope to do regarding a coaching change just to get a feel for what his thoughts are.
Also, I would hope that Coach Dee would realize that he is no longer getting the job done and either resign or not stay simply because Granderson would pressure the decision makers to let him stay.
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Post by axaguy on May 31, 2016 15:45:49 GMT -6
Find a lot of thoughts expressed above spot on. Coach Dee has had a great run at UIC but has not performed admirably up to his own bar of late..... One more year shouldn't be accepted with EIGHT sub-bar seasons already under his belt. I think Schmidt might be willing to "accept" mediocrity but I believe that Arimidis won't be as "accepting" after a review. Didn't take long to pull the trigger on Moore when he got here at all.... Some even suggest the action was very premeditated..... Some guys just run out of gas, lose the incentive, lose the drive and coach Dee looks like he has done so. It is evident in his recruiting with results and meager prospects ahead.... As stated before, Granderson should understand this without question. Courtesy call to him??? Maybe, but not necessary. If a decision is made and reviewed with coach Dee I would keep it quiet until he has had time to make some personal calls of his own in advance of a formal announcement, out of respect and courtesy to him. Let's see what happens....high school baseball tournaments are going on right now all over the country and recruiting time is now. I think we need to act fast. One way or another..... My 2 cents..
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