jpa2825

How much hassle is there associated with the tarps used by Jacksonville, the former Miami Marlins, etc. to cover up entire sections to make it look like the venue is much smaller? While it may not be worth it for 2 days, the advertising that could go on the tarps might defray some of that hassle. Geographically, Lex or Lou is better than BG. They each also have better / broader amenities. Lou got out / didn't bid last time because their former conferences could not guarantee no game that weekend. With the ACC Championship Game, I think that issue is now gone. Would they get back in and bid for 2019? Don't know. Lex has never been in because of natural grass. That is now moot, so maybe they try for 2019? Don't know. Plenty of time to solve it on BGP before it becomes a real issue.

In my experience, the order of preference is as follows: A: 2 platoon - when you have the horses & depth to allow a potentially less athletic / talented player(s) to excel due to more individualized training & practice (i.e., Jimmy might not be as good a LB as Joe, but the falloff is not significant & Joe is a better RB when he doesn't have to split time at practice between O & D and both are fresher during game in a 2 platoon situation B: Spot 2-way players (the Collins 2013 approach): The falloff is a bit more than you want, so Joe plays a few snaps at LB in certain situations, but Jimmy plays most of the snaps C: 2-way players: The dropoff is severe. Play Joe as many snaps as he can safely play because Joe at 75% is better than Jimmy at 100%. Jimmy fills in only when Joe absolutely has to have a break. When he's ready to go back in, Joe goes back in. Evaluate / develop your talent toward A. Go to B when you need to. Try to avoid C (unless you're a small school trying to build a program).

Are you stating this as a fact you know or just a theory you are putting out there? If fact, you are dead wrong. Others were aware of Dale's intention to step down as football coach before the playoffs in 2013, regardless of result.

Does strict 2-platoon get re-evaluated at any point? If so, when? If so, who?

Did the parents watch a lot of Happy Days? Used to love that show.

Really enjoyed reading that sentence.

Tough call. I'll make the arguments below: Jones - he is your #1 , a Senior and he pitched great for 5.2 on TUE morning. 3.5 days rest is virtually full rest for a high school kid. Martin - also a Senior, pitched well in the 2nd game of the Regional, he is fully rested and allows you to DH for someone other than the P getting SR Ball into the lineup and really applying pressure to the opposing P. Doty - his turn in the rotation that you've used all year and the inning he pitched last night should have little or no physical impact and gives him confidence by already being in the heat of the battle. For my $, I go with Jones and see what happens. Unless you have a 4+ run lead after 2, you leave him in and let him go as long as he is effective. If any of them are ineffective (location, velocity, body language, etc.), you can afford a quick hook to try someone else and bring them back on SAT if you get there.

It is a designed play. He uses it occasionally and came up with the perfect situation last night. NB made a pitching change so Coaches had a chance to meet with the runner, the batter and others. Even put Walkenhorst in the on deck circle to appear he was going to hit for Kreeger. If you think it through, a bunt makes no sense in the situation. Veneman is on 2B with 1 out. He is going to score on virtually any single due to his speed. Giving up an out to get him to 3B with 2 outs makes very little sense. Play is designed to be bunted hard to the 3B to avoid him covering the bag and to force the long throw across to 1B. Runner on 2B gets good jump on bunt and never breaks stride. Do or die situation and that insurance run was huge from a "breathing room" standpoint if not a final score standpoint.

Not sure if there should be a separate thread, but North Bullitt defeats Hopkinsville 6-4 in Game 1.

Kinda wish this game was at McCracken Co. so I could get another pork chop at Patti's 1880 Settlement on the way! Should be a whale of a game. Expect Jones to start, but could certainly be Raisor. Birds need to do what they have done all season - have good ABs, play solid defense and throw strikes. If they do and it's not good enough, so be it. If it is, show up for the next scheduled game and try to do it again. Single elimination to win 7 straight games is a bit of a crap shoot for any team, but it's the system that we have so we'll play and congratulate the winner when done. Looking forward to it. BTW -- can't imagine game will actually start at 8:30 PM. 2:30 between games is not usually realistic, but with top pitchers going in all games, could happen.

St. Henry definitely threw the ball around and gave HHS extra outs. However, HHS hit some screamers right at folks and St. Henry made some very good defensive plays as well. Seemed to have more trouble with the routine plays than the tough ones. Survive and advance. Raisor is only arm not available tomorrow against Boone and he could pitch on Wednesday if the Birds are fortunate enough to get there.

