Monday April 07, 2008

Trouble; Spring Game; Augusta

Trouble in Paradise?
For years Clemson baseball has been the model of consistency. In 2008, the only consistency is the inconsistency.

This baseball team continues to not take care of the little things and it seems to find new ways to lose close games.

Sunday it was two routine plays might have cost the Tigers a chance against Miami. Ben Paulson was charged with an error after he pulled his foot off of the bag after a throw from shortstop Stan Widmann. Later in the game left fielder Jeff Schaus was charged with an error after he dropped a fly ball near the foul line. Both costs the Tigers runs.

Saturday night the Tigers had a 5-2 lead before losing 15-5. Again miscues helped the Canes as Schaus lost a fly ball in the lights or sky and it opened the flood gates.

Good teams do the little things well. They don’t give the opponents extra outs. They get the lead-off batter out and keep him off base. They make the routine plays and add an occasional great play. The throw strikes and get ahead in the count.

Offensively, good teams get the leadoff runner on. They move runners over. They hit behind base runners. Good teams don’t leave many runners in scoring position. They work the count.

Good teams get the lead early and hang on to close out teams when they get leads. Good teams take advantage of opportunities and create new ones.

But this team is not good right now. Defense continues to be an issue. But perhaps the biggest issue is toughness. It seems whenever this team makes a mistake they can’t stop the bleeding. Instead of picking up a teammate after an error, this team usually gives up another big hit. Usually Leggett’s teams are tough and they usually fight back from adversity but so far this team has not been able to do that.

Last week Clemson went 0-5 and was outscored 45-22 and it will continue to be difficult this week with a trip to Columbia Wednesday before returning home to face highly ranked UNC this weekend and South Carolina next Wednesday night.

I started having concerns about this team as soon as last season ended because I thought it might be one of those rebuilding type of years. There are talent issues for this team and youth is certainly a factor. Injuries have also shown up this season. But I did not see Clemson not being a tough team. I did not see them losing by not taking care of the little things. If anything I thought team might have been one that could have been scrappy and fought through the talent issue.

When UNC comes in here this weekend and South Carolina comes to town next week come to the ball park and you will see a physically good looking bunch of players. Clemson does not look like that. However, because the Tigers don’t, they cannot continue to lose games by losing the battles in the “little things department.”

Spring Game Weekend
I watch the weather channel all of the time to keep a constant eye on our weather. It looks like we could have nice weather for what could be a great spring game weekend.

The folks at Littlejohn have a concert series in town that features some big name acts both Friday and Saturday and the baseball team has a series with top-five ranked North Carolina Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

However, the big draw this weekend is the spring game as Tommy Bowden’s squad takes the field for the last time until August. Spring games are not the most exciting but at least its football and at least you get a chance to see some great young players.

Tigers in Augusta
I know a lot of our readers make the trip to Augusta National at some point this week and this year Clemson fans will get to see two former Tigers walk the famous course. Jonathan Byrd and D.J. Trahan are in the field this year in Augusta.

Byrd and Trahan have both played in the Masters in the past and are two of the nine former Tigers to have played in the event.

Byrd is one of five former Tigers to have made the cut in the Masters as he played extremely well in 2003. He shot 74-71-71-72 for a even par 288 total that year to finish tied for 8th. Byrd made $162,000 for the event. The eighth place finish was the highest of any former Tiger at The Masters.

He shot 79-74 and missed the cut in 2004.

Trahan played as an amateur while he was still at Clemson in 2001. He shot 75-78 to miss the cut.

For Byrd, this will be his eighth major. In 2003 at the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields he shot 69-66-71-76. His 282 total was two over par and his 15th place finish is the highest for any former Clemson player at the U.S. Open.

Byrd returned to the U.S. Open the following year but shot 74-78 at Shinnecock Hills and missed the cut.

In 2006 Byrd shot 69-72-74-68 to finish T-20 at the PGA Championship at Medinah. This is the highest finish for any former Clemson player in the PGA Championship.

In 2003 Byrd shot 80-79 and missed the cut at the PGA at Oak Hills.

He is also the highest finisher among former Clemson players at the British Open when he shot 73-72-70-70 for a T-23rd last year at Carnoustie.

Trahan will be appearing in his fourth major championship. In 2006 at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Trahan shot 75-81 to miss the cut. In last year’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK he shot 72-74 to miss the cut. Trahan has not yet competed in the British Open.

Byrd and Trahan’s appearance at Augusta this year will mark the 63rd and 64th times a former Clemson golfer has played in a major. Former Tigers have made 24 cuts in major championships.

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