Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Replies: 19
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110%er [9314]
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Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 9:33 AM
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First off, Val is an incredible player and - as far as I know, have seen or heard - a great person.
Second, I think we have a really great group of young ladies on this team who CAN beat anybody.
Third, Rittman is obviously a great coach.
So - putting all of that together - I've commented on this before, but I think he leans way too heavily on Val. I don't know how vocal he is about her with the team (i.e. "Great news, Val is back this weekend!") or anything that may make the team feel lesser to her or dependent on her or whatever, but something seems amiss. They played so well without her against UNC. Pitching, fielding, hitting - everything was top notch. As though they had something to prove, or that a burden had been lifted or something. I have no idea. If they play great w/o her, they should play even better with her, but that doesn't seem to necessarily be the case right now for some reason.
I do think that he leans to heavily on Val and that may put too much pressure on her. I think she already puts a lot on herself, but it's different than someone else putting pressure on you. In retrospect - which is always 20/20 - she shouldn't have pitched in Game 1. I don't know what pct healthy she was, but it sure didn't seem 100%.
Regan is definitely our #1 pitcher right now and should be treated as such. #2 seems like a toss-up between Val and Millie at this point.
I know the team is frustrated, knowing their potential but seeing them fall short. I don't know what the answer is (or I'd be coaching softball!). But seems to be more of a mindgame coaching thing than anything else.
I just hope Rittman & Co can get it figured out and get these ladies playing to their full potential. There's still time and some big games left to prove it (like Duke - gotta win that series!).
Go Tigers!
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Orange Blooded [2588]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 9:36 AM
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If Rittman was obviously a great coach he would have it figured out. Program lacks development, leadership and mental toughness
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110%er [5068]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 9:41 AM
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Obviously y'all have not seen the latest National Rankings. We lead the Nation in High Fives, Goofy hats, OCD's and overall childish silliness.
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110%er [6686]
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CU Medallion [70723]
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We badly, badly need to get Julia Knowler back in the lineup. I hope she can
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Mar 25, 2024, 9:41 AM
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return soon. She was the only real new offensive threat with the bat that we had, before she went down with whatever her medical issue is.
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All-TigerNet [11024]
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I am liking Brown in the leadoff spot. Can slap, drive, and hit with
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Mar 25, 2024, 9:56 AM
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power if needed. Helps take some pressure off Clark in that role.
Message was edited by: NorthwestPurple®
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CU Guru [1085]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 10:01 AM
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I think she’s put out with the teams hitting and fielding while she’s pitching. Looks like she’s kinda checked out imo. I know I would be.
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All-TigerNet [12198]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 10:30 AM
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Getting healthy, better defense, and peaking at the right time. They'll be fine.
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Orange Blooded [4950]
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My observations have been very similar
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Mar 25, 2024, 10:41 AM
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Team chemistry is not quite right this year. They looked like they were having fun against UNC. Not so much at other times. When we started this program, I did some reading about the issues that led to Rittman being let go at Stanford. I concluded that he had been unfairly railroaded based on the success we were having early on. Now I wonder.
It's not too late to fix it. Hopefully he learned something of value from that experience.
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All-TigerNet [11052]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 11:33 AM
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Rittman is an outstanding coach ..... no question about it in my mind. I think the team may have put too many expectations on themselves, as the caliber of players, in my opinion are really good, but not great. Some good players develop and become really great and some do not regardless of the coaching. That is just the way it is. We just need more great players to come and play and I think we will get out share.
All that said, I think this team "could" relax a little more and play looser since expectations have now been tempered and they can now play as not the overwhelming favorite ...... if that makes sense.
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CU Medallion [50647]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 1:56 PM
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This will be an unpopular post. I've had my share. Rittman is a really good coach. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's outstanding. To me, outstanding and legendary are held for coaches like Dabo or Noonan, and hopefully a couple recent hires.
There's some good posts on this thread that have a lot of truth to them. We couldn't have hired a better coach to get the program up and running. That's Rittman's expertise.
But, imo, and others, he lost a lot of equity that was built in the first couple of seasons and he didn't cash in... or strike when the iron was hot so to speak. I do think he's probably loyal to a fault. He was grateful to players who trusted him and came to play for us.
He's recruited ok. Valerie kind of fell into his lap. He's even stated as much. She's a huge reason this program shot out like a rocket. But a good many of our players (recruits) came to Clemson because they grew up Tiger fans. There was pent-up demand for us to get a softball program. Not to say he hasn't brought in some good recruits. He's brought in some good transfers too. Not super transfers that, with the equity, he should have been able to pull in.
There's definitely truth to the lack of development. Johnson, who transferred to east Carolina is a good example. She did pretty good as a frosh but got hurt. Came back last year and barely got any pt or abs. Why? There were plenty of games we could have played her, ruskowski (sorry if I butchered your name), Knowles etc that only got spare pinch hitting. Completely opposite approach that Dabo and Bakich take. We should have had recruits take some spots from the seniors on our team... or who were ready to take the transfers spots.
