S1E8 - Cajun Soirée
The guys recap a 1-3 week for the Monarchs and preview South Alabama. CB has ODU Baseball cards, Gary has koozies and the team needs to flush the Cajuns.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Pride of ODU Collective
he Pride of ODU leverages the power of Old Dominion University alumni and fans to equip student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary for them to excel both during and beyond their time in Norfolk. More importantly, we seek to help student-athletes maximize their NIL opportunities the right way, without ever compromising the values of Old Dominion University and the legacy of all those who have donned the Blue and Silver in the past. To learn more, visit https://theprideofodu.com/
Transcript
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Gary: Hello, Monarch fans and welcome to the Hudson homers podcast.
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:I'm your host Gary joined as always
by CB coming to you after a one
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:and three week for the Monarchs.
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:CB tough weekend, but how you feeling?
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:CB: I mean, I feel better today.
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:I've gotten over my, my mid
afternoon depression from Sunday.
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:That was, uh, you know, not a,
not a fun weekend, uh, watching
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:baseball, unfortunately.
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:Gary: No, it was not, um, to have
that low of an offensive output when
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:you're pitching is really going was
very difficult to watch and to see
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:especially some of the abats we had.
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:I know the guys were frustrated,
but that's a tough one to
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:come back home after a sweep.
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:CB: Yeah, I'm sure that was a
pretty quiet, uh, bus ride and
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:plane flight and all the, all the
different ways they had to travel.
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:I'm, I'm sure there was not a lot
of, uh, not a lot of fun happening.
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:That's, that's tough for a road trip.
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:I only ever drove through Louisiana
one time on the way to Texas and
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:I thought it looked terrible.
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:Um, so I can't imagine going to Louisiana.
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:I mean, just, it looked
like a boring, ugly place.
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:The one place we stopped to
use the restroom, it was like,
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:it didn't even fit to use the
restroom in, um, which is terrible.
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:Uh, so I don't have any positive
things to say about Louisiana.
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:Gary: You've got to pick your spots in
Louisiana because there's definitely some
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:areas you probably don't want to go to.
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:I
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:CB: I
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:think your spots in Louisiana are
like Texas or Arkansas or somewhere,
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:somewhere other than Louisiana.
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:That's the spots to pick.
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:Gary: I've had some fun in new Orleans,
went down there for the national
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:championship for football once.
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:Uh, and Lake Charles
is a pretty good spot.
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:You know, if you're into gambling
and casinos and river or Gulf front
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:activities, that's not too bad.
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:But the rest of it.
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:Yeah, not a, not a lot going on there.
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:It enticed me to travel
for 1 of those road trips.
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:CB: Well, let's talk about
the good day of the week.
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:Let's talk about Tuesday.
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:Cause that was actually a positive
day that things went well on.
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:Gary: It was, leading off the
week with a win over Richmond, a
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:good close 3, 2 victory for you.
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:Had two home runs in the game,
uh, to add to that dinger total,
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:CB: it is 16.
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:60 dollars for dingers were up to 16.
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:Uh, and uh, bucks for bags were up to 48.
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:So we're getting there.
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:We're making some some Uh dollar
amounts we can donate and take care
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:of the the monarch program here
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:Gary: think that gives us six for
the four games last week, but still
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:stealing them at a really high rate
going 48 for 57, so we're getting on.
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:We are, are definitely.
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:Getting over to second Luke
Waters leading the way, 14 for
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:15 on his stolen base attempts.
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:He leads the team now with
four home runs as well.
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:Steven Meyers still
can't throw that guy out.
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:12 for 12.
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:Pretty, uh, solid performance there
from the, the master in center
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:CB: Yeah, luke was the uh, he was the
star of the show on the game on tuesday
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:He had a perfect day at the plate two
for two had Two walks had a stolen base
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:and of course in the eighth inning He
came up with a big go ahead home run.
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:Um, huge I was I was able to get to that
game by about the fifth inning so it was
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:Pretty amazing to see that it was kind of
one of those like we needed a big hit in a
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:big moment And luke is just more like he's
that dude Um, he can come up in those big
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:spots and when he's locked in like he was
man He it was it was great and to see him.
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:He's he's not a very expressive
guy So when luke is getting hyped
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:up, that's it's a it's big time.
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:It's pretty fun
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:Gary: He's been fantastic.
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:All this season was certainly, uh, key
for us there on Tuesday to get that
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:big home run in a clutch situation.
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:Uh, earlier in the game though,
Richmond jumps out to a two,
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:nothing lead there in the first.
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:They're on the board and I don't know
about UCB, but I was not getting the
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:warm and fuzzies on that game coming
off the poor offensive showing we had
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:Sunday in the finale against Georgia
Southern, but Maverick Stallings coming
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:to the plate in the bottom of the
second smokes a two run home run ties
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:the game and we're right back in it.
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:CB: Yeah, that one
Maverick hit was a bomb.
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:Um, it was like not quite dead
center, but just uh, just I mean
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:he's He's he's not a huge guy.
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:He's not a small guy, but he's just
just really tightly compacted He's one
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:of those like just a a strong looking
ball player when he hits that ball
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:hard, man He really could move it.
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:Um the home run that harker gave up
in the first Again, I wasn't there.
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:I was I was just kind of watching it on
the screen before I got there Uh, but
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:everyone as soon as I got there, they
were like look this ball was 40 feet foul
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:You And the wind just pushed it fair.
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:It just happened.
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:Garrett gave up a foul ball and the
wind just pushed it into the zone.
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:So, you know, whatever
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:Gary: The wind giveth and the wind
taketh away because I feel like Luke's
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:got a little help from the wind there
to go ahead three to two in the eight.
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:CB: Just I think it got
it got a foot or two.
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:It was gonna be a double off the
wall that turned into a home run
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:Gary: Yeah, but hey, I'll, I'll take it.
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:We come out of there with a win.
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:I definitely want to talk about
Vincent Becerra because I feel like
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:his performance on the mound in the
top half of the eighth kind of fired
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:the guys up for the bottom half.
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:He comes into the game
with two on and nobody out.
