Agree. Summer ball is going to really be good for him. I am looking forward to seeing him next year.

For the first part of this post, Childress is no longer the coach here. Some of you just need to move on, because we are no longer coached by Rob. Instead of wasting time comparing this staff to the last one, it would be more constructive to address things that could be done with what we have. I for one am going to see how this season plays out before I start trying to see the future.

I think the biggest difference in terms of pitching has been the base on balls. 89 fewer innings played thus far and 55 more walks issued compared to a year ago. Dettmer for instance has issued almost 50% more walks than a year ago in only about 2/3rds as many innings pitched. Free baserunners put more pressure on a pitching staff (as well as on the defense)

I think that's a combo of a number of things, such as the new pitch clock rules and a tighter strike zone.

I'm hoping for a lot of roster turnover. And go get 2 starting pitchers out of the portal. For me pitcher recruiting is what needs to improve to get us out of this mess. I don't think Yeskie has forgotten how to coach. And this season isn't over.

85AustinAg said:

---

I'm hoping for a lot of roster turnover. And go get 2 starting pitchers out of the portal. For me pitcher recruiting is what needs to improve to get us out of this mess. I don't think Yeskie has forgotten how to coach. And this season isn't over.

---

Then get your wallet out because NIL is everything if you want to get players and keep the ones you have. Everyone needs to contribute in a meaningful way and I don't mean just buying a jersey with the kid's name on the back. I'm talking about the 12th Man + Fund, STACKED, The Fund, etc. The sips are coming and they are not shy about writing checks. Also, if you think Paul Skenes came to LSU just to pitch you are naive.

I think pitch selection and pitch sequencing is a problem. If your stated goal mid season is to fix the walk issue, then attacking the zone has to be a priority. Nibbling edges at 2-2 and 3-2 w offspeed pitches contribute to more walks. At some point you have to be ok with challenging hitters. Next thing is, there is no such thing as a "waste pitch" or "set up" pitch with this staff, except at maybe 0-2. Without command, if the hitter evens at 2-2, they are in the drivers seat. Finally, O/S early has to be set up in the zone, not off. That goes toward faith and trust in your pitcher. If you have to trick every hitter, you're telling your pitcher the coaches don't trust their stuff.

Coaches must adjust their approach as the season unfolds, same as the kids. If they determine BB's are the major issue, then their approach needs to change as well, with something other than a no tolerance quick hook. Haven't really seen that. But I also haven't seen all 50ish games some of you have. I'll get off my soapbox now.

I agree. Strike zone seems smaller than the plate sometimes. Last year we got the border line pitches. This year border calls none existent. When you have to throw across the heart of the plate to get the calls the home run numbers will go up or nibble the edges and walks go up. The confidence levels go down. Pitchers have to have Confidence.

It's not just us it's everyone in SEC.

I would add that coaches also have to keep in mind the zone at HP created by the umpires. It seems to me that we have ignored what blue is calling in a lot of instances, and continued to try and change blue's zone. The SEC umpires have really messed with the strike zone this year in my opinion.

bdp514am said:

---

I think the biggest difference in terms of pitching has been the base on balls. 89 fewer innings played thus far and 55 more walks issued compared to a year ago. Dettmer for instance has issued almost 50% more walks than a year ago in only about 2/3rds as many innings pitched. Free baserunners put more pressure on a pitching staff (as well as on the defense)

I think that's a combo of a number of things, such as the new pitch clock rules and a tighter strike zone.

---

Yes, Schloss has talked about this in a few interviews. He said he talked to the Florida coach during the lightning delay about why walks are up across all teams this year. He thinks umpires are tightening the zone because of the TrackMan technology grading them. He says they're afraid to mess up, and given the number of people calling for robot umpires, I would say it's a legitimate fear for their jobs.

Now, why it would seem to be affecting our team more than others, I don't know.

ensign_beedrill said:

---

bdp514am said:

---

I think the biggest difference in terms of pitching has been the base on balls. 89 fewer innings played thus far and 55 more walks issued compared to a year ago. Dettmer for instance has issued almost 50% more walks than a year ago in only about 2/3rds as many innings pitched. Free baserunners put more pressure on a pitching staff (as well as on the defense)

I think that's a combo of a number of things, such as the new pitch clock rules and a tighter strike zone.

---

Yes, Schloss has talked about this in a few interviews. He said he talked to the Florida coach during the lightning delay about why walks are up across all teams this year. He thinks umpires are tightening the zone because of the TrackMan technology grading them. He says they're afraid to mess up, and given the number of people calling for robot umpires, I would say it's a legitimate fear for their jobs.

Now, why it would seem to be affecting our team more than others, I don't know.

