Erstad Should Return, Regardless How Season Ends

In a couple of weeks, the Big Ten Baseball Tournament will return to TD Ameritrade Park. Barring a miraculous late season run, the defending regular season league champions will not make this years’ conference tournament.  

As of April 24, the Nebraska baseball team was 4-9 in league play and 17-21 overall. This will go down as one of the worst seasons for manager Darrin Erstad, who just a few years ago, was interviewed to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is easy to see how Erstad could be on the hot seat come February 2019, but he should not be coaching for his job next season. 

When Nebraska left the Big 12 for the Big Ten, and began league play in 2012, many thought Nebraska would have no problem winning the Big Ten, a traditionally weaker league than the Big 12. Nebraska won their first Big Ten Baseball title last year and followed it up with another disappointing postseason appearance. The Huskers won a game in the league tournament and went 2 and Q for the second straight year in the NCAA Tournament.  

The lack of postseason success in the Erstad era, which also began in 2012, will be a major reason why he might be on the hot seat next year, as well as potentially two horrible years in a row. Neither should make the former Husker baseball star nervous about his job. Many of other programs would die to have three NCAA appearances in seven years, which Erstad has done.  

This is also a rebuilding year for the Huskers after NCAA appearances in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Erstad also has had bad luck with injuries this year, especially pitchers. It might help to explain the reason the Huskers cannot get good pitching.  

As this disappointing season comes to a close, Erstad’s job should be safe. It is a stumble in what has otherwise been a successful tenure at Nebraska for him. Nebraska should certainly be back to making the NCAA tournament soon, possibly even next year, but this season should not define Erstad. As this season closes, nobody should make Erstad nervous, they should realize what he has done, and worry about what happens in September, and the new coach in town.