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110%er [9115]
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Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 8:17 AM
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Very disappointing loss and performance last night. Some things my wife and I talked about while watching the game:
* Val. She injured her shoulder a couple of years ago and had surgery. Did she injure it again? Her pitching isn't nearly what it used to be. It has moments, but lacks consistency, and more wild pitches than I'm used to seeing from her. If so, that has to be a blow for her all the way around. The team played really well those 2 or 3 games she was out. Not that she can't contribute or that they don't need her, but it's perplexing, to say the least.
* Maddie. She was out last night. I'm not sure why. I missed the previous game but my wife read on FB that Maddie had gotten injured a bit. She's a real spark to the team - both in energy and hitting, as well as base running/stealing. I think it hurt not having her in there. Her not being in the game moved the infield around, which led to some throwing errors, which led to some runs. Snowball.
* Everything else. Pretty much everything else was average, at best. We're leaving way too many runners on base, and not getting enough hits. While it's good to get walks and other free bases, it's best to get hits. It's not uncommon at all to tune into a game and see that we've stranded 5 on base but only had 1 or 2 hits. Base running last night was poor. Two runners thrown out at home?? I don't think I've ever seen that in a Clemson softball game. Hitting was poor. Pitching was adequate. Millie has pitched some good games but paid the price for infield errors.
So what to do? Beats me. This is where coaches make their money. Almost anyone can do well with great players. But working with injuries, slumps, errors and such - that's what separates the good coaches from the great coaches. I'm not knocking Rittman. He's done a great job so far. It'll be interesting to see how he adjusts at Syracuse this weekend. I'm sure he will. He has to if this team has hopes of picking themselves up and making another run. It's not too late, but they have to start improving this weekend and getting back to Clemson softball.
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CU Medallion [65704]
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Maddie Moore jammed her hand on a players foot sliding into 2nd base, and
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Apr 3, 2024, 8:42 AM
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(according to the announcers at the time) dislocated a couple of fingers. They were popped back in place, and she finished that game, which was the last of the weekend, but hasn't played since. I can certainly envision something like that swelling up and causing her to miss time.
Val's struggles are also evident. She wouldn't use the shoulder as an excuse the first time, and we probably won't know until after the season what is going on now. But, it is painfully obvious she is a mere shell of the player we saw last year when she was fully healthy.
The more troubling concern, to me, is team chemistry. The girls just do not seem to be together and having the fun they did in previous years. Even Millie Thompson has been relatively subdued, which is really saying something in her case. I don't know if it is because they are not on board with Rittman's choices of who is getting playing time, or what, but SOMETHING is going on.
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CU Guru [1928]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 8:46 AM
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Things you don’t have to worry about with baseball players are who is dating who??? Softball players date each other, therefore could cause real issues in the locker room from stuff that happens off the field. I never see this brought up, but it is very very real
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110%er [6462]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:32 AM
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I have friends that are softball coaches and that is truth. There’s always some type of drama on softball teams.
Also, people worried about Val. A pitcher is only going to have so many throws in an arm, softball of baseball, especially after dealing with injury. Softball, like baseball is just as mental as it is physical. She’s carried this team for years and I believe she’s burned out. Hope I’m wrong.
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110%er [9115]
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I would agree with the "burned out" assessment
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:40 AM
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Obviously, I speaking from very much outside looking in, but the way Rittman has leaned on her can't help but put unreasonable demands on her, in addition to the very high demands she puts on herself. That will burn anyone out. These are still kids, and it's easy to forget that.
This isn't a one-person team. They can win without her. They've proven that. She can definitely contribute and be an asset - she's proven that. But is she needed for them to win? I don't think so. With Regan pitching the way she is, Brooke doing good in relief, and Millie pitching pretty well, we're pretty good in the circle right now.
If I was a betting man, I'd put money on her shoulder being injured again. I certainly hope that I'm wrong, though. But Rittman has pitched her a LOT this year, up until recent games and her "illness" and bodies can only take so much.
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Orange Blooded [4438]
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Did we exceed expectations the first few years and now we are coming down to...
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:00 AM
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reality? What is wrong with this team?
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CU Medallion [55480]
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Re: Did we exceed expectations the first few years and now we are coming down to...
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Apr 3, 2024, 10:01 AM
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Graduating and the transfer has touched all sports, and Clemson softball isn't immune to it to either with one of them being a great thing for a player, I have wished many of time that I could've gotten a Clemson degree!!! If I could have gotten a Clemson degree when I was a young man, I probably wouldn't have lived the life of a poor man, but my main drawback was Brains and Money!!!
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CU Medallion [67983]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:04 AM
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Vals swing that I saw last night were not good and aggressive like normal. SHe hit mostly weak grounders for outs. It made me wonder of something is up with her injury wise. Especially since her pitching has been a little off too
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CU Guru [1795]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:55 AM
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A little? She has lost 5mph on her pitches and location has been poor. I think it's an injury and unfortunately it will be impossible for her to recover during the season so we are getting a glimpse at what next year will be like unless Rittman brings in some great transfers like Bakich.
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110%er [9115]
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Does Regan have any eligibility left?
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:58 AM
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She's really peaking right now.
I'm sure Rittman has his eyes on some transfers, and I'm sure there are those who would love to come in to a place like Clemson to get a shot with the program.
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Legend [15844]
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I though I heard that she and Millie have a CoVid year...if they choose to come
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Apr 3, 2024, 10:00 AM
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back.
