Chairman - I've been a long time followers on these boards and have long appreciated your updates and the dedication it takes to keep the board up to date. I think all OSU fans have to take a deep breath and acknowledge that multiple things can be true at the same time...
1) The program is not funded to compete at the level we as fans want the team to compete at. Some programs are offering full scholarships to the entire 30+ roster, OSU is well short of that. We are also not in a position to compete dollar for dollar with elite talent in the transfer portal because our NIL $$$ isn't as high as many others. This is true. At the same time, we have one of the best (if not the best) college stadiums and facilities in the country. No recruit is going to visit campus and not rank OSU's facilities at the very top of all of college baseball. Now what is more important to a top recruit, top notch facilities or NIL $$$? Probably an individual decision but money talks.
2) Josh has generally been successful. Not near the level of the 1980's but overall he's won at a pretty good level (especially prior to the last 2 years). We underachieved in the post season but hosting regionals in 22, 23, and 24 as one of only two programs (I believe) in the country to do so shows sustained regular season success. The Big 12 regular season and tournament results have been good with multiple top 2-3 finishes. But multiple things can be true and the post season results have been disappointing and frustrating. Very few programs had the sustained regular season success to host regionals 3x in a row, but it's also set us up for very frustrating disappointment in losing regionals at home (sometimes in ugly fashion).
3) The strikeouts are ridiculous. Bottom line. And it's been a consistent theme over many seasons under Josh's watch. This points to a systematic issue because the players change but the high strikeouts stay the same. The power numbers are impressive but it would seem a more productive offense would balance contact, situational hitting, better baserunning, etc. Feast or famine offense for sure. But Josh's teams usually show more fight and resolve than they don't. The win on K State showed some real guts and tonight against OU (assuming we hold on) did the same.
4) The injuries this year have decimated this team, particularly the pitching staff. I get the frustration over the strikeouts, sloppy play, etc. But take any top 10-15 team and remove 2 of the 3 weekend starters (Barrett and Watkins) along with top bullpen arms (Brown and now it appears Wech) and if I had to guess after tonight the Tuesday night starter (TPW). Take 5 of the top arms off of any college staff and the staff is going to struggle. That isn't an excuse, that's a fact. Now, is there something we are doing systemically that is causing some of the arm issues? Fair question (obviously Watkins was a freak knee injury and Barrett had a pre existing injury) but it could be bad luck. Had injury issues on the pitching staff last year also. Bad luck or bad training?
The results this year haven't been what us diehard OSU baseball fans want to see, there is no denying that. Josh has had a long run, some really positive results and some frustrating and disappointing results. The facility is incredible, the financial backing is not. The feast or famine offensive approach has been frustrating but we've probably been the most consistent Big 12 program over the past decade (maybe TCU). But we haven't won in the post season despite earning home field multiple times. I don't know if a change at the top is the right answer, but hopefully the team can really and finish the season strong. That I think we can all agree on!
