Our annual fall world series is about to begin on Friday, and like every year there will be bragging rights and steak dinners on the line. Tomorrow is the 5th and final game of our " divisional" series... We really just call it that because the "series before the series" sucks for a title... And the winner of the divisional set will get home field advantage for the real deal. Both teams have had some good moments thus far, and it looks like it really is going to be another year where either club could realistically win.
Also happening are our crossfit games. Four teams compete in head to head competitions every day to earn points toward t-shirts, free passes, and a boatload of pride. In the midst of the team competition is the individual Iron Pirate competition, which basically amounts to the guys who can go the hardest for the longest getting a sweet t-shirt.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Been a while, I know...
Since my last post, and hopefully, a break that long won't occur again. The last couple of weeks have been good for us, as we've started to get some rough edges cleaned up and I think we're getting to a point as a coaching staff where we can really see our team shaping up.
This next two weeks is going to be vital because as we finish the Black and Blue playoffs and wold series, we're also seeing the last few opportunities for some players to either take hold of a position, establish a role, or even just make the spring roster.
Here's the long and short of it. Right now, we have 32 players. Reality is that we will only carry 24 or 25 players in the spring, and of that 24 or 25, only about 18-20 will see alot of action. In a given season, assuming there will be platoon or two, only about 12 position players will get on the field a whole lot, and maybe 6-8 pitchers will throw often enough to be considered regulars. That leaves around 3 position players and several pitchers on the roster that will only perform in limited duty. Where does that leave the remaining 5-7 guys that aren't on the roster? Well, a couple will likely be off the roster because they are injured and will require a medical red-shirt. With the remaining guys we will evaluate their performance and make a decision: Either we feel like they will eventally have a chance to start for us, whether it is next year or the following, and offer them a red-shirt, or if we don't feel like they have a chance to win a job in the future, we'll let them go.
I guess that's why this next two weeks are so important. Close to 20 guys have already made the roster, and there is a job or two that is sewn up, but these next two weeks will determine where the rest of the team winds up. Every year, someone wins or loses a job in the Black and Blue, and I have little doubt that this year will be the same. This is the part of the year when the guys on the bubbe get to prove which of them has the stomach to face the pressure and the challenge of competing at the collegiate level, and which are going to cave in to the pressure or be outshined by another athlete.
This next two weeks is going to be vital because as we finish the Black and Blue playoffs and wold series, we're also seeing the last few opportunities for some players to either take hold of a position, establish a role, or even just make the spring roster.
Here's the long and short of it. Right now, we have 32 players. Reality is that we will only carry 24 or 25 players in the spring, and of that 24 or 25, only about 18-20 will see alot of action. In a given season, assuming there will be platoon or two, only about 12 position players will get on the field a whole lot, and maybe 6-8 pitchers will throw often enough to be considered regulars. That leaves around 3 position players and several pitchers on the roster that will only perform in limited duty. Where does that leave the remaining 5-7 guys that aren't on the roster? Well, a couple will likely be off the roster because they are injured and will require a medical red-shirt. With the remaining guys we will evaluate their performance and make a decision: Either we feel like they will eventally have a chance to start for us, whether it is next year or the following, and offer them a red-shirt, or if we don't feel like they have a chance to win a job in the future, we'll let them go.
I guess that's why this next two weeks are so important. Close to 20 guys have already made the roster, and there is a job or two that is sewn up, but these next two weeks will determine where the rest of the team winds up. Every year, someone wins or loses a job in the Black and Blue, and I have little doubt that this year will be the same. This is the part of the year when the guys on the bubbe get to prove which of them has the stomach to face the pressure and the challenge of competing at the collegiate level, and which are going to cave in to the pressure or be outshined by another athlete.
Monday, October 4, 2010
A Week and a Long Day
"A week and a long day"... That's how the Navy Seals describe hell week. Now, a tough week at The Lake isn't quite 120 consecutive hours awake and in action. As a matter of fact, a bad week at The Lake is probably better than a good week at a lot of places.
