"Six players were drafted, and head coach Wade Simoneaux said twice as many could have been drafted had the team been more focused.
There were too many agents, advisors, and pro scouts distracting the team. It’s something Simoneaux vows to have a better handle on this season.
“We had some really good-looking kids, some high profile guys, and everywhere we went — we’d go to Hawaii, we’d go to Fresno, we even had a guy from (superagent Scott) Boras following us — and it got to where some players might have felt some things were unimportant with all the money they were going to get,” Simoneaux said. "
Wow!
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I don't agree with Sims' last quote at all. The pressure some of these players had on them to live up to the "hype" was definately a factor as far as being a distraction, but the "high profile" players gave it their all on the field. I don't think the upcoming 2008 MLB draft and future signing bonuses had much affect on the players. The "hype" was a distraction. By "hype" I mean the constant reference to as many as 8 players being hounded by MLB scouts and hints that we surely will win the WAC, win the WAC tournament and CWS here we come. I think the "hype" got to the coaches as well as the players.There was plenty of blame to go around for the miserable season we had last year. Hopefully with this years' team beginning the season with low expectations by the fans, they can play without the stress and distractions that plagued us last year. The team mirrors the personality of the coaches, so if the coaches are not stressed out and distracted, then the team won't be. With all that said I really think that this will be a fun season for the coaches, players, and fans. Let's get it rolling with an opening series win over Grambling !
I agree with almost all of it, especially the last part. The bottom line- last season's team (players & coaches) was GROSSLY OVER-RATED! Our 9th inning noshows got really old and were a big part of why we didn't even qualify for the WAC tournament, which was played on our own field! That was one of the most underperforming Tech teams I've ever witnessed in any sport over the last 30 years.
Here's to a MUCH MORE FOCUSED 2009 team or some serious changes at the end of the season!
There were some ridiculous behaviors and some kids letting some things go to their heads, even a few isolated instances with a parent or two, but hopefully all learn from it.
I think this team while exciting with some youth with good future potential, this team may be a little too inexperienced when facing better quality teams and pitching during the season. Appears a gap with an off recruiting year to have some veterans and most others freshman or RS freshman, and couple of sophomores. With the youth and WAC a little stronger with both Nevada and Hawaii better, may be difficult reach .500. 30 wind season and 3 place or better finish would be significant over acheivement in my opinion. I recall when the kids last year were freshman and we had a few hungry Srs. and Jrs....that team while young and made some mistakes played hard and were fun to watch win or lose. This season appears it could be similar to that season.
I hope we can get off to a good start and get some confidence and a good vibe going after last year. The schedule is not praticularly tough but we do play 3 game series against usm, dallas baptist, and eastern michigan and all 3 teams made the tourney last year and at least one won their regional. Hoping for a good season for Sim and the team but there are alot of FR and guys who haven't played much if any in college. WAC is going to be VERY tough this year so .500 would probably be good record there. FSU and Nevada come here so we don't have to travel but those teams love to hit in Love shack. We go to Hawaii, San Jose, And Sac st. Looking forward to a fresh start and sending these Seniors out as winners. Go Dawgs!
if you really think that the player you are referring to from last year "thought some things were unimportant" and didnt haveto work at what he was doing then you are obviously dumb...he may be the only kid that i saw running around town the two days after he pitched...You think just because he didnt pitch well that he didnt try or didnt work hard, have you not heard anything about him having the arm trouble last year and pitching through it all year and also into the summer waitng to sign and go play......This was definitely the worst season for a sport with all the hype that they had, but you shouldnt say something is true when you know nothing about it, and apparently neither did the coach if hes saying it in the paper..just my opinion...but i do agree about them not being focused last year at all! heres to a new year at tech baseball
Last edited by latechsports!; 02-01-2009 at 10:45 PM. Reason: forgot
This is my first post on the site. I used to read it while I was a bulldog but didn't feel right posting on it. I did play baseball, but only my freshman year at Tech. Now that I read some of the things on here I have to say that in my opinion the scouts and big heads DID weigh alot on what the team failed to accomplish last year. While some like JJ and Albie along with Knotts did do all they could I belive that some of the hype got to them. The biggest case in my opinion was Luke. While I would like to say he tried I just didn't see it. After the previous summer in the Cape Cod he had his head filled up with so much that he might have lost sight of what he still needed to do. I don't belive the excuse of how he was hurt... tell Sim if you are hurt... Sim isn't going to risk a young man's future over it. Especially not for a guy who had a grotesque record in college. And every pitcher runs after they throw so Luke wasn't the only one doing that! I belive that he went hollywood on everyone. He didn't sack up and get the job done that he was on scolarship to do. JJ had the same hype and performed well. Cobb mat not have had the hype focused on him, but he performed well while they were there and made a name for himslef. The fact is...and anyone who disagrees must not have seen the games... Luke acted like a big leaguer last year and didn't back it up on the bump. Many of the freshmen showed more poise and leadership than he did. Sim and the rest of the staff need to step up and take some responsibility also. I like that he lets some player lead, but someone once told me that too many chiefs and not enough indians just results in aruments and failure. As for this season I like how the team has a mix of guys with no big names. Alot of leaders from upperclassmen and some anxious younger guys will make for exciting baseball. I think they will get back to the winning ways and Tech can put about 6 or 7 more guys in the minors.
"When I was young my mom wanted me to be a farmer..." "When I was younger my dad wanted me to be a baseball player."
Last edited by BLUE collar; 02-02-2009 at 12:24 PM. Reason: spelling
I'm anxious to see our baseball TEAM in action this year!
I redshirted back in 2004 and then went and played JUCO ball for a year before coming back to finnish up my degree.
I find that we are still talking about last year, isn't that a distraction already and the season has not even started. Lets stop talking about last year, everyone is talking alot about the distractions from last year, but don't you think still talking about it and not moving on is a distraction in its self. Especially to the newcomers with positive outlooks.
In a perfect world the players shouldn't be reading what we are saying, but we know that this isn't a perfect world. I agree with the fact that we need to start talking about this year and leave last year in the past. My previous post was just to make my point that the players and coaches were to blame and that just because they were still working out doesn't mean that they were innocent. And as the old saying goes... those who don't learn from their history are doomed to repeat it. So here is hoping that the player who read... this learn from their history and don't repeat it.