Has South Meck turned it around?

Has South turned it around? After a thumping, they did finally win two games in a row.

When wil he get his lineup solid?

What has he got to do, this is not women's golf?

 

i think they are starting to figure things out alittle. still alot of work that needs to be done.

 

Glad to see it Matos....keep it going, there is still plenty of season left.

 

Matos,

If you are a player, take charge of this team. They need some leadership, and a woman's golf coach is not going to get it done.

Do not let him lose this team, you are too good.

Not sure what is wrong with Jones, but he is struggling, they need to let the Maxson kid play, get the injured boy playing, and use smart pitching. Seems that some players are out of where their strength is as players.

Get it done for all the South players before you and ones that will come later, do not let this program get to be a Waddell, this is where it is going, fast.

 

It isn't all coaching

I have said it before, and I'll say it again. It isn't all coaching that is the problem at South Meck. It seems nobody wants to put any of the responsibility on the players. These guys just have to get the job done, plain and simple. No offense to the Indy pitching staff, but for South to get only one hit against the caliber pitching that they faced was unacceptable. These guys must start hitting consistently. As for the defensive errors, I don't know what to say about that. The routine plays must be made at this level. I think almost all of Indy's 11 runs came on the heels of multiple errors and missed opportunities for outs that would have stopped the bleeding. That's just simply lack of execution. The pitchers did their job, defense didn't get it done. It's time for everyone to take a good look in the mirror and ask what they can do to get this ship moving in the right direction in a consistent manner. I'm sure coach has already spent a good bit of time looking in the mirror.

As for changes that I would recommend at midseason:

The Maxon kid definitely needs more playing time at first, while moving Preston Shuey to DH would make them a little stronger defensively, and would allow for two good bats in the lineup. I would also consider flipping the middle infield. Put Doug Jones back where he belongs at second base, and move Jesse Miller to short. Outfield play has been pretty good as it is. The "injured kid" that is frequently mentioned in other entries on TBR is already used a good bit as a DH. Defensively he wouldn't add too much to the team that they don't already have covered.

The pitching staff is not where it has been in recent years, and probably never will be again in all honesty. Morris, Andress etc were a bit of an anomoly. At any rate, the staff seems to be improving of late. If there is a problem with pitchers, it is that they do not pitch frequently enough. I had one tell me recently that he pitches so infrequently that every game feels like the first game of the season. That can't be good! It's pretty tough to shut the door on teams when you come in feeling raw, especially at the midway point in the season. Perhaps getting the underclassmen pitchers some junior varsity innings on their off days with the varsity would help keep them tuned for varsity outings. Just a thought.

At any rate, I think South Meck is doing pretty well all things considered. A new coach, the loss of one of the strongest graduating classes in recent history, as well as the loss of a strong class the year before, and the exodus of quality players to Ardrey Kell...all have had a huge impact, the new coach being the least of these. Give the guy a chance. He's not Hal Bagwell, nor should he be. Let him get his system more established and then judge him over time. One season won't tell you much, especially with all of the other situations mentioned earlier that he has had to deal with. The first half of the season has been pretty interesting...look for South to add to the excitement in the second half of the season.

 

Great summary, Dead Red

 

to dead red

.... where to start, i kinda find it funny how your such a south meck fan to know what your talking. Considering that the injuried player everyone has talked about has not dressed out yet. The kids name is Andrew Vaught who made it his sophmore year and that was it. Moving on, its funny how you want to move Garrett Maxson who is about six foot to six one, compared to the mosterous Preston Shuey who is about six five. Preston can scope balls, go up and get them and also knows how to get off the base and get the ball when needed. Then the move in the middle infield, which i think is a little ify. See Jesse Miller is a very good player but as a sophmore Jesse played short stop and Doug played second. Jesse made many errors and couldnt really handle the pressure there. Where to Doug can handle the balls and doesnt really get upset when makes a error where Jesse completely loses it. But i guess where all in titled to our own opinion.

 

???

SouthernBelle, Why are you being so defensive? All I made were some suggestions. I think you took this way too seriously! It was as though I was disrespecting Preston Shuey or Doug Jones. I can assure that was not the case, I think they are both quality players and even higher quality young men. However, with the result of the game against East Meck this week I would think that any thoughts for changes should be considered and viewed for what they are....suggestions to make the second half of the season a little better. Nothing was said to demean anyone, nor do I have any agenda for or against any players on the team. I want all of them to be as successful as they can possibly be.

My comment about Doug Jones was simply a suggestion to help him. By allowing him to play a position at which he has been extremely successful in the past would enable him to build his confidence. Confidence in the field will only help him improve the rest of his game. This in turn should help the entire team. Putting Miller at short could turn out to be a mistake, but who knows unless you give it a try. If Doug were to be moved to second base, who else would you suggest putting at short? If you think about it, Jesse is the only other middle infielder that SM has.

The change with Shuey was also only a suggestion. Preston is a very good first baseman. Garrett Maxon is a good first baseman as well. With the team's lack of hitting in many games thus far, it seems that SM should try to get as many good bats in the lineup as possible. Maxon is a decent hitter....why not let him it swing the bat. You could go either way at first...use Shuey or Maxon to DH. I really don't care, just keep the guys who are hitting in the lineup. Again, only a suggestion for conversation purposes.

With the number of teams from the SW4A that will be invited to the playoffs this year, there is still hope for South Meck to make it, but it won't be easy. With that being said, all changes should be considered at this time in order to improve their chances. Please keep in mind, I said the changes should be considered...not necessarily implemented. Sorry for upsetting the apple cart! That wasn't my intention.

 

This is all well and good dead red, but now I hear from my daughter, a teacher at SM, that three boys did not make the grades and will leave the team. Although one of the boys may get to make up a test to stay on. Although I do not agree with that either, because I am sure students who are not athletes do not get that same privilidge.

Max needs to bat, he was one of their leading hitters, so do the Shuey boys. I love the Jones kid, but it is now mental for him. These boys only have themselves to play for, it has to come from within, do not let their t-ball coach get them down.

The Vaught kid I heard about at the East game, but do not remember him. From what I have been told he was not allowed to practice with the team until he could run full speed. However, not sure how much he can help, they say he is only a single and doubles hitter, not much power, although right now we would take that. Although he is a middle infielder. Supposedly he had a great summer until he broke his leg late last year.

The Gebhardt kid has turned out to be a blessing, one of a very few.

There is still a chance to make the playoffs, we just to start it Friday night at Providence. Wish I could make it, but going to a Wedding rehearsal, (do these people not check the baseball schedule when planning).

Good Luck red and belle, get these boys playing together. Tell the coach not to show up it will help.

 

thank you dead red

i do understand what your saying, and im sorry i came off like that. i agree with the shuey, maxson switch but right now maxson is in the line-up. he's doing alright, but the one thing i don't understand jones hasnt been a bad short stop of course he makes a few errors, but what player doesnt. short is still alittle new to him, but also he makes alot more tougher plays than miller thats just my opinion, and what about his arm. i dont think anyone on the team could really come close to throwing the ball as hard as he does. when i was talking to one of the players this afternoon after practice he'd had said that coach was thinking about pitching miller to providence. which in all honesty wouldnt be to bad but for the team and the players it really isnt fair considering he hasnt been there to practice and was not at the sabres spring break tournament. but thats just my opinion. dead read please let me know what you think about that. i'm not getting mad i just want to know what you think about the team and this situation that ive just said.