Auburn baseball hits the end of the road
Hey everyone. Auburn managed to snap its nine-game SEC losing streak on Sunday with a win at Kentucky. That didn't provide much help to the Tigers' postseason chances, which now are dissolved.Auburn is in 10th position with a 9-18 conference record.
Vanderbilt, currently in 8th place, is 12-14.
The SEC tournament includes the top eight teams. Even if Auburn sweeps Alabama this weekend, that won't be enough to pull beyond Vanderbilt.
I doubt you're shocked; Auburn hasn't qualified for the tournament since 2003. It's too early to wonder about John Pawlowski's job security, but it's
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
posted by Jay G. Tate at
7:49 AM
147 Comments:
sup folks?
Sup sup Will. MAN it is good to have things back to "normal" again.
And a late Happy Mother's day to all the Moms in HABTON land!
Normalcy is the drink dujour and I'm lovin' every sip.
utterly pathetic. AU baseball can't be better than 9th out of 12 SEC schools, at least ONCE in the last 6 years? horrid.
Good morning Hotties. Happy Monday.
AU is a big enough program we should be relevant and any sport that we compete in...to be that bad for that long is..Jay..you shouldn't have marked it out..inexcusable...what is the problem with our baseball team anyway..pitching? offense?
Yeah, that's pretty lousy re: AU baseball. Maybe they'll be better next year. They definitely need to get some better pitching.
Did the team finish the reg season leading in HR? I know they were in the lead for a while.
these two morning radio guys need to get...um...some female company - they sound like a couple of 15 year olds who have never been with a girl
This AU team needs pitching in the worse way. Next season will be better simply because they'll have more arms to work with.
mytommyd, how long have you been MYtommyd??? I always thought it was MRtommyd!! LOL
Monica, how would you know what that sounds like?
Hey guys, I've been MIA for a while . I had a pretty good bell ringer and couldn't look at the computer screen for prolonged periods of time a few weeks ago. Then I was busy finishing school. Then spent the past week in Nashville.
What'd I miss?
Wonder what happened to you, Austin. Welcome back.
Luv - because I'm listening to them online?
Women's Softball team is 3rd seed in NCAA post season. Playing Iowa this Friday in 1st round of regionals.
So far, Lady Tigers > Men's Tigers
Luv, I changed my name when JGT did it for the "Feeling The Heat" acceptance. I figured he may have known something I didn't.
mrtommyd, I thought my eyesight was just bad! LOL
Monica, funny. You know what I meant.
To be this irrelevant for this long is just ... bizarre.
It's baseball. Every team has a chance. Maybe you can't have 100 scholarship players like LSU and Georgia, but the other teams manage ...
What is even more shocking is Auburn use to be one of the better baseball teams in the SEC. It is amazing how things have changed.
tommyd ... sorry if I flubbed your name!
Sean, when are lady football team becomes is more relevant than mens I'im going to become worried.
No worries Mr Tate ... it was a long standing inside joke for some of us.
Maybe I'm just being a pollyanna, but perhaps we should give our baseball coach more than a year to turn the team around
Pawlowski deserves three years at least. He didn't have enough pitching this year and that's not something you can remedy in a few months ...
this makes me so sad -- I was a freshman when Tim Hudson played his last season. Other highlights of baseball during my days on the plains included a CWS trip....David Ross hit a game winning homer at FSU...we won a regional at home....we won an SEC tourny. I loved AU baseball back then. Things have sucked since Coach Baird retired.
Hornet, is that David Ross the same David Ross that was subbing up Brian McCann last week?
Same David Ross. He started at Auburn but finished at Florida.
ehyou - aside from drunk ping pong in Bayou la Batre (or wherever) how was the reunion?
How hard can it be to get kids to come to AU to play baseball and chase girls? 9th or worse for multiple years in a row sux. Even a blind hog can find an acorn in that amount of time.
gatiger...
