TigerNet -- Blogs -- Mickey Plyler's Blog

Was That The One?
This is the fourth time this year that I am writing a blog that states, “I am not ready to give up on this baseball team!”

Please don’t get me wrong, this team still has issues. This is not a team that is as talented as the one we thought we would see in December. But this team still has enough talent to have a chance to win a championship.

Last year I wrote a blog after the ACC tournament that said Omaha is nice and the regionals and super-regionals were going to be fun but let’s not forget to celebrate an ACC title. Wouldn’t that title be special this year?

Earlier in the year I asked could the Georgia sweep be the catalyst to the season shifting into high gear? Could the big come-from-behind win get the Tigers some momentum? It did not.

I then asked was the big home run in extra innings by Doug Hogan to cap the wonderful comeback against Georgia Tech the big blow that would help the Tigers climb back into championship form? Taking two of three from the Yellow Jackets might be the one trigger to get this team going. It was not.

So now I ask, ‘Will Taylor Harbin’s big extra base hit to help lead the Tigers to a three run ninth in Saturday’s game be the difference? Or will we be able to look back at D’Alessio’s three-run homer Sunday as the difference?”

I do not know what the future holds for the Tigers but Saturday’s win was the biggest of the season. Clemson was coming off of losses to Furman and a trouncing at the hands of FSU on Friday night. The Tigers got behind 6-1 on Saturday. If Clemson does not come back Saturday do they win on Sunday? How would their seeding be affected in the ACC and NCAA tournaments? Would even have a remote chance at hosting a regional?

Harbin delivered perhaps the season’s biggest hit that plated two Tigers and lead to Hogan’s RBI fielder’s choice and a 7-6 Clemson win.

In Sunday’s game, D’Alessio battled in an 11-pitch at-bat and rocketed a three-run homer early to give the Tigers the lead. Could Clemson have won two of three without this key at-bat?

If the bullpen continues to pitch well then Clemson can be a factor in tournament play. The ACC tournament format is different but the bullpen will still be one of the biggest keys. Three-run homers will help but Farina and Clyne may be the most important players in this format.

I do think Clemson still has a decent chance to host. This weekend ends the regular season with a three game series in Raleigh and the Wolfpack are coming off of their biggest series win of the year. If Clemson can take two of three at NC State it could have 37 wins in the regular season. In most years 40 is almost a guarantee to host.

So will we look back at Taylor Harbin’s double or D-Lo’s blast as the big hit? Check back next week.
The Magic Number
Clemson has made the NCAA tournament in each of Jack Leggett’s 13 seasons and will make it again this year. The question is can they still host a regional and/or super-regional? Here is a look at the wins each team had heading into the ACC tournament and sites of the regionals:
1994: 55 wins. Clemson hosts.
1995: 50 wins. Clemson hosts.
1996: 45 wins. Clemson hosts.
1997: 40 wins. Clemson plays in Texas Tech Regional.
1998: 42 wins. Clemson hosts.

NCAA Changes to Super-Regional Format in 1999
1999: 37 wins. Clemson plays in Arkansas regional and Texas A&M super-regional.
2000: 45 wins. Clemson hosts regional and super-regional.
2001: 38 wins. Clemson hosts regional but travels to Miami super-regional.
2002: 47 wins. Clemson hosts regional and super-regional.
2003: 38 wins. Clemson travels to Auburn regional.
2004: 36 wins. Clemson travels to Georgia regional.
2005: 39 wins. Clemson hosts regional but travels to Baylor super-regional.
2006: 47 wins. Clemson hosts regional and super regional.

The NCAA went to the super-regional format in 1999. The Tigers have won every super-regional in Clemson. In fact, Clemson has been to the College World Series 11 times and six times they clinched at home. Two College World Series births (1958,1959) were clinched on a neutral field (Gastonia, NC). Only three times have the Tigers gone on the road to clinch a College World Series birth. In 1976 Clemson beat USC in the regional but clinched against Furman. So only twice has Clemson beaten a home team to clinch a College World Series birth (1977-Miami 1990-Maine). Clemson clinched a College World Series birth at home in 1980, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2006. Only three times has Clemson hosted with a chance at the College World Series and not gotten there (1981, 1994, 1998).

Outside the Lines
I usually don’t duck topics but I am going to ask for a pass on this one. I saw the ESPN “Outside the Lines” program Sunday but I don’t have enough information here to form an opinion yet. I know I have never been pregnant and have never had an abortion so I am not qualified to speak on those subjects (Insert joke here at being overweight).

I do know that scholarships come with responsibility. I am not sure if pregnancy is in that category. I do not know enough about the women’s track team or rowing team to form any opinions there.

This is one I still need to think about. Abortion is a serious issue. Scholarships and education are also serious. I just don’t know the answers here. I would be interested in reading your opinions.

Schedule
Later this week I want to get into the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament, Brad Chalk’s status, the ACC spring meetings, and the Clemson Hall of Fame.

