@Duke Baseball (poll)

[gtbeak]

As a former pitcher, he was gassed - and gassed in the 8th nonetheless. Mechanics started getting off, arm slot sank, threw one wild pitch on a change that was due to those two things and had two more to the same spot that could've easily been pb's if we don't have a stud catcher.

It's one of those times where you take your win and move on, but I think it speaks more to what kind of trust (or lack thereof) they have to the rest of the guys in the pen vs even a gassed Patel. With a fresh pen and as gassed as he was and the way the 8th went, there zero percent chance I would've trotted him back out there. Sometimes you get away with things and I 100% think we got away with one tonight.

The bunt that went foul just in front of bag and Duke being not aggressive enough on the bases (no chance we hold the runner at third in that situation - regardless of there being no outs) and too aggressive at the plate (the inconsistency of Patel at the end, they likely walk if they just take pitches). Things fell our way and it feels great. I don't think that necessarily makes it the right or most promising move though.

Guessing we see Brady on the mound tomorrow. Let's win the series.

Like I said, I wasn't able to watch, but observing how Patel has been handled this season I would be very surprised if he were pulled before surrendering the lead.

 

[DecaturJacket]

Like I said, I wasn't able to watch, but observing how Patel has been handled this season I would be surprised if he were pulled before surrendering the lead.

As somebody who has watched pretty much every out this season, he hadn't looked (anywhere close to) this gassed all season. I felt for the guy. I know that feeling and I know wanting to go back out there despite it. I give him all the credit for finishing it up and coming out on top, but I still don't think it was a great coaching decision.

That being said, I'm extremely happy it worked out.

 

[FredJacket]

This is where we are... a critical win late in the season on the road.

Yet... Coach Hall is still wrong.

 

[DecaturJacket]

This is where we are... a critical win late in the season on the road.

Yet... Coach Hall is still wrong.

Nah. I'm not a blame Danny for everything guy. Danny has the ultimate say, but the pitching coach has to be the one in his ear there.

Like I said, I'm extremely happy it worked out, but I also think it was extremely lucky that it did. Take the win and move on happy. More Power to Patel for coming through.

Edited to add: In addition to strategically I'd rather have a fresh arm there, that's also just how you get hurt. Tired and losing your mechanics. Patel is a super senior, but probably has some pro aspirations still. Not to mention needing him for the rest of our season.

 

[FredJacket]

Nah. I'm not a blame Danny for everything guy. Danny has the ultimate say, but the pitching coach has to be the one in his ear there.

Like I said, I'm extremely happy it worked out, but I also think it was extremely lucky that it did. Take the win and move on happy. More Power to Patel for coming through.

It did work out. I'll admit it was scary.

But... I think there's [potentially] inside the locker room messaging here. We need Patel to know he's the #1 for exactly the scenario that played out tonight... a tight game where we need him to get the final 9 outs.

If you take him out... perhaps you set yourself up for he & the team negatively impacted the "next time"

 

[GT33]

Lost in all this was win #11 for Patel!

 

[DecaturJacket]

It did work out. I'll admit it was scary.

But... I think there's [potentially] inside the locker room messaging here. We need Patel to know he's the #1 for exactly the scenario that played out tonight... a tight game where we need him to get the final 9 outs.

If you take him out... perhaps you set yourself up for he & the team negatively impacted the "next time"

I'm actually looking at it on the other side though. The other relievers thinking they aren't trusted was my first thought.

 

[FredJacket]

I'm actually looking at it on the other side though. The other relievers thinking they aren't trusted was my first thought.

Very fair

 

[gtbeak]

So why do we think Patel was so gassed? He's had outings this long 3 or 4 times this season (70 +/- pitches). I know he threw 25 pitches in the 8th, but that's not an egregiously high pitch count for a specific inning. I know the weather is getting warm, but its gonna get even warmer in June, most likely. Any thoughts?

 

[scb222]

Chicoli has made 4 weekday starts: 2/18 vs southern (2 ip, 3 er) 2/26 vs west ga (4 ip, 3 er) & 3/11 vs state (4 ip, 0 er) early in the year.

Then 5/7 vs Mercer 7.2 ip, 2 er, 92 pitches

The rookie is coming into his own, and you bet he’ll be needed late in a regional, or the ACCCG if we get there. God willing Omaha when you have to play more games and have already used the high end pitching.

