SB G2 Final: Louisiana 4, App St. 0

[Cajun Soldier]

This is 100% inaccurate. I have no idea what you're talking about. Now you're just making stuff up. Any SEC or Pac 12 team would love to have Mihyia Davis in their lineup. As well as, Lauren Allred. Kentucky would be a much better team right now if Meghan Schorman had not transferred out. I'm glad she "rejected" the Wildcats.

Ok I can't comment on the SEC talent as it is not my post but may I ask what would be your answer to JMV's question which I feel it a legitimate question. Or will anyone else give their HONEST opinion to JMV's question about the state of the program.

[Cajun Soldier]

She has a 2.25 era and has only given up 1 homerun in 25 innings.

JMV how many walks and hit batters she has compared to the amount of innings she has pitched? I like lamb but I feel we do her no justice with the pitch calling we send to her.

[JMV JustMyView]

JMV how many walks and hit batters she has compared to the amount of innings she has pitched? I like lamb but I feel we do her no justice with the pitch calling we send to her.

Lamb has always had control issue even before Justin was hired. She can shake pitches off and I never see her do that. I have seen other do it.

[JMV JustMyView]

Ok I can't comment on the SEC talent as it is not my post but may I ask what would be your answer to JMV's question which I feel it a legitimate question. Or will anyone else give their HONEST opinion to JMV's question about the state of the program.

Roarman has a weekly podcast and he doesn't sugar coat anything. Give it a listen as he talks about all thing Louisiana softball wise.

[bbhstiger5]

Roarman has a weekly podcast and he doesn't sugar coat anything. Give it a listen as he talks about all thing Louisiana softball wise.

If our players are so elite then why did we lose to App State? Does anyone actually think we’re going to the WCWS this year? If so, please explain why.

[Rainman66]

If we’re being honest we were better in every category that’s the honest truth I’ll give him recruitment but we developed what we recruited better

Very simply the game has changed because of the money that has flowed into softball programs. I don't think our program has tailed off as much as other programs have improved, so yes we do fall behind P5 programs more than in the past. How does Glasco battle this, by swinging for the fences. He has proven to be a top notch recruiter, but he also isn't afraid to take chances. Bringing on Justin Robichaux is a high risk, high reward move. If it works, he is doing something that fundamentally changes the game and gives the Cajuns an advantage that forces P5 programs to adjust.

The jury is still out on if it works, but being a risk taker is what is needed for the Cajuns in competing with the big spenders in all sports.

[Turbine]

If our players are so elite then why did we lose to App State? Does anyone actually think we’re going to the WCWS this year? If so, please explain why.

Define "so elite" and where did you hear that term?

[roarman]

Ok I can't comment on the SEC talent as it is not my post but may I ask what would be your answer to JMV's question which I feel it a legitimate question. Or will anyone else give their HONEST opinion to JMV's question about the state of the program.

Sure. But, first let me assume that both you and bbhstiger believe the former coach was better in every category. That simply is not true. Here is the truth.

Hitting…Last year the Cajuns had the second highest team batting average in the nation. Only Oklahoma had a higher one. The former coach’s players hit more home runs. Glasco’s teams manufacture more runs. It’s two different ways to approach developing an offense.

Pitching. The former coach had fifteen years of pitchers. Glasco is in his sixth year. The former coach did not have a pitching coach. Most years he had one, sometimes two capable pitchers. Glasco now has a handful of pitchers that are capable.

Defense. I would say similar. The former coach’s team’s fielding percentage was always around .970.

Last year, the Cajuns’ fielding percentage was .964, so not much difference.

Base running. Not even close. I think the most bases the former coach’s team ever stole was 64. In 2019, Glasco’s team stole 169. That’s 105 more. Next question?

Crowd Support. About the same. Last week 120 fans went to Southern Miss.

Recruiting. Glasco, by a long way. The former coach only had a regional recruiting budget. Most players were either local, or from Texas. Glasco is nation-wide and has had players from other countries. Just because there’s a great player playing at a high school in Louisiana doesn't mean they can compete at the division one, college level. See Maci Bergeron from Notre Dame.

Game Management. That’s an easy one. Let me remind you of the Auburn regional in 2015. Bottom of the 7th, two outs, Louisiana 10, Auburn 5. After a walk, a single and two fly outs, (that’s two outs) Wallace walked the next 5 batters before the former coach replaced her in the circle with Hamilton who walked the next two batters to tie the score. That game management might be the worst game management in the history of college softball. Winning by five with one out remaining and the team loses. Next question?

Player Development
Fielding. I did not attend practices when the former coach was in charge. I know people who did. More than one told me the former coach did not work much on fielding. Instead, he focused on hitting. So, I don’t believe he developed players defensively.

