2012 Season Grade

[Husker Mort]

The Huskers finished the year fourth in the conference with 35 wins. That is a higher conference finish and five more wins than in 2011, albeit in a far less competitive conference.

Would the Big Red have had a better season if they hadn't switched conferences? It is tough to tell, but now that the dust has settled on Coach Erstad's first season, what say you? What grade would you assign?

[ThotDoc]

C+

[carrolltonsker]

I think I would give it a solid C. Not a bad season, but definitely nothing to get very excited about.

[NUFootballTim]

I have no qualifications to critique the bball team or say what I think they (the staff) should have done better/differently etc. That being said, I'd give the season a "C". I do believe that Erstad and Bolt can get things turned around so I am hopeful of better days ahead for NU baseball.

[Ackos]

Offense: B+
Batting Ave.: .314 (10th nationally)
HRs: 46 (17th)
Runs: 390 (9th)
I would have given them an A, but they tended to go flat too often

Defense: A-
Fielding: .975 (24th)

Pitching: D

Hits allowed per 9 innings: 10.19 (210th)
ERA: 4.33 (138th)
Walks per 9 innings: 3.41 (108th)
K/Walk ratio: 1.68 (181st) Florida has 3.88 strikeouts to every walk

Obviously the weakest link to this season

Coaching: B

Like the aggressive approach to hitting and base running, too slow to pull a struggling pitcher. But not bad for 1st year. Have to see how well they can recruit.

Overall: C+

They have 2/3 of the equation, with strong offense and defense.

[HuskerWeatherman]

Because it was the Big Ten -- and outside of Purdue, it's a lot of mediocre garbage, it's hard to get too excited. I doubt we would have fared as well in the Big 12. Normally, I'd call this season a D. But because it was Erstad's first season -- and the last couple under Anderson were absolutely brutal, I'd go a straight C.

[Red93]

I say B-. The team played a harder and smarter brand of baseball that was far more enjoyable to watch, imo -- Clearly we're deficient on the mound, but I'm proud of the season and how the guys played. I really feel like DE and the staff got everything out of this bunch that was there to get.

[Fromunda Cheese]

D

Disappointing in my book. I'm not buying into the "hitting was better" mantra as the hitting had to be better just by the shear level of competition dropping.

Look closely at the B1G tourney, and NU scored 2 runs in 8 2/3 innings against MSU, and 2 runs against OSU's #3 pitcher. I don't think that qualifies as "better"

And of course the pitching was a total letdown, even though the level of competition dropped, the pitching got worse than last year. At the end of the year Nebraska still was didn't have defined roles in its weekend rotation.

Coaching also was a disappointment. At times this year this team played like they were poorly coached, I point to the Iowa series in particluar.

The team played a harder and smarter brand of baseball

Smarter? The way they ran themselves out of innings and got picked off bases didn't seem very smart to me.

[Huskers57]

C+. get pitching and that'll solve most of our issues.

[bilsker]

It's having to play all those new teams that held NU back.

[Bearkat Husker]

C-
Wasn't expecting much looking at the squad. No koolaid drinking when coming off the past few seasons. Anderson left the cupboard bare. This team was not very good. Closer lok at the wins and you can no powerhouse wins.

[ThotDoc]

C+

Offense: B+
Batting Ave.: .314 (10th nationally)
HRs: 46 (17th)
Runs: 390 (9th)
I would have given them an A, but they tended to go flat too often

Defense: A-
Fielding: .975 (24th)

Pitching: D

Hits allowed per 9 innings: 10.19 (210th)
ERA: 4.33 (138th)
Walks per 9 innings: 3.41 (108th)
K/Walk ratio: 1.68 (181st) Florida has 3.88 strikeouts to every walk

Obviously the weakest link to this season

Coaching: B

Like the aggressive approach to hitting and base running, too slow to pull a struggling pitcher. But not bad for 1st year. Have to see how well they can recruit.

Overall: C+

They have 2/3 of the equation, with strong offense and defense.

Thanks for elucidating my thought process in getting to a C+.

