The Sarge

If he couldn't gotten in here as a freshman, he would've been a star.

I've been told we're better off without him. Don't know the story though.

Then he'd be on a list alot longer than it should be of guys we have that don't always give their best effort. I can think of many times this season we've given up a base, or not taken a base, because of a lack of effort. I've been frustrated with our current right fielder on more than one occasion about strolling over to a ball hit to his left and allowing a double, a first to third on a base hit, etc. Then we had the Francis Marion stuff last week.

Gantt is a great example of what kids can overcome to be athletes. Unfortunately, he's also a classic example of what can happen to kids who don't take academics seriously. He wanted to go to Clemson but O'Sullivan would not recruit him because his core GPA was so low. Tanner gave him a chance to get admitted to SC, but by his junior year of HS he had dug himself a hole too deep to get out of. But, to his credit he went to SMC and found his way to a good D1 program where he is having an outstanding year.

Aldrich is a totally different story.

Ya'll go back through Whittle's play by play and you'll find several instances of a lack of effort. We had a pitcher last week trot off the mound towards a bunt with 2 outs and ended up missing the runner by a half step. FMU went on to score 3 runs that inning I believe. That's effort. We had a left fielder give up on a ball to third last week and stop running to first. That's effort. I sit down the right field line and I've personally seen our right fielder get lacksadasical on balls hit down the line this year and given up an extra base because of it and Whittle has pointed it out too on several occasions. Plus, on the broadcast last night they revealed that same player is hitting .110 in OOC games and about .310 in SEC games. Someone please tell me why that is? Is it a lack of focus (effort?) in mid week games from a senior? Might be. Call a spade a spade folks. I'm not known here I don't think as one of our bitchy posters. I know baseball and I know when there's a lack of effort. I'm tired of seeing us lose games we've got no business losing because of a lack of focus and effort. I'm quite sure Tanner is too. Ya'll be satified with it if you want.

Call it mental toughness, effort, laziness whatever I think they're one in the same. It's the failure to play to your potential and many times its because you think you can get by without going 100%. All athletes have been guilty of it at one time or another. I think it's overall a maturity thing but we've got some of our oldest that don't seem to get it too. I'm hoping that it will just take care of itself when it gets really important in a month and obviously means more. They seem to play best then.

I did not see the FMU game so I can't comment on those plays personally. It did sound like the pitcher did not go get the ball. From what some who have been at the game have said the base running error by the LF was not a lack of effort. he thought the guy caught the ball. That could be a mental error but I doubt it is a lack of effort. I don't think we will see lack of effort from that player. I bet he learned from that mistake and you won't see it again.

I can't explain the difference in batting average. But I doubt he gets up on Tuesday morning and thinks he does not have to show up for a non conference game. I don't think it is lack of effort. Just a fluky stat. I know I am glad he is hitting .310 in SEC games.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you I am happy with our results this year. We should have a few more wins. To be honest getting swept at UK bothers me more than losing last night. One of those games could be huge at the end of the year.

I don't know your posting history that well. But I respect almost every poster on this board (minus 2 LOL). I LOVE the passion that is shown for Gamecock baseball. If you travel around to other schools and stadiums you would understand how good we have it in Columbia and on TBS. I am glad that a loss upsets people. I just think some go overboard. Maybe I don't get upset enough.

Lets just get to Auburn, win at least 2, and get setup for the postseason.

Agreed!

It is inexplicable. Matthews is the most criticized player since Stephon Gilmore. People obsess over every bad at-bat he has.

I am not referring to anybody in this thread, I know what MCR was saying. Its just the fans in general are very hard on Matthews. He is at least as good of a person, and hard worker as there is on the team. He is a leader who puts a tremendous amount of pressure on himself. A class act, and a very talented player.

Postal you going to Auburn? You need to get more upset!

No Auburn for me.

I try not too get upset but sometimes I can't help it. LOL

I'm just not ready to blow up after every loss.

Not sure you meant to respond to me since i didnt call out anyone by name in the post you responded to but are you serious? This is the baseball board last time I checked. Any other off limits topics ABOUT BASEBALL you want hand down?