Some Ramblings from behind the Glass on Sportsline…

Okay here it is on Tuesday May 15, 2007, and the Texas Tech baseball team just lost to New Mexico State 5-4. Tech has lost four of its last five games in five days, against competition that at worst should have been three and two. But now the Texas Tech baseball team is 27-25 on the year and has a chance at finishing the year at worst 27-28, but at best 30-25 on the year. Now there has been a lot of talk about what should be done with the baseball program at Tech. The fist thing that needs be done is decided, do we blame the coaching staff, the players or is the fact that this team was just not that good.

In my thinking, you can blame the coaching staff and the players for this season. One the coaching staff has to know what is going on with this team; this team is not playing well this year, they know that so they should have done something to make it better. The staff has done some things to make it better, taking Doug Tennis out of the field and putting him as the DH, Chris Richburg is now playing left field, and Taylor Ashby playing centerfield. Those few changes have produced some better play at the plate and in the field. Right now Richburg is leading the team with a .344 average, while only playing in twenty one games out of fifty one games on the year. Richburg has been the spark plug on the team hitting game changing hits to get Tech back in the game or putting Tech on top. But on the flip side, Coach Hays has put Roger Kieschnick in the leadoff spot this past weekend. That did not work out as he is one for twenty one with two walks and four strike outs. Kieschnick has not worked out in the leadoff spot. Kieschnick against Dallas Baptist in which Tech won 15-6, he was two for five, with on strike outs and one base on balls that is the Kieschnick that needs to be in the second place in the line up. Coach Hays needs to put him back there and leave him there, if this team wants to win at least one game in Oklahoma this weekend.

The Players have something to do with it as well, with the team struggling, they have seemed to be not playing well. They all seem to be just going through the motions and just waiting to get the season over with. If these players were Big 12 player then this would not be the problem. At this time they are not.

Don’t get me wrong, I support this team everyday, but I really can’t stand the fact that the team is doing so badly. There are probably some things that we don’t know about the team, if there is some problems with the team, or what, we just don’t know. The only person that does know, he will never tell anyone.

So what do we do as fans, do we just wait this out and see if Coach Hays can pull this out next year, or do we as fans want change and want the change now. The only problem I do see with a change at the end of the season is that Tech will get raid of the third active all time winningest head coaches in the NCAA history. Gerald Meyers does not want to be the guy who fires that coach, if Coach Hays leaves, let him retire and go out on top and with some respect that he does deserve.

So, what should we do, I can think of one thing for right now, support the Team, the Coaches and hope for the best when it comes for the time when Coach Hays leaves that third base coaching box it will be for the best of the program and the Team.

I have to go now Earl is calling on the phone; I have to answer it…….

Earlier last week, Sportsline had a poll question asking what it takes to make Tech Athletics better. The choices, Wins, Money, Fans, and Exposure, which all are important. One is not more valuable then the others, but winning breds more, it takes money to build and pay fans are the emotion behind the program and exposure is the window to the program for recruits. So, what role do coaches and players have?

The Lead

Tech has good coaches, coaches who know what to do in games, how to prepare teams and recruit players to win with. The Difference is Players.

They constantly Change, Graduate, Transfer, and Quit. If players are not talented, don’t play hard or play smart then defeat is the outcome. The coaches at Tech are very good. The players have to be tougher players who have the guts to compete.

Give a coach a team of Zachs, Jason Sassers, or Shane Wrights and they’ll win much more then lose. Tough players make Tech Athletics better.

A lot of concern has been raised about the state of Texas Tech Baseball. No need for angst. The Athletic Director, Gerald Meyers, knows what to do. Between him and Coach Larry Hays the right decision will be made at the right time. Coach Meyers track record with coaches and hirings in impeccable. If you trust your Athletic Department’s Ledership and you should, you know the right decision will be made.

Okay finals are next week, and I am writing a blog for the Sportsline website instead of studying. I am currently in between Sudoku puzzles, so I have some time too kill before I start the next one, and I am watching the Tigers and White Sox on ESPN’s Wednesday night baseball. And I wonder why I have been in school for the past seven years.

I have worked on the Sportsline show now for the past five years or so, and I have some thoughts of the show, and things going on in the world. First of all, I would like to talk for a moment on the topic of the Virginia Tech shootings. I know it has been a week and a half since that day in which 32 people lost their lives, due to a mental guy with a gun. I feel some what safer on the Tech Campus because of this shooting, more people are now talking to each other and being more friendly too each other. I am also glad that Texas Tech students have decided to do something that would raise money to send to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to help those that have been affected of these shootings. If you would like to help with this you can give money to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund by going to www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php and please give there

Now on to Sportsline, for the past five years I have learned a lot for Jack and Steve from the history of Texas Tech and fashion sense from Steve. Not every man in America can wear an Orange sweater vest with a Pink Shirt under it and walk in public. Many people do bag on Steve a lot for some of the things that he says and does, like when he talks about Tech Football and everyone gets mad about it because he finds something wrong with the program. Everyone has at one time or another has done this, but since Steve is on the air saying this to the public, then everyone else jumps on Steve just because you disagree with him. Yes, there have been times that I have offend wondered where Steve is pulling this information from and coming up with these thoughts. But after looking at it myself, I do sometimes see what he is talking about. Most people who listen to the radio never really listens to the radio, it is just on as background noise, and key words that are said will make you listen to the radio again. In most cases, all people hear what they want to hear instead of hearing the whole story. So the next time you have a problem with what is said on the radio, first look at for yourself, or start listening to the whole comment before you judge what is being said.

That is all from behind the glass, Earl is calling me, I have to answer the phone……

With the 2006-2007, athletic season almost complete for Texas Tech, it has been a “What If” year. “What If” the football team had held on to leads against, Texas and at Oklahoma, not lost to the worst team in the league, Colorado.

The Men’s basketball “What If” is about Esmir Rizvic staying healthy, or ducking. “What If” Miles Morgan and Willie Rueda stay healthy for the Texas Tech baseball team. I think the seasons could have a title or two in it. Perhaps the 2007-2008 year will be a “Why Not.”