South Alabama Game Thread

[Smitty]

Mintz has bigger stones than the rest of our bullpen combined.

He's been good this year. 1st option for sure

[cbrunt29]

Mintz has bigger stones than the rest of our bullpen combined.
Definitely

[msstate7]

Mintz needs Ross' innings

[Smitty]

Single...

[Really Clark?]

What's deal with Hudson? Does he not have any other pitches he can consistently throw for strikes. If this is the case I can see why he's doesn't pitch much. Most hitters prefer a guy throwing hard over someone mid to upper 80's especially if his other pitches aren't consistent. You can take a no stride, throw hands approach and let the pitcher provide all the power. No stride prevents a disconnect from lower and upper body, maximizing strength and also prevents the eyes from dropping during stride. If you stride and don't get foot down early enough against any pitcher you lose a ton of power. Thus no stride against a higher speed ball can be hit for power with less movement in swing. One characteristics of the better 2 strike hitters is no stride.

Either way how many outs have we given away on bunts? From others' posts it sports Vick has given USA an entire inning himself.

I agree with shortened or no stride approach with 2 strikes but throwing your hands is only good for trying to be defensive and fouling off a pitch that you were probably fooled on. It causes casting and a downward swing that you will miss the ball or hit weak grounders at a too high of percentage. By throwing the hands at the ball the bat is in the hitting zone a much smaller amount of time and is not on the plane of the pitch. Your timing with this technique has to be spot on to even get a piece of the ball since you are coming from a downward angle. Not to mention you can't throw them far enough to reach low and away. Your hands have to stay above and inside the ball. If we go back to alum bats and AstroTurf (which is when this was taught mostly, 40-30 years ago) you could get away with this technique more but not today.

[msstate7]

How is USA from an Rpi standpoint?

We're probably killing USA's rpi

[JohnnyQuid]

Mintz needs Ross' innings

winner

[Left_Field_Lounge]

just over 100 I believe

[CadaverDawg]

Looks like a jinxed Mintz. Time for a little reverse psych...

Tighten up, Levi "Urinal" Mintz!

[JohnnyQuid]

walk. asses getting tight now

[Smitty]

Walk

Winning run in scoring position

[CadaverDawg]

It's time for a game winning Spruill error. I'm calling it.

[Dallas_Dawg]

Score, inning?

[Smitty]

Deep fly out whew!

[CadaverDawg]

7-7 headed to extras

[mstatefan91]

Bottom 9th. 7-7. Two outs. Runner in scoring position for USA

[sandwolf]

It's time for a game winning Spruill error. I'm calling it.

That would be fitting. Fortunately we get a fly out to Cody Brown.

[Smitty]

7-7

Going to the 10th. Hope the sac bunts were worth it. Hope continuing to go to Ross was worth it.

[mstatefan91]

Make it top 10th. We are awesome....

[JohnnyQuid]

that was harder than it shoulda been, glad to get out of that.

[Smitty]

Don't need to play for one. They are capable of scoring in bunches

[JohnnyQuid]

bunt incoming?

[Smitty]

Brown single

Let Smith hit

[sandwolf]

There we go....lead off single for Brown.

[CadaverDawg]

Brown single

Let Smith hit

Don't hold your breath

[DudyDawg]

@HailStateBB: USA flies out to warning track in right. We're playing FREE BASEBALL!

Does this annoy anyone else? I mean how many CWS, all Americans, etc have we had and we celebrating extras against SOUTH ALABAMA. Pathetic

[Smitty]

Hey a slash!!! Foul ball but damn something different

[Smitty]

There's your bunt. If we score we'll lose 9-8

[Smitty]

Collins IBB

[messageboardsuperhero]

How many innings have we at least attempted a sac bunt in? I've lost count, but it seems like about half of our innings.

[chef dixon]

Smith should have went to Vandy

[Intramural All-American]

There's your bunt. If we score we'll lose 9-8

This is where you are wrong. This is the exact situation that bunting is acceptable. Earlier in the game was dumb, not now.

