"You can’t blitz a quarterback that can throw quick games, and he’s really stepped up in that regard.” ASU QB Sam Leavitt increased comfort in the system building on a solid 2024 foundation has been on full display much to the delight of his coaches

Visiting Michigan. Wondering if he gets dropped. Seems like he’s starting to push the envelope.

ASU has now lost 5 straight games to UofA in baseball. 3 of those losses coming this season. The 2 most recent losses have come in conference play in front of massive crowds at Phoenix Muni causing many fans believe the "same old Devils" are dropping the ball. It feels like we are watching Deja Vu

Not so fast

It can be easy to think ASUs schedule in the Big 12 is similar to last season in the Pac-12 but it isn't.

In 2024 ASU was
Q1: 2-7
Q2: 2-5
Q3: 20-10
Q4: 8-4

2025
Q1: 5-6
Q2: 3-1
Q3: 2-3
Q4: 10-1

As you can see, the Sun Devils are much better in Q1 and Q2 games this season. The schedule remains difficult and includes 7 more Q1 games as well as several Q2 games.

The results may feel the same, but the competition is MUCH better, at least on paper. We are in a much better spot to make a regional. Even if we have the same record as last season, it will be a big step forward.

Due to Easter weekend the Sun Devils resumed spring practices on Monday night at Mountain America stadium, in a session head coach Kenny Dillingham called “average to be below average” and one that lacked focus. Here are our impressions.

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = Easter Eggs

As you all know, my favorite Easter eggs are colored Maroon and Gold...

I'm pretty sure that those colors are also the favorite of Willie B who has 16 remaining games left on his baseball team's schedule this season...

The Devils are in fifth place in the Big-12 sitting at 25-15 and 11-7 and have conference games remaining against the bottom dwellers in the conference in BYU (6-12) and Houston (6-10) and Oklahoma St (5-9)...

They also have to face Baylor that sits at 8-10 in the conference...

They play at Grand Canyon on Tuesday before facing BYU next weekend at home and there doesn't appear to be any margin for error left in the schedule...

I would think that the Devils will need to win the vast majority of their remaining games and a couple in the Big-12 tournament in order to make the playoffs...

What do you think..??

I don't know what colored eggs Bobby favors but at least he looks like he will have a full roster with which to deal this next season at ASU...

Whether that roster will be enough to avoid another losing season is the real question, even though a winning season won't probably buy him any more time at ASU...

So, by this time next year, we should have a new head basketball coach in place and we can wonder what his favorite egg colors might be...

The Daily Star this morning listed a bunch of successful mid-major coaches that did well at AU since they are hoping that their new ladies BB coach, who comes form Buffalo, will be a winner...

Maybe she will have more success down here than Bobby has had up there in Tempe...

At least her wife won't be her top assistant coach like Adia Barnes husband was at AU while she was there...

Finally, on this fine Easter morning in the desert, I got a kick out of Corky Simpson's article in the Geezerville Gazette this weekend about "the problem with watching sports on TV"...

He gripes (like I also do) about those in game interviews with coaches that are a joke when the coach is asked what they have to do better to win the game and those sorts of idiotic questions...

The coach will reply that his or her team needs to play better or some other trite and feeble answer that brings nothing to the table in terms of insight into the game...

It's like asking a struggling PGA golfer what it will take to do better in any given tournament, with the replies telling us they need to drive better or putt better of whatever...

At least it looks like Dilly, whose favorite egg colors are also Maroon and Gold, will have enough talent on board his football team to once again compete for a conference title this next season in the Big-12...

Relatedly, I wonder what color of eggs Cam Skattebo will see when the NFL draft is held this next weekend in Green Bay..??

Any guesses..??

Well, fingers crossed that our baseball team will finally make the playoffs under Willie and that Bobby will have enough roster talent on hand, to at least not get blown away by conference opponents, in his last stand as our men's basketball coach...

Happy Easter to everyone, no matter the favorite color of your eggs this morning in the desert...

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

"Some days you have it. Some days you don't. That's baseball.” A dramatic series victory played on two different days was followed by a emotional letdown preventing the Sun Devils from sweeping the Red Raiders

The last three spring practices will have a slightly different scheue than this past week:

Monday 4/21 will be an evening session starting at 6 at Mountain America Stadium. This one is closed to the public.

Wednesday morning same usual time of 9 am at the practice field

Friday the 25th is the last spring practice, and the Fan Fest event is open to the public. It will be at Mountain America Stadium beginning at 5 p.m.

random stats.

- ASU win % by quadrant
Q1: 44%
Q2: 60%
Q3: 20%
Q4: 92%

Minnesota’s RPI after beating us was #11. By week it went 11, 12, 17, 23, 48, 76, 82 If it drops to 101 then all 4 of ASUs non conference weekend series will be against Q4 opponents.

Texas Tech is a shocking 11 - 21.
Over a 7 year stretch from 14’ to 21’ they had 4 CWS, 1 Super, 1 Regional averaging 43 wins per year. They missed a regional last year and are on pace to do the same this year.

But, they have the #2 strength of schedule in the country largely because all of their non conference weekend series are Q1.

Pitchers better hope the wind is blowing in this weekend because Petty (Tech), Martinez (ASU), and Jacobs (ASU) are 1, 2, and 3 in the conference in fly balls.

ASU might want to consider running early and often against Tech pitcher Jack Cebert who has a ground ball % of 68.6% which is the best in the B12. ASU lost the UofA series in large part because of hitting into 7 double plays over the weekend so running might help avoid that. After all a ground ball to second with a runner on first is a double play while a ground ball to second after a stolen base is a solid AB that moves the runner to 3rd.

I love advanced stats. I do. But, as fun as they are, they are meaningless at this point. The series comes down to

1) ASU bullpen competing
2) ASU starting pitchers hitting spots down in the zone
3) ASU hitters grinding out ABs instead of first pitch hunting

The Red Raiders aren’t as good as they have been, but they are certainly better than their record suggests.

What are your keys to the series?

We have our first group in town this weekend. Any commits on the horizon?

“I had a really good relationship with all of the coaches. I’ve known (ASU assistant coach) Ty Larson the longest, and I knew right when he got to ASU that he wanted to get me. He was really consistent with recruiting and did a good job building our connection and showing what they got for me."

"I love the fit of this team, this style of play, and the opportunity that I'm going to get." ASU basketball stays busy this weekend adding two more players to its roster, coming close to finalizing the construction of the 2025-26 team

Just an FYI Baseball is on ESPN 2

game 2 tonight

"We have a group of guys who genuinely are building relationships forever, and I think it's just a different day and age in college football." After transfer portal classes that hovered around 30 additions, ASU's program growth showcased in minimal turnover this year