Jim Wells thoughs on returning.

bamamick

All-American
Feb 22, 2005
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I agree that we need a true pitching coach. One other area that obviously needs attention is our disturbing habit of running ourselves out of innings. I don't know if it is just Dax trying to keep them aggresive or if it is mental booboo's, but something needs to be done.

Fielding this year was pretty good except for the crazy trend of the infield (most notably Rutledge and Wilson) dropping balls at the worst possible time, and obviously the hitting was awesome. I guess that one of the true downers was that we knew that couldn't continue to hit .340 as a team, but to lose it the last weekend of the regular season just really hurt.

Hopefully Jake and Brandon will return, as will as Howell. If we have Morgan, Howell, and Scott, plus the position guys we could have back, we have a very good nucleus for another successful season in 2010. Hope so.

rtr
 

RamJamHam

Suspended
Jan 28, 2009
845
0
0
We do have a sometimes curious mix of "smallball" and the "two bloops and a blast" theory of offensive baseball.

I understand where the latter theory comes from. By this point, most really good pitchers are getting paid to pitch, and the hitter will get at least one good pitch to hit per at bat. It's not like we see Greg Maddux even once every weekend, even in the meat grinder that is SEC baseball.

However, you do run into a good pitcher every now and then, or even a mediocre pitcher having a real good day, and we seem to be entirely unable to manufacture runs with the little things. We almost never sacrifice, we rarely steal bases, and when we do it's both poorly executed and poorly conceived. Since it is a baseball axiom that good pitching will beat good hitting, you begin to see why we are where we are. Especially when we get into a tournament situation, where it is critical that you beat what is likely the other team's best pitcher in the first game. We cannot scratch out runs, keep pressure on the other team, get into their bullpen, and give ourselves a chance to win.

And don't get me started on our complete inability to deal with a breaking ball, and I'm not talking about good breaking balls that ARE hard to hit. Of course, when your entire offensive theory seems to be to sit back and wait on the inevitable mistake fastball that's coming, maybe you just don't know how to handle breaking balls.
 

bamamick

All-American
Feb 22, 2005
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Well, it has been two weeks now. Does anyone have a feel for whether or not any changes to the staff are going to happen? Seems like we weathered the storm as far as the MLB draft goes. Taken at face value we should be pretty good next year.

Anyone have a gut feeling on whether or not Jim will definitely be back in 2010?

rtr
 

JoJoforHeisman

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Dec 7, 2000
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Taken at face value we should be pretty good next year.
rtr
Offensively, at least.

As great as Kent Matthes was this season, Austin Hyatt's departure is the one that will hurt the most. The returning arms on the staff will have to improve dramatically and some of the newcomers must be able to step in and contribute right away if the 2010 team hopes to contend. Adam Morgan is the presumptive ace, but he clearly wasn't the same after his start at Florida. His health remains a major concern. Trying to pitch through an injury only exacerbates the problem for all of the parties involved (see: Graham, Austin). It's time for Jimmy Nelson to get his head on straight and start fulfilling his considerable potential. He has the raw ability to settle into a weekend starter's role, yet there's also the very real risk of him becoming another Miers Quigley. There's also the Jake Smith factor - if he's healthy, he's the obvious choice to close, but "forearm strains" like the one he suffered late this season often portend elbow problems.

For the first time in quite a while, the staff will not have that one pitcher that you can point to as a "sure thing," like a Hyatt, Hunter, LeBlanc, Carter, Cormier, etc. Could someone step into that role? Of course. Morgan for sure if he's healthy. But there's just no way of identifying that guy right now.
 
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Mc Lovin

Scout Team
Dec 15, 2007
119
0
0
Helena, AL
I know one player in the state that LOVES Bama but will not come and play here because he doesn't like Coach Wells. His entire family bleeds crimson and this kid is talented. He's about to tryout in Cary, NC for the U-18 USA team. I know one player from high school doesn't mean Wells should lose his job, but how many more legit players are out there and feel the same? Sounds like Coach Gottfried in a way, huh?
 

Zona

1st Team
Feb 22, 2008
704
0
0
Mobile
I know one player in the state that LOVES Bama but will not come and play here because he doesn't like Coach Wells. His entire family bleeds crimson and this kid is talented. He's about to tryout in Cary, NC for the U-18 USA team. I know one player from high school doesn't mean Wells should lose his job, but how many more legit players are out there and feel the same? Sounds like Coach Gottfried in a way, huh?
That happens about 2-3 times every year, if not more. Joseph Sanders was a big Alabama fan but went to Auburn. He'd have fit in our lineup somewhere.
 

bamamick

All-American
Feb 22, 2005
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For some reason I thought that Jake had actually signed with Auburn? I know I have heard him mention Auburn baseball on the radio.

