Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2007
(51)
-
▼
April
(23)
- That's that.
- An awful break
- It's time to think some happy thoughts
- Rotation Madness
- A Word About Photos
- So Now Then
- Yale Games
- Joe Walsh, All Class
- Dartmouth remains meaningful.
- Brown Games
- Max Perlman Facts
- Good hitting meets good pitching
- Wet and Cole
- So, about this rain...
- Today's Games
- A Word on Comments
- Harvard sweeps Yale: Open thread
- Midweek Notes
- Harvard Sweeps Cornell
- Princeton Open Thread
- Princetalk
- More SoBB AV Club: Brad Unger
- Harvard Splits With Columbia
-
▼
April
(23)
Latest Official Harvard Baseball News
Latest Sports News from The Crimson
Friends of SoBB
Contact us.
Copyright 2005-2007 Sons of Bart Brush. The opinions expressed here are those only of the individual Sons of Bart Brush writers, and not those of any players, coaches or other officials affiliated with Harvard Baseball.
24 comments:
A frustrating loss in game one as a late rally was squandered due to shoddy defense in the 8th. Should be noted that the game never would have been tied in the first place without a 2 out 2 run error by Princeton's left fielder. In game 2, Haviland was his old self and some timely hitting helped take advantage of 6 Princeton errors. Casey had some quality at bats and Byrne hit the ball hard all day. Vance tracked down some deep fly balls in center. All in all, both teams probably deserved a split. Big day tomorrow.
The game might have been different when Perlman, who pitched well but was struggling a bit, was clearly tiring and Harvard had a lefty righty warming up and Princetion had lefty righty coming up but Walsh chose to leave Perlman in. That guy has got to have or at least find out what his bullpen can do in the Ivy League. He mismanages that part, among others. Errors are part of the game so don't through that in. The thing is, Harvard came back and really should have won. The defense in the 8th was tough, but so were the coaching decisions earlier. Great to see Haviland have a real good start and win. Cole also looked much better with control and mechanics.
"That guy has got to have or at least find out what his bullpen can do in the Ivy League."
Thats rediculous. Guess what, he found out what his players are capable of on the southern trip. Thats what it is for. There is no finding out what kids can do once league play rolls around. Kids have largely proven what they are capable of (and not capable of) and Perlman showed that he can grit out an inning.
For a POSITIVE comment (I'm sorry your son didnt get to play), Ryan Watson looked impressive out of the bullpen. Throwing bullets at and just below the knees. He looked very confident.
Ryan Watson did show good command and control out of the bullpen. Tom Stack-Babich has been coming around as of late, making hard outs even when the hits don't fall. The Stoeckel-Byrne combo up the middle is impressive defensively. They make double plays look routine.
However, in response to the last comment, there have been several questionable managing decisions so far this season, not only limited to the bullpen. Harvard did not look particularly prepared for the first game, as they had nothing going offensively until the 5th inning.
Coach don't take it personally. Blogs are for opinions and you don't manage your bullpen well. Starting pitching is great but what happens when you're in a tight spot, it seems you don't have confidence in your bullpen and the kids need to know you have confidence in them. Watson pitched super, use him more and sooner.
For what it's worth, the culture at this program (and in this league for the teams that have the starting pitching) has long been to gut it out with the starters for as long as humanly possible. Whether you think it's a good idea or not, it's not peculiar to this season or even this program.
Yep.
It should be noted that in college baseball in general and especially in the Ivy League, with its four game weekends and 7-8 person recruiting classes resulting in limited depth the goal of every offense is to get into the other team's bullpen asap. Therefore, in a Saturday game one, if it is up in the air whether to turn the game over to the bullpen or not, the sensible move is to hang in there with the starter to keep arms fresh in case something happens where you'd have to go the pen early in one of the other games.
I don't care about the culture of a particular league,its wise in sub freezing temps to save an arm. But also what are you going to do, try someone in the Ivy championship who has never pitched before? There is PLENTY of situational pitching in that bullpen. I'm not talking about taking a starting pitcher out in the 3rd or 4th inning, but that bullpen can be used more wisely than it is now. If you ever have to go the pen early, these kids, whoever they are, will never be ready.
Yes but that goes right back to the fact that many arms in the bullpen have already been "tested" and got a failing grade.
Lead in the ninth vs. Quinnipiac, blown save (albeit on an unearned run)
7 runs in 4 inninga vs Tampa
Lead in the ninth vs NW, blown save
5 runs in 2.2 innings vs Tampa
Lead in the ninth vs FAU, blown save
9 runs in 3.2 innings in a game we were winning at FAU
How many more chances should guys (your son) get? Watson, Bruton and perhaps Foushee/ Cole, if the situation is right, are the only guys who whould be in there in a close game.
But again back to the cold weather. Once you throw 60 pitches to warm up in that mess and then pitch in the game, you are done for the day. You have no idea what that pitcher is going to have on a freezing cold day whather it be just control of command of an offspeed pitch coming off frozen fingers. Much better to stay with the warm arm.
If you used that analogy then Haviland wouldn't be pitching as he didn't have a great Florida trip but he looked great this weekend. Pitchers need to pitch more than4-5 innings to find out what they can or can't do. You are going to need a bullpen at some point and not just Bruton or Watson for one pitch. As for starters,125 pitches plus 60 warm ups for 7 innings is way too much in this weather and you could see the guys tiring. Perlman pitched a real gutsy outing, but he was tired and was left in 1 inning too long. Believe me this has nothing to do with playing time.
