Clemson baseball

Full disclosure - Season ticket holder who has missed a handful of games but breathed and ate baseball for a long time. The team is fun but at times frustrating to watch. Some random comments:
1. Wilkie should be batting second as he offers the best hit and run option going opposite field and good contact hitter. Hall is a good leadoff and Davidson third.
2. Byrd should be at first or DHing. Not sure if Bryar H can catch fly balls but he or Sharpe should have enough background to play left.
3. Bryar Hawkins at cleanup as he is also a good contact hitter. Then Majkowski to get the left right strategy into the game. Then Sharpe then Byrd.
4. Several of our batters who are fast need to fake a bunt more often on the first pitch. This automatically brings in the first and third basemen raising the probability of a grounder getting through.
5. Squeeze - I think the team wins at least two other games if we execute this. It wont work every time but the other teams know we dont use it. Element of surprise. We are predictable.
6. Pitching - The coaches arent out there pitching but during this losing streak how many times have we seen a two strike count and a fat pitch is sent over the plate. Absolute no no. Instruction should be we dont care if you bowl a pitch but no strike zone pitch. Note that the other teams throw low and a foot outside on our players and as freshmen will do they bite on it.
7. Called third strikes - I know you cant do it now but back in the day this may get you running laps. Happening way way too often. Hit defensively with two strikes. Is that rocket science.
8. Pitchers - I like our pitching staff a lot but when a guys mechanics get off, the veteran leadership like Davidson, Wilkie, Byrd need to get over to the mound and say something. The pitch coach can only do one trip. I seldom see the players helping on this.
9. Celebrations - Team spirit is critical but what are we doing glorifying the big homer with the sledge hammer and now the slam dunk. Not a fan as what does this encourage. Sac flys and moving runners up should get as much fanfare. Again, I am not criticizing enthusiasm but do we need a gimmick?
10. I have more to say but lets all stay positive. These kids and young men are trying and there is no doubt on that. Baseball is a funny game and they could win ten in a row too. Go Tigers!!!!

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Re: Clemson baseball

Apr 23, 2019, 10:01 AM

I feel like you gave a reasonable critique but there are a few areas where I would like to respectfully disagree.
1. I like Davidson at 2. I would maybe have Wilkie behind him at 3 followed by Hawkins and then Bird. Davidson has to be protected so he sees good pitches.
2. I agree that Byrd has to hit and that he doesn't have a great position. You can't assume that Sharpe or Hawkins can play outfield. Also with Sharpe pitching, playing outfield the next couple of days could be tough on his arm.
3. The lineup could constantly be changed based on recent results but there is something to be said for letting guys get comfortable in a spot if there isn't much difference between hitters.
4. Many times faking a bunt simply means taking the first strike. Once you have strike one then attempting another bunt is not likely so the fielders won't likely move. Also we already strike out a lot. It we start taking more pitches with any hitters just to get the infield to move a little then it increases strike outs. Now if you actually want them to try to bunt for hits when the infield is back then I think that could be helpful in moving the fielders for the next at bat.
5. If you miss a squeeze your runner is out. Most of the lineup has not shown that they are skilled bunters. Calling for a squeeze seems like asking for disaster with our current bunting skill.
6 & 7. We aren't striking out looking at pitches thrown 2 feet off the plate. Everyone has all of the scouting reports for every tendency that a team may have. If you start throwing balls way off of the plate every time you are 0-2 then nobody will swing. There has to be a balance. Obviously "fat" pitches are never called so that is an execution problem and not a pitch calling problem.
7. It's never ok to strike out looking. On the other hand, when you are seeing 94 mph fastballs and 78 mph CBs from the same pitcher it not as easy to just "fight it off" as it was in little league or high school baseball. Again it's not ok to watch strike 3, but the average fan has no idea what college pitchers can do with a baseball.
8. I will give you that the catcher can go visit a pitcher but not to talk mechanics. If they go talk to settle a guy down that is one thing but none of the players on defense know anything about what each pitcher's mechanics should be. It's not their place.
9. I don't understand why people eat it up when Christian Wilkins runs on the field for TDs but nobody wants baseball to be fun. Home runs, triples, diving catches, and strike outs equal touchdowns, turnovers and 4th down stops in football. Football teams celebrate The big plays much more than the routine first down or a field goal. Why would you expect baseball to celebrate every routine play the same as a home run? Let baseball be fun and stop overthinking that fact that it makes everybody want to hit a home run. SECRET: Every hitter that ever swung at a baseball wants to hit a home run even if they aren't thinking about it or trying to do so. Being excited when it happens isn't wrong.
10. I'm not sure what level of baseball you have played or if you simply love the game and love to watch and study it. Please understand that unless you have inside knowledge of the team, just because something isn't happening the way it is supposed to doesn't mean the coaches aren't coaching it right and doesn't mean the players aren't trying to do it the right way. Baseball is a very hard game and the opposing team is trying to make it even harder on our players. Sometimes you win. sometimes you lose, and sometimes it rains.....

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