This. Other than Morales, CDC and the new freshmen starters, we've shown absolutely nothing to convince me this is an Omaha team. It's as if our returning starters did nothing in the 1 year off season to improve themselves.Nobody wins them all in baseball, not even close. But there is no excuse for what happened this weekend. This team and these coaches have a lot to prove. If anything like this continues, a month from now we’ll be saying, last weekend showed more about Florida than Miami.
I said the same thing Friday night. Older guys seem complacent. Need to take a hard look in the mirror and find out who we are as a team.This. Other than Morales, CDC and the new freshmen starters, we've shown absolutely nothing to convince me this is an Omaha team. It's as if our returning starters did nothing in the 1 year off season to improve themselves.
Coastal will be a mess this year. Here’s the obvious breakdown of the teams I’ve seen so far.With the sweep of of FSU, Pitt is your ACC Coastal division co-leader at 3-0.
1. Pitt. 3-0
1. GT 3-0
3. VT 2-1
3. UNC 2-1
5. Miami 1-2
5. Duke 1-2
5. UVA 1-2
We need to solidify 1 of the weekend starters and the midde relief. The hitting is atrocious. It's got to improve. Only 1 homerun in 6 games, very few extra bases, and hitting a very low average.Coastal will be a mess this year. Here’s the obvious breakdown of the teams I’ve seen so far.
Pitching > Hitting
UVA (really struggled this weekend at the plate)
UNC (unproven bats that will get better)
Hitting > Pitching
GT (probably the best offense we will see)
PITT
Duke
I think we will eventually fit into the hitting over pitching category. Hard to tell about VT. I don’t think their pitching will hold up over the course of the season.
OMAHA?!This. Other than Morales, CDC and the new freshmen starters, we've shown absolutely nothing to convince me this is an Omaha team. It's as if our returning starters did nothing in the 1 year off season to improve themselves.
I was pretty sure this weekend that we could have faced 98% off speed stuff and not tallied a single hit...that is how poorly prepared they appeared to be to face pitchers with good curves and/or change ups.We need to solidify 1 of the weekend starters and the midde relief. The hitting is atrocious. It's got to improve. Only 1 homerun in 6 games, very few extra bases, and hitting a very low average.
I think not paying a midweek game for severa weeks is hurting the team.
UVa, UM, Duke .... all at 1-2 to start the year.Coastal will be a mess this year. Here’s the obvious breakdown of the teams I’ve seen so far.
Pitching > Hitting
UVA (really struggled this weekend at the plate)
UNC (unproven bats that will get better)
Hitting > Pitching
GT (probably the best offense we will see)
PITT
Duke
I think we will eventually fit into the hitting over pitching category. Hard to tell about VT. I don’t think their pitching will hold up over the course of the season.
Meanwhile Lovelady just walked UCF into Oxford and took the series against #1 in convincing fashion. Blown 2 run lead in the 9th away from sweeping.
UVA was overrated coming into the year and UNC was underrated. Wasn’t surprised at all to see them take that series. UVA doesn’t have the pop in their lineup they need to be a real force, but their pitching and defense will keep them in most games. UNC has a legit ace (Love) on Fridays and a decent bullpen. Their bats will come around bc they’re young. We should be worried about them bc we play in Chapel Hill. Also GT can rake. They are legit. It’ll be a wild year. If we don’t figure it out, yes it could get ugly. Or we could start putting it together and run away with it. We are the most talented team, but fundamentally we just aren’t there.UVa, UM, Duke .... all at 1-2 to start the year.
that's something i wouldn't have expected.
but i think this year could get ugly in a hurry for us. i'm not sensing any leadership, and i question the team chemistry. (that's separate from the lousy hitting, mediocre pitching, and sketchy defense).
UVA was overrated coming into the year and UNC was underrated. Wasn’t surprised at all to see them take that series. UVA doesn’t have the pop in their lineup they need to be a real force, but their pitching and defense will keep them in most games. UNC has a legit ace (Love) on Fridays and a decent bullpen. Their bats will come around bc they’re young. We should be worried about them bc we play in Chapel Hill. Also GT can rake. They are legit. It’ll be a wild year. If we don’t figure it out, yes it could get ugly. Or we could start putting it together and run away with it. We are the most talented team, but fundamentally we just aren’t there.
And allowing them to be around each other in the dugout as a team? Thought I heard Wicho say we were taking a more conservative approach to social distancing than VT. Sure hope that changes soon. We definitely need some more fire during these games.The way the smug Hokies did that synchronized kneebends after that homer made me want to puke, but you can't say they lack "chemistry". Never was much for the Dancing and chain gimmicks, but maybe team chemistry and spirit could use a bit of a boost, and might help matters?
It all seems to be there approach to hitting. Most of these guys just try to hit fastballs rather than focusing on location.I was pretty sure this weekend that we could have faced 98% off speed stuff and not tallied a single hit...that is how poorly prepared they appeared to be to face pitchers with good curves and/or change ups.
It all seems to be there approach to hitting. Most of these guys just try to hit fastballs rather than focusing on location.
Every year I post the same hitting drills that UM appears not to use. I was taught this drill in high school and I used when I played D-1 baseball in college.
From the video, the inside tee represents a fastball. The outside tee represents a curveball. Notice where the tees are placed. The inside tee is forward and the outside tee is back. This teaches you perfect mechanics as you should hit the inside pitch out in front of the place. The offspeed and ouside ptiches should be hit towards the middle of the plate. The #1 mistake I see hitters make is trying to hit the cureball out in front of the plate. They don't even come close to hitting the ball because you lose plate coverage when you front shoulder opens up. When you hit the outside pitch towards the middle/back of the plate it keeps the front shoulder closed where you can drive the ball to the opposite field gap. This is what we call "letting the pitch get deep." Alows you to see the ball a split second more which is the difference of seeing the curveball dip after it's apex and it keros the shoulder and hips closed for power.
With a person behind you calling out pitches, it keeps you from cheating by opening up the shoulder and hips too soon. This by far the best hitting drill.
With 2 strikes, all hitters should take the outside hitting approach and just think I'm going to hit the ball opposite field because 9/10 the pitcher is going to throw a fastball outside or a curveball that winds up outside.
If you have a son or daughter playing baseball or softball, this is the drill I'd teach.
For eye and hand coordination along with timing, I'd use the bounce drill. It simulates the arc and speed of an off speed pitch. It teach the hitter timing and to drive the ball from the inside portion of the ball.
Ironically, the U of Louisville hitting coach in the video below shows the same mistake that most of the UM hitters make on off speed pitches.
Hitting – Bounce Drill – Louisville Baseball
Watch as former Assistant Coach Chris Lemonis explains and a player demonstrates this Bounce Drill.coachesinsider.com