called 3rd strikes

O

orangecat1

500+ Posts
longtime observer here, I know this has probably been happening all season, but watching the bats on shoulders yesterday was sickening.

Is anybody held accountable for this stuff? imo, players should have to run something ridiculous, like 4-5 miles for every 3rd strike taken.

Hitting coach? Where is he on this? Do we even have a hitting coach?


I know the ump was awful, but after you've figured out the ump is awful, you have to go ahead and swing at anything close.
 
Those strike 3's were over the plate, but a bunch of strike 1's and 2's were way off. I got the feeling the ump didn't even pay attention until the count was full.
 
Having played college ball, sometimes you just get frozen....it is frustrating, but it does happen. What I think is worse is swinging at pitches way out of the zone - that should result in some lines being run. Let's be honest though, the ump's strike zone the last two days was very inconsistent. That makes it really hard on a hitter. If you know the ump is giving the outside corners, or the low strike, then you know you better swing the damn bat with 2 strikes if he throws it out there.

One last comment, not sure how many of you have hit against an 88-92 mph fastball. It gets in on you pretty fast!
 
I assume that the observation and criticism being leveled here is what's keeping us from Omaha. Oh, wait...
 
My observation was when we had guys in scoring position and the count hit 2-1, the ump almost ALWAYS called the next pitch a strike. I caught it early and paid close attention. Time and again our guy watched it and I know some of those weren't strikes. The guys looked pissed. And then the next pitch they were just off balance by the bad call. Kinda like they thought if that's a strike, then what location am I looking to swing at and what do I take for the rest of the at-bat? Not really a great excuse, but what I saw. It just seemed to me the ump was trying to increase the pressure and also become a center of attention by effecting the situation.
 
I have more of a problem with batters swinging at the first pitch, down a run, with runners on base, and a brand new pitcher in the game. I know you don't always take a strike when down a run. But with the light hitting club we have, I would strongly suggest it. Especially late in games. I remember Gus making us take 2 strikes on occasions. And yes, when you have 2 strikes, you must make an effort to swing on anything close. Getting "frozen" is not an option. I don't care if it's the weakest hack ever seen, you better be protecting the plate. We have one of the best pitching staffs we've ever had. It's time the hitters concentrate on shortening up the swing, and making contact.

And again, if we are so damn good at bunting, where is the safety squeeze with less than 2 outs and no force at home?
 
I agree that the ump was inconsistent, certainly...but I definitely noticed a strong pattern of him widening the strike zone and making those borderline calls as strikes on 2-1 counts with Texas runners in scoring position. Those same locations thoughout the game were back and forth balls and strikes. On 2-1 in that situation, over at least 90% went for strikes. There was a large enough body of work to make that assumption, IMO.
 
de Large is onto something. Our outs are not "tough" outs, at least what I saw the other day. imo, we need one or two guys who are really good at standing there fouling off multiple pitches, wearing out the pitcher.

This is a lost art. We don't seem to have anybody with the "tough out" attitude.

again, where is the hitting coach? Wouldn't the hitting coach instruct the hitters to choke up-even a tiny bit, and protect the plate with 2 strikes?
 
Were you sitting in section 110 orange? That was the main topic in the stands until we finally took the lead.
 
Who could miss the "paralysis by analysis" ... Montalbano, Walla, deer in headlights sometimes. Man up and wake up. Too afraid to make a mistake, so stand there in a daze? That was a little frustrating. They weren't digging in and being aggressive enough. I don't know if this is a Texas philosophy that is taught, but so many times (and it changed after the first 3-1 loss for many of them) the Horns take the first pitch and it's the prettiest one of all, then they get behind and start swinging at the fringe stuff. Etier was bad about that the first game (and he knows it). Let a fattie go down the middle for strike one, then swing at two balls high and out of the zone. But did he ever make up for it the next day. If FL pitches the same guy in game 1 that they did against MS ST, he comes right at you, down the middle on the first strike over and over (did eventually change it up some), swing away Horns.
 
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