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Corvallis Regional

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I’m not a fan of the 8pm start time, nor am I a fan of Casey starting Jake Thompson game 1. The latter makes no sense. It will likely work out just because Holy Cross is bad. The only logic I can come up with for the more is that Casey knows Thompson notoriously chokes under pressure, and if for some reason Luke had lost game 1, there would be more pressure in game 2. That’s convoluted thinking, but I can’t see any other reason to pitch Thompson game 1.

Just shows the coaches (a) Don’t respect Holy Cross, which is going to piss them off and (b) bon’t have much confidence in Thompson in the post-season, either (i.e. they are pitching him vs the worst team and afraid of putting him in a pressure situation/game 2). Again, I’m sure he will be at least serviceable since Holy Cross is bad, but in my opinion it’s a bad move and it’s being done because they don’t have faith in Thompson.

Anyway, Casey is overthinking this and might blow it. If HC somehow wins shit will hit the fan. For the record, I think it will work out because these opponents are all weak, but it’s still stupid.

Go Beavs.

536 COMMENTS

    • Yeah, more than the starting pitching change, I’m more concerned that the Beavs have one of those games where they don’t hit. How many “miraculous” comebacks does a team have in them in one season? I’d like to see a blowout from the beginning against Holy Cross.

      Aw shucks, Yale is taking it to Nebraska, so far. 4-1 in the 5th.

  1. The Cubs tweaked their rotation and Won the World Series. Get to work on your next conspiracy like why Mc3rdstring is 3rd string.

  2. The one thing that is good about Thompson going game 1 is it gives him a pressure situation against a bad team. Hopefully he can work through the pressure and gain confidence. Other than that I tend to agree and am not a huge fan of tweaking the rotation. Should there be a game 4 Heimlich won’t be able to pitch at all.

  3. If it works, it’s not a “stupid” strategy. This isn’t a simulation we can run multiple multiple times under different variables. There is only one decision that can be made and if it works, then it was a successful strategy. That is all it is. You can’t label it “bad” because you will never know the outcome of the alternative. Quit hedging.

  4. “I can’t see any other reason to pitch Thompson Game 1”

    The only reason you can come up with is that Casey doesn’t trust Thompson and he thinks he’ll choke? The pressure would be on if the Beavs faced an elimination game in game 2. There would be less pressure throwing game 2 than there is 1 if you already won game 1. Luke would all but guarantee a win in game 1, but Jake gets you pretty close to those odds as well.

    Caseys rationale is that we are a 1 seed so let’s maximize this advantage. Let’s save our best arm for the 2nd game against better competition. If it backfires tonight then we can win the elimination game with Luke and still have Rasmussen (unproven this season) and still be in pretty good shape.

    Now that Nebraska lost I’d probably pitch Drew against Yale and come back with Luke on Sunday to close it out.

  5. The pitching rotation is probably the biggest story right now, but for me the health of KJ, Nick, and M.Kwan is as important. Against HC the chances are that Thompson is serviceable but the offense and spark of those three guys will be needed throughout the series.

    That 8 o’clock start time is weird. On the one hand, the visitors will all face a more drastic time zone effect than if the game were earlier. Do we care if the rest of the country sleeps through this first game?

    Here is what Eggers reported Casey saying “I don’t care for that at all,” he said. NCAA officials “asked us what time we’d prefer to play. We said (games starting at) 1 and 6 (p.m.). I don’t know anybody on the East Coast who’s going to be watching Oregon State at 11 at night. I don’t get it, but we don’t have a choice in the matter.”

    In another article/tweet, Casey indicated he’d have chosen 1pm if he knew the second game would be at 8. Apparently he was given the choice of “first or second” game before the times were set and while he still assumed the NCAA would follow his preference for start times.

    Speaking of NCAA interference in things, did y’all see that there will be NO BEER at Banners during the tourney? Heck, in the recent WBB playoffs, the NCAA even banned bringing in bottled water!

    • I remember the last couple of times the NCAA tournament came to Portland that was the case (no alcohol at the Moda Center)
      Is that the same with bowl games? I’ve never been to one

      • You’re the master of statement hedging. If Thompson doesn’t have his stuff it’s a told you so moment for you. If he does have his stuff then it’s because these hitters ‘stink’.

        Then when you’re wrong about your first statement and angry@angry calls you on it, you can deny and hurl insults that question his/her intelligence.

        That’s my prediction.

  6. I see the SEC is doing well today — must be because there are NO west coast teams in their brackets to bust them up. LOL.

  7. There were at least five teams to steal AQ bids by winning their conference tournament. This is where the PAC could benefit from a tournament. A team gets hot and they’re in. I’m not a big fan of the tourneys but my goodness…. this happened last year too, lots of teams not deserving getting in.

  8. Jake is a 1st Team All American and desrves to start game 1 as much as Heimlich. I agree that Heimlich has set the tone for each weekend this season, but this weekend He can slam the door shut and finish the Regionals. As for JT starting, my theory is less conspiratorial and more of a bounce back opportunity for Jake. Get him back out against another “Abilene Christan” team and this time he stays focused and pitches a 2 hit shutout.

    Casey is a HOF coach, and this is his bounce back chance from 2014 as well. I don’t think he is making decisions simply worrying about JT’s psyche.

    Go Beavs!

  9. I checked the listings but couldn’t find when the Ducks play with their overpaid coach at their all world ball park. Hopefully I can catch the score on sportscenter later tonight.

    At any rate, FTD.

    ~GWH

  10. So… I had to check, and I can’t believe the money line:

    You need to lay 3850 to win 100 on the Beavs.
    If you bet a 100 on HC, it’s pays 2115

    Never seen that on a baseball line.

  11. For fuck sake…watching the Iowa/Houstom game…#1 Houstom at bat, 2 down, RISP. Kid Hits a full count fast ball to the right drinks gap for a 6th inning game tying double…but forgot to step on first base. Before the next pitch, pitcher steps off and throws to first for the 1-3 putout. Run comes off the board.

    You deserve to lose. You know goddam well your foot didn’t hit the bag. Swallow your pride and run back to first for the RBI single.

    • Jake needs to find the zone, or it’s gonna be poor pitching to add to the lack of offense. Offense can still have a great night as they see this arm the second time, but Jake needs to get some economical innings or he won’t last 7 innings.

  12. All I know is we have to get Yale out of Corvallis.
    They’ve clogged the place up with yachts, polo ponies, servants, and ralph lauren clothes. I can’t breath. Fucking ivy league!

    • Of course one could say it was poor competition… I personally think it is time to say he has turned a corner this year. Yes, he struggled mentally over the past two years. But players can grow up and I really think the light has switched for him. At this point, Angry is holding onto this like a personal vendetta. Luke is a better pitcher than Jake, but Jake is a tremendous number 2 and Drew is a ridiculous number 3. We have an incredible pitching staff, period.

  13. Mulholland needs a confidence building outing here. EDIT: striking out their cleanup hitter is a fine start!
    Jake leaves with 10 K’s, 3 BB’s, 4 hits in 7.2; very lucky to get the last two outs.

  14. For a guy who chokes under pressure, Jake sure made some big time pitches in a pressure situation with the Beavs up 2-1. Didn’t have the greatest command but pitched well yet again

  15. What a treat though for these kids from holy cross to get the experience of playing a game against the Oregon State Beavers. Good for them!

    Angry – still low in JT?

    • I’d not put it that way they were in this game until the 6th and If they’d had scored when they had the bases load this might be a totally different game

      • It’s not Thompson’s fault they were in this game until the 6th. Run support is the only issue for this team. He did more than we needed him to do. He’s the Ace for almost every other team in the country.