Reunion couldn't have been much better, thanks for asking. Went to beach Sat. Threw horseshoes 'til after midnight Sat night (more victories). It was just extremely hot (94). I needed another day to recover, but I'm back at it today.
mytommyd I thought JGT was psychic when he put my name in the newbies column as Digger4AU. That is how it started out but after being banned for life on that commie forum. I changed it to DiggerforAu. I have used that in all the places I post. but I like the original better.
You youngsters won't get this, but ...
Instead of Gregg Olson in the bullpen for Auburn, we have Mrs. Olson from Folgers Coffee.
Whoever would ban digger is bad folks in my book.
I must admit that it is shocking to me that Auburn isn't better in baseball. They have a tremendous facility down there.
Our facility advantage in baseball is long gone. The lottery scholarship disadvantage endures, and the Slater Era was more like the Slater Error.
I'm hopeful that Coach Paw will turn this around, but it will take more than one season.
I'm in Cartersville,Ga, which is a baseball factory. We have sent a lot of kids to UGA. The top players are stuck on the UGA-Clemson-FSU scenerio and feel that those are the schools to get them to the "next level".
Sadly, the next level is not even realistic for most college players. I've tracked more players that ended up drafted lower after college than staight out of HS.
Every good pitcher that can garner a 3rd round or better signing bonus should go pro out of HS. The pros train/protect the pitcher's arms much better than college. Ironically, college coaches must win, minor league coaches must teach.
inexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusableinexcusable
There. JayGT was being too kind. I wanted to make sure "inexcusable" stuck. AU went to CWS one year when I was there. To not even make it to SEC tourney in 6 years is...
INEXCUSABLE
Well said, Hoopie.
Those facts of life helped stretch the distance between the haves and have nots of baseball.
When you are poorly coached, as we clearly were in the Slater days, it shows up badly.
I don't know about Paw yet, but it's WAAAY too early to make a judgment.
Thank you ehyou but I rode the neks pretty hard and the masters of the commie forum could not take it. I lost 5 names in six months before I backed off.but it sure was fun to go over on there side and watch the cry babies squirm and scream.
I don't think the lottery excuse is entirely valid.
Alabama is in the same boat with an inferior baseball facility and could possibly overtake LSU for the Regular Season title this weekend.
I understand it puts Alabama, Auburn, and the Mississippi schools at a disadvantage, but.....it can be overcome.
My mothers side of the family originally came from Cartersville, Ga, maybe I need to go back and straighten that place out.
Hoopie I agree. If baseball is the goal then go straight to the minors. If you want a college experience then AU is as good a place as FSU, AU East (Clemson) and GA.
You're right college coaches are more concerned about wins than teaching.
Baseball was such a low level of concern for so long that it use to be more about teaching and if you won so be it. Times a changing and I believe TV has brought this on.
Hopefully Coach Paw will get them turned around. This is really getting old.
I'll be honest....
I want Alabama to be good in Football, Basketball (guys and girls), & Baseball....
After that, I could care less and that includes gymnastics.
FSJ ...
It's valid as a part of the equation. The the lack of lottery scholarships (which I don't support, by the way) and the diminished facilities mean the evaluation and the coaching have to be that much more precise.
UAT has been better evaluators, recruiters and coaches in baseball over the past few years. Still, it's not that UAT has been dominant, and there has been the desire of some to let Wells ride off into the sunset.
My sense is that Auburn got complacent, and we'll be paying the price for that for a while.
A baseball team can be very fickle with, at times, a delicate balance between winning and losing. So......that being said..wouldn't even the law of averages get us in the SEC tourny every now and then?
The Hope Scholly gives UGA an advantage attracting/manipulating player schollys. Coaching the players is important, but maybe we need to setup a Limo Tour to recruit some baseball talent.
Oh I agree Jet....it is part of the whole "thing" but I think the failing on Auburn's part is just what you said......a poor coaching hire after Baird left.
