508mikey
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2014 Softball brackets
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volfan110%
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armchair
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Hey, hey, hey: Let's all relax--we're all fans of the same team here. First, the Weeklys are outstanding coaches: they've built a powerhouse program here--clearly one of the best in the country. To complain about the Vols hitting, or hitting in the postseason, is dumb. First, we've got one of the best hitting teams in the country. Second, you face better pitching in the postseason--that is the way it is; better teams, better pitching, generally. This sport not very long ago at all was totally dominated by pitching. I remember watching some World Series that were utterly boring because /nobody/ could hit the ball. That has changed, thankfully. I'm not really sure why, starting maybe four/five years ago, the hitting in the sport got a lot better, but it did.
Yesterday our hitters did not have a good day. They were very undisciplined--and the players ultimately must be responsible for their hitting (or lack of it). Not scoring runs is one thing--but all the strikeouts with runners on base in the first four innings was troubling; you've got to at least put the ball in play. Can coaches give players tips--like move up in the box? Sure, and the Weeklys did that. Might they have done it earlier than they did: Who knows? I don't know when they told the players to move up in the box. Ultimately, pitch recognition and plate discipline are a hitter's responsibility. If a pitcher keeps throwing a pitch that drops out of the zone, then adjust and take the pitch.(I don't know if umpiring was an issue but the guy yesterday seemed inconsistent with his calls and his strike zone seemed demonstrably bigger than the guy who called the UT game the day before.) When you step in the box, a coach can't help you--it's you and the pitcher. Telling a player to move up in the box doesn't automatically make one more disciplined. In the end, we won. Let's not overreact. There are a lot of good pitchers in the game. We just need to hit the ball against oklahoma--and we will.
Yesterday our hitters did not have a good day. They were very undisciplined--and the players ultimately must be responsible for their hitting (or lack of it). Not scoring runs is one thing--but all the strikeouts with runners on base in the first four innings was troubling; you've got to at least put the ball in play. Can coaches give players tips--like move up in the box? Sure, and the Weeklys did that. Might they have done it earlier than they did: Who knows? I don't know when they told the players to move up in the box. Ultimately, pitch recognition and plate discipline are a hitter's responsibility. If a pitcher keeps throwing a pitch that drops out of the zone, then adjust and take the pitch.(I don't know if umpiring was an issue but the guy yesterday seemed inconsistent with his calls and his strike zone seemed demonstrably bigger than the guy who called the UT game the day before.) When you step in the box, a coach can't help you--it's you and the pitcher. Telling a player to move up in the box doesn't automatically make one more disciplined. In the end, we won. Let's not overreact. There are a lot of good pitchers in the game. We just need to hit the ball against oklahoma--and we will.
Mr. Davin, first, thank you for allowing your wonderful daughter to be a Lady Vol! She has been an important player in our program.
Secondly, I am sure you realize the great majority of our fans are great people, but we have a jerk slip in everyone once in a while who has no idea what they are talking about, but insist on talking anyway.
Of course, most of us will disagree with a coach sometime, but we try to respect the effort our players give, even when we think the coach should have put them in a better position to do better at times.
Let Melissa know 99.9% of our fans love and appreciate all she has done (and will do in Super Regional and WCWS). GO LADY VOLS!
Good post. Observation....a lot of softball coaches come up in softball ..no surprise. Others come up in baseball again no surprise. Most coaches at this level start their hitters off as a team in a position at the plate to get a good idea of a pitchers strike zone and the umpires zone (its missed often since umpires are incredibly erratic). Then as a hitter you also have to contend with coaches hitting rules...they normally change considering the opposition. After a rotation OR LESS. Coaches will adjust their hitters.......some don't, they rely on their kids maturity and judgement at the plate to adjust. BUT...17-19 year old kids sometimes want more at bats to adjust. Sometimes the coaches probably need to make adjustments earlier because the pitching at level will normally be consistent and very good. Once they adjust, you gotta be ready to adjust again. Since more than likely the opposition very well may change pitchers. Its a tough business hitting at this level.
Volballfan, I don't know if you meant for your comments to be taken as hostile, but they came off quite antagonistic to me. Just giving you my outside point of view of your post.
I was at the game yesterday and enjoyed that Homerun blast by Overstreet. To Mr. Davin, I hope you encouraged Melisa to become Melisa Davin M.D. (Such a fitting name for a doctor).
I was at the game yesterday and enjoyed that Homerun blast by Overstreet. To Mr. Davin, I hope you encouraged Melisa to become Melisa Davin M.D. (Such a fitting name for a doctor).
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66volfan
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You know we hear the term "timely hits" in describing situations and hitting sometimes. A lot of coach speak normally. BUT at this level ALL hits are TIMELY hits. And hitters will tell you every hit is a timely hit. I was watching MLBB the other night and was amazed at the pitches...just crazy. The thing that MLBB and even mens CBB has on the women's game is the umpiring. Plus the espn factor also shows up especially in post season. ESPN wants excitement and hitting ratings go up. That can backfire if hitters are disciplined, no adjustments, pitchers stick to their plans.....makes for a long pitching duel. BUT..the rule lately is smaller strike zone, higher ratings. Hopefully the ump will call a consistent zone.....for both teams.
QUOTE=66volfan;10196621]Wish I could like it more than once[/QUOTE]
QUOTE=66volfan;10196621]Wish I could like it more than once[/QUOTE]
Volballfan
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99gator
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sometimes, you don't lose because of bad coaching. you don't lose because you "fell apart".
most of the time, you lose because the other team(s) are better.
there's only one champion.
predicting a team to fail is mathematically a safe bet.
making a correct prediction of failure doesn't mean you have a clue what you are talking about.
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SGMVols
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2Alum4EverVol
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