A Couple Questions for the board -

[drofdirt]

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]Several questions have kept resurfacing, so I thought I'd solicit opinions from the board as to your thoughts and impressions. First, is our philosophy and process of recruiting limiting our success in baseball? Second, do we actually have an assistant coach coordinating our baseball recruiting? And finally, who on the coaching staff is in charge of working with our players to improve their offensive skills?

It appears to a number of "long-term" fans that our recruiting, while being highly touted and highly ranked nationally over last three years, has not met our team needs very well. Has the departure of Lane Burroughs in 2012 for the head coaching position at Northwestern State resulted in a decline in the effectiveness of our baseball recruiting?


I am reminded of some comments that Coach Cohen made last year in an interview with Danny Smith in late June, perhaps around the time that the college world series concluded. Here is part of that interview:


"Do we need to be a more successful offensive team?" Cohen said. "There's no doubt about it, but we're not going to change what we're doing defensively and on the mound to be able to hit 20 more home runs because that's not going to help us in wins and losses. Do I want more doubles? Do I want more home runs? Yes. I think if you ask every coach with the exception of maybe Kentucky, they are going to tell you the same thing."


It would appear based on this year's results that we need to change something, since not only can we not hit effectively, but our pitching staff is really challenged, and especially our bullpen. We are in need of something. What would you suggest?


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[patdog]

If Cohen really thinks 20 more home runs wouldn't help us in wins and losses, he really has no business coaching. That's just ludicrous.

 

[I_Love_My_Mommy]

If Cohen really thinks 20 more home runs wouldn't help us in wins and losses, he really has no business coaching. That's just ludicrous.

Agreed

 

[Faustdog]

If Cohen really thinks 20 more home runs wouldn't help us in wins and losses, he really has no business coaching. That's just ludicrous.

It would be if that were what he said. But it isn't.

 

[57stratdawg]

Heres another way to say that

"we're not going to change what we're doing defensively and on the mound TO HIT TWICE AS MANY home runs, because that won't help us in wins and losses."

 

[patdog]

And that way is just as stupid. You put your best 9 hitters in the lineup. The worst defensive player is the DH. You can hide other poor defensive players at LF, RF, and if need be at 1B.

 

[rugbdawg]

Traditionally, under Cohen, our player most likely

to hit into a double play or strike out looking in a clutch spot has occupied the DH position. We need a fat, mean, crazy, lefty to be our DH. Who was that guy Polk let transfer that killed us in the Georgia Tech regional? Robby Goodson or something. That guy was awesome to watch.

 

[Hammer Down]

What are you talking about, dude? We won the Georgia Tech regional, if you are talking about 2011. I do not remember playing there before that.

 

[Hammer Down]

Pitching and defense are what wins in college baseball. Vanderbilt, UCLA, Arizona, and South Carolina before them, all played lights out defense and had dominating pitching. Cohen has it correct. Problem is, our pitching has not been that great this season.

College is just a different game, and you obviously do not understand it. All the high-level hitting recruits almost always go pro, while the pitching seems to go to college much more frequently. I know there are exceptions, so spare us all the time and do not try to find select few examples like Mike Zunino. That might change a little bit with the new balls, but not much.

On the flip side of that coin, I laugh at the people who say we were 'built' for the dead balls and bats. That is nonsense, everybody else is playing with them too, and it does not seem to hurt UCLA very much. Our problem this year is lack of upperclass talent, primarily on the pitching side.

 

[121Josey]

Pitching and defense are what wins in college baseball. Vanderbilt, UCLA, Arizona, and South Carolina before them, all played lights out defense and had dominating pitching. Cohen has it correct. Problem is, our pitching has not been that great this season.

College is just a different game, and you obviously do not understand it. All the high-level hitting recruits almost always go pro, while the pitching seems to go to college much more frequently. I know there are exceptions, so spare us all the time and do not try to find select few examples like Mike Zunino. That might change a little bit with the new balls, but not much.