Ripken in Myrtle Beach has dirt mound & dirt home plate. Everything else is turf. Best setup going. They also have the personnel to get all the fields tarped very quickly. The other issue at FF is that they do not allow metal spikes. (BTW - Ripken does on their turf.) Odd to have to change from the spikes you have been wearing all season to a different pair OR just gym shoes. Comfort & familiarity is important to baseball players. All that said, FF is still currently the best place hold the 9th Region. Ability to count on the schedule and play multiple games on Memorial Day is very nice. I heard over the weekend that 1 of the Louisville Regions (assume there are more than 1?) does 1st round game at #1 seed and then Semis & Finals at Jim Patterson Field at UofL. I kinda like that as well. Gives some additional advantage to winning the district in a format where they need all the help they can get.

Unless you get a big lead, start your best and use them as long as you need them. Figure out GM2 only after you have won GM1. Is it MON, TUE, WED like last year or is it MON, TUE, THU as in prior years? My recollection is that 1 inning allows you to pitch next day. More than that and you must rest a day. Can't remember how many innings requires 2 days off. 1 pitch = an inning.

Did Moeves pitch for NCC? If so, how many innings? Wonder if he would be available against the winner of HHS v. Dayton.

Birds have as good a chance as anyone. In the 1st round, you will get #1 (likely Jones) v. #1 matchups which can be very unpredictable. If they get past that, their #2 (likely Raisor) could have a slight advantage against someone else's #2 . If they get to the final, they could have depth of Doty, Bunning, Martin & Noe to throw at whoever their opponent has left. Additional advantage of depth is Baioni could use quick hook if any of the regulars "doesn't have his best stuff" in a given game.

#25 pitched the 6th for Dixie after Breeden. All the damage was in the 4th where the Birds batted around before Varney recorded any outs. 3 straight doubles were key. Dixie kicked it around a bit to make it 8 instead of 4 or 5. Other than that, pitching for both sides was very good.

I think the overall depth of HHS will hurt them in the POY balloting. You could easily choose from Ramey, Whitford, Martin, Mills or Jones (not to mention Murray, Veneman, Bunning, Hennigan, Noe and others who fill very important roles on the team.) Jones - #1 pitcher on the best team (record wise) in the 9th Region. 6 SO innings against Dixie last night make the point. That said, hard to give the POY to a PO. No idea on the offensive stats for the other 4, but each have >3 or 4 HRs (Martin and Ramey probably have 7-10 each), a ton of RBIs and reasonably high batting averages. If there was only 1 "big bopper" in the lineup, it would be more impressive. Since they are all playing so well, my guess is the votes will be diluted. Suspect none of them care. They are laser-focused on winning next week to capture 4th straight District crown and Memorial Day week to get to Lexington. Team goals are paramount.

Weak sauce. Sticks & stones.

So fielder should strategically seek contact on such a play? Puts the runner back to 1B rather than fielding cleanly & throwing batter runner out and allowing runner to advance 1 or 2 bases. Presume that if it is obvious that fielder initiated conduct, it is not interference and could be construed as obstruction, right?

Clyde -- is there any intent required for interference on the batter? If batter runner simply runs to 1B and neither intends to make contact with the fielder NOR seeks to get out of the way of the fielder, is that interference? Does it matter if the batter runner was in fair / foul ground?

I think that is 3 or 4 years in a row with a win over Elder. Agree that it is a very good win. SR Martin seems to be in a groove with a HR yesterday and a couple of 2B today. Not to mention closing things out with at least 1 pitch clocked at 87. No errors by either team is pretty good given the stops & starts of this season. Game played in 1:40.

If you like the Twitter, @HHSDirtyBirds is providing updates. Whitford w/ RBI single driving in Murray and Mills' 2 run bomb.

Birds tweeted that MON game is at Highland Park at 1700. Opening day for HHS. Not sure if BW varsity has played a game yet.

Also, 2nd game for HHS. Did Beechwood also play more than 1 today? Don't know. Nice win by Tigers.

This early, starters only go 2-4 innings depending on pitch count. Suspect it will be close and pitching depth (not necessarily bullpens since you may see 2 or more starters get some innings) will be key. Go Birds! Beat Tigers!