Bama falls short in WCWS

[Jamos]

As is in most cases when your team loses, there are many reasons for it. In Bama's case last night, there were many reasons for it as well. Florida won the game because they were better prepared and their player performance exceeded anything that Bama had to offer. When you say player performance you also have to include coaching performance too. I am by no means slamming anyone with my opinion of the game but just noting that Bama should learn a lot about why they lost the championship when they watch the videos after they get home. I have to give the Florida head coach credit, and this hurts, but he really did a good job of improving his team during the course of the season. Their teams stats were very impressive, pitching, hitting and fielding. Their defense did not play as well last night as in the previous games, but their bats made up that difference.

Jackie Traina was the starting pitcher last night and a lot of people will question that move by CPM, but Traina has been a winner her whole career and I can't blame CPM for starting her. I might question the timing of taking her out of the game. It's a proven fact that if the umpire isn't giving her the corners on her pitches, she is in trouble and that was what happened last night. It has been pretty much proven anymore that pitching finesse will beat pitching speed. These hitters, baseball or softball, can hit the ball at any speed but they struggle with the breaking or offspeed pitches. I wish that CPM had taken Traina out in the 2nd inning because in softball they have the reentry rule which is a big advantage for a coach.

The BIG difference though was the ability of the Florida hitters to drive the ball. They were well prepared in using the short swing to catch up with Traina's pitch speed and you can give their coaches the credit for this preparation. You also have to give their pitchers credit for a job well done. Hannah Rogers was not the same pitcher that we all had seen before, she had worked with her coaches and really improved her game.

It was tough not winning the championship but Bama has a young team who I think learned a lot about playing at a high level of softball this past week. Their freshmen and sophomore players had an outstanding season.  When their season started this year, they were no where near the quality of a team as what they were when they finished their season last night. I remember their trip to Arizona early in the season and they were beaten soundly out there which put a huge shadow on what their success would be this year. These players never quit and a new pitching sensation, Sydney Littlejohn was born. There will be 4 new freshmen coming in next season and if they have as much impact on the team as the four freshmen did this year, there's no doubt Bama will be back in Oklahoma City next year trying to finish what they didn't do this year.

Congrats ladies and goodbye to four seniors that will be remembered and missed in the years ahead, especially Jackie Traina and Kayla Hunt. Thanks for all of the wonderful memories. Roll Tide.

[2Stater]

Great post, J. All I can say is that I would not have bet money that they would have made it to the championship series after their trip to Arizona. Congrats to the team for another successful year! 

[ricky023]

Congrats and may their futures be so Blessed from one end to the other. RTR!

[McBaman]

Well said, Jamos.  Thanks.

[Marshal Dillon]

As is in most cases when your team loses, there are many reasons for it. In Bama's case last night, there were many reasons for it as well. Florida won the game because they were better prepared and their player performance exceeded anything that Bama had to offer. When you say player performance you also have to include coaching performance too. I am by no means slamming anyone with my opinion of the game but just noting that Bama should learn a lot about why they lost the championship when they watch the videos after they get home. I have to give the Florida head coach credit, and this hurts, but he really did a good job of improving his team during the course of the season. Their teams stats were very impressive, pitching, hitting and fielding. Their defense did not play as well last night as in the previous games, but their bats made up that difference.

Jackie Traina was the starting pitcher last night and a lot of people will question that move by CPM, but Traina has been a winner her whole career and I can't blame CPM for starting her. I might question the timing of taking her out of the game. It's a proven fact that if the umpire isn't giving her the corners on her pitches, she is in trouble and that was what happened last night. It has been pretty much proven anymore that pitching finesse will beat pitching speed. These hitters, baseball or softball, can hit the ball at any speed but they struggle with the breaking or offspeed pitches. I wish that CPM had taken Traina out in the 2nd inning because in softball they have the reentry rule which is a big advantage for a coach.

The BIG difference though was the ability of the Florida hitters to drive the ball. They were well prepared in using the short swing to catch up with Traina's pitch speed and you can give their coaches the credit for this preparation. You also have to give their pitchers credit for a job well done. Hannah Rogers was not the same pitcher that we all had seen before, she had worked with her coaches and really improved her game.

It was tough not winning the championship but Bama has a young team who I think learned a lot about playing at a high level of softball this past week. Their freshmen and sophomore players had an outstanding season.  When their season started this year, they were no where near the quality of a team as what they were when they finished their season last night. I remember their trip to Arizona early in the season and they were beaten soundly out there which put a huge shadow on what their success would be this year. These players never quit and a new pitching sensation, Sydney Littlejohn was born. There will be 4 new freshmen coming in next season and if they have as much impact on the team as the four freshmen did this year, there's no doubt Bama will be back in Oklahoma City next year trying to finish what they didn't do this year.

