Baseball Investment

Mar 10, 2021, 9:47 AM

Losing midweek games in the manner we did last night is unacceptable for Clemson baseball. Losing series to Notre Dame at home in March is unacceptable. Failing to advance to a Super Regional in over a decade is unacceptable.

While I am repeatedly frustrated by the lack of improving fundamentals, specifically on the basepaths, questionable lineup decisions, and the lack of any real talent upgrade from the end of the JL era, I think the questions that need to be asked is the program stuck in mediocrity because of Monte Lee or is there a larger issue? Is Clemson making the kinds of investments in its baseball program that are necessary to compete with top-tier ACC and SEC programs?

Doug Kingsmore is not in great shape. The main seating area on tv is an eye soar compared to the new stadiums built at places such as Florida, Miss. State, LSU, Scar, etc. Aside from the player's building, which was beyond needed to sustain even a decent level of recruiting let alone attract elite talent, DRad hasn't shown the same commitment to baseball that he has shown to football, basketball, and franky, even soccer. Where are the future facility upgrades to DKS? Why aren't we scheduling more national out-of-conference matchups that require travel but nonetheless increase exposure for the program? Why are we eliminating financial programs that make Clemson baseball more attractive for out-of-state recruits?

It seems like we are content with asking our coaches to do more with less. And that is not an acceptable standard for Clemson baseball.

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Re: Baseball Investment

Baseball games can be won with good,smart coaching. Good coaches learn quickly what kind of talent they have available to work with and focus on improving each player. When I watch the Tigers I see players take the field who are told to play as well as they can. I have never seen a player who has made any changes in his game. Giving a guy a bat and saying “go get us a hit” is not the way this game is played..... at any level. Every coach has his own way of playing the game. There is no perfect way. Some like to play long ball. That’s great IF you have the talent available to do that. Some prefer to play small ball. That is great IF you have that kind of talent. Regardless, you can win but you must have your guys prepared to play the game. Hoping that your guy gets a hit in a key situation is not smart baseball. Hoping for good play will not win you many games and that’s what I’m seeing in this Tiger team. Did you watch how the Notre Dame coach played the game? He put pressure on the Tiger team during the entire game. Base running was very good. The pitchers threw, not just strikes, but good strikes in key situations. His player positioning was excellent. Do you remember the key at bat for the Tigers when the hitter hit a hard grounder that it is a hit 99 percent of the time but he had the third baseman playing 25 feet out of position and got a very key out? That is winning baseball. Advancing runners is one of the most vital parts of playing offensive baseball. Clemson does not do this. Watch closely the next game and see if you think the Tigers have been put in a position to win.