Wake Forest

[FredJacket]

The ACC train keeps moving down the track and we need wins. Some thoughts:
1) Last year, we were 2-7 against the Atlantic Div (@FSU, NCST, BC). This year we must improve on that record (@WF, CLEM, @ND). Those three series happen to be in succession over the next 3 weekends. I would like to see 6-3 or better over those 9 games because it's Louisville (brace for impact) at home after that.
2) First things first... win in Winston Salem!!
3) Weather - if forecast doesn't change, Sunday's forecast likely means we'll see Sat turn into a DH. I think I like the idea of us playing 3 in 2 days more than 1 a day... just seems to feel like a slight advantage to our offense.
4) Wake is good. RPI #17. I guess I "hope" that's inflated; and believe 2 or 3 wins for Tech is not out of the question.

Go JACKETS!

 

[FredJacket]

....
1) Last year, we were 2-7 against the Atlantic Div (@FSU, NCST, BC). This year we must improve on that record (@WF, CLEM, @ND). Those three series happen to be in succession over the next 3 weekends. I would like to see 6-3 or better over those 9 games because it's Louisville (brace for impact) at home after that.

Ooops. Failed to remember it's 4 Atlantic opponents per season.
CORRECTION:
2016, we were 4-8 against the Atlantic (@FSU, NCST, @CLEM, BC)
2017, we play @WF, CLEM, @ND, LOU.

 

[FredJacket]

http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/032317aaa.html
No surprise. No change to weekend starters: Curry, Hughes, Shadday.
Win the "next" one x 3.

 

[THWG]

http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/032317aaa.html
No surprise. No change to weekend starters: Curry, Hughes, Shadday.
Win the "next" one x 3.

I'm really excited about this rotation. It's the first time in a long time where I feel that all 3 starters will give us a chance to win and keep the team in the game which is all that you can ask of in a starting pitcher.

 

[65Jacket]

I think the key is for these three starters to at least get thru six innings. Keep away from walks, HBPs, and pitching behind in counts. Also keep away from HRs.

 

[OldJacketFan]

I think the key is for these three starters to at least get thru six innings. Keep away from walks, HBPs, and pitching behind in counts. Also keep away from HRs.

My biggest gripe with pitching as a whole is not throwing strikes. Seems like pitchers are now SO concerned about the hitter putting a bat on the ball all they do is nibble. I've preached until I was blue in the face over the years to trust your stuff, you have 7 teammates behind you and many times the hitter will get himself out! THROW STRIKES It's a simple game!

 

[THWG]

My biggest gripe with pitching as a whole is not throwing strikes. Seems like pitchers are now SO concerned about the hitter putting a bat on the ball all they do is nibble. I've preached until I was blue in the face over the years to trust your stuff, you have 7 teammates behind you and many times the hitter will get himself out! THROW STRIKES It's a simple game!

I completely agree with this. I mean for most hitters there is 70-80% chance that they will make an out, but they can't get themselves out if the pitchers doesn't throw strikes.

 

[OldJacketFan]

I honestly think the last generation of pitchers have the psyche you can't pitch to contact given what happened when baseball (excluding the pros) went to aluminum and then composite bats. At one time you pitched to the inner half of the plate and cracked/shattered bats. Then those same pitches went for hits after the bat changes. Even at the pro level now you don't see the majority of pitchers come inside because they DON'T know HOW to pitch inside! What is considered an inside pitch now to me is right over the heart of the plate. Batters freak out when a pitcher does, on rare occasion and usually by accident, actually come inside.

 

[Lagrangejacket]

I honestly think the last generation of pitchers have the psyche you can't pitch to contact given what happened when baseball (excluding the pros) went to aluminum and then composite bats. At one time you pitched to the inner half of the plate and cracked/shattered bats. Then those same pitches went for hits after the bat changes. Even at the pro level now you don't see the majority of pitchers come inside because they DON'T know HOW to pitch inside! What is considered an inside pitch now to me is right over the heart of the plate. Batters freak out when a pitcher does, on rare occasion and usually by accident, actually come inside.

Based on our HBP stats, I'd say we have no problem pitching inside

 

[OldJacketFan]

Based on our HBP stats, I'd say we have no problem pitching inside

LMAO! It seems that way doesn't it? Maybe a bit TOO far inside?