[Smitty]

This is where you are wrong. This is the exact situation that bunting is acceptable. Earlier in the game was dumb, not now.

Why? We aren't the home team.

[chef dixon]

The worst part about this season as a whole is we seem to get at least a baserunner in every inning

[mic]

This is where you are wrong. This is the exact situation that bunting is acceptable. Earlier in the game was dumb, not now.

Yes .... 100%

[Smitty]

This is where you are wrong. This is the exact situation that bunting is acceptable. Earlier in the game was dumb, not now.

Double play. Yes perfect time.

[cbrunt29]

Thank God for that bunt!

[Smitty]

Nice free out there. Derp.

[Intramural All-American]

Why? We aren't the home team.

You don't play for a big inning in extras. You play to get a lead and put all the pressure on the other team. Also, neither team has scored in 4+ innings, it's not like they are hot. Your approach is not wrong in this situation, but neither is Cohens.

[messageboardsuperhero]

Hahahahaha, it's just laughable right now.

[CadaverDawg]

Holy shit, Houston is in? I'm out.

Houston is the equivalent of a white flag.

[cbrunt29]

And we bring in Zac Houston...

[Smitty]

You don't play for a big inning in extras. You play to get a lead and put all the pressure on the other team. Also, neither team has scored in 4+ innings, it's not like they are hot. Your approach is not wrong in this situation, but neither is Cohens.

Why is it any different? Still lessens your chance of scoring. Plus we are the ROAD team. One run might not be enough. "Pressure".. please. Nice platitude.

[Smitty]

Holy shit, Houston is in? I'm out.

Houston is the equivalent of a white flag.

Lol no that's still Tim Statz

[Intramural All-American]

Why is it any different? Still lessens your chance of scoring. Plus we are the ROAD team. One run might not be enough. "Pressure" please. Nice platitude.

You've proven you don't know baseball, I wouldn't expect you to get this either. Carry on.

[msstate7]

Holy shit, Houston is in? I'm out.

Houston is the equivalent of a white flag.

Pre-senior girodo?

[CadaverDawg]

Wonder if we'll allow Houston to walk 2 or 3 before yanking him for Gentry or one of the other clown patrol gang?

[Smitty]

You've proven you don't know baseball, I wouldn't expect you to get this either. Carry on.

Every time I'm right I'm wrong. Always the case.

[Intramural All-American]

Every time I'm right I'm wrong. Always the case.

Hitler thought he was right, too. Just saying.

[CadaverDawg]

There's #1...

[msstate7]

Wonder if we'll allow Houston to walk 2 or 3 before yanking him for Gentry or one of the other clown patrol gang?

I say single, bunt, walk, wild pitch, wild pitch... We loss

[JohnnyQuid]

**** you houston walking leadoff man. get him the hell outta there.

[mstatefan91]

Hitler thought he was right, too. Just saying.

That's a bit extreme there. lol

[cbrunt29]

Leadoff walk. It's over

[Smitty]

Leadoff BB

[confucius say]

Why not go to either Laster, Brown,Sexton, or Tatum, whichever one is not starting this weekend? That seems like the obvious choice. It would be a bullpen day for brown and sexton anyway.

Our not using Laster here tells me he is starting this weekend, not coming out of the pen. Otherwise, he could throw here and again this weekend.

[Smitty]

Please bunt against this guy. We need outs
There it is! Announcers LOVE the bunt.

[msstate7]

HBP or walk?

[Smitty]

3-0 count. They tried to bail Houston out.

[CadaverDawg]

It's as if we are at practice all week and Cohen is sitting on the couch or at our jobs. Bringing in Houston is like saying, "well, it was fun, but we need to get home before it gets too late. School night n shit."

[confucius say]

Can fitts not give us two outs here? Get houston out of there. Nothing personal, but geez.

[Smitty]

Sac bunt

THANK YOU SOUTH ALABAMA

[Smitty]

IBB

Did they not just watch us **** this up?

