Game 1 MSU vs the shitheads

[MarketingBully]

I think we were too amped up for the in state rivalry. Getting the game 1 win should loosen us up and relax the ABs tomorrow or whenever we play the KlanSharts again.

Let’s hope. It’s been like that at Tennessee, Arkansas, A&M, and now the first game against Ole Miss. Which is precisely why a National Seed is paramount for us to get to Omaha.

[Cooterpoot]

The SEC tried. They’ll probably give us a female ump on her period tomorrow.

[Todd4State]

Hell no, but it's the mission we HAD to accomplish to make sure we hang on to the Natty seed

I think we clinched a regional host bid tonight. We will finish with 40 wins, a winning record in league play and worst case scenario .500 on the road this year in true road games.

I know you mean that we did what we needed to do at a bare minimum. But winning this series probably clinches us a National Seed and puts us at worst on the bubble so we still have a lot to play for especially since things can happen in baseball. Also if we win the series we have a legit shot at winning 20 SEC games this year.

[Todd4State]

I think we were too amped up for the in state rivalry. Getting the game 1 win should loosen us up and relax the ABs tomorrow or whenever we play the KlanSharts again.

Ethridge is a good pitcher for them. I'll give him credit. He's a SEC ace and probably in the top half of the league as far as aces go.

The difference is Small is just better.

[Todd4State]

Let’s hope. It’s been like that at Tennessee, Arkansas, A&M, and now the first game against Ole Miss. Which is precisely why a National Seed is paramount for us to get to Omaha.

Those are two of the better pitching teams in the league statistically and Arkansas is apparently unbeatable in Fayetteville this year. Or close to it.

[Todd4State]

Built for Omaha. We're gonna be a load in that big ball park if we get there

This is a good point.

[MarketingBully]

Those are two of the better pitching teams in the league statistically and Arkansas is apparently unbeatable in Fayetteville this year. Or close to it.

Arkansas’s staff was not good at that point. We had a lot of non competitive at bats that weekend and also had non competitive at bats the other weekends as well. We destroyed Georgia pitching at DNF who had we not destroyed them would have had the number 1 staff in the league. Face it, we are much better hitting the ball at home then on the road which is why it’s crucial for us to get the national seed. We are good on neutral fields and bad ass at home but on the road just not nearly as good at all. Luckily our pitching has really picked us up this first game and last weekend. We win one more this weekend and we won’t have to play another true road game again this year.

[ShotgunDawg]

Arkansas’s staff was not good at that point. We had a lot of non competitive at bats that weekend and also had non competitive at bats the other weekends as well. We destroyed Georgia pitching at DNF who had we not destroyed them would have had the number 1 staff in the league. Face it, we are much better hitting the ball at home then on the road which is why it’s crucial for us to get the national seed. We are good on neutral fields and bad ass at home but on the road just not nearly as good at all. Luckily our pitching has really picked us up this first game and last weekend. We win one more this weekend and we won’t have to play another true road game again this year.

We're better than Arkansas on the mound.

I like our chances in Omaha where the wind will be blowing in & the team with better pitching should win.

Arkansas heavily benefits from a Southeast facing field that allow their big left handed hitters to hit HRs when the wind is blowing from the North and out to RF. It's been a cool spring & most of Arkansas' home games have been played with the wind coming from the North. They are very very good, but our starting pitching is better on Friday & Sat & that should be the difference in Omaha

Already this weekend, with the wind blowing out to RF in Fayetteville, Arkansas has gotten HRs from these lefties.

Kjerstad
Ezell
Fletcher
Kenley
Opitz

Additionally, LSU has hit two HRs. Cabrera to RF & Saul Garza drove one opposite field out to RF

Casey Martin is the only person that has hit a HR to LF this weekend.

In Omaha, with the wind blowing from the South & in from RF, Arkansas' game plan is going to have to change.

[DancingRabbit]

I think we clinched a regional host bid tonight. We will finish with 40 wins, a winning record in league play and worst case scenario .500 on the road this year in true road games.

I know you mean that we did what we needed to do at a bare minimum. But winning this series probably clinches us a National Seed and puts us at worst on the bubble so we still have a lot to play for especially since things can happen in baseball. Also if we win the series we have a legit shot at winning 20 SEC games this year.

Wow, that would be cool. Was '89 the only time that happened?

[BuckyIsAB****]

Tomo when you wake up the grass will be greener, your wife/GF will be prettier and your food will taste better. GTHOM

[Todd4State]

Wow, that would be cool. Was '89 the only time that happened?

No. We did it as recently as 2016.

[DancingRabbit]

No. We did it as recently as 2016.

