AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTrying 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.
Comments
By John
April 18, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
I’ll tell you exactly why they’re struggling. It has nothing to do with youth. Experience isn’t as important in college baseball as it is in other college sports. The answer is coaching. Danny Hall constantly recruits the best players and gets them with his charm. Once the players arrive on campus, they soon realize that he is a very difficult man to play for. He doesn’t do what he says he’s going to do. Players at Georgia Tech struggle because they are scared of Coach Hall. This makes it much easier for them to leave earlier when MLB comes calling. Preseason top 5 or 10 every year only to be disappointed again and again and again. I know first hand. I played there.
By dawgfacedboy
April 18, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
I’m a dawg fan but I root for the Jackets baseball team as well. There is a lot of local talent that plays there and i enjoy watching those kids progress as ball players. Two bright points for you bug fans: Ryan Tinkoff, played a little last year as a true freshman and was medical redshirted this year. He’s a damn fine infielder and switch hitter. He’ll contribute to that team for sure. The other; Michael Klindt, OF. The kid runs like a deer has an absolute cannon for an arm and has phenomenal power at the plate. Was drafted by the Pirates out of high school, played in the Aflac All-American game, played at middle ga. last year and was redshirted this year. Remember those names fellas. I would heavily recruit some pitching if I was ya’ll.
By Coach Hall
April 18, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Is that you Birdie?
By Rico
April 18, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Hey John…I would be willing to bet that you did not only play for Danny, but you were cut from your high school team. Coach Hall’s record speaks for itself. Trust me..it is youth and youth does matter in baseball. The past world series teams had very few, if any freshman starters. Check ou the 1994,2002,and 2006 starting line ups. Coach Hall has put us in the CWS 3 times in 12 seasons. Until he arrived we had been zero times. Yeah, I know, the 1994 team did not need much coaching with Nomar, Jason V., Peyton, and Rigby. But, he still knew how to get there.
Great job coach Hall! Good luck training these baby jackets!
By John
April 18, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
No Coach..it’s me..LJ
By Darren in the Springs
April 18, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
I agree youth does play a part, but some coaching decisons this year, especially the last couple of weeks have killed them. Look at Miami, where a reliever is going strong then for no reason Hall believes he has to put in his closer (Payne), who gives up a game winning HR. The same thing happened at UVA. Rulon was rolling over 2 innings and looked fine. Then he brings in Payne, who got the first 2 out then a BB, HBP and 3R game winning HR. Tech should have won all 5 of those games, but wound up 2-3. Wieters took the other loss at Miami.
I am not sure why coaches today feel they have to bring in their professed closer all the time. If someone is pitching great leave them in, like he did with Hyatt against UVA in the first game.
With that said I do agree Coach Hall has done great things at Tech. He does have a lot of young talent on the team, and they have grown up pretty fast. Lets win these last few series and make to the tournamnet again. Go Jackets!
By beeesballfan
April 18, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
Is Capo the same guy who used to score a hit for Hodges when it was actually defensive errors by the opposing team?
By Fan of Coach Rynders
April 18, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
When the team is losing, it is easy to blame it on the leader. DH is a good coach..great recruiter. He should stay for now, but I think they need to give Coach Wes Rynders an assistant coaching position.
By Bill
April 18, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this
People really should get off Hall’s back. Look…he does make some decisions that are curious at times, like taking the bat out of Wieters hand when he was walked because Hall bunted the lead runner to 2nd with one out in a tie game Tech recently lost in the last at bat. And…don’t understand some of his pitching decisions during the game. HOWEVER…if you take the whole body of work and you’ll see that this man has yera after year kept Tech among the nation’s elite. Maybe Teixera’s group underacheived as did Patterson’s junior group. But this team has missed ONE…ONE NCAA tourney since 1994, and that was a dubious decision by Dick Rockwell’s committee , allowing a one game over .500 UCLA and a Rutgers team that Tech swept get in over Tech. I know kids are frustrated when they don’t get to play as much as they thought they would. For every kid that feels this way, you have a Chris Goodman, a Mike Trapani, a EDDIE BURNS. How many other staffs would have discarded this kid with all the injuries he has sustained?? Coach Hall has stuck with him and we are seeing the beginning of a very good pitcher, someone Coach Hall has repeatedly stuck by. Point is if you want to complain that coach hall hasn’t taken Tech to a few more CWS, you may be able to speak your case . But don’t make him out to be some kind of hack that is clueless. He has some shortcomimgs like every manager, but I am assured that there are 275 other college division one programs that would take him in a second. Tech has a great program, as does Georgia. Do you think Tech would have the highest level of expectations almost annually if it weren’t for Hall??? This is a difficult year…but there still is time to turn it around the way we’re used to. LET”S GO TECH!!
By Bill
April 18, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this
The problem with a young team is Danny has Zero personality to fire them up. I don’t think he needs to have a group hug in front of the dug out every game like Clemson does, but he could un cross his arms from time to time. Watch when someone makes an out and runs past Danny to the dug out. He will cross his arms and stare at the ground and offer no encouragement at all. When you have a team full of juniors, this works, but with freshmen, you need to encourage them from time to time.
By Joe
April 18, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
Bill’s commment was “right on”. His body language is horrible. Take a look at him when he goes to the mound. Pitiful. People skills will take you a long way, especially with a young team. I have talked to many former players and they all say the same thing. He is no fun to play for and we all know this game has to be fun to play well.
By What?
April 18, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this
Did anyone see the paper on GT and UG baseball today? It talks about how both teams have “tumbled out of the top 25”. Forget the fact Tech is 18 games better than UG in overall record. The fact that Tech is out of the top 25 makes it the same as UG. Georgia has a crappy team, Tech is just struggling.
By Casey
April 19, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Hey What? You are not Coach Rynders are you?
By JC
April 19, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Coach Hall is a great recqruiter and has had a fine carrer at Tech…..Not great….Like the talent that he brings in eavery year. Maybe one of these days he will get a ring(Not ACC Ring), but I don’t think so!!!