PowerOfDixieland

Irish is playing. Continues to hit the ball as well as last year. Last night at MSU he was starting in RF and not behind the plate...not sure if that's Butch trying to give him some "rest" or if he's finally acknowledging that Ike's future won't be at C. He's a tremendous competitor, wish we had 10-12 more just like him. In the seventh inning last night he had bases loaded and was sitting on a first pitch fast ball, which he got. Crushed it foul just missed what would have been a game tying GS.

Oof. Coaching matters, especially with as many "philosophies" on pitching. Particularly in the transition from high school/travel to the SEC. I remember David Adams used to tell the story about Dewayne Friend going to the mound in the middle of a game and asking him "Do you ever throwing a [effing] fastball with less than [effing] max effort?" With the hyper focus on the gun currently, it's gotten even worse. It seems simple, attack the zone and work fast...but in the SEC it's much more complicated. As a former catcher, it's a given that pitchers can be flaky and the mental side is much more significant once arm talent is established. Butch can't be teaching that every day with everything else he has to deal with, only so much time those guys can be on the field or in the pen. Take a look at the programs that have entrenched themselves at the top of the league and see who has pitching coach turnover. Alan Dunn was at LSU how long...? Arkansas and Vandy likewise. Gonzo seemed very promising, but something (or someone) got inside his head and that ship sailed long ago. Again, as a former catcher, I happen to think that receiving has huge implications for a pitcher as well. Current #1 will go a long way with a bat in his hands, but not as a catcher.

Drye, Smith, Hudson, Schoenrock, Teaford/Foxhall. Tough to get consistency with that kind of turnover at one spot.

I really don't need a camel to get excited about a "Wednesday doesn't mean a whole lot vs Air Force" game, but that is freaking awesome. Somebody deserves a raise.

Yep. Ask Ron Polk about the meaning of competing/success.

Not comfortable with the starters...understatement of the week.

Thanks for the updates by the way, love the highlight links. I saw the first one Irish hit, UConn pitcher hung an 0-2 curve ball exactly where he shouldn't have. Just now seeing the second Irish HR, I guess they weren't going to let him get another hanger. That fastball got turned around pronto.

Canon loaded the bases in the 9th before finally getting it finished. Dang does this pitching staff throw way too many pitches. Got to be in the zone more. If not for that disastrous 1st yesterday, it would have been a great weekend. UConn is definitely a tournament team again this year.

ISWYDT. Beard and beatdowns......

Was the HPU crazy tight with the zone?? WSU gave up 16 walks in 7 innings….yikes.

Ditto. On a plane back from the DR, muchas gracias. That’s all I know.

Alsup very nearly turned a messy first into a disaster but was able to get through it only giving up 1 run. Maybe that’s going to be his MO, but he is going to have to last more than two or three innings if he’s going to be the Friday night guy once conference play starts, as you pointed out.

Tigers found the running game early, leading the conference in stolen bases and 5th in the country after the first week of the season. This is an aspect of the offense we have not seen in a very long time…that I can recall.

Absolutely. I loved having Huddy around for all the reasons you would think, but I’m not sure great players make great coaches by default. I expect to see even better results out of this staff with both Foxhall and Teaford around. Talent has also gotten better with each successive class. We will miss Hudson, but we won’t really…if that makes sense.

Hope you're feeling like your Salty self soon. I'd be worthless if I lived anywhere near Hitchcock Field in the spring time. Early season sweeps are no longer a given these days, this team looked focused this weekend. I noticed top 5 Arkansas took it on the chin today. Vandy, Florida, Ole Miss, Miss St, Tennessee and the Hogs all took a loss during the weekend.

Pierce homered in the 8th to close out the scoring, Tigers win 6-1.

He had only thrown just over 20 pitches, had to be something else. I think we may see things done a little differently than straight by the book with Teaford involved in pitching decisions.

Without knowing for sure, my guess is that Irish wants to catch and Butch wants to do everything he can to accommodate that bat. Not saying he would leave, but it's got to be in the back of everybody's mind.

You're not wrong. He won't play back there at the next level, but he will hit at the next level.

Everything you would expect after that kind of layoff...loss of velocity, trouble locating, wouldn't throw a breaking ball, timing off (two balls called on pitch clock violation in the first), just not all that fluid. Gave up 1 unearned run, walked three and struck out two. Not awful.

Back to back to back extra base hits in the third, Tigers up 4-0. Pierce tripled, McMurray homer and Stanfield tripled. EKU RF misplayed what should have been the third out; they really should have been out the inning without giving up a run.

Gonzo really looking like he hasn't thrown a competitive pitch in a year.... Everything seems to be a struggle so far, but the defense has been very friendly turning double plays in each of the first two innings.

Just connecting the dots, I played high school baseball with the Maners kids father. He was a couple of years behind me, but I think the legend is that Sammy Dunn claimed Martin never made an error in practice or a game at SS.

Doesn't look like the weather will be to your advantage this afternoon if you're not feeling great, breezy and cool...? This is the one I'm really interested in, Gonzo could be a huge lift to our starting pitching. He won't make or break us I don't think, but man if he could get it together for a full season....

His defense let him down in that 5th inning, he really should have gotten the W.