Mike Fox, A Classy Coach

He is why they have and will continue to have a very strong baseball program.

Absolutely. I'm sure that North Carolina is going to move way higher on the lists of a lot of prospects, and not just because of their season. Their best ambassador is their head coach.

I have known Coach Fox since the mid 90's when he recruited my son while at NC Wesleyan---here we arein 2006 and he is the same great guy--he is a credit to the coaching aspect of the college game

Mike Fox has a lot of class. One thing that went unnoticed was his handling of the pitching staff. Andrew Miller's future was obviously very important to Mike Fox, maybe equally if not more important than winning the title. That was very nice to see.

The whole thing was as enjoyable as baseball can be.

Competitive - exciting - and classy.

Every single player and coach involved in that 3 game series should be proud of how they represented the college game.

IMO.

PG

He obviously did a great job with the staff.

BUT I want to know why he called time out with two outs, nobody on and went to the mound when his pitcher was dominating? He just retired 17 batters in a row! What did he say when he got out there? Maybe- Hey, I'm just coming out here to break your rhythm cause the Beavers aren't doing a good job of it? Then he left him in to give up his first walk and a base hit.

wvmtner,

There is only one person who can answer that question. However, there could be several reasons why he went to the mound. Obviously he knew the pitcher well and remember this pitcher like Andrew Miller was a first round draft pick with a great future. Here are a few reasons that may have been more important to the coach than breaking the pitchers rhythm...

He might have spotted something in the pitchers mechanics.

He might have been concerned with the pitch count.

He might have wanted to talk about the next hitter.

He might have wanted to make sure the pitcher still felt strong.

He might have been more interested in the pitchers health and future than even winning a National Championship.

Remember this is the same coach that was quoted as saying he wouldn't be able to sleep at night if something happened to Andrew Miller by leaving him in after the rain delay.

I know people get caught up in the game and winning, but this (to me) was a coach doing things in the best interest of his players.

Just the kind of coaching I'd want to send my kid to if he were a top prospect pitcher!

Then again... Maybe he made a mistake... Everyone is capable of making mistakes.

PG

One of my boys is a pitcher and I am the first one to be concerned about health. I know the guy is a great coach but even my youngest son was asking why he would go to the mound in that situation without taking the pitcher out.

I'm not sure about the mechanics question cause he was hitting his spots with great stuff. If that were the case, he should have removed him. If he was concerned about pitch counts, he should have removed him. The pitcher obviously felt strong at 97-98 and hitting his spots. The pitcher in the bullpen was ready and itching to come in the game.

He's the first coach that has worried about the pitchers health over a national championship that I have seen and I commend him on that. I would love for my son to play for him. Having said that, I think your final sentence is probably correct.

Wvmter,

All your points make a lot of sense. I have a son who pitches also.

What I'm saying is that Mike Fox is the only one who can answer the questions of why he went out there and why he didn't take him out. He must have had a reason. I don't think he was just trying to get some "air" time.

None of us here know the pitcher as well as he does. A visit to the mound should not destroy a pitcher as much as setting each half inning.

This to me is a case of seeing the results and then finding the mistake (if there was one) If Bard goes out and strikes out the next hitter (which some think he did), no one talks about the visit to the mound.

He is not the first coach I've seen that puts his pitchers future ahead of winning a game. But it sure makes me feel good whenever I see the way those coaches operate. There are several who operate that way and there are many who don't. If your son is a pitcher with a professional future, I would recommend finding out which college coaches are like Mike Fox and which ones aren't.

We also need to say that Scott Forbes is the pitching coach and should be congratulated for having the same regard for his pitchers.

Congratulations to Oregon State for an amazing showing.

quote:

If your son is a pitcher with a professional future, I would recommend finding out which college coaches are like Mike Fox and which ones aren't.

PG - fascinating stuff, please elaborate if you don't mind. How do you find this out? Do you ask? Would a coach give you a straight answer if you asked him? or...do you try and follow college ball the best you can and make up your own mind?

This past series provided a fascinating contrast in the points you are raising. I have seen nothing but great things posted about Coach Casey on these message boards and I have great respect for him. But I ask you, with regards to some of his pitchers, whose interests did he have in mind in your opinion?

Was pitching Jonah Nickerson as much as he did the right thing to do? What about Gunderson? Was it worth a CWS title to risk the players future? What do Nickerson and Gunderson think regarding how much they pitched? If both players have short MLB careers due to injury, will they say the CWS title was worth it?

Tough calls imho....and an interesting contrast in style. Could a third possibility be in order. Could it be Coach Fox simply had more depth and it allowed him to more easily practice the "kid first" philosophy?

quote:

Tough calls imho....

Glad I didn't have to make them. The Beaver kids played more games. If his arm is not sore after heating up, I guess you let him go in the last game in Omaha. I was amazed Nickerson was as good as he was with 300+ pitches for the week.

ClevelandDad,

You probably know that I'm not going to mention names of those who abuse pitchers. However, with some research and lots of questions people can find out.

I think Casey did a GREAT job with the Oregon State team. If I worked for the Detroit Tigers I might have a different opinion. I'm sure Nickerson and Gunderson would have given there right leg to win that championship and they're elated. I think the entire Oregon State roster came to Omaha for just one thing and they accomplished that. One team obviously was willing to risk more than the other. I'm not smart enough to know which way was right. I just know the way I like the best.

I have very personal nightmare experience of what can happen when a pitcher returns from a long rain delay. That's why I respect so much what UNC did with Miller. They did not take the chance.

Not PG, but I can assure you that Coach Fox maintains his stance on pitchers' health regardless of his teams depth at that position in a particular year. I think there's a site called Boydsworld that tracks college pitch counts. that would be a start.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Wvmter, If Bard goes out and strikes out the next hitter (which some think he did), no one talks about the visit to the mound.

If your son is a pitcher with a professional future, I would recommend finding out which college coaches are like Mike Fox and which ones aren't.

I am one that agrees that he DID strike out the next batter.

Fortunately my son is getting the opportunity to pitch professionally now. If my other son turns into a pitcher I'll make sure he goes to a school that has a coach like Fox.

A good coach does alot for a team, not just wins but healthwise too.

Mike Fox is the perfect example of a college coach looking to protect a pitcher's future.

Regardless of whether he had the depth or not, not placing Miller back in a game after a rain delay WAS the proper thing to do and you will find many coaches who do this and many who don't or won't.

I heard from a scout that there were many grumblings from MLB teams who drafted many of the pitchers about pitch counts and too many innings. Not only for health purposes, but this means long rest for the pitcher which means a delay in the process of their investments.

A very wise college coach knows that pro teams will not come year after year to draft their pitchers in June if the pitcher has put in too much time on the mound. I admire coaches such as Mike Fox.

Watching pitcher abuse points at Boyd's world is
important for any player who wishes to go to a particular school, along with watching total innings for all starting pitchers on the staff.

I know of a pitcher who put in a LOT (way,way over 100) of innings this past year, playing summer ball and expected to be one of his school's top starters next year (which means approximately 100+ innings). I could bet my bottom dollar he won't be as effective next year as he was this year, if he pitches too much this summer. This makes me feel badly. I have seen it happen many times, and imo it scares away pro teams come draft time.

I am in complete agreement with PG's reply.