DiamondTerrier wrote:Here's my take on the error problem. Looks as if the problems on the team could be because of lack of instruction on behalf of the coaching staff. This applies to the entire staff but ultimately the head coach is responsible.
He does have his favorites. Face it...the cleanup hitter batting at .220 and the 5 or 6 hole hitting at .230 and these are the highs for the last half of the year. I'll you be the judge. Well, with the exception of a few chosen few and they are his untouchables!
A change has to be made at the top. This years had the most talent as any team in his tenure and look at where we will finish again this year. .
Well lets see what you are trying to say, because I am not following you on all of it.
First, the problem is Coach I has not had an infield coach since Dillinger was sent packing. Our middle infielders are not getting coached becuase no one knows what to tell them unless it was read in a coaches manual. It is tough to coach from a manual. This is what corporate executives do in little league when coaching their kids. So, I believe the staff needs someone that is an infield coach!! Coach I should be held responsible for getting or not getting this coach that we need.
I agree that this team has the most talent of any team he has coached and more that we have had in a while and maybe for a while to come. The Conference RPI is seventh!! I think that is 7 out of 31 conferences.
Wofford's team RPI is 149. This is the highest since the team won the SoCon in 2007 with an RPI of 142.Actually since going D1, the team has only finished in the top 200 D1 teams three times.(I think there are a few more than 300 D1 teams). Those years were 2007, this year and 2002 when they finished at 199. So history says we are a middle of the pack in D1 when we have our best talent such as 2007 and 2012.
So the issue is deeper than the coach even though I think his head is on the chopping block because that is just how life is. The conference is tough as the devil. Not an excuse, but we need more money to get more players. Then we need to coach better because you can't loose 9 out of 11 ONE run games in the conference and expect to be anywhere except at the bottom.
Let's also look at the preseason poles. We were picked to finish 10th in both the media and coaches pole. We are where we should be by the opinion of those that know more about the program, the coaches, the scholarships, the depth of players etc.
Then you talk of favorites and untouchables. Some of the players you call out are not untouchables at all and not favorites. You got some bad info there. They are just the best he has and in fact some of the best to have played at the school. Why not call out the entire team. Heck only one is batting over .300. (I don't count the ones without a bunch of at bats but even counting them I think that only gives you one more batting over .300).
Looks like leadoff and cleanup are both 100 points below where they were last year. Both have hit it hard and the average is not indicative of their ability or how they contributed to games. In fact they are second and third in driving in runs and second and fourth in extra base hits. Of course Mac Doyle is first in both catagories!
Not sure who five and six are since they change them around so much, but I feel that statistics and batting averages are not the reason Wofford loses games. Stats are also not why people start.
Don't fool yourself if you think that next year will get better when these seniors(favorites and untouchables) graduate so some others can get their shot.
Looking at the up to date stats tells me that on the offense Wofford will lose three hitters(leadoff, three hole and cleanup) that have 253, 263 and 222 hits in their career( all in the top 6 in history) and Doyle and Diamaduros have 196 and 168 RBI in their career(top 3 in Wofford history).
Not to mention another hitter and a catcher that is one of the best ever at this school with his defense and has 151 hits and 60 rbi to boot.
Sorry, but I will not even get into the pitchers that will be lost and the innings they have contributed to the program.
Bottom line is that you and I are probably a lot closer in what we think about the program than what can be typed on this blog. We have struggled in the past and will struggle in the future until major changes are made. Hope they happen sooner than later.
PS---USC-Upstate won their conference and will go to a regional with former Wofford pitching coach Dusty Blake as their pitching coach!!----but wait, Wofford beat them 4 out of 5 times in the last two years and can't even make the SoCon tourny!! Another reason records and statistics don't tell the whole story.