What would you rather have?

In 2003, Myers Park rode two studs (Robert Woodard and Rob Wilson) to the state championship series. Except for Wilson, Myers Park wasn't a great hitting team, but they manage to squeeze out enough runs to make it to the State Championships where they were runners up.

Of course, Fuquay-Varina that year had both the studs on the mound AND a team of excellent hitters.

Nothing like balance.

 

While the arguement rages about a couple of stud pitchers vs. a 4-5 stud hitters, this is a very true statement. The aluminum bats, and to a lesser extent - specialization of players and workout routines, have tended to juice up the offense. This has had the tendency to replace small ball. While a team with a couple of real stud pitchers can get by with small ball, this is much harder to do than in the past. Today, a team with above average pitching probably needs to load up with their best hitters and swing away. Having a good defense also helps.

 

NCBALLFAN...

Saw the championship series with Myers and Rose that year. No doubt that is an excellent example of 2 great pitchers carrying a team.

I know Woodard was a very good pitcher and player, but I really liked the Wilson kid and the way he played in that series.

 

It wasn't much of a surprise to anyone when Wilson got the conference MVP. Woody may have had more projectability and a higher upside, but that year, Wilson was the best in the conference, hands down!!!!

Man, what a great competitor....

 

NC , I've been thinkin about posting what you have about that 2003 Myers Park team. It was quite a ride to the 4A finals, and it was clearly on the backs and shoulders of the two stud pitchers. Rarely during the year did the Mustangs score more than 5 runs, but they found a way to scrape out enough to let the two fierce mound competitors bring home the victories. The lineups around the two changed almost weekly, but they performed game after game.

I want to be quick to add that I'm not saying they had no offense -- in addition to Woodard and Wilson they had Mike Smith, JJ Rollins, Logan Smith and Jim Berger, all of whom hit well over the course of the year. You do have to sore a few runs!

It's a tough call for me, but I just don't believe average pitching can get you anywhere at this level or anywhere higher, even with three or four stud hitters. The reality is that most highly successful teams have both.

And thanks for the reminder NC. Thoughts about Woodard and Wilson are good ones to take into a new season!

 

Rob Wilson will always be one of my favorite players. What many people fail to realize is how athletic Rob is. At 6' 17", Rob was very good at SS, but he could play every position on the field except catcher. Well, he probably could have played catcher if he wouldn't blink his eyes every time a batter would swing

 

.... BRAVES >>> THAT WOULD MAKE HIM 7 feet 5 inches (and probably a basketball player....

 

Yep...and he could do that too. But he stayed in baseball for a reason. As a pitcher that stands 6' 17" he would actually retrieve the ball from the catcher out of his glove. It saved JJ Rollins from having an opportunity to make an errant throw back.

 

Oh....and except for that Prepster nose on that guy...he kind of looks like me