Bad baseball

[LifeTimeCajun]

My whole problem is attitude. To me it seems like there is NOBODY that is willing to ruffle some feathers in that dugout and step up and be a leader. I dont know all of what goes on in there but dam someone needs to scream a little, punch somebody(not really but...), do what u got to do. Get some swagger...some leadership. Seems to me that they would be tierd of getting beat up on by now. I have a high competitive spirit as a fan, seems like a ballplayer would have the same if not more?? We should not be getting skull drug at home like we have been!!!

[snote]

337-269-1077 @ 2:15 pm (cst) john szefc taking all calls (grins)

[ULtimateCajun]

_ we are consistantly inconsistant. My biggest concern is that we dont compete hard for 9 innings every night out. _

Well at least we're consistant at something?

[jdebaillon]

337-269-1077 @ 2:15 pm (cst) john szefc taking all calls (grins)

Can't call in. Work doesn't allow for it. Can someone ask Szefc to address the situational hitting issues (i.e. bunting runners over, getting the run in from 3rd with less than 2 outs, hitting behind the runner, etc.) and post his response?

[snote]

i'm pretty good with the asking.. it's the posting i go 0-fer on (smiles)

[CajunAmos]

Keep in mind we lost Lucroy, who's been the leader of the team for three years. The everyday players who are upperclassment started off the year slow, and it's hard to be a leader when you're not showing it during pay. Keep in mind we lost Colin Hatfield for the season with a knee, lost Nolan Gisclair (who had just started to get a rythm) after getting hit on the hand the previous weekend, and lost Scott Hawkins (who was actually hot) prior to the game friday in pregame warmups to a severely sprained ankle. Those guys would have been the center of this lineup.

That being said, we play the hand we got dealt. In my mind we should have won this series on Sunday. Prior to the first three run inning against Cook, we dropped an infield popup which should have ended the inning with no runs scored and us with a 3-2 lead. Instead, we're behind by two again. We worked our way back to 5-4 down, have a 1-2 count against a guy who hit two homers on Friday and is a dead fastball hitter, and get a fastball over the center of the plate. According to what Robe said after the game, it was supposed to be thrown high and inside but missed. The guy looked awful in his two previous at bats trying to hit the curveball, so that's what I would have given him, but I can't say if the pitch would have been thrown correctly he wouldn't have been out as well. Both were emotional, game turning plays, which I think has been tough for a young team who's trying to find their hitting, to come back from.

[jdebaillon]

Keep in mind we lost Lucroy, who's been the leader of the team for three years. The everyday players who are upperclassment started off the year slow, and it's hard to be a leader when you're not showing it during pay. Keep in mind we lost Colin Hatfield for the season with a knee, lost Nolan Gisclair (who had just started to get a rythm) after getting hit on the hand the previous weekend, and lost Scott Hawkins (who was actually hot) prior to the game friday in pregame warmups to a severely sprained ankle. Those guys would have been the center of this lineup.

That being said, we play the hand we got dealt. In my mind we should have won this series on Sunday. Prior to the first three run inning against Cook, we dropped an infield popup which should have ended the inning with no runs scored and us with a 3-2 lead. Instead, we're behind by two again. We worked our way back to 5-4 down, have a 1-2 count against a guy who hit two homers on Friday and is a dead fastball hitter, and get a fastball over the center of the plate. According to what Robe said after the game, it was supposed to be thrown high and inside but missed. The guy looked awful in his two previous at bats trying to hit the curveball, so that's what I would have given him, but I can't say if the pitch would have been thrown correctly he wouldn't have been out as well. Both were emotional, game turning plays, which I think has been tough for a young team who's trying to find their hitting, to come back from.

Good teams lose their leaders every year. The difference between us and them this year is that someone else always steps up. Also, leadership has nothing to do with performance on the field. The best leaders are those who lead more when they are in a slump. Hatfield, Gisclair, and Hawkins need to take on a leadership role and light a fire in the dugout.

[CajunAmos]

I respectfully disagree. I think guys in the dugout can help with team chemistry, but I think it takes someone out on the field getting timely hits our making plays to actually be a team leader. I don't think you can say "you go out and do it" without doing it yourself.

[CajunProud]

_ Keep in mind we lost Lucroy, who's been the leader of the team for three years. The everyday players who are upperclassment started off the year slow, and it's hard to be a leader when you're not showing it during pay. Keep in mind we lost Colin Hatfield for the season with a knee, lost Nolan Gisclair (who had just started to get a rythm) after getting hit on the hand the previous weekend, and lost Scott Hawkins (who was actually hot) prior to the game friday in pregame warmups to a severely sprained ankle. Those guys would have been the center of this lineup.

That being said, we play the hand we got dealt. In my mind we should have won this series on Sunday. Prior to the first three run inning against Cook, we dropped an infield popup which should have ended the inning with no runs scored and us with a 3-2 lead. Instead, we're behind by two again. We worked our way back to 5-4 down, have a 1-2 count against a guy who hit two homers on Friday and is a dead fastball hitter, and get a fastball over the center of the plate. According to what Robe said after the game, it was supposed to be thrown high and inside but missed. The guy looked awful in his two previous at bats trying to hit the curveball, so that's what I would have given him, but I can't say if the pitch would have been thrown correctly he wouldn't have been out as well. Both were emotional, game turning plays, which I think has been tough for a young team who's trying to find their hitting, to come back from. _

I agree for the most part.

I was there, but don't recall the infield pop up. I do recall Griffen trying to catch one close to the screen, but he did not throw his mask away and consequently dropped the ball. That would have gotten us out of the inning without damage. Also, I recall Bowman lolligaging it to an outfield hit instead of charging it to make a strong throw home, which also would have gotten us out of the inning.

I agree that without Gisclair, Hawkins and Hatfield, we are at a disadvantage, but these kids are recruited because they have talent and even though they are freshmen, there is no excuse for the poor hitting. I really think we need to go the JUCO route for some big, strong kids who will take agressive swings and who have experience hitting college pitching.

Not only has our hitting been horrible, but what was supposed to be one of the best pitching rotations in the country has not performed either. Our bullpen has been pretty weak as well.

One of the things that drives me nuts is when we take a 3rd strike. One of the most elementary priciples that you learn from little league is that with 2 strikes, you swing at anything close. We are constantly taking 3rd strikes.

[CajunAmos]

I was referring to Griffins drop of the popup but was trying to avoid names where possible. I agree fully with taking third strikes, which has been a problem since the start of the year. I also agree with the agressiveness of the hitters. We've made a number of pitchers who throw in the mid 80's look like All Conference pitchers.

[CajunProud]

_ I was referring to Griffins drop of the popup but was trying to avoid names where possible. I agree fully with taking third strikes, which has been a problem since the start of the year. I also agree with the agressiveness of the hitters. We've made a number of pitchers who throw in the mid 80's look like All Conference pitchers. _

I think the taking of 3rd strikes has been a problem for the last several years. I wish I had the statistics for how many strikeouts we have via looking as opposed to swinging.

[CajunProud]

I do like the way Griffin swings the bat. He needs to catch every game. Every ball he hits is hit hard. I was impressed with Poirrier as well. He put agressive swings on the ball.