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Going out this afternoon to see the rain makeup of James River at Cosby, 4:30 start.

JR used Scheetz and Kirby yesterday, so I'm guessing Jack Roberts will start today. JR might also look to get some rust scraped off Parnell, Carrico or Caples with an eye towards their tourney next week.

I heard a rumor that it may be a staff game for Cosby. Partly to get everyone some work before they're off next week, partly maybe to keep James River from getting too good a look at any one guy this early in the season, since they'll meet at least one more time (and likely 1 or 2 more times come playoff time). Cosby has a history of taking that approach.

I guess if that proves true, by game's end I'll be a bit more familiar with Cosby's staff. I know Byrd and Birnbaum well but haven't really seen McQueen or whoever else they have.
I saw the same thing wth LCB starting Conner then returning him to the mound late. ont see that too often but I d not think it is a good practice.

JR/Cosby should be an interesting matchup today...hope I can sneak away and see some or at least get some updates.

Looking at the schdule this week looks like Cosby plays at Midlothian thursday - so I guess they will have to spread their pitching around
Back to the Christ Church discussion:

Having never seen Michael Taylor in action, all I know is that he wowed 'em at East Cobb last summer and hit 90 mph at that time.

So it surprises me that on the Virginia Prep League web site, his ERA is shown at 4.67. See: http://ballcharts.com/teams/cu...plbb&custom_number=2

How do you explain this? It seems like a dominating pitcher should not be giving up 8 earned in 12 innings.
I'd also be interested in feedback on how accurate the info on that web site is. For one thing, it seems that a few teams dominate the top ten stats lists.

Do some teams just not participate in turning in their stats? How else do you explain the complete absence of any Benedictine players from the lists? Benedictine is # 1 in Division 1, but not one of its players is listed for pitching or hitting. That can't be right.
quote:
Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
If the newspaper report is correct, both teams had pitchers leave the mound for relievers, then return to finish the game.

That is a sorry practice that courts injuries. I sure would like to see that banned by NFHS rule change.


The newspaper was incorrect for Bird returning a pitcher to the mound, Midlo did do it. The reliever who returned had pitched in the 7th, got lifted after 2-3 batters I think, and then returned in the 8th after 4-5 runs had scored and maybe 1 out, so not really that many pitches in total.
quote:
Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes:
quote:
Originally posted by Midlo2012:
Correction..Bird broke it open in the top of the 8th, but with help from Midlo


Oh man, that's even tougher to take. So they scored three in the bottom of the 7th to force extras. I'm not in to moral victories, but what a difference a year makes.

What makes this an even tougher loss is that Bird scored a run in the 6th without a hit or walk. Leadoff hitter strikes out, but ball gets past catcher, so safe at first. Pitcher balks on a pitchout, runner goes to 2nd. Pitcher picks the guy off 2nd, but the throw to the 3rd baseman is in the dirt, and the tag is late, runner now on 3rd. Infield is in, sharp hit to SS, runner goes home, the throw appears to be there, but either is off a little or the catcher is too far in front of the plate, tag misses or is late...run scored...this runner must be a cat because he should have been out 3 times..if this run doesn't score in the 6th, the 3 run HR in the bottom of the 7th would have been a walk-off !!
quote:
Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
I'd also be interested in feedback on how accurate the info on that web site is. For one thing, it seems that a few teams dominate the top ten stats lists.

Do some teams just not participate in turning in their stats? How else do you explain the complete absence of any Benedictine players from the lists? Benedictine is # 1 in Division 1, but not one of its players is listed for pitching or hitting. That can't be right.


That website is for the Va Prep League only( 8 schools- STAB, StC, Collegiate, Trinity, CCS, Norfolk, Woodberry, FUMA). Benedictine is an independant. As I understand it, coaches are responsible for turning in the info for their teams. Taylor gave up four runs against STAB last week in seven-- don't know about his previous outings.

Like posted on other threads before-- the coach or his designee may not have reported accurately.

Finally, you will see stats level out some as year goes on. STAB, StC, Collegiate always get a few games in before the boarding schools get started (i.e.) Woodberry actually has a two week spring break in March and I do not think they play during that time.Given early season results, Norfolk and Collegiate (just won their first game), not likely to see them in pitching stats top ten this year.
Last edited by Prep Ballfan
Midlo Dad -- You asked about CCS, Taylor and Stats. Having seen a few CCS games, I can tell you this ... Michael Taylor is the real deal. He has an explosive 90+ FB, 2-3 pitches he throws for strikes, solid mound presence, a very projectable body, and he has an idea of what he is doing out there. ... and he has a new throwing partner down there who is teaching him how to get a little more movement on the ball.

As to CCS Stats, I can't tell you how the games are being scored, and what is getting submitted. With some youth on the field, there is some youth league play coming with it. The routine ground ball that becomes a "hit". The routine fly that becomes a "hit" or maybe extra bases when it is not played properly. The botched assignment that turns what should be a DP into 2 guys safe on a FC.

I would not pay much attention to ERA's on the CCS pitching staff this season.

All that said ... Taylor is for real, and he is going to be a heck of a pick-up for some program at the next level.
quote:
Originally posted by latazaea:

The newspaper was incorrect for Bird returning a pitcher to the mound, Midlo did do it. The reliever who returned had pitched in the 7th, got lifted after 2-3 batters I think, and then returned in the 8th after 4-5 runs had scored and maybe 1 out, so not really that many pitches in total.


Maybe I'm wrong, but my understanding of the re-entry rule was that only the starting pitcher could return to pitch after a reliever had entered the game. Is that not true? My understanding was that once a relief pitcher either was removed from the game completely, or moved to another position, his day on the mound was over.
quote:
Originally posted by latazaea:
quote:
Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes:
quote:
Originally posted by Midlo2012:
Correction..Bird broke it open in the top of the 8th, but with help from Midlo


Oh man, that's even tougher to take. So they scored three in the bottom of the 7th to force extras. I'm not in to moral victories, but what a difference a year makes.

What makes this an even tougher loss is that Bird scored a run in the 6th without a hit or walk. Leadoff hitter strikes out, but ball gets past catcher, so safe at first. Pitcher balks on a pitchout, runner goes to 2nd. Pitcher picks the guy off 2nd, but the throw to the 3rd baseman is in the dirt, and the tag is late, runner now on 3rd. Infield is in, sharp hit to SS, runner goes home, the throw appears to be there, but either is off a little or the catcher is too far in front of the plate, tag misses or is late...run scored...this runner must be a cat because he should have been out 3 times..if this run doesn't score in the 6th, the 3 run HR in the bottom of the 7th would have been a walk-off !!




IMO that can go both ways cause not all of midlo 7 runs were earned and thats what happans in high baseball and I dont think the wheels fell off in the eight some of the midlo players didnt step up. You cant have 2 errors in extra ininngs but overall it was a good game.
As predicted in this thread last Sunday it was a great week of baseball.

The Cosby/JR match up was indeed the game of the week. Based on all the polls and preseason prognosticating I think most were shocked at the outcome.

It was also a week where it was said we would learn more about this young Midlothian team folks were chatting about.

I just saw tne Midlo/Cosby final score. Their first meeting was a 1 or two run game. Today it looks like Cosby took charge amd issued quite a thrashing to the Trojans.

Will be interesting to see how the local pools look after this week...two out of the top 5 were upset....JR and Deep Run.

I think most of the other games we listed pretty much went as most thought they would.
Southpaw Dad-
I assume we will get to see Mr Taylor this afternoon. (I am an asst at Collegiate) We stole one from you guys and I assume your son Tuesday, we desperately needed that win. I will say I was very impressed with your son's make-up on the mound. Tough competitor who threw a lot of strikes and had a purpose with almost every pitch. Defense let you guys down in the end but I look forward to us getting after it today.
quote:
The Cosby/JR match up was indeed the game of the week. Based on all the polls and preseason prognosticating I think most were shocked at the outcome.


I'm not surprised Cosby won at home. Cosby has good players, and a great coach who knows how to motivate. What is surprising for me is the Cosby pitching staff and defense went toe to toe and outplayed James River. I still think JR has an overall edge on pitching. I expect you will see a different pitching match up on the JR side next round, as well as some extra motivation. I'm looking forward to their next regular season game.
Last edited by fenwaysouth
I wouldn't say I was shocked by Cosby's beating James River. I would have said JR was the favorite, even playing at Cosby, but no one who knows Cosby would ever be shocked by their beating anyone. The other half of that is that in their past few games, JR had been playing rather lackluster. They beat L.C. Bird largely on drawing walks, didn't hit well at all. They trailed against a Monacan team that has really struggled, then flipped the switch late to run away with it in just the last 2 innings. You just cannot do that when you play a high caliber opponent like Cosby. I said before hand that JR really needed to get that game in against Monacan to get the rust scraped off before they had to face Cosby. It just wasn't enough. They actually played a tight game pitching and defense wise, but the offense continued to be only so-so. Credit Cosby's pitching, esp. Birnbaum's tough start and also the smart strategy of using the lefty at the right time -- plus having faith in a freshman in a crunch situation.

My hope for JR would be that this would wake them up a bit and lead to them doing well down in SC this coming week.

In the end, I cannot recall anyone going undefeated around here, at least not for a very long time, so this year will be no different. The closest anyone came was when JR started 19-0 in 2007, then lost twice in 3 games before righting their ship just in time to go all the way. Sometimes a loss like this is just what the doctor ordered.

I went to the end of the Cosby-Midlo game yesterday. Cosby clearly was still on a high from the JR game and they just flat out rolled over Midlo. For Cosby to be "on" was of course no surprise, but based on their performance to date I was hoping we'd see a stiffer game from Midlothian. Instead this is one they need to just flush from memory and get back to business for the rest of the spring. They play JR the week after break, so this would be no time to go in the tank all of a sudden.
Last edited by Midlo Dad
Cosby/Midlo game sounds like a walk over. I looked up the score this morning thinking it would be interesting to see ho it played ot after the way their last meeting went.

Was also wondering - after the first Midlo game some of the fans statea long disussion where the questioned the scoring integrity of that game.

Havent seen anything this time....did the fans that were there feel like the game was scored to their satisfaction this time around?

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