Bradley baseball

[Da Coach]

With basketball season (and recruiting) over, it would be nice to follow a winning BU baseball program.
But after several years of mediocrity, BU baseball has fallen back into a bottom-dwelling MVC program.
Bradley is tied for last place going into a 3-game weekend series at UIC starting tomorrow night. Pitching has not been a strong point for this year's team. The team ERA is 7.05, and in MVC games it is even worse, 7.96.



This is Elvis Dominguez' 16th season (see record below) as Bradley's head coach. And though he's well liked, is anyone else bothered by the long record almost devoid of real success in the baseball program? There have been just 4 seasons in the 16 years with overall winning records (2015, 2016, 2018, & 2019).
And there have been only 5 seasons with winning MVC records, though three of those were 11-10 records, and the other two were 11-9 and 12-10.
There have been no MVC regular season titles, and no MVC Tournament championships. And only one NCAA at-large bid (2015), with a first round elimination.
I am not suggesting a change, but can anything be done to make Bradley baseball respectable? Or is is hopeless? Or does anyone even care any more?

Record over last 16 seasons-
2023- 16-32, 7-20
2022- 20-29, 11-10
2021- 20-22, 12-10
2020- 4-6, 0-0
2019- 31-19, 11-10
2018- 32-19, 11-10
2017- 20-31, 6-14
2016- 29-21, 11-9
2015- 36-21, 10-11
2014- 24-27, 5-16
2013- 17-32, 2-19
2012- 27-27-1, 8-13
2011- 22-32, 4-17
2010- 20-32, 8-13
2009- 16-32, 4-17
2008- 26-28, 10-14

[Mikovio]

There are plenty of successful alums who care.
The MVC has never been more winnable. Wichita and Dallas Baptist were national powers and are gone. Bradley has great facilities and Dozer Park is getting some MLB-mandated upgrades. Dominguez’s NCAA appearance was no small accomplishment but it has probably bought him more time than it should have given the program’s drought.

[egib52]

With basketball season (and recruiting) over, it would be nice to follow a winning BU baseball program.
But after several years of mediocrity, BU baseball has fallen back into a bottom-dwelling MVC program.
Bradley is tied for last place going into a 3-game weekend series at UIC starting tomorrow night. Pitching has not been a strong point for this year's team. The team ERA is 7.05, and in MVC games it is even worse, 7.96.



This is Elvis Dominguez' 16th season (see record below) as Bradley's head coach. And though he's well liked, is anyone else bothered by the long record almost devoid of real success in the baseball program? There have been just 4 seasons in the 16 years with overall winning records (2015, 2016, 2018, & 2019).
And there have been only 5 seasons with winning MVC records, though three of those were 11-10 records, and the other two were 11-9 and 12-10.
There have been no MVC regular season titles, and no MVC Tournament championships. And only one NCAA at-large bid (2015), with a first round elimination.
I am not suggesting a change, but can anything be done to make Bradley baseball respectable? Or is is hopeless? Or does anyone even care any more?

Record over last 16 seasons-
2023- 13-23, 4-11
2022- 20-29, 11-10
2021- 20-22, 12-10
2020- 4-6, 0-0
2019- 31-19, 11-10
2018- 32-19, 11-10
2017- 20-31, 6-14
2016- 29-21, 11-9
2015- 36-21, 10-11
2014- 24-27, 5-16
2013- 17-32, 2-19
2012- 27-27-1, 8-13
2011- 22-32, 4-17
2010- 20-32, 8-13
2009- 16-32, 4-17
2008- 26-28, 10-14

I think there should be high expectations for each program. Dallas Baptist is gone, so the conference gets much easier. It's definitely harder to recruit for baseball to the Midwest due to weather. However, Bradley has decent facilities and Illinois generally does a decent job recruiting. It would be nice to have an indoor facility for practice but maybe they use Louisville Slugger.

[Old Coach]

There are plenty of successful alums who care.
The MVC has never been more winnable. Wichita and Dallas Baptist were national powers and are gone. Bradley has great facilities and Dozer Park is getting some MLB-mandated upgrades. Dominguez’s NCAA appearance was no small accomplishment but it has probably bought him more time than it should have given the program’s drought.

Not making excuses, but it really isn't more winnable. I'm not sure what Murray State, Belmont, and UIC spend, but Bradley's baseball budget is the 2nd lowest among the existing conference members. Only Valpo spends less on baseball than the Braves.

Money wise, the real recent problem program has been soccer, with a budget that is twice that of most of the other league members.

[Bball31]

Didn't Elvis have a connection to Glasser, before he was hired by her regime? When they built the new athletic facility on campus, the school didn't even have the foresight to build an indoor batting cage in it.

[yoda]

yes, Elvis was hired from EKU where Glasser came from and reportedly Elvis' wife was good friends with Glasser.
While the sole NCAA appearance is a nice accomplishment, BU was really lucky - Bradley only got in with a 10-11 conference record, because of an extremely weak "bubble" that year with few "bid-stealers" that allowed Bradley to be "the last team in".

[Da Coach]

Not making excuses, but it really isn't more winnable. I'm not sure what Murray State, Belmont, and UIC spend, but Bradley's baseball budget is the 2nd lowest among the existing conference members. Only Valpo spends less on baseball than the Braves.
Money wise, the real recent problem program has been soccer, with a budget that is twice that of most of the other league members.