[CadaverDawg]

IBB

Did they not just watch us **** this up?

We have Houston, and they have a clue at the plate. I think it was a good move for them. Has Houston ever pitched an inning without a hit?

[BulldogBear]

At least we haven't lost yet. We wouldn't be in extra innings if not for our accidental 5 run first inning.

Looking at the bright side***

If we win this game it is in spite of Cohen not because of him.

#meddler

[Smitty]

These announcers clearly cannot see the zone

Pop out to CF

[CadaverDawg]

I'm actually stunned that Houston got out of that. Seriously, I'm shocked.

And I'm out, guys. Hope this ends well...I'll be listening. Good night.

[Smitty]

You don't give a wild clown like Houston a lifeline. Like I said. Thank you South Alabama for a free out. 3-1 count no less.

Backwards K ends it.

[confucius say]

Lost in all of this is that our pen has given up only three runs (all to Ross) in roughly nine innings of work. Great job.

[mstatefan91]

Lol Houston wheelin and dealin

[msstate7]

Atta boy houston

[messageboardsuperhero]

Please bunt against this guy. We need outs
There it is! Announcers LOVE the bunt.

It's all about getting to slap butts in the dugout and tell eachother good job.

If a sacrifice bunt didn't have the word "sacrifice" in it, thus giving the play a heroic martyr type feel- people and coaches would view it much differently, IMO.

[Smitty]

You don't play for a big inning in extras. You play to get a lead and put all the pressure on the other team. Also, neither team has scored in 4+ innings, it's not like they are hot. Your approach is not wrong in this situation, but neither is Cohens.

0/2 so far

[Smitty]

It's all about getting to slap butts in the dugout and tell eachother good job.

If a sacrifice bunt didn't have the word "sacrifice" in it, people and coaches would view it much differently, IMO.

Yep propaganda at its finest. The "noble" sacrifice. Giving yourself up for the team. Straight from the pulpit.

[Smitty]

Robson willie mays hays pop out.

[Smitty]

Donkey with a backwards K.

[preachermatt83]

Keep the play by play coming smitty. This thread is all I've got to finish the game on.

[messageboardsuperhero]

Yep propaganda at its finest. The "noble" sacrifice. Giving yourself up for the team. Straight from the pulpit.

I've heard Cohen preach this... Says "the sacrifice is so much a part of our 'identity' as a program, yada yada." Bull shit.

There are much better ways to sacrifice yourself/give yourself up for the good of your team than to give the other guys free outs.

[Smitty]

Spruill backwards K

Argh!!!!!!!!!!! **** you Cohen!!!!

[Percho]

scared to swing the bats and win a game. looking for walks

[Smitty]

F7

One down

[preachermatt83]

Going down looking more than once in a blue moon would get you benched for good if I'm coaching.

[maroonmania]

Even though we've scored 7 runs tonight its still frustrating that we got a 5 spot in the 1st inning yet here we sit in the 11th (10 innings later) with only 2 runs since.

[Smitty]

Even though we've scored 7 runs tonight its still frustrating that we got a 5 spot in the 1st inning yet here we sit in the 11th (10 innings later) with only 2 runs since.

And we tried to get 1 in the first...

Houston walk.

[CadaverDawg]

Preacher, you can listen to Jim call the game on the Out of Bounds app. Click on "listen live" and you'll get it. If you can, just an FYI.

[Smitty]

Houston doing his best Evan Mitchell. All over the place.

[Smitty]

Another ****ing walk. Get his ass out of there!!

[JohnnyQuid]

base hit. score. ballgame. glad we left houston in so long. ****

[CadaverDawg]

http://i1.cpcache.com/product_zoom/419908379/houston_we_have_a_problem_trucker_hat.jpg?height=2 50&width=250&padToSquare=true

Like I said, the game was over when we brought the human BB in

[Smitty]

Gap shot. Ballgame.

Walk home Cohen. **** you.

