So what's your suggestion? New AD?The team is hitting a combined .241/.323/.335.
That's not a "mystery," that's a total embarrassment. When the situation gets this bad, somebody has to be held accountable.
As if the offensive issues weren't bad enough, we're now statistically the SEC's worst pitching staff.
What is happening with our program right now is akin to what happened at Auburn under Tom Slater. Fortunately for Auburn, they built a new ballpark and upgraded their facilities before he ran the program into the ground. Although this train wreck can hardly be blamed entirely on Coach Gaspard, his decisions have only exacerbated the problem. The fact is, with such an indifferent administration and an apathetic AD, this program is set up to fail. It all starts at the top, and it's a miracle that we managed to win consistently from 1995 until 2011. Barring some truly unforeseen changes, baseball at Alabama is on the verge of joining women's basketball as a perennial loser.
We're nowhere near UAB Football. That's an insane comparison. Our fans care far too much to be compared to them. We've been in the top 10 nationally in baseball attendance for a long time. Our fans demand excellence. You wont see many seasons like this without some major staff changes. Our fans demand it.JoJo you hit the nail on the head. I couldn't have said it better myself. This baseball program is the mirror of UAB football right now.
Have you watched this team play this season? Have you seen our facilities, or the facilities anywhere else in the conference?But we're nowhere near on the verge of doom like some of you seem to think.
What significant changes do you suggest? I think we all know that the facilities issue is at least a few years down the road. In the meantime, do you suggest changes with the assistant coaches or a total house cleaning? Or, something else entirely?Barring some significant changes, this situation is not going to improve anytime soon.
UGA has the HOPE Scholarship fund at their disposal so turning it around is much easier with the few scholarships baseball has to offer. Besides UGA is usually and every other year program. They are good one year, then bad the next.What significant changes do you suggest? I think we all know that the facilities issue is at least a few years down the road. In the meantime, do you suggest changes with the assistant coaches or a total house cleaning? Or, something else entirely?
From what I understand, we do have a good class coming in, but of course, that's contingent on the June draft. UGA has as bad of a season as I've ever seen an SEC team have in 2010, and they've turned it around (to an extent; not Omaha, but they're probably back to having their name called regularly on Memorial Day). I'm hopeful that we can do the same, but of course, they have the lottery to help them.
Well, Tennessee was in the same situation and went out and hired the best coach available, an established winner from a championship-caliber program. With a far less-talented roster, he just got through embarrassing us.What significant changes do you suggest?
True, but State was also one win away from Omaha last year, and even with an inexperienced lineup full of freshmen, they're still in a lot better shape than we are this season.At the end of the Ron Polk era State started falling off and even though they brought in a good coach who had won at a pretty high level they are still fighting their way through it.
That's just it - our lineup is not full of inexperienced freshmen! (And by "lineup" I was referring to the hitters). In fact, our only freshman starter is one of the two, maybe three, who has actually done anything at the plate this season.We were one hit away from Omaha two years ago when we should have been hosting Super Regionals in Tuscaloosa, but had to play them at Clemson. Although Miss State's 2012 record right now is clearly better than ours, we will find out next month head-to-head which team is in the better shape this year. I think we have cornered the market on inexperienced lineup full of freshmen, but I think that helps us for the future. Looking at their lineups last weekend for Auburn, only one game did they have more than one true freshman in the starting lineup - in most games we have two in most critical positions - the starting pitcher and the catcher.
State is going to kick our ... on our own field. Cohen was the first choice to replace Wells the first time he retired, but because Cohen is a douche, Wells decided he wanted to unretire because at that point, Gaspard wasn't even being considered for the job. Cohen was 1 and Bobby Pierce was 2 and Tony Robichaux from ULL was another top choice.We were one hit away from Omaha two years ago when we should have been hosting Super Regionals in Tuscaloosa, but had to play them at Clemson. Although Miss State's 2012 record right now is clearly better than ours, we will find out next month head-to-head which team is in the better shape this year. I think we have cornered the market on inexperienced lineup full of freshmen, but I think that helps us for the future. Looking at their lineups last weekend for Auburn, only one game did they have more than one true freshman in the starting lineup - in most games we have two in most critical positions - the starting pitcher and the catcher.
Best post on the subject so far. Not sure what the problem is. Our athletic department made something in the neighborhood of $35,000,000 last year? And that's with the drain of some of the other sports you mentioned. Not sure why there isn't more of a commitment made to baseball. It certainly isn't financial reasons.Sit back and look at the UA athletic programs today. All are getting what they need to be competitive, except baseball and women's basketball. Both are being allowed to die on the vine. Excuses have been made on why nothing has been done and they are getting old. Look at the commitments made to basketball softball, tennis, golf, not to mention the huge financial drain of gymnsatics..., and before anyone gets all defensive about gymnastics and their attendance, realize most are free. Thats why I cancelled my gymnastics season tickets, my kids were bringing home free ticket vouchers from school all the time so I stopped paying for them and its only 5-6 home events inside and on a Friday night. When was the last time baseball received a real commitment from the UA, not a bandaid? Have you been to a baseball game at other venues in the south, not just SEC. What is the commitment needed? New stadium? New coaches? New bathrooms? Just show a commitment on improving the product, whatever it is.
That's an unfair statement. Has she told you this? Where did this notion come from?Sarah Patterson has a lot of pull because she's been here forever and it's easy to win a national title when you're really only competing against 30 teams. Sarah doesn't want baseball to succeed and it's a DAMN SHAME when people choose gymnastics over baseball.
I don't know what your connection is with Cohen but just wanted to throw my two cents in. I went to Birmingham-Southern, where he played his freshman year. I was friends with him and got along great and thought he was a very nice guy. Granted, I haven't seen or spoken to him in over 25 years so I don't know how he is as a coach in dealing with players or people. But I just took exception to your description of him, at least as I knew him.State is going to kick our ... on our own field. Cohen was the first choice to replace Wells the first time he retired, but because Cohen is a douche, Wells decided he wanted to unretire because at that point, Gaspard wasn't even being considered for the job. Cohen was 1 and Bobby Pierce was 2 and Tony Robichaux from ULL was another top choice.
Any sport on campus not led by Nick Saban is going to be fighting for leftover crumbs in terms of fan and administration support. So she's just doing what she needs to do to better herself. A school can have more than one successful "minor" sport at one time. Don't blame her for the baseball program's failings. And while i like baseball more than gymnastics (though I'd rather look at gymnasts than baseball players), I don't see it as a shame people choose gymnastics over baseball. Its just their preference.Sarah Patterson has a lot of pull because she's been here forever and it's easy to win a national title when you're really only competing against 30 teams. Sarah doesn't want baseball to succeed and it's a DAMN SHAME when people choose gymnastics over baseball.