Speaking of BU soccer, below is the Bradley soccer record for the past 27 seasons (taken from the BU webpage), dating back to when Jim DeRose was hired in 1996. I went back 27 years to give Coach DeRose the credit he deserves for turning around a losing program, and having his most successful stretch in the late 1990's and early 2000's.
In this 27-year span, there have been 4 regular season MVC titles (1998, 2005, 2006, 2007), 3 MVC Tournament titles (2007, 2010, 2013), and 7 NCAA Tournament bids (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013).
However, there have been no titles of any kind since 2013 (10 years), and no NCAA Tournament appearances since 2007 (16 years).

Bradley soccer record-
2023-
2022- 5-11-3, 1-6-1
2021- 5-12-1, 3-7
2020-21- 2-7-2, 1-6-1
2020- 0-0, 0-0
2019- 8-7-4, 5-3-2
2018- 8-5-4, 1-5
2017- 11-7-3, 4-3-1
2016- 2-15-3, 0-7-1
2015- 7-10-1, 4-1-1
2014- 9-11, 1-5
2013- 14-7-2, 3-2-1
2012- 10-6-4, 3-2-1
2011- 15-6-2, 4-2
2010- 11-9-3, 3-3-1
2009- 6-11-1, 1-9
2008- 6-12-2, 1-4
2007- 16-6-4, 4-0-2
2006- 8-8-4, 4-1-1
2005- 15-6-1, 5-1-1
2004- 10-6-3, 5-2-1
2003- 11-8-4, 5-2-2
2002- 14-6-4, 4-3-2
2001- 12-7-1, 6-3
2000- 15-7-2, 6-4-1
1999- 10-10, 3-4
1998- 14-2-2, 6-1
1997- 11-8, 1-6
1996- 7-11, 0-5

[PhiAlphaBoy]

Bradley has chosen not to place a priority on baseball and soccer, probably because they lose money and don't generate any revenue. DeRose is obviously past his prime and the game has passed him by; Bradley's soccer style of play is incredibly boring and they play each game "not to lose"...offensively inept. With what is spent on soccer there definitely needs to be a change in leadership there.

Baseball is a slightly different story because Bradley has chosen not to invest in that program. I think Elvis is a good coach and knowledgeable baseball man who has made the most with what little has been provided to him. Baseball is a southern sport and doesn't generate revenue so it's not likely we'll see a change there. Personally I would like to see what Elvis could do if he were ever given the financial support afforded the other league members.

[Old Coach]

Baseball is a slightly different story because Bradley has chosen not to invest in that program. I think Elvis is a good coach and knowledgeable baseball man who has made the most with what little has been provided to him. Baseball is a southern sport and doesn't generate revenue so it's not likely we'll see a change there. Personally I would like to see what Elvis could do if he were ever given the financial support afforded the other league members.

I agree. Missouri State, Indiana State, SIU, and ISU all invest well in baseball. I'd like to see what it could look like at Bradley with a comparable budget. Part of the problem is that they have to spend $125,000 a year on rent at Dozer Park.

[ManMythLegend]

I agree. Missouri State, Indiana State, SIU, and ISU all invest well in baseball. I'd like to see what it could look like at Bradley with a comparable budget. Part of the problem is that they have to spend $125,000 a year on rent at Dozer Park.

$125,000 a year for rent seems pretty economical honestly. It would be a massive investment to build a dedicated ballpark for BU to play on. Dozer Park was about a $25million project (construction no acquisition costs) when it was built. That's easily $50million in today's costs. I think financially they are making the right choice staying at dozer.

[PhiAlphaBoy]

$125,000 a year for rent seems pretty economical honestly. It would be a massive investment to build a dedicated ballpark for BU to play on. Dozer Park was about a $25million project (construction no acquisition costs) when it was built. That's easily $50million in today's costs. I think financially they are making the right choice staying at dozer.

Right, once they converted the old baseball field into the soccer stadium Bradley's options became limited. But $125k is a lot of money. I wonder if Bradley could strike a better deal with the Louisville Slugger Complex (is that what it's called?), or are their fields not regulation for college baseball?

[Old Coach]

Right, once they converted the old baseball field into the soccer stadium Bradley's options became limited. But $125k is a lot of money. I wonder if Bradley could strike a better deal with the Louisville Slugger Complex (is that what it's called?), or are their fields not regulation for college baseball?

No option at Louisville Slugger. It was designed for high school and college softball and 12U and under baseball.

[Old Coach]

$125,000 a year for rent seems pretty economical honestly. It would be a massive investment to build a dedicated ballpark for BU to play on. Dozer Park was about a $25million project (construction no acquisition costs) when it was built. That's easily $50million in today's costs. I think financially they are making the right choice staying at dozer.

Right. No option to build a baseball field exists. The difference would be, if they did, it would be a capital project, and not a $125,000 annual hit to the program budget. Taking salaries out of it, this expense is probably the second largest in the athletic department to the rent at Carver Arena.

[ManMythLegend]

Right. No option to build a baseball field exists. The difference would be, if they did, it would be a capital project, and not a $125,000 annual hit to the program budget. Taking salaries out of it, this expense is probably the second largest in the athletic department to the rent at Carver Arena.

Very true. I don't know about the financial scenario at BU but I can't imagine the capital project funds have been replenished after the Convergence Center. I'd imagine the team will continue to play at Dozer Park for the foreseeable future.

[Old Coach]

Very true. I don't know about the financial scenario at BU but I can't imagine the capital project funds have been replenished after the Convergence Center. I'd imagine the team will continue to play at Dozer Park for the foreseeable future.

Correct. Bradley would be more likely to drop baseball than build their own field/facility.