Congrats ladies and goodbye to four seniors that will be remembered and missed in the years ahead, especially Jackie Traina and Kayla Hunt. Thanks for all of the wonderful memories. Roll Tide.

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

[SUPERCOACH]

Fire CPM!!!

[pmull]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

[Marshal Dillon]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

According to the announcers of the game Traina had not started 3 games in a row. That's what they said, not me. I know softball is different from baseball, but fatigue is fatigue, no matter the sport. Also, I just can not comprehend why people think a coach can never be wrong & never be questioned. We question what the President of the United States does, we question generals, we question the decisions of our bosses, but we can never question the actions of a coach. Strange. Why did we fire Shula if we could not question him, or DuBose, or Gottfried?


 

[pmull]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

According to the announcers of the game Traina had not started 3 games in a row. That's what they said, not me. I know softball is different from baseball, but fatigue is fatigue, no matter the sport. Also, I just can not comprehend why people think a coach can never be wrong & never be questioned. We question what the President of the United States does, we question generals, we question the decisions of our bosses, but we can never question the actions of a coach. Strange. Why did we fire Shula if we could not question him, or DuBose, or Gottfried?


 

I think they said she had not started 3 games in a row this year and I think that is a correct statement.

Traina's freshman year Kelsi Dunn was the ace. Her sophomore year she pitched a tremendous amount. She pitched just about every important game. I know for a fact she pitched 8 straight to end the season. After that season she went straight to international team play. She had very little if any rest before the 2013 season started. It took its toll on her. She did not perform near as well as her sophomore year. CPM had her take this off season completely off so she could rest up for her senior season. He did not over pitch her during the season. He wanted her strong for the post season run where he knew the team needed her most. It almost worked.

Coaches are not perfect. They make bad decisions sometimes. There are other times the players cause the coach to look bad. It is perfectly fine to second guess a coach and state your opinion. It is also fine for others to disagree with your opinion. Open discussion is what makes this place fun. I would much rather read someone's opinion (even if I do not agree with it) than a "great post" comment that adds nothing to the conversation.

[SUPERCOACH]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

According to the announcers of the game Traina had not started 3 games in a row. That's what they said, not me. I know softball is different from baseball, but fatigue is fatigue, no matter the sport. Also, I just can not comprehend why people think a coach can never be wrong & never be questioned. We question what the President of the United States does, we question generals, we question the decisions of our bosses, but we can never question the actions of a coach. Strange. Why did we fire Shula if we could not question him, or DuBose, or Gottfried?


 

I think they said she had not started 3 games in a row this year and I think that is a correct statement.

Traina's freshman year Kelsi Dunn was the ace. Her sophomore year she pitched a tremendous amount. She pitched just about every important game. I know for a fact she pitched 8 straight to end the season. After that season she went straight to international team play. She had very little if any rest before the 2013 season started. It took its toll on her. She did not perform near as well as her sophomore year. CPM had her take this off season completely off so she could rest up for her senior season. He did not over pitch her during the season. He wanted her strong for the post season run where he knew the team needed her most. It almost worked.

Coaches are not perfect. They make bad decisions sometimes. There are other times the players cause the coach to look bad. It is perfectly fine to second guess a coach and state your opinion. It is also fine for others to disagree with your opinion. Open discussion is what makes this place fun. I would much rather read someone's opinion (even if I do not agree with it) than a "great post" comment that adds nothing to the conversation.

Great post!

[ricky023]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.
 

I think they said she had not started 3 games in a row this year and I think that is a correct statement.

Coaches are not perfect. They make bad decisions sometimes. There are other times the players cause the coach to look bad. It is perfectly fine to second guess a coach and state your opinion. It is also fine for others to disagree with your opinion. Open discussion is what makes this place fun. I would much rather read someone's opinion (even if I do not agree with it) than a "great post" comment that adds nothing to the conversation.

  , Hey pmull you talking about me again. RTR!

[Marshal Dillon]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

According to the announcers of the game Traina had not started 3 games in a row. That's what they said, not me. I know softball is different from baseball, but fatigue is fatigue, no matter the sport. Also, I just can not comprehend why people think a coach can never be wrong & never be questioned. We question what the President of the United States does, we question generals, we question the decisions of our bosses, but we can never question the actions of a coach. Strange. Why did we fire Shula if we could not question him, or DuBose, or Gottfried?


 

I think they said she had not started 3 games in a row this year and I think that is a correct statement.