Issues with the bullpen, or use thereof, aside, the Crimson squandered a number of opportunities to score against Princeton by failing to hit or attempt to hit the ball to the right side of the field to advance runners. The most glaring example in the 2nd game had Stack-Babich on second, Wilson on third with 1 out. The batter swung at the first pitch, an inside curveball, and hit a weak grounder to third, causing Wilson to be out at the plate and leaving runners at 1st & 2nd. A hitter should be looking for a pitch to hit on the ground to the right side in this situation and should not swing at anything inside unless he has a 2 strike count. If he would have done so, Harvard scores a run and moves Stack-Babich to 3rd with two outs (assuming the worts and the batter grounded out). This is a basic baseball play that every team neads to execute. Manufacturing runs in this manner is important part of the game, especially to a team that is struggling to score. This will be an issue going forward unless the crimson become more disciplined.
agreed. Its amazing, these are all smart kids but baseball knowledge does not always seem to be there.
They are supposed to have "teachers." Not always the case, seems everyone just wants to have the impressive hit, but not wanting to do the non-boxscore things that win baseball games.
Nice to see Max Warren have a nice game against BC. Nice to see that bullpen coming along. Some guys can be used situationally and some can go for longer. Harvard will need them.
I guess we should really just enjoy the Harvard baseball experience for what it is, not great, but decent baseball. If we wanted better we'd be watching at Rice, Stanford, or Fresno State, if possible. The "teachers" here at Harvard baseball are ok, nothing more, but our kids are going to get a Harvard diploma and for me that is the main thing. I get a little nuts watching at times but in the grand scheme of things, in 3-4 years baseball won't mean much anymore; that diploma will be all the action these kids need.
I have some thoughts regarding the comment that the diploma is the main thing.
1)One should never endeavor to do anything half way - If a player's mindset isn't to get the most out of himself and advance his ability and technique, he should quit now! Further, If mediocre is acceptable to your son on the baseball field, it will likely be acceptable to him in his professional life as well, so that sheepskin may not be the answer.
2) The notion, that in 3-4 years baseball won't mean much, seems to me to be an excuse to accept mediocrity. Furthermore, there are several players on this team with legitemate aspirations to continue in baseball after college and, I would hope every player would be driven towards the goal of competing in an NCAA regional tournament and beyond. Again, if a player is not so driven and looking just to play the game, maybe club ball is the answer.
3)The concept that the coaches are just "ok" at Harvard, not only grossly underestimates their baseball knowledge and ability, it assumes that coaches at the "big" D1 schools are superior. I assure you, for the most part, that you are giving the other coaches way too much credit. What you may be seeing with the Harvard coaches is a tiring in the battle with too many guys who a are not highly motivated. I'm certain, no one wants to win more than Coach Walsh and he believes Harvard can beat anybody. What he needs is "all hands on deck" ready to roll up their sleeves and work hard to do so.
Come on, get real here!!!! If you think the baseball this year is better than just decent, you are watching a different game. Its not an indictment against the coaching staff, its just the way things are. These players are trying their butts off, no one but you said anything to the contrary. Are there some kids that MIGHT play after college, yes but that's not what most kids came here for. They came to play ball to the best of their ability, but for the MOST part baseball after Harvard is not in the cards. In a few years to come baseball, to the VAST majority of kids on the team, won't be that important. They will be working and getting on with their lives. It doesn't mean they don't try when they are here. You should be ashamed for thinking anything else. The kids at Fresno State are there for baseball only, not the case at Harvard and thats just reality, nothing to hide or think otherwise. If the coaches at Harvard are "tiring" in their jobs, then maybe its time to move on.
I agree with the poster with the three points. Marty and I (mostly Marty) maintain this blog because it's fun to follow a team that goes for it. The refreshing thing about Harvard's baseball program is that it rejects the culture that pervades other Ivy athletic departments (and even certain other teams at Harvard) and outright refuses to settle for mediocrity.
The current roster is of course full of fine human beings who will become huge professional successes in their chosen fields when they graduate. But I keep an eye on Harvard baseball because I don't want to miss the chance, one of these years, to Priceline a flight to Omaha and have a legitimate rooting interest. And I do think that day will come.
So do I. I would love to go to Omaha. But you are all missing the point, if it doesn't come, life will move on. And believe me, life will mostly move on. Mediocrity is your word.
There are kids on this team to whom baseball means everything, and YOU should be ashamed for thinking otherwise.
I would be horrified if my father wrote like this guy.....
I think the negative tone that this blog has taken needs to stop. This blog was intended for fans of Harvard baseball not as a forum for parents to raise controversy. Questioning the desire and passion of college athletes who play for nothing more than their love of the game is ridiculous. Every member of Harvard baseball plays because they love the game and have a dream of winning a National Championship. This may seem far fetched but, it is a dream that inspires kids to walk across the river in the middle of winter when it is 5 below and snowing to make themselves and the team better. I would encourage the readers and contributors to this blog to start lending more support to the members of the program and put an end to all of the cynicism.
To the poster who is rightfully getting an earful from others. It does not seem to make sense that playing baseball in the Ivy League wont matter in several years. No matter how rich and famous these kids become, wearning the Harvard uniform will be the ultimate memory - especially in times when the stock market isnt doing so well, when home life gets tough, when friends pass.
I played VERY small time college athletics, and those memories with my friends and teammates still bring us together more than any aspect from college and professional life combined.
And guess what - we never got to play UCLA, Note Dame, Minnesota, Miami, Oregon State, UL Lafayette - let alone memories of beating those guys.
Harvard is a classy program with legitimate chances to win any given game any given year. Keep it up... much like the people who played and followed the Crimson far more than 3-4 years ago now. Like on this site.
Post a Comment