        I get that high expectations are good. But you cross the line from being critical to being delsusional when you think Thompson is nothing more ‘serviceable’.

        • I don’t think you understand me I’m not down on Thompson I’m up on Holy Cross; oh the bat were bad until the Holy Cross start seem to be worn down in the 6th

          • Agree. “worn down” AND discouraged by the sudden offensive punch of the Beavs.
            Maybe discouraged is the wrong word, feeling pressure is better.

  16. Good win for the Beavers I hope this opens their eyes a little because until the 6th this game could have gone either way. But the starter for Holy Cross was no push over that is for sure. 1904 start for tomorrows game…Sure glad ESPN is in bed with the SEC so the West costs teams have to playing so late

    • I don’t like the idea of Luke going on Sunday if he is gonna have to go next Friday. Not sure I’m ready to see him moved down to Saturday starter next week. Lots of psychology to consider here.

      Double elim different than the supers where there is good reason to keep the season-long Friday guy going on Friday.

      • Considering a potential super regional could start on Friday OR Saturday next weekend, I’d say with 100% certainty that Heimlich gets the ball against Yale. Tonight worked out in the Beavs favor and as they planned. You think coaches don’t consider or discuss a plan B if things go sideways?

        • “You think coaches don’t consider or discuss a plan B if things go sideways?”

          Ummmm, no. Not sure where that comes from.

  17. Some of you so called arm chair experts are morons. That pitch the Holy Cross pitcher had that was working was a slow curveball, referred to as a slurve. Try teeing up on that pitch when you haven’t seen it live and see how well you do. I don’t recall seeing any Pac-12 pitcher throwing something even close to it. Seeing it on tape isn’t the same as seeing it standing in the batters box.

    Thompson was good but not great. Wasted too many pitches looking for swings with an ump pinching the strike zone in both axis. The better team made fewer mistakes, adjusted and won. Simple as that.

    Bring on Yale

    • I guess I’m the moron since I think I’m the only one that commented on the pitcher….not sure where I appointed myself an expert on anything except maybe when it comes to killing elk and catching king salmon…I was however just another drunk beaver sitting on his couch watching the game spouting off as drunken fans often do. So you’re right, I most likely am a moron as charged.

      At any rate, thanks for the education, you glorious dickhead.

    • WSN – you’re good –

      “Brendan King was able to keep the OSU off balance until the latter innings, sitting 86-88 with his fastball, while also showing a slider and good feel for a soft and effective 71-73 mph curveball.”

    • Slow curve does not mean it’s a slurve. From my tv it would be hard to see his grip and arm action up close and in slow enough motion to know if it was a slurve or a 12 to 6 curve. Anyway, the HC pitcher was very similar to the UC Irvine pitcher they struggled against in 2014.

  18. first day recap – Casey’s gamble paid off. Helped by Yale upsetting Nebraska (debatable how much of an upset that was since Yale’s RPI was pretty close to Nebraska’s)

    BIG10 went 1 – 4 on the first day. UNC and FSU were upset but will probably be able to rebound and fight for the regional berth.

    Beavs did the job and advanced without much issue. Should be heavy favorites vs Yale.

    If Holy Cross gets by Nebraska tomorrow, the regional gets a lot more favorable no matter what happens in the Yale game.

    Looking too far ahead – Vandy looked good in their first game. They’d be the toughest super regional matchup for the Beavs.

    • Vandy’s ace is the considered the favorite in town to be drafted #1 overall in the MLB draft by the Twins.
      I hope they stumble.

  19. Oregon media and OSU saying the game tonight is at 7 on ESPNU. ESPN saying it’s on at 8 on ESPN3. Hard to tell who’s wrong here.

  20. I’m not looking forward to the shit announcers again. They were creaming themselves when it looked like a Holy Cross upset was in play. HC pitcher threw a nice 12/6 slow breaking ball, which you don’t see much anymore, but it was not an “eephus” pitch as that idiot color guy kept saying.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eephus_pitch

  21. Based on last night’s performance, I’m excited for the rest of this regional! Regardless of who we opened against, first-game jitters were our biggest concern.

    Mentality-wise, I’m glad we didn’t take the all-time Pac win streak record. I’m glad we lost a game here and there. Sure, we won the conference, but have nothing to hang our hats on yet in terms of expectations.

    A decade of Riley abuse has left us weary, and it showed early last night. But Casey is definitely not Riley. This team is special and will ebb and flow in turn. Sure we’re bound to lose a game somewhere in the playoffs, but the mindset is that of a champion. Something Beaver fans experience sparsely.

    These kids don’t know any different though. Casey won’t allow it in his clubhouse. They see the pictures of the pros, the back-to-back Champions everyday. They don’t just want to win, they expect to win.

    As a proud Beaver, I’m energized to see that we haven’t been distracted, and won’t be deterred from playing our game. Half a game of regionals, to find our stride? We never missed a beat.

    • ^^^ This is exactly on point. Riley still impacts expectations for all Beaver sports.
      Even as Casey wins as never before, we get caught thinking like he is Riley at the helm. This team is a handful of wins from becoming the all-time most dominant team in college baseball history and we are worried about the impending collapse….2017 is not 2014 and this team is beyond any team in talent, depth,focus and mental toughness
      Go Beavs!

      • “Even as Casey wins as never before, we get caught thinking like he is Riley at the helm.”

        What? Who does this? These last two posts are the only time I’ve ever seen anyone conflating the history and coaching of the football and baseball teams. It’s like both posts are saying it shouldn’t be done (which is true) yet are doing so anyway

      • I couldn’t disagree more. If Pat Casey coached football, I’d want him at Oregon State. His passion, fire, and ability to build something out of nothing are everything Riley didn’t appear to be.

    • Wonder how many Yale or Holy Cross fans stay up till 2am to see these games through to the end?
      Not really fair to the east coast players either. Holy Cross looked really tired by the last few innings last night.

  22. ^^^^ Get over Riley for fucks sake. Casey has already got two National championships and a load of PAC 12 championships and CWSs — Riley never got a PAC championship for crying outloud. Stop trying to makeup for the lost years for football via the success of baseball. Moving on!!!

    • I’m a fairly new poster here so if you could, please let me know what subjects are off limits to debate. I’m not sure how I’d explain to my wife that some guy on the internet named jockitch is upset with me.

      • Most everything can be and is discussed. If someone is repetitively and blatently racist, people usually go full Beaver on them.

  23. My take on Thompson, just listening on the radio: stat line sounded good, but he was in constant trouble vs a bad team. Figured the move to start him game 1 would work since it was Holy Cross, but I was nervous almost every inning. Still think it was a dumb move and the Beavs won despite it. Wilson pointed out they did it because Yale can’t hit lefties. Makes some sense in that light. Wilson is great on radio. He kills Parker. Go Beavs. Oh, and these late starts really do blow.

    • Both watching on TV and listening to radio, Thompson had one bad inning and was more dominant as the game went on. Wilson is always a welcome addition to Parker’s broadcast. It’s too bad when you can see a username and already know it’s going to be an effort to talk shit about an Oregon State player.

  24. Speaking of Parker. I don’t hate the guy or anything, but would also welcome a new voice in the booth.
    Beaver alum Mike Barrett was let go by the Blazers last year, and has stated recently that he wants to remain in the area for whatever his next job ends up being. I wish OSU could pick him up. Really like how he called games for Blazers TV broadcasts over the years.

    Would really hate to see him replace Jerry Allen down at uOFo

    • I honestly don’t know: what history does Barrett have calling other sports?