---

We will always need human umpires, and the Robo-umpires is just a computerized strike zone. The Blue will still make the call but ideally he'll just hear the computer in his ear say ball or strike, it will take the guesswork and the human error element out. In fact it should make the umpire's call easier, but they fear change I suppose.

Problem is though that a tight strike zone is not a correct strike zone, which works against the Umpires in the end because again they are not accurate. Call it the way they should and people will stop griping. I don't remember officiating being terrible last year...

If any part of the ball crosses black around the plate that is a strike. So a ball crosses the black of the front corner strike back corner strike. That's how it's always been called. Now knees and chest are different on individuals.
Not the whole ball or half the ball laces are enough.

If it is consistent every batter has a chance.

TxA&Mhunter said:

---

I'm sorry this is a garbage take…


It's the catchers job to control the pace of the game and pseudo-psychologists by manage the pitchers emotions … As far as him catching the ball he should catch and blocking the balls he should block… As you pointed out he's a high school kid playing a college game and doing a pretty decent job of it..



Since he's return to the starting role he's actually done a pretty good job behind the dish

---

Let me get this straight since you think my take was "garbage"....you think it's to be more expected as a high school kid playing a college game to be farther along advanced in the area of being a pseudo-psychologist to the pitchers than in the physical perspective of playing the catcher position? That would be like telling a new hire at your company fresh out of college you expect them to be better at presenting to C-level execs than they are at making a powerpoint. Kids come to college with most of the physical tools. Thinking he should already have the mind manipulating control aspect for our pitching staff is actually the garbage take.

Yes, he has done a pretty good job. Denying he's had a few large drops and missed blocks is just telling your eyes to not believe what they saw. I think he's going to be great but I'm not going to deny reality.

Catchers also now with the pitch clock have WAY less to do with controlling the pace of the game. 99% of that has been taken out of their hands now.

I think you can point to 3 issues that impacted this staff this year.

1. The loss of Claunch. That dude was incredible as a both a receiver and leader. His absence cannot be overstated.

2. Because there was not a true SEC Friday night guy and arguably not even a Saturday guy, the entire staff was pitching up a spot or two from where they should have been.

3. The tighter zone impacted players that weren't ready to be in the spot they were in because of #2.

Fixing #2 is going to be tough because I'm not sure the true #1 and 2 are on campus right now. Fortunately, the portal does open a window of opportunity.

96ags said:

---

I think you can point to 3 issues that impacted this staff this year.

1. The loss of Claunch. That dude was incredible as a both a receiver and leader. His absence cannot be overstated.

2. Because there was not a true SEC Friday night guy and arguably not even a Saturday guy, the entire staff was pitching up a spot or two from where they should have been.

3. The tighter zone impacted players that weren't ready to be in the spot they were in because of #2.

Fixing #2 is going to be tough because I'm not sure the true #1 and 2 are on campus right now. Fortunately, the portal does open a window of opportunity.

---

I'd agree with that but add that Lamkin and Sdao have the potential to be

Gyles Marrett said:

---

96ags said:

---

I think you can point to 3 issues that impacted this staff this year.

1. The loss of Claunch. That dude was incredible as a both a receiver and leader. His absence cannot be overstated.

2. Because there was not a true SEC Friday night guy and arguably not even a Saturday guy, the entire staff was pitching up a spot or two from where they should have been.

3. The tighter zone impacted players that weren't ready to be in the spot they were in because of #2.

Fixing #2 is going to be tough because I'm not sure the true #1 and 2 are on campus right now. Fortunately, the portal does open a window of opportunity.

---

I'd agree with that but add that Lamkin and Sdao have the potential to be

---

I'd agree with:
1. Loss of Claunch
2. Tighter strike zone. Its a joke watching games on tv and comparing balls and strikes from batter to batter. This has affected all teams in the SEC and has skewed the # of walks, strikeouts.
3. Dettmer was a disappointment although he is showing improvement recently and his success or failure going forward will determine a large part of how this season ends.
4. Also - the coaches over-estimated the contributions of every pitcher that was returning and that was signed. The bunch we have right now has no go to starters other than Dettmer who has been struggling but has recently shown improvement. We've tried all sorts of combinations and part of this has to be on the coaching staff's evaluation of personnel.
5. We need at least 2 starters from the portal. I just don't think you can go into another season with so many questions marks at the starter position. Yes, Sdao, Lamkin, Cortez and others COULD emerge as legitimate starters, but that seems like a repeat of what we encountered this year.
6. NIL $ needs to come through for the pitching and keeping Hunter Haas around another year. Dude is nails at SS.

Gyles Marrett said:

---

96ags said:

---

I think you can point to 3 issues that impacted this staff this year.

