Softball 2025-expectations?

[TideATL70]

I think Jocelyn Briski is ready to take the step up as the Ace of the staff and if the transfers can add some pop to the lineup, a return trip to OKC is certainly doable. Of course, I'm the eternal optimist!! Excited for games to start up tomorrow.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Gotta hit. We've been abysmal on that for several years now. We'll pile up decent stats against lesser competition, so the numbers for the season as a whole aren't that bad.

But if you look at how we've done against other SEC teams, we're at or near the bottom of the conference.

Late Add -- Let me expand. Counting stats from conference games only, for two years running, we've been at or near the bottom in virtually every hitting category -- runs, hits, average, power (whether defined as extra base hits or HRs), average with runners in scoring position, runners left on base, you name it.

After the 2023 season, I was extremely disappointed that we couldn't land a proven hitting coach for the 2024 season. Instead, for the 2024 season we promoted a former GA / volunteer to hitting coach. I kind of felt sorry for the guy being thrust into a high-profile position in a high-profile program when he was absolutely not ready for it.

Unsurprisingly, 2024 looked a lot like 2023 when we didn't have a dedicated hitting coach at all.

I'd like to think of myself as balanced -- neither an Eeyore nor a sunshine pumper. I'll root for anybody with Alabama on their jersey. Still, I can't get optimistic until I see some hitting against decent competition.

We lived on Bailey Hemphill and Montana Fouts for far too long. If we're going to contend for anything of consequence, the hitting has to change.

That may require other changes further up the program's hierarchy. Yes, I know what that implies.

 

[TideATL70]

A little disheartening, alright ALOT- to see us picked 10th in the preseason poll. I think? we were picked 7th or 8th last year. Gonna have to surprise some folks. With Arizona and Washington early season tourney starting tomorrow, should be a good test right off the bat.

 

[Krymsonman]

A little disheartening, alright ALOT- to see us picked 10th in the preseason poll. I think? we were picked 7th or 8th last year. Gonna have to surprise some folks. With Arizona and Washington early season tourney starting tomorrow, should be a good test right off the bat.

I guess we'll find out early if the prognosticators are right. I certainly hope the ladies do well.

 

[catsbane]

Not a bad start, 5-1 over Washington.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

A little disheartening, alright ALOT- to see us picked 10th in the preseason poll. I think? we were picked 7th or 8th last year. Gonna have to surprise some folks. With Arizona and Washington early season tourney starting tomorrow, should be a good test right off the bat.

So about the same as last year then, when you factor in the additions of Oklahoma and Texas. We're preseason #11, so I think that's more of a product of the strength of the conference. We should still be pretty solid.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Not a bad start, 5-1 over Washington.

Just curious, did CKDs daughter play in that game?

 

[catsbane]

Just curious, did CKDs daughter play in that game?

Yes, started at first. Got a single if I recall.

 

[Krymsonman]

2-0 after two games, and we scored 5 and 6 runs each. That's better than the 2 or 3 we were scoring last year. It is a good start to the year.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

2-0 after two games, and we scored 5 and 6 runs each. That's better than the 2 or 3 we were scoring last year. It is a good start to the year.

I agree. But after multiple years of deficient hitting (especially for all players not named Bailey Hemphill), the last two being horrendous, I have to see it against good teams.

We looked like this last year until we ran into conference competition. Let's see how we hit in the first couple of series vs. SEC opponents -- about five weeks from now.

Related topic: If you wrote down everything I know about softball strategy, it wouldn't fill a paragraph. So maybe some of the more knowledgeable posters can help me out.

Murphy believes that you get the best pitches to hit early in the count. So a lot of at-bats are only 3 or 4 pitches...or fewer.

Since we've struggled so much at the plate, that's meant a lot of quick outs. So the opposing pitcher has a low pitch count and is relatively un-fatigued in the late innings.

We're already putting a lot of pressure on our pitcher because if she gives up more than 1-2 runs, we have a tough time overcoming it. It also means that said pitcher has a much higher pitch count because opponents know this and are really patient at the plate. So our pitcher, the linchpin of our strategy, is worn slap out late.

In short, I just don't see where the idea that the best pitches to hit come early in the count is paying off. We're not hitting them, and the ensuing domino effect is causing other problems.

What is Murphy seeing that I'm not?

 

[Krymsonman]

I agree. But after multiple years of deficient hitting (especially for all players not named Bailey Hemphill), the last two being horrendous, I have to see it against good teams.

We looked like this last year until we ran into conference competition. Let's see how we hit in the first couple of series vs. SEC opponents -- about five weeks from now.