      After a decade of listening to Mike Parker calling games in baseball, it does get a bit stagnant. Yet any time I hear any other college baseball team’s radio play by play by any other team’s announcer I just cringe and wish it was Parker. We have it pretty good with him behind the mic IMO.

      • ASU used to have a good combo with Tim Healy and Mike Rooney, now on ESPN. Rooney is gone and they don’t broadcast nearly as many games now. Parker tries a little too hard to be Vin Scully, but at the end of the day Parker and Wilson together are pretty good compared to any of the others in conference.

  25. Did ASU have those two broadcasting baseball together throughout the entire season? Seems unusual for college baseball teams to have more than one commentator on the radio during regular season games.

    • The analyst changed over the years but up until about 5 years ago I believe every game was on with a 2 man team on local radio here. Seems shortly after Pat Murphy was pushed out the number of games on radio was reduced. I love the tunein app for listening to Oregon State games. The early season Jon Warren games are painful though.

      • Yeah those games were excruciating. It would be easier to tolerate if the basketball team was more worth covering…

  26. so I thought Angry was over blowing the whole Nebraska fans are punks thing because I did not see for myself but I was wrong

  27. No TV here, help me please. How does Mighty Kwan look on the basepaths? Parker seems to think he is nearly back to normal after the quad stiffness/injury.

    • You know it’s going in Beavers favor when Larnach makes an aggressive move for third and it turns out brilliant and well executed

    • THANK YOU!!

      And, just as I made the connection, they showed a replay of Mighty Kwan going from 2 to home. Thanks again.

      • You’re welcome and glad it worked for you. We all may not see eye to eye on everything but we’re still Beaver fans. Glad I was able to help. Check that site again tomorrow if you can’t find it on the idiot box.

  28. Rest the Mighty Quad, Jones in to pinch run. Makes sense, even if the quad is almost back to normal.
    Now lets see if KJ comes out in the next inning.

  29. wow ESPN talking about how great the SEC is right after talking about how to get more pac 12 teams in ugly just ugly

  30. Yale vs Holy Cross tomorrow, 7th time they’ve faced each other this season. But this one is in Corvallis! What is the attendance record for a Yale v Holy Cross baseball game? Would be fun to hold that record here in Oregon for a while.

  31. Pitching rotation switchup fails for the Huskers:
    “The Huskers, regular-season champions of the Big Ten, opted to start Derek Burkamper over ace Jake Hohensee. No. 3 starter Jake Meyers got the nod in Friday’s loss to third-seeded Yale.”

    From the GT story on the elimination of Neb by HC.

    http://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/beavers-sports/baseball/corvallis-regional-holy-cross-eliminates-nebraska/article_017d0a1c-bdd6-5ef5-a3af-7c547ed67940.html

  32. So now that the Beavs have played Holy Cross and Yale, outscored them 19-2 is there anyone that thinks either of those two teams have a punchers chance of beating the Beavs two straight? A team that hasn’t lost two straight all season mind you.

    Bring on the SEC or ACC.

    • Excellent. Loved the line about the Beavs fans being bi-polar.

      Did you hear Parker’s story about how one of the Yale HC’s (don’t think it was the current guy) got the job? Seems the Yale FB teams defensive coordinator took over on an interim basis and took the baseball team all the way to Omaha, then when offered the permanent job, turned it down!
      Said, “I’m a FB guy”.

  33. I think I need an anger management course, I keep seeing all these teams this year who received at large berths with worse records than the Beavs last year. I know it is a different season, but 2016 was a selection “bend over” for the ages.

    I guess it’s top of mind because the TV guys keep talking about it, but it pisses me off because it’s vanilla talk, they won’t criticize anyone associated with that debacle. I suppose it makes a great story line about perseverance and determination for the 2017 Beavs, but that’s kind of a feel good cliche. There was some fucking corruption going on and a team got screwed along with players who will not get another chance. I know, I know……..I need to get over it.

    • “..corruption going on…” SEC/ESPN/NCAA/Nike and their corresponding conflicts of interest might vehemently deny this, against all obvious signs to the contrary.

    • It won’t matter as neither team is even remotely close to the Beavs level. Looking like it will be Yale though. They’re up 6-2 in the 7th

    • I’d like to see Yale just to hear another post game interview with their coach. It’s nice to be on the receiving end of the compliments he was giving out. It’ll be funny to hear what he has to say about Drew should he pitch up to expectations.

  34. Typical ESPN/Beaver Luck. The game isn’t even listed on the Watch ESPN streaming app. Anyone else having this issue?

  35. I’m not a huge fan of the Anderson bunt. Already have an RISP with zero outs, swing away.

    But then again, Casey has 2 NC’s, and I sit behind a desk so there’s that.

  36. The ESPN 3 announcers leave something to be desired. I personally know several people who would be better than these guys.

    • Roxy Bernstein gets a lot of work for ESPN, but his color guy is awful. I didn’t catch his name, but he apparently played in the big league.

  37. So pretty much no coverage….I bought Sling w/ sports package for this very reason. We need to get the PAC12 commissioner to start sucking some major ESPN nards. WTF!!!!

  38. Mighty Kwan an RBI single AND a stolen base. Good to see the stolen base, maybe he is, indeed, back to full strength.
    7-1 Beavs

  39. Beavs in full control.

    Wonder if they will let some of the other guys in the bullpen get some work in instead of throwing in mid week practices. With Drew only going 4, plenty of innings for the bullpen.

    Would like to see Max, Gambrell, Verberg, Hickey and Britton.

    • Yes, he should benefit from some time off, and sure hope Madrigal benefits from the upcoming time off as well; as Jim Wilson says, if he has to bunt because of the wrist then many opponents are gonna play in and prevent another night like tonight (he’ll have a hard time getting bunt singles vs teams who are paying attention).

  40. Eggers just tweeted, “I’d like to see @maxengelbrekt finish up here. Sr LHP has pitched only once since May 12. @BeaverBaseball may need him next weekend.”

    He’s right.

    Eisert is over 60 pitches, that’s enough.

  41. Just my observation, but I thought Casey was “less accommodating” to the ESPN fools this time during the in game interview (stupid idea anyway), it made me think something might be off a little with Drew and Casey wanted to get the interview over and find out exactly what was going on.

  42. Max E. comes on to try for the last out. Even if he only faces 1 batter I think it’s a good idea.

    Either the back is OK or just needs a test to confirm?

  43. Great to see Engelbrekt get the strikeout. I can’t help but think though that better teams than Yale are going to convert with runners in scoring position. I’m also interested to see if the Beavs’ hotter hitting continues against better pitching.

        • LOL! I think you’re right. Hopefully Beavs pitching holds up, keeping the team ERA under 2 or even 3 will mean the good guys will be “in” every game.

          Blood pressure? So far exercise and watching that pesky 5 lbs is successful medication.

          • ERA doesn’t mean anything anymore. Wins/Losses are all that matter. That’s why I’m glad we’ve had a killer instinct and belief that we can win any game, regardless of current standing.

          • You’re right, of course. I should have said that if the Beavs pitching continues to hold opponents to under 2 or 3 runs then the Beavs will be in every game.

            Cap’n obvious?, yes.

  44. Fayetteville Regional still playing past 1:00 in the morning (rain delay), and there’ll be a game seven if Arkansas holds their lead. One wonders, if they do play game seven, what time do they start? Do they play the first three innings and then have a nap?

  45. Who you got? Clemson or Vanderbilt?

    In terms of stats, both teams are very similar. the only real significant difference is Clemson is one of the top homerun teams in the nation.

    Vandy is 10 -10 on the road while Clemson is 11-8.