[confucius say]

Why in the world would we not go to hudson, fitts for two outs, one of the four who is not starting this weekend (laster, brown, tatum, sexton). So freaking stupid.

[Ralph]

We ****ing suck

[msstate7]

Year 7 and we're horrible. I almost wish we'd tank hard so we can get rid of cohen. Sick of his crap

[Smitty]

Looking forward to his excuses this post game

[JohnnyQuid]

Looking forward to his excuses this post game

Just needed to execute that sac bunt in the first** Gotta compete**

[messageboardsuperhero]

Looking forward to his excuses this post game

"I made all the right calls, but the guys couldn't get the bunts down."- Cohen**

[BulldogBear]

Looking forward to his excuses this post game
Gotta find a radio.

"Holy Hot Hammered Dogsh*t Batman!"

[maroonmania]

This season ended with Saturday's loss to Auburn. Whatever happens now is just throwing more dirt on the grave. Would be nice though to not tank so hard this year as to totally humiliate the program.

[HancockCountyDog]

2 runs in 10 innings against South Alabama.

[messageboardsuperhero]

Just needed to execute that sac bunt in the first** Gotta compete**

"If we execute that sac bunt after the leadoff double in the first inning, this is a whole different ballgame."

Yeah Cohen- then we lose by 5 in nine innings.

[Smitty]

"Yeah Jim uhhhhh you know we gotta compete out there on the mound. Uhhhhhh you know came out and the bats did their job (no thanks to me trying to **** it up) and you know uhhhhhh we gotta be better on the mound (even though I keep rolling with Ross). You know, uhhhhh, yeah Jim we just have to get more out of our kids."

http://www.cdispatch.com/images/articles/l_pmesl6242013101313AM.jpg

My prediction from the blockhead.

[Smitty]

Daniel Brown couldn't find the zone.
Ross threw one fastball that was a mistake, the most pivotal part of the game.
Kids competed hard, especially offensively.
Reid did good.
Gotta hope some things go our way.
Mintz was great.
Our pen doesn't have swing and miss.
IF errors cost us runs. Blamed it on never playing at South Alabama….?????
Cody doing good.
Colins took good swings.
Didn't sequence the offense right.
Cant blow a 5 run lead.
Can't walk 8 guys.

Jim continues to puss out on his questions. Only baseball where there is NEVER ANY accountability on the coaches dumbassery. The words 'bunt' or 'Vickerson' NOT mentioned at all.

[Skydawg1]

Jim and Ron Polk were a marriage made in Heaven. Nowadays...its just weird.

[JohnnyQuid]

Didn't even have the stomach to listen to his postgame bullshit tonight. same generic questions/excuses im sure

[Dallas_Dawg]

What a great attitude.

We suck

[Smitty]

2 AB's to Gridley GONE to Reynolds and Spruill

4 bunt attempts from the 2-hole tonight. Vickerson gets 1 AB on his own.

[messageboardsuperhero]

Daniel Brown couldn't find the zone.
Ross threw one fastball that was a mistake, the most pivotal part of the game.
Kids competed hard, especially offensively.
Reid did good.
Gotta hope some things go our way.
Mintz was great.
Our pen doesn't have swing and miss.
IF errors cost us runs. Blamed it on never playing at South Alabama….?????
Cody doing good.
Colins took good swings.
Didn't sequence the offense right.
Cant blow a 5 run lead.
Can't walk 8 guys.

Jim continues to puss out on his questions. Only baseball where there is NEVER ANY accountability on the coaches dumbassery. The words 'bunt' or 'Vickerson' NOT mentioned at all.

I don't mind our University employed radio play-by-play man not asking tough questions... That's not really his job.

The real question is why do our independent beat writers not ask about it? They are pussies, that's why.

[ScottH]

[QUOTE=messageboardsuperhero;354178

The real question is why do our independent beat writers not ask about it? They are pussies, that's why.[/QUOTE]

But god forbid a football player get a speeding ticket. It will be on the Fn front page.

