Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The Offseason of the New York Mets

You know guys, I was thinking about this.... It's been the offseason of the New York Mets.

It's crazy. Even though the Royals won the World Series and the Cubs had the headlines early with adding Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, but the buzz is all about those pitchers - then Mike Piazza gets voted to the Hall of Fame.

Then they swoop in and resign Yoenis Cespedes - stunning everyone.

Now they announce Piazza is gonna get his number retired this summer.

I know a lot of teams are getting better too, but the Mets are winning the offseason with the headlines.

Now they gotta do it on the field.

It's a good time to be a Mets fan.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Can John Groce Win Illinois Fans Back Over?

If you're an Illinois fan, you're probably all about wins and losses with Illinois. If you're not all about that you're all about progress and the kids getting better and all that.
Let's be honest, the players under John Groce that we expect to get better, are getting better. Malcolm Hill is leaps and bounds better than he was as a freshman. Kendrick Nunn, it's the same. I want him to find consistency, but he's getting better. You can't argue that. Look at what Michael Finke is doing. I would be willing to bet he's doing far more than you thought he'd do. If LeRon Black were to get healthy, I'd be willing to bet he'd be making similar strides. I really believe that based on what is happening with guys around him.
Here's my biggest gripe w/ John Groce and this program as of now. He talks about leadership, toughness, and guys finding cohesiveness among each other, it's really tough to do that when the role players of your team are changing year to year. Right now, Hill, Nunn and Tate are the only guys that have been in the program their whole careers as upper classman in the last several year, really since the Richardson/Paul/Griffey group. I guess Egwu was too so add one]
You can't build a relationship when you have your guys that are supposed to be leaders who are a basically one and dones. Do Hill and Nunn and Tate need to start taking more of a role there, probably.
To me, it all comes down to him being unable to build up the program through recruiting and missing out on [unrealistic] targets, and then being forced to piece the team together through graduate transfers.
It's been a disastrous start for him. So with the presumption he's back next year after all the injuries and such this year, he'll no doubt be on the hot seat.
Here's my scenario where I'd like to see Groce through.
First of all if he can grab a few more recruits this year to add to Tejon Lucas. I really think he's going to be a dynamic player. I think that was a great get by Groce. He doesn't have to get all four star guys, but build depth. Get a big guy (ie Nick Rakocevic). I'd really like Ben Coupet out of Simeon. Probably no interest there but still. I like Coupet, just want that on record.
Next year: I'd like to see him win the games he's supposed to win in non-conference. I'd like to see some competitive Big Ten games. Blowouts at Indiana, a loss at home to Nebraska (this particular Nebraska team at least) to me are not acceptable. I need him to make the Assembly Hall (errr - State Farm Center) a place where teams simply don't win. I need him win a few Big Ten road games. Anymore Big Ten road wins are asked for, not just expected at places not MIchigan State or Wisconsin.
I need a 20 win campaign to reinvigorate my enthusiasm.
I'd like to see him continue to build on the '17 class. Javon Pickett is a great start but I don't care who it is, where they come from (I'd prefer Chicago or the St. Louis area) but just get a four star, hell, even a five-star here recruit.
Make me want to keep him (Groce) around and see what he can do.
That's a lot. I realize that, but it's not impossible, in fact, I think it's just the very basics of what Illinois fans expect and frankly, they should.
I think Groce can do it. I really do. But if he starts to stumble at any point, I just don't know if I can buy into him.