    • Vandy’s ace will most likely be picked by the Twins # 1 overall in the MLB draft. Maybe the only guy that can negate Luke. They also have a position player that will go early in the first. Clemson all the way. Our pitchers can control their bats and Luke trumps their pitcher to win the all important game #1.

      • Beavs have faced two likely first rounders on the road this year and won both. Canning at UCLA and Peterson at UO.

        Looks like Wright doesn’t get much run support. 15 starts, 5-5 with a 2.98 era. Lots of strikeouts.

        So I guess I wouldn’t be too worried about that matchup. plus if Luke outduels Wright, that may launch him into the first round too.

    • I remember the super-regional in Texas a couple years back. That was a mess. Helicopters drying fields, rooster-tails of water when outfielders slid…

  46. From the Yale site: http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-basebl/2016-17/releases/20170605142k4a

    I’ve been to college baseball parks around the country and have seen rabid fans of all kinds, but this place may top them all. I realize there weren’t any tough times for OSU in this regional, but it was obvious the typical Beavers fan was probably someone you’d enjoy talking to… even as the opposition (it must be noted that the sale of alcohol is prohibited during NCAA Regional play). I’ve never seen a college baseball fan base that showed as much CLEAN enthusiasm, dedication and good sportsmanship (they applaud every opposing pitcher who is removed from the game) as the OSU rooters, who sold out Goss Stadium each night. I hope they get to see a victory in their team’s final game of 2017.

    • There’s also a whole lot of just business on the field. Watching other regionals, I see a bunch of teams busy barking at each other and forgetting to play ball. Louisville looks like the only other team with a measure of focus.

  47. Clemson/Vandy rain delay has been extended. Still havent started. Wonder how long they wait before they move it to tomorrow? The longer they wait, the weaker their pitching rotation will be at the super regional. C’mon mother nature!

      • Yeah, I appreciate the effort and it’s a good story idea, but BTD needs to do better, they’ve been around a long time. All kinds of typos and just inaccuracies like saying Johnson is coming from an “air raid” offense, TCU doesn’t run that, I think the author is confusing them with Texas Tech. Also, I had to laugh at the Captain Obvious statement that “Nall will see the field”. If they don’t have a copy editor, they need one!

    • Resulting from a lack of power is an east west running style, often resulting in a loss of yards, with the exception of backs possessing blazing speed, as the name Jacquizz Rodgers immediately comes to mind.

      Um… I… um… huh?

  48. First weekend recap,

    3 seeds went down. UNC, Texas Tech and Stanford. PAC12 had an ugly weekend. BIG10 continues to show they are bad at postseason baseball.

    Vanderbilt will be quite the test. Have arguably the top college pitching prospect and top college OF prospect. Hitting will be the reason why the Beavs reach Omaha. Help the pitchers out and they will take care of the rest.

    • and the mighty SEC will crow about how they got 6 teams to the supers. Let’s give the mighty SEC a warm welcome to Corvallis and then the Beavs kick their asses back to Nashville

      • I’m no big fan of Canzano, but given Oregon only has one major newspaper and he has some recognition, I really think he could be sounding off about OSU’s dominance this year and calling out the SEC bias and attempting to counter the false narrative. Yet he is pretty quite on OSU baseball this year. OSU is on the verge of hosting a super regional and yet his last column on OSU baseball that I see is now 4-weeks old.

        I know his interest is primarily UO and the Blazers, but the way OSU baseball has excelled this year, their story should transcend his normal biases.

          • If it were a UO men’s team having this kind of season he’d be writing about their dominance and Uncle Phil’s pride, not the weakness of the opponent…

        • He’s not Interested cause there is no drama, no one was raped and no one is trying to cover up misdeeds. That’s all that clown can write about, he’s the Debbie Downer of sports columnists. Now if god forbid we get blasted by Vandy, get ready for week of articles about how if OSU wants to get back to omaha they need to be playing better noncon opponents or some other bullshit bordering on yellow journalism.

  49. Super regional matchups are all set. Now we wait for dates and times to be announced. My guess is the Beavs open Saturday………..

    Vanderbilt at Oregon St
    Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach St
    Sam Houston St at Florida St
    Mississippi St at LSU
    Davidson at Texas A&M
    Kentucky at Louisville
    Missouri St at TCU
    Wake Forest at Florida

    • I was visiting family and missed a lot of the action…this is all good news for the Beavs, obviously, with Stanford and UNC gone. Vanderbilt will likely be a pain. Routing for Mississippi and Wake Forest. This is setup about as nicely as one can hope to win it all.

  50. Idea for a drinking game. Take a drink every time ESPN announcers comment that Oregon State benefitted from an easy Pac12 schedule and it wouldn’t be the same if they were an SEC team.

  51. So are we second-guessing Pat Casey now? I like that he is willing to coach despite the armchair coaches thinking he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Nearly every regional he’s been in, he shuffles his pitching to put the ace out there in game 2. Putting Jake Thompson in Game 1 is not a risk. How many teams would kill for a #2 starter with his season.

    The Angry has been down on Thompson all season. Eat crow.

    • Yes, as noted, still a stupid move to not throw your best pitcher game 1. As I wrote, it was likely to work since the opponents all stunk.

      Thompson beating Holy Cross as an “eat crow” moment is sad, especially since he labored almost every inning. You’re not going to convince me this is a great pitcher. I don’t even consider him good. He’s serviceable. Stats mean nothing to me — a lot of that is luck, being the #3 on a great team, etc. The eyeball test shows a serviceable #3 who’s gotten lucky. Look around MLB — you see guys like this every year, yet all their peripherals/sabermetrics point to massive regression.

      • >Yes, as noted, still a stupid move to not throw your best pitcher game 1. As I wrote, it was likely to work since the opponents all stunk.

        It’s not stupid though, not when you’re a #1 seed.

        To achieve any level of advantage over the other three teams, you have to win BOTH the first two games. Winning game 1 is meaningless, unless you win the second game too, since losing either of the first two means you have to play an extra game. Overkilling probably the worst team in the tourney with your best pitcher, followed by having to face a better team with an inferior pitcher…that’s a stupid move.

        I’d say it’s different in the World Series, since every team is probably going to be either good or incredibly hot, but in a regional against a shitty team like Holy Cross, it’s the correct move.

        • It’s not the correct move ever, under any circumstance. Sometimes it might look correct because the team wins and covers up the error. Think if they lost the regional…

          Joe Maddon makes a lot of errors like this, too, and yet the Cubs, since they have so much talent, overcome it and hid his “getting too cute” mentality. Beavs out-talented not out-coached this first round.

          Coaches who have excess talent are most susceptible to these types of errors.

      • Being the third starter would mean something if his ERA was higher and his wins were what they are, but an ERA is not helped at all by being a third starter. And his ERA is the stat that I think does matter with Thompson.

        • His ERA is great, but every time I’ve watched him he’s been in trouble and danced out of it. Maybe I caught him on off days? Never see him dominate. Seems more like luck b/c of that.

          Let me put it this way: in an elimination game vs a good team in the SR or CWS, you have confidence he’s going to dominate and get a W?

          I don’t.

          Obviously it’s a problem with me since you all trust him, love him, think he’s an ace. I don’t see it that way, so just leave me alone about it already. If I ever trust the guy and think he’s great I’ll just let you guys know. Much easier than way instead of talking about him nonstop.

  52. For those of you so high on Thompson, might I suggest you actually learn something about baseball, such as the well-known phenomena of mediocre players having great statistical seasons. This has been going on for 150 years, yet you guys seem to have no idea of the concept or how to spot it.

    http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16188

    Remember when Kevin Mass came up and hit 20hrs over like 50 games? Aaron Judge is doing the same now. Baseball is simply like that because you have small sample sizes, a string of good luck, bad opponents, etc. But in the end it averages out.