1. The loss of Claunch. That dude was incredible as a both a receiver and leader. His absence cannot be overstated.

2. Because there was not a true SEC Friday night guy and arguably not even a Saturday guy, the entire staff was pitching up a spot or two from where they should have been.

3. The tighter zone impacted players that weren't ready to be in the spot they were in because of #2.

Fixing #2 is going to be tough because I'm not sure the true #1 and 2 are on campus right now. Fortunately, the portal does open a window of opportunity.

---

I'd agree with that but add that Lamkin and Sdao have the potential to be

---

Absolutely agree. I even like some of what I saw from the Stewart kid as well. There is potential for sure.

85AustinAg said:

---

Gyles Marrett said:

---

96ags said:

---

I think you can point to 3 issues that impacted this staff this year.

1. The loss of Claunch. That dude was incredible as a both a receiver and leader. His absence cannot be overstated.

2. Because there was not a true SEC Friday night guy and arguably not even a Saturday guy, the entire staff was pitching up a spot or two from where they should have been.

3. The tighter zone impacted players that weren't ready to be in the spot they were in because of #2.

Fixing #2 is going to be tough because I'm not sure the true #1 and 2 are on campus right now. Fortunately, the portal does open a window of opportunity.

---

I'd agree with that but add that Lamkin and Sdao have the potential to be

---

I'd agree with:
1. Loss of Claunch
2. Tighter strike zone. Its a joke watching games on tv and comparing balls and strikes from batter to batter. This has affected all teams in the SEC and has skewed the # of walks, strikeouts.
3. Dettmer was a disappointment although he is showing improvement recently and his success or failure going forward will determine a large part of how this season ends.
4. Also - the coaches over-estimated the contributions of every pitcher that was returning and that was signed. The bunch we have right now has no go to starters other than Dettmer who has been struggling but has recently shown improvement. We've tried all sorts of combinations and part of this has to be on the coaching staff's evaluation of personnel.
5. We need at least 2 starters from the portal. I just don't think you can go into another season with so many questions marks at the starter position. Yes, Sdao, Lamkin, Cortez and others COULD emerge as legitimate starters, but that seems like a repeat of what we encountered this year.
6. NIL $ needs to come through for the pitching and keeping Hunter Haas around another year. Dude is nails at SS.

---

full agree with all of that

Troy Wansing did.

hunter2012 said:

---

ensign_beedrill said:

---

bdp514am said:

---

I think the biggest difference in terms of pitching has been the base on balls. 89 fewer innings played thus far and 55 more walks issued compared to a year ago. Dettmer for instance has issued almost 50% more walks than a year ago in only about 2/3rds as many innings pitched. Free baserunners put more pressure on a pitching staff (as well as on the defense)

I think that's a combo of a number of things, such as the new pitch clock rules and a tighter strike zone.

---

Yes, Schloss has talked about this in a few interviews. He said he talked to the Florida coach during the lightning delay about why walks are up across all teams this year. He thinks umpires are tightening the zone because of the TrackMan technology grading them. He says they're afraid to mess up, and given the number of people calling for robot umpires, I would say it's a legitimate fear for their jobs.

Now, why it would seem to be affecting our team more than others, I don't know.

---

We will always need human umpires, and the Robo-umpires is just a computerized strike zone. The Blue will still make the call but ideally he'll just hear the computer in his ear say ball or strike, it will take the guesswork and the human error element out. In fact it should make the umpire's call easier, but they fear change I suppose.

Problem is though that a tight strike zone is not a correct strike zone, which works against the Umpires in the end because again they are not accurate. Call it the way they should and people will stop griping. I don't remember officiating being terrible last year...

---

It feels like our pitchers have been pressing all season long and trying to make the perfect pitch instead of just throwing. When that happens you miss more and issue more walks. And when you're grooving fastballs to get back into a count you're going to get rocked.

85AustinAg said:

---

Troy Wansing did.

---

Wansing wasn't on the roster in 2022, so he was not the subject of my original post.

That said, INCREDIBLE, clutch performance by Wansing yesterday.

Both he and Nate Yeskie are due a lot of credit. That performance was as big for Yeskie as it was for Wansing IMO.

The commentators for the Auburn/Mizzu game talked at length about how the SEC umpires have tightened the strike zone this year. They said that all the coaches in the conference were talking about it. They said that the way they're calling it this year has definitely given the hitter/offense the edge.

Mark Fairchild said:

---

The commentators for the Auburn/Mizzu game talked at length about how the SEC umpires have tightened the strike zone this year. They said that all the coaches in the conference were talking about it. They said that the way they're calling it this year has definitely given the hitter/offense the edge.

---

This is part of it. The ball is also juiced this year according to some. But we're clearly affected more.

It will be interesting to see how this looks in regional play. If the zone is more generous, maybe that will help us.