FCBlitz said:

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dermdoc said:

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No matter what happens tonight.

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Completely agree. Felt like I was on an island…..

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You are on an island. A few up-votes out of the thousands of people on the board (most of whom aren't going to bother commenting on this nonsense and/or can't down-vote) are meaningless.

I dunno. Our pitching coach has been an HC. I don't think he is that good at either.

Wes97 said:

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I'm definitely more on the "its time to make a change" side but I do think saying the game today should decide his fate is very unreasonable.

Just look at the roster we are running out there tonight against a fresh LSU team and their ace pitcher. Winning this game would be rather shocking. A loss in this one game is far from being a fireable offense. Losing this game shouldn't have an impact on whether you keep him or not.

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That's why my criteria has been making the post season. Yes, winning this thing was an uphill battle. But it was an uphill battle our coach made. It should never have come close to being that we had to win the SEC tournament. But our entire season results made it just that.

We are on the verge of being the first preseason number 1 seed to not make the post season.

Brauny did a breakdown on pitching just yesterday. I'm not going to steal the whole post but here's how A&M ranks nationally

Walks Per 9 - 2nd
Strikeout to Walk Ratio - 3rd
WHIP - 14th
ERA - 29th
Shutouts - 30th (tied)
Hits Per 9 - 49th

Pitching hasn't been the problem.

How many pre-season #1 have been swept 4 times?

Wes97 said:

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I'm definitely more on the "its time to make a change" side but I do think saying the game today should decide his fate is very unreasonable.

Just look at the roster we are running out there tonight against a fresh LSU team and their ace pitcher. Winning this game would be rather shocking. A loss in this one game is far from being a fireable offense. Losing this game shouldn't have an impact on whether you keep him or not.

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I don't think anyone is saying to judge whether to bring Earley back based on this single game against LSU. But why is this a must win? Why is winning the SEC tournament a must? The answer to those questions are fireable offenses.

CrocsAg20 said:

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Anybody with legitimate head coaching experience would be an upgrade.

What happens when coach returns and we have another year like this one, or worse?

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We literally have one on staff.

I just have noticed many predictable pitch calls by him that have cost us. Also pitcher management cost us enough games to not make the regional.

Here is the question you ask yourself. If ****nagle loses in the supers last year and leaves for tu, do you hire earley?

If you have a chance at a real search and are not being held hostage by players due to the portal, do you hire earley?

I don't think anyone does. I wouldn't believe anyone who said they would. It makes no sense. It was panic hire, and it has not worked out. You don't double down it.

The whole idea he MIGHT become a good head coach (he is definitely not one now) down the road is terrible. He is not close to being one. He might be at some point but you want to wait 5 years to find out?

Thank God, some people with money and sense are trying to fix it rather than just hope he gets better down the line.

You are saying he should be fired based on the entirety of this season. I agree. Saying he has to win tonight is different. And there are some people saying that. Winning (or losing) either of the next 2 games should not decide his fate.

Wattson Stumjack said:

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Here is the question you ask yourself. If ****nagle loses in the supers last year and leaves for tu, do you hire earley?

If you have a chance at a real search and are not being held hostage by players due to the portal, do you hire earley?

I don't think anyone does. I wouldn't believe anyone who said they would. It makes no sense. It was panic hire, and it has not worked out. You don't double down it.

The whole idea he MIGHT become a good head coach (he is definitely not one now) down the road is terrible. He is not close to being one. He might be at some point but you want to wait 5 years to find out?

Thank God, some people with money and sense are trying to fix it rather than just hope he gets better down the line.

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You sure of this?

I think it would be shortsighted not to give him another year

Based on what??

Wes97 said:

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You are saying he should be fired based on the entirety of this season. I agree. Saying he has to win tonight is different. And there are some people saying that. Winning (or losing) either of the next 2 games should not decide his fate.

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I think they are the same, really. Yes, he must win tonight. And he must win Saturday and Sunday. That is our path to a regional. We don't get an at-large bid because of the entirety of the season (with Mizzou being the cherry on top). Make a regional, keep him. Otherwise find someone else.

12Power said:

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How many pre-season #1 have been swept 4 times?

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The Mizzou series is the reason he's going to be fired.