    Take a look at this hilarious list of Cy Young winners: http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/4624086-cy-young-award-worst-ranking-eckersley-bedrosian-wynn/slide/9

    You’re staring that RIGHT IN THE FACE with Thompson and waving your dong around like you know something. You don’t. It’s an average pitcher having a great statistical season. Period. I’m sure the 1960 Pirate fan though he had Walter Johnson in Vern Law. Go back and look at Law’s 1961 season.

    http://www.thisgreatgame.com/baseball-lists-worst-years-by-reigning-cy-young-winner.html

    This is SO common in baseball. I find it hilarious you guys say “eat crow” and act like you know jack shit about this sport. Thompson is fine. He’s better than his first two years, obviously, and has grown since then. I like him as the #3. If he’s the ace of a staff you’re in major trouble. The guy is setup for a massive regression. And yet these same people were telling me KRhod was a great closer, Gabe Clark deserving of being the 4 hitter, etc etc. I spotted Luke as an ace the first game he pitched, even though he didn’t do well. Yet you are going to tell me how to scout a player? Hint: It’s not based on stats. Stats barely tell half a story. Anyone who truly knows baseball knows how this all works.

    • I got nothin’ here regarding whether Thompson is good or not. I don’t know the game very well; never played it as a kid; don’t watch games except for the Beavs and the WS. But, what I will ask is if there is anything that could happen which would make you change your mind or reconsider your opinion?

      • I actually have changed my mind. I believe his era was 5+ prior to this year, and more importantly, he was getting shelled every game and mentally breaking down. I noted he improved his control and also mentally he’s not an eggshell. So, that makes him somewhere between a serviceable to good pitcher who is having a career year. That’s much different than last year when I just thought he was horrible and didn’t deserve to be on the mound (he didn’t). So, he definitely deserves to be the #3 and is fine there. I just know he’s a serviceable guy having a career year. How? Watching 30 years of baseball, playing baseball, and seeing this over and over (as linked above). Baseball isn’t like other sports. You can have bad players dominate for a full season. That’s rare if not flat out non-existent in any other sport. But in baseball there are a handful of guys like that every year. It’s just the nature of the sport because it has so many moving variables. Think about it: if you get CB Buckner or Joe West behind home plate 10 times per year instead of good umpires how much your season changes. Or say you have to pitch in Coors instead of missing those series….as a pitcher things like that drastically change your season/stats. Could lead to a career year vs an awful year. Think of this as well: the difference between a .200 hitter and a .300 is just ONE base hit per week….
        So if an umpire misses a 1-1 pitch and the count goes to 1-2 where you simply have to protect, you can see how all those outside variables change your success/failure rate. It’s why peripherals are tracked so closely now and we can actually predict regression.

        • I can’t comment on prior years, and I’m not sure that’s even fair. Could be that he needed to mature a little before he could realize his potential.

          Bottom line is that he has three good pitches and doesn’t walk a lot of batters. And he has a fastball in the 90s. He has an ERA under two over the course of a season – I doubt that’s simply good luck.

          I think he benefits a lot and pitches better when the offense gives him some cushion, but that’s true for everyone.

        • If Jake gets a win against Vandy, he will be “very good”, and if he gets a win in the CWS, he will be “great” IMHO.

    • To me it doesn’t matter if, overall, he’s the worst pitcher in college…Jake T. has won more games this season than any other college pitcher. If it’s his only season that’s great statistically, I’m just glad it’s this season!

      He has worked himself out of some jams this year, has an ERA hovering around 1 and is representing us well.

      He deserves at least a modicum of respect for his year.

      Go Beavs!

      • There are two things, in particular, which make this blog worthwhile for me. One is angry’s practice of allowing almost anyone to say almost anything and to let the marketplace, so to speak, determine the value or lack thereof.
        The other has always been angry’s willingness to take a position and make an effort (to varying degrees) to support that position with a reasoned explanation of its foundation.

        I don’t see him as having “no credibility” here. There are many who disagree with him, but his arguments seem to at least have a credible basis. Some of the counter arguments have certainly had merit as well.

        Personally, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the results Jake has delivered this season (with a damn good supporting cast!), but he did start with a very cheap first victory and still makes me nervous when the going gets tough. I put a lot of that on myself; remembering Jakes previous season and feeling his improvement is just too good to be true. Too good to last. Luck of the Beavs sort of thing.

    • Your thoughts on Jake Thompson have become pretty amusing. It’s like something you’d expect to read on a satire site where a guy writes an entire article about the three missed shots Steph Curry had after going 19-22 in a game. You’d just assume it was a joke.

      The kid is 12-0 (leads the nation). He has a 1.01 ERA (2nd in the nation). Opponents are hitting .172 off of him (5th best among starters). He’s going to be a first team all american. But I realize I’m just spouting off stats that you don’t need or want to consider because you… just know. Even more amusing is your assertion that anyone who doesn’t agree with you doesn’t know “jack shit” about baseball. That would include Pat Casey (decent resume) as well as at least a handful of MLB scouts as he will likely be drafted in the top five rounds of next weeks MLB draft. I haven’t read anyone saying he is going to be the next coming of Pedro Martinez or Roger Clemens, but to say he is only a serviceable collegiate pitcher who isn’t good is just laughable.

      Lastly, everyone please be nice to Angry. I do enjoy casually reading the side commentary on this site. Everyone remembers last time he became offended and shut down the site after he felt people making comments were being too mean.

      • Pirate fans said the same things about Vern Law after he won the cy young. Maybe read the actual post above so you understand baseball.

        • Why work so hard to convince people Thompson is “just not very good”? The kid is having an incredible season, and helping the beavs win games, what more can you ask for? Why hate on him?

          • I don’t hate him. In fact, I said he’s a B-/C+ type guy who I am glad to have as a #3. I’m not trying to convince you of anything. People keep trying to negate my opinion because of stats, and I still see a mediocre pitcher.

            Take Wetzler…he was so so when he came up, but became clearly great. Thompson isn’t in that league, despite his stats. Apparently that makes some people butthurt.

    • Oh no, the second sentence…”Whatever you think about Mike Riley, it is hard to argue that he didn’t do pretty well with the pieces that he had.”

      Might have to stop reading there.

      Edit: I kept reading…he has Seth Collins as a “key player”…

      • He’s correct, though, as long as Collins plays this year. Last year he was our 2nd leading receiver, so I think it’s fair to say he’s “key” this year. Although it certainly can be argued that the next man up wouldn’t be a significant blow, should Collins not play.
        I also like how Collins starting setting the tone with his downfield blocking around mid-season last year. That type of stuff will rub off on the other guys.

        The one area I mostly disagree with him is the offensive line. I see the current starting lineup as our weakest position group overall. Still think we need to add at least 1 starting caliber guy to the right side. Maybe one of our 2 new JUCO guys will be able to step right in and fill that spot, but hard to say until Summer camp starts. We’re also pretty thin with only 13 guys covering 5 spots. A couple of injuries would be hard to overcome, and we all know how common OL injuries have been over the course of a season.

        • I thought Seth was sitting out. If he plays, he could become a key player if he gets open more often and gets more YAC. But he would definitely not be on my pre-season “key player” list. I mean we know what Seth is at this point: a great athlete but not a great football player. I’m not sure offhand what his YAC was last year, but he seemed to catch a lot of short passes and get tackled right away, which was surprising giving his speed and athleticism. Maybe I’m wrong since that’s just based on memory.