Related topic: If you wrote down everything I know about softball strategy, it wouldn't fill a paragraph. So maybe some of the more knowledgeable posters can help me out.

Murphy believes that you get the best pitches to hit early in the count. So a lot of at-bats are only 3 or 4 pitches...or fewer.

Since we've struggled so much at the plate, that's meant a lot of quick outs. So the opposing pitcher has a low pitch count and is relatively un-fatigued in the late innings.

We're already putting a lot of pressure on our pitcher because if she gives up more than 1-2 runs, we have a tough time overcoming it. It also means that said pitcher has a much higher pitch count because opponents know this and are really patient at the plate. So our pitcher, the linchpin of our strategy, is worn slap out late.

In short, I just don't see where the idea that the best pitches to hit come early in the count is paying off. We're not hitting them, and the ensuing domino effect is causing other problems.

What is Murphy seeing that I'm not?

Yeah, I forgot about last year, but I thought Washington usually had a fairly decent team. I thought beating them was good, and then we did it again today and scored 7 runs. Coach Deboer's daughter hit a 3 run dinger in the first inning, but we overcame that. The ladies will be on ESPN+ at 6pm cst today. I'll see what they look like there. Maybe SEC softball is becoming like SEC Basketball - the best conference in the land.

Also curious why we haven't seen more of Kennedy Marceaux. She was our all-world recruit.

 

[Comin2yourCity]

Well, I guess that sums up my expectations......

 

[Krymsonman]

I watched the game last night on ESPN+. Maybe it was youth, off-night, or whatever, but in this game, we looked a bit like last year. It looked like a pitchers duel for a couple of innings, but then Briski had a couple of walks, along with an infield single, then Arizona got a single to put them up 2-0. The next inning we had a chance to tie it up but poor base running took us out of the inning. We had 1st and 3rd, with one out. The next batter hit a ground ball to the pitcher, but the runner on third took off and was out by half a mile. Took us out of the inning. We cut it to 2-1 in the 5th, but Arizona scored 2 more in the bottom of the 5th to go up 4-1. Briski was a little off and was pulled. We then got run ruled in the bottom of the 5th on a bases loaded triple to right field. It was a line drive that I thought should have been caught but it went off the glove. We got a few hits, but Arizona made us look like amateurs at the plate. We'll have to see how we bounce back.

 

[bamagradinATL]

We’re in trouble. OU and Florida will probably run rule us. I’m glad we don’t have to play Texas. Hitting is still suspect. Small ball ain’t gonna cut it. I feel like every other team in SEC (at least the teams I’ve watched so far) has improved.

 

[Krymsonman]

We lost 6-3 today to UCLA. We put up 3 runs in the first two innings, then UCLA changed pitchers and we couldn't do a thing. Then, in the top of the 6th we fell apart and couldn't get an out. Bryski walked in the tying run, but I will say I thought she had the girl struck out on the previous pitch. Such are umpires. She then gave up a bases clearing double to CF, and we lost the game 6-3. Our ladies are more aggressive at the plate this year, but we're still not hitting consistently. So far we look like a good team, but we're a long from the great we need to be to compete in the SEC.

 

[81usaf92]

The three best teams in the nation are in our conference, and we play two of them in the regular season.

IDK if we have enough to make a surprise run like last year. I think preseason conference rankings probably have us about right at #10 but then again the SEC outside of Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma is more even this year so anything could happen.

 

[81usaf92]

Gotta hit. We've been abysmal on that for several years now. We'll pile up decent stats against lesser competition, so the numbers for the season as a whole aren't that bad.

But if you look at how we've done against other SEC teams, we're at or near the bottom of the conference.

Late Add -- Let me expand. Counting stats from conference games only, for two years running, we've been at or near the bottom in virtually every hitting category -- runs, hits, average, power (whether defined as extra base hits or HRs), average with runners in scoring position, runners left on base, you name it.

After the 2023 season, I was extremely disappointed that we couldn't land a proven hitting coach for the 2024 season. Instead, for the 2024 season we promoted a former GA / volunteer to hitting coach. I kind of felt sorry for the guy being thrust into a high-profile position in a high-profile program when he was absolutely not ready for it.

Unsurprisingly, 2024 looked a lot like 2023 when we didn't have a dedicated hitting coach at all.

I'd like to think of myself as balanced -- neither an Eeyore nor a sunshine pumper. I'll root for anybody with Alabama on their jersey. Still, I can't get optimistic until I see some hitting against decent competition.

We lived on Bailey Hemphill and Montana Fouts for far too long. If we're going to contend for anything of consequence, the hitting has to change.

