Shay Knighten has already hit 2 HRs vs TT & today had 4 RBIs

[Oklabama]

I can't debate with you. You know much more than me and that doesn't bother me. I guess I'm just disappointed that you are telling us why we won't win instead of how we could win. I'd really enjoy your take on what we need to do to make another run rather than why we are going to be eliminated. For instance, do we really have to host a super regional in order to win the championship?

Hey, Plaino. Why won't you respond? Come on, man. Quit ignoring the question. I'm waiting. You have a habit of this.

 

[Plainosooner]

I don't believe that's true. I've said that OU will be a tough out for anybody. Paige 1 is coming around. She was lights out last post season and seems to be getting around to that level now. The combination of Paige 2 and Mariah Lopez together give us a nice game two Anybody who has quality pitching and quality defense, can beat anybody. OU can do it, it's just a lot harder on the road.

And we need the corner infielders and the catcher to be healthy. When I've said that, I get beat up, because the expert says there just isn't any evidence of that. But I know what I see. Parker is painfully slow. Last year, Sidney Romero covered for her against the bunt game, remarkably. Just incredible quickness. When they bunted, she threw them out. She's half a step slower getting to those balls this year and that's the difference between base runner and an out. On getting the lead runner on the sacrifice, or getting the out at first. We need that back.

We have been vulnerable to quality pitching. Now everybody else is too. It's hard against a quality pitcher to string together singles. There are a couple of ways to overcome that. One of the big differences between OU's schedule and the SEC schools, besides a big bump in RPI, is seeing a lot more top pitching. There is really only one school in the SEC with great pitching, and that's Florida.

But to beat very good pitching with solid defense, you have to do one of two things usually. You can accomplish it in the running game, or you have to hit the ball out of the park. The latter is how OU did it last year. Knighten's two homers against Bama were huge. One in the regular season, one in the WCWS. Romero's homer was the only OU scoring in a win in the finals over Auburn.

OU has the kind of speed that can drive a step below elite team crazy. But there is really only one burner on this team: Mendes. She absolutely lights up teams like Tech and Kansas. But she's a freshman playing at a whole new level for her. So far, she hasn't be wonderful against the best pitchers we've faced. Everybody else is just good enough to get thrown out a lot trying to steal against quality defensive teams.

BUT. This group won for a lot of reasons last season. They ain't perfect. But they played with a confidence and poise, that was better than anybody else in the post season, despite starting four freshmen and four sophomores. But confidence is a fickle thing. They haven't been quite so sharp this season as they were last year. Knighten's homer in March ignited them and their confidence. Putting up 15 on Tech doesn't do that. And doing what they did at UTenn last year let them know they could beat anybody. They haven't had that happen this season.

If they get a little of that momentum back, play lights out defense, and pitch great, then they can beat anybody. That stuff about how you beat a great pitcher, you also have to keep from happening too often. You have to stop the running game, and keep the ball in the park. That's why Paige 1's home runs allowed was such an important factor early in the year. Especially at important times.

There are some SEC teams, who you're likely going to have to beat, who have a lot of athletes. But they tend to be vulnerable defensively, if you can put it in play challengingly. OU's biggest problem this season has been going against very good pitching, and combining for 15 or more strikeouts and easy balls to play in the air.

Last year, somebody stepped up to make a play while OUr pitching and defense kept us in it.

Ultimately, until you see the bracket, and specifically whom you're going to play, it's hard to answer your question better than that.

 

[sybarite43]

Now that our hitting has begun to come around, how vulnerable are we against good pitching? We really haven't faced an ace since Cal Poly, the last of our losing string. It also makes a difference what type of pitching. Knighten had played travel ball against Osorio and beat her twice. Rise ball pitchers have given us more problems than speed pitchers. Someone who mixes it up seems to keep us off balance. Our hitters seem to be on their heels rather than toes when they face a pitcher with good stuff.

There are probably about eight pitchers that I would rather not face. But, they all have teams that we can beat---if we will. We have never beaten Alveoli (SP, Washington) or Groenewegen (Minnesota). But, neither made the CWS. Bama's loss to Mississippi on Monday probably means that they won't be there either.

 

[Plainosooner]

Now that our hitting has begun to come around, how vulnerable are we against good pitching? We really haven't faced an ace since Cal Poly, the last of our losing string. It also makes a difference what type of pitching. Knighten had played travel ball against Osorio and beat her twice. Rise ball pitchers have given us more problems than speed pitchers. Someone who mixes it up seems to keep us off balance. Our hitters seem to be on their heels rather than toes when they face a pitcher with good stuff.

There are probably about eight pitchers that I would rather not face. But, they all have teams that we can beat---if we will. We have never beaten Alveoli (SP, Washington) or Groenewegen (Minnesota). But, neither made the CWS. Bama's loss to Mississippi on Monday probably means that they won't be there either.

Bama seems likely to be in the 13-16 seed range, which if they won their regional, would put them up against a top four seed in the Supers on the road. They could do it, but they're not as good as they were a year ago. Cal Poly is likely to make the field as a four seed in a regional. Let's just hope they don't get sent to Norman..They are the ultimate bubble team as number 64 in the RPI. Their pitcher ended up the fourth pick in the pro fast pitch draft.

