My opinion, what is wrong with Cook!

[RaginDave]

I watched Michael Cook pitch Tuesday night and I really hate it for this guy, he has come great stuff and seems like a good kid, but continues to struggle. It is ashame, because I remember his Freshman year and what high hopes everyone had for him.

But in my opinion, most if not all of his problems seem to be from the speed at which he pitches. I realize that Coach Robe preaches to many of his pitchers to pitch quickly, but Cook seemed to be moving way to fast Tuesday night, he was getting the ball back from Strentz and immediatly throwing right back, causing him to fall behind each of the first 3 batters 3-1.

I think if Robe watches the video back, he needs to slow Michael down and have him relax on the mound. I would love for this guy to get it together for a stretch run. Like I said earlier, he has some great stuff, but if you are not throwing strikes it does not matter.

Just my .02

Geaux Cajuns

[J-Town Cajun]

_ I watched Michael Cook pitch Tuesday night and I really hate it for this guy, he has come great stuff and seems like a good kid, but continues to struggle. It is ashame, because I remember his Freshman year and what high hopes everyone had for him.

But in my opinion, most if not all of his problems seem to be from the speed at which he pitches. I realize that Coach Robe preaches to many of his pitchers to pitch quickly, but Cook seemed to be moving way to fast Tuesday night, he was getting the ball back from Strentz and immediatly throwing right back, causing him to fall behind each of the first 3 batters 3-1.

I think if Robe watches the video back, he needs to slow Michael down and have him relax on the mound. I would love for this guy to get it together for a stretch run. Like I said earlier, he has some great stuff, but if you are not throwing strikes it does not matter.

Just my .02

Geaux Cajuns _

I also noticed how fast paced he pitched. He was at a faster pace than Matt Hicks, and I did not think anyone pitched at a faster pace than that guy. I do think as a starter, he should slow down some also.

Now as for as his stuff. I totally disagree. Fastball way too straight and not much on velocity. Curve ball when ahead in the count and he can try to really spin it is good, but it is not a good pitch when down in the count and he is trying to place it or use it as a get me over curve (it hangs at times). His command has been horrible but that could easily be improved upon, but his velocity and movement on his fastball is what it is.

My guess is we do not see him again this year unless we need some depth in the conference tournament, but this year the tournament has changed format, so depth is not needed as much. I was shocked to him pitch the second time this season (I did not like what I saw from him last year and I stated it here on RP) and after 2/3 of an inning I thought it might have cost us the game. He was 1 hit away from being down 4-0 and I was complaining that Robe sometimes take the mid-week games too lightly.

Bullpen did a fabulous job, and Robe came back with some really good arms with Traffica, Wascom, and Kellogg. All who have good stuff.

[CajunRed]

Can't disagree with you, J. I'm still pulling for him, though, and would like to see him get another shot...maybe against Southern...with someone else warming up for in case it happens again.

Just a shame.

igeaux.mobi

[CajunT]

_ I watched Michael Cook pitch Tuesday night and I really hate it for this guy, he has come great stuff and seems like a good kid, but continues to struggle. It is ashame, because I remember his Freshman year and what high hopes everyone had for him.

But in my opinion, most if not all of his problems seem to be from the speed at which he pitches. I realize that Coach Robe preaches to many of his pitchers to pitch quickly, but Cook seemed to be moving way to fast Tuesday night, he was getting the ball back from Strentz and immediatly throwing right back, causing him to fall behind each of the first 3 batters 3-1.

I think if Robe watches the video back, he needs to slow Michael down and have him relax on the mound. I would love for this guy to get it together for a stretch run. Like I said earlier, he has some great stuff, but if you are not throwing strikes it does not matter.

Just my .02

Geaux Cajuns _

I was sitting right behind the plate and he simply wasn't hitting his spots. It's that simple, once your confidence is gone it is very hard to get it back. He tried to get ahead of the last two batters he faced by throwing the fast ball right down the middle of the plate on the first pitch and they just ripped the ball. They weren't taking any pitches at that point, just waited on him to throw the fast ball in the stirke zone trying to get ahead. I'm not sure it's something that can be worked out in the bullpen, maybe Buddy can talk about that, but I don't see him getting many opportunities to in game situations.

[wcd35]

He's worked extremely slow in the recent past and the results werent that much better. I dont know what the cause is, I just hope that if he cannot figure it out, that he will be as much of a leader as a senior should be and support the others on the staff, including the freshmen that do pitch. Its tough and we all hope he gets back to where he was, but the game can be cruel

[CajunNation]

I watched Michael Cook pitch Tuesday night and I really hate it for this guy, he has come great stuff and seems like a good kid, but continues to struggle. It is ashame, because I remember his Freshman year and what high hopes everyone had for him.

But in my opinion, most if not all of his problems seem to be from the speed at which he pitches. I realize that Coach Robe preaches to many of his pitchers to pitch quickly, but Cook seemed to be moving way to fast Tuesday night, he was getting the ball back from Strentz and immediatly throwing right back, causing him to fall behind each of the first 3 batters 3-1.

I think if Robe watches the video back, he needs to slow Michael down and have him relax on the mound. I would love for this guy to get it together for a stretch run. Like I said earlier, he has some great stuff, but if you are not throwing strikes it does not matter.

Just my .02

Geaux Cajuns

How dare you question the pitching management of Coach Robe?


I swear. The nerve of some people.

[wcd35]

_ How dare you question the pitching management of Coach Robe?


I swear. The nerve of some people. _

Excellent

[RaginDave]

_ How dare you question the pitching management of Coach Robe?


I swear. The nerve of some people. _

CN I am not questioning the pitching management of Coach Robe, I am trying to figure out why a kid with so much potential has struggled so much over the last couple of years.

The difference between what you suggested earlier in the season and what I am questioning are worlds apart.

I am not an expert by any means, but I would love to see Cook get back on track, whether out of the bullpen or as a starter, but at this point he can not throw strikes and when he does he gets hit really hard, it might be mental or it might be that he isn't as good as we thought, my suggestion by wondering why he was working so fast Tuesday night, was just that. Maybe slowing him down would help, he was working faster than any pitcher I have ever seen, not just in a Cajun uniform, but ever, it was strange. Maybe slowing him down would do nothing, but I have never seen anyone work like that.

Your suggestion to bench Geith, after one bad start and one mediocre start, in my opinion, would not have been a good move. Since then he has been our best weekend starter. Geith has the stuff to be a good weekend starter and the moxy to back it up. Moving him to the bullpen I think would not be a good fix for him and I questioned your motivation, obviously you took that personal. After 30 years of watching baseball at every level and coaching it at the little league level for over 10, my thoughts are that some guys are starters and some guys are great bullpen guys, but just because one is good at one doesn't mean he will be good at the other. Geith is a starter, not a bullpen guy. Same way Coach Robe feels that Hicks is a closer and not a starter. Moving Geith to the bullpen, in my opinioin, would have been a mistake, moving him to a Sunday or weekday starter, in my opinion was a very good move.

[CajunT]

_ How dare you question the pitching management of Coach Robe?


I swear. The nerve of some people. _

With the number of pitchers he has coached that have played in the minors or majors leagues, I haven't seen anyone in this thread with the resume to question Coach Rob. Sometimes the game is just that simple, throw strikes and stay ahead in the count.