Dayton Flyers

[earsky]

On paper, it appears that the Flyers are catching the Cards at a bad time. At 3-8,they've been swept by WKU and Tennessee. Got themselves untracked a bit last weekend but this does look like a mismatch. The Cards need to stay focused on what's right in front of them and continue to improve 1% every day.
Should see a lot of guys getting swings this weekend and hopefully get a look at some young arms.

 

[Bardman]

Unfortunately the weather is not going to be good - which sucks. But, of the team remains focused they should sweep Dayton - they need to sweep them.

 

[PushupMan]

Hawks learned a lesson there… Eddie Yamin IV (A-10 rookie of the week) is for real. The freshman is impressive! Challenge him in the zone at your peril.

 

[CardX]

Hawks doesn't have it today. The question becomes how long does Mac leave him in.

 

[Bardman]

WTH is happening? Hawks’ pitches are just a bit up in the zone. The offense just needs to step up now.

 

[PushupMan]

Yes, his control is not quite what we’ve been used to this year.

Down 5-0 already … will be interesting to see how patient everyone is at the plate.

 

[PushupMan]

Baseball is a game of inches for sure. Just a little closer to the line and King’s double play grounder is a run scoring triple!

 

[nccardfan]

Their pitcher is getting cocky...

 

[PushupMan]

Finally get something going, and we run ourselves out of at least one run. With these hitters, why?

 

[CardX]

Cards don't seem like themselves, so far.

 

[nccardfan]

Finally get something going, and we run ourselves out of at least one run. With these hitters, why?

That's what batters do when they get behind. They haven't been in this position before.

 

[PushupMan]

Ok, coaches listened to my whining about overly aggressive base running and held Knapczyk at 3rd. Now I’m really nervous!

 

[PushupMan]

Absolutely love the patient hitting - drew 4 walks and one HBP to go with 5 hits and 9 runs. Sunflower seeds for everyone!

 

[Bardman]

Nice response from the batters and Ryan.

 

[PushupMan]

Eddie Yamin IV probably wishing he’d been pinch hit for after his first at bat. After the impressive home run in the first, 3 strikeouts and now a fielding error plus a throwing error on the same play to allow the Cards to plate our 10th run!

 

[PushupMan]

Cards hold on to win 11-7. Great effort all around, but what a nice scrambling outing by Hawks after getting rocked for 5 runs in the first two innings. He put together 3 scoreless innings after the rough start to give his offense a chance to catch up.

Jack Payton had 2 hits including a double, 2 walks, and 3 RBIs. Eddie King, Jr, and Gavin Kilen also had two hits each.

 

[2330859]

Mac's decision not to pull Hawks when he was struggling early, and down 5-0, is another example of how CDM just got his 700th win.

 

[ulcards1]

Props to Hawks, giving us 5 innings when he is not at is best. It is a tough weekend when you don't get at least a few innings from your Friday night starter

 

[PushupMan]

Two days is a row, two lead off outs, then Pujols gets on base and Yamin IV drills a homer to left field. 2-0 Dayton to start game two.

 

[PushupMan]

Farone is struggling with his control, but he’s battling. Allowed runners via walks in both the second and third, but made enough pitches to keep Dayton off the scoreboard.

 

[PushupMan]

Clutch batting there with two outs! McCoy singles, Forbes walks, and then Benson drills the grand slam! 5-2 Cards!

 

[CryptoPowell]

This is the stuff that always burns us in crunch time. Stealing home with 2 outs and the bases loaded with your cleanup hitter up to bat. Knap was safe but the throw beat him by a mile

 

[PushupMan]

Did seem like the Dayton pitcher was struggling with his control. It would have been nice to not take the bat out of Forbes’ hands there. Forbes is hitting over .400 on the season and has a hit and a walk already today.

 

[CryptoPowell]

Glad to see Farone out. I thought it looked like a hamstring or similar pain bothering him

 

[PushupMan]

Too bad for Farone … having to leave with the lead with some kind of freak injury at 4 2/3rds innings - just one out short of getting credit for the win should the Cards hold the lead the rest of the way.

