2016 College World Series

[Yankeetown]

It did work. The runners were moved into scoring position.

No, it did not work. The goal is to score runs, and that did not happen.

However, baseball is a lot like poker and 21 ... the "right call" is based on the odds, given the situation ... not the outcome. Even if it doesn't work in any given single instance, which it often doesn't, coaches and players who understand and use the odds will win much more consistently than those who don't.

(That said, I'm not sure that sabremetrics stats, from all of professional baseball, averaging all hitters against all pitchers, without regard for the bunting skill of the batter nor where in the batting order this happens, are necessarily the correct stats to be applying to the specific situation we were in. And I lack enough interest to become well-educated enough personally to have a "good move/bad move" opinion based on the empirical evidence.)

 

[LagoonGator68]

No, it did not work. The goal is to score runs, and that did not happen.

However, baseball is a lot like poker and 21 ... the "right call" is based on the odds, given the situation ... not the outcome. Even if it doesn't work in any given single instance, which it often doesn't, coaches and players who understand and use the odds will win much more consistently than those who don't.

(That said, I'm not sure that sabremetrics stats, from all of professional baseball, averaging all hitters against all pitchers, without regard for the bunting skill of the batter nor where in the batting order this happens, are necessarily the correct stats to be applying to the specific situation we were in. And I lack enough interest to become well-educated enough personally to have a "good move/bad move" opinion based on the empirical evidence.)

Figures never lie, but liars figure.

Statistics can be designed to give you whatever answer you want. A alleged 10% advantage in the pros is likely no advantage at all in college and probably not in the pros either.

 

[ufgator812]

They were who we thought they were.

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

Where they didn't score because they wasted an out. So no, it didn't work.

I think you're confusing this at-bat that worked with the one that didn't work...JJ Scwartz hitting into a inning ending DP two batters later...on a ball that was so far out of the strike zone that he was lunging to reach it.

 

[GatorInGeorgia]

Taking the bat out of the hands of two of your three best hitters via a bunt and intentional walk was not the correct call. If we had the bottom of the order coming up, I would have understood.

Reed was something like the 7th best hitter out of the 10 position players who played the most for us this year, batting about .265 for the year. He certainly wasn't one of our 3 best hitters this year.

Something like 70+% of his hits this year were singles.

Even if he got a hit, we most likely score one run (still down a run) and end up with runners at first and third...which means that TTU most likely still pitches around the next batter to improve their chances of getting a DP and giving TTU more places to go to for the DP. We don't control who they pitch around. To say that we took the bat out of our best hitter's hands when it was the other team that pitched around him is incorrect.

 

[itsgr82bag8r]

 

[oxking]

Our pitching staff is amazing, so you're only helping Sullys cause here lol

Our pitching staff is amazing yes, he recruits well. However, not only does he call all the pitches which is ridiculous at this level, it was his call to pitch to the to player of the year, with two outs, and a man on 2nd. Why let their best hitter beat you? Instead of pitching around the guy, he calls the wrong pitch and it gets hit into the cheap seats. Of course, Faedo strikes out the next guy inning over. This is the point. If you have to count on Sully to help you win with good managing decisions, you will be out of luck. Last year he holds out Puk who was red hot when he has to win the game. A couple of years before that he has the bases loading in the bottom of the 9th with nobody out, score 0-0, a suicide squeeze either ends the game or leaves men on 2nd and 3rd with one out. He continually "spits the bit" and then claims he was just happy to be there.

 

[MertzJay26]

Our pitching staff is amazing yes, he recruits well. However, not only does he call all the pitches which is ridiculous at this level, it was his call to pitch to the to player of the year, with two outs, and a man on 2nd. Why let their best hitter beat you? Instead of pitching around the guy, he calls the wrong pitch and it gets hit into the cheap seats. Of course, Faedo strikes out the next guy inning over. This is the point. If you have to count on Sully to help you win with good managing decisions, you will be out of luck. Last year he holds out Puk who was red hot when he has to win the game. A couple of years before that he has the bases loading in the bottom of the 9th with nobody out, score 0-0, a suicide squeeze either ends the game or leaves men on 2nd and 3rd with one out. He continually "spits the bit" and then claims he was just happy to be there.

He trusted a future 1st round pick to beat his opponent on that pitch sequence and props to the TT hitter for winning the battle. It was also only the 4th inning which is early in the game where I want my guy attacking every hitter.

You can go back in hindsight and point to every little mistake but fact of the matter is, the hitters are the ones who did not get it done. Whether we need a new hitting coach or not is to be seen. I do know that their approaches sucked it Omaha.

Side note- I think it's pretty common for college coaches to call pitches, I know mine did.