And for the record, I am one of those that wondered earlier in the season if Wells had stayed too long.
I still think that the two years prior to this were not some of his better efforts.
I appreciate this discussion and find it to be quite timely. My gatiger cub is showing tendencies of being a Southpaw as well as very athletically inclined. My preference is for him to be a Starter or Closer if baseball is his passion. So, I'll encourage him to sign right out of HS then go to AU when his time is up.
Okay, so some of you are aware that the boy's not too far removed from his 2nd b'day but don't you take my hopes and dreams away from me. DON'T YOU DARE!
Sorry for yelling.
Digger...."Hoopie" is banned over there also. I can hardly read a thread over there without throwing up. The 4 times a year I post over there is under Gatiger2.
Are our drunk ping-pong and horseshoes teams going to make the post-season? If so, I'm guessing it will only be the women's teams. Regarding baseball, I was there for the Bo Jackson, Frank Thomas, Gregg Olson era, so this really sux. I've lived in Hoover for 4 years and the Tigers have yet to visit for the tournament, which is played one neighborhood over from my house.
My understanding on the scholarship thing is that the schools with the advantage really have the advantage in filling out their bench depth.
I readily admit I'm not an expert in how it all works.
And for the record, I see no problem with a lottery. I think it was silly for Siegelman to base his entire term in office on passing one. He essentially had no idea once that went down in flames. However, the lack of one has not stopped anybody in Alabama from playing......that wants to.
For the record I have no problem with anybody that opposes one as long as they are consistent. We had a woman in our office that campaigned against it in 98 or 99....and as soon as the Georgia lottery got so large they first time she was the first one in line to buy a ticket.
Sorta like how Cherokee County is dry (with the exception of Cedar Bluff) and there are booze shops right on the Etowah County line. Hasn't stopped a single person from drinking on the lake.....that didn't want to.
Plenty of baseball talent in the state of Al. and close by, if you can't do it with numbers like the Ga's and others you have to be exceptional in evaluating talent and getting them on board. Slater was not very good and time will tell about Paw.
Also, Jax State used to have a pretty darn good lower division baseball program. Have no idea if they are worth a rip now or not.
I'm also one of those people that can't stand to watch a baseball game on TV unless it is the 8th/9th inning.
I can watch them in person though.
FSJ - I'm like you only different (and better) in that I won't watch basketball on TV. If I have the time, I'll watch baseball regardless of the level anytime and anywhere.
(just kidding about the 'and better' part. or am i???)
gatiger....teach him good throwing fundamentals with his arm up high and especially to use his legs/body turn to generate velocity and protect the shoulder/elbow. When he gets 12-14 or so, he can then learn how to truly impartment movement on the ball (finger pressure, etc.)
As far as the "bidness" of pro draft vs college scholly....that deal morphs every 5-10 years, so who knows what it will be in 16 years.
LOL gatiger..
It's interesting because baseball was the sport I played in H.S.
My dad ended my football career in middle school. I had an older cousin break his neck tackling a RB in practice...(I think it may have been Gene Jelks) and had to wear one of those halo's. After that it was over for me.
And frankly I was better in baseball anyway. But I enjoyed football and basketball more.
You are right Hoopie I have to have an anti-UATalizer pill to read the BS now days. I still catch a real dingbat every now and then and slap him around for a while.
FSJ....Cherokee Cty is dry? I've got a place on the lake in Shoal Creek and, I guess, never stopped in Piedmont on the way over from Ga. to fill the cooler.
Note To self....
Oh yeah, Jet, I passed the test Friday evening. I hope you weren't too concerned.
Isn't Piedmont in Calhoun County?
I think it is but wouldn't swear to it.
Yes Cherokee County is dry. We have a place on the lake in Leesburg.
GaTiger ... never had a doubt.
The "dry" climate of Cherokee County never stopped certain Jet ancestors ancestors from being raging alcoholics.
