I think what impressed me the most about her blocking all of those balls is how she seems to be fairly small. I know she's 5'7 and there are a lot of D1 catchers who are shorter than that, but she's pretty slim and used her whole body every time. But... yes... I felt the other side of it too. Her death stare to third when we had a runner there got to me more than anything, though. Girl would have eliminated half our team if looks could kill.
Couldn't you argue that fear of a nasty breaking pitch is a mental issue? More so in baseball, but applicable to softball, i.e. a curve or screwball. What's the difference in her anxiety and the anxiety of a batter in that scenario? Farfetched I'll admit, but, still debatable. It's BS that they should have stopped the first time she did it. Sometimes, life is tough. Not to mention, imagine the opposing team doing the same thing. How do you think ESPN would feel about a five hour softball game?
Great post and very insightful. I’m definitely not a fan of her but I should have probably been more understanding of what she’s going through than I was. I’m happy and proud to hear that the Gator fans that were there weren’t assholes, way to be classy just like our players and program, take a bow you deserve it! On a lighter note the not assholes thing reminded me of Star lord from marvel lol. “Im an ahole but not 100% a dick”. Lol
Really liked/agree with your post and interesting interaction with the Auburn fans at Toomer's Corner. But they are wrong about this: That was the second out of a double play, so no longer a force.
I was absolutely worried when we had a runner on third. I remember Taylor on third and thinking omg is she going to try and take out our freshman phenom. Thankfully it seemed the tempers calmed as quickly as they flared. Still imo the whole thing at home plate was a big overreaction on Auburns part.
Oh, dang. You're right. But... it was still a great conversation... even if the women involved in the exchange (the wife and me) erroneously ganged up on the husband, gaslighting him into believing he was the one who was wrong. lol. Oops.
As enjoyable, fascinating, loooong lasting, and humorous as this debate about auburns catcher has been I’m afraid at some point we’re going to (please) have to talk about something else. Maybe upcoming FSU criminoles matchup? Is Keagan ready enough to be the Friday starter? What’s the weather like where you live?
Definitely sad. And posted moments after I referred to them as criminoles. I think I’m an ahole and definitely 100% a dick.
Well put. Still glad we likely won’t see her again. Possible fair solution for real or statrigic reasons to approach the pitcher with the ball could be to start pitch clock any time the catcher crosses home plate and enters the field of play. She still retains the option to ask for a time out.
With Wednesday being a top-10 match-up with significant RPI implications in our quest for a top-eight ranking at the end of the year, do we pitch Keagan or save her for the weekend SEC match-up?
I want to beat FSU in any sport anytime we play them, so if Rothrock is 100% I hope he puts her out there. She was a throughbred and carried the load as a freshman last year and IF she is totally 100% there's no reason why she can't throw Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. Of course, Coach Walton knows best what her true situation is and will handle it the way he sees best. I just don't want to lose to the Noles!
I’m guessing save her for the SEC weekend. Play the long game, SEC is more important than a midweek matchup even against FSU. Besides, the fsu game is either a good win or a good loss. Obviously I want us to win but RPI wise we won’t move much regardless of the outcome.
I would add one thing....since we have limited info on the injury we also don't know how her return should be managed. Maybe there are limitations, maybe not
I’ll add a top 8 seed isn’t going to be decided Wednesday. Good win for sure but also a good loss if that’s what ends up happening. A top 8 seed will be decided by what our girls do with the remaining season. The once irrelevant (sec tournament) just means more now.
In the KPI rankings as of today, the Top 5: Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas. In the RPI rankings, the Top 5 is: Florida, South Carolina, Texas A&M, LSU, Texas. In the ELO rankings, the Top 5 is: Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas A&M, FSU. In SOS, Florida is #7, Texas A&M is #9, LSU is #15, FSU is #21, Oklahoma is #32. In the USA Today Top 25 rankings, the Top 10 is: Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, Oregon, UCLA, Florida State, Arizona, Tennessee. In the NFCA Coaches Poll, the Top 10 is: Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, Oregon, UCLA, Florida State, Tennessee, South Carolina. I think FSU is a huge game from a rankings standpoint, but CTW will do what is best for the team.
I despise everything fsu also but I don’t think we need Keagan to beat them. We need a top 8 seed, Wednesday could help but won’t decide it by any measure. We all saw last season the workload Keagan is capable of shouldering. That workload wasn’t ideal but necessary because we didn’t have other pitching options. She just got back and I’d be happy if they keep her out of the midweek. CTW is playing endgame not Wednesday games. Great opportunity Wednesday for Red or Ava.
