Trainer [49]

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Joined: 10/26/11

State of the Baseball Program

Jun 6, 2017, 8:15 AM

It kills me to get on here and read the posts from the negative posters on here about how Monte was a bad hire, he's no better than JL, his team's crack under pressure, etc. Realize what Monte was tasked with before you jump to irrational conclusions.

1. Monte took over a team that was EXTREMELY THIN on QUALITY pitching and that has lost a considerable amount of arms since his arrival. Since taking the job Monte lost Taylor Vetzel to academics, Drew Moyer to injury, Bostic/Schmidt to the draft, Higginbotham, Crawford, R. Miller, AND Paul Campbell to injuries or sicknesses this year. If you compare this year's roster to last year's roster you will also notice 7 pitchers from last year's team are no longer with the team I'd assume due to inability to perform or transfer. 9 new arms in the form of 3 transfers and 6 true freshman were added. So basically the whole staff outside of a select few has been completely retooled. That kind of change is gonna experience growing pains. However with a fresh crop of TALENTED arms coming in the QUALITY depth will be there next year for the first time in a LONG time. The arms Monte brought in performed this season when asked and give alot of optimism for the future.

2. Monte has had to piece together a line up that lost both middle infielders and an all American catcher to the draft last year. These hitters were your #2, 4, & 5 hitters in the line up. Those are huge bats to replace. He also had to find a third baseman who could field his position and handle the bat. So essentially you lost every starter on the infield outside of first base. 3 of these positions have been manned by true freshman or transfers due to the lack of talent Leggett left him. I'd say all of those positions exceeded expectations considering what was asked of them due to their inexperience. Realize that alot of what Jack left behind to work with hasn't panned out and that's not Montes fault.

3. The MLB draft has also hampered Montes growth speed due to nabbing a few big time recruits the last two years. The year he took the job Monte lost Cornelius Randolph (1st round Phillies) and Jalen Miller (3rd round Giants) to the draft. This year Monte lost Carter Kieboom (1st round Nats) and Travis MacGregor (2nd round Pirates) to the draft. That's four blue chip players that not only could have you as a CWS candidate but that you also have to find replacements for at the last minute. Not to mention that he lost Jackson Kowar (Floridas #3 weekend guy) and Cal Raleigh (FSUs starting catcher) the year Jack Leggett was released. That's ALOT of blue chip talent to replace and that's not an easy task.

4. Look at what Monte has brought in and then look at their production. Logan Davidson is a budding superstar. Byrd is a defensive monster at third who's bat will continue to come around after sitting out due to redshirt at LSU and then transferring to Clemson the last two years. Chris Williams became a big time bat and a solid replacement to Okey. Kyle Wilkie went through growing pains behind the dish while Williams has been injured but man what a last few weeks he's had after settling in. Higginbotham, Hennessy, The Miller's, Griffith, Gilliam, Crawford, etc. All have proven themselves at times and given big time innings. They show this staff can evaluate arms and get guys on campus who can throw strikes/win games. Oh, and some guy named Seth Beer that Monte convinced to come to Clemson who we may not have if not for that hire. My point being the guy knows talent and is getting it into Doug Kingsmore.

5. Finally, he's hosted two home regionals the last two years with somebody else's players and alot of freshman/first year transfers for the most part. Before Monte all you heard was why can't we consistently? win? Or wouldn't it be nice to get back to the days of hosting? Well he's done that. Has it stung to miss out on advancing yes. But realize last year we ran into a smoking hot Oklahoma State team who not many people in the country could have beaten that weekend or the next and this year lack of pitching depth and youth/inexperience being served/injuries finally caught up to us. It happens. It hurts but it happens. Point being the program is trending upward from when he took it over.

Ultimately what I'm getting at is GIVE THE MAN AND HIS STAFF TIME. It's not like he's competing against cupcakes. He's lost one midseries game in two years and has taken 2 of 3 from SC who both years was far more talented. He's won 40+ games both years and brought regionals back to Clemson. He's getting blue chip talent back on campus. He's got a #### good staff in place. He won an ACC title for the first time in YEARS. It took a man named Dabo Swinney a few years to rebuild a football program the right way but look at what he's doing these days. Learn from that and give Monte and this team time to rebuild this program and I feel certain you're going to look back and say man was I foolish to think this guy couldn't do the job. We all want it now but it's coming guys. Trust the process! GO TIGERS!

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I'd like to add to what BKendall is saying. Not only do I agree with his rationale but also would like to add Beer has been walked 64 times this year and hit by pitch 14 times. It's hard to get into a rhythm with those kinds of numbers. Not to mention the ungodly pressure and unrealistic expectations that were put on him preseason. Much like Deshaun people strapped expectations to him that weren't realistic. Even when he wasn't being walked teams weren't exactly pitching to him. They pitched him close and hoped hed chase. As a 20 year old kid he did early in the season bc he felt like he had to do it all. He saw what people were writing and heard what people were expecting and he pressed early. But once he went back to being just Seth Beer he had quite the impressive season. 4-5 weeks in he was batting under .200. to finish at .300 with 16 HRs given the amount of times he was walked is IMPRESSIVE. Also to add to the remarks about him not getting the timely hit. What about down to our last out in Columbia? When Coastal intentionally walked Rohlman to loaded the bases in Clemson? His grand slam against Michigan State in Greenville? It's easy to cherry pick the most recent failure but if you look back more times than not this guy's produced when we needed him. He can't do it every time. Baseball is a game of failure and more times than not he's proven that to be wrong. I'm not suggesting he's super man but without him you're sitting at home the last two post seasons or at worst traveling as a 3 seed. Cherish Beer. You may not see another one like him for a while.

State of the Baseball Program

I more tend to look at the fact that

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So what exactly is your point then?***

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I'd say your tnet handle is a bit of a misnomer***

Re: I'd say your tnet handle is a bit of a misnomer***

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FYI- Coastal Carolina beat Arizona in the title series last

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Boy you just waisted 30 mins of your life

Re: Boy you just waisted 30 mins of your life

I never get the draft excuse

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Well written TigerFan027

Why hasn't anyone

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Nice post!

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