In our effort to get our young ballclub to understand what our version of playing hard is, we've had to change the tempo of practice. Last Tuesday, we were timid at Middle Georgia. As with anything else in life, when you go into something without belief in yourself, it doesn't quite work out the way you'd like. We took one on the chin from an opponent because we weren't up to the task on Tuesday, so Wednesday, we drew a line in the sand and made them fight (metephorically, moms!) to get over it. Thursday was more of the same, and Friday we got to see the fruit of our labor.
After being embarrassed at MGC, we went down to Darton and beat the Cavs 18-3 at their place and took a 4-0 win from Chipola. The lesson learned is that just getting after someone's ass is most of the game. We're still a long way from February, and the long day hasn't quite ended for this group of Pirates, but we're looking a lot more like Chatt Valley than we had been.
In our effort to get our young ballclub to understand what our version of playing hard is, we've had to change the tempo of practice. Last Tuesday, we were timid at Middle Georgia. As with anything else in life, when you go into something without belief in yourself, it doesn't quite work out the way you'd like. We took one on the chin from an opponent because we weren't up to the task on Tuesday, so Wednesday, we drew a line in the sand and made them fight (metephorically, moms!) to get over it. Thursday was more of the same, and Friday we got to see the fruit of our labor.
After being embarrassed at MGC, we went down to Darton and beat the Cavs 18-3 at their place and took a 4-0 win from Chipola. The lesson learned is that just getting after someone's ass is most of the game. We're still a long way from February, and the long day hasn't quite ended for this group of Pirates, but we're looking a lot more like Chatt Valley than we had been.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Getting closer
I know... Its been a while since I've posted anything, or at least its been longer than I've intended it to be. Since my last post, we've played several games, both against true opponents and our own split squads. We're beginning to show signs of the potential we know we've got, though we're no where near a finished product yet.
I don't really know what the origin of our biggest obstacle lately really is. I can't be certain if it is just coincidental, whether its a manifestation of the "summer ball" phenomenon that has swept the country, or even if it is my own perception, skewed by recent success and a few more years under my belt as a coach. Whatever the case, the obstacle I'm speaking of is the one I wrote about last week. The good news is that we're making headway. Last Friday was the best practice we've had all fall, though not for the reasons you might think. It isn't that we played really well or that we were perfect, because we weren't. What made it a good practice was that our guys began to start getting after it. We started to see some competition that had been absent until then. We were able to carry that over to Saturday, and it led to two well played ballgames against ABAC, one of our Georgia rivals.
This week has been a solid one, we intrasquaded twice, and our offense is starting to emerge... This of course happens at the expense of the pitching staff, who left a bit to be desired at times, but overall, the quality of the baseball we're playing has increased.
I think we're probably very close to where we want to be in terms of understanding our system and the way we run our plays... Things need to be cleaned up, but there is very little confusion anymore. On the other front - the one that matters the most (in my opinion anyway) - the competitive front, I'd say we're closer to only about half way there. We're starting to compete in spurts, and if you watch us play, you'll see it here and there. Very soon I think we'll be at a point where a core group of guys emerges with the right attitude, skill set, and production to lead us into the spring campaign. Once that happens, the rest of the bunch will probably take notice and we'll be much closer to where we expect to be.
Tomorrow we take our crew down to Troy University to square up with two ACCC-North opponents, so it will be another opportunity to see how we've progressed.
I don't really know what the origin of our biggest obstacle lately really is. I can't be certain if it is just coincidental, whether its a manifestation of the "summer ball" phenomenon that has swept the country, or even if it is my own perception, skewed by recent success and a few more years under my belt as a coach. Whatever the case, the obstacle I'm speaking of is the one I wrote about last week. The good news is that we're making headway. Last Friday was the best practice we've had all fall, though not for the reasons you might think. It isn't that we played really well or that we were perfect, because we weren't. What made it a good practice was that our guys began to start getting after it. We started to see some competition that had been absent until then. We were able to carry that over to Saturday, and it led to two well played ballgames against ABAC, one of our Georgia rivals.