Minnesota is good enough to be anybody, if the pitcher, whose name I can't spell, is pitching. But they've played precious little quality competition. Groenewegen? Thanks for the assist.

 

[sybarite43]

Bama seems likely to be in the 13-16 seed range, which if they won their regional, would put them up against a top four seed in the Supers on the road. They could do it, but they're not as good as they were a year ago. Cal Poly is likely to make the field as a third seed in a regional. Maybe a fourth. Let's just hope they don't get sent to Norman..

Minnesota is good enough to be anybody, if the pitcher, whose name I can't spell, is pitching. But they've played precious little quality competition. Groenewegen? Thanks for the assist.

I think we scored 10 against Groenewegen last year, only to lose 12-10. Bama has lost three straight series, the last to Ole Miss. I doubt they make the top sixteen. They keep trying to sneak James Madison, Michigan, and California into the top sixteen. Louisiana--Lafayette could make it.

 

[Plainosooner]

I think we scored 10 against Groenewegen last year, only to lose 12-10. Bama has lost three straight series, the last to Ole Miss. I doubt they make the top sixteen. They keep trying to sneak James Madison, Michigan, and California into the top sixteen. Louisiana--Lafayette could make it.

Lafayette hasn't played in a single neutral site game. How can that be?

 

[Plainosooner]

Probably a pretty tight zone that night, or maybe really windy in Norman. We only scored four of OUr 10 on Sarah G. As I recall, we had a horrible night defensively, not just errors, but balls that went for hits that could/should have been fielded, but weren't. And that drives up pitch counts, I do remember that it was Arnold's worst game of the year, defensively.

Parker started but didn't get out of the third, giving up five runs. Stevens also gave up five, including the first two hitters of the 8th. Chestnut came in and allowed two more. So OU had allowed 8 through seven innings, but gave up 4 in T8 and lost 12-10, despite scoring two in the final half inning. Minnesota started their number two pitcher for a midweek game and won a game Parker started.

But the weekend two days later, started the trip to Fullerton's five games in three days tournament, where Knighten's homer that beat Osorio, turned the season around.

 

[Oklabama]

I don't believe that's true. I've said that OU will be a tough out for anybody. Paige 1 is coming around. She was lights out last post season and seems to be getting around to that level now. The combination of Paige 2 and Mariah Lopez together give us a nice game two Anybody who has quality pitching and quality defense, can beat anybody. OU can do it, it's just a lot harder on the road.

And we need the corner infields and the catcher to be healthy. When I've said that, I get beat up, because the expert says there just isn't any evidence of that. But I know what I see. Parker is painfully slow. Last year, Sidney Romero covered for her against the bunt game, remarkably. Just incredible quickness. When they bunted, she threw them out. She's half a step slower getting to those balls this year and that's the difference between base runner and out. On getting the lead runner on the sacrifice, or getting the out at first. We need that back.

We have been vulnerable to quality pitching. Now everybody else is too. It's hard against a quality pitcher to string together singles. There are a couple of ways to overcome that. One of the big differences between OU's schedule and the SEC schools, besides a big bump in RPI, is seeing a lot more top pitching. There is really only one school in the SEC with great pitching, and that's Florida.

But to beat very good pitching with solid defense, you have to do one of two things usually. You can accomplish it in the running game, or you have to hit the ball out of the park. The latter is how OU did it last year. Knighten's two homers against Bama were huge. One in the regular season, one in the WCWS. Romero's homer was the only OU scoring in a win in the finals over Auburn.

OU has the kind of speed that can drive a step below elite team crazy. But there is really only one burner on this team: Mendez. She absolutely lights up teams like Tech and Kansas. But she's a freshman playing at a whole new level for her. So far, she hasn't be wonderful against the best pitchers we've faced. Everybody else is just good enough to get thrown out a lot trying to steal.

BUT. This group won for a lot of reasons last season. They ain't perfect. But they played with a confidence and poise better than anybody else in the post season, despite starting four freshmen and four sophomores. But confidence is a fickle thing. They haven't been quite so sharp this season as they were last year. Knighten's homer in March ignited them and their confidence. Putting up 15 on Tech doesn't do that. And doing what they did at UTenn let them know they could beat anybody. They haven't had that happen this season.

If they get a little of that momentum back, play lights out defense, and pitch great, then they can beat anybody. That stuff about how you beat a great pitcher, you also have to keep from happening too often. You have to stop the running game, and keep the ball in the park. That's why Paige 1's home runs allowed was such an important factor early in the year. Especially at important times.

There are some SEC teams who you're likely going to have to beat, who have a lot of athletes. But they tend to be vulnerable defensively, if you can put it in play challengingly. OU's biggest problem this season has been going against very good pitching, and combining for 15 strikeouts and easy balls to play in the air.

Last year, somebody stepped up to make a play while OUr pitching and defense kept us in it. Ultimately, until you see the bracket, and specifically whom you're going to play, it's hard to answer your question better than that.

That's what I was waiting for. Thank you. Now let's see how it plays out and hope for the best. Boomer!