Has Cohen tweaked his coaching style?....

[thekimmer]

And if so how much has this contributed to our current rise?

 

[patdog]

He's definitely cut down on the bunting from the last couple of years. Not sure if that's a change of philosophy or just a sign that he trust his hitters more. Either way, it's a good move.

 

[missouridawg]

He's definitely cut down on the bunting from the last couple of years. Not sure if that's a change of philosophy or just a sign that he trust his hitters more. Either way, it's a good move.

A new philosophy for the different kind of lineup that comes with the new style ball.

 

[engie]

He's been a constant evolution since he got here. We are bunting less because we have better hitters. He tries to do too much when we don't have enough, etc...

 

[Bulldogg31]

In no big proponent of the get 'em on/bunt 'em over philosophy, but I did find it funny that the two times we tried it this weekend in FLA, we failed both times.

I hate to say it, but we need to become better bunters?


***ducks and covers***

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

We're bunting less and have a more consistent lineup, but overall I don't think Cohen's philosophy has changed that much. It just seems a lot different because the players are executing and accepting their roles- funny how that can change the entire outlook of a team.

 

[KurtRambis4]

I can't understand

how people don't see that he's constantly been changing it. When Cohen was the hitting coach at UF, he was thought of as one of the top hitting coaches in the nation. Next, he goes to UK, and builds their program with solid hitting. What we are seeing now is what his teams essentially have always been. What he did when he first got here until about 13, was something new to him, and hell he got us to the CWS finals.

 

[Hankp22]

Constant Pressure

And if so how much has this contributed to our current rise?

That is the most noticeable difference in our approach this year IMO. A lot of that comes with the quality of the lineup but I also think Cohen is simply letting his players do what they do best. Constant pressure. It never let's up through our lineup. There aren't many teams in the country that can have Rooker and Gridley in the 8/9 spot. Then you roll over the lineup with Robson and Mangum.

Also, we don't have the guy that's going to hit 15 hrs but we do have a handful that have potential to hit 8+. Our lineup has a nice mix of power, contact and speed. And all hit for good avg. As a result, we are constantly applying pressure. And I think Cohen is using that pressure to create situations that forces opposing defenses to make critical plays.

We have enough solid bats in our lineup that it seems two or so players always seem to have a good weekend. It's been Mangum, Grid and Marrero lately. It was Kruger and Rooker. Then it was Collins and Hump and Lowe. Robson has been steady all year and Cody Brown is tough in spots.

I used a lot of words to sum up constant pressure. Ultimately his coaching style this year appears to be geared around putting pressure on the defense. Force them to make plays. It is evident he has enough confidence in his lineup to put the defense on their heels. I think Cohen realizes our lineup will continually give itself chances throughout a weekend. He doesn't have to play for situational runs from the start.

Dakota/Sexton going 1/2 doesn't hurt either.

 

[engie]

Except we did it 3 times -- and Gavin Collins laid the 3rd one down for a base hit that precipitated the meltdown on Saturday.

 

[engie]

He has always been all about putting pressure on opponents. This team can just do it more consistently without his intervention.

 

[Digging dog]

In his defense, I believe I remember him saying it would take a year or two to recruit towards the changes (i.e. Bats, balls). Fwiw.

 

[patdog]

In no big proponent of the get 'em on/bunt 'em over philosophy, but I did find it funny that the two times we tried it this weekend in FLA, we failed both times.

That's the one thing proponents of bunting always ignore. Statistically, bunting is usually a bad move even if you're 100% successful with the bunt. But when you add in all the failed bunt attempts, including the ones where the batter gets to 0-2 and then weakly pops up that doesn't go down as a bunt attempt, it's not even close.

 

[birdawg]

In his defense, I believe I remember him saying it would take a year or two to recruit towards the changes (i.e. Bats, balls). Fwiw.

This is correct. The game has evolved since Cohen got here and he's been adapting to the times. Got caught with his pants down last year with the ball change, but he clearly made the changes necessary for the new bats/balls in terms of type players to recruit. Gotta give him a lot of credit IMO.

 

[engie]

That's the one thing proponents of bunting always ignore. Statistically, bunting is usually a bad move even if you're 100% successful with the bunt. But when you add in all the failed bunt attempts, including the ones where the batter gets to 0-2 and then weakly pops up that doesn't go down as a bunt attempt, it's not even close.

It also doesn't show the times it is successful. That it goes for a hit or error. That it makes a pitcher mental. That it draws the 1B and 3B in all weekend opening up the 4 and 6 holes for base hits that would otherwise be ground outs. It's not nearly as black and white as many like to present it. Hell, even the namesake of the anti-bunt general, who his stance on bunting is based upon, no longer holds his initial moneyball stance that all sac bunting is bad. So, even Bill James isn't too far from our current approach now. Here is a fascinating read on the matter. http://www.thescore.com/news/491459

I've been saying we SACK bunted too much situationally since before the BBCOR era even started, much less this live ball era. Was one of the early ones critiquing this. But the argument has gone WAY too far now. Just like people melting down when we were bunting the middle of our lineup against UT Martin -- yet totally ignoring when it led to Collins hit early in the Florida meltdown inning of game 2 against a first round pitcher. I called that happening and even that it would be ignored afterwards in the UT Martin game thread on the other site. In the games where we have gotten to elite pitchers and totally knocked them off the mound -- it almost always included a botched bunt play on their part.