I just sneezed while eating my peanuts, and boy did that make a mess!
so in scanning the post it looks like pitching was the main problem..I don't think a guy should be fired after just one season for sure..he needs to get us relevant tho..you know things are in a low point when in the three big sports (Football, Basketball, Baseball)basketball had the most success..I'm only referring to the men..the Lady tigers have done AU proud..WAR EAGLE!!
Boxhead - I thought you were more of a peanut butter fan. Had you been eating peanut butter rather than peanuts when you sneezed, I bet you wouldn't have that mess to clean up.
I've never lived in one, but I'd be inclined to think that living in a designated "dry" county would just tend to make things more challenging and fun.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong because I can't remember & I'm curious, isn't Chilton County "dry" but Clanton "wet"? Seems odd.
peanut butter.........
gatiger: I like most any peanut product, I guess. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as the main course, and honey roasted peanuts as the third course for lunch today.
You are probably right about the peanut butter being less messy if I sneezed while eating it. Those adhesive properties work in the mouth just like they work in the jar.
dry counties should be made into prisons. no one should be allowed in or out. then there would be riots on the two lane street in front of the strip mall where the county seat and courthouse are located. then maybe the idiots would get the message that you cannot legislate morality. it has been tried over and over and failed. just like communism.
gatiger, unless reently changed, chilton cty (home to my ancestors dating back quite a while) is dry, while clanton is wet. very strange, and, i think, encouraging some dwi revenue.
meant "recently". oh, jgt, i should think that hawke would be very open to the press at this point. could make for a good story this year, if things work out well.
Interesting thing in a place I used to live; Fayette County, GA=dry, while Peachtree City which is IN Fayette County=wet. Never could figure that out, but it did make things convenient when party time came around.
State law is that any municipality over 7,000 can vote itself wet. Once a municipality within a dry county has voted itselt wet, the threshold for a referendum within that county drops to 4,000.
is most of extreme northern alabama (except madison cty) still dry?
I am all for wet counties, but I have always thought the "you can't legislate morality" thing is pretty dumb. Of course you legislate morality. I am pretty happy there are laws against stealing and killing and such. You need to rephrase that statement as, "I don't like it when people make laws due to their morals that I disagree with." Much more accurate.
you raise a good point, habotn queen. however, i think that the "legislate morality" argument excludes conduct dangerous to others. drunk is ok, driving drunk--not ok.
http://www.abc.alabama.gov/wet_dry.aspx
This is an interesting chart of the wet/dry counties, the wet municipalities, and the holders of "community development licenses," which are apparently private country clubs with special liquor licenses.
Integrating schools was considered legislating morality and thus unjust by some, Scott from Tuscon. It wasn't exactly putting anyone in danger.
We are a democracy. Vote for who will legislate things in the way that most lines up with your views instead of bemoaning the fact that they can change things.
Just looked at Jet's dry/wet county map... wow, I never realized there were that many dry counties. I never knew how lucky I was to live where I live until I just saw that I am surrounded on all sides by dry counties. Kind of depressing.
dry counties are stupid.
Harrison is back from Jamaica!
I'll save my value judgments regarding the wet-dry issue.
Acknowledging my interest in politics, and count me as old school, I must tip my hat in admiration to the unholy-holy alliance of Baptists, Bootleggers and Bidnessmen (from adjacent counties) that have kept so many counties dry.
What we need is an Annie Savoy.
Luv- Sorry, I totally misread your post this morning! Now I get it. ;-)
Monica ... that's a wonderful idea.
How come I snicker everytime I read the name of Minnesota Vikings owner Zigi Wilf?
Hehhh hehhh heehhhh.
I knew you'd like that idea, Guvnah Jet. *curtsy*
Jet - my first thought on your unholy/holy alliance post was: "Alright, we'll take the n****** and the c***** but we don't want the Irish."
So you 'member when I rolled out the football scholarship allocations for the 2008 season?
Maybe we should add the guys we (expect) to be added this summer and see where the depth-chart holes remain. Does that seem useful?
