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Post by grackle on Feb 25, 2024 8:25:37 GMT -8
Ok....with Caraway on 3rd base and one out, we had a good shot to at least tie the game in the 9th inning. Next scheduled batters were Smith and Hainline. Smith struck out. Then, instead of letting Hainline come to the plate, Canham decided to pinch hit for him with Levi Jones-- a freshman who had exactly ZERO previous at bats this season. Perhaps not surprisingly, Jones struck out on four pitches.
So my question/criticism here .... why put a virtually unused freshman into a pressure-filled situation with two out in the 9th and the tying run only 90 ft. away??? Sure, Hainline had gone 0/3 ABs in the game, but overall he was showing signs of improved ABs and, to my eyes anyway, was a preferable hitter in that situation when compared to an unused freshman pinch hitter.
What do you think???
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Post by irimi on Feb 25, 2024 9:09:57 GMT -8
I think it's a valid question, but it's one we'll never know the answer to. My thinking was why Jones when Weber or Talt were there, too, presumably just as ready.
It must have been a gut feeling that the kid was ready. If so, I'd love to see him get more at bats and experience.
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Post by richard44 on Feb 25, 2024 9:49:25 GMT -8
I also thought it was a curious decision. That pitcher for Arkansas also consistently hits 97/98 with his fastball. Crazy first AB of the season for anyone, especially a true freshman’s first AB of his career. But I’m with others who have argued Mitch knows a lot that we don’t know. When it comes down to games or the season being on the line, I trust our coaches to make the right decisions.
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Post by beaverboilermaker on Feb 25, 2024 10:01:52 GMT -8
I expected to see a left hand bat PH for Hainline against their hard throwing righty. What surprised me much more is that Levi and Easton did not get a handful of ABs in Surprise when the Beavs were way ahead. Could have also expected to see Jabin, but it seems like he is not switch hitting this season (unless somebody knows otherwise).
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Post by Henry Skrimshander on Feb 25, 2024 10:38:58 GMT -8
At some point you have to find out who can do what, and when. We might need Levi in a similar pressure situation later this year. It's a 56-game season. Mitch was playing the long game.
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Post by Judge Smails on Feb 25, 2024 10:53:37 GMT -8
I was more disappointed that Smith couldn’t put the ball in play with 1 out and a runner at 3rd.
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Post by easyheat on Feb 25, 2024 12:10:26 GMT -8
I think Jones made sense for a couple of reasons. 1) LH matchup vs RHP, 2) Fast bat vs good velo, 3) Jones doesn't chase - he's selective. 4) Confidence - Hainline has struggled at bat.
Not a cut and dried decision but likely some "gut feel" also involved here.
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Post by badwack on Feb 25, 2024 12:28:15 GMT -8
Runner on third with one out. Nobody has been much of a threat at the plate. I would ask the question why we did not bunt with Smith and tie the game.
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Post by rgeorge on Feb 25, 2024 13:19:17 GMT -8
I've already questioned the decision as weird, but not the cause of a loss.
But, a more experienced LH bat was on the bench (also a reserve catcher so could have gone with back to back LH hitters)... only one AB but was vs TT and did see action in '23. Jones bat speed? Was completely overpowered. Bat speed doesn't translate when one has never seen live action, let alone a potential game ending AB. His selection?Completely unknown in a game situation, especially vs that talent level.
As for Hainline, that's a decision that lowers his confidence. MC may have lost confidence to make the switch, but guaranteed that the player was thinking he was going to tie the game.
No matter the opinion it's a decision that can be debated. But, certainly wasn't the cause for losing.
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Post by tamatrix on Feb 25, 2024 14:27:44 GMT -8
I would have PH for Smith with Talt and safety squeezed...the Jones decision was what it was, I got it.
And Trosky is not Switching anymore for whoever asked that
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ftd
Junior
"I think real leaders show up when times are hard." Trent Bray 11/29/2023
Posts: 2,517
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Post by ftd on Feb 25, 2024 15:12:41 GMT -8
Mitch has forgotten more baseball than i will ever know. In Mitch I trust
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Post by flyfishinbeav on Feb 25, 2024 15:29:54 GMT -8
I don't love the decision, but I trust Canham.....keep moving forward
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Post by easyheat on Feb 25, 2024 19:42:25 GMT -8
Experience is irrelevant if the freshman is a better hitter. We currently are playing a freshman at 3B over more experienced infielders - because he's a better player. Coach knows his players, he sent the guy he had confidence in in that situation to the plate.
The Arkansas reliever was throwing heat - I want a fast bat, Slow bats are late to the party when big velo is in the air. So Jones was overpowered, so were 23 other Beaver hitters including our best bats, Bazzana included. Give me an alternative hitter that wasn't going to be overpowered.
A good part of slumping is mental, hitting instructors tell you - getting your confidence back is essential. I have no idea what Hainline's confidence level was and neither do you. What I do know is that he was hitting .056 on the season and had struck out in his first 4 at bats against Arkansas.
So, Jones was overpowered but so were 23 other Beaver batters including Bazzana. Who was the alternative pinch hitter that was immune to the Arkansas pitching that our pal Aaron Fitt says is the best staff in college baseball ?
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Post by rgeorge on Feb 25, 2024 19:57:22 GMT -8
Experience is irrelevant if the freshman is a better hitter. We currently are playing a freshman at 3B over more experienced infielders - because he's a better player. Coach knows his players, he sent the guy he had confidence in to the plate. The Arkansas reliever was throwing heat - I want a fast bat, Slow bats are late to the party when big velo is in the air. So Jones was overpowered, so were 23 other Beaver hitters including our best bats, Bazzana included. Give me an alternative that wasn't going to be overpowered. A good part of slumping is mental, hitting instructors tell you - getting your confidence back is essential. I have no idea what Hainline's confidence level was and neither do you. But, a more experienced LH bat was on the bench (also a reserve catcher so could have gone with back to back LH hitters)... only one AB but was vs TT and did see action in '23. Jones bat speed? Was completely overpowered. Bat speed doesn't translate when one has never seen live action, let alone a potential game ending AB. His selection?Completely unknown in a game situation, especially vs that talent level. As for Hainline, that's a decision that lowers his confidence. MC may have lost confidence to make the switch, but guaranteed that the player was thinking he was going to tie the game. No matter the opinion it's a decision that can be debated. But, certainly wasn't the cause for losing. LMAO... you lost all cred... again... when you compare playing Caraway from day one to a first appearance PH for Jones 5+ games into the season. And... I'll bet my assumption of Hainline's mentality is spot on. Otherwise he'd not be where he is today playing high level D1 ball. But, then again I'm betting you'd not know or recognize that mentality. "Uninformed observer" indeed! 🤣 |
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Post by easyheat on Feb 25, 2024 20:32:45 GMT -8
There is a correlation - Jones and Caraway are first year players. They have been playing ball in the Beaver program since last fall. To infer that somehow Jones was ill-prepared or incapable of hitting in that situation is an insult to the player and his coaches. If Coach plays a kid, then in his judgement he is prepared and up to the task.
Unfounded speculation of a players mental state at any given time is pure folly. Rather than the usual pontificating, why don't you preface your statements with, "in my humble opinion" . .
Oops . . . there went the hubris.
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