Number one, if you don’t have ESPNU and you are depending upon the other ESPNs to keep you updated on a Razorback baseball score . . .well, apparently you have to watch an eternity of soccer scores first. Geeze. I didn’t find out the score until this morning. But I just had a sinking feeling all night that I was going to be disappointed in the end. And I was.

The Hogs have to stop replicating South Carolina football with their late season swoons. We got through it last year by drawing not the number one team in Florida State. We got number one this year. At one point in the season we were looking at possibly hosting a super-regional ourselves. I know, injuries. All the more reason to create as much depth as you can.

I say thanks to all the departing players for the last two years of post-season action. Good luck to you in the big leagues. To those coming back, how about we become the first team to win a CWS in the new stadium? How about it?

Oh, one more thought. Texas (spit) lost to TCU and didn’t make it in. One consolation right there.

A few thoughts:
Overall, this is a very successful season, by almost anyone’s standards. Of course, not making it back to Omaha seems like a regression, but that can’t be the only criteria for a successful season. We had to replace a good deal of pitching this season, and it showed, but these guys played with heart.

On the brightside, even though we lost in Tempe, we gave the #1 team in the country all they could handle on their home turf. Even most of the Arizona St. fans I’ve talked to agreed that this matchup happened one or two rounds too early, because it was a classic. It also lived up to the reputation that the previous 4 UA vs. ASU matchups had set, i.e., close games full of amazing plays.

In case it’s not entirely obvious, we’re due for a MAJOR rebuilding season next year. From a fielding and offense point of view, Cox, Eibner, and probably Wilkins are obviously gone via the draft, and clutch pinch hitter Tom Hauskey is a senior. We won’t be completely helpless, though, as roster mainstays such as Collin Kuhn, Matt Vinson, Travis Sample, and Bo Bigham will be returning. Plus, Jared McKinney will return from his ACL injury, and Franco Broyles, a highly-touted recruit from the 2009 class, will likely start to see some action. On the pitching side, it’s not pretty at all. Smyly, Eibner, and Jordan Pratt are signing with whoever drafted them, while Mike Bolsinger, TJ Forrest, Jeremy Heatley, and Christian Kowalchuk are all seniors. Additionally, Randall Fant is kind of in limbo with his status, as he’s still in DVH’s doghouse for his multiple alcohol-related arrests. That leaves (true freshman) DJ Baxendale as the only pitcher returning with significant SEC experience. DVH snagged a very talented pitcher for this class… who was also selected in the 1st round of the draft, so it’s uncertain whether he’ll make it to the Hill.

Congrats on the season, Hogs. Just wish it was going to last a few more games.

While I am disappointed that the Hogs will not be playing at Rosenblatt in its final year of existance, maybe they can play in the inaugural CWS at the new TD Ameritrade stadium in 2011. The games against WSU and ASU were thrilling to watch.