PGF Finals Today !!!!

[ontheblack]

Last year he was ridiculed for changing pitchers, this year he's ridiculed for not changing pitchers. It must be hard on Coach Rico, always battling Coach Hindsight and Coach Armchair.

Well at least he has coach myopia in his corner. Jump off the Blanco train and realize the pitchers he had in the dugout have pitched in more clutch situations then the one that was in the circle. Sometimes change is good, sometimes it isn't. But if you don't try you never know. As they say use em if you got em.

Its interesting that you, and many others on here, know his pitching staff better than Rico does. He obviously didn't feel he had anyone on the bench who could get the job done. That message was loud and clear, and if I'm one of those pitchers I'm looking for a team where I'll get significant "big game" pitching time next year, because riding the pine isn't getting me ready for the challenges of pitching in the Pac 12, where the hitters don't give a crap if you were a cheerleader for the Firecrackers, and coaches arent shy about taking away scholarship money.

As to that last inning, you have a BB, a K, then two infield ground balls, both could have been outs, instead everybody is safe. Up to this point, Blanco has done her job. Geer never should have come to the plate. We will never know if another pitcher would have got two outs in that situation. Maybe, maybe not. What we do know is that the Athletics once again found a way to get the job done, and we should give them some credit for winning the tournament rather than looking to cast blame on someone for losing the game.

What you had was the As running aggressively twice in that inning. The play at 3rd is an easy out if the runners are not moving. That is coaching. Flip the situation and I bet the farm Rico isnt sending the runners and he loses.

As for last year, if he brings Cordova in at the end, the smart money says she wins that match up and crackers win.

Some of us may not run cash cow orgs, but that doesnt mean we dont know the game.

[ontheblack]

Here is what they had on the bench

Sammy Cordova Orange county pitcher of the year Utah bound Pac 12
Michelle Floyd University of Arizona bound Pac 12
Trish Parks University of Arizona bound Pac 12

I don't think anyone here is taking away anything from So Cal Athletics they are a great team and apparently have the best coaches in Gold.

Blanco is going to be JR- Cordova SR, Floyd SR, Parks JR

Knowing that Blanco will get the same or more pitching time next year why would the other three pitchers stay there? The cool aid can't be that good is it

Take your scholarship and run ladies, you are nor getting prepared to pitch in the Pac 12

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So my question is: What is the fascination with Blanco over the other FC pitchers on the bench? Mental Approach? Physical Tools? Better Stuff?

It isnt fair to make it about Blanco. Dont forget about her 2 run dinger in the 5th.

[nolife]

Here is what they had on the bench

Sammy Cordova Orange county pitcher of the year Utah bound Pac 12
Michelle Floyd University of Arizona bound Pac 12
Trish Parks University of Arizona bound Pac 12

I don't think anyone here is taking away anything from So Cal Athletics they are a great team and apparently have the best coaches in Gold.

Blanco is going to be JR- Cordova SR, Floyd SR, Parks JR

Knowing that Blanco will get the same or more pitching time next year why would the other three pitchers stay there? The cool aid can't be that good is it

Take your scholarship and run ladies, you are nor getting prepared to pitch in the Pac 12

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So my question is: What is the fascination with Blanco over the other FC pitchers on the bench? Mental Approach? Physical Tools? Better Stuff?

It isnt fair to make it about Blanco. Dont forget about her 2 run dinger in the 5th.

Sorry not making it about Blanco. Talented pitcher and hitter period. Just wondering why Blanco gets the nod (almost all the time) over the other pitchers on the FC bench.

[dirtlover]

Blanco has plenty of talent. She also has plenty of hype. What people want to know is why does Tony rely on her so much. It's gotta be the kool aid pops is sellin. Too many top quality pitchers on his bench to keep going to her. Not just the last game but over and over. If I were the others it would be go time. Gotta get ready to pitch at the next level. Simple as that.

[softballfan01]

'Last year he was ridiculed for changing pitchers, this year he's ridiculed for not changing pitchers."

You're missing what is really going on. Rico has a knack of digging a hole for himself. Each summer for the major tournaments, including Premier, he picks his select nine and plays them exclusively. At a quality championship tournament like Premier, they have to be tired. Look at how he played his catcher. In the seven games in the day before the final she played all seven with no rest whatsoever. Even in those games that were blowouts he could not substitute another catcher, just like he couldn't substitute pitchers. He said this catcher was the best he ever had, yet she missed some balls at home plate that I bet, if she was even slightly better rested, she would catch 100 out of 100 times. One of those passed balls led to a run. As bad, the backup catchers will have no experience in elimination games for Premiere next year. Are his catchers that low-quality? I seriously doubt it.

Not only should the pitchers leave the team, the catchers should as well, with the exception of the one who will become the chosen one.

Regarding pitching, he has Sammy Cordova, the Orange County player of the year. She clearly must've faced some of these batters through her extraordinary high school season. I also find it hard to believe that Mike Candrea at the University Of Arizona will give scholarships to pitchers that he does not believe are capable of helping him win a national championship. One of those two won both the 16 ASA title, as well as the 16 Premier title on the same field. You can't say that she is inexperienced. And doesn't RICO have a responsibility to develop these pitchers? What did he do with them for the entire year? If they were not ready it is his fault.

These pitchers all have excellent reputations and would be counted on by almost all other teams, including the higher-rated ones.

Numerous times throughout the game you could hear Athletics batters telling their teammates, obviously quite loudly, to watch for the low to mid-level pitch. Blanco either does not have a rise ball or hates to throw it and the Athletics knew it. The ball that was hit to win the game for them was right in the zone the Athletics players were looking. Hadn't Rico heard these comments? Of the three pitchers Rico has, pick the one with the best rise ball. Put her out there and, with a likely change in her speed, make the Athletics guess. Top batters of even lower levels will hit balls consistently thrown at the same approximate height.

[NORCALGOLD]

Softballfan, Nice job you join today and you rip one of the top coaches in softball. So you are an idiot or just stupid or you have no idea what an 18u Team is all about.
First get recruited. DONE!
Second get the players ready to play at the next level mentally and physically. DONE!
Getting to nationals and playing is far from the top of the list. Telling these girls they should leave is almost comical.
As far as game coaching they made it to the championship game. It's just a unlucky they ran into one of the best coaching staff and teams in modern times and they weren't going to win.

[FENWAYS]

nor cal no brains gold,
I think Softballfan is right on, get your lips off rico's arse. Why would any pitcher trying to get ready to play in the Pac 12 stay on that team? Why, give me one good reason. His choosen one will pitch all the games next year. He is preparing one kid in the circle for college that's it. He pitched her all summer long while the other three sat game after game, state after state, and they even rode the pine in Canada. She is good but she is no better than what he has in the dugout. They all work hard and he has had about 5 TV games this year and it is all about her, sickening. What did he say at the game the girl who carried this team all year, he's a joke. It is a team effort. rico I hope your other pitchers wake up and realize that you are not there for them and tell you to go pound sand.

Great job So Cal Athletics, the best coached team won.

[93players]

Most top 18U coaches, gold or premier, do the same thing. Play the hot 9 all tourney. Now if they do it in the fall, the great bench pitchers and others should know, unless an injury takes place, they will not play. Those "stupid" coaches wear out catchers, pitchers, and others. They demoralize the other players. They ruin team chemistry. They take "team" out of softball. But, talented players still come so why should they stop playing 9 who are tops in their mind. No depth, not needed. No teamwork from the bench, not needed. Parents and players think they will make that 9 or that the coach will do something different.

[softballfan01]

I find it interesting NORCALGold decides not to comment on how Rico digs a hole by putting out tired, and I bet exhausted, players. Why NORCALGOLD are you not commenting on the catcher situation? Were you off in your golden palace or were you at the game? Easy passed balls that, as I said, she likely catches 100 of 100 times with some rest. Blow outs the day before. Easy to replace her and not cost them a game. Would you do the same with your catchers, especially if you have the depth Rico has? Her being tired cost at least one run, arguably a run that could have been avoided and the game goes on.

Also comment NORCALGOLD about what the Athletics players were reminding each batter of the whole game. Do you think no adjustment was necessary or do you think Rico made adjustments and they did not work (or were not noticeable)? Rather than atttack, give your expertise.

Tell me where I am wrong NORCALGOLD. Start with the catcher this time. I stand corrected on one point. Players, stay with Rico if your choice is to go play with or for NORCALGOLD.

[Trophy Hunter]

Hey what happened to my post about the player that left FC? Did I take a nap and wake up in Stalinist Russia? Can't have a little fun here? Geez.