RU Baseball Weekend Series @ Indy, 6pm, Big10 Tourney at stake:

[Abro1975]

RU baseball travels to Bloomington to take on 21 ranked Indiana , with a berth in the 8 team Big10 Tourney on the line. With a lot of teams in contention for the last few spots, RU will probably need to win 2 out of 3, but taking 1 still gives them a shot.

Standings, and team schedules:

https://bigten.org/confstandings.aspx/2018-19/base?path=baseball

"The Scarlet Knights (9-11) are in eighth place in the Big Ten standings, a half game ahead of both Ohio State (9-12) and Maryland (9-12) for the last spot to next week's Big Ten Tournament. Both Michigan State (7-13) and Purdue (7-13) are both two games behind with three games remaining for each team. RU owns the tiebreaker over the Spartans and the Boilermakers after winning series over both, as all will play the same number of games. Northwestern (10-11) is a half game in front of Rutgers for seventh place. Here are the five other Big Ten series on the schedule for this weekend:

Minnesota (13-8) at Northwestern (10-11)
Illinois (13-8) at Michigan State (7-13)
Ohio State (9-12) at Purdue (7-13)
Iowa (12-9) at Maryland (9-12)
Michigan (15-5) at Nebraska (13-8)

Pitching matchups:

Game 1 - Harry Rutkowski (2-5, 3.55 ERA) vs Pauly Milto (7-5, 3.24 ERA)

Game 2- Tevin Murray (4-4, 2.31 ERA) vs Tanner Gordon (5-4, 3.42 ERA)

Game 3- Tommy Genuario (3-4, 2.58 ERA) vs Andrew Saalfrank (7-1, 2.40 ERA)

Full story and links to follow the games:

https://scarletknights.com/news/2019/5/15/baseball-heads-to-no-21-indiana.aspx

 

[RUTrack94]

Now matter what happens, going down to the wire and last series of the year is quite an accomplishment.

Of course making the tourney is too!

 

[Abro1975]

Middle of the 5th, RU just takes the lead 4-2, on a 3 run Homer by Kevin Welsh . Rutkowski still pitching , with his pitch count at 61. He's given up 5 hits so far plus 2 walks.

 

[Abro1975]

A short lived lead. Now 4-4 after 5 innings. Rutkowski pitch count around 85 now.

 

[Abro1975]

RU fights back and takes a 5-4 lead in the top of the 6th on a Bowerbank RBI single.

 

[biazza38]

Down 7-5 now

 

[knights1212]

Final. Rutgers lost 7-5.

 

[RUTrack94]

Showed some fight and came up short.
2 more left. Let’s see if they get an upset.

 

[biazza38]

Ugh. I’m really hoping they fight to the end this weekend

 

[knights1212]

They really need a miracle and win their last 2 games over 2nd place Indiana on the road to have any chance of making the BIG Tournament.

 

[80RU]

They really need a miracle and win their last 2 games over 2nd place Indiana on the road to have any chance of making the BIG Tournament.

It will be tough, but it does not rise to the level of a miracle. If they win only one of the two, and Maryland and Ohio State both lose their last two, RU will make the tournament.

In retrospect, that game against Michigan, where they got screwed and it never should have got extra endings, was huge. They would be sitting in the sixth position right now if they were a full game better.

 

[biazza38]

It will be tough, but it does not rise to the level of a miracle. If they win only one of the two, and Maryland and Ohio State both lose their last two, RU will make the tournament.

In retrospect, that game against Michigan, where they got screwed and it never should have got extra endings, was huge. They would be sitting in the sixth position right now if they were a full game better.

What happened in the Michigan game

 

[dconifer]

It will be tough, but it does not rise to the level of a miracle. If they win only one of the two, and Maryland and Ohio State both lose their last two, RU will make the tournament.

In retrospect, that game against Michigan, where they got screwed and it never should have got extra endings, was huge. They would be sitting in the sixth position right now if they were a full game better.

If it makes you feel any better, every team probably has a game where they feel like they got screwed.

I'm a big Terps baseball fan, but they've fallen off so much since losing the manager to Virginia Tech in 2017 that I'm not that excited either way about them getting into the B1G (they missed it last year). I'd like to see Rutgers rally and get in, it would mean more. Actually, both could get in with some cooperation from Northwestern and Ohio State...

 

[Abro1975]

With both Maryland and Ohio St winning yesterday, combined with another RU loss, RU is currently alone in 10th place. Top 8 make the Tourney.
RU probably has it's best chance of a win this weekend with Tevin Murray on the mound. Rutkowski has fallen off the past month, losing 5 or 6 in a row.

