How the f@&k do you leave Fitts in when he can barely throw it?

[RocketCityDawg]

Leaving Fitts in well after he was kaput wasn't enough? I'm not a Cohen basher at all, but I am not a baseball guru by any means, and I could see on my TV that Fitts was done, and if I could see it, I know the staff and everyone else could see it. Stringing him out like that did nothing but lose him for us the rest of series. Fitts didn't deserve that.

So even though you have the gift of hindsight at this point, I'll ask. Who would you have put in? Exactly when would you have put him in?
Cohen/Butch didn't trust anyone else to throw strikes. They thought their best chance was to let the senior gut it out. I agreed with that decision, but I definitely understand that some people disagreed.

[Tbonewannabe]

Dakota Hudson looked ok when he came in. Fitts hasn't gone more than 2 or 3 innings all year and he threw almost 90 pitches. Fitts wasn't going to give up. I am extremely proud of the way he gutted it out but he was going on pure grit for the last 2 innings. At some point Cohen had to pull him and he waited too long. I was expecting another dirt pitch for the winning run. Fitts was as done as I have seen a pitcher in a while.

[maroonmania]

So even though you have the gift of hindsight at this point, I'll ask. Who would you have put in? Exactly when would you have put him in?
Cohen/Butch didn't trust anyone else to throw strikes. They thought their best chance was to let the senior gut it out. I agreed with that decision, but I definitely understand that some people disagreed.

Whatever, the pitching wasn't the problem. We only scored 1 run in 13 innings after the 1st which is beyond terrible. Even after getting 1 run in the 9th to tie we got 4 more innings from our pitchers (10th-13th innings) that one run would have won it and we couldn't do it. Worrying about what pitching moves we made is pointless. How long were we suppose to hold the best offense in the SEC scoreless?

[Pollodawg]

So even though you have the gift of hindsight at this point, I'll ask. Who would you have put in? Exactly when would you have put him in?
Cohen/Butch didn't trust anyone else to throw strikes. They thought their best chance was to let the senior gut it out. I agreed with that decision, but I definitely understand that some people disagreed.

You have to take the chance with someone else at that point. The longer any pitcher stays in, the more velocity and control they lose. That is an absolutely certainty. So, basically, you're faced with the certain knowledge of Fitts losing steam, which you can SEE with your own eyes and which you know is inevitable since people aren't machines, and yet you STILL don't pull homeboy when you know the inevitable is coming?

You know beyond doubt the higher his numbers climb, the less effective his arm is. This is especially true for a closer who isn't used to throwing it that many times a game.

[RocketCityDawg]

Whatever, the pitching wasn't the problem. We only scored 1 run in 13 innings after the 1st which is beyond terrible. Even after getting 1 run in the 9th to tie we got 4 more innings from our pitchers (10th-13th innings) that one run would have won it and we couldn't do it. Worrying about what pitching moves we made is pointless. How long were we suppose to hold the best offense in the SEC scoreless?

If we look at it like that, which is valid, I agree. But I could also add that we would have scored enough to win the game in 9 innings if we could round 3rd without falling down and hurting ourselves. That's the reason we lost. Period. Bottom line. Bob's your uncle.

[Pollodawg]

Whatever, the pitching wasn't the problem. We only scored 1 run in 13 innings after the 1st which is beyond terrible. Even after getting 1 run in the 9th to tie we got 4 more innings from our pitchers (10th-13th innings) that one run would have won it and we couldn't do it. Worrying about what pitching moves we made is pointless. How long were we suppose to hold the best offense in the SEC scoreless?

This. The lack of offense is what's most inexcusable in all honesty.

[basedog]

At this point and time, it doesn't really matter, we are done. I just talked to my Lsu buddy, he said "well watching at least we have talent to overcome our coaching blunders, Cohen can't win w/o talent plus what was he thinking leaving Fitts in, Ray Charles could see he was done after the jam he got of in the 13th innning".

