Jim French Stepstool

I've heard some of those names brought up, too. And we might've been in a situation where we'd be weeding through all those names in December/January if Chryst had finished out the year. I think part of the reason this was done now is because Leonhard is the guy McIntosh wants, he's already here, so you lock him in.

When he was OC I actually thought there were plenty of times he threw more than he needed to. IMO he was a very good OC. Of course, some of those years with the talent he had he could throw the ball because he CHOSE to, rather than because he HAD to. And that makes all the difference.

What, no one wants to compare Ozzie Timmons/Connor Dawson to Al LeBoeuf?

All they can do is try to hold on for one more day. And if someone posts that Wilson Phillips song, I'm leaving.

Yeah, Nelson, Brown & to a lesser extent Tyler Beach have been frustrating to me in their lack of development. Considering the lack of experience I think Wedig has actually done some nice work. If Bostad had been with this group all the way through I'd feel more optimistic about their starting to cook. Just seems to me the combination of technique & attitude is developed over time.....time he spent coaching others. Hope for the best.

Didn't hear about the extension. Yeah, it's possible they may be at (or close to) what they can comfortably dole out.

That's job 1,2, and 3. It's always been about development there. It was a dark day when Bostad left that position group.

Yep, especially this early in the season. Historically they've seldom been in this position: Team struggling, highly-regarded assistant coach on the staff that you really don't want to lose. I suspect it played into it.

I think if they had lost to pretty much anyone else on their remaining schedule Saturday, and looked as overmatched physically as they did, the result would've been the same. I DID hear (second hand as I'm no longer considered a booster) that McIntosh received a lot of phone calls after the game. A LOT. Your mention of Bielema reminds me of when he was sniffing around the HS where I was coaching at the time. Alec James had committed to UW, Bielema had just taken the Arky job & was trying to flip him. Can't blame him I guess.

I'll confidently say this: if he wants to stay in Lawrence the recent developments just got him a very favorable re-writing of his contract there.

I think that's a large part of it. His reputation is such that it's a real bonus, if you're going to make a change, to have the opportunity to give him a seven or eight game trial run. This is a pretty far cry from having to finish out the season with a Jerry Royster or Jim Lefebvre, to borrow a comp from Brewer history. Leonhards' problem is, exactly what's the difference between what they've shown through 5 weeks & what they're capable of? The Offensive line has either underachieved, or is pretty mediocre. Other than the known quantities in the front seven (Herbig & Benton) I've seen flashes from CJ Goetz & that's about it. Talent at WR & the secondary but little experience. And they appear to be down to their third TE, a very important spot on the field for them. Can't wait to see what they look like in Evanston, out of normal fan optimism but mostly curiosity.

I was certain he was in no danger in 2022. Whoops. I'm sure the administration feels that it shouldn't be a lost season, that this team has more in the tank, and this is the way to extract it. Stay tuned, I guess.

My overwhelming feeling was that he had a few key games coming up (after Ohio State) that would be more-or-less the measuring stick for this season, and maybe for his future. Yesterday was the first one, and they obviously failed miserably. The team has been built for a long time now, and rightfully so IMO, on front 7 strength defensively, and the O-line being the engine that runs the offense. It's been a long time since they've looked as overmatched in those areas as yesterday, and that includes OSU. I'm surprised but I'll roll with McIntosh if he thinks this is the time, especially when I think of who he most certainly consulted with before making the decision. Don't know how accurate this is but I've heard rumblings that he wasn't happy at all with the changes in CFB recently, if that's the case it may have affected his day-to-day work ethic & enthusiasm (I also wouldn't blame him, but that's another topic). So if that's the case, yeah, it's time. I would however reject the criticism of his personality, the lifelessness in front of the mic, lack of "fire", etc. He has the same personality as when they've had successful teams. It makes it frustrating to listen to him after a loss, which I get. At the end of the day, his record here was solid but not over-the-top successful and IIRC his record as the HC at Pitt was maybe a little over .500. Maybe he's one of these guys who was better suited for a coordinator spot as opposed to running the whole show, but takes a HC job because, you know, it's what you're supposed to do when you have the chance. I'm sure that, as far as being the center of attention is concerned, he'd much prefer being surrounded by friends at the bar telling stories than surrounded by mics, cameras, and notepads. I wish him all the best.