Michigan 15-6-0 .714 37-15-0 .712 22-4-0 11-10-0 4-1-0 6-4-0 L2
Indiana 15-7-0 .682 34-19-0 .642 19-5-0 11-12-0 4-2-0 5-5-0 W1
Illinois 14-8-0 .636 35-16-0 .686 18-4-0 14-10-0 3-2-0 8-2-0 W4
Nebraska 14-8-0 .636 27-19-0 .587 12-5-0 14-9-0 1-5-0 5-5-0 W3
Minnesota 14-8-0 .636 25-24-0 .510 14-7-0 10-11-0 1-6-0 7-3-0 W3
Iowa 12-10-0 .545 30-20-0 .600 19-7-0 9-12-0 2-1-0 5-5-0 L3
Ohio State 10-12-0 .455 29-24-0 .547 15-10-0 10-11-0 4-3-0 6-4-0 W2
Maryland 10-12-0 .455 26-27-0 .491 9-15-0 16-11-0 1-1-0 4-6-0 W2
Northwestern 10-12-0 .455 23-26-0 .469 11-7-0 9-17-0 3-2-0 6-4-0 L3
Rutgers 9-12-0 .429 20-29-0 .408 12-7-0 6-18-0 2-4-0 3-7-0 L1
Purdue 7-14-0 .333 20-32-0 .385 13-8-0 5-23-0 2-1-0 4-6-0 L1
Michigan State 7-14-0 .333 19-33-0 .365 10-7-0 7-18-0 2-8-0 5-5-0 L2

 

[Tango Two]

Baseball Comes Up Short at No. 21 Indiana, 7-5


https://scarletknights.com/news/2019/5/16/baseball-comes-up-short-at-no-21-indiana-7-5.aspx

 

[RUTrack94]

Team made it to the final weekend before eliminated ... much better than expected on the year. Also avoided the dreaded basement.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Team made it to the final weekend before eliminated ... much better than expected on the year. Also avoided the dreaded basement.

We also didn’t have to play the current #’s 3, 4, or 5 in a relatively weak conference this season.

 

[rufeelinit]

Team made it to the final weekend before eliminated ... much better than expected on the year. Also avoided the dreaded basement.

Is Littero's contract up at the end of the year? If not I can see PH making a case to bring him back based on passing the low bar of expectations.

 

[RUTrack94]

Well the opening Miami series lowered the bar for me to six feet under ... TBT I was expecting 12-15 wins after that.

 

[koleszar]

Is Littero's contract up at the end of the year? If not I can see PH making a case to bring him back based on passing the low bar of expectations.

I could see another letter in the works if his contract isn't up. I can see Hobbs point on this as well, although I don't agree with it. Baseball received $75k in donations, so he got the message no one cares. Now it's a cheap sport, with a budget of $1.8M. So an extra $500K gets you right in line with everyone else. But he's got Barchi taking every dime and counting every penny so his hands are tied. As usual we're B1G in name only as the Administration simply cashes checks.

 

[Abro1975]

Money hemorrhaging Olympic sports that get less than 100 fans per game, probably won't warrant eating contracts.

 

[Abro1975]

WELSH AGAIN! Shortstop lifts his second homer in as many days to tie the game.

T3 | Rutgers 2, Indiana 2

https://twitter.com/rutgersbaseball?lang=en

 

[80RU]

WELSH AGAIN! Shortstop lifts his second homer in as many days to tie the game.

T3 | Rutgers 2, Indiana 2

He homers a second consecutive day after going without one for almost his first three full seasons. Seems like he found his power stroke late in his career like Mike Carter.

 

[80RU]

Another Indiana homer in the bottom of the third after two walks – – Indiana leads five - two. Indiana has four walks and five earned runs after 2.1 innings

 

[80RU]

Indiana homers yet again, six earned runs in 2.1 innings and Murray comes out. Acosta comes in. I would’ve saved Acosta for tomorrow.

 

[80RU]

Indiana has 60 something homeruns this year. Amazing.

 

[Abro1975]

Indiana hits a pair of homers to score four in the bottom of third. Acosta enters from the bullpen.

B3 | Indiana 6, Rutgers 2

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

RU is really skinny compared to Indiana

Coach should get his players into the weight room

 

[Mr_Twister]

Indiana player from N.J. Father is head coach at Princeton ... When’s the next time we land a player from Indiana?

https://iuhoosiers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=11110

 

[Abro1975]

Rutgers Baseball‏@RutgersBaseball 3m3 minutes ago
Hoosiers add four runs in the sixth.

T7 | Indiana 11, Rutgers 2


the end is near.

 

[dconifer]

Indiana has 60 something homeruns this year. Amazing.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that they scored 20/19 runs with at least ten homers in games 2/3 vs. Maryland. They can hit...

 

[biazza38]

Well that’s that. Oh well

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I said it 10 days ago:

We’ll be LUCKY to win 2 of the last 6.

...highly doubt we get to 2. Time for Joe to go.

 

[RUTrack94]

1 more to go ... then upgrade the coach and wait until next year

 

[rutpsychward]

Is Littero's contract up at the end of the year? If not I can see PH making a case to bring him back based on passing the low bar of expectations.

litterio has done nothing in his career. His entire career is one big indicator that he does not have what it takes to win as a head coach. He should not be the head coach. He should never have been hired. He should not be employed anywhere as a head coach. He has twice set the single season losing record in rutgers history.
If he is retained it is absurd.