There are tons of stories like this, but is it only Alabama that is the culprit? I have a friend from work whose son set the all-time Florida strikeout record (it had been Dwight Gooden's record) playing for Pine Forest in Pensacola. His era as a senior was under one, and his strikeout to walks ratio was amazing with fewer than ten walks his senior year (I can't remember exactly but I want to say that it was THREE). Anyway, an excellent pitcher.

He grew up an Alabama fan and that's where he wanted to go to school, but the money offered was next to nothing, and UF was offering a full ride! He and his family still tried to figure out a way for the kid to go to Alabama but just couldn't do it. In the end he signed with UF, decided to focus on pro ball and wound up doing PJC for two years before getting drafted by the Rangers and moving up in their system until an injury ended his career. In three years he was at AA and was the Texas League pitcher of the month in June of that year. His name was included in a trade to the Rockies and there was talk of a September call up, but he was POM in June, was diagnosed with a tired arm in July and shut down, and was released in the winter of that year. His family was sharp enough to have put into his contract that the Rangers would finish his schooling and they did. He's back home with a degree and living a life, but he never got to do the thing he really wanted to do, which was pitch for Alabama.

But don't all schools have these stories? You'd think a school with so much loyalty from the people of their state, like an LSU for example, would have hundreds of such stories, although in some cases you are talking about a kid who just doesn't get along with the coach. Don't know what you could do about that. The coach is the coach. Players don't usually get to pick their coach.

rtr
 

JoJoforHeisman

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I'm sure a lot of schools have somewhat similar stories, but we're talking about a future Cy Young Award winner who would have accepted less than what others offered just to come here. That's about as bad as it gets.

Alderson: Storing blood for future HGH test worth considering | The San Diego Union-Tribune

Tide helped Padres
Jim Wells, the University of Alabama baseball coach, did the Padres a favor when he snubbed Alabaman Jake Peavy seven years ago. Peavy, a prep star from Mobile, was eager to go to Alabama. All it would've taken, he said, was something close to a full scholarship. Auburn offered Peavy a full ride and so did other SEC schools.

But after his beloved Tide offered about $2,000 in aid, Peavy accepted the Padres' $100,000 signing bonus – and that's why Peavy wasn't cheering for Alabama yesterday as its NCAA Super Regional game was aired in the clubhouse. “Jim Wells was not a fan of Jake Peavy; therefore, I'm not a fan of Jim Wells and Alabama,” Peavy said, laughing to soften his words....

Peavy, a 15th-round draft pick, said he was also swayed by then-Padres scouts Brad Sloan (who drafted him) and Mark Wasinger – but it all stemmed from Wells' decision. “I would have signed with Alabama for half of what Auburn offered,” Peavy said.
 

bamajake

1st Team
Sep 27, 2001
691
1
37
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
This happens every year, at just about every school, in every sport. For example, Clint Moseley of Leroy would have killed to come to Bama to play QB. I saw him play in person twice and on TV in the Super 6 twice. Quite simply, he is the best high school QB I have ever seen. As a junior, he sliced and diced American Christian Academy's defense as if it wasn't there in the sate semi finals. However, Coach Saban apparently didn't think that he was that good so he didn't offer him a scholly. Auburn did and he reluctantly took it. I also seem to remember a kid from Athens a few years ago that no one in the SEC thought could play QB. You may remember him from NC State and the Chargers. His name is Phillip Rivers. Yes, in hind sight, not offering Jake Peavy a full ride was a mistake. Yes, there have been others who wanted to come here but didn't get offers and who did well elsewhere. But there are similar stories from all over the place. It isn't just limited to us. Recruiting isn't an exact science. Sometimes a coach is simply wrong.
 

JoJoforHeisman

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Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't Jorge Posada have a similar story as Jake Peavy when Jorge was playing for Calhoun Community College? Seems like we only offered him books.

Diamond Tide :biga:
Schollenberger actually managed to sign Posada in '91 after his second year at Calhoun CC, possibly due in part to former Tide All-American Fred Frickie being the Calhoun head coach at the time. He probably didn't have much of a scholarship offer, as he signed with the Yankees after being drafted as in infielder in the 24th round. He moved behind the plate in the Yankees' farm system.
 

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