On the flip side of that coin, I laugh at the people who say we were 'built' for the dead balls and bats. That is nonsense, everybody else is playing with them too, and it does not seem to hurt UCLA very much. Our problem this year is lack of upperclass talent, primarily on the pitching side.

This is the first "sensible" thing you've written in 2015. Congratulations.

 

[Hammer Down]

You forgot your played out sarcasterisks.

 

[57stratdawg]

But everyone knew the staff was going to take a step back this year. There was quite a bit of concern around them in fall ball. Plus, everyone watched our offense not get the job done in 2014, right?

So, what adjustment did we make to avoid a terrible season? None. We came out and sacrificed our butts off knowing we had a pitching staff that might not be able to hold a 2 run lead in the 5th. Cohen is/was driving a ship with two huge icebergs infront of it. He closed his eyes and went full steam ahead into both of them.

 

[Hammer Down]

But everyone knew the staff was going to take a step back this year. There was quite a bit of concern around them in fall ball. Plus, everyone watched our offense not get the job done in 2014, right?

So, what adjustment did we make to avoid a terrible season? None. We came out and sacrificed our butts off knowing we had a pitching staff that might not be able to hold a 2 run lead in the 5th. Cohen is/was driving a ship with two huge icebergs infront of it. He closed his eyes and went full steam ahead into both of them.

This is not true! Where do you come up with this?

Early in the year it was all the pundits who said we had another lights-out bullpen. Who would have thought that Ross Mitchell was going to throw batting practice? Who would have thought Jesse McCord would have arm trouble? All these guys threw well in the fall/preseason. Dakota Hudson and Daniel Brown were filthy in the preseason, now they cannot throw strikes. Hopefully at least Zac Houston is finding his rhythm.

 

[msstate7]

This is not true! Where do you come up with this?

Early in the year it was all the pundits who said we had another lights-out bullpen. Who would have thought that Ross Mitchell was going to throw batting practice? Who would have thought Jesse McCord would have arm trouble? All these guys threw well in the fall/preseason. Dakota Hudson and Daniel Brown were filthy in the preseason, now they cannot throw strikes. Hopefully at least Zac Houston is finding his rhythm.

Wanna know why our pitchers looked good in fall? Bc we suck hitting. Our pitchers looked good bc they faced our hitters

 

[patdog]

Top 4 teams in the SEC in slugging % are 55-27
Top 4 in fielding % are 45-38
Top 4 in ERA are 52-30

 

[Hammer Down]

You keep your stats, I will judge by the College World Series champions.

 

[patdog]

OK. Vandy was 3rd in slugging %, 4th in ERA, and 12th in fielding % last year.

 

[Hammer Down]

And? Not sure where you get off thinking that I am saying good offense is not desirable. Take away the pitching and defense and you have MSU 2008-2010.

 

[57stratdawg]

This is not true! Where do you come up with this?

People around the program told me that before the season started.

Here's a thread from before the season started where I said the staff would struggle. Don't worry you swooped in to save the day:

[URL="http://s1308.photobucket.com/user/jsn37/media/2AA17089-E403-4E58-8CD9-379A648D659C_zpsbp6nrjqy.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s607/jsn37/2AA17089-E403-4E58-8CD9-379A648D659C_zpsbp6nrjqy.jpg[/URL][/IMG]


I laughed my *** off at you then, and now that the entire season has played out - it's even funnier.

 

[patdog]

I suspect Cohen knew how this season was going to be and that's one reason for the weak preseason schedule. I think a combination of some big recruiting mis-evaluations, the new ball, and Cohen going too far in building the team for junk-ball pitching, little hitting, and no power all caught up to him this year. We'll see how he adjusts for next year.

 

[Hammer Down]

I 100% stand by that. Again, I go back to this:

Early in the year it was all the pundits who said we had another lights-out bullpen. Who would have thought that Ross Mitchell was going to throw batting practice? Who would have thought Jesse McCord would have arm trouble? All these guys threw well in the fall/preseason. Dakota Hudson and Daniel Brown were filthy in the preseason, now they cannot throw strikes. Hopefully at least Zac Houston is finding his rhythm.

