CMS conference realignment???

Timing is power

Aerial photos are cool. But I saw that comment, and thought, "it's not the field....it's not the bats". The SW4A conf team's starters probably all have decent swing mechanics. And similar size fields. But do they have timing? (ie. Power).

I'm thinking that power comes from a number of factors that allow the hitter to square the bat on the ball. Beyond mechanics. Power = Timing.

I wanted to share a link to a audio blog on effective velocity (EV). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/clevelanddad/2011/12/18/perry-husband EV is like gravity, it's working, whether you know it or not. Whether you are a hitter or a pitcher. And my bet is that team's hitters that recognize pitches earlier and more often have more hitting power in the SW4A, NCAA and MLB.

At the UNC Omaha Camp at CCD, Mick Schildt gave a lecture on paying attention to the pitcher's release, his tendencies, his arm slot, can he throw a CB for a strike, essentially... improve your pitch selection.

Robert Woodard (winningest pitcher in UNC history) ran that camp. Am i wrong in saying that he probably had more success with deception and disrupting opponents timing than most NCAA pitchers? Coincidence?

Why is EV relevant? Excellence is not accidental.

Which college adopted EV first? Who eliminated UNC in Omaha June 22, 2011? Who attracted the only 1st round MLB draftee who didn't sign? Hey, I'm not trying to ruffle feathers. Just trying to make you curious. "Tilting" batters is not new. But now you can read, listen and understand why some are more successful. And understand "gridding" and throwing "tubes" for deception.

 

Timing or EV is a factor of power, as evidence that Providence was not only the most prolific home run hitting team at home but also on the road too in the 2011 SW4A. But other factors play a role in balls leaving the park.

Not surprisingly the weakest pitching staff in the league allowed the most HRs. The same holds true for the non league teams too. In fact, one third of Providence’s HR total came against one team in two contests.

Beyond EV or quality pitching, other factors like park size, field direction and even time of day can play statistically significant roles in determining the ease or toughness of going yard in the SW4A.

For more statistical information on SW4A HRs in 2011 go to: www.southwestern4abaseball.com/news.html

 

Can you give a history lesson?

Agreed. Many factors allow hitting w/power. (bat path, pitch selection, opponents pitching quality, wind, field, etc. )

I really like the SW4A website. Although I'll admit, I'm not enamored with the SW4A. Plenty of gems to be polished around North and South Carolina. But I'll admit, SW4A has a few schools that demonstrate excellence each year and they are fun to watch.

Please give me a history lesson. I'm puzzled. I understand that Coach Bagwell moved from S.Meck to AK in 2007. AK rebuilds for year. And in 2008, they win the conference. After that, S.Meck moves to 3rd place (typically 8-6). AK and Providence success is well documented.

My question is....What happened in to Butler in 2007 ? They went from winning 4 to winning 14 conf games. Then back to winning 7 or 8, and then 4 again in 2010. Who coached at Butler in 2007? What changed? Who played? 14-0 conf and 27-2 overall, and winning the conf tournament is very strong. In fact, it's the best record listed on your SW4A site. They went to 0-7 at home in 2010 (and only 4 conf wins). If we remember....Excellence is not accidental.

(Ok, I looked it up on Google and Kim Cousar was Butler's baseball coach from '97 to 2011 and now is at Latin for 2012. Correct? So he's the coach the whole time. With success coaching prior to Butler. I hope someone is willing to help satisfy my curioiusity about what happened in 2007? My bet is that the rise and somewhat decline of a baseball program holds more life lessons and intrigue than HR's, field size, and wind direction (no offense intended MINCMI). Max preps only goes to 2008.

So without your SW4A knowledge....I'm just stuck wondering.

 

I'm sure everyone has their views, but let me start off by pointing out some key triggers for why some programs do better.

1) Follow the money! As South Charlotte grows, the more affluent move to the newer schools with better facilities. Many of the better coaches follow this migration. Better schools, fields, coaches, players, etc....

2) Collapse of little league programs in favor of club programs. When most kids played LL, there was a natural feeder system. Today, anyone can play anywhere and select the program that is best for their kid. You don't see a progression or working together from LL, Jr High to HS.

