Laf G7: Louisiana vs Arizona

[Just1More]

Halfway through the second game I was hoping Tony would realize whats going on and get ejected over something petty...just to try and light a fire under these kids.

There really wasn't an opportunity for that. I actually don't think Tony felt we were ever out of it. Neither did I. It was just a battle of looking for a flaw in the Arizona pitching. And it just never materialized. Their pitching was superb. Not that I blame that ump... but with a different strike zone... it would have made a world of difference. Arizona... however... was capable of taking full advantage of the strike zone. We had to swing at pitches well off the plate.

[Big Buds]

I've heard a few trusted RP's mention the Zone staff as being bush league. In what regards?

[Ragin4U]

Two bad innings pitching cost us the regional. Zonas pitching won it for them. It also seemed like many, many of their base hits came with two strikes.
Proud of this team. They were left for dead several times this season and ended up closing nicely.

[cajunhawk]

There really wasn't an opportunity for that. I actually don't think Tony felt we were ever out of it. Neither did I. It was just a battle of looking for a flaw in the Arizona pitching. And it just never materialized. Their pitching was superb. Not that I blame that ump... but with a different strike zone... it would have made a world of difference. Arizona... however... was capable of taking full advantage of the strike zone. We had to swing at pitches well off the plate.

That lack of urgency is what lost us the game.

[ManAboutTown]

I've heard a few trusted RP's mention the Zone staff as being bush league. In what regards?

Other than being human rain delays, every big out, they would dance their way into the dugout.. And then they're coach had the nerve to come out onto the field and complain that our dugout was interfering with the game..

[ManAboutTown]

There really wasn't an opportunity for that. I actually don't think Tony felt we were ever out of it. Neither did I. It was just a battle of looking for a flaw in the Arizona pitching. And it just never materialized. Their pitching was superb. Not that I blame that ump... but with a different strike zone... it would have made a world of difference. Arizona... however... was capable of taking full advantage of the strike zone. We had to swing at pitches well off the plate.

Gameplan was to trust our pen and expose Zona's pen. Wildcats didn't allow that to happen. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Big Buds]

Other than being human rain delays, every big out, they would dance their way into the dugout.. And then they're coach had the nerve to come out onto the field and complain that our dugout was interfering with the game..

Damn...I'm out of town this week and TV didn't show that stuff, if it did I missed it. I still think I'd rather Zona get to Omaha over MSU.

[SlappyCajun]

That lack of urgency is what lost us the game.

It's amazing how Tony lost the edge from Sunday to Monday.

Probably time for him to hang them up, he clearly doesn't know what he's doing.

[Just1More]

He coached to win...nothing else. Nothing was more important. Not pitch counts, not heat stroke. Getting the W was paramount. I think Tony lacks that edge. Tony didn't coach to win. Not throwing Guillory out there knowing what his last outing was, when he knew he had Marks ready to go for the kill. He throws Marks in game 6, we head to Starkville. That game 6 loss killed everything we had. You never give a team an opportunity to come back...they always will.

I don't think it was a lack of edge. Hindsight is 20/20. But there was no reason to believe Evan couldn't give us some good innings. And after watching Arizona grind it out, we should have felt confident that any combination of our staff would wear them down. The surprise was how much arm strength and control is on that Arizona staff. It was far more about how impressive they pitched from start to finish than anything else. You cannot expect to beat teams that hold you to 3 runs and 1 run in game 6 and game 7. It was not about our pitching. It was about their pitching. They gave us 1 meaty pitch in game 6 that resulted in 2 of our 3 runs. And they gave us one meaty pitch in game 7 that resulted in a single run. They silenced our bats with a tremendous pitching performance.

[Just1More]

Gameplan was to trust our pen and expose Zona's pen. Wildcats didn't allow that to happen. Nothing more, nothing less.

No doubt about it.