Hey, you made the right call, so congratulations I guess. My predictions were based on what was seen/done at practice, yours was based on negativity. Negativity won this time. You may have predicted it, but the majority of people did not. Nobody "around the program" told you our staff would struggle, so stop with that lie.

I will give you this, you have your evidence now that I ask for. 3 months later, but still, I give credit where it is due. Cohen has made me look bad this year, but I am still betting he bears out my ultimate predictions next spring.

 

[57stratdawg]

I suspect Cohen knew how this season was going to be and that's one reason for the weak preseason schedule. I think a combination of some big recruiting mis-evaluations, the new ball, and Cohen going too far in building the team for junk-ball pitching, little hitting, and no power all caught up to him this year. We'll see how he adjusts for next year.

You're probably right, but we have to change that midset. We're still thinking about our baseball resume like it's about amassing wins - it's not. In many ways a weak schedule only hurts an inexperienced team.

Look at OM this year. They lost a TON of talent off last year's squad (Will Allen, Overby, Chris Ellis, Laxner, Austin Anderson, Greenwood, etc.) some of those guys were very high draft picks as JRs. Yet they still played one of the toughest schedules in the country?

 

[patdog]

I think it's more about who MSU and UM had coming back than who they lost. I think Cohen knew we didn't have a shot in hell at making a regional with this team and his choice was whether to go .500 against a pathetic schedule or go 22-34 against a strong one.

 

[57stratdawg]

Hahahahah.

"Out of negativity"
"I stand by saying we're as talented as ever and our hitters are very good"
"My ultimate pridiction will come true"

Do you ever actually read the stuff you type on here?

Anywhoo, if you have any questions about next year's team you can just PM me or something.

 

[Hammer Down]

Blind squirrel, nuts, all that. Get it in while you can.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

I trust that Cohen will adapt to whatever is needed.

He ain't stupid. Intense, but not stupid.

If you think we will have great seasons every year, then my sympathies to you.

You, and any of you who expect so, will be disappointed.

 

[Bulldogg31]

The college game changed with the new ball. Power hitting is back and the 12-6 curveball is much tougher to throw these days. Hopefully Cohen will go find us some 6-foot-1 power hitters and we can get back to scoring runs next year.

 

[57stratdawg]

At one point this year scoring wasn't up very much. Is that still the case? I haven't seen much about it since conference play started.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Sometimes you just take your whipping and move on to another thread.

 

[patdog]

Overall team ERA in SEC games was 3.67 last year. It's 4.41 this year.

 

[Bulldogg31]

At one point this year scoring wasn't up very much. Is that still the case? I haven't seen much about it since conference play started.

Home runs are up 40%.

Four-zero percent.

 

[Hammer Down]

MSU beats Alabama every now and again, but the series record is still 80-18.

At least the dipsh*t agrees that pitching is the problem, not offense. No matter what we looked like in the fall and preseason. Nothing I have said in this thread is wrong.

 

[57stratdawg]

Yes, but scoring hasn't really changed that much.

 

[patdog]

Did you see my post earlier? Overall ERA in the SEC is up 20% from last year. That's pretty significant.

 

[57stratdawg]

I've never been called Alabama before. Thanks..?

 

[57stratdawg]

That's nice, but scoring really hasn't changed this year.

5.5 runs per game in 2014.
5.8 runs per game in 2015.

 

[Hammer Down]

I've never been called Alabama before

That streak is still intact.

 

[patdog]

Runs per game in the SEC in 2014 - 4.42
Runs per game in the SEC in 2015 - 5.10

 

[57stratdawg]

Where did you get these numbers? Are these conference games only?

 

[dawgoneyall]

The mystic of Polk stadium ***** being a homerun death trap turned a false perception into into a false reality by our coaching staff.