[maroonmania]

2 AB's to Gridley GONE to Reynolds and Spruill

4 bunt attempts from the 2-hole tonight. Vickerson gets 1 AB on his own.

Its all Cody Brown's fault for getting on base so much ahead of him.

[War Machine Dawg]

Year 7 and we're horrible. I almost wish we'd tank hard so we can get rid of cohen. Sick of his crap

Shhh....The Meddler just needs more time to get better recruits. He's only had 6 classes. You can't be expected to compete sooner than 10 Years.****

[Smitty]

Guys we should have expected this… Our RPI was 125, USA's was 98.

[cbrunt29]

Guys we should have expected this… Our RPI was 125, USA's was 98.
We won't be in spitting distance from the ncaa tourney

[ScottH]

Guys we should have expected this… Our RPI was 125, USA's was 98.

The interesting thing is if one of our ending series is against a bubble NCAA SEC team (I'm too lazy to see who we end the season with) and our RPI stays crappy it could mathematically hurt them to play us or god forbid slip up and lose to us.

I don't recall us having an RPI like this 30 plus games in sans maybe Cohen year 1.

[RougeDawg]

I agree with shortened or no stride approach with 2 strikes but throwing your hands is only good for trying to be defensive and fouling off a pitch that you were probably fooled on. It causes casting and a downward swing that you will miss the ball or hit weak grounders at a too high of percentage. By throwing the hands at the ball the bat is in the hitting zone a much smaller amount of time and is not on the plane of the pitch. Your timing with this technique has to be spot on to even get a piece of the ball since you are coming from a downward angle. Not to mention you can't throw them far enough to reach low and away. Your hands have to stay above and inside the ball. If we go back to alum bats and AstroTurf (which is when this was taught mostly, 40-30 years ago) you could get away with this technique more but not today.

Maybe our definition of throwing hands differs. The best baseball "swings" technically is not a "round motion" that most people envision in a swing. Proper baseball "swings" are simply pushing "throwing" your hands from point A to B in a straight line motion from where they start to the point you want to make contact. The proper swing more resembles a bench press motion to the point of contact and the only actual swing motion is the natural follow through after contact. And the follow through of a proper swing finishes out in front of the body and back up over the front shoulder. This ensures full extension at contact. Watch any decent power hitter on TV and you'll notice their hands continuo out in front of home plate after contact and finish high over their shoulder. You rarely see someone with a "gate" swing that finishes with the bat wrapping around their mid torso, have much power or average for that matter.

[Really Clark?]

Maybe our definition of throwing hands differs. The best baseball "swings" technically is not a "round motion" that most people envision in a swing. Proper baseball "swings" are simply pushing "throwing" your hands from point A to B in a straight line motion from where they start to the point you want to make contact. The proper swing more resembles a bench press motion to the point of contact and the only actual swing motion is the natural follow through after contact. And the follow through of a proper swing finishes out in front of the body and back up over the front shoulder. This ensures full extension at contact. Watch any decent power hitter on TV and you'll notice their hands continuo out in front of home plate after contact and finish high over their shoulder. You rarely see someone with a "gate" swing that finishes with the bat wrapping around their mid torso, have much power or average for that matter.

You have stated a couple of things that make me believe you are as advocating strickly linear mechanics which if you look at video of the best hitters you will find that they do not take their hands from point A to point B (very old fundamental for linear hitting). But let's start with a pretty good hitter from the 70's and see what he did. Now I don't agree with all of this particular guy's teachings. But in a high level swing (including the vast majority of hall of fame players) you are rotating to contact not a linear arm path.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Huda3vQUPN4

Now there are linear components with your lower body to generate power but your hand path is not straight to the ball it's circular.

[Really Clark?]

Josh Hamilton. Note he drove the ball opposite field with power.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb3j2WUaAco

I am not advocating any teaching done on the videos just posting for visual of the rotational swing that high level swings have.

[Really Clark?]

Will Myers. Note outside pitch and he is not throwing or taking his hands to the ball. He is still using rotational swing and CHP.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2BG86G7xNY0