-tech came over to Athens last year after our series win at South Carolina. We didn't have a lot of gas left in the proverbial pitching tank given the number of injuries on the staff at that time. tech wore us out pretty good. I think it was 13-6 or something like that. Since that game, we've played them three more times and really stonewalled their lineup in each case. Last night was the banner pitching result of the previous two games, but we kept putting up zeros while we built the lead and never really allowed tech to threaten after that. Just a fantastic job we've done in the three games against them since they came to Athens last.
-No win over tech should ever be qualified, and I won't qualify this one. I was surprised though that tech ran the Ryan kid out for the 2nd inning and especially for the 3rd inning. He wasn't fooling anyone. Stephen Wrenn hit into that 5-3 DP to end the 1st, but that that was ball was hit right on the screws as well. We will see better pitching in Nashville (and probably in every game the rest of this season, including Turner Field), but hopefully we can take some confidence as hitters from last night.
-I loved the decision to go with Heath Holder last night. Andrew Gist seemed like the right choice on paper, but it's hard to see a team twice when you pitch the way Gist does (and you saw that to some extent when Gist came in from the bullpen last night, also). Heater has been outstanding this month, going back to College Station. His curveball is really going well for him right now.... He spots his fastball, doesn't light it up on the gun, but it has enough movement when paired with his curve that he's tough to hit. I want to say too that it would have been very easy for that guy to go in the tank after Miss State... all he's been through in his career here, this is his last go round, and to that point, it just hadn't gone all that great for him. I'm really happy for him personally and I have to think the others are feeding off of that as well.
-Umpiring last night.... good grief. After spending the better part of three years listening to Stricklin constantly try to win a balk call, it was amusing to watch his mentor try so hard to get one last night too. After awhile, Danny started to come across as an asshole more than anything, in my humble opinion. I think it was the 7th when Shane Tucker was on that it really started to turn into a lot.... Hall is in the dugout yelling "JUST PUT A TENT OVER HIM.... JUST LET HIM GET AWAY WITH MURDER OUT THERE." Padgett had already warned him once, and I know that there are different ramifications for getting tossed from a college game, but by then I really thought Danny should have gotten run. It sure looked like Shane Tucker said something into their dugout after that last out (and zero) that he carded. I hope he did. Part of that, I am certain, was geared toward rattling our freshman pitcher in a game tech was trying to sneak back in. I get that, and Shane handled it the right way, mainly by walking off the field with no runs allowed.
The umpiring was a joke last night, but then Danny Hall was too. I can respect how badly he wanted to win that game, but he really came across as a child after awhile. Maybe he was just mad it didn't rain.
-It always amuses me when I hear people say that tech is the top program in this state. They've never won a national championship. We have. They've been to Omaha fewer times than we have. They have a losing record against us head to head. I guess people think they're something elite because they make the postseason so often, but I say that's just a function of playing in a very top heavy league. Maybe they get into a regional this year and maybe we don't. But it's pretty clear to anyone who has watched the 2 games played head to head that we are the better team. tech, as an institution, relies and thrives on "misconception" (to put it nicely). Their baseball program is one of many such examples.
-No win over tech should ever be qualified, and I won't qualify this one. I was surprised though that tech ran the Ryan kid out for the 2nd inning and especially for the 3rd inning. He wasn't fooling anyone. Stephen Wrenn hit into that 5-3 DP to end the 1st, but that that was ball was hit right on the screws as well. We will see better pitching in Nashville (and probably in every game the rest of this season, including Turner Field), but hopefully we can take some confidence as hitters from last night.
-I loved the decision to go with Heath Holder last night. Andrew Gist seemed like the right choice on paper, but it's hard to see a team twice when you pitch the way Gist does (and you saw that to some extent when Gist came in from the bullpen last night, also). Heater has been outstanding this month, going back to College Station. His curveball is really going well for him right now.... He spots his fastball, doesn't light it up on the gun, but it has enough movement when paired with his curve that he's tough to hit. I want to say too that it would have been very easy for that guy to go in the tank after Miss State... all he's been through in his career here, this is his last go round, and to that point, it just hadn't gone all that great for him. I'm really happy for him personally and I have to think the others are feeding off of that as well.
-Umpiring last night.... good grief. After spending the better part of three years listening to Stricklin constantly try to win a balk call, it was amusing to watch his mentor try so hard to get one last night too. After awhile, Danny started to come across as an asshole more than anything, in my humble opinion. I think it was the 7th when Shane Tucker was on that it really started to turn into a lot.... Hall is in the dugout yelling "JUST PUT A TENT OVER HIM.... JUST LET HIM GET AWAY WITH MURDER OUT THERE." Padgett had already warned him once, and I know that there are different ramifications for getting tossed from a college game, but by then I really thought Danny should have gotten run. It sure looked like Shane Tucker said something into their dugout after that last out (and zero) that he carded. I hope he did. Part of that, I am certain, was geared toward rattling our freshman pitcher in a game tech was trying to sneak back in. I get that, and Shane handled it the right way, mainly by walking off the field with no runs allowed.
The umpiring was a joke last night, but then Danny Hall was too. I can respect how badly he wanted to win that game, but he really came across as a child after awhile. Maybe he was just mad it didn't rain.
-It always amuses me when I hear people say that tech is the top program in this state. They've never won a national championship. We have. They've been to Omaha fewer times than we have. They have a losing record against us head to head. I guess people think they're something elite because they make the postseason so often, but I say that's just a function of playing in a very top heavy league. Maybe they get into a regional this year and maybe we don't. But it's pretty clear to anyone who has watched the 2 games played head to head that we are the better team. tech, as an institution, relies and thrives on "misconception" (to put it nicely). Their baseball program is one of many such examples.
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