2026 Razorback Baseball

[Barton Fink]

Damn. Impressive McElvain

[Show-Me Hog]

What a 9th inning from McElwain. Maybe he gets stronger as he goes, that was impressive.

[buff2.0]

Ugly win is still a win

[Show-Me Hog]

Ugly win is still a win

There's a better way to say that.

A rickety ride is better than a smooth walk.

[Thin Red Swine]

McElvain is a modern-day Mitch Williams?

[Son of Spam]

Why wasn't Rutenbar playing? Robinett shouldn't see the field again.

[Show-Me Hog]

Why wasn't Rutenbar playing? Robinett shouldn't see the field again.

If you saw DVH after the loss last night Rutenbar is in the doghouse. Actually Robinette didn't start either. He went with Peck.

[Feral]

If you saw DVH after the loss last night Rutenbar is in the doghouse. Actually Robinette didn't start either. He went with Peck.

Why was/is Rutenbar in the doghouse?

He's infinitely better at the plate than both Robinett and Peck, and both of those guys had a fuckup in the field tonight.

I've been outspoken about Robinett this year and how I'm tired of getting zero offensive production from a bat-first position like 1st base, and how it makes zero sense to have a 1st baseman who can't hit for power or average.

[Show-Me Hog]

Why was/is Rutenbar in the doghouse?

Post game interview, DVH seemed spitting mad that Kozeal was charged with an error when he says Rutenbar should have caught the ball, it wasn't in the dirt, and it cost us a run. Couple that with the fact he took Rutenbar out of game 1 Thursday night mid game, and put in Robinette.

[Feral]

Post game interview, DVH seemed spitting mad that Kozeal was charged with an error when he says Rutenbar should have caught the ball, it wasn't in the dirt, and it cost us a run. Couple that with the fact he took Rutenbar out of game 1 Thursday night mid game, and put in Robinette.

Hmm.

He should probably cut Rutenbar some slack since Peck fucked up in the field not covering 1st on what should have been a 4-3 putout, and Robinett looked like a 9U scrub dropping an easy pop up.

I'm going to be pissed if Rutenbar isn't in the lineup today. 

[Feral]

Listened to DVH's postgame presser.

He was happy with the win and complimentary of the pitching, but was pissed about the defense.

Said on top of the errors we made several other bad plays on defense that weren't errors but cost us. Specifically cited the injury play (we could have gotten the runner at second if we hadn't interfered), the bunt play where Pompey threw home, Peck not covering 1st, and some others.

[DrMongoose]

I can understand getting pissed about the defense but at this point of the season who should damn well know your team well enough to not put guys on the field whose performance is going to piss you off.

I wonder if the aau effect that has killed players being fundamentally sound in basketball is now a thing in baseball as travel ball teams do nothing but scrimmage and play games which is why so many players now can't field, bunt, or hit to the opposite field?

But then watching a couple 6A State baseball games last night at Fayetteville high I am not so sure it isn't a talent evaluation issue as I saw some nice defensive play, hitting to the opposite field and a couple of well placed bunts.

[Feral]

The inherent problem is that we have too many guys playing out of position.

I love Kozeal but he's not a shortstop. He doesn't have the length, range, and arm strength to play there reliably, but he has to play there because the coaches went all in on Brumbaugh at short and that had a domino effect when he went tits up.

If we had pulled a legitimate shortstop out of the portal, Kozeal could have moved back to 1st (which is where he started last year until Souza went down), or gone back to 2nd and shifted Souza to 3rd to push Pompey.

At this point the defense just is what it is. I'd bet DVH learned his lesson in relying on a true freshman to play a critical defensive role given the far reaching effect it's had on our defensive play.

[DirkPiggler]

The inherent problem is that we have too many guys playing out of position.

I love Kozeal but he's not a shortstop. He doesn't have the length, range, and arm strength to play there reliably, but he has to play there because the coaches went all in on Brumbaugh at short and that had a domino effect when he went tits up.

If we had pulled a legitimate shortstop out of the portal, Kozeal could have moved back to 1st (which is where he started last year until Souza went down), or gone back to 2nd and shifted Souza to 3rd to push Pompey.

At this point the defense just is what it is. I'd bet DVH learned his lesson in relying on a true freshman to play a critical defensive role given the far reaching effect it's had on our defensive play.

Souza's arm must be toast after the shoulder tear.   He was supposed to be the shortstop by this point in the season.   He has the range and, at full strength, the arm to play a much better SS than Kozeal. 

If Robinett can't play defense he's not adding any value because he damn sure can't hit. 

[Show-Me Hog]

"Kozeal is not a shortstop" is what I think every time I see him field a ball and throw. He's a good baseball player, but he's not a shortstop. He doesn't play the position like someone who plays shortstop plays the position.

Dave seemed more perplexed than pissed in the post game defensive wrap up last night. It's like he had a big WTF thought bubble over his head when discussing the entire range of defensive travesties.

What I don't get, is that the announcing team this weekend and the different announcing team last weekend both said what a great defense we have. They even cited statistics when making the point. I have to feel like it's one of those classic instances of lies, damn lies, and statistics.

[Barton Fink]

Rutenbar back at 1B. Turner in for Niu at CF.

[Barton Fink]

https://x.com/i/status/2055707566156472356

[Son of Spam]

Another thing I noticed last night. On Robinett's bunt, he loafed down the first base line. When the first baseman bobbled the ball, he turned on what speed he had and was out. I think he could have beaten it if he had run full speed down the line.

[Vito Porkleone]

1:42 first pitch

[Feral]

Another thing I noticed last night. On Robinett's bunt, he loafed down the first base line. When the first baseman bobbled the ball, he turned on what speed he had and was out. I think he could have beaten it if he had run full speed down the line.

Thank you!

I was thinking the same thing when it happened. He could have beat it out but was watching it (something you're coached out of in 9u) and was holding his helmet on his head.