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:Uh, there were two walks right before
he came into pitch bash comes in,
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:gets a strikeout, gets a ground out
to shortstop, which is a great play
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:by Kyle Edwards at short to keep
that ball in the infield and then
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:to throw the runner out at first.
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:And then we can finally get a ground at
the 2nd Maverick stalling throws a guy
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:out off of a full count to get them out
of that ending with the tie still intact.
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:Uh, and then Luke waters
leads off the bottom half.
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:So we'll shout the left.
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:CB: Yeah, bash.
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:Uh, he got his he got
the win in his own save.
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:I mean, that's you know, he's he's big
time He's been pitching great this year.
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:I mean his numbers.
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:I don't know if this will actually pull
up for me I know he's got like a 0.
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:98 era or something like
that and then 11 innings.
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:He's really been throwing the ball.
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:Oh, actually i'm sorry
Excuse me bash my bad a 0.
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:77 era in 11.
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:2 innings over over eight appearances
So he's been one of our most
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:effective pitchers out of the bullpen.
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:Um, uh got himself, uh, Saved there.
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:Well got himself a win didn't go save.
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:He he did protect his own lead.
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:He pitched great blake morgan in that
same game, four scoreless innings You
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:Five strikeouts, only three hits allowed.
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:He looked outstanding.
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:That looked like vintage Blake.
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:I mean, he was really just
slinging that ball well.
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:So that was really cool to see.
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:Good to see him getting
back and feeling good.
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:Without the Tuesday game this week,
I would have to imagine you'll see
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:him on the weekend at some point.
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:Steven Trone, again, Steven Trone
keeps coming up in these big spots.
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:He came in, um, in the bottom of
the second, got two strikeouts.
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:So it looked great.
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:Gary: Really just great job
from the pitching staff.
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:Really through all four games
except the back end of one.
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:Uh, but Bash has been so clutch.
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:I imagine we would get to see him
a little bit more on the weekends
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:if we were in games where we had a
short lead, like a save situation.
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:You'd probably see him in the mix,
along with a number of other arms.
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:But Bash has been so clutch coming in,
getting guys out in tough situations.
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:We just have to get in a position where
we've got some of these leads going late.
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:I feel like we've either blown teams
out or we haven't been able to score.
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:That was the first time we've
gone into the ninth inning
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:with a one run all season.
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:So it's kind of the first one run.
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:Just quote unquote, save opportunity.
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:Obviously he gets the wind cause
he was in there in the eighth.
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:But that's the first time this entire
season we've been in that situation, which
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:I think is pretty unique as we've, we've
played quite a few games at this point.
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:CB: Yeah, it's kind of crazy.
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:Cause we, we played a solid amount.
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:I mean, over 20 some games, you
played some really good teams.
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:It's just a, one of those
weird coincidences of baseball.
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:Gary: It is.
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:And we're kind of getting to that
point in the season too, where
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:we've got several guys that are
approaching a hundred at bats.
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:Several of them are pretty well
over a hundred plate appearances,
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:but you kind of start to see from
the hitting side of things, where
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:guys are going to be this year.
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:I know that that a hundred
plate appearances or 200 plate
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:appearances is kind of a litmus test.
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:In the pros, I think it's more
around one 25, one 50 in college.
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:And you kind of really figure
out who are going to be your
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:guys for the rest of the season.
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:Some have, have separated, some have
gone the other direction, uh, but it
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:seemed like no one could really get
it going Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
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:CB: Yeah.
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:I mean, over the weekend, you know, we
just, we got to focus on the pitching.
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:So Friday.
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:Jay Cassidy and John Hollibets.
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:If they gave me that performance
every Friday, all season, I'd
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:have to bet we're not going to
come out of them with many losses.
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:I mean, Jay threw, what was it?
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:I, it's not pulling up for me here.
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:We threw, uh, three scoreless
innings to start the game.
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:You could not ask for
more out of your opener.
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:Um, and then John threw five innings
to finish off the game, gave up
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:three runs, but they were unearned.
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:Um, even if he gave up three earned
runs to me, if you, if you told me
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:those two guys would give me eight
innings, three runs every Friday, man,
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:I'm gonna take that at the heartbeat.
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:Gary: And none of those runs were earned.
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:So they actually gave up no earned runs
over eight innings of work for that.
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:The three runs that came in
were all kind of part of, of one
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:inning that keyed off of an error.
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:Uh, and it just, from there in the
fifth inning, it was, you know,
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:sacrifice fly brings in a run.
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:Triple brings in a run and
then a single brings in a run,
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:but they were all unarmed, so
yeah, I would gladly take that.
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:And I think Jay is really perfect
for this opener role because he
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:can give you that three plus.
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:And clearly coming in out of relief
for hollow bets is the answer because
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:he has been fantastic both times.
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:He has come out of the pen
in those opener situations.
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:I mean, he looks like the hollow bets of
old, a completely different picture than
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:what he was in the beginning of the year.
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:He's fired up.
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:He's hitting his spots.
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:His pitches have just ridiculous
movement and late break on him.
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:Um, and he's, if he can keep that
amped up this season, we're going to
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:be in a great spot to win most Fridays,
but we got a score and we really
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:couldn't do that at all this weekend.
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:CB: was it three hits
in that game on Friday?
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:I mean, that's just,
that's not enough hits.
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:Like, you know, unless they're
all three home runs, then that
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:might have been something else,
but that's not enough hits.
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:Yeah, that was tough.
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:Um, and it just all weekend it was
a problem and some of the guys I
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:can see some things in their swing
and their approach a little bit.
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:I see a few guys kind of Coiling down
to try to create power and as they're
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:doing that they're kind of changing
the eye level You can see their their
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:head kind of going down and you don't
ever want to Really hurt your eye
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:level that much when you're in a swing.
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:Um, some guys approaches again,
swinging upward, trying to get out.
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:I'm sure they, it was nice and sunny
down there, especially on Saturday.
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:I think if you guys might've been thinking
we're down here in the heat, the ball fly.
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:Some of it's just, again,
you see sometimes guys are.
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:Taking strikes and swinging
at balls, um, chasing.
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:So they get themselves in bad counts.
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:And then there was a, at the
end of the day yesterday, I
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:don't remember who was batting.
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:Um, it was a lefty.
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:Uh, I really can't remember who
it was, but it was like the eighth
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:inning and the guy called the pitch.
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:There was a foot outside.
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:Cause at that point it was just
like, well, this is how the
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:weekend's going at that point.
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:The umpires was like, let's get
out of here so that, you know, you
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:put yourself in those situations.
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:So it's, it just, It's steamrolls.
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:Unfortunately hitting is contagious
and not hitting is also contagious.
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:Gary: And there were a lot of
factors working against us.
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:I felt like we were guessing a little bit
at the plate too, especially on Sunday.
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:It seemed like we were going to tee
up and swing like it was a fastball,
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:whether it was a breaking ball or not.
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:And we got behind in the counts and
continued guessing with two strikes.
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:And that just resulted
in some, some really.
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:Really bad plate appearances, really
bad at bats, uh, not getting it done.
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:But another factor I want to throw in
there is Louisiana has got some arms.
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:Partially on us for hitting, but they
had some great pitchers, especially
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:on that Friday, Andrew Herman, four
and two thirds, no runs, just three
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:hits struck out three and then LP,
uh, Langevin, I think is how you
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:say his last
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:CB: canadian.
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:Yeah
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:Gary: he was on fire Friday.
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:I mean, four and a third innings pitched.
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:10 strikeouts, two
walks, no hits, no runs.
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:CB: Yeah, he was gross.
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:He was just disgusting both those
guys friday I mean they pitched
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:well all weekend those those
two guys friday were just gross
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:Gary: Yeah.
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:Tough sledding.
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:And that sets up, you know you get
the win on Friday and you got, two
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:chances to win one more and take
the series or go for the sweep.
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:But I, I don't care what lineup you
were putting out there Friday against
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:Langevin, he was going to strike out
most of the people he was facing.
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:You could get an all star team.
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:He'd probably strike out most of them.
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:He was, he's a good pitcher who was having
a great night and we were on the wrong end
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:of that with how we've been with our back.
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:CB: And then um to give them some more
credit kyle to bars their shortstop who
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:was I think ranked I think they said
seventh overall in college shortstops
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:at the year, he earned that ranking.
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:That kid is good.
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:He is, uh, he is really good in the field.
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:He was a very good looking hitter.
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:Uh, you're going to see him playing
pro ball at the end of the summer.
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:Gary: He was also a stud.
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:They've got a good program down
there, so never happy with a sweep,
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:not going to make excuses for
it, but they're a good ball team.
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:Uh, they're tied for first in the
conference right now at five and one.
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:There's 16 and eight overall, and
they've played a fairly tough schedule.
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:Also on a hot streak.
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:They've now won seven games in a row.
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:They're going to be a problem for
the Sunbelt coming down the road.
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:I mean, I saw a lot of people putting
out notes on social media of the
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:standings and how it's just such a grind.
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:Like you're looking at, you know,
ODU is down there at two and four tie
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:with some other teams that are really
good and are going to be a problem.
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:It's going to be a fight to make
the conference tournament this year.
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:You're going to have to.
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:To really fight and scratch and claw to
get any kind of win just to be eligible to
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:go to the conference tournament this year.
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:Never mind when the damn thing
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:CB: Yeah, it's, it's no joke.
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:I mean, we say it every year.
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:I don't, I don't really
care what sport you're in.
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:Once you get to conference
play, man, it is, it's a fight.
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:Everybody wants it.
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:Um, they mean a lot in every single game.
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:Everybody's bringing their best.
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:Um, Hey, shout out to
Marco Lovari for Saturday.
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:We're talking about what
we're talking about.
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:Saturday's game.
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:Marco came in, got a second
appearance of the season.
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:Uh, two thirds of inning
didn't go up any runs.
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:He looked, he looked really good again.
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:So he'd be probably on his way
to getting some more appearances.
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:Gary: saturday started out as a
pretty good ball game, Louisiana
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:jumped out to the early lead with
two runs there in the 1st, they got
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:another 1 in the 4th, or really that
5th inning is where things just.
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:The wheels kind of fell off
for everybody at that point and
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:unfortunately ended with 13 to 1 loss.
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:Uh, it was shortened with the run
rule, hoping we could avoid the run
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:rule after, you know, putting it
on Georgia Southern last weekend.
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:Uh, once the wheel started coming
off there in the fifth, that
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:was pretty much it for that one
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:CB: Yeah.
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:You never want to have that.
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:And Brandon pond, he just had a bad day.
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:I mean, he is, we've
seen him pitch this year.
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:He's a very good pitcher.
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:He's pitched very well for us.
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:And then several spots.
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:Um, and he just had a he had a really
awful day and I think anybody who's
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:pitched it happened to you I don't
care the best pitch you've ever seen,
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:you know has had has had a bad day Um,
hopefully that's just a blip and he'll
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:continue pitching for us because we
need him We need random pond to continue
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:being who he is and so he's got to
get right back on that horse and just
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:Throw strikes again and be himself.
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:He can't worry about this game because
that like that sucked Uh, no one's going
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:to pretend like that was fun at all.
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:I'm sure he doesn't feel great about
it, but he is a very good pitcher.
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:He had for years at Lynchburg,
he was, and here he is with us.
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:He's been with us.
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:He's been a good pitcher.
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:So.
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:Uh, you know, i'm excited to see
his next outing because I think
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:he's gonna come out and do well
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:Gary: going to be ups and downs for
relief pitchers throughout the year.
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:Uh, but honestly, it really didn't matter
how the pitching staff did on that day.
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:Cause we only managed one run on one hit.
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:Uh, that's not going to win you
very many games in the Sunbelt,
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:regardless of your pitching, unless
you somehow get that magical shutout.
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:Shout out to Stephen Meyer for breaking
up the no hitter in the six with the
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:double, And then ended up scoring on
a wild pitch to break the shutout.
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:So Stephen Meyer single handedly
kept the goose eggs off there.
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:And, uh, I'm sure all the flack we
would have caught on social media for
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:being on the wrong side of it, or so
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:at least we ran
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:CB: and run rule in the same game
would be pretty terrible Um, so I
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:guess we're glad we got the one.
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:Gary: Yes.
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:I'll take it.
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:It's the one bright
spot there offensively.
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:Uh, but just gotta flush it.
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:Turn the page on that game and look
to Sunday, which I thought Sunday
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:was a really great ball game.
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:And it was similar to Sunday last
week against Georgia Southern.
355
:We got guys on base, we put the ball in
play a little bit, just could not get
356
:that next hit to bring those guys home.
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:CB: Yeah, you know, when you're not
going well offensively and it's hard
358
:to get hits I mean we got five hits so
that's more than we had in the first
359
:two games but it just again they
weren't happening at the right times
360
:just couldn't Put anything together.
361
:And they really weren't
walking anybody either.
362
:So it weren't like we
were getting free bases.
363
:Sunday was a good game.
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:You know, Friday was a good game.
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:Sunday was a good game.
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:Saturday was not, uh, but Sunday
we, we competed, pitched well.
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:We just, just couldn't
quite make it happen.
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:Gary: And Ben Moore got the star
for us on the mound, he threw
369
:really well, a three and a third,
no runs, two hits, three strikeouts.
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:Uh, no walks the entire pitching staff
really the whole weekend didn't issue
371
:many free passes We had seven walks
total over the three games only two
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:on sunday Uh trip buchanan gave a
inning where he just gave up one walk.
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:That was it Uh, bailey mattello was
strong out of the pen as well for any
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:he did give up one earned run And jacob
gomez gave up one earned run over two
375
:and two thirds So again, the pitching was
there the pitching did their job put us
376
:in a position to win and we had chances
to it Get on the board to tie the game,
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:even going down into the final innings.
378
:CB: You hate to say it but this is the
difference between winning teams and teams
379
:that don't win You know the winning teams
figure out a way to get guys on get them
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:over get them in Um, and the teams that
don't win are the ones that just kind
381
:of see those chances and they can never
really compile things and so Again, you
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:know, I these guys i'm, you know, i'm sure
there was a long trip back to louisiana.
383
:I hope today Was just a
lot of rest for the guys.
384
:Um, I hope there was just a lot
of just, rest, relax, be a person
385
:that's not a baseball player.
386
:Remember you're a human being
and you have value and you're
387
:winning and losing a ball game.
388
:Doesn't really change who you are.
389
:I think that's kind of good to reset
sometimes and you have these tough weeks.
390
:And then hopefully, you know,
tomorrow and Wednesday before the
391
:games this weekend, there, I think.
392
:Especially our hitters.
393
:I like to see them spend a
lot of time watching video.
394
:Um, I think they should go back
and, and find a lot of video when
395
:things were going well for them.
396
:And, try to compare that to what
they're doing now and try to just
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:get back to that feeling good, go
in and have some good batting cage
398
:work and, and just try to get back.
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:And remember, we have a
really good group of hitters.
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:I wasn't expecting this team to go
out and hit a bunch of home runs.
401
:Um, but I thought we had a really
good group of hitters and I thought
402
:we actually had a better team of
hitters than we've had in recent years.
403
:Um, so it's very surprising to
me, honestly, to see them having
404
:this stretch of games where
they're not getting any hits
405
:Gary: It's unfortunate when you have
that many strong hitters and they all
406
:are slumping in the same time period.
407
:They'll eventually break out of it
because they're good hitters, but how long
408
:that takes is kind of the key question.
409
:I mean, if you look at our last
few games here, we've got five
410
:runs over our last four games.
411
:Um, that's, that's not, not ideal.
412
:Um, you know, we have 19 hits
total over our last five games.
413
:Just the offense is in a funk
414
:CB: after scoring 22 in
the two games before that.
415
:Gary: yeah, it's wild that we're
two and four in Sunbelt play and
416
:our two wins are 11 to one run
rule victories over a good team.
417
:Because by the way, Georgia Southern
took two out of three against
418
:Southern Miss over the weekend.
419
:So it kind of validates
they are a legit team.
420
:Um, and when our bats get going,
we can do that and put up those 11.
421
:But we've just got to
find some consistency.
422
:In those bats in our offensive approach.
423
:So hopefully they're using
today, which we're recording on
424
:a Monday to flush the weekend.
425
:Get all that, that Cajun food and
butter and spice and etouffee and
426
:everything else, just get that on
out of the system and start looking
427
:forward to Thursday against South
Alabama to go in that series,
428
:CB: Budan, that's another one.
429
:I had some of them from louisiana
recently telling me about budan I
430
:don't know what that is, but that's
apparently something they like who
431
:knows I think they just make up words
because they know we'll believe them
432
:Gary: they're going to put salt in
it, butter, and occasionally it's
433
:going to be spicy and they're going
to call it something different.
434
:But.
435
:Uh, the Cajun country was not
kind to the, uh, the monarchs
436
:over the weekend on the field.
437
:It sounds like off the field,
they, they got treated really well.
438
:I had some great meals and a good
experience, but, uh, gotta just
439
:flush that all out of the system.
440
:Detox Monday and, get back to work
Tuesday and Wednesday, because we've
441
:talked about the stretch that's upcoming.
442
:We've got South Alabama and we're going
to preview them shortly, but after South
443
:Alabama, you're in the gauntlet and
winds are going to be really tough to
444
:CB: Yeah, this is for to remind people
about the the absolute buzzsaw of
445
:a schedule coming up here Um, so we
play South Alabama, which, you know,
446
:again, it's a Sunbelt conference.
447
:Uh, there I fully expect
it'll be a tough weekend.
448
:I do believe we should beat South Alabama.
449
:I do not think they're as good of
a baseball team as Old Dominion.
450
:Now they have every ability to come in
this weekend and prove me very wrong.
451
:Uh, but I think we should win this series.
452
:But then coming up we have, we're
going on the road to UVA next Tuesday.
453
:Then we are going on the
road to coastal carolina.
454
:So both those teams were
Uh, I believe still top no
455
:coastal is not top 25 anymore.
456
:They were though.
457
:They're still a very good team Uh, and
then after the weekend against coastal
458
:we have a wednesday game, at ecu So
again another top 25 team and then we
459
:have JMU come here for weekend, which
again, JMU, they're not top 25, but my
460
:guess is they're probably on that edge
there again, a very, very good team.
461
:And then we have the Tuesday after that
is the, Harper park game against UVA.
462
:So that's a stretch with three.
463
:I guess two current top 25 three teams who
have been top 25 and all four teams were
464
:very very good That is a tough stretch.
465
:We I know I highlighted that before
the season even started I think I
466
:highlighted this back in the fall or
something whenever we talked about
467
:podcasts even before this podcast
existed Uh, this is a stretch that
468
:you know, if you don't play at least I
think even in this stretch You're kind
469
:of like, that's kind of your season.
470
:Um, so we, very quickly
need to get the bats going.
471
:We don't want to put pressure on the guys.
472
:I, you want them to succeed, uh,
because they're doing the right stuff.
473
:But the reality is like, if the bats
don't start matching the pitching,
474
:it's not going to go very well.
475
:I mean, you, cause you can't count on
only giving up two runs every game.
476
:We saw that on Saturday, right?
477
:You only give up three on Friday.
478
:You only give up two on Sunday.
479
:Well, occasionally you're
going to give up a few.
480
:It's college baseball.
481
:Stuff happens.
482
:Gary: Definitely need to get the bats
going for one this weekend for South
483
:Alabama, but definitely that gauntlet.
484
:And, you're talking about
Coastal Carolina, they've
485
:fallen out of the rankings.
486
:They dropped two out of three, to
Appalachian State over the weekend.
487
:Actually, I really had to fight to
win that Sunday game to salvage it.
488
:I had to go to 12 innings.
489
:They're not playing their best
ball right now, but we know
490
:that team is loaded with talent.
491
:CB: if you have
492
:watched them, a game of them
playing, every guy on that team hits.
493
:They just hit, hit, hit.
494
:They're scary.
495
:I'm more scared of Coastal than
East Carolina or UVA, and maybe
496
:that's just because they're actually
in the conference, but they are,
497
:they are a menacing baseball team.
498
:Gary: their games over the weekend
were all really high scoring.
499
:I mean, it's just like a track
meet out there in a baseball sense.
500
:They're probably in line to perfectly
start hitting their stride with their
501
:pitching about the time that we play them.
502
:So, you know, it's, it's just, it's
not going to be easy, but you can't
503
:look at it in a big sense like that.
504
:You have to take it game by game.
505
:And the most important one is The next
one on Thursday against South Alabama.
506
:You got to kick that
series off with the wind.
507
:So you're not feeling that additional
pressure on Saturday and Sunday.
508
:CB: I'm excited to see Alabama cause
they have a, one of our ODU guys.
509
:We got a former ODU outfielder, DH.
510
:Robbie Petrosi is coming back into
town with the, with the Jaguars.
511
:So I love Robbie.
512
:He's literally one of my favorite guys
I think I've ever met in baseball.
513
:So I'm very excited to see him.
514
:Last season wasn't as great for him.
515
:I think he got hurt a lot last year.
516
:Uh, this year, the bat hasn't
really gotten going yet, even
517
:though he's had a few homers.
518
:Uh, but I, I hope that
continues through this weekend.
519
:Then he can get healthy after that
and have a good season after that.
520
:We already saw Joey DiCiero
come in and shut us down.
521
:We don't need to see Robbie come back
and hit like four homers or anything.
522
:Gary: If he can avoid, showing off like
Joey D did, that would be, that would be
523
:fantastic, but they're 14 and 10 overall.
524
:They are also two and
four in the conference.
525
:So they are feeling
similar pressure, to us.
526
:They were swept by, uh, Georgia state
at home in their first Sunbelt series.
527
:Then they went to Troy and took
two out of three this past weekend.
528
:Early it was high scoring.
529
:They won 12 to eight and 10 to eight.
530
:Then they lost the, series finale
on Sunday, uh, four to three.
531
:So the one that they
lost was pretty close.
532
:They're pretty close to being three
and three, I think similar to, we're
533
:fairly close to being three and three.
534
:If you look at Georgia Southern
or even the game this past Sunday.
535
:They've played a tough schedule
as well, so don't be fooled
536
:by that 14 and 10 overall.
537
:Uh, they had a one run loss at
Auburn, who's a pretty good program.
538
:Then they actually took two out of three
from UNC Wilmington, who's probably the
539
:best team in the CAA, uh, traditionally
a very good baseball program as well.
540
:They, unlike us though, are
playing a midweek game on
541
:Tuesday against Alabama State.
542
:Uh, so we'll have the
extra day of rest on them.
543
:Not sure what arms that they would plan
to use for that midweek, if that would
544
:even impact their plans for the weekend.
545
:Uh, but they'll at least have played
one game more recently than us.
546
:And we get that extra day of
rest and work to, to get over
547
:our sweep over the weekend.
548
:CB: Yeah.
549
:And like anything else you would
say it's, it's a conference game.
550
:It's going to be tough.
551
:I don't care what team it is.
552
:They got arms.
553
:They got dudes who can hit.
554
:It's gonna be tough.
555
:A little weird schedule this week.
556
:We got Thursday at 6, Friday
at 3, and Saturday at 11 a.
557
:m.
558
:So that's a very unique schedule, um,
I guess to avoid playing on Easter.
559
:I don't they this is only a recent
thing the last three or four years
560
:We used to play an easter all
the time I don't know when they
561
:decided to start caring about that.
562
:But whatever people get
to enjoy their easter.
563
:I'd rather watch baseball.
564
:That's me Um, that's just how I went.
565
:I just i'd rather any day we have
baseball Uh right now the weather is not
566
:looking great for thursday, but hopefully
that'll change Um, but unfortunately
567
:they have two days they could if we
need to play a doubleheader We got two
568
:days or both both friday and saturday
looking pretty great for weather.
569
:I think saturday is supposed to be
like 70 degrees You Um, so hopefully
570
:the weather works itself out.
571
:That's always a thing here, unfortunately.
572
:Gary: And I would imagine we're
playing earlier on Saturday
573
:because that is the quote unquote
getaway day for South Alabama.
574
:So that probably helps them catch
their flight to get back to Mobile.
575
:I'm actually going to be down there
Thursday and Friday for those games,
576
:not able to make the Saturday game.
577
:Uh, but I will have the long
awaited Hudson Homer's koozies
578
:available over at Rally Alley.
579
:Those will get dropped off.
580
:I think with some stroke of luck
and I think a printing error, I'm
581
:going to end up with 500 of those
before, it's all said and done.
582
:So, uh, definitely feel free to take
one for you, your family, your friends,
583
:everyone else that you see them out there.
584
:Uh, cause there's going to
be quite a few of them, but,
585
:CB: If the, uh, if the baths don't start
working, you're going to need a lot of
586
:koozies for all the, all the drinking
we're going to have to do, frankly.
587
:Gary: I was going to say there may be
a boom in business for rally alley over
588
:there if, uh, if the bats don't get going.
589
:But one other thing from these
games, because there weren't a lot of
590
:runs, there weren't a lot of walks.
591
:Those games were lightning quick.
592
:Like you can tell the impact of that
pitch clock, uh, on games like that.
593
:When guys are not working late
counts and getting a lot of walks.
594
:CB: I'm such a huge
fan of the pitch clock.
595
:And I think the people who complain
about the pitch clock either don't
596
:go to games or don't watch games.
597
:Because I love baseball.
598
:I really, really do.
599
:Nothing's better to me than
when I can kind of go see a
600
:game pretty much every day.
601
:If I'm able to make it happen
that last week, that's pretty much
602
:what went down a week before last.
603
:Anyway, I love baseball.
604
:I don't need to be there
for four hours watching it.
605
:You know, even the best game doesn't
need to be four hours long and college
606
:games have gotten to where they were
about four hours no matter what.
607
:So the pitch clock is it's been wonderful
last year They kind of had their proto
608
:pitch clock where the umpire was keeping
it and nobody really knew What the
609
:pitch clock was the umpire would kind
of choose to arbitrarily sometimes
610
:say it was happening sometimes not Uh,
but yeah having the actual pitch clock
611
:and the guys having to keep up with
it You've seen after the first week.
612
:I really haven't seen A lot
of times where anybody's,
613
:you know, had a violation.
614
:So it's been great.
615
:There've been a lot of
two and a half hour games.
616
:I mean, even like the long
game, we have a long game.
617
:It's three hours.
618
:It's like, man, that's amazing.
619
:Gary: So I, I like it at the college
level, especially on days where I'm
620
:doing some post game media and I
can't drink in Rally Alley anyway.
621
:I will tell you at the major league
level, I actually don't like it as
622
:much because the games go by so fast.
623
:You lose a little bit of
that game day experience.
624
:I mean, you're booking it up those stairs
to get that last beer before last call,
625
:because it snuck up on you so quickly.
626
:And maybe that's just me.
627
:Uh, it definitely makes
it more watchable on TV.
628
:Uh, when watching the West coast games
later in the night and they end at
629
:1230 instead of 2 AM, that is always A
pleasant surprise, but I think, uh, at
630
:the major league level, that's where I
kind of noticed like, ah, this stinks.
631
:I don't really have time to go do
anything because they're going to come
632
:back so quickly and things are moving.
633
:But for college, it's great
because college had gotten out
634
:of hand with pitching changes and
delays and slowing things down.
635
:I wish they had that in place back
when I Was working security for
636
:baseball because that would have
made my days much, much faster.
637
:CB: Yeah.
638
:I mean, I remember a few years ago,
and it might even been the last time
639
:that UVA played a Harbor park, which
I guess it'd been like 19 before.
640
:And I remember like my dad really did
not like UVA because their catcher
641
:would basically do like a full, Like
90 degree turn and just be staring
642
:at the dugout for a good 20 seconds,
getting the signs and then have to turn
643
:and give the science to the pitcher.
644
:And then the pitcher sits
there and thinks about it.
645
:And now, you know, they were, I
think as bad as anybody, but that
646
:wasn't, they weren't the only ones.
647
:I think most teams were doing that.
648
:So yeah, you're right.
649
:It was, It was very out of hand
in college because they're
650
:treating every single pitch.
651
:Like it's the most important
thing because it is.
652
:Gary: And the Pitchcom has also helped
that a good bit as well, because it
653
:eliminates what you're talking about of
having to look in the dugout and relay
654
:signs and make sure the signs are right.
655
:Not having to recycle through them.
656
:It's you punch it in real quick.
657
:You got it and you go.
658
:It's definitely going to be interesting
to see that play out at the Sunbelt
659
:Tournament when you have a lot of
games in one day and being able to
660
:turn those around a little bit faster.
661
:CB: There was, there was one year
I think you had like the late game.
662
:It was like, this must be like
the 10 PM game for our time.
663
:And they ended up not even starting
to like:
664
:I don't know what time it was there.
665
:It must've been like 1130, I guess,
but that was, that's the kind of
666
:thing you think they could hopefully
avoid now between probably playing
667
:on somewhere with a turf field and
then having the games go faster.
668
:Anyway, the tournament can actually.
669
:Move and have something in that way.
670
:If you do have some weather, which
seems like the weather is always
671
:terrible come conference, tournament
time and baseball, that hopefully
672
:will, will make things a little better.
673
:Gary: Well, you have a spring
baseball tournament in Tornado Alley.
674
:You're probably going to have
some bad weather problems there.
675
:Looking back to the series this
weekend, a couple other names
676
:other than Robbie Petrosi to keep
an eye out for, uh, Ethan Melton.
677
:He's typically their right fielder.
678
:He's listed as utility,
but usually plays in right.
679
:He's hit 313 with a 915 OPS,
three home runs, , 11 RBIs.
680
:He's just a good solid all around hitter.
681
:Uh, can hit for power and for contact.
682
:Definitely someone we want to
get out as he's kind of their
683
:leading average and on base guy.
684
:And then Lucas, Ishmael, he's got a
909 OPS, five home runs, 19 ribbies.
685
:And they have two other guys
with at least four home runs in
686
:Joseph Sullivan and Will Turner.
687
:They can absolutely hit the
ball, no doubt about that.
688
:CB: I don't know these guys well at all.
689
:This isn't like one of those teams.
690
:It's, it's local.
691
:I know Robbie, they have, an outfielder,
uh, Tyler Kehoe that played for the
692
:pilots a couple of summers ago, but
he doesn't seem to play much for him.
693
:Who knows if he'd be here this weekend.
694
:I guarantee that they got
guys that can hit, I guarantee
695
:they got guys that can pitch.
696
:Um, so it's going to be a fun weekend.
697
:And hopefully it'll come out a
little more, uh, happy and have a
698
:nice, happy Sunday for everybody.
699
:Gary: I hope so.
700
:They're normal Friday starter,
which I don't know if they're going
701
:to mix up their rotation because
it's Thursday through Saturday.
702
:If they're going to keep that person on
a Friday schedule or moving to Thursday.
703
:But Carson Swilling, uh,
he's the ace of that staff.
704
:3.
705
:48 ERA, 37 strikeouts, 16
walks and 31 innings pitched.
706
:He's kind of a stocky right
hander, pretty good velo can throw
707
:a couple pitches for a strike.
708
:He's going to be a challenge for us
on the mound just because he doesn't
709
:walk a lot of guys, doesn't give
you a lot of balls to put in play.
710
:Uh, so it'd be a challenge right off
the bat if he is that Thursday starter.
711
:Cam Hill, is one of their other starters.
712
:I, again, I don't know what
day he's going to pitch.
713
:It looks like Carson and Cam have kind of
been there to main weekend starting guys.
714
:And they've kind of rotated a few
other ones through the third game.
715
:Grant Starling and Zach Willingham
are two names to watch out
716
:for coming out of the pen.
717
:They've got a couple of
pretty good arms out there.
718
:I think.
719
:Some of their better relievers probably
haven't had a great season to start.
720
:Sitting around like a four
and a half, five, six ERA.
721
:Uh, but certainly they can
change that pretty quickly
722
:over the course of a weekend.
723
:If they're needed for high leverage,
724
:CB: Yeah.
725
:And that's the tough thing about
being a reliever, especially during
726
:the years you have a bad inning,
you give up two or three runs,
727
:your ERA can be shot for a month.
728
:You know, it takes a lot of,
especially with, with college where
729
:maybe you're only getting to pitch
one or two innings on a weekend,
730
:so sometimes that can be deceiving.
731
:Gary: it can feel like it can
take forever to get your ERA
732
:back down after a bad ending.
733
:I mean, you look, you are relievers and
you know, we've got some that are hovering
734
:around that 10, 11, 12 innings pitch mark,
and then you've got a couple other that
735
:around like six or seven, and I'm sure
some of your guys who are sporting some
736
:pretty heavy ERAs right now, if you got
them out there three or four times a week,
737
:that number would go down, but you just
don't get those opportunities in college.
738
:CB: Just looking at a list of, uh,
Hudson Trobaugh, 7'11 Lincoln Ransom,
739
:8'22 Nick Salpizio, 9'95 I mean,
those guys are not, if you ask me if
740
:those guys are pitching well, I'd be
like, yeah, they're pitching great.
741
:But then you show their ERA to me, it's
like, ooh, they must have, they all had,
742
:uh, a bad game or two here or there.
743
:That's how ERA works when
you have a, a small amount of
744
:innings.
745
:Gary: Yeah, even John Hollibets,
who has thrown really well in his
746
:last 2 outings and racked up some
innings, he's still just above a 4
747
:CB: Yeah, he had to have found in
a third scoreless to get down to a
748
:four year.
749
:Gary: Yeah, exactly, and it wasn't like
he was terrible to start the season
750
:either, just kind of runs piling up
there, but I imagine we'll continue to
751
:see that approach, whether it's Thursday
or it's Friday with Jay Cassaday as
752
:the opener, followed by Hollibets,
I That is a winning combination.
753
:It has been great for us
the last two weekends.
754
:So hopefully that just becomes set and
that's what our pitching plan is Friday.
755
:We don't have to worry about it.
756
:And then we've got a lot of arms at our
disposal for the rest of the weekend.
757
:CB: You know dylan brown.
758
:I think that was probably one of his
worst appearances this past weekend, but
759
:he still looked good he started out a
little rough, but I you know, dylan's been
760
:doing great saturday and then been more
Has looked excellent last two Sundays.
761
:And clearly whatever groin injury he had
is, is healed and he's looking great.
762
:He honestly could have gone more
than he went the three and a third.
763
:Um, I think that was
just a pitch count thing.
764
:Who knows if they'll decide to continue
letting them stretch out or not.
765
:That might not be going
with what they want to do.
766
:Uh, but he's, he's been looking fantastic.
767
:So, you know, again, the
pitching has been excellent.
768
:One bad inning this weekend, you know,
one bad inning really for the last week.
769
:Really if you if you pile up last weekend
against Georgia Southern What we we lost
770
:what two to one on Sunday and then three?
771
:I mean we aside from one inning
On Saturday this past weekend the
772
:last two weekends and it's the last
what six seven games our pitching
773
:has been dominant so that's kind
of been the story of the season.
774
:So we got to get the the hitters got
to get turned around Um, they got
775
:to start reminding themselves of who
they are Remind themselves of who
776
:they're not Uh and start, you know,
just having some good approaches.
777
:Gary: I put out on Sunday morning
before the game that we need to go
778
:find a live chicken and see if that
can, uh, can shake things up for us.
779
:And then, after the
game, I obviously put the.
780
:Bucket of KFC of saying we
should've got a live chicken.
781
:Gotta do something just to
get the minds back, right?
782
:Cause the worst thing about
this is all of these guys in the
783
:lineup are super competitive.
784
:They're good baseball players.
785
:They know that they're better
than what they're performing.
786
:And now you can feel the pressure
starting to compound a little bit, right?
787
:The guy in front of you strikes
out, so you're up there a little
788
:bit tighter and you're at bat.
789
:We just need that top of the lineup
to do what they've done for most games
790
:this season is start getting on base,
start getting around, and that can
791
:kind of fire up the rest of the lineup.
792
:We just have not been able to, to
do that or get that next big hit
793
:to bring somebody in if they're on.
794
:But I'm hoping that this is a good
hitting team going through a slump and
795
:I'm hoping this is not a bad hitting
team that happened to have two good
796
:games against Georgia Southern last week.
797
:CB: No, I think they are a good hitting
team I think what you're they really got
798
:to focus on is You you gotta flush and
get rid of everything that isn't this at
799
:bat that i'm currently in Um this at bat
that i'm in right now needs to be all
800
:i'm thinking about I can't even I can't
be thinking about the Guy in front of
801
:me struck out that that doesn't matter
, unless I can use that information about
802
:what the other way that guy's going to
pitch me, that doesn't matter to me.
803
:Um, you really got to focus on, you know,
this is the event, this is the approach.
804
:This guy's going to pitch me this way.
805
:This is where I got to attack.
806
:This is where I got to be patient.
807
:If a guy's on base, I got to
move him over, whatever it is.
808
:They really, you really got to
narrow the game down to this pitch,
809
:it's like, you know, we talked about
what's football had the thing right
810
:go want to know this week, right?
811
:Uh, that's that's always I love that
approach and to me it's go want to know
812
:this pitch You know win this pitch win
this next move and that was the thing
813
:the last couple years when guys like
you foul a ball off or you get it's
814
:be like hey one more because you know
We're looking let's win the next pitch.
815
:Whatever this is happening right now you
can't I I feel like The problem may be
816
:guys getting bogged down thinking of all
the things and you gotta let it go, man.
817
:You're never going to be successful
in baseball if you're not thinking
818
:about this exact pitch right now.
819
:Gary: And hopefully that leads to, to
better looking at bats, maybe drawing
820
:some more walks, getting on base.
821
:I think you nailed it.
822
:The most important thing to do is
flush the Cajun right out of you from
823
:the weekend, get all that stuff out
of your system, go get a good run and
824
:a workout in, and eat some Virginia
barbecue or something like that, just to
825
:make sure it's, it's all out of there.
826
:CB: Go, go spend some time with your
parents, your girlfriend, your whatever,
827
:you know, whoever your boys, whatever
you got to do, uh, live some life, enjoy
828
:yourself and focus on, just focus on what
829
:matters.
830
:Gary: yeah, absolutely.
831
:And you know, we're going to approach
this series with South Alabama, knowing
832
:that we need to get at least two out
of three, it'd be amazing if we somehow
833
:found a way to swap them, because I
think that, That erases the sweep at
834
:Louisiana , for the longterm there.
835
:And it would be a nice momentum
builder going into some
836
:really, really difficult games.
837
:So, uh, if you're down in the area
Thursday at six Friday at three Saturday
838
:at 11, , do the anti rain dance if
you can, to get that out of there.
839
:So we can have an
evening game on Thursday.
840
:I think those are always
a little bit more fun.
841
:Feel like our guys are a little more
fired up for those later start times.
842
:So head on over there to the ballpark if
you can, and swing by Rally Alley, get
843
:yourself a couple of koozies, please.
844
:I can't have 500.
845
:CB: Oh, and I forgot, speaking of things
people can get, the ODU Baseball Cards.
846
:They are available to order.
847
:You can get a set of the team.
848
:You just hit me up, let me know.
849
:Um, and we will, you
gotta get the order in.
850
:By April 1st.
851
:I really didn't give people enough
time, but Hey, all you need is a week.
852
:I've already had some parents, uh, tell
me this week, but anybody order them, I
853
:prefer not to ship them, but if you ask me
very nicely, I might, I'm just bad at it.
854
:So, uh, be, be understanding of me.
855
:Um, so yeah, the ODU baseball
card, they look awesome.
856
:If you look on the CB sports photography,
I think it's also on the, the monarchist.
857
:Um, you can see a preview of what
something looked like the loop waters
858
:one where he's diving the third looks
amazing, uh, and I'm saying that cause
859
:I took it and made it, it looks nice.
860
:Gary: You have some awesome shots.
861
:Uh, so I will definitely be getting
my order in for baseball cards, but.
862
:CB Sports Photography on Instagram,
at CB Wilkins ODU on Twitter.
863
:If you're hearing this, make sure
to reach out and get your order
864
:in before that April 1st deadline.
865
:Uh, we'll also help promote that
on Monarchist social media, so
866
:it'll be out there for you as well.
867
:We're gonna have an
announcement next week.
868
:On the episode of the podcast,
we're going to have a special guest.
869
:We're going to have an announcement.
870
:It's a pretty big deal.
871
:If you follow us regularly, you
probably already know what this is.
872
:Uh, especially if you go to odumonarchist.
873
:com and look around at some of the links
to our store where our merch is at.
874
:Uh, we're going to have an
official announcement for
875
:that in next week's episode.
876
:So make sure that you
are tuning in for that.
877
:CB, anything else that I'm missing?
878
:CB: Nah, just let's, uh,
let's have a great week, man.
879
:Looking forward to seeing
you down at the ballpark this
880
:weekend.
881
:Gary: I'm going to flush my toilets
a couple more times and make sure
882
:all the cajun is out of me as well.
883
:Before I head down there, wash
off any of the Louisiana Uh,
884
:voodoo that may be upon us.
885
:That way we can get a nice three
game sweep this weekend, but
886
:that will do it for us on the
Hudson homers podcast this week.
887
:Thank you all so much for tuning in.
888
:I'm Gary go Monarchs.
889
:CB: Hey, I'm CB.
890
:Go Monarchs!