I'm sure Annie would have the pitching staff breathing through their eyelids in short order.
GaTiger, I am particularly glad that these children are here today to see this fine display of authetic frontier gibberish.
Jay G, absolutely.
JGT - for that fine idea I extend to you a laurel...and hearty handshake.
Excuse me, while I ...
Listen to our esteemed school marm, as she reads a telegram that she herself has composed to the governor.
Where the white women at?
JGTT good idea, Please do!
What'n the wide, wide world of sports is goin' on here?
Sorry about the "up yours, GaTiger."
I hate it when I have no clue what the what y'all are talking about.
Good idea, Jay G. I find you very useful.
Watched the Shuttle take off and I still get goosebumps when I see a space rocket take off. I worked in Huntsville from 1962 to 1974 during some exciting years in the space program. Also some tragic years. But we were young and had a blast.
If you would watch more wonderful movies this wouldn't happen to you.
Wake shoots and scores!
Saorry gang had to do some work. So how's life in the CLEAN world?
Austin - don't make me
Doggoned near lost a $400 handcart.
come over there
Tell 'em I said, "Ow!" Gotcha!
Question - what do you guys think about the "sex talk" you are supposed to have with your kids? I learned about sex from my schoolmates, and I am somewhat glad I never had to have that awkward conversation with my parents. Now that I have kids, and it seems like it is the responsible thing to do, should I do it one day? And at what age?
I didn't get a harrumph outta that guy!
my parents made me read a book about it Michael. Just show it to them on the internet
Why do I always get the wharped one?
Is that why Madonna wrote that "Sex" book back in the day? Maybe I should go buy that.
I think I will show them a youtube video of praying mantises mating and the male getting eaten and say, "basically, it is like that."
The governor harumphed. Give the governor a harumph.
I was standing near the bread section of Winn Dixie and asked my mother, "What is an orgasm?"
I think you should have age appropriate sex talks with your kids starting very early. First reason is for their protection.- Second reason because when I was a therapist for kids I was AMAZED at what they believed in the absence of good information. And I mean from age 4ish on up. There are god books out there for you to use.
Boxhead - get Skinemax
Just to put my 2 cents in on the baseball situation...
I don't buy excuses, none of them. Excuses are just that... They aren't valid reasons. A valid reason for why AU baseball is at the point it is right now is that things have not been done right in a long time. The scholly lottery is just a feable excuse. Other teams deal with it and they overcome it... Some of them with far inferior facilities. There is no reason why AU should not be able to field a contending baseball team year in and year out.
The fact that AU has missed the NCAA's for as long as we have is inexcusable. That's not mentioning the fact that we've missed the SEC Tourney for 6 years! That is just shameful, disgraceful, despicable, contemptible.... I don't buy the excuses... There needs to be a change in attitude and desire and heart within the AU program. The effort from the admin to the coaches has not been there for years. The players have lacked simple fundamentals and discipline (on field... Can't speak to off field). There has been no upward development from year to year.
I knew when we dropped the series to Elon to open the year that it would end up this way. There was no excuse for losing that series and there is no excuse for the dismal, putrid performance in conference play this year either.
I agree that CJP should be given a few years. It will take time to bring about a wholesale change in attitude and to change the culture of AU baseball in order to get it to where it should be.
I will say that I had hoped to at least see improvement at the end of the season from what we saw early... And I can't say that for certain.
There is a lot of work to be done around AU baseball. It won't click overnight, I realize that, but there has to be steady improvement. No excuses for not seeing it.
I was in second grade when my friend grossed me out by telling me what my parents must have done... are you serious about the starting at 4 years old business? Sweet mercy.
My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
I can remember when Gadsden had bootleggers.
One in particular would have cars pulling through its driveway through a carport where they had turned one window in the house into a drive thru....
Michael,
At a reasonably early age, I believe you should teach your children to tell you if ANYONE tries to touch them.