Hitting. The former coach developed hitting. But, there were some issues. Players had to adapt to his swing technique or else and it took a very long time to learn it. Sometimes two years or more. D. J. Sanders did not hit a home run her freshman year until midway through the season and she ended up hitting four that year. Her sophomore season she hit 18. So, it took a year to develop her power. Kelsey Vincent hit four home runs her freshman year and had the lowest batting average of any Ragin Cajun in the last 10 years at .135. Her sophomore year she hit seven, her junior year 18 and senior year 15. So, it took her two years to “get it”. In today’s softball world, there isn’t a lot of time for development. If a player can’t hit and does not see playing time, because of the transfer portal, many move on. It’s just different.

Pitching. The former coach did not develop pitchers. He abused them. Next time you see Ashley Brignac or Jordan Wallace, ask them how their arm and shoulder feel. If the former coach was not fired, Summer Ellyson would have never developed into the pitcher she became. She redshirted in 2016. In her freshman year in 2017, she only pitched 20 innings. The former coach was enamored with another freshman, Alyssa Denham as she pitched 129 innings, 109 more than Ellyson.

Assistant Coaching Staff. The former coach had a very, very good assistant in Chris Malveaux. He is now the hitting coach at Tennessee and is doing a fantastic job. That’s the best one I can think of. Glasco had Joe Guthrie who went on to become the head coach at UAB and is now an assistant coach at Texas A&M and in his first year is helping to turn that team around. Glasco also had, arguably, the best pitching coach in America in Mike Roberts.

[JMV JustMyView]

If our players are so elite then why did we lose to App State? Does anyone actually think we’re going to the WCWS this year? If so, please explain why.

Why did Kennesaw State beat Alabama? It happens.

[JMV JustMyView]

Very simply the game has changed because of the money that has flowed into softball programs. I don't think our program has tailed off as much as other programs have improved, so yes we do fall behind P5 programs more than in the past. How does Glasco battle this, by swinging for the fences. He has proven to be a top notch recruiter, but he also isn't afraid to take chances. Bringing on Justin Robichaux is a high risk, high reward move. If it works, he is doing something that fundamentally changes the game and gives the Cajuns an advantage that forces P5 programs to adjust.

The jury is still out on if it works, but being a risk taker is what is needed for the Cajuns in competing with the big spenders in all sports.

How does bringing on Justin force P5 to adjust? Not sure where you are going with this?

[JMV JustMyView]

Sure. But, first let me assume that both you and bbhstiger believe the former coach was better in every category. That simply is not true. Here is the truth.

Hitting…Last year the Cajuns had the second highest team batting average in the nation. Only Oklahoma had a higher one. The former coach’s players hit more home runs. Glasco’s teams manufacture more runs. It’s two different ways to approach developing an offense.

Pitching. The former coach had fifteen years of pitchers. Glasco is in his sixth year. The former coach did not have a pitching coach. Most years he had one, sometimes two capable pitchers. Glasco now has a handful of pitchers that are capable.

Defense. I would say similar. The former coach’s team’s fielding percentage was always around .970.

Last year, the Cajuns’ fielding percentage was .964, so not much difference.

Base running. Not even close. I think the most bases the former coach’s team ever stole was 64. In 2019, Glasco’s team stole 169. That’s 105 more. Next question?

Crowd Support. About the same. Last week 120 fans went to Southern Miss.

Recruiting. Glasco, by a long way. The former coach only had a regional recruiting budget. Most players were either local, or from Texas. Glasco is nation-wide and has had players from other countries. Just because there’s a great player playing at a high school in Louisiana doesn't mean they can compete at the division one, college level. See Maci Bergeron from Notre Dame.

Game Management. That’s an easy one. Let me remind you of the Auburn regional in 2015. Bottom of the 7th, two outs, Louisiana 10, Auburn 5. After a walk, a single and two fly outs, (that’s two outs) Wallace walked the next 5 batters before the former coach replaced her in the circle with Hamilton who walked the next two batters to tie the score. That game management might be the worst game management in the history of college softball. Winning by five with one out remaining and the team loses. Next question?

Player Development
Fielding. I did not attend practices when the former coach was in charge. I know people who did. More than one told me the former coach did not work much on fielding. Instead, he focused on hitting. So, I don’t believe he developed players defensively.

Hitting. The former coach developed hitting. But, there were some issues. Players had to adapt to his swing technique or else and it took a very long time to learn it. Sometimes two years or more. D. J. Sanders did not hit a home run her freshman year until midway through the season and she ended up hitting four that year. Her sophomore season she hit 18. So, it took a year to develop her power. Kelsey Vincent hit four home runs her freshman year and had the lowest batting average of any Ragin Cajun in the last 10 years at .135. Her sophomore year she hit seven, her junior year 18 and senior year 15. So, it took her two years to “get it”. In today’s softball world, there isn’t a lot of time for development. If a player can’t hit and does not see playing time, because of the transfer portal, many move on. It’s just different.