That other time! Had the 89 team on my mind last few days

.

[The Federalist Engineer]

U

That other time! Had the 89 team on my mind last few days

.

To prevent future 40 year olds from lugubrious day dreams about 2016 in the year 2036, we need a damn National Title or two.

By the way, great to read this thread after the fact. I'm in Europe this week and Ball games happen at 3am over here.

[cujo]

Polk?s first Omaha team @ MSU.

[State82]

Polk?s first Omaha team @ MSU.

And one of the best all-around teams we've ever had. Those guys could rake.

[Saltydog]

I think we clinched a regional host bid tonight. We will finish with 40 wins, a winning record in league play and worst case scenario .500 on the road this year in true road games.

I know you mean that we did what we needed to do at a bare minimum. But winning this series probably clinches us a National Seed and puts us at worst on the bubble so we still have a lot to play for especially since things can happen in baseball. Also if we win the series we have a legit shot at winning 20 SEC games this year.

Wow, that would be cool. Was '89 the only time that happened?

No, we've done it before. We won 21 league games in 2016...?.

[ShotgunDawg]

First of all he's deceptive & has awesome command.

Just as importantly though his fastball spins on a very 12/6 axis from a high slot that allows it to hold plane & accelerate through the strike zone.

Most every pitcher you ever seen in your life back spins the baseball on pretty much an 11/5 axis which causes the ball to naturally run a bit &, when a baseball runs, it loses straight line force. However, since Small's fastball spins on damn near a 12/6 axis, it doesn't run & thus accelerates or holds velocity & force through the hitting zone.

Remember, velocities are taken when the ball ball leaves the pitcher's hand. For example: lets say a pitcher's fastball is 95 mph. The hitter gears up for 95, but, due to the natural run of the pitch, the ball may only cross the plate at 89 mph. However, Small throws 91-92 but the ball crosses the plate at about 88-89 mph due to not losing force. Hitter's brains are calibrated through thousands of at-bats in their career to expect the ball to be in a certain place at contact, but Small's ball due it's unique qualities, isn't where the hitter expects it to be & thus they swing & miss at an extremely high rate.

Hope that makes sense

Maybe just pin this answer to the top of the board. Sixpack is asking the same question right now and I refuse to type all this again.

[ShotgunDawg]

People say that Small's fast ball has a high spin rate but it doesn't. It's actually a low spin rate FB that holds plane due to it's 12/6 axis(almost 100% spin efficiency)

Bump

[ShotgunDawg]

It helps him but it's not what makes him special. What makes Small special is the ingredients of his fast ball.

However, it does assist him but most pitchers lack the balance & body control to do what he does at his balance position.

Additionally, the new way of teaching deliveries & velocity is big on momentum & gaining it through the delivery, which would go against stopping at the balance position like Small does.

For example: Wes Johnson is a very modern pitching coach & a damn good one as evidenced by the Minnesota Twins play right now, & the first thing he did with Dakota Hudson was speed up his delivery a hair. Same thing with Blaine Knight at Arkansas.

Hope that makes sense

Bump

[Really Clark?]

First of all he's deceptive & has awesome command.

Just as importantly though his fastball spins on a very 12/6 axis from a high slot that allows it to hold plane & accelerate through the strike zone.

Most every pitcher you ever seen in your life back spins the baseball on pretty much an 11/5 axis which causes the ball to naturally run a bit &, when a baseball runs, it loses straight line force. However, since Small's fastball spins on damn near a 12/6 axis, it doesn't run & thus accelerates or holds velocity & force through the hitting zone.

Remember, velocities are taken when the ball ball leaves the pitcher's hand. For example: lets say a pitcher's fastball is 95 mph. The hitter gears up for 95, but, due to the natural run of the pitch, the ball may only cross the plate at 89 mph. However, Small throws 91-92 but the ball crosses the plate at about 88-89 mph due to not losing force. Hitter's brains are calibrated through thousands of at-bats in their career to expect the ball to be in a certain place at contact, but Small's ball due it's unique qualities, isn't where the hitter expects it to be & thus they swing & miss at an extremely high rate. 91-93 mph at release is more like 82-84 mph at the plate

Hope that makes sense

Good stuff Shotgun. However, and I know you were just giving an example, but for clarification and depending on environmental factors, typically you lose closer to 8-12% of velocity from release to home plate. This is dependent on the actual velocity and magnus force. But on average 95 mph release is closer to 85-86 mph at the plate. 91-92 at release is around 82-84 mph at the plate. But all things being equal even with his spin rate and axis, Small can’t overcome gravity and air resistance to keep his speed at only a 2-3 mph difference at release to plate.