[HuskerWeatherman]

D

Disappointing in my book. I'm not buying into the "hitting was better" mantra as the hitting had to be better just by the shear level of competition dropping.

Look closely at the B1G tourney, and NU scored 2 runs in 8 2/3 innings against MSU, and 2 runs against OSU's #3 pitcher. I don't think that qualifies as "better"

And of course the pitching was a total letdown, even though the level of competition dropped, the pitching got worse than last year. At the end of the year Nebraska still was didn't have defined roles in its weekend rotation.

Coaching also was a disappointment. At times this year this team played like they were poorly coached, I point to the Iowa series in particluar.



Smarter? The way they ran themselves out of innings and got picked off bases didn't seem very smart to me.

I can't argue too much. In a decent conference, NU would have gotten exposed much more. As you probably noted, I gave 'em a D as well -- initially. The only reason I graded up was because of it being year one for Erstad (not sure if that's reasonable or not).

The pitching was an F. It's as bad as I've seen by the Huskers against overall mediocre to weak competition. And if that doesn't improve significantly, we'll never be more than mediocre as a team. I don't think any part of the equation is more important than pitching. Give me an A grade pitching staff and a sub-par offense any day over an A grade offense and horrible pitching.

[Fromunda Cheese]

The pitching was an F. It's as bad as I've seen by the Huskers against overall mediocre to weak competition. And if that doesn't improve significantly, we'll never be more than mediocre as a team. I don't think any part of the equation is more important than pitching. Give me an A grade pitching staff and a sub-par offense any day over an A grade offense and horrible pitching.

This is exactly why Creighton is playing for an NCAA berth tomorrow night.

[carrolltonsker]

Offense: B+
Batting Ave.: .314 (10th nationally)
HRs: 46 (17th)
Runs: 390 (9th)
I would have given them an A, but they tended to go flat too often

I realize that the offensive stats are pretty good, but I think they are misleading. We hit the ball very well when we were up by 5-6 runs. However, when we really needed that 2-out hit with a runner in scoring position, it didn't seem to happen much.

[jikastew]

That's a solid D-

I'm sorry, but barely making it into the Big Ten Tournament is unacceptable. Maybe you could make a case of bumping it up a half grade because of some notion of "development" we hope occurs under Erstad; but the fact is, we don't we if Erstad can develop talent yet. This team was a bad series away from missing the freaking Big Ten tournamant.

The quality of baseball is notably worse in the Big Ten. Everyone knew it going in, but even I was surprised. I seriously don't know if NU could win a series with Iowa Western, given our pitching.

Now, that was pretty harsh, but don't take it as doom-and-gloom. I have hope for Erstad, but he inherited a monster mess.

[HuskerWeatherman]

Now, that was pretty harsh, but don't take it as doom-and-gloom. I have hope for Erstad, but he inherited a monster mess.

He did inherit a monster mess -- the only reason I give him a bit of credit. I'm fairly certain the 2011 Huskers under Anderson would not have even made the Big Ten tournament -- they were bad, bad, bad in every facet of the game.

2012 under Erstad (jury is still very much out on if he is capable as a head coach/manager), was unacceptable. But somewhat excusable based on where we were prior to his promotion. It's not at all excusable moving forward.

[Red93]

That's a solid D-

I'm sorry, but barely making it into the Big Ten Tournament is unacceptable. Maybe you could make a case of bumping it up a half grade because of some notion of "development" we hope occurs under Erstad; but the fact is, we don't we if Erstad can develop talent yet. This team was a bad series away from missing the freaking Big Ten tournamant.

The quality of baseball is notably worse in the Big Ten. Everyone knew it going in, but even I was surprised. I seriously don't know if NU could win a series with Iowa Western, given our pitching.

Now, that was pretty harsh, but don't take it as doom-and-gloom. I have hope for Erstad, but he inherited a monster mess.

And a good series away from being the #2 seed with a first round BYE (sunshine pumper alert!)

