Thursday April 01, 2010

The Fine Line; Big Ben; Anniversary

The Fine Line
A couple of weeks ago Clemson was 12-1 and Jack Leggett’s club was rolling. During that stretch the Tigers were 5-1 in games decided by two runs or less.

Since that hot start, Clemson is 5-6 including a streak that has seen the Tigers lose five of their six games. During that span Clemson is 0-5 in games decided by two runs or less.

During the terrific start the Tigers seemed to do everything right or actually the perception was that they were doing everything right. When you win close games, as fans we tend to overlook some of the negatives. When your team loses close contests then the negatives get magnified.

When Clemson was 12-1 the team looked confident and there is nothing more dangerous in this game than a confident group. The Tigers got the two out hit when it was needed. They induced the opponent to hit into the double play to get out of a jam. The defense shined. Swagger was present.

Here we are three weeks later and the opposite has surfaced. This team looks ragged at times. The defense is as bad as I can remember for a Clemson baseball team. The routine looks complicated. We have seen dropped fly balls by infielders and outfielders. Routine ground balls have been booted. Simple throws have become an adventure.

On offense several Tigers like Mike Freeman and Chris Epps got off to great starts but have run into recent tougher times at the plate. When the Tigers have needed a big two out hit recently it cannot be found. Line drive hits have turned into pop up outs.

Maybe part of the problem has come in the form of a more difficult schedule. Wright State and Gardner Webb have turned into Virginia and Coastal Carolina. I think that can explain a lot because an error against a good club is different than one against a bad one. A mistake against a lesser opponent is not as dangerous. Extra outs to good teams often time means more runs. Even a few runs against a lesser opponent can be made up with more offense but it is tough to comeback against the pitching of Virginia and Coastal Carolina.

I think this team will be OK. I think there is enough talent and enough depth. Richie Shaffer should return sometime soon and his presence will help the offense and defense.

Also the schedule lightens up a little in the next couple of weeks. Boston College comes to town for a weekend set this Easter weekend and the Eagles have improved their program but they will not be mistaken for Virginia. Next week Clemson plays a home and home with Georgia. The Bulldogs are normally a powerhouse but have had an awful season so far. Next weekend Clemson travels to Duke.

The next eight games present an opportunity for this team to get healthy and get the confidence back. Maybe the next eight games will give Brad Miller a chance to get his confidence on defense back. Hopefully Shaffer’s return adds a little offensive spark. Maybe Addison Johnson or Chris Epps can get hot against the pitching of the Eagles, Bulldogs and Blue Devils. Maybe the close loss can turn back into the close win.

Big Ben
I had a chance to visit with Clemson senior All-American golfer Ben Martin yesterday and he filled me in on his plans for next week’s Masters.

Martin will stay in the famous Crow’s Nest over the weekend and early next week but as the tournament approaches he will stay off grounds. He said there are six amateurs this year and only five beds, so he did not know how that was going to work out but that had nothing to do with his plans. Martin said he could not pass up the opportunity to stay in the famous room on the top floor of the club but he also felt he would benefit from less distractions if he stayed somewhere else during the tournament.

Martin has been to Augusta several times over the last few months and has worked with the same Augusta National caddie each time and will have him on the bag next week. But he will have his brother, who is a freshman at Clemson, as his caddie for Wednesday’s Par 3 tournament.

He said the golf course has changed a bunch in the past few weeks as it has gotten more firm. For example, he said in the colder weather the golf course was soft and he had to hit five or six iron into the first green. But it has firmed up and one day last week he hit nine iron into the green at number one.

In recent years Clemson fans have had one of their own to pull for at the Masters on several occasions and this year a current Clemson player will give us another special story. I know a lot Tigers will be there to support Ben.

Happy Anniversary
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the blog. I have been extremely blessed to have had this opportunity and hope Brian and Crump have me around for many years.

Four years have equaled a little more than 1,000 blogs and over one million words (I think I had close to that many typos and grammatical errors). On average the blog is read around 50,000 times a week, which is pretty cool.

Some blogs have been more serious in nature and others hopefully have provided a little light-hearted fun. I have enjoyed writing about 98% of them. I don’t enjoy the few that have been negative or controversial but most of those served their purpose.

I got asked a few months ago which ones I enjoyed the most and the answer was easy. I really love the ones that can tell a story about a Clemson legend. Anytime I can write a blog about Bob Bradley is a good day. Anytime I can share a little story about an experience I may have had with Dr. Edwards makes my day. I love sharing a little story about Dr. Harder or Mac McKeown or any other Clemson legend.

I have also enjoyed meeting so many good people through the blog. It has given me an opportunity to meet so many great Clemson people with a passion for the place we love. We may not always agree on how to get there but most of agree on where we want to go.

It has been great therapy for me to share Ryan’s progress and your well wishes have meant the world to Ryan and me.

But the best days concerning the blog are the ones where I get a phone call or e-mail asking me to take someone’s name off of our prayer lists because they are healthy again. It is those e-mails that put so much into perspective and your prayers for people have made a difference.

Thanks for your support over the last four years and I your support will continue for many more.

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.