 

[65Jacket]

Once in the last week, one of out pitchers threw the ball behind the batter and gave up a run. You could see Bard screaming at the pitcher after he retrieved the wild pitch.

 

[OldJacketFan]

Once in the last week, one of out pitchers threw the ball behind the batter and gave up a run. You could see Bard screaming at the pitcher after he retrieved the wild pitch.

Good for Joey! I would have walked the ball back to my pitcher and kicked him in the a**. Then give him the ball and go back behind the plate

 

[alentrekin]

Umpires adjusted to this IMO. That low outside corner get can pretty low and outside sometimes, and when I caught, it felt like you had to train both pitcher and umpire that there is an inside corner for right handed hitters.

 

[Deleted member 2897]

We have over 20 games coming up against teams outside the top 50. Wake Forest isn't ranked, but is getting votes. So they are beatable too. These games will be where our season is made. We have to find a way to win at least 1 against all the tough teams and occasionally steal a 2nd win. But against the Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, UIC, Pitt, UGA, Duke's of the world no exceptions - we have to take 2 wins every time and find an occasional 3rd in each series. 2 wins in each of these 7 series = 14 wins. That takes us to 26. We've also got Mercer mixed in there (2) and Georgia State (1) and Georgia Southern (1) - that's another 2 wins minimum. We've gotta then steal 1 win from Clemson, Louisville, and Virginia - 3 more. That takes us to 31 wins. That's kind of a bare minimum - would be nice to sweep the local teams and get closer to 35+ wins. A lot of work to do!

 

[FredJacket]

We have over 20 games coming up against teams outside the top 50. Wake Forest isn't ranked, but is getting votes. So they are beatable too. These games will be where our season is made. We have to find a way to win at least 1 against all the tough teams and occasionally steal a 2nd win. But against the Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, UIC, Pitt, UGA, Duke's of the world no exceptions - we have to take 2 wins every time and find an occasional 3rd in each series. 2 wins in each of these 7 series = 14 wins. That takes us to 26. We've also got Mercer mixed in there (2) and Georgia State (1) and Georgia Southern (1) - that's another 2 wins minimum. We've gotta then steal 1 win from Clemson, Louisville, and Virginia - 3 more. That takes us to 31 wins. That's kind of a bare minimum - would be nice to sweep the local teams and get closer to 35+ wins. A lot of work to do!

Can't argue with the concept...win the win-able and steal some from superior competition. Easier said than done...the competition is tough. Wake is not ranked in any polls; but their RPI is #11 right now FWIW(?). VT beat FSU 2 out of 3 in Blacksburg (where we must travel to play them). They scored 30 runs on Sat & Sun against FSU...go figure. Duke, ND, & Pitt... we really cannot let them beat us; but we travel to Duke and ND.

We get Clemson, Louisville, & UVA all at home. I REALLY hope we take advantage of that. Frankly, I don't really understand how home field makes such the difference it seems to make in college baseball... but I think statistically, home field IS an advantage.

Road team (ACC) records:
Wk 1: 5-16
Wk 2: 9-12

 

[RoosterJacket]

Not a fan of the new uniforms. Charcoal jerseys and pants.

Poje with a bomb!!!! Down 2-1 Top 2nd.

 

[FredJacket]

Not a fan of the new uniforms. Charcoal jerseys and pants.

Poje with a bomb!!!! Down 2-1 Top 2nd.

What if we get a road win in them, @RoosterJacket?

 

[RoosterJacket]

What if we get a road win in them, @RoosterJacket?

Then I suggest we wear them every game!!

Poje with another hr!!

 

[RoosterJacket]

Thanks to some bad miscues from Wake Forest, GT ties it up in the top of the 9th! Down 6-3, and we tied it up!!!

 

[FredJacket]

Thanks to some bad miscues from Wake Forest, GT ties it up in the top of the 9th! Down 6-3, and we tied it up!!!

That's a little understated. We scored 3 runs after 2 out & nobody on.... crazy!

A foul ball... WF catcher let foul pop out of glove. Would have ended game. Poje scores tying run on a wild pitch. Just NUTS!