[FCHusker]

He did inherit a monster mess -- the only reason I give him a bit of credit. I'm fairly certain the 2011 Huskers under Anderson would not have even made the Big Ten tournament -- they were bad, bad, bad in every facet of the game.

2012 under Erstad (jury is still very much out on if he is capable as a head coach/manager), was unacceptable. But somewhat excusable based on where we were prior to his promotion. It's not at all excusable moving forward.

This! Man you guys are freakin' harsh on this board. None of the other boards are near this bad. I think he did alot with almost nothing. I am proud of our season and I think the ship is heading in the right direction.

[FCHusker]

Stats as of May 24, 2012 I would say we had a pretty good year offensively. Turn the pitching around and we are heading in the right direction!

Hitting minimums - 2.0 AB/Game 3.0 TPA/Game
Pitching minimums - 1.0 IP/Game

Batting avg
-----------
1. Purdue.............. .318
2. Nebraska............ .316
3. Michigan State...... .301
4. Illinois............ .283
5. Indiana............. .274
6. Ohio State.......... .269
7. Minnesota........... .266
8. Iowa................ .266
9. Penn State.......... .255
10.Michigan............ .253
11.Northwestern........ .253

Slugging pct
------------
1. Nebraska............ .447
2. Purdue.............. .437
3. Michigan State...... .402
4. Indiana............. .399
5. Penn State.......... .381
6. Illinois............ .378
7. Michigan............ .358
8. Ohio State.......... .355
9. Minnesota........... .340
10.Iowa................ .338
11.Northwestern........ .319

On base pct
-----------
1. Purdue.............. .386
2. Nebraska............ .385
3. Michigan State...... .381
4. Ohio State.......... .371
5. Illinois............ .364
6. Indiana............. .356
7. Iowa................ .351
8. Minnesota........... .339
9. Michigan............ .335
10.Penn State.......... .328
11.Northwestern........ .325

Runs scored
-----------
1. Nebraska............ 411
2. Purdue.............. 368
3. Michigan State...... 343
4. Ohio State.......... 323
5. Indiana............. 317
6. Illinois............ 309
7. Michigan............ 264
8. Penn State.......... 255
9. Iowa................ 245
10.Minnesota........... 240
11.Northwestern........ 214

Hits
----
1. Nebraska............ 638
2. Purdue.............. 619
3. Michigan State...... 612
4. Indiana............. 539
5. Ohio State.......... 522
6. Illinois............ 503
7. Minnesota........... 494
8. Michigan............ 483
9. Penn State.......... 478
10.Northwestern........ 460
11.Iowa................ 441


Runs batted in
--------------
1. Nebraska............ 373
2. Purdue.............. 334
3. Michigan State...... 307
4. Ohio State.......... 289
5. Indiana............. 286
6. Illinois............ 272
7. Michigan............ 238
8. Penn State.......... 229
9. Iowa................ 214
10.Minnesota........... 211
11.Northwestern........ 191

Doubles
-------
1. Purdue.............. 102
2. Indiana............. 101
Nebraska............ 101
4. Michigan State...... 90
Penn State.......... 90
6. Ohio State.......... 84
7. Minnesota........... 81
8. Michigan............ 76
9. Illinois............ 75
10.Iowa................ 70
11.Northwestern........ 65

Triples
-------
1. Illinois............ 20
2. Indiana............. 17
3. Penn State.......... 16
4. Michigan............ 15
Purdue.............. 15
6. Michigan State...... 13
7. Nebraska............ 12
Minnesota........... 12
9. Iowa................ 10
Ohio State.......... 10
11.Northwestern........ 6

Home runs
---------
1. Nebraska............ 47
2. Penn State.......... 38
3. Indiana............. 37
4. Purdue.............. 33
5. Michigan............ 31
6. Michigan State...... 30
7. Ohio State.......... 21
8. Illinois............ 18
9. Northwestern........ 14
10.Minnesota........... 11
11.Iowa................ 10

Total bases
-----------
1. Nebraska............ 904
2. Purdue.............. 850
3. Michigan State...... 818
4. Indiana............. 785
5. Penn State.......... 714
6. Ohio State.......... 689
7. Michigan............ 682
8. Illinois............ 672
9. Minnesota........... 632
10.Northwestern........ 579
11.Iowa................ 561


Total plate appearances
-----------------------
1. Michigan State...... 2380
2. Ohio State.......... 2351
3. Nebraska............ 2332
4. Indiana............. 2288
5. Purdue.............. 2244
6. Michigan............ 2198
7. Minnesota........... 2150
8. Penn State.......... 2131
9. Northwestern........ 2072
10.Illinois............ 2067
11.Iowa................ 1972

At bats
-------
1. Michigan State...... 2036
2. Nebraska............ 2022
3. Indiana............. 1968
4. Purdue.............. 1945
5. Ohio State.......... 1943
6. Michigan............ 1907
7. Penn State.......... 1876
8. Minnesota........... 1858
9. Northwestern........ 1817
10.Illinois............ 1779
11.Iowa................ 1659

Walks
-----
1. Ohio State.......... 270
2. Michigan State...... 214
3. Michigan............ 202
4. Indiana............. 196
5. Illinois............ 190
6. Nebraska............ 181
7. Purdue.............. 177
8. Minnesota........... 174
9. Penn State.......... 171
10.Northwestern........ 163
11.Iowa................ 159

Hit by pitch
------------
1. Iowa................ 70
2. Ohio State.......... 66
3. Michigan State...... 65
4. Indiana............. 63
5. Nebraska............ 61
6. Purdue.............. 52
7. Illinois............ 51
8. Minnesota........... 43
9. Michigan............ 39
10.Northwestern........ 38
11.Penn State.......... 37

Strikeouts
----------
1. Michigan............ 422
2. Penn State.......... 405
3. Ohio State.......... 397
4. Indiana............. 380
5. Minnesota........... 358
6. Northwestern........ 355
7. Illinois............ 347
8. Iowa................ 339
9. Michigan State...... 325
10.Nebraska............ 281
11.Purdue.............. 246


Sac bunts
---------
1. Iowa................ 63
2. Indiana............. 47
Minnesota........... 47
4. Purdue.............. 46
Nebraska............ 46
6. Michigan State...... 40
Northwestern........ 40
8. Ohio State.......... 39
9. Penn State.......... 36
10.Michigan............ 33
11.Illinois............ 25

Sac flies
---------
1. Ohio State.......... 32
2. Purdue.............. 24
Minnesota........... 24
4. Michigan State...... 22
Illinois............ 22
6. Iowa................ 21
7. Nebraska............ 20
8. Michigan............ 16
9. Northwestern........ 14
Indiana............. 14
11.Penn State.......... 10

Stolen bases
------------
1. Ohio State.......... 86
2. Illinois............ 78
3. Indiana............. 74
4. Michigan............ 72
5. Purdue.............. 62
6. Nebraska............ 61
7. Michigan State...... 60
8. Iowa................ 59
9. Minnesota........... 48
10.Penn State.......... 32
11.Northwestern........ 30

Caught stealing
---------------
1. Illinois............ 43
2. Indiana............. 31
3. Michigan............ 30
4. Purdue.............. 26
5. Ohio State.......... 25
6. Michigan State...... 23
7. Iowa................ 22
8. Minnesota........... 21
9. Nebraska............ 19
10.Northwestern........ 17
11.Penn State.......... 13

Steal attempts
--------------
1. Illinois............ 121
2. Ohio State.......... 111
3. Indiana............. 105
4. Michigan............ 102
5. Purdue.............. 88
6. Michigan State...... 83
7. Iowa................ 81
8. Nebraska............ 80
9. Minnesota........... 69
10.Northwestern........ 47
11.Penn State.......... 45


Grounded into DP
----------------
1. Michigan State...... 57
2. Purdue.............. 38
Northwestern........ 38
Nebraska............ 38
5. Ohio State.......... 34
6. Indiana............. 33
Illinois............ 33
8. Iowa................ 31
9. Michigan............ 30
10.Penn State.......... 28
11.Minnesota........... 14