As they get closer to middle school age, there are several good books you can have them read, then have their mother talk to them about any questions. (Only partially joking.)
At some point, you'll have to impart your values and your best advice and pray that they take good advice.
With anything regarding your children, it's about building the trust, love and respect that they will be comfortable enough to come to you to talk about any problem they'll face.
Oh, and Yay! I have internet back at the house now, after 2 weeks without it!
When do you homeowners find time to get on here? I have a to-do list a hundred miles long!
Oh, and thanks to all who suggested Dish... So far, very happy!
GaTiger ...
Ditto.
"Ditto?" "Ditto," you provincial putz?
I'm with Jet. If you teach your children solid principles and raise them to respect others and foster a trusting relationship, then you should be able to talk to them about anything.
I never had "the talk" with my parents. But, my dad and I had a great relationship and we could talk about anything... And we did. As I grew up he talked about some of it a little bit along the way. It amounted to the same as 'the talk', but was spread out over my childhood so that I really never knew that we had had the uncomfortable conversation, because it wasn't uncomfortable that way.
Giving childrem the proper information for them to make well informed decisions is important, regardless of the topic.
I agree with, Brother Jet.
Here's a bit of unsolicited advice for all you loving parents. Don't say this to your kids: "If anyone ever (fill in the blank) I would kill them."
I've had more than one child tell me they didn't disclose the abuse that had happened because, "My Daddy said he would kill anybody if they ever (fill in the blank) and I didn't want him to go to jail."
I think there are a few different kinds of "talks". There's the wanting your kids to know the mechanics, the whole "values" talk and the keep your kids safe talk.
I will spare you expounding on the first two topics. However, I'm an court recognized expert on the last topic and if you want advice you know how to reach me.
Proverbs 22:6
I do my best to follow that.
When I was in 3rd grade I asked my mom where babies came from. She told me matter-of-factly. I promptly went and told my best friend. I can still remember the horrified look on his face as he said "Well, my parents didn't do that to get me!"
Monica ...
Does your admonition include the statement, "If you go to UAT, I'll kill you?"
Oh.
That one gets my full support.
My parents had a great sex talk with me, told me all about how everything happens and that I should never let anyone touch my private parts.
It was a little awkward because we were sitting in my dorm room on my first day at Auburn.
Children take you at your word when young. Even if it sounds crazy or is not really meant. To them it is the gospel.
Of course, with ElTurbo, that has never been a concern.
Clearly, Austin, you didn't listen to your parents.
Yes my last post was a joke. Although I did have a very awkward talk with my dad. It was like 8 years before that.
I think I will go the chastity belt route if I ever have a girl. That seems to be the safest route.
Austin,
Did you ask the all-important question?
Stewardess stays under watchful eye. Appendage is properly scared of his mind.
What's interesting is how many child molesters DON'T get killed by Daddies or Mommies. Just sayin...
2009 scholarship projection up.
I raised three girls and I still can't tell you if I did it right or did a good job. Watching all they have gone through who really knows. But that is life and the parent can't live it for them.
Big News from the Advertiser site ...
Jubilee CityFest has announced that Grammy-nominated Rapper Tone Loc will open for L.L. Cool J May 23 on the Miller Lite/Tallapoosa, Riverside and Windcreek Casino & Hotel stage.
Jubilee CityFest, one of Alabama's largest family and music festivals, is scheduled for May 22-23, 2009 in downtown Montgomery.
D. Miller.
I ran out of my adderalls by the time I got to the despicable and shameful part.
Monica said "there are god books out there for you to use"
I believe she's talking about the Bible ;-)
Michael - the praying mantis approach sounds best.
HAHAHAHA @ Xaff!!! Finally someone who feels my pain!!
Digger - You're the wisest of the wise. Smooch.
Tone Loc....
Taking me back to the old days now..
Glad I started all this fun sex talk!
I think I will try to have the sex talk with my kids via HABOTN.
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