Illini Baseball 2025

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#26      
DeonThomas
NCAA Tournament Speculation:

I've not yet seen where we're ranked outside the Top 64, but Kansas State is projected to be in the tournament and they're presently 25-17 and 11-8 in the Big 12. If we end the regular season at 34-18 overall and 19-11 in the B10, it would require something like this to play out:

8-1 vs Purdue, @Ohio State and @Rutgers
1-2 vs UCLA at home
2-0 vs Bradley

We probably then need to finish in the Top 4 of the Big10 tourney. If so, mission accomplished!
 
#28      
DeonThomas
DeonThomas said:
NCAA Tournament Speculation:

I've not yet seen where we're ranked outside the Top 64, but Kansas State is projected to be in the tournament and they're presently 25-17 and 11-8 in the Big 12. If we end the regular season at 34-18 overall and 19-11 in the B10, it would require something like this to play out:

8-1 vs Purdue, @Ohio State and @Rutgers
1-2 vs UCLA at home
2-0 vs Bradley

We probably then need to finish in the Top 4 of the Big10 tourney. If so, mission accomplished!
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After further research, it appears we have a really weak RPI (10th in the Big10), and somewhere in the 80's right now. I used K-State as a benchmark above, and their RPI is 40. And they're on the bubble.

We definitely have some work to do!
 
#29      
JKR
DeonThomas said:
After further research, it appears we have a really weak RPI (10th in the Big10), and somewhere in the 80's right now. I used K-State as a benchmark above, and their RPI is 40. And they're on the bubble.

We definitely have some work to do!
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Complete breakdown from our pitching today in a 20-4 loss to a 14th place Purdue team. Walked seven batters and hit seven more in a seven-inning run-rule game. Gave up 16 hits.
 
#31      
Fighter of the Nightman
Red77sng said:
I love baseball but I just don’t see how they can compete against the big boys
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Haha, I also love baseball and would LOVE a season where the Illini were legit (2015 was genuinely fun!), but I seem to go through the same spell each year:

1. See the curated social media posts put out on Instagram of our "key wins."
2. Start to get excited that we are actually good at baseball!
3. Look up our actual record and see we are a ways from making the NCAA Tournament, lol.

So can someone give a general idea of what the home stretch could look like?? We are 26-16 (12-9), and we have won 5 of our last 6 games ... so perhaps playing a bit better?? It looks like last year's team was 33-20 (18-6) when the selections were made.
 
#32      
1970 John
We were at Rutgers yesterday and today and man, I hate losing, but being swept by Rutgers… But yes, our pitching is the weakest link but our hitting leaves much to be desired. Bases loaded twice and bringing in only one run, and that one was walked in.

That said, Rutgers has a dreadful ballfield, hardly worthy of a respectable high school. Our local D2 university is better equipped. Can you believe…portapotties?

AA21A0EC-B734-4F4D-BC08-AECBDA4B032D.jpeg
 
#33      
Red77sng
1970 John said:
We were at Rutgers yesterday and today and man, I hate losing, but being swept by Rutgers… But yes, our pitching is the weakest link but our hitting leaves much to be desired. Bases loaded twice and bringing in only one run, and that one was walked in.

That said, Rutgers has a dreadful ballfield, hardly worthy of a respectable high school. Our local D2 university is better equipped. Can you believe…portapotties?View attachment 42251
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Brutal losses and brutal field
 
#36      
lstewart53x3
GatorMcKlusky said:
sports.yahoo.com

Viral Video Sparks Conversation About Ballpark Design After Clemson-Coastal Clash

One moment shows why stadium layout is becoming a strategic advantage in college baseball
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
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That article was 100% written by ChatGPT.

- Over use of em dashes
- Short questions IE “the effect?”
- It’s not just [blank], it’s [blank]. IE “Every warm-up pitch becomes a test not just of mechanics but of mental fortitude”
- it wasn’t [blank], it was [blank] IE “It wasn’t disrespect—it was design” Oh hey another em dash.
- One-liners that sound smart but make no sense “Because sometimes, the biggest plays of the night don’t happen between the lines—but just beside them” and one final em dash for good measure.
 
#40      
I-L-L 1318
Not sure if anyone is watching, how in the world did they screw up that call with a replay??
 
#43      
1970 John
What’s with the extended dugout interview with the UCLA player? We turned off the audio.
 
#44      
MikeTisdale
I-L-L 1318 said:
Not sure if anyone is watching, how in the world did they screw up that call with a replay??
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It was so bad, and had a review ump looking at it. Very clearly tagged him, and it looks like that is what the ump was calling an out in the first place - not the force out. And then to add FURTHER insult, they award UCLA a run even though Illinois continued to play on and tagged that scoring runner out in a run down AFTER the 3rd out was called.

I can't even come up with a charitable explanation - it basically HAS to be Big Ten directing a favorable call to UCLA. It's the most absurd baseball call I've ever seen.
 
#46      
I-L-L 1318
MikeTisdale said:
It was so bad, and had a review ump looking at it. Very clearly tagged him, and it looks like that is what the ump was calling an out in the first place - not the force out. And then to add FURTHER insult, they award UCLA a run even though Illinois continued to play on and tagged that scoring runner out in a run down AFTER the 3rd out was called.

I can't even come up with a charitable explanation - it basically HAS to be Big Ten directing a favorable call to UCLA. It's the most absurd baseball call I've ever seen.
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The explanation that Hartleib just shared almost makes it worse....the ump called it out on the force play (absolutely absurd, it was not even close) and then it is a dead ball immediately after the call. What a crock.
 
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