And rightfully so. This was the second to last series of the year. At home.

The bad losses at the beginning of the year are one thing. He's trying to figure out his team, bullpen etc.

But by the Mizzou series, he should know his team. He finally has everyone in the right spot on the field. It took longer than it should but whatever, he finally has it right.

He had just won a series against LSU so the team should be in a good mental place.

And then everyone watched what took place against the worst team in SEC history.

I already had major concerns prior to this series but afterwards. Alrighty, very valid concerns were just justified.

Anyway, A&M baseball and our baseball fanbase deserve a top level coach. Here's to Trev understanding this one or if he does not, getting in touch with those that do.

There are 3 million reasons not to fire Earley, and only one reason to make a change: if you believe that retaining Ealrey will not lead to us getting the program to the level it is capable of.

Rob Childress showed us that this program is good enough that we should make the NCAA tournament even in a down year. Schlossnagle showed us that, properly lead, we can win the CWS.

Earley managed to take a roster that, even with injuries, I would argue would have more talented than all but one or two of the teams that Childress fielded, and put us in a position where we are hoping the committee sets a precedent for how low of an RPI an SEC team can get away with. We are the worst hitting team in the SEC, and there are probably 10 SEC head coaches who would have gladly swapped rosters with us (including the POS in Austin) even without Grahovac and Stewart. You can't chalk that up to rookie coaching.

Maybe the problem is that Earley was too close to this group of players to instill the kind of discipline that needs to come from the head coach. If that was the problem this year, it will still be the case next year. I suspect that Earley could have done better with a less talented roster at another school, where the players didn't think of him as their buddy Mike, but we are not going to be able to find that out, even next year.

Earley did not have the resume to even get an interview when the opening came up last year, but he got one because the players lobbied for him to get the job (and gave the impression that they would leave if he didn't get it). So, it was a hire made under duress, and not a freely made choice to hire an up and comer. The fact is, this program has progressed to the point where, under normal circumstances, we should expect to be able to hire an experienced coach whenever we have an opening.

Still, I would like for us to keep winning and take the decision out of Alberts's hands (we aren't firing a coach that makes the tournament) and go on an improbable run in the postseason. But, if that doesn't come to pass, I think we should conduct the thorough coaching search this year that we didn't get to do last year.

Though baseball is more about the individuals performing at a level they are expected to, the head coach is the one that assembles and molds the roster along filling out the line-up card. Most of the returning national runner-up roster wanted Earley, and after whiffing on a few high-profile candidates, Earley was hired. IMO, this solution was done out of fear to retain the roster, and for whatever reason, the roster has grossly underperformed.

After this season, there will be a significant roster shake-up regardless of who the coach is. Earley may wind up being a fantastic, hall-of-fame coach. The question is "have we seen enough to think Earley can operate the program at a level that we all expect it to?" Basically being in the position of having to win the SEC tournament to make the NCAA tournament is a pretty loud "no." Its either that or the players we lost (Camarillo, Appel, Ashenbeck, Cortez, B-Mont, etc...) carried more a lot weight than they were given credit for at the time.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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I think it would be shortsighted not to give him another year

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This team he has this season is the best he's ever going to coach, and he utterly squandered it. I know high school baseball players that would've done a better coaching job.

you don't really, but I appreciate your use of hyperbole.

LB12Diamond said:

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Anger?

Not sure why Anger is needed to rationalize moving on to another coach.

My point on your melancholy thread, there was zero sign of you wanting him back at that time. If you had actually said you wanted Early back prior to the tournament it would carry a little more weight for me.

Anyway, you want him back. That's fine.

My stance has not changed. No post season means new coach. I prefer a coach that does not bring thoughts of melancholy with regards to watching them play.

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Maybe it means doc already knows he's coming back. Brace yourselves.

I don't care about the coach presently. I want to win. Plenty of time to discuss Early when our season ends.

We won't fire him due to the cost and the optics. The man in charge is a bean counter who is focused on football. I have no inside knowledge just my impression based on the situation.

I'm so glad I made the tu game in Omaha. I'm thrilled that I spent the entire tournament in Omaha last year. Memories and times I'll treasure. Hopefully one day will get to do it again

Charlie Moran said:

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We won't fire him due to the cost and the optics. The man in charge is a bean counter who is focused on football. I have no inside knowledge just my impression based on the situation.

