Cajun Baseball Talk

[Cajun90]

This kind of goes to something that I've been thinking about for a while. Does anyone think that the fact that there is so much sacrificing going on could be part of the problem? How many times have we seen the leadoff guy get on in an inning, only to bunt him over for the first out, K for the second out, and then hit a grounder for the third, or some other set of events that result in not scoring? I don't know the exact stats, but I can't imagine that they're all that successful at scoring that initial runner. I'm especially curious about this because you always hear Robe talk about not giving up the 3-run inning and how devastating that can be for a club. But whenever there's a baserunner with no outs, the first thing he does is give up an out for an extra base, no matter what inning or who's hitting. If I'm the coach, and I don't think that I know more about baseball than Robe, maybe I let that second batter swing away. Of course there is a chance that he could hit into the double play, but I think they're doing plenty of that already as it is with one out, so big deal. Maybe he flies out, which may or may not move the runner. But at least you are leaving open the possibility of getting a second hit that might be a gapper or something, which would put multiple runners on base with no outs, and cause the opposing team to press a little bit, and get that big inning going. By trying to bunt him over, they're not even leaving that option open.

The point I'm trying to make is that maybe the hitters are too concerned with placing the ball here or there instead of just busting the hell out of it. Maybe they're too concerned with moving a runner from 1st to 2nd when they should be concerned with moving him from 1st to Home. Maybe if they would quit going to the plate thinking "station to station" and start going to the plate thinking "We're getting this pitcher out of the game this inning", they might start to loosen up and have more success.

Rip away boys!!!

I know we get tagged with the 'small ball" philosophy and we certainly play ball that way sometimes (every team does) but I don't think that is the only way we play. I guess the point is that what the discussion should be about is how much "small ball" do we play? Do we depend on it too much?

I did find one stat of interest. From 99-02 in MLB the scoring percentage with a man on first and no outs was .953. The percentage with a man on second and one out was .725 So on the surface it appears that sacrificing in the pro ranks is not the best philosophy. I'm not sure you can make a direct correlation to college ball with that but I don't think your going to see a shift of over 20% to turn it upside down so it probably stands true in college as well.

[cajun4life]

_ I've been saying this for years now and everybody jumps my a@@. If you want to play small ball then at least hit and run instead of trying to sacrifice. I hate giving up an out, especially when the team struggles to hit with 0 outs. _

You and me both! That is Robe's philosiphy. He likes to play small ball with a tough as nails, scrappy team. Problem is we have not had those types of players lately. You just can't question Robe on these boards without getting your A@@ jumped.

[ManAboutTown]

I wonder if Haagen would be a good weekend starter? He went 7 and 2/3 against a good hitting FAU team, and looked really good. (and he's a lefty)

[CajunProud]

Does anyone know where Jordan Poirrier is? Is he hurt. I thought he showed some promise last year. Is he hurt?

[cajun2bag]

I think Haegan could not do any worse than what we have turned in lately. This team needs to be shaken from within. Until someone grabs the bull by the horns we could see the team continue its struggles. Just because you are not doing well individually does not mean that you can't lead. If you see someone screwing around callem out, let them know that S%$t is not going to be accepted. This looks like a lost team from what I saw and they need someone to turn to for leadership! Robe can't hit or catch a ground ball for the guys, they have to do that for themseleves. I think that the talent is there, but when you are consistantly bad, you lose all confidence and become worse! They are expecting to fail instead of expecting to win.

Additionally, hitting is contagous if we could just get a few games put together where we string together some W's maybe we can rite the ship....

this is one of the first seasons in a while that I think we could make a run in the conference tournament. We certainly have the depth in our pitching staff, we have just got to be better hitters and fielders.

The reason you see Robe trying to play for 1 run is he realizes that they can't hit and he is trying to put some runs on the board.

[wcd35]

_ Does anyone know where Jordan Poirrier is? Is he hurt. I thought he showed some promise last year. Is he hurt? _

Took a redshirt for some reason

[ManAboutTown]

_ I think Haegan could not do any worse than what we have turned in lately. This team needs to be shaken from within. Until someone grabs the bull by the horns we could see the team continue its struggles. Just because you are not doing well individually does not mean that you can't lead. If you see someone having supper with around callem out, let them know that S%$t is not going to be accepted. This looks like a lost team from what I saw and they need someone to turn to for leadership! Robe can't hit or catch a ground ball for the guys, they have to do that for themseleves. I think that the talent is there, but when you are consistantly bad, you lose all confidence and become worse! They are expecting to fail instead of expecting to win.

Additionally, hitting is contagous if we could just get a few games put together where we string together some W's maybe we can rite the ship....

this is one of the first seasons in a while that I think we could make a run in the conference tournament. We certainly have the depth in our pitching staff, we have just got to be better hitters and fielders.

The reason you see Robe trying to play for 1 run is he realizes that they can't hit and he is trying to put some runs on the board. _

I agree with you that this team lacks fire. I don't know what it takes to light one, but as a former competitor myself, it didn't take much for me to get jacked up to play. The team was obviously jacked to play the LSU, and it showed. The sad thing is, I think our younger players play with more passion than our upper classmen. Hawkins looks like one of those "lead by example" type guys, so I won't bang on him, but there has got to be some leaders on this team.

I thought we would be more aggressive this season at the plate? We look scared to death at the plate.

[Parrott]

Poirrier is redshirting. Had arm in a sling early this season.


igeaux.mobi

[CajunProud]

_ Poirrier is redshirting. Had arm in a sling early this season.


igeaux.mobi _

Thanks.

[cajun2bag]

_ I agree with you that this team lacks fire. I don't know what it takes to light one, but as a former competitor myself, it didn't take much for me to get jacked up to play. The team was obviously jacked to play the LSU, and it showed. The sad thing is, I think our younger players play with more passion than our upper classmen. Hawkins looks like one of those "lead by example" type guys, so I won't bang on him, but there has got to be some leaders on this team.

I thought we would be more aggressive this season at the plate? We look scared to death at the plate. _

Pretty much hit the nail on the head. These guys need to find a swagger, and get rid of the "I hope I dont lose" mentality and go kick someone in the mouth! I was not at the LSU game but from what I have been told and heard we could have beaten anyone that night! why must we play different when we play FAU? Bottomline they don't need to play someone's name they need to learn to play baseball as hard as they can everytime they take the field. I don't know what they are scared of!? I would rather see them strike out then flare something in and think they did a good job. Get up there and swing the bat with conviction that you are better than the guy thowing the ball. I just didn't see that this weekend. I mean Hicks when he threw the ball away on Sunday, he tried to flip it over to first, throw the damn thing to Luthers....let it go!