Utah

I'll disagree as its been my career. Abel can't repeat his delivery. If your in the park watch his balance point and front foot. When he's on he gets to top in good position and his front three cleats hit first and at his target.

But, he is constantly heel landing, landing "toe out", varying his arm slot. He's better from the stretch, but still looks very very raw and uneasy.

Wow... 2nd inning has been atrociously up in the zone... heel landing... motion really in pieces right now. Even the outs were up.

Utah is not going to get enough hits to hurt anyone. The free passes are a huge gift to a team like this.

I'm thinking it's BP time...

Abel is not ready to be a starter.  Get him out of there.

For that matter, he is getting no help.  The Beavers are not the #1 team in the country. Gretler juggles a ball to third is indicative of a lot of the play this year. Same with Kwan not only hitting in the .260s but gets picked off at first.  There seems to be a lack of focus on this years team.  Same with the pitching.  Way too many walks.  Way too many times in geting behind the count which leads to hits when we have to come back from behind in the count.  Caseys teams have always been built on pitching and defense and this team doesn't reflect that. I would blame it on Madrigal being gone as I think we miss his leadership as his approach is infectious.  But that doesn't account for the pitching woes for a very talented group of arms.  Baseball is a funny sport where if someone gets hot, the whole team can or unfortunately also the opposite.  I know we are 20-2 but don't feel we have played tough competition.  I am just not feeling a #1 ranking.  Doesn't mean we can't get there, but have a lot of work to do if we want to get back to Omaha. 

Thanks for your doubts. Kevin Abel strikes out the side in response.

From the Utah side of the field it's easier to see why balance is an issue for Abel. He's in a "belly button" posture. It keeps his lift from the slight rotation of the front side to get to a consistent balance point.

Nate and I disagree that "reading a book" posture solves that. The rock, pivot, lift should allow the back side to consistently gather. Front knee lift of Abel doesn't "get to 3B" to get back pocket to the plate.

Hence, his arm position is often dragging and not in coordination with his drive... throwing in "pieces". Basically, he's fighting his own body and results in steering the ball with no consistent release point and front foot.

In his stretch he's still at the belly button, but starts in a more balanced position, but still has a hard time getting rhythm of a completely coordinated pitching motion.

Easily remedied, but will have to be to be anything more than a thrower.

Wow. We look AWFUL. No hitting at all, pitching terrible, fielding iffy. Brutal.

UTAH IS 4-19..FOUR WINS. Ouch.