I'm so glad I made the tu game in Omaha. I'm thrilled that I spent the entire tournament in Omaha last year. Memories and times I'll treasure. Hopefully one day will get to do it again

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If we're seeing his focus on football, I'm really not looking forward to his lack of focus on baseball.

I'd give him another year.

AgBQ-00 said:

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posted this in the premium thread and wanted to post here as well

Quote:

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I think that is part of hiring a first time head coach. You have to be willing to weather the growing pains. I've been disappointed in the year overall, love the fight of the team and am flabbergasted by their streakiness. The most disappointing thing is the vile behavior and abuse thrown about by many in our fanbase. It has caused me to watch this year solo rather than interacting on the boards. But rooting for the best and hope we get to see this team keep playing for a few more weeks.

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I completely get what you are saying. Fanbases have become far too toxic.

Rooting for the best today and every day.
#onegameatatime

I was all for going with Coach Earley, but as often happens, what appears to be a great fit does not turn out so well. He is likely 5-6 years away from having the experience needed at this level. That is not a put down, just consider he was a volunteer coach at Arizona before coming to A&M. He is sharp, apparently a good hitting coach, and will become a very good coach.

We are going to come down to a point of what is the best option going forward, and that may end up being to stay with Coach Earley, particularly in light of how many teams are going to be looking for new coaches and how many really good coaches might be available. Considering recruiting, player retention, etc. the powers that be may determine our best overall path is to continue the course for at least another year. What I would not want to do is effectively start all over again next year with a new coach, and that coach bomb out also. In that case we would almost certainly be worse off in the second case than continuing with Coach Earley. If we have a much better coach absolutely lined up and ready to go (not likely as his team will probably still be playing for at least another week or two) then I think you have to go with that new coach.

If there were some way to bring in a more seasoned coach, who is near retirement and not a long-term threat to the head coach, and have him serve as a mentor to Coach Earley then that might be worth considering. The odds of finding a situation like that, though, is almost zero.

twk said:

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There are 3 million reasons not to fire Earley, and only one reason to make a change: if you believe that retaining Ealrey will not lead to us getting the program to the level it is capable of.

Rob Childress showed us that this program is good enough that we should make the NCAA tournament even in a down year. Schlossnagle showed us that, properly lead, we can win the CWS.

Earley managed to take a roster that, even with injuries, I would argue would have more talented than all but one or two of the teams that Childress fielded, and put us in a position where we are hoping the committee sets a precedent for how low of an RPI an SEC team can get away with. We are the worst hitting team in the SEC, and there are probably 10 SEC head coaches who would have gladly swapped rosters with us (including the POS in Austin) even without Grahovac and Stewart. You can't chalk that up to rookie coaching.

Maybe the problem is that Earley was too close to this group of players to instill the kind of discipline that needs to come from the head coach. If that was the problem this year, it will still be the case next year. I suspect that Earley could have done better with a less talented roster at another school, where the players didn't think of him as their buddy Mike, but we are not going to be able to find that out, even next year.

Earley did not have the resume to even get an interview when the opening came up last year, but he got one because the players lobbied for him to get the job (and gave the impression that they would leave if he didn't get it). So, it was a hire made under duress, and not a freely made choice to hire an up and comer. The fact is, this program has progressed to the point where, under normal circumstances, we should expect to be able to hire an experienced coach whenever we have an opening.

Still, I would like for us to keep winning and take the decision out of Alberts's hands (we aren't firing a coach that makes the tournament) and go on an improbable run in the postseason. But, if that doesn't come to pass, I think we should conduct the thorough coaching search this year that we didn't get to do last year.

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Best baseball guy on this board. Listen to him.

Quit riding the roller coaster derm

Give him another year, lets see what he can do with a full year recruiting, sifting the portal, and coaching. He's already proven he can coach hitters up. I do however think Longley needs to be given the boot. Ideally target someone like Travis Creel, Marcus Hinkle, or Matt Schilling, just to name a few. Longley is doing exactly what he did for the sips. Biggest change this year for them is they are hitting better under Tulo, and it's not even comparable.