3) Certain coaches have reps, some are sticklers to certain styles others promote their kids. If you are new to the area and baseball is important, you will move in an area that best suits your viewpoints.

4) Promotion of kids to the better clubs and next level. Some do, some don't.

5) It's tough to play one sport these days. If your school is known for football, your baseball program takes a back seat and vice versa. Look at any HS today and say to yourself - if I take the key athletes from football and they also play baseball or baseball players contributing to the football team, how would be do? This doesn't happen anymore.

 

Butler

Post15fan, I hope this answers your questions. This is only my opinion.

1) Several key injuries to players in 2006 made for a disappointing season.
2) Many of the 2007 players were seniors and had been on Varsity for 2 or 3 years. They were very good players who had been beaten up by the SW4A for a few years.
3) The entire infield were seniors, 4 of 5 All SW4A and 4 of 5 went on to play college ball. I personally believe the 5th player could have played college ball as well.
4) Three quality starting pitchers. Two starters and a reliever went on to play college ball and the other starter definitely could have played in college, but chose to attend his dream school.
5) Outfield was young but capable, two juniors and a sophomore who all hit well and proved to be good defensively. The entire team could hit top to bottom!
6) AK opened and took some talent from Providence and South Meck. I believe it would have been a 3 way dog fight had AK not opened in 2007.

Most of all, senior leadership did a very good job of keeping the team focused and the confidence grew with every win. Coach Cousar just let them play. Only a well coached South Caldwell team with a future 1st round MLB pitcher put an end to Butler's best season.

In 2008 & 2009 there was a good core group of players, but not nearly as much depth as there was 2007. And with those 7 or 8 wins in 2009 that team went to the 3rd round of the State playoffs, I believe only AK went deeper.

Mincmi may be able to give his take on the subject also.

 

Are there any other conferences in the state???

Are there any other conferences other than SW4A IN THE STATE? Is there anybody besides me who would like to hear about them? My husband loves it but I want to hear about the rest!!

thanks,...

 

You went were I was going Catcher10.

I would also add:

The last three regional champions (all different teams) were playing in the same league as Butler in 2006. There were going to be 42 league losses somewhere. With most of the games were extremely close and a small lapse in concentration, confidence, or a bad hop made the difference between a W or an L.

In 2007:

East Meck was at a low point of a down cycle.

The loss of Coach Bagwell at South Meck was a significant blow to the Sabres because the coach that replaced Coach Bagwell was not ready to handle that program and it plummeted immediately. The loss of their entire rising junior class to AK also was a significant blow to the Sabres.

Independence was also in turmoil with coaching changes and player dismissals and suspensions because of off field issues during the season.

Ardrey Kell in their first season, like Butler the year before, was talented but young and the SW4A pounding eventually took its toll as the Knights finished 8-9 after starting 10-1.

This meant that half the league was not at the usual strength. Remember that just a few years earlier two 20 win SW4A teams did not make the state playoffs.

But the largest factor was the Bulldogs were a very talented squad that blended well together, played with great confidence and took advantage of the breaks laid before them. And it was not like Butler has never been there before. Coach Cousar took back to back squads to the regional in 2001 & 2002, meaning that three out of seven seasons Butler reached at least the final eight.

 

There are many wonderful leagues across the state but most do not have anyone that takes the hundreds of hours to compile material and post that the SW4A does.

You could have chosen any league of your liking, researched, wrote and posted about them to promote the history, players and coaches of that league, yet for your first post, you come on this board and complain about what is presented with an attempt to do nothing but celebrate the teams and players of this league.

If you turn off the default SW4A setting on your computer, you will not be forced to read any material you do not care know about the league.

 

TBR is an open forum....folks from anywhere can contribute. The fact that there is a lot of chatter about the SW4A is just an indicator that more people who know about this site happen to care about the SW4A and have diverse opinions about the teams and competition. In the SW4A it is the quality of play, quality of coaching, and quality of facilities that continue to drive interest, and it is the ongoing and high-caliber performance of its' member school teams that sustains that interest.

 

Hello, mincmi...from a TBR Newbie .....

Thanks for the cordial welcome!! What you read as my "complaining" was my attempt to ask anyone knowledgeable about other conferences to post. Did I violate any TBR rule? What brought on your personal attack on me?

BBL