Gopher Baseball 2019

Donate To GopherHole
Milwaukee got 5 in the 1st on a 3 run homer and 2 run shot. Gophers tried to battle back but same story as we have seen much of this year just couldn't get any timely hits. Left the bases loaded at least a couple times in the game and at least 1 of them they didn't get any runs after loading them with 1 out. Some bad base running decisions late in the game also cost them one on a guy going halfway instead when he should've been tagging easy and another where guys setup to tag and the ball hit off the top of the wall and the outfielder was at least a good 5 feet away from the ball still. Some positive though Patrick Fredrickson pitched 2 innings and worked around a a leadoff baserunner each inning. Looked pretty comfortable and control was pretty solid aside from the 1 hit batter although it seems like Fredrickson has always had a tendency to hit a guy here or there. As much as you wanna win every game the midweek really doesn't mean much to the Gophers anymore as they will have to win the B1G tournament to get to the NCAAs. Big series this weekend with Ohio State to help solidify a spot in the conference tournament.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Wasn't pretty but Gophers survive to win game 1 even with leaving something like 25 men on base. Game was like 5 hours and 45 minutes so the teams decided to move the double header to tomorrow and that will start at 10:00 AM.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Gophers take game 2. Sam Thoresen goes 6 solid allowing just 2 runs only 1 earned on 1 hit. Patrick Fredrickson was solid out of the bullpen scattering a couple hits in a couple innings of work and Jeff Fasching finished things off pitching the final 2/3 of an inning picking up a couple strikeouts. At the plate the Gophers left 8 on in the first three innings and missed out on some great opportunities in the first couple innings. Gophers got homeruns from Eddie Estrada, Jordan Kozicky, and Andrew Wilhite in the game and doubles from Estrada, Eli Wilson, Easton Bertrand, and Chase Stanke.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Gophers complete a huge weekend sweep with a 3-2 win. A solo homerun in each of the first 2 innings for Eddie Estrada and Jordan Kozicky and a 2 out walk to Cole McDevitt followed by a full count double right on the line in shallow right field was enough offense for the Gophers. Josh Culliver went 4.2 innings, Ryan Duffy went the next 3, and Jake Stevenson went the final 1.1 to finish things off.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 


Nice sweep. The team really needed that as a series loss would have put us pretty close to the border of even making the conference tournament. Now we should be squarely in. Let's close out strong against Maryland and Northwestern and make some noise.
 

Goldy Gopher said:
Wasn't pretty but Gophers survive to win game 1 even with leaving something like 25 men on base. Game was like 5 hours and 45 minutes so the teams decided to move the double header to tomorrow and that will start at 10:00 AM.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

I think it was the 10th inning when we had bases loaded and one out. Why not lay down a bunt to get the run, isn't the suicide squeeze used anymore? Instead, we hit into the double play to end the inning.
 

Big series sweep there. Barring a massive collapse looking good for the conference tourney now.
 

Livingat45north said:
I think it was the 10th inning when we had bases loaded and one out. Why not lay down a bunt to get the run, isn't the suicide squeeze used anymore? Instead, we hit into the double play to end the inning.
Click to expand...

It can be if you have the right guy at the plate. Also, it's a lot tougher with a force out at home w/ bases loaded. If a tag is required, then the throw home has to be perfect to the catcher in order to make the play.
 



big10guy said:
It can be if you have the right guy at the plate. Also, it's a lot tougher with a force out at home w/ bases loaded. If a tag is required, then the throw home has to be perfect to the catcher in order to make the play.
Click to expand...

With a suicide squeeze, the runner crosses the plate before the throw can be made. The batter just has to get the ball on the ground. I don't watch baseball that much, but used to play it a lot. I just don't see the suicide squeeze used any more -- maybe the "safety squeeze" every now and then, but that's about it.
 

Livingat45north said:
With a suicide squeeze, the runner crosses the plate before the throw can be made. The batter just has to get the ball on the ground. I don't watch baseball that much, but used to play it a lot. I just don't see the suicide squeeze used any more -- maybe the "safety squeeze" every now and then, but that's about it.
Click to expand...

Probably because present-day players don't know how to bunt period, both amateur & pro.
 

Livingat45north said:
I think it was the 10th inning when we had bases loaded and one out. Why not lay down a bunt to get the run, isn't the suicide squeeze used anymore? Instead, we hit into the double play to end the inning.
Click to expand...
Max Meyer was at the plate and he is an all right bunter but the suicide squeeze is risky. I've watched every Gopher baseball game that has been on TV or streamed and haven't seen a suicide squeeze all year and only maybe a couple safety squeezes. Bigger problem in that situation was Max was over aggressive and swung at a couple bad pitches including the one he tapped back to the pitcher. Have to be looking for a pitch you know you can handle and not give in to the pitcher and chase a pitchers pitch at least until you get to two strikes.
 

Goldy Gopher said:
Max Meyer was at the plate and he is an all right bunter but the suicide squeeze is risky. I've watched every Gopher baseball game that has been on TV or streamed and haven't seen a suicide squeeze all year and only maybe a couple safety squeezes. Bigger problem in that situation was Max was over aggressive and swung at a couple bad pitches including the one he tapped back to the pitcher. Have to be looking for a pitch you know you can handle and not give in to the pitcher and chase a pitchers pitch at least until you get to two strikes.
Click to expand...

The bigger risk is hitting into a double play, which he did. With bases loaded the pitcher has to be coming into the strike zone, for any decent batter laying down a bunt should be a lot easier than hitting a ball to the outfield. All you have to do is keep the bunt from being caught in the air. Get it on the ground and it's game over.
 