Hank the Grifter said:

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If he did this with the best roster he'll ever have, how's he gonna do moving forward?
I wish him no ill will but Texas A&M baseball deserves better.

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Literally the worst roster Earley would ever have. We've got basically zero future MLB players at this point still in the roster (healthy), minus a starting-pitcher or two.

CrocsAg20 said:

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Brauny did a breakdown on pitching just yesterday. I'm not going to steal the whole post but here's how A&M ranks nationally

Walks Per 9 - 2nd
Strikeout to Walk Ratio - 3rd
WHIP - 14th
ERA - 29th
Shutouts - 30th (tied)
Hits Per 9 - 49th

Pitching hasn't been the problem.

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Yep. Pitching is good enough for A&M to be a regional host, easily.

Our approach at the plate over the course of the season has been abysmal. Those numbers do not lie.

At a minimum, we need a new batting coach.

Our play in the field started off horrible. Cost us some games. It has improved greatly.

twk said:

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There are 3 million reasons not to fire Earley, and only one reason to make a change: if you believe that retaining Ealrey will not lead to us getting the program to the level it is capable of.

Rob Childress showed us that this program is good enough that we should make the NCAA tournament even in a down year. Schlossnagle showed us that, properly lead, we can win the CWS.

Earley managed to take a roster that, even with injuries, I would argue would have more talented than all but one or two of the teams that Childress fielded, and put us in a position where we are hoping the committee sets a precedent for how low of an RPI an SEC team can get away with. We are the worst hitting team in the SEC, and there are probably 10 SEC head coaches who would have gladly swapped rosters with us (including the POS in Austin) even without Grahovac and Stewart. You can't chalk that up to rookie coaching.

Maybe the problem is that Earley was too close to this group of players to instill the kind of discipline that needs to come from the head coach. If that was the problem this year, it will still be the case next year. I suspect that Earley could have done better with a less talented roster at another school, where the players didn't think of him as their buddy Mike, but we are not going to be able to find that out, even next year.

Earley did not have the resume to even get an interview when the opening came up last year, but he got one because the players lobbied for him to get the job (and gave the impression that they would leave if he didn't get it). So, it was a hire made under duress, and not a freely made choice to hire an up and comer. The fact is, this program has progressed to the point where, under normal circumstances, we should expect to be able to hire an experienced coach whenever we have an opening.

Still, I would like for us to keep winning and take the decision out of Alberts's hands (we aren't firing a coach that makes the tournament) and go on an improbable run in the postseason. But, if that doesn't come to pass, I think we should conduct the thorough coaching search this year that we didn't get to do last year.

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I'm willing to bet "discipline" had nothing to do with the results. Or the fact he was "nice". This roster is just not good, minus a couple guys. We now have zero [healthy] guys who started for all of last year's team at the plate. And a bullpen that's awful. Suggesting our hitting coach of the last 3 years is the reason why we suck in his 4th year sounds loony. And as for the Sips, they're all complaining how awful their current hitting is over the last 10 games. Schloss is obviously not the hitting-coach guru.

0-3 vs Mizzou = case closed!

Another thing to account for is just because Earley stays doesn't mean guys won't transfer out. KR even said as much on his TexAgs live hit last week. Said it's a real possibility even if he stays.

When has A&M ever been rewarded for giving a coach another year? In any sport? I'm being serious - I can't name one. Fact is once the fanbase is having this argument and dividing up sides, the cake is already baked. 100% record as far as I can remember.

The thing I really love about A&M the university is the steep loyalty that all Aggies feel for each other. It's also one of the things that drives me crazy about our coaching decisions. We show loyalty to coaches, many for no reason. Michael Earley has not earned another year. We can all agree to that. So, why exactly are we all freely giving him that extra year? For loyalty? I will say, for me, had Mike stuck around around when POS ditched and Mike got the job, this would be a different discussion. But Mike bailed on us and only came back after the players put us over a barrel. In other words, if you are giving the guy another year for that well entrenched Aggie loyalty, I would ask why are we loyal to Mike when he wasn't loyal to us? Mike's been a disaster. Mike knows it. Heck, Mike probably thinks he is going to get fired. He has to know that he deserves to be fired.

His mannerisms this week do appear to me that he knows he's gone.

Or it could mean he's just clueless. Both are possibilities.