Evolution and Growth of Ole Miss Baseball

*I originally posted this to Scout, but figured I would see if you guys thought enough of it to be worth contributing.

I was a student from 2001-2006 (victory lap) and was out in right field for almost every game except for part of the 2003 season when they didn’t allow coolers out there. As I usually took full advantage of the atmosphere in right field, my own interpretations are questionable at best. So I looked up statistics from Coach Bianco’s tenure here. We all know how ridiculously easy it is to use stats to “prove” just about anything you want, so I tried to come up with a way to show the overall trend in our program. I looked at overall record, SEC record, team ERA, team batting average, extra base hits, team on-base percentage, team fielding percentage, runs per game, attendance, and star power. The last one may be a bit nebulous, but I think there is an advantage when there are unquestioned team leaders either pitching or swinging the bat (or both in a couple instances). I thought about including a goat of the year category, but it wouldn’t really serve any purpose and besides, some of our former players read this board and there is no reason to pick on them. I don’t know if Coach Bianco will ever take his club to Omaha, but looking at how far this program has come in the last ten years, I suspect that it is really only a matter of time. I will put the composite chart first and then year-by-year afterwards turning back to clock to 2000 to begin with.

Composite Chart

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH     RPG

2009    44-20     20-10       4.06         .310            .398            .970           194     7.34

2008    39-26     15-15       4.06         .295            .372            .966           206     6.55

2007    40-25     16-14       3.58         .308            .376            .976           171     6.29

2006    44-22     17-13       4.73         .309            .379           .974            223     7.32

2005    48-20     18-12       3.67         .321            .398            .974           239     7.37

2004    39-21     18-12       3.66         .296            .365            .972           181     6.13

2003    35-27     17-13        3.45         .284            .358            .960           173     5.29

2002    37-19     14-16        4.52         .318            .394            .955           165     7.02

2001    39-23-1   17-13       4.64        .300            .386            .962           186     6.97

2000    30-25     12-17        4.93         .285            .356            .961           156     6.00

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2000    30-25     12-17        4.93     .285            .356            .961            156     6.00

Notes: In Coach Pat Harrison’s final season at the helm of Ole Miss Baseball, he would turn in a disappointing season. The Rebels would fail to reach both the SEC tournament and NCAA play.

Year     Record    SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %    EBH   RPG

2001    39-23-1   17-13        4.64      .300            .386            .962            186     6.97

Notes: In Coach Bianco’s first year, Rebel fans were delighted to have an improved campaign. The Rebels made the SEC tournament and won two games, but were eliminated by two losses to LSU. The Rebels then traveled to New Orleans for the NCAA tournament, won one game against Southern, but were eliminated in two losses to Oklahoma State. Berney Hutchinson and Josh Christian led the team at the plate, with Pete Montrenes and Adam Yates delivering strong seasons from the mound. This would also be the final year for two of our current assistant coaches, Carl Lafferty and Matt Mossberg. In CMB’s first season, we averaged less than 1800 fans per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2002    37-19     14-16       4.52         .318         .394            .955            165     7.02

Notes: What a joy it was to find out that Ole Miss students had a haven for their raucous cheers and derogatory curses slung at opposing right fielders. As a high school baseball player without the requisite skills to continue, I was delighted to find that right field was both reserved for student debauchery, and free. It wasn’t a great year by today’s albeit much higher standards, and the Rebels failed to make both the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Seth Smith did hit over .400 though, earning distinction for SEC Freshman of the Year. Pete Montrenes and J.R. Pickens both pitched well. Alan Horne got all the hype though, and he pitched moderately well before hurting himself and transferring to Florida…At this point we were averaging about 2400 folks per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2003    35-27     17-13       3.45         .284          .358            .960            173     5.29

Notes: In the weakest offensive year under Coach Bianco, the Rebels still managed to win 17 SEC games. They beat Arkansas, but lost twice to State in the SEC tourney, and had to travel to Houston, TX for NCAA regional play against Rice. The odd thing is that they never played Rice however, and lost twice to the Wichita State Shockers, eliminating them from tournament play. There were some other bright spots however, as T.J. Beam would pitch well this year, and Stephen Head would follow Seth Smith to be the second SEC Freshman of the Year. Averaged about 2100 per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2004    39-21     18-12       3.66       .296           .365            .972            181     6.13

Notes: Noteworthy here is the hot start that the team got off to by winning 18 of their first 19 games. However this team was unable to sustain their torrid pace even though they swept Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Florida that season. They then lost two quick games in the SEC tourney, and then lost their first two in the Oxford Regional, eliminating them from the NCAA tournament. This team set the stage for the 2005 campaign, returning the core of players for the 2005 season. This would be Seth Smith’s final year, and the Rebs also said goodbye to Brae Wright, Charlie Babineaux, and the originator of the bleach blond shortstop in Matt Tolbert. Big jump in attendance this year with almost 3500 fans per home date.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2005    48-20     18-12       3.67         .321          .398           .974            239     7.37