This week has been a solid one, we intrasquaded twice, and our offense is starting to emerge... This of course happens at the expense of the pitching staff, who left a bit to be desired at times, but overall, the quality of the baseball we're playing has increased.
I think we're probably very close to where we want to be in terms of understanding our system and the way we run our plays... Things need to be cleaned up, but there is very little confusion anymore. On the other front - the one that matters the most (in my opinion anyway) - the competitive front, I'd say we're closer to only about half way there. We're starting to compete in spurts, and if you watch us play, you'll see it here and there. Very soon I think we'll be at a point where a core group of guys emerges with the right attitude, skill set, and production to lead us into the spring campaign. Once that happens, the rest of the bunch will probably take notice and we'll be much closer to where we expect to be.
Tomorrow we take our crew down to Troy University to square up with two ACCC-North opponents, so it will be another opportunity to see how we've progressed.
Monday, September 13, 2010
We need some tough
For as much talent as we can put out on a baseball field, what we need a little bit more of at the moment is some toughness. Now, I'm not talking about "pick on the little guy and let's go start a fight" toughness, I mean game toughness. I'm also not talking about performing poorly. Lord knows there is a big difference between playing your ass off all falling short and backing down when its time to rock and roll. Sure, we've got some guys who have gone out there and stood up, but we have a few more than I'd like that are faltering a little bit when faced with the challenge that college baseball presents.
For some, I think it is the culture they are not used to. Alot of guys don't like being asked to deal with the pain of getting hit by a pitch or the pressure of throwing inside to opposing hitters. For others, being faced with similar competition is the obstacle that needs to be crossed. Those guys don't know what to do when the guy across from them is just as good as they are, they suffer from a sudden lack of confidence. In alot of ways, I can almost understand... You've been a star for the last few years and now you're fighting for a job, fighting for respect, and the guys you are competing with and against are as good as you are or maybe even better.
How do you conquer that? Well, as Lou Holtz would say, "You stand up in front of your opponent and you look him in the eye for 60 minutes. You hitch up your trousers and you say 'Hey baby, here I am now! Why don't you try to run through me now! Let me see you disrespect me with my nose to your nose. Let's see what you think of me when my face is to ya.'"
For some, I think it is the culture they are not used to. Alot of guys don't like being asked to deal with the pain of getting hit by a pitch or the pressure of throwing inside to opposing hitters. For others, being faced with similar competition is the obstacle that needs to be crossed. Those guys don't know what to do when the guy across from them is just as good as they are, they suffer from a sudden lack of confidence. In alot of ways, I can almost understand... You've been a star for the last few years and now you're fighting for a job, fighting for respect, and the guys you are competing with and against are as good as you are or maybe even better.
How do you conquer that? Well, as Lou Holtz would say, "You stand up in front of your opponent and you look him in the eye for 60 minutes. You hitch up your trousers and you say 'Hey baby, here I am now! Why don't you try to run through me now! Let me see you disrespect me with my nose to your nose. Let's see what you think of me when my face is to ya.'"
Alright, so maybe that's a little dramatic, but the idea is gold. At some point, you've got to stand up and take control of your own destiny. Lenny Dykstra is no motivational speaker, and it would seem he's made a few miscues in the business world, but in the book "Moneyball" (which you should read), Michael Lewis writes a quote about Nails that sums it all up: “Billy [Beane] remembers sitting with Lenny in a Mets dugout watching the opposing pitcher warm up. ‘Lenny says, “So who’s that big dumb ass out there on the hill?” And I say, “Lenny, you’re kidding me, right? That’s Steve Carlton. He’s maybe the greatest left-hander in the history of the game.” Lenny says, “Oh, yeah! I knew that!” He sits there for a minute and says, “So, what’s he got?” And I say, “Lenny, come on. Steve Carlton. He’s got heat and also maybe the nastiest slider ever.” And Lenny sits there for a while longer as if he’s taking that in. Finally he just says, “Shit, I’ll stick him.” I’m sitting there thinking, that’s a magazine cover out there on the hill and all Lenny can think is that he’ll stick him.’”
