Stanford: The champs are here
By Alex Gyr - April 27, 2007
It's been a while since I've been here, but with the national champs in town to face Stanford, I got the call back. It should be an exciting weekend with the Cardinal looking for a little revenge after losing five straight games to Oregon State last year, all in Corvallis, including a 15-0 Super Regional clinching win. Both of these teams look dramatically different than they did a year ago, but I still think the Card would love to keep the Beavers below .500 in the Pac-10.
As would be expected the champs bring a big crowd. It was a beautiful day in Palo Alto (it is still probably 80 degrees out) and they are giving away blankets to the first couple thousand fans. The TV crews are here as well. CSTV will be providing national coverage and that always adds a little mayhem to the press box.
It has been a long season for Stanford, especially since the Pac-10 season began. The Cardinal are 2-10 in the Pac-10 and have won just one midweek non-conference game since the Pac-10 season started. Losing like this is a new thing for most Stanford fans who are spoiled from the five straight World Series appearances early this decade. The Cardinal are last or next to last in nearly every relevant statistical category offensively, in pitching, and especially on defense. It has not been pretty. Obviously it does not get any easier tonight.
Pitching-wise tonight it will be Jeremy Bleich going against Mike Stutes. Bleich faced OSU once last year and gave up just one run, but still took the loss. Stutes is also familiar with the Cardinal, facing them not only last season, but also while he was with Santa Clara before transferring to OSU. Going strictly by the numbers this is a one-sided matchup. Stutes' ERA sits at 2.36 and he is 9-1, while Bleich is 1-7 with a 5.32 ERA (actually one of the better on the team).
One more story on why Stanford is so eager to get another crack at the Beavers before I have to get ready for my broadcast:
Last year Stanford traveled to Corvallis to face OSU for a three game series on Easter weekend, a Thursday through Saturday set. After a a pair of shutout losses to open the series (3-0, 1-0) Saturday's game was postponed due to rain. So game three was pushed back to Easter Sunday. Unfortunately because it was Easter, there were no flights that could accomodate the 25 players plus all the coaches and staff. The only available option? A bus. Anyway, Oregon State thrashed Stanford 12-1 on Sunday in a game that was called after seven innings because of the Pac-10 mercy rules on travel days.
So after getting crushed, swept and generally abused in a three game series the team showered, changed and got on a bus for the next eleven and a half hours. I was broadcasting and on that trip and I can tell you safely that was the most painful bus ride I've ever taken. Just painful.
As if five losses were not enough motivation for the Card, maybe they will remember that bus ride and use that as a little incentive for payback.
I'll be back after the game with a recap and full breakdown of tonight's action.
Posted by Alex Gyr at 08:56 PM on April 27, 2007
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