Weird vibe among State fans about the Notre Dame series

Is it just me or is there not much chatter about Notre Dame? I feel like they're still somewhat of an unknown, so nobody is really confident enough in saying they think we definitely win or definitely lose this series. Combine their weird schedule with no top opponents, and our inconsistencies, and you get a fan base full of people that think we could beat them handily in 2, or get punched in the mouth 2 straight and be done. How are you guys feeling about this weekend? Nervous, excited, both? Confident, uneasy?

Everyone vote and we'll see what the consensus is

I think the last month and a half has people unsure what team is taking the field for us from game to game. For me if we play like we did earlier in the year we should have no problem with ND. Unfortunately the Missouri series, the SEC tournament and the last game against Campbell has me wondering if we could put back to back games together to get past them.

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Originally Posted by SteelCurtain74

I think the last month and a half has people unsure what team is taking the field for us from game to game. For me if we play like we did earlier in the year we should have no problem with ND. Unfortunately the Missouri series, the SEC tournament and the last game against Campbell has me wondering if we could put back to back games together to get past them.

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This team isn't looking back, they are motivated, as far as Campbell, they are or were a good team, well Coached. We played very well against them, we are not a dominate type team, we have to peck away for runs and our pitchers dig in to get themselves out of trouble. Good teams look to the next game not looking back, now fans, LOL yes all the time looking over our shoulders.

I'm concerned because of the power. There will be home runs from ND. But we have to make them sprinkle them around and limit it to single run blasts not 3run bombs.

I don't know what their 3rd starter looks like but I want this taken care of in 2.

I never get too positive. I think we have a chance to win 2 in 3, but in your little poll I picked the Catholics in 3.

People are scared to death of their power, but if you take a closer look at it they really only have one guy. He?s the only guy that has double digit bombs with 21. Take special care with him and we?ll be alright. Now cue the RAT.

State in 2

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Originally Posted by mparkerfd20

I never get too positive. I think we have a chance to win 2 in 3, but in your little poll I picked the Catholics in 3.

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Lord help we are own worst enemy sometimes.

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Originally Posted by TNDawg35

Lord help we are own worst enemy sometimes.

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Because him choosing Notre Dame in a poll is going to keep us from winning the series

I think we have to do whatever it takes to win game 1, Bednar and Sims need to go for sure. If we win first game we win series IMO

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Originally Posted by CadaverDawg

Is it just me or is there not much chatter about Notre Dame? I feel like they're still somewhat of an unknown, so nobody is really confident enough in saying they think we definitely win or definitely lose this series. Combine their weird schedule with no top opponents, and our inconsistencies, and you get a fan base full of people that think we could beat them handily in 2, or get punched in the mouth 2 straight and be done. How are you guys feeling about this weekend? Nervous, excited, both? Confident, uneasy?

Everyone vote and we'll see what the consensus is

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Notre Dame is Very Good and not Unknown. If UNC, Florida State, or Louisville had won 25 ACC games in 2021, they would be National Seeds. ND did not play a northern team schedule, no games vs Maine, Hofstra, Sacred Heart, or Minnesota.

(1) ND is 13-6 versus regional and super regional teams (Duke, FSU, GT, NC State, UNC, and Virginia); 13-5 if you don't factor a blowout loss to Virginia in the ACCT
(2) ND never got swept
(3) ND only lost 1 Series, Florida State at Home
(4) ND Caveat - they played nearly all their big series at Home, only the Virginia series was on the road. Including a series split with Louisville.
(5) ND won all their Away series, 14-4 record vs (BC, Clemson, Pitt, Virginia Swept, VT, and Wake)

MSU
(1) MSU is 13-11 versus regional and super regional teams in our better conference and factoring the Arlington tournament; 13-9 if you exclude the SECT.
(2) MSU only lost a big series to Vandy and Arkansas, that's calling Mizzou a non-big series. We beat LSU, OM, USCarolina
(3) MSU is 10-8 in series vs regional and super regional teams. Playing at least 2 games vs someone.

Obviously people are concerned with their long ball power against our pitchers who give up HR quite frequently...

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Originally Posted by MoreCowbell

I think we have to do whatever it takes to win game 1, Bednar and Sims need to go for sure. If we win first game we win series IMO

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I agree with this. I think this is over in 2 regardless if we win or lose.

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Originally Posted by CadaverDawg

Is it just me or is there not much chatter about Notre Dame? I feel like they're still somewhat of an unknown, so nobody is really confident enough in saying they think we definitely win or definitely lose this series. Combine their weird schedule with no top opponents, and our inconsistencies, and you get a fan base full of people that think we could beat them handily in 2, or get punched in the mouth 2 straight and be done. How are you guys feeling about this weekend? Nervous, excited, both? Confident, uneasy?

Everyone vote and we'll see what the consensus is

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Super uneasy here. This will be over in 2 either way though. Our guys are just so inconsistent it's hard to know which way to go.

ND hits 1.36 Hr/game. Here's the list of teams we've played that have hit more per game: ark, auburn, TT, vandy, LSU, tenn, and SC.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

ND hits 1.36 Hr/game. Here's the list of teams we've played that have hit more per game: ark, auburn, TT, vandy, LSU, tenn, and SC.

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And all of them play tougher competition

ND is also the best fielding team in a America. Their starting pitchers are not K threats.
What is key for us is getting our top 5 going with multi base hits. while they have the one big HR threat, we have 3 players with double digit Hr's this season for the first time in a long time (and Rowdey is sitting at 9)
We have TO play clean ball in the field, this concerns me a lot. We can't let a 1 run bomb turn into a 3run because we booted a ball and extended the inning.

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Originally Posted by ScoobaDawg

ND is also the best fielding team in a America. Their starting pitchers are not K threats.
What is key for us is getting our top 5 going with multi base hits. while they have the one big HR threat, we have 3 players with double digit Hr's this season for the first time in a long time (and Rowdey is sitting at 9)
We have TO play clean ball in the field, this concerns me a lot. We can't let a 1 run bomb turn into a 3run because we booted a ball and extended the inning.

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Or walks. Walks will be the difference if we lose.

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Originally Posted by ScoobaDawg

ND is also the best fielding team in a America. Their starting pitchers are not K threats.
What is key for us is getting our top 5 going with multi base hits. while they have the one big HR threat, we have 3 players with double digit Hr's this season for the first time in a long time (and Rowdey is sitting at 9)
We have TO play clean ball in the field, this concerns me a lot. We can't let a 1 run bomb turn into a 3run because we booted a ball and extended the inning.

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Actually you have it just a little backward, I think we need the bottom of the order to get going again as this is what turns the tables for the top of the order. Hey fact is we gotta hit, play clean D, limit walks and get our starting pitcher to go 6. LOL, pretty simple.

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Originally Posted by basedog

Actually you have it just a little backward, I think we need the bottom of the order to get going again as this is what turns the tables for the top of the order. Hey fact is we gotta hit, play clean D, limit walks and get our starting pitcher to go 6. LOL, pretty simple.

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You mean Forsythe. Clark and Cumbest had a good weekend I thought.

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Originally Posted by Cowbell

Super uneasy here. This will be over in 2 either way though. Our guys are just so inconsistent it's hard to know which way to go.

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Generally we play well when the competition is up and stakes are high.

We are a let down threat at other times but not this week. I think we will get very big game focus cause ND can beat MSU and because Omaha is the prize.

Plus, school is out, maybe the dead campus atmosphere helps the team stay focused better. MSU is historically a non pushover in regionals, even when badly overmatched. I cannot recall a low energy super for MSU. Versus Arizona and 89-UNC the tension was too high, maybe.

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Originally Posted by msstate7

ND hits 1.36 Hr/game. Here's the list of teams we've played that have hit more per game: ark, auburn, TT, vandy, LSU, tenn, and SC.

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If we just walk or junk ball the big boy, Niko Kavadas then 50% of the threat is gone.

He’s 250 lbs, put him on 1st and get a DP with the next guy.

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Originally Posted by basedog

Actually you have it just a little backward, I think we need the bottom of the order to get going again as this is what turns the tables for the top of the order. Hey fact is we gotta hit, play clean D, limit walks and get our starting pitcher to go 6. LOL, pretty simple.

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While I agree with you.. I don't believe the bottom half is gonna magically start putting up anything special. but yes they need to do their part.. walks.. singles. taking pitches and getting the count up..

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Originally Posted by ScoobaDawg

While I agree with you.. I don't believe the bottom half is gonna magically start putting up anything special. but yes they need to do their part.. walks.. singles. taking pitches and getting the count up..

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Mule and Clark will be ok, I just hope Forsyth gets a few hits and maybe a walk or two. Mule and Clark had two good games this past weekend.

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Originally Posted by basedog

Mule and Clark will be ok, I just hope Forsyth gets a few hits and maybe a walk or two. Mule and Clark had two good games this past weekend.

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If Forsyth gets 3 base hits this weekend, I would bet a lot of money we win. It would be huge.

