Author Topic: NCAA Baseball 2011 (Read 1453 times)

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #25:** June 02, 2011, 08:48:57 PM »

Quote from: DPMOmaha on June 02, 2011, 01:40:24 PM

NU with a presser this afternoon, likely to announce Darin Erstad as new head coach. Interesting in that he was a guy who did the football/baseball thing at Nebraska, albeit as a punter, but still. Not sure this is the best move, but time will tell, hopefully he does better than Gwynn has done at SDSU.

Pulled over from my post in the draft thread. Listening to the NU nightly sports show and he's in studio. A sweet little old lady called in and asked if we were going to return to the small ball that won us so many games in the past. I almost

. Darin said something like "We might at times but we'll be more of a first to third or a hit and run type of team". Which made me

. There was a lot of talk today like "small ball is smart baseball". I yelled at the radio. You guys have convinced me. A couple of years ago, I would have agreed with them. He did say he wanted "chaos on the base paths". Which is great and can be done without sacrificing outs. Small ball is the one thing I really have come to dislike about college baseball.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #26:** June 03, 2011, 08:04:19 AM »

I don't follow college baseball closely. My impression has been that, except when elite pitching is going, the games tend to be high scoring, at least relative to MLB. The bats have something to do with it, I suppose. Wouldn't small ball be less likely to work in college? I can see maybe more aggressive base running working with guys being able to steal just on speed, but otherwise it seems giving up outs is a dumb idea when fielders are more mistake prone and pitchers have less command.

blue911 · « **Reply #27:** June 03, 2011, 08:19:10 AM »

Small ball = WNBA

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #28:** June 03, 2011, 08:23:21 AM »

Quote from: blue911 on June 03, 2011, 08:19:10 AM

Small ball = WNBA

Or Barry Bonds.

Kevrock · « **Reply #29:** June 03, 2011, 08:57:59 AM »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on June 03, 2011, 08:04:19 AM

I don't follow college baseball closely. My impression has been that, except when elite pitching is going, the games tend to be high scoring, at least relative to MLB. The bats have something to do with it, I suppose. Wouldn't small ball be less likely to work in college? I can see maybe more aggressive base running working with guys being able to steal just on speed, but otherwise it seems giving up outs is a dumb idea when fielders are more mistake prone and pitchers have less command.

All this changed this year with the crappy bats. Small ball is back. Watch UVA play if you get a chance.

Speaking of, does anyone know if there's a way to watch UVA online today?

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #30:** June 03, 2011, 09:11:14 AM »

Try virginiasports.com

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #31:** June 03, 2011, 09:11:58 AM »

Or thesabre.com and check out the baseball forum.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #32:** June 03, 2011, 01:02:24 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on June 03, 2011, 08:57:59 AM

All this changed this year with the crappy bats. Small ball is back. Watch UVA play if you get a chance.

Speaking of, does anyone know if there's a way to watch UVA online today?

It started coming back about 5 years ago when they changed the bats the first time. Teams like Texas and Fullerton and UC-Irvine and many others used it successfully to make CWS runs. It's the current trend and it does a disservice to the players, IMO. If there's any place small ball shouldn't be used it's in college. There just aren't enough elite arms to warrant the strategy. Most of them aren't mature enough to consistently make big pitches under pressure. Make a 18 or 19 year old kid make a pitch and a play. They'll give you opportunites. Don't let them off the hook.

Kevrock · « **Reply #33:** June 03, 2011, 01:09:47 PM »

I disagree. Small ball puts pressure on opposing teams to make plays. College baseball players haven't refined fielding to the point that MLB players have, so it should work much better than MLB.

With the new bats, every offensive category is way down, thus harder to punish pitchers.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #34:** June 03, 2011, 01:21:21 PM »

It might be a 6 of one situation. Either way, you're not dealing with professional players who make many more routine mistakes than they do at the professional level. That said, I still think it's a limiting way to play the game at the college level. I'd still rather force the pitcher to make pitches. Not groove one when he knows the other guy is going to bunt. Pitch counts are a big deal in the college game too. If you're going to give up the out, at least try and make him do it with 4 or 5 or more pitches, not just one. Either way, it's a frustrating way to watch the game.

Kevrock · « **Reply #35:** June 03, 2011, 01:49:33 PM »

I agree with most of that. I consider small ball more than just the square up and sacrifice, though.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #36:** June 03, 2011, 02:55:46 PM »

I can't recall... Have I ever voiced my displeasure with small ball before?

Kevrock · « **Reply #37:** June 10, 2011, 10:00:47 PM »

Vandy putting on a hitting clinic, good grief.

Kevrock · « **Reply #38:** June 11, 2011, 02:11:50 PM »

Fun game between UVA and Irvine so far, UVA in the lead. UCI hitters have unbelievable approaches and discipline at the plate.

Looks like Miss St. tied it up with UF.

Kevrock · « **Reply #39:** June 11, 2011, 02:26:48 PM »

Wow, lightning delay in UVA game.

Hultzen doesn't have his good stuff but is still throwing a shut-out. O'Connor will have a tough decision whether to bring him back after the delay.

Kevrock · « **Reply #40:** June 11, 2011, 02:50:41 PM »

Wow, facing elimination MSU hits a walkoff two run bomb. Awesome baseball all weekend, fellas.

Kevrock · « **Reply #41:** June 11, 2011, 03:45:55 PM »

Wow, Hultzen going back out after well over an hour rain delay.

Kevrock · « **Reply #42:** June 11, 2011, 04:31:20 PM »

Talking to myself I guess. Jared King absolutely crushed that ball. 5-0 UVA.

Lintyfresh85 · « **Reply #43:** June 11, 2011, 05:27:46 PM »

One win away!

OldChelsea · « **Reply #44:** June 11, 2011, 10:04:06 PM »

...the ping of the bat...instead of the crack of the bat...just doesn't sound right.

1995hoo · « **Reply #45:** June 12, 2011, 04:15:42 PM »

UVA has to remove the lake from the field. Gonna be quite some time. Trying to decide between Nationals game live or F1 Canadian GP on DVR.

Kevrock · « **Reply #46:** June 12, 2011, 05:50:53 PM »

Quote from: OldChelsea on June 11, 2011, 10:04:06 PM

...the ping of the bat...instead of the crack of the bat...just doesn't sound right.

They don't ping anymore.

1995hoo · « **Reply #47:** June 12, 2011, 06:18:01 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on June 12, 2011, 05:50:53 PM

They don't ping anymore.

They clank.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #48:** June 12, 2011, 06:19:11 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on June 12, 2011, 05:50:53 PM

They don't ping anymore.

It's still closer to a ping than a crack...

Kevrock · « **Reply #49:** June 12, 2011, 06:20:52 PM »

Actually, there's a couple bats that still ping. One of our kids had one today. So flipping loud.

An FSU player just had a loud one.

I'm not in disagreement that wood bats sound great.