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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Trying to make the pieces fit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I remember saying to former Georgia Tech loyalist-turned-traitor Chris Capo last June, as one underclass Yellow Jacket after another opted for the Major League draft, “Jeepers, Bat Man, the gun’s losing all its bullets.”
Or something like that.
Capo, Tech’s SID for baseball at the time, left like so many players left for greener pastures, but before departing suggested it was the norm.
My rump! I was newly returned to the ranks of college writers, yet well aware that top programs routinely lose underclassmen to the pros, but that was ridiculous. Out the door were starting outfielders Steven Blackwood (senior) and Jeff Kindel, starting infielders Wes Hodges, Mike Trapani (senior) and Whit Robbins. Gone, too, were pitchers Blake Wood, Lee Hyde and Tim Gustafson, although he was hurt most of last season.
Uh, no need to check a pulse at that point. That’s five of eight position starters plus the top two starting pitchers out the door. Then, at least one top Tech recruit opted to go pro out of high school. No need for triage; just grab the tourniquet.
But before trying to explain away everything that’s happened to Tech (which has lost twice to Georgia Southern, and once each to Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Illinois-Chicago and Western Carolina) not to mention three last-inning losses (two at Miami and one at Virginia) in the past four games by saying they’re young, I’ll stop.
Well, not stop, but change course.
It’s one thing not to have as much seasoned talent on hand, and another still with that shortage hurts you at those positions but others as well. To the point, without sufficient depth at catcher behind Matt Wieters, coach Danny Hall’s been using him less out of the bullpen than he’d probably like. Basically, Matt is used in relief in mid-week games because the weekend games by this time of the season are ACC, and he’s essential behind the plate.
Hall’s still trying to make all the pieces fit.
“We started out at the beginning of the year, and definitely did not pitch it well. Then we turned that around and hit a stretch where we pitched it outstanding,” he said. “We hit a stretch where we pitched well, but where we didn’t hit at all. That has picked up better of late. I think we’re still getting better, but we’ve got to do a better job of finishing games.”
Wieters is just one example, but a good one, of what Hall is coping with.
I don’t see fault or blame to be placed, I see reasons or explanations.
For my two cents, this is not about failure or “choking.” It’s been about growing. The Jackets are in the mix in their division in the ACC, and the ACC tournament should afford opportunity to remedy much of what’s ailed Tech. By about this point in the season, accountability becomes more essential. There has been time to figure it out. The bullpen needs to be more dependable, I will say that.
Looking forward to tonight’s game against Georgia.
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Tech Fund: What did you choose?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday was the deadline for Tech football season ticketholders to decide whether to move up, stay in the same location, move down or not renew at all in light of the new Tech Fund donation requirements for choice seats at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
I touched base with Tech on Tuesday to ask about the numbers. No info yet, I was told, as a lot of people waited until the last minute to make a decision (or at least to send it in).
So, what did you choose to do, and why? Or, if you don’t have season tickets, what do you think of the Tech Fund policy, and do you think it will make good tickets harder or easier to find for individual games? Will enough people be willing to make the required donations for Tech to continue to sell out its best seats to season ticketholders?