People are scared because Notre Dame is coming in here with an axe to grind, and they demolished their regional opponents. Our starting pitchers are also really frustrating and get themselves into trouble and give up home runs.

We absolutely cannot issue any walks or make fielding errors.

dominaNt

I feel strongly both ways

Forsythe should armor up and crowd the plate. His goal should be to try to force the pitcher to throw as many pitches as possible. He should be taking until he gets 2 strikes, and anything over 4 pitches should be considered a win. If he gets plunked or walks that's gravy

So far a majority of the votes have State winning but in 3 games. That seems fair since we are the slightly higher seed and playing in our park, yet ND has been hotter of late. So it makes sense that people feel like we squeak out a tight series but ND gets a game. I'd take that in a heartbeat. I know if we do win, it will not happen without us all losing years of f of our lives bc we 100% will not make it easy.

The problem this team has had this entire year is simply no leadership. These guys party and it?s the older more experienced players leading the way. Got several kids who tell me every weekend what?s happening in the bar scene in regards to bball players, and they are partying. Could this team be better with more focus and attention to what?s really important?.sure! We would have swept Mizzou with any team in the past 5 years bc of leadership. The egos are huge and the selfishness, arrogance is just as big. I know this first hand, but I still want us to kill it. Just don?t think we have the full talent and leadership necessary to get it done this year.

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Originally Posted by Thick

The problem this team has had this entire year is simply no leadership. These guys party and it?s the older more experienced players leading the way. Got several kids who tell me every weekend what?s happening in the bar scene in regards to bball players, and they are partying. Could this team be better with more focus and attention to what?s really important?.sure! We would have swept Mizzou with any team in the past 5 years bc of leadership. The egos are huge and the selfishness, arrogance is just as big. I know this first hand, but I still want us to kill it. Just don?t think we have the full talent and leadership necessary to get it done this year.

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I think we lack maturity in general.

I think the concerns people have with Notre Dame are legit. We give up too many home runs and try to live up in the zone.

We just need to hope that the MSU that showed up for the regional shows up this week for the SR.

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Originally Posted by Thick

The problem this team has had this entire year is simply no leadership. These guys party and it?s the older more experienced players leading the way. Got several kids who tell me every weekend what?s happening in the bar scene in regards to bball players, and they are partying. Could this team be better with more focus and attention to what?s really important?.sure! We would have swept Mizzou with any team in the past 5 years bc of leadership. The egos are huge and the selfishness, arrogance is just as big. I know this first hand, but I still want us to kill it. Just don?t think we have the full talent and leadership necessary to get it done this year.

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The team dynamics that caused the Mizzou debacle hurts us most during the grind of the season or while playing Eastern Michigan. However, At this point, that weakness is irrelevant. You now have 14 teams with the same elite players and elite baseball culture. Save Dallas Baptist and South Florida maybe are Cinderella teams. Tennessee has a special hunger it seems.

I would love to have a Burke Masters and Jake Mangum on the team, but we don’t have that. That said, we are probably not at the bottom for intangibles but we are at the top of fan support. That’s something.

When I was an MSU student, the team was good, they had 2 Omahas and several historically great players. But these were some partying and popular dudes. But Good lads, bright and admirable. I took classes with some future MLB guys. Smart guys.

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Originally Posted by CadaverDawg

Forsythe should armor up and crowd the plate. His goal should be to try to force the pitcher to throw as many pitches as possible. He should be taking until he gets 2 strikes, and anything over 4 pitches should be considered a win. If he gets plunked or walks that's gravy

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If Forsyth could go to the plate without holding a bat then that would be great.

If Forsyth doesn’t field that missile in the 9th and throw him out last weekend we probably aren’t even playing in a Super.

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Originally Posted by Schultzy

If Forsyth doesn’t field that missile in the 9th and throw him out last weekend we probably aren’t even playing in a Super.

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Yep. That's why nobody is saying "take him out of the lineup" haha. He's money in the field, I just wish he could provide something, anything, this weekend at the plate. I was disappointed he couldn't get a bunt down last weekend. I mean, if you're K'ing at the rate he is, you'd think he would focus on things like his bunting so he can add some offensive value. Maybe he's just snake bit right now....this weekend would be a great time for him to find a few hits and some confidence

A big key this weekend will be the bottom of our lineup being patient at the plate. Cumbest and Clark need to look for their pitch. Notre Dame isn't looking for strikeouts so the pitches will be there. Just have to have patience. We need people on base when Rowdey and TA come up.