Livingat45north said:
The bigger risk is hitting into a double play, which he did. With bases loaded the pitcher has to be coming into the strike zone, for any decent batter laying down a bunt should be a lot easier than hitting a ball to the outfield. All you have to do is keep the bunt from being caught in the air. Get it on the ground and it's game over.
Click to expand...

There's probably a much greater chance of bunting into a double play in that situation than hitting into one.
 

GophersInIowa said:
There's probably a much greater chance of bunting into a double play in that situation than hitting into one.
Click to expand...

Agree. If it was so easy, you'd see it more. Lots of bad things can happen. If he misses bunt, player out at home. If it goes in air, double play. If opposition sniffs it out and pitches out, out at home (or if pitch is way out of strike zone). Foul ball, gives up a strike. Plus, 14 knows if Max has any chance of successfully laying one down even if he gets a decent pitch to bunt. I trust John's judgement of this.
 


<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 


Gophers lose game 1 but the bigger concern tonight is if we lost Max Meyer for more than just this weekend. Wasn't a good view on BTN+ but Max was going to back up a throw home and next thing you notice he is laying on the ground and looked like grabbing at his left knee. It happened with 2 outs in the 1st inning and Siebert definitely fell silent. He was helped off and I did see him back in the dugout later in the game with crutches. Definitely hoping that it wasn't something serious and more just a scare but very worried that it is more than that just based on reaction.
Gophers just gave Maryland way too many base runners definitely 10+ between walks, hit batters, and errors. Have to tighten things up and be sharper than that at this time of the season if you expect to win games.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Nice win to even the series. Patrick Fredrickson made his return to the rotation as the BTN announcers said Sam Thoresen had to be scratched but didn't really elaborate. Fredrickson was really solid and has been each of his last few outings. Gophers finally strung together some hits scoring 4 runs in the 1st to jump out to the lead and then another 4 in the 8th after Maryland had cut the lead to 2. The announcers did say Max Meyer's injury is a sprained left ankle so the good thing I guess is it wasn't a knee but sprained ankles can be pretty tricky too and they didn't really mention when or if he could possibly be back.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Great to see Fredrickson working his back. The Meyer injury happened when he stepped on a bat running to back up home. Interesting it turned out to be his ankle as he was grabbing his knee when he went down. Brother and family were at the game and saw it happen.
 

Gophers win 2-1 over Maryland to win the series. Gophers scored 2 in the 4th on a Jack Wassel double, a Jordan Kozicky walk, a Easton Bertrand sac fly, and a Drew Hmielewski single and then the offense really didn't do anything the rest of the game. Josh Culliver got the win pitching really solid and getting out of a jam or two. Ryan Duffy went 2.1 innings escaping trouble once with a couple strikeouts and 3 total for the day. Brett Schulze picked up the save although it was definitely shaky. Fastball command wasn't there right away as pitches were up and Maryland took advantage of it as they got a leadoff homerun followed by a double and a hit batter. The next batter got up 3-0 showing bunt but then couldn't get the bunt down as he took the 3-0 pitch, fouled off the 3-1, and Schulze painted the inside corner at the knees for strike 3. A 3 pitch strikeout and groundout followed to allow the Gophers to escape with the win.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

B1G Tournament Pairings With a A Week To Go

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

Haven't seen Meyer update. Anybody know what they are looking at?
 

I don't expect to hear a word about Meyers until he shows up to pitch. The team certainly never disclosed anything about Fredrickson's progress and eventual return.
 

Gophers list their probables for the Northwestern series as Fredrickson, TBD, and Culliver. Hopefully Thoresen is ready to go and make that start Friday. I think the ideal scenario if everyone is getting healthy would be to start Fredrickson, Thoresen, and Culliver for the Northwestern series and use Meyer in a relief outing. Then you can bring Meyer back to start game 1 of the B1G tournament and he is well rested and all the other starters could stay on normal rest for the B1G tournament then too.
 

Gophers jumped on Northwestern early and held on. The game started with a triple from Riley Smith followed by doubles from Zack Raabe and Eddie Estrada and then a 2 run home run from Eli Wilson. Jack Wassel added a solo home run with 1 out to make it 5-0. The Gophers hit everything hard in the 1st inning and after singles from Easton Bertrand and Drew Hmielewski it looked like they were going to add on more as Riley Smith sent a frozen rope to center but it was right at the outfielder. Gophers did have some very hard it balls the rest of the game as well but Northwestern was very good defensively and a little lucky and there were times the Gophers just left a couple on. Patrick Fredrickson got the win and Brett Schulze picked up a 2 out save but in between Nick Lackney was really good after a rough start to his outing. After Lackney was able to get out of the 5th where he allowed a couple hits and a couple runners to come in as well as a walk he went 3 shutout innings and was really in command striking out 5 and allowing just 1 more hit the rest of the way. Max Meyer did travel but is still in the walking boot and not dressed. Will be interesting to see if Sam Thoresen is able to make the start tomorrow after being scratched last weekend.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

A 7 run 5th inning did the Gophers in today. Ryan Duffy made his first career start and he was solid. Made a couple mistakes and didn't get some help from his defense making his numbers look worse than he really pitched. Jake Stevenson came on to try to escape the bases loaded nobody out jam in the 5th but had probably his worst outing of the year allowing a couple of bases loaded doubles and walking 3 in a row as well. JP Massey was very good finishing things out going 3 hitless/scoreless innings and striking out 5. At the plate it was an all too familiar story as just couldn't string at bats together or come through with the timely hit to really make things a game after falling behind.
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 


You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom