BoydAg said:

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Grace Sparks - RHP - Transfer from Ole Miss - 78.1 IP w/ a 2.14 ERA - Threw 8.1 innings against us this year and only gave up 2 ER.

Announced she's coming home! Originally from Crosby HS.

Welcome Home Grace!

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Gig'em and welcome to Aggieland, Grace!!!

To paraphrase - eight pitchers are too many, perhaps some gone at the end of Fall. I certainly agree this might happen because it IS a huge number AND it reminded me that there IS a short transfer portal period in December of each year.

With so many pitchers some of them might think, with so many on the staff, they will not get many innings in the Spring so decide to transfer in December. No one knows. But lack of playing time (or perceived lack of playing time in the future) is still a huge reason why players transfer. Of course, it all depends on Fall practice, how Coach Ford plans on using them, how well this is communicated to the pitchers, how well they actually buy in to her plan, etc.

A LOT of thoughts on all this.

Some might think that it's best to sign a lot of pitchers and pick the best 4-5 in practice, knowing the rest will sit on the bench or transfer. Darwinism. Survival of the Fittest.

They are all outstanding competitors, all did really well in high school (and transfers in college) and ALL want a lot of playing time. All want to prove themselves in the SEC. NONE want to be at the bottom of the list.

When I saw that Coach Ford signed four pitchers last time I thought about losing them at the same time four years later. IF they are still around. A huge IF these days with transfers being so easy and common. And what happens if one or more cannot transition well to the college game? This has happened to us quite a few times the last several years. Taking this into consideration perhaps an ideal might be an average of six on the staff at any one time, bringing in an average of 1.5/yr so the team does not lose a bunch of experienced arms at the end of each season. For example, have on the staff 1 FR, 2 SO, 1 JR and 2 SR. Numbers change by one each year. Replace one or two each year as needed. If two do not work out at the college level but four do you still have a great staff. And you do not lose a ton of players each year.

But I also think of redshirting players. I have no idea if coaching staffs think this way any longer. Recruit a player or two while explaining they are really wanted but they might be asked to redshirt a year. I am not suggesting this happens or happened but I wonder if they have this in mind for a couple of the incoming freshman pitchers? If two redshirt we would have the remaining two freshmen, a sophomore (Peters), a junior (Sparks) and two seniors (Lefty and Leavitt) next Spring (barring any transfers!). At the end of next year would lose Lefty and Leavitt but pick up the two redshirted freshmen. Of course, this is all just conjecture AND players transfer all the time now so forecasting future rosters is impossible! But I still like to think about what ifs. Doing it now and will do it until next Spring!

[Reminds me of Reagan. Zero playing time this year. I think the only one on the team with no playing time. Redshirt?]

Too many possibilities. Too many things can happen. Impossible to predict. But still interesting to do so!

I don't know for sure because I didn't pry, but I think Reagan Jones was injured for a big part of the year. There were times when she would only walk during the pre game stuff while the other players were running.

Money in pro ball is very small except for the most elite olympic level players. They play because they love the game and most become successful in the business world after college.

Maybe one day there will be a real pro league. Currently there are 3 and non doing very well. Getting your name on a glove, a bat or a clothing line is where the money flows. Individual lessons also can provide a nice cash flow.

Now relax the obstruction of base rule.

sharpdressedman said:

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What about the addition of a safety base at first? Already approved?

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Need that one for that sip 1st baseman and her bad footwork.

Belton Ag said:

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I know I'm in the minority but I wish replay and reviews would go away in every sport.

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If you have the ability to get the call right why would you not do it? Genuinely curious your thoughts.

Belton Ag said:

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I know I'm in the minority but I wish replay and reviews would go away in every sport.

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Do you remember the time before?

I think it needs some modification. For starters, "incontrovertible video evidence" should be seeable in 30-60 seconds, none of those 3-5 minutes to slow scrub every video angle for a clip that might go the other way.

It would be shocking if Canady ends up anywhere other than OU

PlanoGuy said:

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BREAKING:
A source in the Canady family tells me that National Pitcher of the Year NiJa Canady has entered the transfer portal

Canady finished with a 0.73 ERA and 337 strikeouts with Stanford en route to a national semifinal finishhttps://t.co/GOSICAvGXN

— Landon Reinhardt (@landonian87) June 16, 2024

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Brandon Montgomery says HELLO AGS, don't zzzz

Tyler posted a press release today on the three incoming pitchers talked about in the forum several days ago:

"Three Aggies Earn Gatorade Softball Player of the Year Honors"

https://12thman.com/news/2024/6/17/three-aggies-earn-gatorade-softball-player-of-the-year-honors