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2019 Baseball Coaching Review
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Musicowl1965 Offline
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Post: #21
RE: 2019 Baseball Coaching Review
(03-10-2020 09:13 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  
(03-10-2020 08:49 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  
(06-01-2019 05:08 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  Looking forward to next year and the improvement I know is coming for the team.

So far, that hasn't aged well.

When Bragga was hired, I posted that he should get my standard three years for evaluation. I still hold to that. Although I'd have to say that the returns so far do not look good, the incoming freshman class next year is supposed to be super, and I would wait at least that long before making a move. By the way, quick question, who is handling the bulk of recruiting duties on this staff?

Corey Barton (pitching coach) is the primary recruiter, but Paul Janish is also involved.

We all knew the pitching staff would be a giant question mark this year with the departures of Canterino, Kravitz, Parthasarathy, Gayle, Jeffries and Moss, the latter of which was unexpected. However, the injuries to Conlon and Woods, and the prolonged rehab of Garcia, has certainly made a bad situation even worse. What is hard to explain is the lack of offense and the absolutely horrible and passive approach at the plate, especially since this is supposedly Bragga's calling card.

Agree with this. I too was hoping for more offense this season. Unfortunately when we had good hitting Tech did as well and just "out bashed" us. The bull pen is the most glaring weakness at this point in the season. While watching the games against Tech it was like Coach Bragga was just trying to "will some success" from his BP when the high scoring game was starting to implode.

How he and Barton manage the BP going forward will, I think, be the determining factor in, hopefully, future wins. Starting pitching was not the issue this past weekend. As has been stated on this board in the past I do think the relievers should be in the bull pen area by the 5th inning of every game. Allows for physical as well a mental preparation prior to getting number called. I understand the "we're all a team" approach and wanting all of the pitchers in the dugout to support the team and or starting pitcher but most relievers like to have at least some time to prepare to enter the game. This should not be "run out of dugout, hurry up with band work, weighted balls etc., throw 8 pitches to see if curve ball is working and then come into what is usually a high leverage situation. Most relievers can evaluate game situations, from bull pen, and figure out that they may be called on in short order and can prepare accordingly. Watch how Vandy handles their BP and where the relievers are during games. Good program to emulate IMO.

Still a supporter of staff and team and optimistic that fortunes will turn for the better.

I do wish my end of 2019 season comments had aged better as well!!!
03-10-2020 11:07 AM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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Post: #22
RE: 2019 Baseball Coaching Review
(03-10-2020 11:07 AM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  Still a supporter of staff and team and optimistic that fortunes will turn for the better.

I am also optimistic that fortunes will turn for the better at some point (they almost have to). I would never make a move with a new hire coach before the third year, unless there are some serious improprieties, and I'm aware of none in this case.

Next year's recruiting class is supposed to be outstanding. To those who say that the money thing has not been a problem in recent years, I would offer that next year is the first class recruited with the Rice Endowment in place, and it seems a substantial improvement.

I will admit that my enthusiasm for the baseball program right now is somewhat tempered by my absolute dissatisfaction with the way Wayne was treated. I'll repeat what I've said before, I would have told Wayne to pick his successor, coach 2019 with his successor onboard, turn the reins over for 2020 and function as a coach emeritus on a sundown cruise, and then we would create some sort of alumni relations/fundraising position--kind of combining what Lamar did with Jim Gilligan and what UH did earlier with Bill Yeoman. I have a pretty good idea whom Wayne would have chosen in that scenario, and I can't say at this point that we'd be far ahead of where we are. But I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be worse, and at the very least we could say that we handled the transition with the class that Wayne truly deserved.

I would describe my current position as supportive of the team and open minded toward Bragga. We shall see how it turns out.
03-10-2020 02:47 PM
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illiniowl Offline
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Post: #23
RE: 2019 Baseball Coaching Review
(03-10-2020 02:47 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Next year's recruiting class is supposed to be outstanding. To those who say that the money thing has not been a problem in recent years, I would offer that next year is the first class recruited with the Rice Endowment in place, and it seems a substantial improvement.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc, eh? Next year's recruiting class is also the first one recruited without significant uncertainty as to the coaching direction of the program. Given that that factor is important to 100% of recruits, and need-based financial aid issues are important to far less than 100% of recruits, I know which factor I'd think is more responsible for an upturn in recruiting.
03-10-2020 04:35 PM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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Post: #24
RE: 2019 Baseball Coaching Review
(03-10-2020 04:35 PM)illiniowl Wrote:  
(03-10-2020 02:47 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Next year's recruiting class is supposed to be outstanding. To those who say that the money thing has not been a problem in recent years, I would offer that next year is the first class recruited with the Rice Endowment in place, and it seems a substantial improvement.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc, eh? Next year's recruiting class is also the first one recruited without significant uncertainty as to the coaching direction of the program. Given that that factor is important to 100% of recruits, and need-based financial aid issues are important to far less than 100% of recruits, I know which factor I'd think is more responsible for an upturn in recruiting.

No.

I'd say uncertainty about the coaching future was a factor up until perhaps last year, and perhaps some further carryover effect, given that lots of baseball players are recruited young. But I don't think that's 100% of it, and from talking with parents, believe me the money matters.
03-10-2020 05:07 PM
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