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The future of Alabama baseball.
Posted on 4/23/13 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 4/23/13 at 4:46 pm
The talk of Grant's future, over the Lacey transfer, has me to thinking about Mitch Gaspard. He's another Moore hire that isn't on solid ground. Jim Wells isn't around either, to keep him in the dugout.
I think a regional is a real possibility this year. We just need to get to 15-15 in the conference, which looks likely, and win those mid-week games (two left). A win in Hoover would help too. That gets us to 33-25. A solid year, considering the disaster of last year and the youth of this team.
Now to the question. If Gaspard gets this team to a regional, does he need to do more in 2014, in your opinion, to keep things going as he sees fit? He's been reluctant to make staff changes (i.e. Andy Phillips as hitting coach). There are also rumors of in-game decisions being overruled by older players and others not agreeing with decisions in general. He has a great young roster, so the future does look promising.
I think a regional is a real possibility this year. We just need to get to 15-15 in the conference, which looks likely, and win those mid-week games (two left). A win in Hoover would help too. That gets us to 33-25. A solid year, considering the disaster of last year and the youth of this team.
Now to the question. If Gaspard gets this team to a regional, does he need to do more in 2014, in your opinion, to keep things going as he sees fit? He's been reluctant to make staff changes (i.e. Andy Phillips as hitting coach). There are also rumors of in-game decisions being overruled by older players and others not agreeing with decisions in general. He has a great young roster, so the future does look promising.
This post was edited on 4/23/13 at 4:48 pm
3
Posted on 4/23/13 at 4:55 pm to CapstoneGrad06
To me, Gaspard is a far worse coach than Grant is. There just aren't nearly as many people who care about/follow baseball as they do basketball. I'd say it's not entirely out of the question for him to get fired this year, but most likely, he'll be back. Next year, we need to show actual, significant improvement in all areas. We should at least finish in the top 4 of the SEC West, maybe even top 3. I have little to no confidence in Gaspard, FWIW
Posted on 4/23/13 at 5:01 pm to Bama Bird
I think we should oust Grant and the baseball coaches, build a new baseball stadium (or renovate), and get some young successful coaches to fill the vacancies
Posted on 4/23/13 at 5:14 pm to alabamabuckeye
I agree with everything you had done said.
Posted on 4/23/13 at 5:14 pm to Bama Bird
quote:
Next year, we need to show actual, significant improvement in all areas.
I fully agree with this. I do like Gaspard, but some of the stuff you hear makes you wonder if he'll last.
Ultimately, I think we need a coach that can build this program back up and ignite the fanbase. People in the seats is what will make the BOT put forth the money to overhaul The Joe. We also need a coach with the type of character that can help get the funds raised to build the facilities we need to compete at a high level. That is what Pat Murphy did for softball and he started with nothing. It is sad that softball raised money at a 10:1 clip to baseball.
Posted on 4/23/13 at 6:05 pm to CapstoneGrad06
Gaspard will be hard to get rid of because he has a long tenure, has brought us some success, and is well liked by the administration. Im all for change when it comes to the baseball program though. We need someone that is a good coach and also a good recruiter because that can be pretty difficult here.
Posted on 4/23/13 at 6:30 pm to mwlewis
Wasn't Gaspard's most recent recruiting class ranked in the top five nationally?
I don't understand why some people are so eager to get rid of Gaspard. His first year he had a very talented team, but it was full of seniors. He got that team to within a game of Omaha and everybody paying the least bit of attention knew a rebuilding job was ahead because all of those seniors were going to be gone. Rebuilding at Alabama baseball is an impossible task given our facilities and lack of support from the administration compared to what the schools we compete with have. And yet, here we are back on the verge of the NCAA tournament with a very young team. For those that would like a change, who exactly do yall think we should hire? What kind of coach do you think we can get? Frankly, Alabama baseball is one of the worst jobs in the SEC (any 'big 3' sport) and I don't see much reason at all to even be having a discussion about replacing Gaspard. I think he's doing just fine.
And sorry Lewis, this wasn't all directed at you
I don't understand why some people are so eager to get rid of Gaspard. His first year he had a very talented team, but it was full of seniors. He got that team to within a game of Omaha and everybody paying the least bit of attention knew a rebuilding job was ahead because all of those seniors were going to be gone. Rebuilding at Alabama baseball is an impossible task given our facilities and lack of support from the administration compared to what the schools we compete with have. And yet, here we are back on the verge of the NCAA tournament with a very young team. For those that would like a change, who exactly do yall think we should hire? What kind of coach do you think we can get? Frankly, Alabama baseball is one of the worst jobs in the SEC (any 'big 3' sport) and I don't see much reason at all to even be having a discussion about replacing Gaspard. I think he's doing just fine.
And sorry Lewis, this wasn't all directed at you
Posted on 4/23/13 at 7:04 pm to bigpapamac
quote:
I don't see much reason at all to even be having a discussion about replacing Gaspard. I think he's doing just fine.
