I just got back home from spending the weekend in Omaha at the BIG tourney. I really love attending the tourney in Omaha when the Huskers do well. Here are a couple of my thoughts.
1. After the second loss at Northwestern, I wouldn't have bet a nickel on us winning another game. I'm really proud of the fight this team showed. I'm also encouraged by the fact Erstad finally got a team out of a second half collapse.
2. Our pitching is really good. I don't think we have great talent, but they compete, throw strikes and locate well. Palkert is probably the best talent we have but how can you not love Matt Waldron?
3. Our batting is terrible. We have zero ability to ID pitches and no knowledge of the strike zone. Our number of swinging strikeouts on balls in the dirt is surpassed only by our number of strikeouts looking on pitches straight down the middle.
4. At the end of last year, I had zero hope for this team based on our inability to field and our anemic offense. We improved in both areas this year, but our batting is still not good. However, we do have a few bats that are encouraging for next year. Schwelly, Chick, and Palenski are all solid returners for next year. Throw in Mojo and Acker as serviceable and you're halfway to a good lineup. Palkert, Perry, and Shanaman have weekend starters written all over them and Gomes is a proven closer.
5. Make Omaha the permanent home of the BIG tourney. Last year's attendance was twice as good as the prior's attendance and that was without NU playing. This year with NU playing makes it incomparable to any other option.
6. NU fans rule. The stadium was rockin on Sunday and was the 2nd largest attendance at a baseball game this year. I still don't have a voice and I was a mild fan.
7. If you ever travel to the tourney, stay at the Hilton. Great hotel, great location and reasonably priced (Priceline got us $86 per night). All the teams stay there and we were able to cheer the team in the lobby coming and going. The Mrs had to keep me from misbehaving Saturday night when Michigan's #2 showed up, but otherwise a great experience.
Hoping for a strong showing at regionals. GBR