So, question has to be why haven't we? Definitely room to question the coaches. As to the hitting woes we've had this year, they've been there the last couple of years. But the difference is Val stepping up and hitting a dinger, or keeping the other teams from scoring. We haven't had a threat behind Valarie since Guimbardo. Sorry Marissa, I probably misspelled your name too. There's truth to lockeroom friction as many have noticed the body language.
So, no, Rittman can't get up and hit with risp, or catch the grounder. But errors are as old as dirt. No one suggests he should be replaced. That'd turn into a worse situation than Leggett. Personally, I think it'd be wonderful if Rittman was bumped into an administrative job and work with Neff in bringing in the best softball coaches available. Maybe the long time Oklahoma assistant that can recruit. Idk.
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CU Medallion [50647]
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Orange Blooded [3560]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 3:45 PM
[ in reply to Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching ] |
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A lot of truth to this but some of the issues go much deeper. Coaching needs to get better (I would love to have Lonnie Alameda from FSU here - in my mind she is the best is the business). We have some great players here but the commitment, cohesion, and leadership needs to improve; it would be nice if coaching could help with that but it seems more a hinderance (not generally but our coaches specifically)
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Associate AD [806]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Mar 25, 2024, 7:04 PM
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Y’all do understand that every team doesn’t win every game every season, right? Clemson Softball has been blessed with plenty of success from the beginning. There’s going to be bumps in the road. The issues will be fixed. EVERY program experiences this. Hang with these players and don’t resort to knee jerk solutions(reactions). That’s what coots do. Go TIGERS!!
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110%er [8148]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Mar 25, 2024, 7:10 PM
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Cagle, ACC and National player of the year! That said, she was the keystone last year and I think she may have put all those expectations on herself this year and the stress is not helping her. But our SOS is much harder than last yr trying to be a Super Seed and we are paying the price a little. If we can bring it back together we will be a great team but we are definitely only a good team right now. Half way through season, we need to step it up. We faltered late last year when we lost to Liberty then VT, hopefully it comes together early enough for post season.
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Varsity [236]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
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Mar 25, 2024, 8:48 PM
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This thread kind of makes me shake my head. Rittman, Jamieson and others have built a heck of a program. I’m not sure why everyone is all of a sudden up in arms over coaching.
In my opinion, Cagle has to just relax and play. Not sure why she is feeling so much pressure but she could suck from here on out and still have had a phenomenal career. Kids handle stress differently. Hope she can just play and enjoy it.
This team has had some tough injuries. Extra inning losses to top 10 Georgia and Tennessee without Knowler and Garcia. Then a loss to SC in 12 innings without Cagle and Knowler.
The Virginia series was plain bad but if they get healthy they can make a run. Spencer has really stepped up. Y'all chill a little and enjoy what we have. I’m not saying this team will figure it out but it’s gonna be a different deal when they get fully healthy. We’ve built a little depth because of injuries which could actually help us in the long run.
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Orange Blooded [2613]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Mar 25, 2024, 10:55 PM
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Thanks for bringing some sanity to this thread.
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Orange Blooded [3051]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Mar 25, 2024, 11:01 PM
[ in reply to Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching ] |
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Interesting insights. I’ve perceived many of the same vibes from the team. Can’t disagree with the observations about development. This past weekend was the latest example of our struggles in the field and the rise pitchers. I think the Tigers start posting wins again because the schedule says they have basically the mid/week with the Gamecocks and the Duke series left as strong competition until the conference tournament. Hopefully, Rittman finds the right answers. I keep thinking back to the collision between Cagle and McCubbin fielding the pop up. Both have struggled since about that time. Valerie certainly was not happy with McCubbin. Also, it has to be so frustrating to be pitched around most every game with a base open and no threat in the lineup behind her.
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Orange Blooded [3051]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Mar 25, 2024, 11:10 PM
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Also, I recall when Valerie had an NIL deal with Dear Old Clemson, we got news that she had decided to comeback for this season. It seems it wasn’t a sure thing she would continue. That was back during the shoulder recovery process. So now I wonder if she’s second guessing that decision (atleast subconsciously?). She’s carried the team thru some great moments, but also has her share of some heartbreaking losses from the circle. Kind of getting back to the idea Rittman has leaned on her heavily over the years. Can you finally just get burnt out trying to wear the super hero cape?
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CU Guru [1980]
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Re: Softball, Cagle, Coaching
Mar 26, 2024, 10:17 AM
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All good points made on this thread. I think Cagle might get frustrated when there are fielding errors and everyone doesn’t play with the intensity that she does. At times I wonder what the coaches are doing by the decision they make like being over aggressive on the basepaths. I think Rittman is a good coach just not a great coach who brought some really good players in .
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Replies: 19
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