Alabama is solid job and should expect to do better than just average in the SEC and a regional. His first two teams were veteran laden teams from the Wells era. He hasn't shown me much since. I like where he could be headed with a young roster and he's shown promise on the recruiting trail, but winning at a high level is what it will take to excite people again (we had been top ten in national attendance until the Gaspard era). Putting people in the seats and winning will push the BOT to do something about facilities. If softball can do it, with no foundation to start with, surely baseball with a solid history can do the same.
Posted on 4/23/13 at 8:10 pm to bigpapamac
I didnt take it that way. I forgot about his recruiting class ranking. Also, this team is young and Im pretty excited about next year. This year is some improvement off last season, and if next season we continue improving I will be happy with Gaspard. But if we are seeing a lot of the same things next year that we are seeing this year, I will be for a coaching change.
Posted on 4/24/13 at 1:15 pm to CapstoneGrad06
I think if he gets us to a regional every year he is fine.I hope we keep him because I think he is a good coach and he can recruit at a high level and has ties to Louisiana.Just because we are not going to World Series does not mean we are not good.I know last year stunk but it was 1 bad year not 2 or 3.Mabey I do not have as high as expectations as other people but I have watched, gone to, or listened to all most all the games in the past 5 years.I have been please with all of them but last year.We could use a stadium but overall I am pleased with Gaspard and the baseball program.Roll Tide Roll!
This post was edited on 4/24/13 at 1:18 pm
Posted on 4/24/13 at 5:47 pm to bexie2013
There are a few things I would like out of our baseball program:
1) A new frickin' stadium. The "Joe" is probably the sorriest stadium in the Southeastern conference. I'm all for doing it the "Auburn Basketball Arena" way (blasphemy, I know), and just have a kickass, 6,000 seats stadium with all of the bells and whistles, and elevate the outfield to have a berm where the greeks can set up tents and drink beer during the game, ala, Ole Miss. [With that said, I hope it doesn't turn into the leftfield lounge at Mississippi State... Bunch of janky looking school buses with seats installed on the roof is more of a cow college thing, IMO.]
Make it a truly enjoyable experience for the "lucky 6,500" that get into the game.
2) Go big or go home on the coaches. Grab that LSU pitching coach, and lets make the Super Regional an annual event. It wasn't that long ago we were always a threat for Omaha. Put money into guys that will recruit like crazy, and bring them to Tuscaloosa.
The University of Alabama boasts a top-70 overall undergraduate program in the nation, top-40 MBA program, and top-20 Law school program... all on top of having an awesome "college scene," and smokin' hot girls. Why wouldn't anyone want to come?
In closing, keep it simple:Build a new stadium, get the students drinking beer in the outfield (hence, caring), get a coach that can recruit, and establish the same pride we have in virtually every other sport we have at Alabama. It still baffles me that softball has the support it has. I guess winning is winning.
1) A new frickin' stadium. The "Joe" is probably the sorriest stadium in the Southeastern conference. I'm all for doing it the "Auburn Basketball Arena" way (blasphemy, I know), and just have a kickass, 6,000 seats stadium with all of the bells and whistles, and elevate the outfield to have a berm where the greeks can set up tents and drink beer during the game, ala, Ole Miss. [With that said, I hope it doesn't turn into the leftfield lounge at Mississippi State... Bunch of janky looking school buses with seats installed on the roof is more of a cow college thing, IMO.]
Make it a truly enjoyable experience for the "lucky 6,500" that get into the game.
2) Go big or go home on the coaches. Grab that LSU pitching coach, and lets make the Super Regional an annual event. It wasn't that long ago we were always a threat for Omaha. Put money into guys that will recruit like crazy, and bring them to Tuscaloosa.
The University of Alabama boasts a top-70 overall undergraduate program in the nation, top-40 MBA program, and top-20 Law school program... all on top of having an awesome "college scene," and smokin' hot girls. Why wouldn't anyone want to come?
In closing, keep it simple:Build a new stadium, get the students drinking beer in the outfield (hence, caring), get a coach that can recruit, and establish the same pride we have in virtually every other sport we have at Alabama. It still baffles me that softball has the support it has. I guess winning is winning.
This post was edited on 4/24/13 at 5:49 pm
Posted on 4/24/13 at 6:15 pm to ATLabama
Get a coach that can recruit? Again, our current one just signed a top five class. And yea, it was only a decade or so ago when we were consistently making runs at Omaha. A decade or so ago we also had a top notch facility and commitment from the administration. We've been lapped ten times over since then in those areas by the people we compete with.
Posted on 4/24/13 at 10:03 pm to CapstoneGrad06
JMO but until Alabama places as much emphasis on their baseball program as LSU does, it will be very hard to get the type of coach needed to compete with the elite in the sec. Grated I don't follow college baseball as much as I used to and couldn't tell you who I would go after to replace Gaspard. But similar to basketball, unless good coaches feel that they will be given the best opportunity to succeed no one of the nature needed will come.
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