It’s not just Noble / Whitting though.
We haven’t been to the CWS since the Vietnam Era (1967).
That covers Roland Walton, Bragg Stockton, Noble, Whitting, and even the last eight or so years of Lovette Hill.
I always preached to my players to always attack, be aggressive…yeah, it backfired numerous times but drove me absolutely insane watching batters going up and everyone and their mother knew they’re taking the first pitch…so pitch grooves a meat ball up there…
It should never be etched in stone to take a pitch……it depends on game situations in most cases….but as a whole, I always got a feel for what the pitcher was like on the other team.
If the pitcher was a strike thrower, good command, then my guys do not have to take ( sometimes a pitcher will groom it over the heart of the plate just to get ahead in the count), ambush that guy and make him pay.
But if the guys command is shaky then I will have my guys take….pitchers like that, I want to force them to throw a strike.
IMO, it’s silly to have guys taking a strike no matter what….in game situation and quality of the opposing pitcher.
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Late in games, if you are behind, do you have your kids take till they get a strike? Will you look to manufacture runs in that situation as well?
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No, especially not in that situation. If I have the lead, I want my pitcher throwing strikes and pitching to contact.
Depends on who I have up….if it’s a kid that can handle the bat and doesn’t mind hitting with two strikes then yes….otherwise I let them hit….just remind them to not expand the zone.
As far as manufacturing runs I guess it depends on the day and game….if it’s Saturday I don’t really worry about it….On a Sunday, if I have to then yes……we work on a lot of different things that don’t get coached much anymore….plate approach, hitting behind runners, etc.
I absolutely loathe bunting….only do it in rare circumstances.
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It seems like your style is the way most of the coaches are coaching at the end of games now. I am probably a little more old school. Like you said, it should depend on how the batter handles his bat. I will say it drives me crazy when a new pitcher comes in late in games, with runners on, and the hitter swings at the first pitch. Obviously, the pitcher is wanting to throw a fastball down the dish, so it could work. It would be interesting to see the split stats on how well that works out either way. My love for Auggie probably has me lean more towards manufacturing runs late in games, especially if it is tournament time. I don’t agree with playing that way from the first pitch, though.
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Yeah, the only time I’ve ever had my boys take from the get go is when I see a pitcher with really bad command.
We’ll make him throw some strikes to prove he can….on those occasions it usually led to lots of base runners followed by a double or bomb……might as well make him pay for it.
But never had that as a game plan coming into a game.
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Go Coastal Carolina!
You don’t want the Big 12 team to win?
Not really in baseball. Other sports, yes Big 12. Coastal is one of those schools that does more with less. I drove around their school back in October, its near Myrtle Beach. Not to shabby.
I’m gonna root for a rout of coastal carolina for Big 12 dominance
- Football
- Basketball
- Track and Field
- Golf
- Baseball
Am I forgetting a sport?
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Will be cheering for Arizona.
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People can root for whomever they want, but it should be clear that it’s in UH’s interest for UA to win… Against the conspiracy between the SEC and the Big 10, the Big12 needs Nattys to undermine the false narratives.
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What is the score? On the road.
2-2 bottom 5. Coastal is the home team.
Coastal just took a 3-2 lead. Arizona threw the guy with the 5+ ERA that UNC hammered. I suspect his day is done. I can’t believe they don’t have a better game 1 starter. Understanding he’s not the ace… No way he’s their #2 either. I’m not going to bother looking it up.
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Coastal hit 3 guys (I think) in the 6th. Ariz can only manage 2 runs on one hit, but take a 4-3 lead. Coastal batting bottom 6.
Yea CC is one step closer!
Was actually a damn good baseball game
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