Tuesday March 16, 2010

Between the Lines and Ears

Between the Lines and Ears
I have been to most of the Clemson baseball games this year and there is a big difference in this group compared to this time last year. There are several differences physically but perhaps the biggest difference appears to be in the mental state of this year’s team.

Physically, this team looks bigger and stronger. They have more pop. Offensively this team reminds you of some of the College World Series teams in Clemson’s past.

Last year Clemson hit .299 as a team and this year they are hitting .304. Last year’s group hit 65 home runs in 66 games. This year the Tigers have 23 homers in 14 games. This year’s team has a.509 slugging percentage and .416 on-base percentage.

Kyle Parker is hit .255 last year and comes into tonight’s game hitting .396 with six homers, 16 RBIs, and a .515 on-base percentage. Jeff Schaus is batting .373 with four homers and 23 RBIs.

Brad Miller hit .273 last year and is off to a much better start with a .360 batting average and more pop in his bat.

John Hinson missed all of 2009 with a back injury but is hitting .407 with one homer, two doubles, seven RBIs, and four stolen bases this year. Phil Pohl hit .194 last year but is batting .316 early in this campaign.

As a team the Tigers are improved in two more offensive categories. Clemson leadoff batters of an inning have reached base 53 percent of the time this season. Also with the bases loaded Clemson is 7-for-18 (.389) with three grand slams, two doubles, 30 RBIs, seven walks, and one hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. The Tigers also have a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .556 on-base percentage with the bases full. Phil Pohl is 2-for-2 with a grand slam, double, seven RBIs, and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, while Chris Epps and Brad Miller have also hit one grand slam apiece in 2010.

Not everyone has improved offensively as Mike Freeman, Chris Epps and John Nester are below their averages from last season but this offense could really explode when those guys get back on form.

This team has some issues though. The defense has been an area of concern. Miller has eight errors in 14 games. Jason Stoltz has five and Freeman has four.

The rotation is not a major concern but this staff maybe not be the strength of the team like it has been in recent years. Clemson is still trying to figure out who will be the other weekend starter to go along with Harman and Weismann.

Like most college baseball teams, the Tigers are trying to get their bullpen in order also.

But physically this team is different. In my opinion college baseball is about offense. It is about big innings and putting up crooked numbers. This team has that ability. They don’t have to play small ball anymore.

Still the biggest difference in this team and last year’s group is mental. This team has a better approach at the plate. They are much more aggressive through the zone. It is early but this team looks like they expect to win. They fight until the last out and have a few come from behind wins already.

There were times last year where the Tigers looked like they had to find different ways to lose games. One night it might have been the bullpen. The next it might have been the offense. The next it might have been a mental error or two but it seemed like it was something different every night. The early losses to Furman, Georgia and South Carolina were great examples of this.

But as last year progressed the Tigers started winning the close ones and ended up winning a regional with a close, come from behind marquee victory against Oklahoma State.

Maybe something was gained from that valuable experience. Jack Leggett thinks so. He says this team learned a lot last year and will benefit from the super regional trip to Tempe, AZ. We are seeing those results in the 13-1 start.

This team looks like it has some swagger. This appears to be a confident group. Last year it looked like they were sitting around waiting for someone to make a play but this year it looks like they are much more aggressive and are creating their own chances.

This team looks like it expects to win. They look like they think they are going to win until the point where all 27 outs are in the book.

It is early and the schedule has not been as tough so far through 14 games but I like this team’s mental make up. In the past 24 hours I have talked to two of the radio broadcasters, Bob Mahoney and Dan Scott, and they both agree that this team has a chance to be a pretty special group.

They will have to have players continue to develop as the season progresses. A third starter will need to emerge in the weekend rotation. Young arms like Haselden, Meyer, Leone and Brady will need to continue to develop.

Also, the schedule gets much more difficult soon. The Tigers have two weekend series with top five teams in Virginia and Georgia Tech. Clemson also travels to Duke, Maryland and Wake Forest. The home schedule includes visits from North Carolina and Florida State.

In this week’s Baseball America poll Virginia is number one, Georgia Tech is ranked third, Florida State is fifth, Miami is 17th and North Carolina is ranked 24th.

Hopefully this team will not peak too early and will continue to play well. My guess is that their good play will continue as long as their swagger stays around.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee.