Game 3: USM @ LA

[LifeTimeCajun]

This team will be fine. They made uncharacteristic mistakes. The bats are coming around. I am concerned with Guillory. Two consecutive poor starts. Does Marks move back into the Sunday starter role?

No, Colton Schmidt does. I know Tony will not just throw him in to a Sunday role, so we need a few more starts out of Evan.

[ManAboutTown]

Asking a guy to get down a perfect suicide squeeze with the infield drawn in is putting a whole lot more pressure on the batter than asking him to swing away. Especially when a Texas leaguer, lazy fly ball, routine ground ball or practically any contact imaginable wins you the game. All the pressure was on the pitcher and we put all the pressure on ourselves by asking izzie to lay down the bunt. That's the definition of being too cute and trying to force your brand of baseball in an unnecessary situation.

I've been pizzing and moaning about these situations for over a year now. Agree 100%

[Cajun90]

I've been pizzing and moaning about these situations for over a year now. Agree 100%

I get you but Tony thinks laying down a bunt should be about the same as tossing underhanded to first base. Gotta say if I bunted into a double play as a Cajun I think it would be easier to go into witness protection and leave the family rather than go back to the dugout.

[weareLOUISIANA]

Asking a guy to get down a perfect suicide squeeze with the infield drawn in is putting a whole lot more pressure on the batter than asking him to swing away. Especially when a Texas leaguer, lazy fly ball, routine ground ball or practically any contact imaginable wins you the game. All the pressure was on the pitcher and we put all the pressure on ourselves by asking izzie to lay down the bunt. That's the definition of being too cute and trying to force your brand of baseball in an unnecessary situation.

The infield being in does not matter on a suicide squeeze. The runner is on his way as soon as the pitcher commits to the plate...as long as you get it down he should score, especially Jam Williams running. The argument could be better chance for a ground ball getting through the infield, but not getting it down. If it's down, he scores.

[ManAboutTown]

I get you but Tony thinks laying down a bunt should be about the same as tossing underhanded to first base. Gotta say if I bunted into a double play as a Cajun I think it would be easier to go into witness protection and leave the family rather than go back to the dugout.

I feel like we shouldn't have a blanket philosophy. The situation, in some cases, should dictate the decision. JMO

[cajundiehard]

Coach said the missed squeeze play was our chance in an ugly game. 4 hour hours 32 min.

Had so many chances to win this game. Offensively and Defensively. Had 2nd and 3rd with one out several times in the last few innings.... including the 4 run 7th where we could have tacked on.

We let them back in the game with errors and walks.

Ump helped them out with that missed obvious strike-out where their batter started walking to the dugout because batter thought he would be run up... then goes on to hit his 2-run bomb.

Regardless, Cajuns need to find the "killer instinct" and learn how to put teams away.

Pinny needs to keep his foot on the bag a tad longer. I noticed that Friday - seemed to come off early.

[Cajun90]

I feel like we shouldn't have a blanket philosophy. The situation, in some cases, should dictate the decision. JMO

Oh I don't disagree and as a numbers guy it certainly is questionable but through the years that has been my understanding on his philosophy.

[cajundiehard]

I'm shocked I just read through 17 pages on this game thread and not one of them was questioning the suicide call. Seriously, infield drawn in and only two outfielders in the outfield and we take a swing away from our hottest hitter? JT is an idiot. Stop being so ____ing cute.

Very good point. Just put the ball in the air in the OF like he has done nearly at bat and there is your ballgame. And his squeeze attempt was on a 0-1 count after taking a first pitch strike. Ugh.

[campo118]

The infield being in does not matter on a suicide squeeze. The runner is on his way as soon as the pitcher commits to the plate...as long as you get it down he should score, especially Jam Williams running. The argument could be better chance for a ground ball getting through the infield, but not getting it down. If it's down, he scores.

No matter how you spin it, the situation did not dictate a suicide bunt there. When we've run the suicide in the past (Alabama game comes to mind) it has been when the guy on the mound is stingy and you have to scratch and claw for a couple runs. We had put up 11 runs on 15 hits at that junction in the game, and izzie particularly had hit the ball hard in every at bat today.

[CajunAlum10]

It's not even worth arguing about. There were so many chances to win this game that it's hard to blame it on any one thing. Regardless, we won the series against a quality team and our offense is looking good. We are 5-2 on the last 2 weeks. Improvement is very evident and I really really like this lineup we've been sticking with. Think it's safe to say we have our Center Fielder on lockdown, love Izzy in the 2-hole.

[Boomer]

It's not even worth arguing about. There were so many chances to win this game that it's hard to blame it on any one thing. Regardless, we won the series against a quality team and our offense is looking good. We are 5-2 on the last 2 weeks. Improvement is very evident and I really really like this lineup we've been sticking with. Think it's safe to say we have our Center Fielder on lockdown, love Izzy in the 2-hole.

I thought that Burk was doing pretty Well ---put on 2 and he was taken out ---and he also got his second loss---much better than that record!!!

[campo118]

It's not even worth arguing about. There were so many chances to win this game that it's hard to blame it on any one thing. Regardless, we won the series against a quality team and our offense is looking good. We are 5-2 on the last 2 weeks. Improvement is very evident and I really really like this lineup we've been sticking with. Think it's safe to say we have our Center Fielder on lockdown, love Izzy in the 2-hole.

I agree we are definitely showing improvement and in the grand scheme of things, this shouldn't matter much. I'm just trying to draw attention to something I've noticed the coaching staff forcing as if it's our signature brand. I love Robe and think he's an amazing coach, however, no coach has ever or will ever be perfect. Coaches/managers at the highest levels make mistakes, and that's okay, but to say that suicide call wasn't the absolute wrong call is being naive. I think it frustrated me even more listening to the post game on my long drive back to Houston when Robe pointed out the blunder and blamed the execution. I call bs.