That may require other changes further up the program's hierarchy. Yes, I know what that implies.

The problem is style of hitting. Auburn and Oklahoma changed the game from being ace pitchers surrounded with good contact hitters to a bombs away lineup where everyone is capable of 15 HRs a year 1-9.

Murph prides himself on great defense and great pitching. The problem is that you can’t keep expecting these 4-3 games with everyone trying to copy Oklahoma’s style of play. Hitters are way too good especially in the SEC.

Another thing that has gone against Murphy in the past 5 years is that somewhere down the line he has angered alot of great travel ball coaches into them actively steering their players away from Alabama. We aren’t getting that 1 or 2 bats that could save our hide on a given day anymore and we are just left with slappers and batters who continue to struggle at the plate.

Yeah we can make it to OKC here and there but it’s just got way harder because the SEC has drastically improved with the additions of 2 elite programs and the rest of the 12 teams has gotten substantially better at building programs. Unless we start winning recruiting battles for generational arms and lucking out on some college ready bats then I think we are far closer to a Georgia like program in that we can occasionally make a weird run every now and then over being a perennial power like we were.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

It's early. Still, the start of this year is looking disturbingly like last year. Which looked disturbingly like the year before. True, we had a nice run at the end and surprised everyone by getting to the WCWS. But that felt kind of fluky and was largely a function of all the questions around Kayla Beavers (she transferred in after three years at a much lower level of competition) being answered in our favor.

Point being, once is an off year, two in a row makes you go, "Hmmmm...." and three in a row is an established pattern.

This year, it's clear that we don't have a #1 pitcher. Briski is the best we have, but she's really a second pitcher.

At least as disturbing is the exodus of players. I heard the rumors from a couple of years ago, but the transfers continue. Two of those transfers out, Skyler Wallace and KB Sides, won SEC POY at their new teams (Florida and Arkansas respectively). Kenleigh Cahalan, the closest thing we had to a consistent hitter, left after last season and is now at Florida.

I have no idea what Murphy might have done to anger top-level travel ball coaches. But if that's happened, we have a major problem that he might not be able to fix.

Murphy has earned the right to exit on his own terms. He also owes the program the clear-sightedness to know when that time has come.

 

[81usaf92]

It's early. Still, the start of this year is looking disturbingly like last year. Which looked disturbingly like the year before. True, we had a nice run at the end and surprised everyone by getting to the WCWS. But that felt kind of fluky and was largely a function of all the questions around Kayla Beavers (she transferred in after three years at a much lower level of competition) being answered in our favor.

Point being, once is an off year, two in a row makes you go, "Hmmmm...." and three in a row is an established pattern.

This year, it's clear that we don't have a #1 pitcher. Briski is the best we have, but she's really a second pitcher.

At least as disturbing is the exodus of players. I heard the rumors from a couple of years ago, but the transfers continue. Two of those transfers out, Skyler Wallace and KB Sides, won SEC POY at their new teams (Florida and Arkansas respectively). Kenleigh Cahalan, the closest thing we had to a consistent hitter, left after last season and is now at Florida.

I have no idea what Murphy might have done to anger top-level travel ball coaches. But if that's happened, we have a major problem that he might not be able to fix.

Murphy has earned the right to exit on his own terms. He also owes the program the clear-sightedness to know when that time has come.

I think Murph has earned the right to exit on his own terms but at the same time he is allowing his immediate competition get stronger and stronger by staying the same. This isn’t a case where a coach is making small tweaks to stay above a changing game like Saban, this is a coach refusing to adapt to an already changed game like Bobby Bowden.

I think any hope of a program turnaround left when he couldn’t reload after 21. I mean how do we go from one game from the Finals to failing to get out of our own regional the next year with Montana Fouts? I think the program has gone from being a serious championship contender to a “happy to get to the Super Regionals” program.

Murph has done an amazing job in last two decades but I think barring just a group of a few generational talented players coming that last year might be the best we are going to ever do moving forward. But as your favorite question goes…”Murphy is gone… then what?” The answer is that i honestly couldn’t guess because it will be Byrne making the decision and those decisions are rarely on anyone’s radar.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Ilthis is a coach refusing to adapt to an already changed game like Bobby Bowden.

how do we go from one game from the Finals to failing to get out of our own regional the next year with Montana Fouts? .

But as your favorite question goes…”Murphy is gone… then what?”

The comparison with Bobby Bowden is a good one.

In 2023, We wasted the best pitcher we ever had.

If not Murphy, then who? Fair question. I’d go after the FSU coach. Or Duke’s.

But you’re right in that I’m sure Byrne has his own list kept on the deep down low.