Mizzou coach has no clue

[Iluvblue]

When playing against lefty slappers with ASU's speed, you can not even think about turning a double play. He has infield set up like they are MLB players turning two. SS must be over and INSIDE the baseline, play behind it and you have no chance.

Lefty slapper was up with bases loaded and the second baseman was 2/3 of the way up the middle and deep. LOL If he doesnt go watch someone defend it or buy a book, they will be done playing a team with that speed again.

Add that to the fact that the pitcher who was throwing 70 only has a few pitches, DROP change, and rise, but she threw 70% drops which was absolutely perfect for those slappers that wanted to pound the ball into the ground.

But hey, he is in the big show so he is a great coach. I wish the camera angles showed the entire infield positioning all the time when on TV. There are so many intricate details involved in this game that the casual viewer will never learn them. In last nights game.... cant remember, I think it was the one before Florida/Az the announcer did a GREAT job of explaining some things. Good day for softball.

[BigDaddy77]

Apparently he has some clue, because he is coaching a D1 program at the WCWS. They sure thumped UCLA as well. Obviously this game wasn't their best strategy, surely due to nerves and inexperience on that stage.

And your where???

[Little Bird]

Don't you think this has been said about you, on more than one occasion?

[playball]

Scoreboard. He is one of 8 coaches in the country still playing. No matter what he did they were going to lose anyhow. Too much speed and firepower. I'm sure UCLA would have adjusted, ooops, guess not.

[Iluvblue]

Like I said already,

He must be great, he is in the big show. UCLA is a different team. They dont slap and burn the bases like ASU did. Not much coaching strategy involved when you just have your infield stay back and play like MLB players do, which against UCLA worked because they werent trying to slap and bunt the crap out of you. You must adjust to your opponent, something even a great D1 college coach failed to do. Should have had the announcers coaching that game for them. She was harping on it the entire time.

How many drop balls pounded in the dirt and beat out do you need to see before you stop trying to throw them slappers drop balls?

Nerves had NOTHING to do with having your infield positioned like baseball.

[Iluvblue]

UCLA got beat, but they darn sure know how to defend speed.

Mizzou handled UCLA but it has nothing to do with handling ASU. Sometimes teams just beat a team, but it wasnt great strategy that got it done. If you just line up and play straight up and you win, did you outcoach the other guy. By playing straight up I am saying you just stood in the box and swung away. No great strategy involved in that.

When you play a team like ASU with that speed, your defense can not play the same exact way you did when playing UCLA. That is what I am saying, and Mizzou failed ot make ANY adjustments, and that comes from the coach if I am not mistaken.


And no matter where I am at, I was watching the game wondering what the he.. they were thinking.

[MavFan]

The thing I didn't like was his comments after the game blaming the loss on the hard and dry fields. Dude coaches in the Big 12 and they play their conference tourny there every year. Those fields have been that way forever. He shouldn't have been surprised!

[lv2earat8]

Question? In the mens game(fastpitch)Is there much bunting and slapping?
A friends daughter plays for a Nor Cal D1 college with a mens coach/player who coaches the same way. They do not have the same success as Mizzou.

[Iluvblue]

I think I know the coach you speak of, and my team scrimmaged his team a few years back and he had his BIG corners playing backl ike baseball. We ran his team off the field and beat them 10-0.

He is a great mans coach and player but had no chance against us playing his defense like that. Oh, but he is D1.

I didnt see the comments made after the game, but what he is saying is true, but he still needs to recognize it and make adjustments. Field wouldnt have mattered playing his defense like that anyways.

[klandwehrmier]

I have been following the Missouri women's softball program for a few years (I live in the St. Louis area). Coach Earleywine has had incredible success in the past 3 years but just doesn't seem to coach 'small ball'. When Mizzou played UCLA earlier in the season he did not attempt a sacrifice with a runner at 3rd and 0 outs. Mizzou lost 2-1. At times I wish Mizzou would bring Jay Miller back from Mississippi State. In any case, I'm still pulling for the Tigers!