I've heard alot of debate on whether or not this is the sort of thing that can be taught, and to be honest, I'm not sure. I do know this though: Whether it can be taught or not, it can damn sure be learned if a guy wants it bad enough.
The good, the bad, and the ugly
That's probably the best way to describe our first action against other people this fall. In 4 games, we've pretty much covered the gamut of ways you can play. We've been good in one, bad in one, played ok and lost, and played ok and won. On the bright side, we haven't tied yet, and with such a young group, this sort of inconsistency is at least somewhat expected. The trick will be making sure it doesn't last too long.
In our opener at Andrew last Friday, we got a near perfect performance on the mound out of Dustin Dunagan, John Mark Ramsey, Daniel Szathmary, and Brian Alder in a 5-0 shutout to start the fall. The bats were a little quiet for my taste, but we did hit some balls hard, and Austin Jamieson posted 3 hits to pace us on offense. Game 2 wasn't as tidy. Our pitching was solid, with the exception of a rough second inning for Hayden Martin, who was having some issues with soreness. Hayden felt himself tightening up after the first, but like most players, he felt like he could keep going and get the job done, so he went back out in the second. Unfortunately, his command lapsed, and the Tigers were able to put together a rally. The big inning wouldn't really be the difference in the game though, as our offense was unable to get going, and we dropped game 2 6-1.
On Saturday, we headed up to Alexander City to play in CACC's fall Tournament, which is almost a misnomer. These fall "tournaments" are really just round robins where several teams get together to play in front of some scouts, but they are great because you get a chance to play more than one opponent without having to make a second trip anywhere.
In game one, we teed off against Calhoun CC, a perennially strong team in the northern division of the ACCC. Calhoun, as expected, was a good offensive club that really forced our young guys to throw some pitches and battle through some tough innings. Thankfully, our offense showed up as well, and we were able to outscore Calhoun in a fairly poorly pitched game (for both clubs) 9-7. The Zachs: Helewski and Mays, as well as Matthew Vollenweider each pitched brilliantly at times and ordinarily at others, but overall continued to provide solid work for us on the bump.
Game 2 looked like it was going to be a straight up pitcher's duel, as lefty Michael O'Neal impressed against Panhandle Opponent Gulf Coast CC. Mickey provided three quick innings against GC, but their typically strong pitching stymied our hitters as well. The entire game was really either about how good both teams could pitch, or possibly about how poorly each team was hitting this early in the fall. If it weren't for Cody Dykes having an uncharacteristically bad outing in which he couldn't seem to get a feel for his off-speed pitches or get much jump on his fastball, it probably would have been a 3-2 or 2-1 type of game. As it was, Cody was having a rough a go, and they were able to jump on him for 5 runs to beat us 7-2. Our offense wasn't very good for the first 6 innings of the game, showing little life until Trace McDaniel provided a pinch hit single in the seventh. After two quick outs, Neal Chambless and Ty Abbott turned in back to back doubles to get us on the board and plate two runs. It didn't do much to change the outcome, but at least it gave us something positive to take away from an offensive perspective.