 

[DecaturJacket]

So why do we think Patel was so gassed? He's had outings this long 3 or 4 times this season (70 +/- pitches). I know he threw 25 pitches in the 8th, but that's not an egregiously high pitch count for a specific inning. I know the weather is getting warm, but its gonna get even warmer in June, most likely. Any thoughts?

Who knows. Stressful pitches. Different warmup. Different workout schedule. Different day of the week. Just the weather.

I don't think you can read too much into being gassed on a hot (upper 80s) humid (85%) summer night in a close game.

 

[GT33]

I'm actually looking at it on the other side though. The other relievers thinking they aren't trusted was my first thought.

You can say the same for hitters.

I'm pretty certain eveyone thinks Patel is a great reliever. He generally has great control, good for 3-4 innings when needed. We didn't get the standard Patel outing tonight. 1.2 was great. 2-2.2 was unnerving to watch. I didn't want the kid to blow it & he barely got out of the 8th, had a high pitch count for him at that point coupled with poor control. Wild pitches, hit batters are not the "normal" Patel, I think we can all agree. The way the 9th unfolded was unreal. Whenever you get a runner at 3rd and 0 outs, then fail to score, absolutely demoralizing for the team trying to score. When it happens and you're already pounding the opposing pitcher or he has poor control, it's hard to swallow.

Edit: should have added along with poor base running probably inspired by dookie 3rd base coach!

There's many ways to have handled the 8th & the 9th, but there's only one way we know for certain what the outcome is. Hall gambled and won. Impossible for us to know what went on in the dugout, but Hall made the call and it was a good one indeed!

 

[bensaysitathome]

Who knows. Stressful pitches. Different warmup. Different workout schedule. Different day of the week. Just the weather.

I don't think you can read too much into being gassed on a hot (upper 80s) humid (85%) summer night in a close game.

Give the game a watch on replay. And I'd recommend not watching an abbreviated cut, or a summary of key plays. Give the last two innings a full watch.

You may disagree, but it felt tenuous at best watching live. Nothing but respect for the kid, he just felt overused.

Again, I'm not paid to make these decisions. Just sharing my nervous, tech fan thoughts.

 

[DecaturJacket]

We've now won 9 of our last 10 after losing 7 in a row.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

It did work out. I'll admit it was scary.

But... I think there's [potentially] inside the locker room messaging here. We need Patel to know he's the #1 for exactly the scenario that played out tonight... a tight game where we need him to get the final 9 outs.

If you take him out... perhaps you set yourself up for he & the team negatively impacted the "next time"

That’s a solid point.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

And, if anyone says we were lucky, just remember we’ve been unlucky this season too. It tends to even out in baseball.

 

[gtbeak]

I'd like to give props to McKee. Duke had him on the ropes almost from pitch #1, but he bucked up and put up 3 straight zeros to keep us in the game.

 

[78pike]

My gut tells me that the coaches went up to Patel after the inning and asked hime how he felt or if he had another inning in him. I can see him responding "I've got this coach". If so, as a coach, you have to let the guy who has been your horse all year finish it out. If you don't there is no telling what it would do to Patel's psyche at the most critical time of the year.

And I agree that McKee making it through 5 and keeping them at bay those final 3 innings was the key to the game. Granted he was wild but he was also getting squeezed hard by the guy behind the plate. There were several borderline pitches and I don't thing one of them went McKee's way.

Finally I think Burress was 4 for 4 with a HBP so he reached base all 5 plate appearances. We did all our damage at the top of the lineup with the exception of the 7th inning. We just need to get Lodise back to his old self.

 

[senoiajacket]

Here’s a scenario to consider for tomorrow night:

Say we start Jones and he goes 5 innings, is moderately effective, pitch count is getting high and we have either a small lead, are tied, or a small deficit.

Do we consider bringing Payden in to try and clinch the series with a game two win …… or do we save him to start Sunday????

 

[FredJacket]

UP NEXT
The Jackets will look to secure a double bye in the ACC Tournament tomorrow during the second game of the series, beginning at 6 p.m. Tech will start freshman Connor Chicoli (1-0 / 4.05 ERA) against Duke’s Andrew Healy (3-3 / 7.29 ERA).

Jackets Grind Out Win at No. 20 Duke

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

ramblinwreck.com