 

[ufgator812]

I think the main issue is that it never changes. The story is the same, year in and year out.

 

[gardnerwebbgator]

I'm pissed. A Sully fan, but right now I'm willing to listen to the doubters. Tell me the plan that gets us to the next level. Who is the guy? I can't think of one that could even keep us at the level were are at.

If you want to think out of the box then travel 2 hours south on I-75 to start. I don't think this guy is even 50 years old yet, and the stats, including 4 nattys, speak volumes.....

https://tampaspartans.com/sports/bsb/coaches/Urso_Joe?view=bio

 

[Gatorphan]

I grew up in Tampa and I think he's done a fine job, but the Spartans play in a conference with schools that go by the names Lynn, Barry, Rollins, Eckerd and St. Leo. That's silly, but true.

So you're suggesting that we fire Sully and hire Urso?

 

[gardnerwebbgator]

No. But if you want to start tossing names out there, Urso has to be mentioned. Heefner at Dallas Baptist and Pollard at Duke are also two younger coaches doing solid jobs with lesser resources.

 

[FireFoley]

I think that Sully is a good college baseball coach, but not the best. I think his game management and decisions are questionable at times. But unless he changes his personality when the stakes are the highest, he will never win the biggest prize. When in Omaha, Sully gets so tense and tight that you can't get a toothpick up his A$$HOLE and that strung out intensity rubs off on the players. He only changed his pitching lineup in the Supers. Should have pitched Puk against Bethune, but went with Shore. He let buddy Reed try to be Babe Ruth all year with that long loopy swing. Reed should put ball on ground every time at bat. He will never be a full time MLB player b/c he can't hit his weight. In the CCU game on the ball that Reed missed in center field, it was a 2-2 pitch that Shore missed on. However the count was 0-2 and the kid had just swung and missed at an inside off speed pitch. He was tall long armed and leaning over the plate. He could not touch anything on the inner half. So Sully calls and outside pitch followed by a pitch out. Now 2-2 and then wham. Why get so cute? Sully can't get out of his own way in Omaha. He overthinks it and stresses over the most simplistic things out there. Everyone was so stressed. Snead comes in, 1st pitch, hits the batter. Puk comes in and a few pitches later almost kills a kid by beaning him in the head. No Sully did not throw those balls mor misplay the ball in center field, but his process contributes to a lot of the issues!

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Right now both teams who eliminated the overall 1 seed are battling it out in the losers bracket to decide who goes home next, each with only one single win in Omaha.

No matter the outcome, a team with exactly one win in the CWS is being eliminated tonight, and that same team eliminated the top seed in the tourney.

Not exactly a great look, i don't care what kind of apologist you are.

 

[MertzJay26]

I grew up in Tampa and I think he's done a fine job, but the Spartans play in a conference with schools that go by the names Lynn, Barry, Rollins, Eckerd and St. Leo. That's silly, but true.

So you're suggesting that we fire Sully and hire Urso?

Hey man, Sunshine State Conference is the best D2 conference there is. Most of the teams in the conference would beat a majority of D1 schools.

There are a good chunk of SSC players in the bigs including Matt Joyce, Yan Gomes, and Mike Friers to name a few.

Urso would do just fine at the D1 level, but I wouldn't take him over Sully.

 

[oxrageous]

Urso would do just fine at the D1 level, but I wouldn't take him over Sully.

What specifically would you expect Sully to do better? Recruit?

 

[MertzJay26]

What specifically would you expect Sully to do better? Recruit?

And handle pitchers better as well. You guys are being a little ridiculous. We've made 5 of the last 7 World Series'. Once you make the CWS it's a CRAPSHOOT. Give him some time and he will win us a ring.

 

[oxrageous]

And handle pitchers better as well. You guys are being a little ridiculous. We've made 5 of the last 7 World Series'. Once you make the CWS it's a CRAPSHOOT. Give him some time and he will win us a ring.

No he won't, but I admire your optimism.

You act like he's new. Give him time? Hasn't he been here 9 years now?

 

[MJMGator]

No he won't, but I admire your optimism.

You act like he's new. Give him time? Hasn't he been here 9 years now?

Yep, and we should expect that he continues to add to that looooong list of baseball NCs that we've become accustomed to.

 

[MertzJay26]

No he won't, but I admire your optimism.

You act like he's new. Give him time? Hasn't he been here 9 years now?

And we've been to the CWS 5 times. It's going to happen, just be patient.

We could easily drop straight to mediocrity as soon as he leaves and not be able to recruit for anything. He is building a powerhouse program.

It's so easy to just blame the coach and want him fired, it's the lowest hanging fruit.