Softball picked to finish 7th in 2024

[81usaf92]

I certainly understand 81usaf92 here. Just like football, if you don't adjust you get left behind. The optimist in me hope that great team chemistry and a DEEP pitching staff can carry us back to OKC. Murph survived the mass exodus of talent 2-3? years ago so I'm hoping the clubhouse is all on the same page once again.

Well Murph was a large part of that mess too. He showed extreme favoritism for a player that never gave him a reason on the field to show it. It costed him a lot of great players.

The thing is that we might have a deep staff and we might not. We really haven’t played anyone to truly tell. But we don’t have an Osorio or Montana dominator. Even if we did I still wouldn’t feel that great about us because last year it took the NCAA basically rigging it for us to get to OKC for us to reach OKC. We just do not have enough bats, and it’s been the same old song and dance for 5-7 years now.

 

[Bama75&80]

Skylar Wallace is really tearing it up at the plate this year. Could have used her bat the last two years. I have no idea what happened during that major roster shakeup but her batting ability is unquestionable.

 

[major tidefan]

At least we're beating the cupcakes.By this time last year we had already lost to Lehigh and Kennesaw State.Arizona comes to town next week.

 

[BamaHoHo]

I still go back to Skylar Wallace vs Murph as probably costing us one, and never developing players like Sides and Bloodworth probably another.

He held on to Tow, when he should have split ways.

 

[BamaHoHo]

Well Murph was a large part of that mess too. He showed extreme favoritism for a player that never gave him a reason on the field to show it. It costed him a lot of great players.

The thing is that we might have a deep staff and we might not. We really haven’t played anyone to truly tell. But we don’t have an Osorio or Montana dominator. Even if we did I still wouldn’t feel that great about us because last year it took the NCAA basically rigging it for us to get to OKC for us to reach OKC. We just do not have enough bats, and it’s been the same old song and dance for 5-7 years now.

It would be great to have Kilfoyl. She was one bad call from a no hitter for Oklahoma State yesterday.

 

[81usaf92]

He held on to Tow, when he should have split ways.

Yeah… she should have been gone for too many reasons that really can’t be discussed. But it costed Murph a bunch of players that are and have proven to be all Americans. Again that was a self inflicted wound that was 100% preventable and probably costed us two Finals appearances.

 

[81usaf92]

Skylar Wallace is really tearing it up at the plate this year. Could have used her bat the last two years. I have no idea what happened during that major roster shakeup but her batting ability is unquestionable.

2 words… Patrick Murphy.

 

[TideATL70]

That roster shakeup and player exodus was a tough thing to watch from afar- This thread just explained more about it than anything I've ever read! (w/out getting too personal). I think you definitely count all that mess as a strike against Murph and I'm sure he and Byrne had some tense meetings about it. At the time, I thought it was all petty jealousy about PT, media attention, and egos but I trust the folks on here more than anyone else so it looks like Murph deserved a big chunk of blame. Hopefully future is bright!
As Major said, this time last year, we'd lost to some weak opponents. AND, I agree on the staff- deep is one thing, deep and GOOD is another.

 

[Bamaatthebeach]

That roster shakeup and player exodus was a tough thing to watch from afar- This thread just explained more about it than anything I've ever read! (w/out getting too personal). I think you definitely count all that mess as a strike against Murph and I'm sure he and Byrne had some tense meetings about it. At the time, I thought it was all petty jealousy about PT, media attention, and egos but I trust the folks on here more than anyone else so it looks like Murph deserved a big chunk of blame. Hopefully future is bright!
As Major said, this time last year, we'd lost to some weak opponents. AND, I agree on the staff- deep is one thing, deep and GOOD is another.

I really found it excruciating.

 

[major tidefan]

Jenna Johnson Named SEC Softball Co-Player of the Week - Alabama Athletics

Fifth-year senior outfielder Jenna Johnson was a spark at the top of the order during a 6-0 week for Alabama softball, earning her SEC Co-Player of the Week ...

rolltide.com

 

[4Q Basket Case]

We’re 16-0, which is good.

We haven’t played much of anybody, so the quality of the record is in question.

We’ve hit well against most teams. The one team with a pulse, however, was UVA, and we struggled at the plate against them. We won, but it still brought memories of the last 3 years: Tear up lesser talent, but can’t score 4 runs against a decent team.

I’ll reserve judgment until we‘re a few series into the SEC schedule. If we’re yet again struggling at the plate, I’ll reevaluate.

 

[Krymsonman]

At least we're beating the cupcakes.By this time last year we had already lost to Lehigh and Kennesaw State.Arizona comes to town next week.

Yeah, I figure we'll learn a lot about the team when Arizona comes in. As you mentioned, at least we are beating all of the teams we should beat. I don't know exactly what happened over the last couple of years, but if we still had Sides, Wallace, etc we might have another ring right now. How did Sides go from decent player to SEC Player of the Year at Arkansas. I think it's called coaching.

 

[81usaf92]

Yeah, I figure we'll learn a lot about the team when Arizona comes in. As you mentioned, at least we are beating all of the teams we should beat. I don't know exactly what happened over the last couple of years, but if we still had Sides, Wallace, etc we might have another ring right now. How did Sides go from decent player to SEC Player of the Year at Arkansas. I think it's called coaching.

Wallace may or may not have been unavoidable. The problem was Murphy was faced with a better fielder at her position. His issue may have been to suggest that she should have moved to catcher instead of a more related position. But then again why do you concern yourself with fielding when you have a decent fielder with an all star bat.

Sides was a total self inflicted wound. Again it came down to mostly favoritism and somewhat philosophy. But at the end of the day he sided with the wrong horse in a fight (pardon the pun).

 

[Krymsonman]

Yeah… she should have been gone for too many reasons that really can’t be discussed. But it costed Murph a bunch of players that are and have proven to be all Americans. Again that was a self inflicted wound that was 100% preventable and probably costed us two Finals appearances.

Man, I wish I knew all the inside scoop like you guys do. BAMA hardly gets mentioned in New Orleans unless it's football and we're playing LSU. Always wondered what the whole story was, mainly because we lost a ton of talent.

 

[Bama75&80]

Man, I wish I knew all the inside scoop like you guys do. BAMA hardly gets mentioned in New Orleans unless it's football and we're playing LSU. Always wondered what the whole story was, mainly because we lost a ton of talent.

I know how you feel. Seems like the program was imploding and the view from the outside was like watching from the moon with binoculars. No clues for those in the ether.

 

[major tidefan]

Abby Duchscherer has been tearing it up at the plate so far this season.

 

[Bamamonts]

17-0
ROLL TIDE!

 

[BamaHoHo]

Abby Duchscherer has been tearing it up at the plate so far this season.

Yes she has, I wasn’t impressed with her as a freshman. But she having a great sophomore year. Hope she can keep it up.

 

[Krymsonman]

I was finally able to watch a couple of games on the computer. Looks like we have a very good defense, and a very competent pitching staff so far. We are still not very hot at the plate, at least against better teams. We lost to South Alabama today because we couldn't buy a hit, and it wasn't like we were hitting a bunch of at'em balls. If the ball doesn't leave the yard, we don't seem to be able to string any hits together to manufacture runs. So far though, our pitching and defense have kept us in every game. I wish we could hit better.

 

[TideATL70]

Those 2 wins over AZ will hopefully really look good at the end of the regular season. I know it's not the dynasty Wildcats from years ago, but still a big name program. Win 2 of 3 versus Gators and Skylar Wallace this weekend, and I think we could expect a CWS type year. They've only lost to Michigan and Okie St this year.