Robichaux wants Cajuns' bullpen to get more consistent

[BirdofParadise]

SLU,TXST and ASU can all pitch well

Yes they do. And, that's why I wrote the blog before the Texas State series about how crucial those eight games were going to be. We went 6-2 in those games, which, realistically, was what I was hoping for.

A word about umpires since it was brought up in this thread.

This year, and this is my opinion, there are a lot more umpires with postage stamp strike zones than in the past. The reason for this is the big conferences have, for the most part, gone to four umpires on conference weekends. That has diminished the pool of available umpires for the Sun Belt.

When conference tournament time rolls around, that won't be an issue. The SEC has been using 28 umpires per weekend. They'll use 12 max at the tourney. That leaves plenty for leagues like ours.

Just about every umpire we've seen (with notable exception of Keith Sanders, the Friday umpire) that has a tiny strike zone, are guys new to the league this year.

I DO feel as though those umpires have hurt us. With a good umpire, we probably get seven or eight out of Boutte. That would have been huge. Tight zone umpires run up pitchers pitch counts. Now, you may say that's true for both teams and technically you may be right. But there are umpires that, for instance, don't give the low strike. A pitcher with really good velocity can get away with pitching up in the zone. Baranik cannot. It depends on the pitcher. And, Hunter Moody would have gotten screwed by one of the guys this weekend. We didn't get an inside corner call the entire game.

[CrazyCajun]

For the sunbelt. Be ready to face that every time out in the postseason.

we went 6-2 and won both series, last I checked thats good enough for post season. If our pen doesnt collapse we go 7-1.

[aBuckfromLuck]

Did Bazar throw any?

[CajunRage]

I learned a new term today. "Negaholics" Some of you will know where it is from. Others need to think about it a bit.

[CajunAmos]

Once I heard about the conference suspending the umpires for three games, I wondered if we'd see possible retaliations in some small ways from other umpires, like a smaller strike zone for our pitchers or a wider one for our hitters.

[laf1049]

Once I heard about the conference suspending the umpires for three games, I wondered if we'd see possible retaliations in some small ways from other umpires, like a smaller strike zone for our pitchers or a wider one for our hitters.

We were already getting penalized for some reason with small strike zones for our pitchers.

[CajunAmos]

We were already getting penalized for some reason with small strike zones for our pitchers.

With all the new umpires we're seeing, it's hard to tell if it's retaliation or just bad umpiring.

[CajunRage]

With all the new umpires we're seeing, it's hard to tell if it's retaliation or just bad umpiring.

SEC (and possibly others) is using 4 man crews now. They cherry pick from the smaller conferences and we are left with the worst of the worst.

[Boomer]

SEC (and possibly others) is using 4 man crews now. They cherry pick from the smaller conferences and we are left with the worst of the worst.

----------My pick is that TEX ST can win the Tourney!!! Man I just thought they were very good!!

[Turbine]

This year, and this is my opinion, there are a lot more umpires with postage stamp strike zones than in the past. The reason for this is the big conferences have, for the most part, gone to four umpires on conference weekends. That has diminished the pool of available umpires for the Sun Belt.

When conference tournament time rolls around, that won't be an issue. The SEC has been using 28 umpires per weekend. They'll use 12 max at the tourney. That leaves plenty for leagues like ours.

Just about every umpire we've seen (with notable exception of Keith Sanders, the Friday umpire) that has a tiny strike zone, are guys new to the league this year.

I DO feel as though those umpires have hurt us. With a good umpire, we probably get seven or eight out of Boutte. That would have been huge. Tight zone umpires run up pitchers pitch counts. Now, you may say that's true for both teams and technically you may be right. But there are umpires that, for instance, don't give the low strike. A pitcher with really good velocity can get away with pitching up in the zone. Baranik cannot. It depends on the pitcher. And, Hunter Moody would have gotten screwed by one of the guys this weekend. We didn't get an inside corner call the entire game.

Is there a book or service coaches can turn to, so as to study the strike zone tendencies of umps they haven't faced yet?

[Just1More]

nm

[BayouRichard]

nm

I vote shortest post of the year. Love your insight.