Traina's freshman year Kelsi Dunn was the ace. Her sophomore year she pitched a tremendous amount. She pitched just about every important game. I know for a fact she pitched 8 straight to end the season. After that season she went straight to international team play. She had very little if any rest before the 2013 season started. It took its toll on her. She did not perform near as well as her sophomore year. CPM had her take this off season completely off so she could rest up for her senior season. He did not over pitch her during the season. He wanted her strong for the post season run where he knew the team needed her most. It almost worked.

Coaches are not perfect. They make bad decisions sometimes. There are other times the players cause the coach to look bad. It is perfectly fine to second guess a coach and state your opinion. It is also fine for others to disagree with your opinion. Open discussion is what makes this place fun. I would much rather read someone's opinion (even if I do not agree with it) than a "great post" comment that adds nothing to the conversation.

Great post!

 



 

[2Stater]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

According to the announcers of the game Traina had not started 3 games in a row. That's what they said, not me. I know softball is different from baseball, but fatigue is fatigue, no matter the sport. Also, I just can not comprehend why people think a coach can never be wrong & never be questioned. We question what the President of the United States does, we question generals, we question the decisions of our bosses, but we can never question the actions of a coach. Strange. Why did we fire Shula if we could not question him, or DuBose, or Gottfried?


 

I think they said she had not started 3 games in a row this year and I think that is a correct statement.

Traina's freshman year Kelsi Dunn was the ace. Her sophomore year she pitched a tremendous amount. She pitched just about every important game. I know for a fact she pitched 8 straight to end the season. After that season she went straight to international team play. She had very little if any rest before the 2013 season started. It took its toll on her. She did not perform near as well as her sophomore year. CPM had her take this off season completely off so she could rest up for her senior season. He did not over pitch her during the season. He wanted her strong for the post season run where he knew the team needed her most. It almost worked.

Coaches are not perfect. They make bad decisions sometimes. There are other times the players cause the coach to look bad. It is perfectly fine to second guess a coach and state your opinion. It is also fine for others to disagree with your opinion. Open discussion is what makes this place fun. I would much rather read someone's opinion (even if I do not agree with it) than a "great post" comment that adds nothing to the conversation.

Great post!

  I was wondering who I was going to give today's e-cred to. 

[Catch Prothro]

So you think starting Traina 3 games in a row (something she had never done) & especially after throwing 114 pitches the night before, was a good coaching move? Just wondering.


 

Traina has pitched three games in a row before. In the championship 2012 season she pitched all 7 innings of the three game championship series against Oklahoma. In fact, she pitched every inning in all 6 WCWS games that year. She even pitched both games of the Super Regional against Michigan before that. If I looked back further, which I didn't, I bet she pitched the final game of the regional too.

CPM did not over pitch her this year so she would be strong for tournament time. I think CPM game plan was to pitch Traina all three games if there was a third game. I do not think any of us are as qualified to make that decision as CPM. It is easy to second guess in hindsight but I would have started Traina in Game 2. Like Jamos said I might have pulled her a little quicker than CPM but I would have started her expecting her to be full strength and pitch well.

It happens all the time in softball. I can think of several recent WCWS that the winner rode the arm of their ace. This sport is very different than baseball in that regard.

According to the announcers of the game Traina had not started 3 games in a row. That's what they said, not me. I know softball is different from baseball, but fatigue is fatigue, no matter the sport. Also, I just can not comprehend why people think a coach can never be wrong & never be questioned. We question what the President of the United States does, we question generals, we question the decisions of our bosses, but we can never question the actions of a coach. Strange. Why did we fire Shula if we could not question him, or DuBose, or Gottfried?


 

I think they said she had not started 3 games in a row this year and I think that is a correct statement.

Traina's freshman year Kelsi Dunn was the ace. Her sophomore year she pitched a tremendous amount. She pitched just about every important game. I know for a fact she pitched 8 straight to end the season. After that season she went straight to international team play. She had very little if any rest before the 2013 season started. It took its toll on her. She did not perform near as well as her sophomore year. CPM had her take this off season completely off so she could rest up for her senior season. He did not over pitch her during the season. He wanted her strong for the post season run where he knew the team needed her most. It almost worked.

Coaches are not perfect. They make bad decisions sometimes. There are other times the players cause the coach to look bad. It is perfectly fine to second guess a coach and state your opinion. It is also fine for others to disagree with your opinion. Open discussion is what makes this place fun. I would much rather read someone's opinion (even if I do not agree with it) than a "great post" comment that adds nothing to the conversation.

Great post!

  I was wondering who I was going to give today's e-cred to. 

+1

[N.AL-Tider]

I truly hate that Bama didn't win the WCWS.  However, if they had to lose the championship series I'm glad it was to Florida.  They are truly a good program and came across to me as a classy program  too.  Hate losing but at least it wasn't to a PAC team or Oklahoma...

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