Pitching. The former coach did not develop pitchers. He abused them. Next time you see Ashley Brignac or Jordan Wallace, ask them how their arm and shoulder feel. If the former coach was not fired, Summer Ellyson would have never developed into the pitcher she became. She redshirted in 2016. In her freshman year in 2017, she only pitched 20 innings. The former coach was enamored with another freshman, Alyssa Denham as she pitched 129 innings, 109 more than Ellyson.

Assistant Coaching Staff. The former coach had a very, very good assistant in Chris Malveaux. He is now the hitting coach at Tennessee and is doing a fantastic job. That’s the best one I can think of. Glasco had Joe Guthrie who went on to become the head coach at UAB and is now an assistant coach at Texas A&M and in his first year is helping to turn that team around. Glasco also had, arguably, the best pitching coach in America in Mike Roberts.

I disagree on the crowd support. I think it is way better now, last year the grandstand sold out for the first time ever. The hitting appears to be worse than it is because of lack of timely hitting. I definitely agree that Glasco is a better coach. In the 2000's, not many large schools had much softball interest in their programs so making a super regional was not as difficult as it is now.

You just had to bring up that Auburn regional. Man that still stings.

[bbhstiger5]

Sure. But, first let me assume that both you and bbhstiger believe the former coach was better in every category. That simply is not true. Here is the truth.

Hitting…Last year the Cajuns had the second highest team batting average in the nation. Only Oklahoma had a higher one. The former coach’s players hit more home runs. Glasco’s teams manufacture more runs. It’s two different ways to approach developing an offense.

Pitching. The former coach had fifteen years of pitchers. Glasco is in his sixth year. The former coach did not have a pitching coach. Most years he had one, sometimes two capable pitchers. Glasco now has a handful of pitchers that are capable.

Defense. I would say similar. The former coach’s team’s fielding percentage was always around .970.

Last year, the Cajuns’ fielding percentage was .964, so not much difference.

Base running. Not even close. I think the most bases the former coach’s team ever stole was 64. In 2019, Glasco’s team stole 169. That’s 105 more. Next question?

Crowd Support. About the same. Last week 120 fans went to Southern Miss.

Recruiting. Glasco, by a long way. The former coach only had a regional recruiting budget. Most players were either local, or from Texas. Glasco is nation-wide and has had players from other countries. Just because there’s a great player playing at a high school in Louisiana doesn't mean they can compete at the division one, college level. See Maci Bergeron from Notre Dame.

Game Management. That’s an easy one. Let me remind you of the Auburn regional in 2015. Bottom of the 7th, two outs, Louisiana 10, Auburn 5. After a walk, a single and two fly outs, (that’s two outs) Wallace walked the next 5 batters before the former coach replaced her in the circle with Hamilton who walked the next two batters to tie the score. That game management might be the worst game management in the history of college softball. Winning by five with one out remaining and the team loses. Next question?

Player Development
Fielding. I did not attend practices when the former coach was in charge. I know people who did. More than one told me the former coach did not work much on fielding. Instead, he focused on hitting. So, I don’t believe he developed players defensively.

Hitting. The former coach developed hitting. But, there were some issues. Players had to adapt to his swing technique or else and it took a very long time to learn it. Sometimes two years or more. D. J. Sanders did not hit a home run her freshman year until midway through the season and she ended up hitting four that year. Her sophomore season she hit 18. So, it took a year to develop her power. Kelsey Vincent hit four home runs her freshman year and had the lowest batting average of any Ragin Cajun in the last 10 years at .135. Her sophomore year she hit seven, her junior year 18 and senior year 15. So, it took her two years to “get it”. In today’s softball world, there isn’t a lot of time for development. If a player can’t hit and does not see playing time, because of the transfer portal, many move on. It’s just different.

Pitching. The former coach did not develop pitchers. He abused them. Next time you see Ashley Brignac or Jordan Wallace, ask them how their arm and shoulder feel. If the former coach was not fired, Summer Ellyson would have never developed into the pitcher she became. She redshirted in 2016. In her freshman year in 2017, she only pitched 20 innings. The former coach was enamored with another freshman, Alyssa Denham as she pitched 129 innings, 109 more than Ellyson.

Assistant Coaching Staff. The former coach had a very, very good assistant in Chris Malveaux. He is now the hitting coach at Tennessee and is doing a fantastic job. That’s the best one I can think of. Glasco had Joe Guthrie who went on to become the head coach at UAB and is now an assistant coach at Texas A&M and in his first year is helping to turn that team around. Glasco also had, arguably, the best pitching coach in America in Mike Roberts.

Good points Rory. But when you say “capable” in terms of our pitchers - can you define that? Is the inability to find the strike zone or walking tons of batters what capable pitchers do? Maybe I’m ill-informed. Maybe the elite pitchers at OK State and UCLA also walk and hit as many batters as we do.

I am in no way saying the previous coaches were better - I despised them. I just feel like UL is due big time for a WCWS birth and possibly the school’s first natty. It’s frustrating to watch right now, so please don’t take my venting to heart.