What Needs to Happen at NCAA Regional

[jasonscottinsc]

Weird season for baseball. Starts off like world-beaters and then does a 180 in the final month. Talent is there, injuries certainly hurt, but even when some of the injured came back, the offense is certainly slumping and pitching is inconsistent. I hear a lot of the usual Kingston bashing, and I also hear the argument that regardless of slump, if you would have told me before the season that we would win 40 games (or 39 right now) and host a regional, you'd feel good about it.

So, from a coaching standpoint, what can you really do? Obviously they practice and talk about hitting approaches. They've obviously assembled some good talent. Pitching took a big hit with Hall and Eli out and Sanders out for a little bit... but how much of this is on coaching and how much is on players just not executing?

I don't see a ton of poor in-game decisions other than a few instances where they either left a pitcher in too long or took him out to early. Is that more on pitching coach? Or is it too easy to arm-chair coach after that fact? As much as I loved Wingo as a player, I don't always love his decisions to send runners (that's some easy arm-chair coaching on my part).

As far as hitting, Monte Lee was seen as the savior when USC was hitting well and folks didn't want to credit Kingston. Now that the hitting is slumping, Kingston carries the blame.

Back to the original question: from a coaching standpoint, what needs to be done to get this team playing like they were for 3/4 of the season?

 

[Prestonyte]

Somewhere along the way our hitters started taking a ton of pitches, a lot of them strikes and 3rd strikes. And a lot of them are first pitch fast balls right down the middle. I don't know if its the looking for a BB mentality or what, but we have to swing the bat for something good to happen! My two cents worth.

 

[Deleted11512]

Weird season for baseball. Starts off like world-beaters and then does a 180 in the final month. Talent is there, injuries certainly hurt, but even when some of the injured came back, the offense is certainly slumping and pitching is inconsistent. I hear a lot of the usual Kingston bashing, and I also hear the argument that regardless of slump, if you would have told me before the season that we would win 40 games (or 39 right now) and host a regional, you'd feel good about it.

So, from a coaching standpoint, what can you really do? Obviously they practice and talk about hitting approaches. They've obviously assembled some good talent. Pitching took a big hit with Hall and Eli out and Sanders out for a little bit... but how much of this is on coaching and how much is on players just not executing?

I don't see a ton of poor in-game decisions other than a few instances where they either left a pitcher in too long or took him out to early. Is that more on pitching coach? Or is it too easy to arm-chair coach after that fact? As much as I loved Wingo as a player, I don't always love his decisions to send runners (that's some easy arm-chair coaching on my part).

As far as hitting, Monte Lee was seen as the savior when USC was hitting well and folks didn't want to credit Kingston. Now that the hitting is slumping, Kingston carries the blame.

Back to the original question: from a coaching standpoint, what needs to be done to get this team playing like they were for 3/4 of the season?

That’s a good question that nobody on this bard can answer. It’s mystifying. I’m leaning towards this team was just red hot, playing out of their minds for a couple of months before revealing who they really were. Is the reliance on analytics playing into it?? Do teams just have the book on us now and our staff is just capable of adjusting bc they’re just doing whatever the computer says?? I have no idea.

Here’s the bottom line. This is King’s 6th year. In 6 years, he’s had 2 months of baseball that should be the expectation, not the exception. I don’t care what the reasons are, it’s the truth. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see that tiger losing his tripes.

 

[Deleted11512]

Somewhere along the way our hitters started taking a ton of pitches, a lot of them strikes and 3rd strikes. And a lot of them are first pitch fast balls right down the middle. I don't know if its the looking for a BB mentality or what, but we have to swing the bat for something good to happen! My two cents worth.

We were taking pitches all year. We were one of the leaders in walks. The only thing I can come up with is other teams have just figured us out.

 

[Prestonyte]

We were taking pitches all year. We were one of the leaders in walks. The only thing I can come up with is other teams have just figured us out.

When you get them on base somebody has to swing the bat and bring them in. We were doing that early in the year but lately we have taken numerous called 3rd strikes with the bases loaded or two men in scoring position. BB is good if you take advantage but leading the league in BB's won't win ball games if no one is swinging the bat to bring them home.

 

[Prestonyte]

That’s a good question that nobody on this bard can answer. It’s mystifying. I’m leaning towards this team was just red hot, playing out of their minds for a couple of months before revealing who they really were. Is the reliance on analytics playing into it?? Do teams just have the book on us now and our staff is just capable of adjusting bc they’re just doing whatever the computer says?? I have no idea.

Here’s the bottom line. This is King’s 6th year. In 6 years, he’s had 2 months of baseball that should be the expectation, not the exception. I don’t care what the reasons are, it’s the truth. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see that tiger losing his tripes.

Agree on Kingston and his lack of production as a coach. Unless he/the team pull a miracle in the post season (which would unfortunately put the brakes on a change), I would like to see us move on with another coach. We need a culture change in baseball similar to what Beamer is doing!

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

Somewhere along the way our hitters started taking a ton of pitches, a lot of them strikes and 3rd strikes. And a lot of them are first pitch fast balls right down the middle. I don't know if its the looking for a BB mentality or what, but we have to swing the bat for something good to happen! My two cents worth.

You also can coach/teach forever. But if a player fails to execute, that's on the player. Sometimes it's the pressure of the situation or the player not capable.

 

[Blues man]

Somewhere along the way our hitters started taking a ton of pitches, a lot of them strikes and 3rd strikes. And a lot of them are first pitch fast balls right down the middle. I don't know if its the looking for a BB mentality or what, but we have to swing the bat for something good to happen! My two cents worth.

Regardless of the reason, one thing for sure is if you are not swinging, you are falling behind.

 

[Blues man]

We were taking pitches all year. We were one of the leaders in walks. The only thing I can come up with is other teams have just figured us out.

True but we did a better job of protecting the plate than we do now.
I'd also add there is a reason we are HBP so often. Teams dont think we can get around and out front of an inside pitch. That is on the coaches to correct that weakness... and it is a weakness when it's a problem throughout the lineup.

 

[Prestonyte]

Regardless of the reason, one thing for sure is if you are not swinging, you are falling behind.

If you're not swinging its a BB or a K - hard to score runs that way! And with our pitching staff we need to score more than a couple of runs.

 

[CockofEarle]

Weird season for baseball. Starts off like world-beaters and then does a 180 in the final month. Talent is there, injuries certainly hurt, but even when some of the injured came back, the offense is certainly slumping and pitching is inconsistent. I hear a lot of the usual Kingston bashing, and I also hear the argument that regardless of slump, if you would have told me before the season that we would win 40 games (or 39 right now) and host a regional, you'd feel good about it.

So, from a coaching standpoint, what can you really do? Obviously they practice and talk about hitting approaches. They've obviously assembled some good talent. Pitching took a big hit with Hall and Eli out and Sanders out for a little bit... but how much of this is on coaching and how much is on players just not executing?

I don't see a ton of poor in-game decisions other than a few instances where they either left a pitcher in too long or took him out to early. Is that more on pitching coach? Or is it too easy to arm-chair coach after that fact? As much as I loved Wingo as a player, I don't always love his decisions to send runners (that's some easy arm-chair coaching on my part).

As far as hitting, Monte Lee was seen as the savior when USC was hitting well and folks didn't want to credit Kingston. Now that the hitting is slumping, Kingston carries the blame.

Back to the original question: from a coaching standpoint, what needs to be done to get this team playing like they were for 3/4 of the season?

“In baseball, you don't know nothing.” ~ # 8