Baseball Team

[CONNGAMECOCK]

I was at the game last night until it got delayed and I can honestly say I have never seen a coach ask the 3 hitter - Martin to bunt in the first inning of a game, then ask the #4 hitter - Caldwell to bunt with the tying and winning runs on in the bottom of the 8th inning. How do you ask your two hottest hitters to bunt in these situations? In addition, we must've bunted 4 to 5 more times during the game. Obviously, the coach has no confidence in his players to get a hit. Very disappointed last night. I am a person that will support this team to the end, but pop ups and fly balls that should be caught need to be caught. And honestly, asking Patrick Harrington to DH in a series that is this important, when he has only had 6 at bats all year with a team that is struggling hitting the ball is a poor coaching move. Destino needs to be in the lineup, slump or not. The guy is a threat to hit one out every time he steps to the plate.

This team is not having fun and I feel for these guys, but they need to loosen up and start enjoying baseball again. Let the chips fall where they may!

 

[RayGilda]

Holbrook is NOT a head coach. I still cannot understand WHY in the world he waits so damn long to get the bullpen warmed up. If you have a college pitcher who makes it out of the 5th inning, 6th at most, you need to get the bullpen up and ready to come in at a moments notice. By not having the bullpen warmed up, when our pitchers get tired or in trouble, they have to continue to try and pitch, until the bullpen gets warmed up. By then, they have usually given up additional runs. What does it hurt to have the bullpen ready and warmed up...??????

 

[Bigger_Stronger_Faster]

Originally posted by CONNGAMECOCK:
I was at the game last night until it got delayed and I can honestly say I have never seen a coach ask the 3 hitter - Martin to bunt in the first inning of a game, then ask the #4 hitter - Caldwell to bunt with the tying and winning runs on in the bottom of the 8th inning. How do you ask your two hottest hitters to bunt in these situations? In addition, we must've bunted 4 to 5 more times during the game. Obviously, the coach has no confidence in his players to get a hit. Very disappointed last night. I am a person that will support this team to the end, but pop ups and fly balls that should be caught need to be caught. And honestly, asking Patrick Harrington to DH in a series that is this important, when he has only had 6 at bats all year with a team that is struggling hitting the ball is a poor coaching move. Destino needs to be in the lineup, slump or not. The guy is a threat to hit one out every time he steps to the plate.

This team is not having fun and I feel for these guys, but they need to loosen up and start enjoying baseball again. Let the chips fall where they may!

Well, all I can surmise is you haven't watched a lot of college baseball the past 5 years. Small ball is the only way to equalize these stupid mistake of going to these bats. And we've certainly lost to a number of teams that small balled us to death.

It doesn't matter what inning you're in, if your team is struggling at the plate or who is in the batter's box you increase your odds of scoring any time you get the lead-off batter on with no outs and you bunt him over to 2nd. And if the #2 hitter gets on you do it again with no outs. Like it or not, it's absolutely the best thing to do in college baseball these days. And it makes even more sense in later innings when the score is tied or within a run.

We even had fans here complaining last week that we didn't play enough small ball. Go figure

 

[Bigger_Stronger_Faster]

Originally posted by RayGilda:
Holbrook is NOT a head coach. I still cannot understand WHY in the world he waits so damn long to get the bullpen warmed up. If you have a college pitcher who makes it out of the 5th inning, 6th at most, you need to get the bullpen up and ready to come in at a moments notice. By not having the bullpen warmed up, when our pitchers get tired or in trouble, they have to continue to try and pitch, until the bullpen gets warmed up. By then, they have usually given up additional runs. What does it hurt to have the bullpen ready and warmed up...??????

I you don't mind, what is your career college coaching record?

 

[Bleedgandb3334]

IMO, in order for the team to gel and get better: we need to keep a consistent lineup.

 

[RayGilda]

What does Holbrook's inability to get the bullpen warmed up in a timely manner have to do with my "career coaching record?"