[RocketCityDawg]

You have to take the chance with someone else at that point. The longer any pitcher stays in, the more velocity and control they lose. That is an absolutely certainty. So, basically, you're faced with the certain knowledge of Fitts losing steam, which you can SEE with your own eyes and which you know is inevitable since people aren't machines, and yet you STILL don't pull homeboy when you know the inevitable is coming?

You know beyond doubt the higher his numbers climb, the less effective his arm is. This is especially true for a closer who isn't used to throwing it that many times a game.

I respect your opinion, but I think Cohen/Butch thought exhausted Fitts was their best option. So, given that that was their thinking, shouldn't you go with what you think is your best option?

[RocketCityDawg]

This. The lack of offense is what's most inexcusable in all honesty.

I disagree. They hit well enough to beat the #1 team in the country last night. They also pitched well enough to beat the #1 team in the country. Just had a guy that couldn't round 3rd base without falling down and hurting himself.

[Tbonewannabe]

I respect your opinion, but I think Cohen/Butch thought exhausted Fitts was their best option. So, given that that was their thinking, shouldn't you go with what you think is your best option?

I respect their opinion but I also don't agree with it. After the 2 dirt pitches, it looked like it took everything he had to even throw a strike. I think the LSU guy was probably taking the first pitch since they had just moved from 2nd to 3rd. I thought it was 50/50 that it would be another dirt pitch. It was also his 3rd time to see Fitts. Just because he had done well when he had more in the tank didn't mean he owned the guy. Usually hitters get better against a pitcher after seeing them.

It was a huge gamble and it went bad.

[RocketCityDawg]

At this point and time, it doesn't really matter, we are done. I just talked to my Lsu buddy, he said "well watching at least we have talent to overcome our coaching blunders, Cohen can't win w/o talent plus what was he thinking leaving Fitts in, Ray Charles could see he was done after the jam he got of in the 13th innning".

What? I guess most coaches can win without talent? Wait, I see that an LSU buddy said that to you. That explains it. That's the dumbest thing I've read on here all day. Congrats to your buddy for that observation.

Yes, Fitts was done. I'm sure your LSU buddy hasn't watched our bullpen all year. I have, and I agreed with John/Butch that exhausted Fitts was still our best option at that point. I understand that most people are disagreeing with that. But at this point in this season, most people just want to bitch and complain.

[Tbonewannabe]

If Fitts with nothing left in the tank was our best option. We might as well give up the next 2 games if our starters don't throw complete games. It would be a sign that we don't have anyone left that might can get an out coming out of the pen. The only worse decision would have to brought Ross Mitchell in.

[Tbonewannabe]

What? I guess most coaches can win without talent? Wait, I see that an LSU buddy said that to you. That explains it. That's the dumbest thing I've read on here all day. Congrats to your buddy for that observation.

Yes, Fitts was done. I'm sure your LSU buddy hasn't watched our bullpen all year. I have, and I agreed with John/Butch that exhausted Fitts was still our best option at that point. I understand that most people are disagreeing with that. But at this point in this season, most people just want to bitch and complain.

I don't understand how a guy that has thrown 2 straight pitches in the dirt in the other batters box would be our best option. Dakota Hudson looked pretty good coming in and getting an easy grounder the next batter.

[RocketCityDawg]

If Fitts with nothing left in the tank was our best option. We might as well give up the next 2 games if our starters don't throw complete games. It would be a sign that we don't have anyone left that might can get an out coming out of the pen. The only worse decision would have to brought Ross Mitchell in.

I kind of agree with this statement. I didn't see the Tuesday night game, but I did hear that Tatum was not available last night, or at least was not supposed to be. Maybe, we can get something out of him if we can manage to stay close in one of these next 2 games.

[RocketCityDawg]

I don't understand how a guy that has thrown 2 straight pitches in the dirt in the other batters box would be our best option. Dakota Hudson looked pretty good coming in and getting an easy grounder the next batter.

Hindsight is 20/20. Did Fitts walk the guy? No, he nutted up and threw strikes.
Would Hudson have been as good if the pressure was on, and the game was still tied with runners all over the bases?