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CU Medallion [55480]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:45 AM
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Seasons will show up like this one that's happening with our lady Tiger softball team every now and then, just like it happened with our FB team last season, but I honestly can see our FB team competing for the natty this coming season!!!
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Orange Blooded [2349]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:48 AM
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Very disappointing loss and performance last night. Some things my wife and I talked about while watching the game:
* Val. She injured her shoulder a couple of years ago and had surgery. Did she injure it again? Her pitching isn't nearly what it used to be. It has moments, but lacks consistency, and more wild pitches than I'm used to seeing from her. If so, that has to be a blow for her all the way around. The team played really well those 2 or 3 games she was out. Not that she can't contribute or that they don't need her, but it's perplexing, to say the least.
* Maddie. She was out last night. I'm not sure why. I missed the previous game but my wife read on FB that Maddie had gotten injured a bit. She's a real spark to the team - both in energy and hitting, as well as base running/stealing. I think it hurt not having her in there. Her not being in the game moved the infield around, which led to some throwing errors, which led to some runs. Snowball.
* Everything else. Pretty much everything else was average, at best. We're leaving way too many runners on base, and not getting enough hits. While it's good to get walks and other free bases, it's best to get hits. It's not uncommon at all to tune into a game and see that we've stranded 5 on base but only had 1 or 2 hits. Base running last night was poor. Two runners thrown out at home?? I don't think I've ever seen that in a Clemson softball game. Hitting was poor. Pitching was adequate. Millie has pitched some good games but paid the price for infield errors.
So what to do? Beats me. This is where coaches make their money. Almost anyone can do well with great players. But working with injuries, slumps, errors and such - that's what separates the good coaches from the great coaches. I'm not knocking Rittman. He's done a great job so far. It'll be interesting to see how he adjusts at Syracuse this weekend. I'm sure he will. He has to if this team has hopes of picking themselves up and making another run. It's not too late, but they have to start improving this weekend and getting back to Clemson softball.
Yeah, fire the coach
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CU Guru [1944]
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Re: Softball
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Apr 3, 2024, 9:52 AM
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Just as an outsider, it seems to be more mental/emotional than physical. My daughter is at nearly every home game and my wife and I watch most of them on TV. A few of weeks ago Val got knocked down on a pop-up at first base by the pitcher and was very emotional, actually cried the rest of the game. She just doesn't look happy since at least that game, maybe before.
I hope all is OK with her. I want to win but for me, it is more important that we develop the athletes as people. I have two daughters that played high school basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, and tennis between them and I know that lady's sports seem to have way more drama than guy's. I hope Val and the whole team work through this and peak at the right time. They are really fun to watch.
Go Tigers!!!
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All-In [25031]
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I dont think Cagle has ever really enjoyed the spotlight
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Apr 3, 2024, 10:04 AM
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Or being a star. She has always seemed pretty uncomfortable with the attention. She also rarely shows positive emotion. Even after a home run or strikeout she reacts like “that’s what I’m supposed to do” which can be good but also seems like she’s putting lots of pressure on herself.
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Orange Blooded [2919]
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Re: I dont think Cagle has ever really enjoyed the spotlight
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Apr 3, 2024, 10:17 AM
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I’m beginning to think that incident with McCubbin running into Cagle was the beginning of the worst vibes coming from this team. I know she was upset at the time but didn’t know she continued to be emotional throughout that game. There has been some strange chatter about her illness. Would not be surprised if she asked to step away from the team to decide if she wanted to continue.
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110%er [9115]
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It's probably a pretty big jump for a young lady to go from
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Apr 3, 2024, 10:20 AM
[ in reply to I dont think Cagle has ever really enjoyed the spotlight ] |
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playing in front of pretty much just family and friends in your travel league to playing in front of thousands live and hundreds of thousands on TV and getting all sorts of media attention. I agree that she is likely not a fan of the spotlight.
Seems like her competitiveness is in her head - it's against herself and herself only. But now with all this outside noise, it can be very overwhelming and any deviation from the high standard that either she sets for herself or the media/fans set for her, can set someone up for a big letdown.
I'm a big fan of Val. I like the way she's played, the way she's carried herself all of these years, and the way she's supported and, in many ways, built this team. She's a great athlete and seems like a great person. I hope nothing but the best for her and hope she and the coach can get everything figured out so she can finish strong.
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110%er [8560]
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Re: Softball
Apr 3, 2024, 10:10 AM
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I don't watch softball but it is clear our team this year is just not as good as last year's. There will be good teams, really good teams and great teams and that is simply how college sports work. The key to any program is to never be less than good and all fans should be happy.
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Orange Blooded [2919]
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Re: Softball
Apr 3, 2024, 10:22 AM
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I don't watch softball but it is clear our team this year is just not as good as last year's. There will be good teams, really good teams and great teams and that is simply how college sports work. The key to any program is to never be less than good and all fans should be happy.
This is correct. The grad transfers from last year plugged some lineup holes very well. Team 4 was a very good team that lost some momentum at Liberty and VT with walk off losses. That put them up against OU in the Super Regional. Yet they took on that challenge as well as any team could. This year’s team has less hitting, less reliable fielding, and now the ace of the pitching staff struggling.
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Legend [17099]
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Re: Softball
Apr 3, 2024, 10:42 AM
[ in reply to Re: Softball ] |
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WHAT?
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All-TigerNet [14036]
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Re: Softball
Apr 3, 2024, 1:13 PM
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exactly it's a troll. give it an automatic flag.
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