Notes: This Spring was probably the most fun I had as a student. The Rebels boasted great pitching and great hitting that season. This team played to the finals of the SEC tournament before losing to Mississippi State. They then took care of business in the Oxford Regional, while the Maine Black Bears became fan favorites of the visiting squads that weekend. Then Texas came to town, drawing record breaking crowds to Oxford in what would be one of the most watched Super Regional series that year. This team started the precedent of winning the first game of the series to only lose the next two, foiling our dreams of cheering on the Rebs in Rosenblatt Stadium. Brian Pettway swung a mean bat that year, and Stephen Head had a great year, both on the mound and at the plate. A great quartet of Rebel pitchers in Mark Holliman, Eric Fowler, Anthony Cupps, and Matt Moloney set the pace on the hill that year. This was probably the most raw talent we have seen on one team. If there were any year that we should have put it all together, this is the one that stacks up the best statistically in more categories than any other. Attendance up this year to 4350 fans per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2006    44-22     17-13       4.73         .309         .379            .974            223     7.32

Notes: Another near miss this year. The Rebels raped and pillaged their way through the SEC tournament, handled their business in a relatively tough Oxford Regional field, and drew Miami in Oxford Super Regional play. After winning the first game, the Rebels once again came tantalizingly close to a trip to Omaha, dropping the final two games to the Hurricanes. This was one of the best offensive seasons we’ve had in the last ten, which is good since our pitching was not up to usual standards. Mark Wright provided the power on the season and came oh-so close to that magical season RBI number of 80. Zack Cozart had a great season as well, and the Rebs ran well on the base paths, going 95-117 in stolen bases. Averaged about 4850 fans per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2007    40-25     16-14        3.58       .308            .376          .976            171     6.29

Notes: A good overall season. The Rebels won two in the SEC tourney, and went on to lose consecutive games to Vanderbilt. This team breezed through the Oxford Regional and then got shafted by having to travel to Tempe to take on number 5 overall seed Arizona State in Super Regional play. They lost. They may not have scored as many runs as other years, but one thing about this team was that they pitched well and played good team defense. The Henry brothers provided most of the spark to the offense, which is good since our HR numbers were pretty low (51). Averaged 4950 fans per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2008    39-26     15-15        4.06       .295           .372           .966            206     6.55

Notes: This team reached the championship game of the SEC tournament, but lost to LSU. They then had to travel to Coral Gables for the NCAA regional and failed to advance past Miami. Overall team hitting was down, but home run numbers were up (74). There were two 9 game winning streaks this season. Cody Overbeck was our leading hitter, going yard 17 times. Matt Smith also broke Seth Smith’s freshman HR record with 14 bombs. Our pitching was expected to be exceptionally strong with Lance Lynn, Cody Satterwhite, and a healthy Scott Bittle coming in from the bullpen. And who can forget Michael Guerrero’s walk-off HR against Kentucky in the SEC tourney to beat that guy that now coaches at State. We hit our limits in pre-upgraded stadium capacity as we again averaged about 4950 fans per home game.

Year     Record SEC Rec.   ERA   Team BA   Team OB%   T Field %     EBH   RPG

2009    44-20     20-10       4.06         .310           .398          .970            194     7.34

Notes: A win away from Omaha, the common perception of this team was that they overachieved. They tied LSU for the regular season SEC Championship, but bowed out of the tournament with 2 quick losses. The Rebels then had a tough Oxford regional draw, with hot-hitting Western Kentucky providing some drama. Virginia then came to town as the two seed from the Long Beach regional. The Rebels dropped the series in heart-breaking fashion after winning the first game of the Super Regional. This board held many debates whether our team was effective at small ball, but the facts are that we hit pretty well for power overall based on our extra base hits (EBH). This team also boasted the highest on base percentage (OB%) and a very high runs per game average (RPG). What also jumps out this team are the exceptionally high numbers in stolen bases (92-118). Drew Pomeranz provided the star power as our Friday night pitcher, starting every Friday night all season long. He also delivered two of the finest pitching performances I’ve seen in the Oxford Regional. The Rebels remained in the Top 25 for the entire season, rising as high as 7th. As a testament the growth and dedication the fan base that Coach Bianco has built, his first season we averaged less than 1800 per home game. We are now bringing in more than 7,000 per home game, and Ole Miss now ranks third in the NATION in home attendance.