[Tbonewannabe]

I kind of agree with this statement. I didn't see the Tuesday night game, but I did hear that Tatum was not available last night, or at least was not supposed to be. Maybe, we can get something out of him if we can manage to stay close in one of these next 2 games.

Our starters are going to have to go at least 7 innings. Is it possible to get run ruled in SEC games? I was wondering if we could flip Sexton and Brown just to give us a better chance on Saturday. Cohen did it his first few years to prevent getting swept.

[Tbonewannabe]

Hindsight is 20/20. Did Fitts walk the guy? No, he nutted up and threw strikes.
Would Hudson have been as good if the pressure was on, and the game was still tied with runners all over the bases?

We will never know if Hudson would have crumbled. I just think Cohen shouldn't be surprised that Fitts didn't come through. He put him in a position to fail. I think it says more about the rest of our pitching staff that basically Cohen didn't trust any of them when it was obvious Fitts was done.

[whosyourdawgy]

The bases loaded swinging on a 2-0 count by Holland is so not a Cohen thing. Person was struggling mightily then and you make him throw strikes before you swing the batt. Who knows. He may have thrown 3 straight strikes. But U don't swing there period. And we were aggressive most of the night until the later innings. I know on 2 of Collins Ks late he came up basically w his bat on his shoulder on the first pitch and both at bats they were right down the middle and his best pitch to try and hit on both at bats. This team is just all over the place and has no confidence whatsoever. Our pitching last night was fantastic but we just can't do shit on offense. And Fitts didn't deserve to be put in the situation he got in in the 14th. He had pitched his ass off, was spent, and deserved a pat on the back and good job and go ice up and let Houston go in.

But the biggest mistake of the game was by a pinch runner. His job was to run and not fall down He didn't and we ended up having to use our 2 best relief pitchers up and still lose. That separates shoulder isn't all that is hurting him right now. His pride takes a hit every time he watches that debacle on film knowing it cost us game 1 and hurt us for 2 and 3

[tcdog70]

I agree with what you are saying. And I'm not picking on you about this, but at least we were giving them the chance to do it last night. As much complaining as the board does about Cohen micro-managing the game too much and not being aggressive, we have a disagreement on swinging at a strike on a 2-0 count. Why are the arm chair coaches wanting to be aggressive except when it was perfect time to be aggressive? People call Cohen a meddler and too conservative (I actually agree with that at times) but here we are struggling for a while now, playing a good team very tough, actually swinging the bat more, and now you want to take on 2-0? Really? Talk about split personalities. In that moment (and in 90% of game strategies) I want my player trying to win the game not the opposing pitcher or ump. You can't control them. But given our season and the situation and wanting my players to be aggressive, win or lose you DO NOT take a 2-0 pitch if it is a pitch you think you can drive. I want to win the game but I have a better chance knocking in the winning run then waiting on a walk (which has been beaten to death on the board about not being aggressive). At 3-0 I take. At 2-0 I let a borderline pitch go but if I like it you have to swing. Especially at this point in the season when we have very little to play for and really need a spark. I'm playing to not just win the game but also give my team some life.

Why do they call the 2-0 the "Cripple Pitch" because it is the batters advantage-hit the MFER. I am also a big proponent of when men are in scoring position hit the first pitch fast ball.. Get an organ and a monkey if you are going to beg.

[Really Clark?]

This is for everybody who wants to take that 2-0 pitch in that situation. There are times where I might would consider it. But with this team struggling, at this point in the season, for a regular season conference win? No way do I take. He doesn't even have to get a hit to win. It didn't work. I understand that but there would not have been one person question the decision if he does anything with the ball that scores. Not a one of you would have been harping about how that was a poor decision. You can't always look at the result of the situation to make these poor call, good call judgements. You have to base the judgement to swing before you know the result. Now if this is for a tourney or regional win, I may make a different call. Doubt it but you have to be flexible as a coach. But last night, when a knock in winning run would have given my team a ton of confidence, I swing away and have full confidence that I am right. And my player would agree as well. If I am going to fail then it's going to because of my effort or my call, not waiting on someone else to fail.