 

[Kmart84]

If you were at the game then you would have seen the 3rd baseman move over to short right field, the SS up the middle and the 2nd baseman playing normal when Martin came up. There was no player on the 3rd base side of the infield. Martin was trying to bunt it hard down the 3rd baseline past the pitcher for a hit. Since Martin tends to pull everything teams used this shift last year and Martin bunted several times for hits. I don't think Holbrook called it, and the only problem last night was Martin didn't bunt it hard enough. As for calling the squeeze with Caldwell up, any coach probably would have. Caldwell was struggling last night and the 1st baseman was back, if he gets it down then you it was a run and there was no chance for a double play. Some on here just like to complain, but all the ones you mentioned were smart baseball and calls most other coaches would have made. The "I hate Holbrook brigade" is going to complain no matter which way Holbrook plays. If he calls a bunt and it isn't successful, he shouldn't have called it. If Holbrook has a batter swing away and he makes an out, he should have bunted. Amazing it's the same posters after every lose complaining,but never show up and say something positive after a win. Must suck to be so negative all the time.

 

[sclawman77]

Originally posted by Bigger_Stronger_Faster:

Originally posted by CONNGAMECOCK:
I was at the game last night until it got delayed and I can honestly say I have never seen a coach ask the 3 hitter - Martin to bunt in the first inning of a game, then ask the #4 hitter - Caldwell to bunt with the tying and winning runs on in the bottom of the 8th inning. How do you ask your two hottest hitters to bunt in these situations? In addition, we must've bunted 4 to 5 more times during the game. Obviously, the coach has no confidence in his players to get a hit. Very disappointed last night. I am a person that will support this team to the end, but pop ups and fly balls that should be caught need to be caught. And honestly, asking Patrick Harrington to DH in a series that is this important, when he has only had 6 at bats all year with a team that is struggling hitting the ball is a poor coaching move. Destino needs to be in the lineup, slump or not. The guy is a threat to hit one out every time he steps to the plate.

This team is not having fun and I feel for these guys, but they need to loosen up and start enjoying baseball again. Let the chips fall where they may!

Well, all I can surmise is you haven't watched a lot of college baseball the past 5 years. Small ball is the only way to equalize these stupid mistake of going to these bats. And we've certainly lost to a number of teams that small balled us to death.

It doesn't matter what inning you're in, if your team is struggling at the plate or who is in the batter's box you increase your odds of scoring any time you get the lead-off batter on with no outs and you bunt him over to 2nd. And if the #2 hitter gets on you do it again with no outs. Like it or not, it's absolutely the best thing to do in college baseball these days. And it makes even more sense in later innings when the score is tied or within a run.

We even had fans here complaining last week that we didn't play enough small ball. Go figure

The thing I didn't understand in the first inning with leadoff hitter Gore getting a hit and on first with no outs (if you're going to play small ball), why not have Schrock bunt Gore to second instead of Martin? Schrock was told to hit and flew out so Martin bunted Gore to second making it two outs. If you're really trying to manufacture a run, I would think you want a man on second and one out and two opportunities with Martin and Caldwell to drive him in. You usually don't see a bunt with one out and man on first.

That does make more sense, Kmart. And for the record I celebrate every win.

This post was edited on 3/28 12:02 PM by sclawman77

 

[USCBatgirl21]

Well, for one, getting the bullpen ready is strictly the responsibility of Jerry. He has that autonomy in this program.

 

[CONNGAMECOCK]

My point is why not bunt Schrock who is struggling and let Martin and Caldwell swing the bat. If I was the opponent, I am thankful that Holbrook asked Martin and Caldwell to bunt. They are the only hitters on the team batting over .300. I know you don't take the bat out of the hands of your best hitters. You don't have to be a college coach to figure that out!

 

[scifiguy94]

Here's hoping this team can finish at least around 36-20. If we're not as bad as we look, some of these close games have to start going our way.