In our opener at Andrew last Friday, we got a near perfect performance on the mound out of Dustin Dunagan, John Mark Ramsey, Daniel Szathmary, and Brian Alder in a 5-0 shutout to start the fall. The bats were a little quiet for my taste, but we did hit some balls hard, and Austin Jamieson posted 3 hits to pace us on offense. Game 2 wasn't as tidy. Our pitching was solid, with the exception of a rough second inning for Hayden Martin, who was having some issues with soreness. Hayden felt himself tightening up after the first, but like most players, he felt like he could keep going and get the job done, so he went back out in the second. Unfortunately, his command lapsed, and the Tigers were able to put together a rally. The big inning wouldn't really be the difference in the game though, as our offense was unable to get going, and we dropped game 2 6-1.
On Saturday, we headed up to Alexander City to play in CACC's fall Tournament, which is almost a misnomer. These fall "tournaments" are really just round robins where several teams get together to play in front of some scouts, but they are great because you get a chance to play more than one opponent without having to make a second trip anywhere.
In game one, we teed off against Calhoun CC, a perennially strong team in the northern division of the ACCC. Calhoun, as expected, was a good offensive club that really forced our young guys to throw some pitches and battle through some tough innings. Thankfully, our offense showed up as well, and we were able to outscore Calhoun in a fairly poorly pitched game (for both clubs) 9-7. The Zachs: Helewski and Mays, as well as Matthew Vollenweider each pitched brilliantly at times and ordinarily at others, but overall continued to provide solid work for us on the bump.
Game 2 looked like it was going to be a straight up pitcher's duel, as lefty Michael O'Neal impressed against Panhandle Opponent Gulf Coast CC. Mickey provided three quick innings against GC, but their typically strong pitching stymied our hitters as well. The entire game was really either about how good both teams could pitch, or possibly about how poorly each team was hitting this early in the fall. If it weren't for Cody Dykes having an uncharacteristically bad outing in which he couldn't seem to get a feel for his off-speed pitches or get much jump on his fastball, it probably would have been a 3-2 or 2-1 type of game. As it was, Cody was having a rough a go, and they were able to jump on him for 5 runs to beat us 7-2. Our offense wasn't very good for the first 6 innings of the game, showing little life until Trace McDaniel provided a pinch hit single in the seventh. After two quick outs, Neal Chambless and Ty Abbott turned in back to back doubles to get us on the board and plate two runs. It didn't do much to change the outcome, but at least it gave us something positive to take away from an offensive perspective.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Cutting our teeth
Starting last Thursday, we finally got into some game action, and our new guys are getting a chance to get a taste of what college baseball is all about. In all, we've done pretty well thus far, with most players adjusting well and giving a good look. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do and a lot of room for improvement, and we'll get an even more definitive look at what we've got when we toe the line against somebody else on Thursday.
Its hard not to be excited about our young pitching, even if its only been 3 games. As expected out of a young group, we're a little wild at the moment, but we've run out at least 5 or 6 guys that I would put ahead of where last year's horses were when they were at this point as freshman. The real question will be how they develop and grow moving forward, but for right now, the future looks bright.
Offensively, we need to get some guys going, but the offense is always the last thing to come around. Half of it is because hitting is hard. The other half is because it takes a while for some guys to hop on board and get outside of their comfort zone.
Each of our intrasquads so far has been very close on the scoreboard, and that speaks well for us as a whole because it means we're as deep as we hope to be. Today is our final test run before we roll into someone else's back yard, and after a good day of work yesterday, I think we'll have a great game today.
Its hard not to be excited about our young pitching, even if its only been 3 games. As expected out of a young group, we're a little wild at the moment, but we've run out at least 5 or 6 guys that I would put ahead of where last year's horses were when they were at this point as freshman. The real question will be how they develop and grow moving forward, but for right now, the future looks bright.
Offensively, we need to get some guys going, but the offense is always the last thing to come around. Half of it is because hitting is hard. The other half is because it takes a while for some guys to hop on board and get outside of their comfort zone.
Each of our intrasquads so far has been very close on the scoreboard, and that speaks well for us as a whole because it means we're as deep as we hope to be. Today is our final test run before we roll into someone else's back yard, and after a good day of work yesterday, I think we'll have a great game today.
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