Comments:

So, I guess rowing had their issues with this as well.....is that why the coach was ousted? I watched the OTL episode and didn't remember them mentioning a problem with the rowing program.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=60052>Justwannaread</a> on May 14, 2007 at 12:38 PM EDT #

Please do not post any opinions about abortion . . . BAD IDEA

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=7575>otisman</a> on May 14, 2007 at 02:15 PM EDT #

Didn't see the OTL episode. Seems pretty cut and dry though. If I was coaching a women's team and one of my athletes got pregnant, I would be shopping her scholorship in a heartbeat. She can make her own decision on what to do with her body, but should know her decisions are going to have consequences.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=66306>Dodge_Stratus</a> on May 14, 2007 at 02:38 PM EDT #

Student Athletes who become pregnant while under scholarship should lose their scholarship. A scholarship is given to student athletes based on their ability to perform. A woman who is 8 months pregnant can't perform in any sport. So should the University lose the athlete and the scholarship all because of the athletes inability to keep their pants on. It was very disturbing to see OTL portray Clemson Univ. as pushing these kids to abortions. Clemson Univ. did not push these athletes into having unprotected sex. If we are going to give women the right of choice, they should made to live with the decision of making that choice. Also; our universities are not Welfare institutions. I mean what does ESPN expect us to do, Tell these Kids; "OK we'll give you a schlarship so you can come to our University, get pregnant by your own choice, and we'll continue to support you and your child through an athletic scholarship." All the while denying another athlete an oppertunity for a schlorship all becuase two or three of them are held by pregnant mothers who by the way won't be performing either. To me this is ESPN looking to make a story out of a sensitive topic to make Universities look bad. And they have placed Clemson at the forefront.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=59934>CW1</a> on May 14, 2007 at 03:40 PM EDT #

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=59934>CW1</a> on May 14, 2007 at 03:45 PM EDT #

This is my first comment on your blog although I read it everyday. This may sound insensitive, however I look at a pregnant basketball, rowing, soccer, or volleyball player much the same as I would a men's football, baseball, soccer or basketball player that loses his legs in an accident...Now follow me on this...A pregnant woman can not run, jump, or compete at the sport they are being given a free (or partially free) education to compete in. Much the same can be said for a male athlete whom has lost his legs. Would you keep the male on athletic scholarship? I didn't think so. He'd be replaced in a hurried fashion, as should pregnant athletes. Espn, especially the OTL show on Espn, has found a recent fondness when it comes to producing shows that sheds a negative light on Clemson. The OTL segments have often portrayed Clemson University as a racially biased, morally insensitive university, which is a far fetched pipe dream. The real Clemson we hold near and dear to our hearts, strives to be the best of the best with our students and faculty's interest at the forefront. You would be hard pressed to find any university in the country that would keep a pregnant female athlete on scholarship. The females free will, will ultimately decide how she handles her own personal situation.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=49508>railtiger64</a> on May 14, 2007 at 11:54 PM EDT #

Wow talk about a onesided affair and caveman tactics. I personally am ashamed that we are even talking about this at this time in this manner.

Girls should keep their pants up it is true. But likewise the boys should keep their zippers shut. Now when it happens and it is going to happen the question is how do you handle the situation.

If Willie Korn had an accident at Fike playing basketball during the offseason and couldn't play next year, would you pull his scholarship. Just think about your response. Most people are getting very emotional about the abortion issue, which I am not even going to address. The issue here is whether the university put pressure on these girls to make a moral decision. I for one hope that the university chose the high road, but who knows.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=10379>CUTIGER95</a> on May 15, 2007 at 12:16 AM EDT #

During pregnancy is like during an injury. We wouldn't yank men's schollies for an injury, even if it's a stupid injury arising from a poor choice (like riding a motorcycle). We shouldn't yank women's schollies for the pregnancy itself. A medical redshirt would be in order.

The real dilemma is AFTER the pregnancy. AFTER birth, can a woman athlete raise her own child and perform and go to school at the same time? Maybe, maybe not. SHE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, but should be held to the same standards she was held to before the pregnancy... athletically and academically.

So, CAN a women's athlete perform while supporting a child? A men's athlete can (Ray Ray), but the differences are

1) it's not his child; he took his brother on voluntarily to help him.
2) he benefits from significant community assistance
3) he benefits from a significant exception made in the NCAA rules.

So I don't know if it's possible for the single mother to do it. It depends on the person I guess. But she should be given the opportunity. It should NOT be automatically assumed, as someone did above, that a woman having a child equals losing all ability to perform athletically. That is retarded.

Finally, I'm pro-choice, but if there are coaches or administrators who are explicitly pressuring pregnant athletes to have abortions, those people should be run the ef out of town. I don't give a damn how popular they might be.

Posted by <a href=http://tigernet.com/view/profile.do?id=28997>TigerNotAtGT</a> on May 17, 2007 at 08:23 AM EDT #

Mickey's Blog also brought to you by:

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency