Augie Cost Us ...

B

Barton Hills

1,000+ Posts
I'm ready to take the heat. But it needs to be said.

I'll preface by saying that this is only the 2nd time in his tenure that I've questioned him, but consider exhibits #1-#4, and offer justification for even one ...

#1 - Saturday, 2-2 going to the top of 5. Bring in Kyle Walker ... who for the last two seasons has been kerosene for the opponents offense ? Sitting pretty with an 8.44 ERA right now, ended '07 sportin' a 10.44 ERA. Leaves the mound giving up 2 runs, while only retiring one batter. This after the Houston game in the College Classic where he gave up a walk and a 2 run bomb in the bottom of the 9th.

#2 - Bottom of 9, Saturday. Tying run on 3rd. Pinch hit for David Hernandez, who is hitting +.375, for a third string catcher (Emsley-Pai) who has zero meaningless at bats to that point ? Pops up to end the game.

#3 - Bottom 7th, Sunday ... 10-8 game, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Pinch hit for Michael Torres (.404 OBP) with Kyle Lusson ? Seriously ? Lusson is NOT the man in that spot. Groundout to 2nd. Inning over.

#4 - Bottom 8th. 12-9 game, 1 out. Bases loaded, power hitting Kevin Keyes at the plate ... ARE YOU SERIOUS ... pinch hit Kawika Emsley-Pai again ? Double play, ball game.

I am in shock. 4 decisions that I simply cannot comprehend. 4 decisions that allowed the Cardinal to leave Austin with a series win.

Please ... someone tell me how these moves make sense. Even after 2 post game Mexi Marts @ Hula Hut I have no explanation.

Emsley-Pai ? No offense ... but come on.
 
i found myself questioning the lusson and emsley-pai pinch hits today as well, at the time i told myself to trust augie but looking back now they seem to be simply bad moves.

what was up with cole green today? i started watching in the bottom of the 1st
 
Barton Hills,

I agree. Terrible decisions all the way around. I'm sure Garrido had a method to his madness, but I sure as hell didn't understand it.
 
You're wrong. It was not the 7th and 8th that lost for us today. It was the 2nd and 4th (I'm, drunk so I think those are the innings). In the second, runners on 1 and 2, no outs, down 5 with a 250 hitter up (Preston), YOU HAVE TO BUNT!!! Get them in scoring position!!! Then in the 4th, bases loaded,, no outs, you sac and get the run but instead we get a swinging dribbler to the pitcher, followed by a DP, WHAT THE ****??!?

Your'e right, Augie cost us this one, but not for what you pointed out. This game is a lot closer if we score a couple more before the 7th.

We had 6 INNING ENDING DPs, and I blame a couple on Augie. Sometimes the hits go your way, but not today. Overall, Augie made some bad calls, but, ****, we just were not destined to win today.

As OB said, now I know how Leinart feels. Being the best team that DIDN'T win!
 
relax, i think these were very poor decisions, but im sure hes putting people in certain situations to see what kind of players they can be. i dont understand it, but its very early. keep the faith!
hookem.gif
 
I don't think Augie is hung up on winning these early season games. Instead, he's using them to put players in pressure situations to see how they handle it and who he can count on later when trophies are on the line. We don't get to practice anymore, so in a sense the non-con games are scrimmages that count.

If you don't care about winning, there's more value to batting Emsley-Pai in a must-hit situation against Stanford than tossing him in when were up 24-1 against DBU tomorrow.
 
Honestly, down 6, I want our 241 hitter to lay down a bunt up the third base line. He was 250 before that AB and dropped to 241. I would think statistics are that the better play is bunting rather than swinging away.

Don't get me wrong, I love Augie, but I think he F'd up based on PC's previous AB.
 
And to be fair, in the world of F-Ups, the second AB was SUBSTANTIALLY less than the first. Runners on 1 and 2, no outs, down 5, you f'ing bunt. Even gorilla ball teams know that.
 
Now that the booze has worn off I want to state that I still don't like any of the four moves ... but I still love you Augie.

I'm hoping for 4 of 5 this week, with DBU, Rice and Kansas.
 
BH, I totally agree. I mentioned a few of those same points on rivals this weekend. We have a major hole in our pen when trying to find a lefty. Walker and Shinaberry aren't the answers. I can see using Keith in a one batter situation, but for not much more. Belt has nice stuff, but then we have a void at first. Conference being this weekend, we have to sweep ku. Starting 5-1 or better should be our goal with two of the weaker big 12 teams to start the season off with ku and then tt.
 
Good points all. One thing that stuck out with me was the lack of patient hitting yesterday. We swung at a lot of first pitches and that was a big part of the 6 DPs. At times I found myself longing for a little Gus-ball. Run the count full and put the pressure on the pitcher.

On an unrelated note, I hate sitting in my seats looking out to lot 103 around the second inning and still seeing that it's barely half ******* full.
 
It all started in the first inning When Danks led off the inning with a single and then Tucker grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. If Augie would have stayed with his calling things could have been different.
 
Moreland/Little made the point on Kyle Walker on Saturday that Augie continues to run him out there just not for Kyle's benefit, but for the fact that the team desperately needs a left reliever. Still no excuse, let Walker get some work in mid-week games.

As far as the subs, they were odd, but let's not forget that Augie brought in a guy with zero career AB's to win the game in extras against Cougar High. Oh, and Chris Carmichael in the CWS championship game.

What also is odd is the almost uniform decision to bunt with a guy on first and no out, but the non-uniform decision to bunt with guys on 1st and 2nd and no one out.
 
I'm rooting for Kyle Walker but I think he is running out of chances. My guess is that the Kyle the coaches see in practice and the one we see in games are two different pitchers. They need his arm but he could be very close riding the bench for the rest of the year.
 
I am starting to wonder what Augie has against Keyes, he just will not let him bat in a clutch situations. I think the guy has tremendous potential if we will let him play.

Hook em
 
We don't have the luxury of unlimited practices. Augie is putting guys into pressure situations to give them a chance to perform. It is early in the season, and we have to use a lot of players, especially pitchers with so many games in so short a time span.
I don't believe Augie would make many of these moves were it late in the season, or in a tournament, but there has to be a way to sort out the talented players we have to find the most reliable and consistent ones for conference and tournament roles.
The alternative would be to settle on eight position starters prior to the season, and nobody gets a chance, and to overuse a few of the best arms on the pitching staff.
Keyes is a freshman, and looks to be winning the left field slot, but there is competition there, and Augie apparently is not ready to close the competition yet.
 
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