Short Hops
Apr 7, 2004 | Baseball
April 6, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Before I wrote this week's column, I wanted to take a day to gain a perspective on this weekend's games in order to have a better feeling of what to write. After thinking back, I became encouraged because I realize that one game does not define a season. Just as one good win against a Top 5 team doesn't make our season, the loss to Cincinnati on Sunday does not break it. We have a lot of baseball to play still, and I hope that Sunday's loss to the Bearcats will serve as a wake up call to our team, instilling the mindset that we have to show up at the ball field with our "A" game everyday.
Keeping in perspective, we have won 9 out of our last 10 games, which, unfortunately, is overshadowed by our most recent game. Tonight's game against LSU is a great opportunity to get back to playing the type of baseball we've been playing and gain some momentum before we play host Louisville this weekend. As a team, we need to put the loss behind us, just as the 2001 team did when they were beat 2 out of 3 by Saint Louis in conference play before they went on to Omaha. If you look at it objectively, we are 22-8 and are in first place in conference. We control our own destiny and, as a team with regional hosting expectations, we can't ask for anything more than that as we get into the second half of the regular season.
Tonight vs. LSU and this weekend vs. Louisville are very important games for us to show that we're a mentally tough team that can bounce back from a loss. To host a regional, most importantly, we need to win the games that we are supposed to win. This means that we need to show up to play our best game every time we step out there, no matter whom the opponent may be, because I can tell you that we're definitely going to get their best game. I see great things in us. We're starting to play with heart and pride. We never quit and we never lay down. I think people are starting to see that. The way we go from good to great, though, is to strive to never make it a factor of having to come back from a deficit. We need to jump on teams early and put them away when we have the chance. If we can keep building up to that status, as we are doing right now, we have the chance to be a very special ball club.
Well, we're about to head up to Baton Rouge to avenge our 6-0 loss to the Tigers early in the season. The rumor is that we're bringing out the Grey Pelican uni's. Hey, whatever works. Anyway, I hope to see all of you out at Turchin Stadium this weekend. We play at 6:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 1 p.m. as usual. Thanks for reading, and, once again, let me know if I'm leaving out anything you guys want to read about.
Roll Wave,
Tommy