 

[CardX]

Mac's decision not to pull Hawks when he was struggling early, and down 5-0, is another example of how CDM just got his 700th win.

A long time criticism of Mac, fair or not, is that he leaves struggling pitchers in too long. Fortunately for Hawks, the offense bailed him out.

Pitching hasn’t been sharp this weekend.

These Dayton boys are chirpy.

 

[PushupMan]

Great to see Mangrum with the hustle double. Batting under .200 for the year, and he had struggled in his previous at bats against Dayton’s lefty today.

 

[PushupMan]

It seems like it’s a real crapshoot all day whether this home plate umpire is going to call a strike when the pitch is on that inside corner to the left handed batter.

 

[PushupMan]

Cards win 6-2 to clinch the series. Gave up just one hit all day (the homer to Yavin in the first). Just 6 hits today for the Cards, but we did also draw 7 walks.

 

[2330859]

A long time criticism of Mac, fair or not, is that he leaves struggling pitchers in too long. Fortunately for Hawks, the offense bailed him out.

Pitching hasn’t been sharp this weekend.

These Dayton boys are chirpy.

I think the point here, is in a non conference game with your Friday starter, Mac was more about letting his pitcher gain experience and confidence in overcoming obstacles than his offense making up the 5 runs.

 

[2330859]

I was at the park when BGSU upset the Cards in that middle game of their weekend series, and the base running mistakes contributed in a large way in that one single defeat. CDM volunteered this is the fastest team he has had at UL, so I assume that he is trying to get these speedsters some experience and some mental discipline to go along with their velocity.

Knap’s decision to try and steal home however is a real head scratcher given his experience and discipline; clearly poor judgement given the circumstances.

Having said all of this; I will not be surprised to see us advance in a close and critical tournament game as a result of stealing a base.

 

[earsky]

Knap’s decision to try and steal home however is a real head scratcher given his experience and discipline; clearly poor judgement given the circumstances.

You think that was Knap's decision? Did I miss CM's post game remarks about this play?

 

[earsky]

These Dayton boys are chirpy.

Yeah, what's up with that? It's weird watching a few teams come in here every now and then and have that approach. I can remember Miami being chirpy like that several years ago, a few others. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised to see it at this level. Seems more like HS or AAU. Gotta believe it's coach related. To be fair, it's not all of them,but Yavin's bat flip yesterday after the home run probably says more about him being young. Time to knock these Flyers off their perch today early and often.

 

[cocoa]

Nobody talking about what a great job Will Kroger did in relief of Farone. Closes out the Flyers with 4 shutout innings. Great job by Bardstown High Grad! Is rapidly establishing himself as our go to Long-Middle reliever. Cards need to get the Broom out, on this cold wintery day, and take care of business against this Cocky Dayton Team! Go Cards!

 

[PushupMan]

4 1/3rd NO HIT innings at that. Was an outstanding relief appearance. Also got credit for the win. 2-0 on the season!

 

[Bardman]

Too many self-inflicted wounds today. Base running mistakes, fielding mistakes, etc. Not playing horribly, but, still need to clean up the details. Hopefully Liggett is ok. That’s Farone, West and now Liggett with injuries.

 

[earsky]

Too many self-inflicted wounds today. Base running mistakes, fielding mistakes, etc. Not playing horribly, but, still need to clean up the details. Hopefully Liggett is ok. That’s Farone, West and now Liggett with injuries.

Teams are using the aggression against us with the base running. Do we know which elbow Ligget was plucked on?

 

[PushupMan]

Cards have been running to perfection here in the seventh. Great steal by Hawkins to get in scoring position and then Knapczyk drives him in. Double steal by Knapczyk and Payton followed by another hit by Forbes.

 

[Bardman]

Teams are using the aggression against us with the base running. Do we know which elbow Ligget was plucked on?

Looked like the ball ricocheted off his shoulder/shoulder blade.

 

[Bardman]

Phillips still not where he needs to be with consistency. Might see him in 2 inning stints for a while. Looks great one inning and then the wheels falls off.