I was encouraged by last night *
Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 8:59 am
* assuming Owen is ok.
Coach has made some meaningful adjustments lately. Our lineup didn’t change for long stretches this season. Suddenly LaNeve, McKenzie and Hewitt are getting some starts and our regulars are getting some rest.
The serious stuff begins next week and we have, I think, secured a top 8 seed. Rest and getting reserves ready are useful this time of year.
He has also found a couple of pitchers. Boki is throwing the best all year. Horn is really peaking at a good time - (he was lower on velocity last night, I suspect he will be getting some rest after this outing ). Cunningham threw well too - and Reilly is outstanding (so long as he doesn’t start?!?) We have plenty of arms. And note this is minus Holton, Dut and Doolin.
Our bats are more suspect - but We got 10 hits last night off a good staff. Bradfield seems to be trying to lift less - he’s getting on base and making things happen. That’s his path to the big leagues. Diaz is our most consistent hitter this past month. I’d really consider hitting him 4th - I think that would get Schreck out of his slump because he would see better pitches. Bat Hewitt second… Along with Diaz, Vastine is really improving at the plate. These two have been going for contact, going with pitches and just really playing well. For that matter, Noland has had some great at bats in Hoover.
Bottom line, we are fine - but our margin for error is less than our recent championship teams - because we have trouble scoring sometimes. Situational hitting and contact are the keys for improving this. I see some improvement - and guys swinging for the fences need a not so subtle message that k’ing when you need contact is not ok. I wonder who will start at catcher today - and note, Bulger got a huge single in the 8-run inning by swinging for a single.
I do wish we’d make a few more mound visits. I think Cunningham’s one hiccup inning was preventable - and he was being squeezed that inning, so a stare at the ump might’ve been in order too. The key walk to trigger the trouble, the Florida batter had to be told he had been walked - he didn’t realize the obvious strike had been called a ball.
Finally, I give Florida some credit - they have a pretty good book on our hitters. Guys who can’t hit curves and offspeed are getting curves and offspeed. Arkansas, by comparison, did not do that - and lost giving fastball hitters a steady diet of fastballs. I grudgingly give O’Sullivan some praise there. I think they are likely to win this SECT. And it may cost them in two weeks? They’re likely already the #2 or 3 national seed.
Coach has made some meaningful adjustments lately. Our lineup didn’t change for long stretches this season. Suddenly LaNeve, McKenzie and Hewitt are getting some starts and our regulars are getting some rest.
The serious stuff begins next week and we have, I think, secured a top 8 seed. Rest and getting reserves ready are useful this time of year.
He has also found a couple of pitchers. Boki is throwing the best all year. Horn is really peaking at a good time - (he was lower on velocity last night, I suspect he will be getting some rest after this outing ). Cunningham threw well too - and Reilly is outstanding (so long as he doesn’t start?!?) We have plenty of arms. And note this is minus Holton, Dut and Doolin.
Our bats are more suspect - but We got 10 hits last night off a good staff. Bradfield seems to be trying to lift less - he’s getting on base and making things happen. That’s his path to the big leagues. Diaz is our most consistent hitter this past month. I’d really consider hitting him 4th - I think that would get Schreck out of his slump because he would see better pitches. Bat Hewitt second… Along with Diaz, Vastine is really improving at the plate. These two have been going for contact, going with pitches and just really playing well. For that matter, Noland has had some great at bats in Hoover.
Bottom line, we are fine - but our margin for error is less than our recent championship teams - because we have trouble scoring sometimes. Situational hitting and contact are the keys for improving this. I see some improvement - and guys swinging for the fences need a not so subtle message that k’ing when you need contact is not ok. I wonder who will start at catcher today - and note, Bulger got a huge single in the 8-run inning by swinging for a single.
I do wish we’d make a few more mound visits. I think Cunningham’s one hiccup inning was preventable - and he was being squeezed that inning, so a stare at the ump might’ve been in order too. The key walk to trigger the trouble, the Florida batter had to be told he had been walked - he didn’t realize the obvious strike had been called a ball.
Finally, I give Florida some credit - they have a pretty good book on our hitters. Guys who can’t hit curves and offspeed are getting curves and offspeed. Arkansas, by comparison, did not do that - and lost giving fastball hitters a steady diet of fastballs. I grudgingly give O’Sullivan some praise there. I think they are likely to win this SECT. And it may cost them in two weeks? They’re likely already the #2 or 3 national seed.