          • This shouldn’t be considered “proof” that he will play, but a recent video released by the team of the guys working out has Collins in the background trying to pump the guys up as they’re going for their max squat. He looks like he’s been working out. I think he’s the type of guy who would only sit if somebody else made him sit, but otherwise he’s going to play. During spring ball it was 50/50 whether he would play in 2017.

            Not a great football player, but I was impressed with how well he stepped into the WR role last year considering he switched to that position during summer ball. Not a bad first year, and I think improvement in year 2 can and should be expected. Averaged 11.6 YPC last year, which indicates probably not a great Yards after catch number, but none of our receivers last year had much better numbers (Paul Lucas is an outlier at 15.2 average on just 5 catches)

            https://twitter.com/BeaverFootball/status/870479901601562625

  53. Some of you guys are a bit obsessed with my opinion of Jake Thompson. I don’t know if I should be flattered or creeped out.

    Anyway, I will try to be as concise as possible:

    I look for certain traits in a pitcher. Having pitched, having watched baseball for 30 years, etc, there are specific things I look for in a pitcher, and they aren’t statistics. He doesn’t have many of these traits. His stats are there. He’s had a great statistical year. But I know very well pitchers can do that even if they aren’t good. Scouts are always torn on players and many times flat out wrong. Look up Jeter or Tom Brady’s scouting report. They are hilariously bad. If a MLB team takes Jake Thompson based on his stats this year, I think they are going to be sorely disappointed ala Eddie Kunz, Rhod, or Jorge Reyes (looked like great pitchers on paper, but clearly weren’t if you know what to look for). I don’t think I’m going to be wrong on Jake Thompson. He’s due for regression, and if he gets drafted before that happens, I think he will fail big time in the minors and not even make MLB. I don’t WANT this to happen. But I am almost sure it will. Because I have conviction, people are all butthurt and throwing his stats around. Yes, he has great stats. Congrats to him for great stats. He’s not a great pitcher. He’s not even a good pitcher. He’s a B-/C+ guy who is having a career year.

    That’s really the gist of it. If you love Jake Thompson, print out a photo of him and jizz all over it for all I care. I’m pretty tired of talking about him, though. Some people will never get it. They see the stats and think he’s great. Cool. Now leave me alone because I like to live in reality. If/when I change my mind about him you’ll be the first to know.

    • If he doesn’t make it in the pro’s… who cares. He’s having a solid college career. Why take that from him? Mc3rdstring’s got a lot less to brag about and you “jizz all over” him…

      Ps – nobody cares if you pitched when you were 11. It’s irrelevant

  54. For your reading pleasure, here’s an obnoxious preview of the Corvallis super regional from a Vanderbilt blog: http://www.anchorofgold.com/2017/6/6/15745784/super-regional-preview-better-know-the-beavers

    Some tidbits:

    “…we have played the toughest teams in the country every weekend. They… have not. Now I’m not equating OSU’s statistical dominance over the Pac-12 to St. Johns’ statistical dominance over the Big East… but I’m also not not doing that.”

    “When we play this Friday, we will be the toughest team they have faced all year. I cannot with 100% certainty say the same is true vice versa.”

    This is only a stupid fan blog, and I doubt that Vanderbilt’s team will underestimate Oregon State, but SEC arrogance should never be underrated, either….

  55. Guys, how do you embed a YouTube video so it plays directly from the page instead of people having to click on the link?

  56. OK guys, here are the links to each team’s stats: (notice Vandy’s powered by ESPN)

    Anyways, both teams match-up really well on paper. Batting, and Fielding are comparable. Big surprise is their number 2 pitcher Patrick Raby (ERA 2.36) is actually pretty good. They have Kyle Wright (MLB top ten prospect) who #4 in the SEC in strikeouts.

    What really concerns me is both Jake Thompson and Drew Rasmussen haven’t been as dynamic lately, the Beav pitching as a whole has been giving up a shit load of hits (last game was at least 10…lots of hits were doubles. I stopped counting after a while and didn’t bother to look it up again) the last couple of games against average competition.
    In comparison, extra base hits are almost equal, but Vandy has about twice as many homeruns. Seems like we had a number of line-outs off our starting pitching, more than usual last weekend, lots of sharply hit balls near the warning track (Jack Anderson, etc). This to me will be the difference in the games, expecting a low scoring game in the first two games, decided by a run or two. Vandy hits about 3 homeruns/extra base hits (HR/EBH) per game, to Beavs 2.6. If and when Vandy hits a homerun or extra base hit, that particular game will be lossed depending on how many are on base when the HR/EBH gets hit. Vandy is second in the SEC for walks. If the Beavs can limit the Vandy homeruns to less than 1 or 2, and limit those RBIs for guys on base, again gonna be tight, but think the Beavs can pull it out. If Drew and Jake leave the ball up, Vandy will most certainly make the Beavs pay — they have patient hitters, but tend to strikeout with over 120 more strikeouts than the Beavs (approximately 36% more), and have a touch more walks (20+ more) than the Beavs. Again, speaking to strickly what’s in the stats, Beavs should win.
    On the contrary, Vandy is kind-of a middling team that doesn’t sweep, and also doesn’t get swept. They either win big, or lose big. Also, Beavs have struggled more against this type of team (Utah/Arizona — I think both series were decided by 1 or 2 run games). Vandy is well coached, will be playing for their teammate that died last year, and will be ready. Call me a pessimist, depending on who pitches…and I haven’t dove into scenarios to get the bullpens involved. But I think Vandy wins this one, they remind me of the 2005 squad, really gritty and have just enough to get to the CWS.
    Heimlich, Beavs win 5-3
    Thompson, Vandy wins 6-3
    Rasmussen, Vandy wins 7-4

    http://a.espncdn.com/sec/baseball/2017/lgsumm.htm

    http://static.pac-12.com/sports/baseball/stats/2016-2017/HTML/lgsumm.htm

    I really hope I’m wrong….

    • I really hope you’re wrong as well and very much appreciate the analysis.

      Who is their #3? That’s the wildcard here and I think that if we can get to the bullpen in game #3, we can pull it out. If our bullpen can combine with Drew to hold them at bay, we can take this series.

    • Again the Beavs have beat good pitching this year. Canning and Peterson on the road. So they won’t be intimidated by Wright or any other pitchers.

      These games will be grinders and the Beavs have the mental edge there.

      I give the Beavs the advantage playing at home.

      On the road vs tournament teams in the reg season, Vandy lost all series. Also lost at Lousiville in a mid week game.

      • I know, but Beavs did lose one of those games to UCLA 7-1 (timely hitting), and UCLA hitting is atrocious — 10th in the league. Beavs did lose to USC at home — I expect two of the games to be like the USC game — late to extra innings nail biter. If Jake or Drew show-up, Beavs will win — I’m not counting on it given the number and type of hits last weekend.

    • Nice job. In the prior thread I had Vanderbilt pegged as one of two teams on this side that could beat the Beavs, Stanford being the other. When Stanford got eliminated, that was a big increase in the odds of making the CWS. But Vanderbilt is going to be a serious pain in the ass, I think. They don’t fear the Beavs and think the SEC is great, etc. Though they are delusional, that can help because perception is everything. If they believe they’re great, then they’re very dangerous.

      We need good to great outings from every starter. I think we’ll score only 3 to 4 runs per game.

      • The last time I saw a big bad sec game in person was in Omaha 2008. Georgia was up big in the second game. What a face plant! Once Fresno State took the lead, the life just dropped out of them. Totally confused as they thought they were the big bad sec team and everything we supposed to go their way.

    • You’re predicting we give up 18 runs over 3 games – that’s far more runs than we’ve given up in any series all year. More runs than we’ve given up over our last 13 games combined.

      Not saying it’s impossible and I understand that Vanderbilt may be better than anyone else we have played besides Stanford and Arizona, but your prediction isn’t very thoughtful. A lot of the runs we have given up this year came in garbage time too.

      Luke wins 3-0
      Jake/Drew combine to win 4-2

      • A tad bit emotional are we. On paper we should win. If Jake and Drew pitch like they have in their last two starts, then it flips to Vandy. I hope you and the stats prove me wrong.

  57. Bob Stoops sudden retirement from Oklahoma seems fishy. Why not at the end of the season?
    Lincoln Riley to take over as HC

  58. Vandy was the one team in that bracket that I worried about. I thought we could handle Clemson without much difficulty. Vandy has a great coach and outstanding talent. This will be a dogfight.
    Madrigal’s injury is a huge question mark. Healthy he is the guy that can carry a team. If he is relegated to a bunter, we are in trouble. I hope they can take them out in two and make the SEC shut their cake holes. The Orange bat is our secret weapon. Fear the Mighty Kwan! Shitty weather should help us out. Go Beavs!

  59. Wow fuck Luke Heimlich. Great pitcher or not I don’t want someone like that on my team at all! Fucking sick bastard!

  60. HOLY SHIT……..
    This is a Luck O da Beavs on steroids. I can’t believe it. I wonder if this played a role in him leaving HS early.

  61. Which one of you was asking “where’s Canzano when Oregon State is the #1 team of all time?”
    You got your wish.
    Yeesh…..

  62. Pretty awful background, But it’s also disgusting of the Oregonian to bring this up. I don’t know much about the field of journalism, but this seems irresponsible. He’s not exactly a criminal in hiding.

    It will be interesting to see how OSU responds or if they do at all. If I was Pat Casey I would pull a Taggart and refuse to speak with the Oregonian again.

    • Notice they also printed a follow up about how the story came about, the timing, and their decision to run it. They knew their would be backlash.
      Also notice they stick the word “spotlight” in their statement. They want to be the Boston Globe.

    • Two points on this sad story. Sad for the victim, Luke, the family, and to an extent his teammates.

      1) Not only is he “not exactly a criminal in hiding”, Luke is now, as the story states: “…no more at risk (to commit a sex crime) than any other individual walking around on the street,” . That would include Danny Moran and his associates.

      2) I notice that OSU’s procedures are compared only to other institutions which appear to have more stringent standards. Can you spell “cherry picking”?

      • It’s not a sad story for Luke at all.
        No problem with the Oregonian running the story now. It’s smart, because it will bring the most attention to the heinous crime. A midweek game vs Portland State and it would get swept under the rug. Smart and responsible by the Oregonian.

        Just because it’s your/our team doesn’t mean this isn’t the right move.

  63. Sad story, I can’t fault the Oregonian for running it like a lot of people are doing. One thing though is that often times abusers are people that got abused and reading about Luke being the 7th youngest in a religious homeschool family sure makes you wonder. I hope that he has grown and is a better person today. Though the real story is the girl, sad that family has “sided” with Luke in this, there shouldn’t even be sides in something like this, makes you wonder about the entire family.

    • You can fault the Oregonian for running this story. They are probably trying to justify it by saying it is the responsible thing to do. Exposing the Brenda Tracy story was the responsible thing to do. A bunch of college kids who got away with a terrible crime. Hemlich didn’t “get away” with anything.

      What is the purpose of running this story?

      • What is the purpose of running this story?

        To education people about what’s going on and to stop the victim blaming, maybe?
        There is an idea that the pedo is the guy in his mom’s basement with a comb over. It’s everywhere, from Doctors, to Heimlick, to Presidents. Good job by the Oregonian for sure.

        • This doesn’t “education” anyone. I feel like Angry’s account got hijacked.

          While we are at it, lets make a list of all current college students that committed crimes while they were minors. That should sure show them to never do a crime they already payed for again!

          • Enlighten me. In what aspect does this educate anyone about predatory sexual assault? I get your angle of “anyone” can be a sexual predator, well of course? Aside from that, there is no education value aside from finding out what punishment I would receive for molestation as a minor. I don’t see anywhere in the article about information regarding sexual abuse and how to spot it, etc. This wasn’t published as a how-to-wiki on spotting sexual abuse.

          • 1. Anyone can be a sexual predator, not just the weird dude with a comb-over eating Pringles in his mom’s basement.
            2. Families side with the molesters, and thus blame/ignore the victim, just to protect the family name.
            3. When this crime happens to a high profile person, it’s all about protecting that person and there’s nothing in place for the victim. In fact, the victim almost always either gets ignored or blamed, as you guys are doing here. All your comments are about poor Luke.

            Etc. Many more ways. All of this forces people to look in the mirror. The Brenda Tracy story was also highly educational for those who were neutral or open to being educated about that problem on college campuses. The only people who shut down these moments are people who also molest, have their self interest in mind (“Beavs need to win a title! We need Luke!”), etc.

        • What victim blaming? What the fuck are you talking about?

          He is a registered sex offender – we don’t need the Oregonian putting it on the front page – it doesn’t help anyone, including the victim.

          They’re about 6 years too late on this news.

          • You speak for the victim now? Well that’s just convenient.
            Yeah it’s better to ignore her more [than her family already does] and sweep it under the rug so we can go win a title…

            See above ^
            You are one of them.

    • It is very likely that Luke was sexually abused as a child. Almost all people who sexually abuse children are victims of childhood sexual abuse as well. Which would make this even more emotionally intense for him. The Oregonian is a pathetic organization for pulling this. There is zero chance this wasn’t the most beneficial time for them to publish this. Look to whom actions benefit and you’ll usually find the truth. I won’t take the same road as The Oregonian and lie by claiming I don’t care how this affects the rest of the baseball season. I most certainly do care. I care more though about how this young man is affected by this. This is undeniably the worst day of his life and it will not continue to get better. He has to now go to the rest of his classes, interact with his teammates, etc. I am not condoning his actions in any way, but he was convicted and fullfilled the punishment placed upon him by the court as all citizens should, without public beratement.

      • It is very likely that Luke was sexually abused as a child. Almost all people who sexually abuse children are victims of childhood sexual abuse as well.

        That’s quite a claim, and a lot of recent studies are starting to show it to be false.

        Hindman and Peters (2001) found that 67 percent of sex offenders initially reported experiencing sexual abuse as children, but when given a polygraph (“lie detector”) test, the proportion dropped to 29 percent, suggesting that some sex offenders exaggerate early childhood victimization in an effort to rationalize their behavior or gain sympathy from others.

        Think of it another way: 1 out of 5 girls are molested, yet are that many girls out there molesting people? Highly unlikely. 2% of registered sex offenders are females. If what you said were true, it would be closer to 20%. It’s just another myth/excuse to feel bad for the offender.

        What offenders need is technology….small blowup dolls, CGI porn, etc to wank to. Then they don’t have to ruin lives.

  64. Mike Listman
    Ben Wetzler
    Luke Heimlich

    I blame the players for the stories but why is it all 3 stories broke during deep post season runs.

    • For maximum shock value. For readers to read the story and click bait and comment. That is how the newspapers survive today.

  65. The Oregonian was right to publish this article. They did their job and they did a good one at that too. It was going to come out eventually. Doesn’t matter whether it was published in the reg season, postseason or later this summer.

    There’s no disputing the facts in the article. It happened. The crime was horrendous and the timing of this article shows he’ll never be rid of the crime. It will follow him wherever he goes. I don’t believe in much redemption for a crime like this. Sorry, can’t cheer for Luke anymore.

    • You are aware these things almost never happen in isolation right? Child molesters, especially juveline child molesters are almost always victims of sexual abuse as well. This is an incredibly complex topic and goes many layers deep.

    • Bingo.

      Empathy and excuses for the perp are almost as bad as blaming the victim. Poor Luke, he was a victim of child abuse (made up to help deal) and the 6 year old wanted it.

      You guys defending him, empathizing, or blaming a newspaper are sick as well.

      • I haven’t seen anyone here who said the “6 year old wanted it” you stupid fuck. What’s the answer angry? He did terrible things as a 15 yr old, and he should be locked up the rest of his life?

        • It’s no surprise you defend the ball player and coach. Just says a lot about you.

          The answer is let him pitch in complete humiliation that has the added benefit of educating society that ANYONE can and will do this crime (not just dudes like you who live in a basement with a comb over), which is what the Oregonian is doing, and thus why they did a great job here.

          • You are being obtuse and are putting forth a straw man argument. Angry@angry never defended Heimlich or the coach. He also isn’t victime blaming. Questioning the rationale and the purpose of publishing a story that wasn’t swept under the rug in the first place serves no purpose other than to drive traffic to their website.

  66. This happened 6 or 7 years ago. Dude was young and a teen when he committed the crime…..he’s not hiding anything, he admitted to it and is moving on. I feel for the young girl who may see the headlines and re-live the memories. The Oregonian pretty much hit the reset on all of this for all involved. This is basically a big public shaming…..this sucks, don’t know what else to say.

  67. The grey area in this whole thing is how and when did Casey and the school find out about Luke’s past, and what are the rules the university has in place for such a situation? Did they handle things appropriately? In the least, they had to have been made aware this story was dropping, given that the Oregonian asked them related questions. Did that happen before Luke pitched in the regional? During the regular season? Or did they know all along?

    Ed Ray just had his crusade against allowing transfer students with criminal pasts into the university just last year. When did he become aware? It’s not a good look for him if he chose to ignore this particular case, and the university wasn’t forthcoming about their knowledge of Luke before the story broke. Time will tell, but it has the potential to get uglier.

    https://www.google.com/amp/www.oregonlive.com/articles/17543619/oregon_state_takes_stand_on_tr.amp

    • OK…so Casey sits Heimlich, now that the word is out? Does he suspend for the remainder of the season? Ask him to step away from the team? Legitimate question, what do the coaches and University do now that this is out in the open?

      • Or does Heimlich make the decision easy for them and walk away? I can’t imagine he would be in the right frame of mind to be able to even perform after this public bombshell hit.

        I’d probably be at home crying in my bed if I were a 20 year old college kid and this all came out this way.

        I’d imagine the whole team is wrecked at this point too.

    • Casey has no warts, so he must not have known (even though it was public record and likely well known and would 100% come up in the most rudimentary background check). No warts, though.

      • 1) Committed as a minor
        2) He admitted guilt, was convicted, and served his court sentence.

        I guess our system of law isn’t enough for you, and you would like his punishment to continue for the remainder of his natural life. A “life sentence” outside of jail, if you will.

        • 1. No excuse. Should be committed never.
          2. Yes, which is why he should pitch in complete humiliation, as I said.

          The Oregonian isn’t to blame. Luke is to blame. And yes, he should and will carry a life sentence (as a registered pedo) for the rest of his life in the court of public opinion, and rightfully so since he’s a danger. Per below, MLB teams do not want him in their clubhouse where kids hang out, etc.

          Luke was my favorite Beav, btw. But he’s not a victim of anything and I feel no sympathy for him, nor do I blame newspapers, etc. All of that is hamster wheeling to cope so you can justify rooting for a guy who could lead you to a title. Homey don’t play that.

          • I don’t even care about Luke at this point. The publishing of this article doesn’t just bring up past traumas for the victim, it brings down an entire team that’s worked so hard this season with it. Poor (purposeful) timing.

            Also, see below why Oregon State wouldn’t have necessarily known Luke’s past. The point is Luke’s actions from 6 years ago as a minor are being publicly humiliated (nature of the beast), but they are ruining lives outside of lives he affected.

          • Boo hoo. The poor team, university, and fans.
            Why don’t you imagine what it’s like to be 6 years old and have a dick in your mouth or your relative touching your pussy (or whatever the fuck happened)

            Give me a break.

            And stop speaking for the victim. The victim might be thrilled someone finally believes her, because her family sure didn’t side with her.

            If more papers had the guts to do what the Oregonian did this would be less of a problem. Usually institutions can block the media. They didn’t. Great job by the Oregonian.

        • He pursued a life in the public eye, and public scrutiny is a bi-product of that life. Having this come out publicly was always going to be a risk for Luke, especially as a 1st round baseball star.

          If he were truly worried about public perception, he should have gone into a less visible profession.

  68. I hope it rains really really hard tomorrow – Pat Casey and the team need an extra day. I think things will be protective in Corvallis – but should – and it seems unlikely now – that the Beavs will go on to the CWS and if Heimlich played – the heckling would be unmerciful. I only hope Luke can go on to a pro career – I don’t think the MLB draft will spit him out.

    Also, LH is not the whole team – but they are kids – I only hope there is a rally in them..

  69. I don’t think the Oregonian would have dropped the story today, the day before the super regional, if they thought Oregon State handled this situation appropriately. The university has some explaining to do, and the longer it takes them to face the music, the worse it looks.
    The oregonian editor just tweeted this morning that the school and baseball team have refused to respond about when they became aware of everything, up to this point. There’s no point in hiding, the truth will eventually come out.

    https://twitter.com/markkatches/status/872856925397893125

    • The NCAA does not have a policy that bars convicted felons from competing in intercollegiate play, deferring instead to athletic conferences and schools. The Pac-12 Conference defers to schools.

      Oregon State does not have a policy barring student-athletes with prior felony convictions from competing. The athletic department doesn’t ask students to disclose criminal convictions during the admissions process.

    • Yes, also a great point, and another education moment: institutions ALWAYS protect their own.
      Check out “The Keepers” on Netflix for an extreme example. It plods a bit, but it’s a great example of an institution protecting their own on this VERY issue (pedos…in this case they were priests). Highly recommended.

      • The church covering up pedophiles is a different situation. Thia is about someone’s past behavior. You’re concluding that he is at risk to re-offend, and therefore the school is guilty.

  70. The Oregonian isn’t to blame for Heimlich’s actions.

    It is interesting, though: you don’t do a background check on someone like that unless you’re trying to dig up dirt. They basically admitted they’re trying to dig up dirt on every interview subject, if you read their piece explaining why they published the story now. Why would anyone want to get interviewed by them when that’s their mentality, even without a rap sheet?

  71. I took a moment to reflect on this before posting. On one hand, he was a juvenile navigating his own adolescence.

    On the other hand, fuck that, and fuck him.

    I live in Puyallup.

    I have a daughter.

    Pitching in a Super Regional would be the least of this dude’s concerns had it been her.

    ~GWH

  72. Part of me says it’s in the past and he hasn’t touched anybody else since. The other part of me says…would I want him around my kid(s)? When do we lose the Scarlett letter and forgive him…? I think the University needs to decide to sit Luke, and transcend this whole situation….that would be the right thing to do. Then OSU needs to look at a policy change….or not….what you think?

    • I actually think they should let him pitch.

      For one, there’s no active crime to my knowledge…and two, let him pitch with the shame. I’m sure the other dugout, Vandy fans, etc are going to let him know what the populous thinks. Maybe he then won’t “forget” to re-register.

  73. Yikes, just when I thought things were going good for the university, as far as scandals go. Unbelievable. I’m surprised this didn’t come out sooner, I’m betting the university didn’t know. Or at least I hope they didn’t know.

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