The softball coach was exactly the type of hire we need. Rutgers baseball used to be a ncaa contender. Now we are actually talking about making the conference tourney as some accomplishment. That is an embarrassment. Hire a proven recruiter and coach and let rutgers get back to being a quality team.

 

[rutpsychward]

I could see another letter in the works if his contract isn't up. I can see Hobbs point on this as well, although I don't agree with it. Baseball received $75k in donations, so he got the message no one cares. Now it's a cheap sport, with a budget of $1.8M. So an extra $500K gets you right in line with everyone else. But he's got Barchi taking every dime and counting every penny so his hands are tied. As usual we're B1G in name only as the Administration simply cashes checks.

one season is irrelevant we played a weak schedule in terrible year in conference. How about the fact that litterio has never had a season that was good. Both his assistants are more qualified to be head coaches and have better resumes.

 

[rufeelinit]

litterio has done nothing in his career. His entire career is one big indicator that he does not have what it takes to win as a head coach. He should not be the head coach. He should never have been hired. He should not be employed anywhere as a head coach. He has twice set the single season losing record in rutgers history.
If he is retained it is absurd.

The softball coach was exactly the type of hire we need. Rutgers baseball used to be a ncaa contender. Now we are actually talking about making the conference tourney as some accomplishment. That is an embarrassment. Hire a proven recruiter and coach and let rutgers get back to being a quality team.

I don't disagree with anything you wrote regarding Litterio. I found myself questioning whether it is in the best interests of the program long term to sneak into the conference tournament as a 7/8 seed. I hate feeling that way because then I am conflicted about whether I would prefer that they lose these games. I can see myself feeling the same way about football this fall. If winning 3 games or less means Ash is gone but 4 means he stays then sign me up for 3 or less. The bar for consideration needs to be 5/6 but I bet its not.

My main question was how much does it cost to get rid of him. If his contract is up, I believe there is a much greater chance PH pulls the trigger than if he is owed 1/2 more years if fired. I realize its not a significant amount of money for the athletic department overall but in the context of the baseball program budget and the need to also pay a replacement, another year of taking on water may be preferred given how things work at Rutgers.

 

[koleszar]

one season is irrelevant we played a weak schedule in terrible year in conference. How about the fact that litterio has never had a season that was good. Both his assistants are more qualified to be head coaches and have better resumes.

O believe me I'm in the firing camp. Hell I have always maintained he never should have been hired in the 1st place. One winning season in twelve at Wagner doesn't scream, O we need to get this guy or here's the path to success. I still don't know why he was hired, nothing in his coaching resume warranted it.

It's kind of like extending a coach for 4 years guaranteed and giving her a raise coming off a 6-24 season. Were you really bidding against others for her services? I don't get that one either. I don't ask a lot from our AD's having lived through some doozies. But for Pete's sake make moves that I can somehow rationalize in whatever fantasy land they exist.

 

[Mr_Twister]

All those HRs ... check their bats!

 

[Abro1975]

If I'm looking at the updated standings and schedule correctly, it appears RU is now mathematically out of contention for one of the 8 Big10 tourney spots.

Standings Conf. Pct. Overall Pct. Home Away Neutral Last 10 Streak
Michigan 16-7-0 .696 38-16-0 .704 22-4-0 12-11-0 4-1-0 5-5-0 W1
Indiana 16-7-0 .696 35-19-0 .648 20-5-0 11-12-0 4-2-0 5-5-0 W2
Nebraska 15-9-0 .625 28-20-0 .583 13-6-0 14-9-0 1-5-0 5-5-0 L1
Illinois 14-9-0 .609 35-17-0 .673 18-4-0 14-11-0 3-2-0 7-3-0 L1
Minnesota 14-9-0 .609 25-25-0 .500 14-7-0 10-12-0 1-6-0 7-3-0 L1
Iowa 12-11-0 .522 30-21-0 .588 19-7-0 9-13-0 2-1-0 4-6-0 L4
Ohio State 11-12-0 .478 30-24-0 .556 15-10-0 11-11-0 4-3-0 6-4-0 W3
Maryland 11-12-0 .478 27-27-0 .500 10-15-0 16-11-0 1-1-0 5-5-0 W3
Northwestern 11-12-0 .478 24-26-0 .480 12-7-0 9-17-0 3-2-0 6-4-0 W1
Rutgers 9-13-0 .409 20-30-0 .400 12-7-0 6-19-0 2-4-0 3-7-0 L2
Michigan State 8-14-0 .364 20-33-0 .377 11-7-0 7-18-0 2-8-0 6-4-0 W1
Purdue 7-15-0 .318 20-33-0 .377 13-9-0 5-23-0 2-1-0 3-7-0 L2
Penn State 4-18-0 .182 21-26-0 .447 9-14-0 5-10-0 7-2-0 3-7-0 L2


https://bigten.org/confstandings.aspx/2018-19/base?path=baseball

RU has now lost 9 of the last 11 Conference games.
The last game of the season is today at noon. Opponent Indiana is now tied with Michigan for first, they will be going all out for sure today. For RU it's completely meaningless now.