Thursday April 26, 2007

A Better Taste; Expectations

A Better Taste
In golf there is an old saying that if you make a big putt on the last hole that it makes dinner taste better. No matter if it is for 64 or 104 a long putt on the 18th seems to stay with you a little longer. Maybe last night's impressive performance by the baseball team will leave a better taste for Tiger fans.

Optimists say this team can do what others have done and that is turn around a season with one key win. In an earlier blog, I wrote that this game of baseball is crazy and sometimes one win can raise the confidence of a ball club. Sometimes it is one big inning or even one big hit can do it. The last time I wrote that was going into the Georgia series. The Tigers swept Georgia and started an six-game win streak. But that momentum was lost when they later went on to lose four out of five.

Another famous saying in life is, "If not me, who? If not now, when?"

This team does not have Sean Clark, Stan Widmann and Graham Stoneburner. At times they have been without Andy D'Alessio and are now without Brad Chalk and Addison Johnson. So they question is "If not those guys, who?"

Last night it was Wilson Boyd who has hit very well the last 15 games. The red-shirt freshman went 2-4 with 4 RBIs.

I thought Taylor Harbin had one of his best games when he added three hits and three RBIs. Harbin looked to have better balance last night an as a result he hit line drives and hard ground balls instead of pop ups.

D'Alessio had more of a presence as of late and you have to be very careful with him now.

Doug Hogan had a multi-hit game for the second straight night and his hot bat can be a key to this offense.

But the key is the three-run homer. Ben Paulson added two other hits but his blast really put the game out of reach. There is a great stat about how often a team that hits a three run home run and goes on to win the game. I can't find the data but it is a large percentage of the time. The three-run homer has been missed throughout most of this season.

If Not Now, When?

Hindsight is the only way to truly know but now is the time to start the big winning streak. Now is the time to build some momentum. The schedule gets very tough with ACC games against Georgia Tech, Boston College, Florida State and NC State.

There are always the last chances like the ACC tournament and NCAA tournament games but this team's destiny could be decided in the next three weekends. Georgia Tech is very good but they are like Clemson in that the Jackets are not as good as they have been in recent years. Boston College is a very winnable series but FSU may be the best team in the ACC and NC State is a tough place to play.

Now is the time.

Expectations
After this weekend every ACC school will be finished with spring practice and I will begin looking forward to the 2007 football season soon. Personnel has changed everywhere. Coaching staffs have changed at some schools. Schemes, schedules, injuries and a ton of other variables have changed throughout the league but the one thing that remains constant is the level of expectation across the league.

Here is what I think fans should expect at the six of the ACC schools if they are honest with themselves:

Boston College
Short-term-The 2007 team may be the most complete in the ACC but there is a new staff in town. How will this team respond to new leadership? How will the schemes change?

Long-term-The Eagles have a great population base to draw from but the interest is not there. Boston is a pro sports town and people really don't care about BC football in that part of the country.

Clemson
Short-term-Like every other team in the league Clemson has question marks going into the 2007 season. However the Tigers also have weapons. This team could be about the same as it has been in recent years or it could get a few breaks and take the next step.

Long-term-Clemson has the support and tradition to be a power in this league. There are enough positives to sell to prospects to continue to recruit well. I think program is full of potential if everyone is rowing in the same direction.

Duke
Short-term-Ted Roof one of the best coaches in Duke history and he can't win. The Blue Devils simply cannot compete in football.

Long-term-Is it basketball season yet?

Florida State
Short-term-FSU has been down for a surprising long time by its standards and this year's team has question marks. But the new offensive staff may have a few more answers. I think FSU will at least look better in 2007.

Long-term-You can't keep this program down too long. They have all of the advantages a school needs to compete for national titles. The Seminoles are one of the top ten programs in the country and things are just easier there.

Georgia Tech
Short-term-Addition by subtraction at quarterback but the loss of Calvin Johnson means major subtraction. Their freshmen should help but they have too many issues to be great.

Long-term-Atlanta is a selling point but the lack of support hurts. Like Boston, no one in Atlanta seems to notice Tech even when things are going well. The in-state talent is good every year but UGA gets most of that.

Maryland
Short-term-The Terps won a lot of close games last year but they should be more talented this season. This is among the best staffs in the league.

Long-term-I just don't see Maryland as a football power. This is a basketball school and the support and emphasis is not there. Plus who wants to live in College Park, MD?

Monday I will look at the rest of the league.

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