So what is the missing ingredient?

I had an uncle in Klamath Falls who coached Babe Ruth for 20+ years.  His oldest son eventually assisted him.  I talked with him and shared my ideas on what I saw compared to my 11 years of coaching baseball.  By the way his son thinks the world of coach Casey.  He said this years team was candy asses.  I said I think I know what you mean, mental toughness.  He said exactly, there is little fight in many of the players.  They don't face every pitch with fierceness and toughness of I may get out but it will be the toughest out you will get tonight.  He said that attitude is what carried our two championship teams to their titles.  Fighting every pitch of every inning of every game, and fighting to never let their team mates down.

Candy assses, really? One thing Coach Casey is great at is being an excellent judge of character. Do you think for one minute he would bring in guys who were candy asses?


There are  lot of issues with the team this year, but this is not one of them.

I had an uncle in Klamath Falls who coached Babe Ruth for 20+ years.

WOW!!!!. Your uncle must be at least 140 years old!  Even Mike Keck wouldn't even be 70 yet. I don't know what candy ass even means, but it is a good colorful phrase. I also don't know what all this 'leadership' stuff means. I hear and read all the time that coaches want a 'leader' to emerge on a team. I know coaches of any sport want a vocal player or two who lives and breathes 'the team', but what does that exactly mean? Does it mean a player can wave off a bunt sign, or a player who ignores a 'take' sign on a 3-0 pitch?  Was the NY Yankee dugout an example of player leadership when Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson were going at it on national television? To quote a phrase from 'Remember the Titans', "leadership begins at the top."  I listen to Pat Casey enough to know he likes the talent on this particular Beaver team but he also recognizes they are young. Two years ago I thought a Madrigal was some sort of singer. This team has one senior and about 7 juniors on the roster, and the freshman class out number the sophomores (if you count the redshirts- and i do.)

You are definitely not oversimplifying.  Baseball is a game played by young kids... it should be fun.  In my experience, if you are not having fun you will not play well.

You know I don't know Trevor Morrison, nor have I played him on TV, but his facial expressions and body language seem to play out your thesis Tony. He just looks miserable on the field, and I feel so bad for him. Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun. I know I always tried to lift my guys up in a time like that. Maybe Pat needs to give TMo a wet willy.

This team has not jelled at all and they lack HEART. They don't know how to forget about something and just forward to the next pitch. Personally, I feel that TMo's attitude is the worse. I feel that he is just worrying about himself and his draft status. Great individual player, but I don't see him as a team player. How well did the team play late last year when he was hurt? The players seemed less tense on the field. Opinions are like a-holes, everybody has one and this is mine. Hate me if you want. Go Beavs!

I think I heard this last weekend was the nikes first Pac 12 series win. Not sure how that is possible if they are at .500 or 1 game over in Pac 12 play. I should probably research that. Which would require going to a duck site. I'll pass