The Guv's Cup back in good hands
by BrianWalker'sElbow on Apr 15, 2009 2:15 AM EDT
11 comments
I made the trip with Ivory Tower all the way down to Pearl, MS to see the Rebels play against the Bulldogs in the Governor's Cup at Trustmark Park. Luckily, we had front row seats behind home plate (no thanks to the Cup) that gave us a great view of the action. Our thoughts are on the other side of the jump.
Mike Bianco's squad won its second in a row with the 8-1 neutral site victory in Pearl. Ole Miss dictated the pace of the entire game and completely dominated the Bulldogs.
Ole Miss proved that it can consistently put at bats together over several innings. In the first, Henry scored on a single from Matt Smith. In the second, Miller scored on a double from Hubbard after being hit by a pitch. Kevin Mort got two of his three RBI in the fourth on a single that scored Miller and Hubbard. Power doubled in the fifth and was brought home by a Matt Snyder single. Miller was hit by a pitch, and a single from Hubbard scored Snyder. Then, Mort got his last RBI with a single to score Miller. The Rebels last run would come in the seventh as David Philips got a pinch hit single with the bases loaded to score Henry.
State's offense was rendered lifeless by the Rebel pitching staff and defense as Buk, Mckean, and Goforth combined to allow only one run. State's lone run came on a single from Jet Butler that scored Scott Deloach. Deloach had hit a lead off triple.
Defensive MVP
Brett Bukvich once again had an oustanding midweek outing as he only allowed one run in six innings of work, and he fanned 11 batters. He is by far the defensive MVP.
Offensive MVP
Kevin Mort proved to be Mr. Clutch as he went 2 for 3 and had 3 RBI on the night.
Random Thoughts
I absolutley despise John Cohen, and I learned to hate him before I knew of his bulldog affiliation and when his Kentucky teams were howling in the dugout during games. Tonight, my hatred grew even deeper. Maybe it's unfair to him that I feel this way, but he argued what he believed to be a foul ball for way too long. One of his players mouthed off to an umpire after getting k'd, and this is a reflection of the coach. I don't like you, John Cohen.
Also, a Rebel fan had brought his young son to the game, and he had forgotten to give him his Ritalin. So, the boy was obviously bouncing off of the walls. However, his dad tried to make him focus, and the most convincing phrase of the night was "Pay attention, boy. Matt Smith is batting." Hmm....
Bianco really likes Goforth but also realizes that he has a live arm. Bianco must have really learned from his Satterwhite experience because he had two pitchers warming in the pen as Goforth took the mound in the ninth. Good call, Mike. Let's stay ready to pull the pitcher in a situation like that.
I am a little pissed at the Trustmark Park concessions people. We had to wait 20 minutes (no exaggeration) for boiled peanuts. That sucks about as badly as Mississippi State's pitching staff.
Overall, we came out and played how we needed to play. Now, we must go on the road and take 2 of 3 from Florida. Go Rebels!
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"No thanks to the cup"
Ask and ye shall receive…. except for now. It’s too late.
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Apr 15, 2009 8:33 AM EDT reply actions
Also, you're a grouch.
“Uh, I had to wait to get my boiled peanuts… There were obnoxious little kids running around… My diaper rash is acting up again.”
Sit down, old man.
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Apr 15, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions
In Brian Walker's defense...
it took twenty minutes AFTER THE PEANUTS WERE ORDERED.
by Juco All-American on Apr 15, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions
That's funny.
They have the peanuts in the bag, and all they have to do is microwave it. It’s not like they had to boil ’em.
Cohen sux.
I was surprised by the score last night- not that I thought the Rebs would lose to State but I just figured with Cohen encouraging his players to lean into pitches that they would’ve had more guys get on base, and consequently, figured out how to score more runs. UK and State lead the SEC in being hit by pitches (head to secsports.com if you want to check that out)- something that is a direct reflection of their coaching staff. I have little respect for coaches who consistently put their players in harms way just for the sake of getting on base… ahem, Cohen. I’d be interested to know if State got on base last night because of that tactic.
And expect big things this weekend- word on the street is that the Florida series will not resemble the South Carolina series with the exception of another Bittle win.
Not that I saw...
I don’t think we hit any batters last night.
by Juco All-American on Apr 15, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't we hit the leadoff man?
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Apr 15, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Nothing Wrong...
I would argue the point that teaching a baseball player to get hit by a pitch is a bad thing. It provides at least one major advantage other than getting on base (although its hard to score runs without baserunners). If a pitcher hits a batter it puts doubts into their mind about throwing inside. For a pitcher to be successful past the High school level, they must be able to control the inner half. College hitters and up are too good to only have to look at half of the plate. Much the same that a pitcher is taught to control the inner half, so should the hitters. The winner of that battle usually wins over the course of the game. I am not defending Cohen, I think he sucks if only because he is the coach. But to attack a good idea and say you don’t like a guy becuase of it is silly.
there's a difference...
in teaching your batters to cover the plate and teaching them to lean into pitches. Covering the plate may mean standing closer to the plate, etc. but it doesn’t mean leaning into pitches. Great college pitchers throw inside- obviously because it’s harder to hit inside balls. Great college hitters are talked to protect the plate- not to lean into the pitches. There’s a difference, and I think Cohen is putting every single one of his batters at risk for potentially serious injuries by encouraging them to lean into the ball. The stats of his former team and his current team only add to the argument that he advocates such actions. If memory serves me correctly, State has had over 50 batters hit this season (secsports.com is the place to go to check my stats). State hasn’t even played 50 games yet, thus furthering my case that Cohen is teaching his players to sacrifice their bodies for the sake of an extra man on base.
And kudos to anyone who knows which Rebel pitcher led his JUCO team in hitting batters one season as he was perfecting his ability to throw inside- BrianWalker’sElbow is not allowed to comment as he already knows the answer.
Problem....maybe??
I am by no means saying that you should teach a hitter to lean out over the plate to get hit by a pitch. I am saying that a coach (at any level, IMO) should not teach a hitter to “jump out of the way” of the ball. If a hitter just turns his shoulder, the odds of getting hurt are small and it is not illegal. On the other hand, it is the umpires job to decide if the pitch is accross the plate. If he will let you, I am all for taking any pitch on the shoulder. If the other team does not like it, drill a guy in the hip and send a message.
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