Good post. I would only add that I have some level of disappointment that the coach and Athletics administration just go radio silent at the end of the season, with no sense of what went right/wrong and how things might look in the future.
The last season and a quarter have been beyond disappointing, given how quickly the program went from top of the Big Ten to scratching to get into the B1G tournament, yet there's no outward sense of concern or urgency. I'm an alum and a huge college baseball fan, and I'm concerned that IU is on the cusp of giving back all the ground it had gained in baseball over the past 8-9 years because it's simply not seen as much of a priority.
I don't need to know the innermost workings of the program, but don't think it's too much to ask for some explanation of how a pitching staff that returned some talent and had a few young guys who were highly touted could be so bad. Is it just an adjustment to new pitching coach? Nagging injuries? Unrealized potential? What's the approach to making it better?
Heck, just an admission that we didn't meet the standard, but we're going to turn over all rocks to get back to it would be a start.
I have questioned the lack of Public Relations wrt IU Baseball for years. For example, many school publish write ups with links for individuals that are playing summer collegiate baseball. If IU does put out a list it is usually late and totally unmaintained. I have no idea if that comes from Mercer’s lack of interest in summer ball or general malaise in the IU athletic Public Relations group. I believed Mercer was a great hire for IU, and still believe he can be, but more aggressive media support for the program is needed IMO.
NOT saying lack of IU baseball public relations has been the chief reason or even a contributor to the last 2 disappointing seasons. I lay some of it off to Covid and the response to it at all levels, NCAA, B1G, IU administration, Coach Mercer. I understand cancelling the ‘20 season given the situation at the time. I think ‘21 should have included roster expansion and funding for the associated increases in scholarship costs, but with a 1 year freeze on transfers. The B1G late start, no mid week games and initial no fans were big conference & IU negatives IMO. IU administration extending the fan ban was a negative. And Coach Mercer adding so many transfers contributed to the creation of an atmosphere that was a major part of the late season collapse. The large and cumbersome roster and lack of mid-week games worked against player development, significantly among non front line pitchers.
Some, a good part IMO, of the pitching fall off this year can be traced to lack of starting and significant time in mid week games for the non-weekend starters. Also in truth recruiting of pitching has not been outstanding. Also we seem to have lost sight of the magnitude of the losses across the board from last year’s team. I think IU lost 10 + kids from the ‘21 roster. I think 8 ultimately sighed professional contracts, including the weekend starters, & prime relievers in Litwicki and Scott and we also lost Ashley to dental school and one of our most talented pitchers in Manous to injury, and Toetz transferred. Also we lost 2 recruits to high MLB draft slots and a pitcher, Ben Hess from IL who pitched some for university of Alabama this year. In summary we had a lot of holes. Besides replacing the weekend rotation, defensively the entire “up the middle”, as well as 3rd base and ultimately 1st had to be replaced. Ultimately Pyne, Tibbitts, and Mathison, and when called on Goforth as well as the transfers and great improvement in Whalen enabled IU Baseball to greatly exceed expectations for the season, although there were plenty of ugly moments along the way.
Too long a rant! Like you I am an alum, love college baseball, though probably am a lot older. I do have a sense of urgency and next year needs to be a whole lot better beginning to end (no less than a berth in a regional & hopefully more). Maybe additional information will be forthcoming as well.
