Originally published at: How Josh Holliday Found the ‘Perfect Fit’ with New Pitching Coach Blake Hawksworth
‘I thought he had a great, balanced set of skills.’
His seat should be hot this year
1 Like
I hope Hawksworth is the one making the decisions on when to pull a pitcher
Kinda wild to use “PERFECT” IMO cause that sets you up to fail if don’t at least make a regional. Has anyone else heard that oSu has limited Josh’s NIL dough cause they wanna force him out after this season?
1 Like
This will be a make or break year for Josh and I don’t think there will be any qualms if it’s break. Curious to hear opinions on what the floor needs to be to keep his job. In my opinion it’s host a regional. Should probably be just a super. We’ve got too nice of a facility to only be used a few times in the post season.
3 Likes
something tells me this was not “perfect fit” allowed 22 runs in 2 games. Not very good.
3 Likes
Maybe a strong performance in a super regional would extend but we already know Josh has a low ceiling on the national level. What are OSU expectations? Win the conference every now and then, and not advance beyond a regional, or compete in super regionals and the CWS fairly often? I vote to move on to the next coach.
2 Likes
It’s not for me to be barely relevant in baseball anymore. If B we don’t expect much more than that then Gary Ward wasted great years here for a school that doesn’t want to maintain that
Thats not accurate. I know for a fact that is not the case. I was with 2 very, very big time baseball donors on Sat down in Dallas and BEFORE the buttkicking, they were all in on Josh still. The OSU base is a loyal one already. The “lesser” sports are even more loyal than that of the others.
How does what is happening now effect Gary Wards years here? That was 30 years ago. People get waaaaay too dramatic on these things, which is good for content. The Ward era isnt damaged or effected one iota by what goes on now. Gary Ward was trying to win in an era in which about 15 people were really trying. He had to out recruit about 3 teams regionally. Much, much different era now. Wichita St had the best stadium going from 1999 until OBrate came to life. You know how many times they made the CWS during that span? ZERO. The landscape has changed and it continuing to change. OSU baseball fans need to understand that and factor it in to their expectations
I have a hard time believing that ketchup, with the new stadium , a good tradition Josh should be doing better than he is now. I don’t know how much money is behind it, just seems we have wasted a lot of talent and Josh’s management of games
Where do you get thaf it affects Wards years ? I’m not saying that No one will be Ward for us again. We had offense over offense. He recruited elite talent and could teach hitting like no other. Sure it’s a new era , I’m fully aware of that far more want to be elite it’s just like we fell off a cliff with Josh You would think that as long as Josh was around Ward he could do better to emulate him. We win in the regular season and flop in a regional. One game last weekend we struck out 13 of 15 batters the opposing pitcher threw. It’s been that way for 3 years I know. It’s like we can’t make contact That’s on Josh
What talent was wasted? As far as the stadium, do you know how many stadiums like that these kids play in BEFORE ever stepping foot on their campus? Do you know how many times kids play at OBrate in the summers? Tradition helps. The stadium helps. But not nearly as much as it once did. Not nearly as much as it does in football. There are many things that factor in to each sport and facilities in baseball is lower on the list than most realize. Hey its Josh’s program, so the failings are his fault. But to assume someone should win at OSU simply due the stadium and tradition (which includes as many national titles as the local Vo-Tech)…is unrealistic.
You said “we don’t expect much more than that then Gary Ward wasted great years here for a school that doesn’t want to maintain that”. OSU wants to win. They all do. You mention him being around Gary War for so long that he could do better. Josh played 1 yr under Ward. The one that was around Gary the most was Tom. Tom Holliday was there for 7 years and on average, went 40-21. 3 Regionals and 1 CWS. Frank Anderson was there for 9yrs and on average, went 37-23. 6 Regionals 0 CWS. Josh has been there 12 full seasons (Covid is the 13th). Hes averaged 37-21. Made a Regional in every season and 1 CWS. I wont argue if at this point someone wants to move on from him. But Gary Ward would have a tougher time in this era than he did back then. Josh, Tom and Frank Anderson knew baseball. They all won as many National Titles as Gary Ward did.
When did you ever hear me say our stadium was a big factor in having a great club ? Maybe others have said that but not me. As I answered in another post money, great coaches are the two main factors in having a great team. Tell me what else is the main factor. Stadium is a really nice place to play is about all. But Josh isn’t getting out and getting NIL money and getting his arse out to recruit
Josh was around the program about as many years as Tom. He was there every stinking day when he was growing up. You would think Wards toughness would have rubbed off on him !! Ward demanded toughness, not the pussyfooting around that Josh does. It’s sickening to me. Demand tough and if you don’t get it put someone else in. I’ll say this Ward going for 7-8 straight years he should have won it except Georgia had a 1st rounder pitching in a one game series. We play them two more times we win I promise. They changed the championship that year to one game If you don’t have a pen full of arms now you’re screwed Two studs can carry you a long way
Edit : to be fair Frank was probably the best coach we had only he was limited by scholarships , some dumb shite the NCAA got us for, he only had 11 ships to field a team but was by far the best pitching coach
Gary Ward would not have the same success today as he did back then. He was dominating a league in which he had to beat 1 or 2 teams to win a Con Title. Again, not knocking him at all. But thats just the fact of it. He didnt win the Con in 96’, which was the first time he had to face an expanded Conf
1 Like
I don’t think anyone is saying he would but I would promise they wouldn’t strike out 13 out of 15 at bats He would also best the bushes for NIL money and the best recruits