I don't know if there's a hitting coach alive that's going to go into much detail in an interview. I have no idea how good/bad these hitting coaches are. I DO know that a lot of the prospects in the organization are geared more towards contact/OBP/speed than power (despite Mitchells' high K #s so far), and how they try to score runs should significantly change, if a philosophical change takes hold. If it were me, I'd give them at least into next year to see how they mesh with whatever pos player group they put together.

Struggled in his recent promotion to AAA. Was great before that. I could see him possibly being ready to contribute at some point next season but very doubtful he would immediately come up here & close.

The bullpen issues would be the same, the rotation having only two guys who can currently go more than 4.1 innings would be the same, Garrett Mitchell would still be in AAA & the farm system wouldn't be nearly as strong as it is now. We'd have a little better offense, but not enough to make up for the above.

I think he means, a game back but losing the tiebreaker. So it's like a game +.

That's level-headed. It doesn't belong here, especially after some of the losses the team has experienced. The frustration is totally understandable though. I suppose it's why I seldom/never enter an IGT while the game is going on. Anyway, when you're playing one of the most important games of the year, the opposing starter is dealing, and you see him have to leave due to injury, you just won the lottery. Then you proceed to leave men on base & strike out sixteen times. Fans complain about a team not having enthusiasm or fire, and it's usually garbage. But the focus, the intensity that it takes to extend an AB, to foul off tough pitches, to take difficult borderline stuff, It isn't non-existent with this team, but it's very fleeting. And opponents who are having a shell of the season we're having are better at it than us way too often. Don't know if DW is a closer in future seasons. He's been successful more often than not, but his 8th inning performances have been much better in his career. I guess we'll see. IMO Craig Counsell will be gone, if & only if he chooses to give the job up. And that's doubtful. Nothing is getting "blown up". Leaving a closer in until he actually gives up the lead is something that happens all the time, with all teams. A bigger question is, did he feel good to go after 52 pitches on Wednesday & Friday, or did he just SAY he was? If it's the latter you need to know his personality & save him from himself. One thing CC would need to do next year is learn to trust talented kids in the pos player group. Would love to hear why TT was the choice today over Mitchell.

Am hoping Peralta would be available for Tuesday. But yeah, chances are pretty good we'll see him tonite.

Great insight on Floyd. Thanks!!!!

Great insight on Floyd. Thanks!!!!

The "he would've gone somewhere else" simply is a way of saying the education means more to him than it did had he been a 5-star recruit going wherever he wanted. My speculation that he may want to move on is largely based on his knowing he had an extra year available but until recently wasn't considering it. If it was a slam dunk decision you'd think that wouldn't have been the case. Maybe the NIL has something to do with it (I suspect it's nowhere near 100 grand though). This is simply a case of me speculating on what he's already intimated--that he doesn't know what he wants to do. Believe me, it definitely would be "living the dream" if it were me.

Yeah, that's what I'm sayin'. Also, no one seems to bring up Philly being on the road from here on out, still having to squeeze in a doubleheader before travelling to Houston, while we finish at home. Admittedly that would be more of a positive if we played better in front of the friendlies.

Damuelle, I know he's had a forgettable season, but do you know what the organization is saying about Taylor Floyd these days? He's turned in some really impressive work before 2022. I wonder if there are any doubts about him b/c he's a sidearmer?

Damuelle, I know he's had a forgettable season, but do you know what the organization is saying about Taylor Floyd these days? He's turned in some really impressive work before 2022. I wonder if there are any doubts about him b/c he's a sidearmer?