⚾ 🥎 🥎🏆 The Women's College World Series: Texas beats TTU for first softball title

 

[Bammerboy321]

Year after freaking year, the girls look scared to death to hit the ball

 

[bama alum]

I think Riley's day should...

Edit: it is over.

 

[bama alum]

! Might have our season end with a run-rule decision.

 

[bamanc50]

Gasso coaching and making adjustments and Murphy doesn’t have a clue. She intends to embarrass Bama and make this a run-rule game.

 

[bamanc50]

I sure hope the AD is watching a complete dismantling of the Alabama softball program.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I sure hope the AD is watching a complete dismantling of the Alabama softball program.

What do you want Byrne to do? And they aren’t gonna fire him, so take that option off the table.

 

[bama alum]

Heivilin...Clutchness, Gasso

 

[bamanc50]

What do you want Byrne to do? And they aren’t gonna fire him, so take that option off the table.

Why would the AD not fire him for his continuous decline in job performance? It’s obvious he has a poor coaching staff that certainly is not developing players because he has talent that transfers out of the program every year and replaces with lesser talent. It just doesnt’t make sense that if you are wanting to compete for championships every year you would try to bring in the very best players and coaching staff

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Why would the AD not fire him for his continuous decline in job performance? It’s obvious he has a poor coaching staff that certainly is not developing players because he has talent that transfers out of the program every year and replaces with lesser talent. It just doesnt’t make sense that if you are wanting to compete for championships every year you would try to bring in the very best players and coaching staff

There's a handful of reasons, but the biggest boils down to money. He's under contract through 2028 I think. There is zero chance they pay him out and spend what it would require to bring in an equal or greater replacement (even if they gambled on an unproven up-and-comer type). My suggestion would be to sit back and wait and see if A) he steps down/retires like Saban did -or- B) keep an eye on any contract extensions and the wording within (which would be reported on if specifics prompted as such).

 

[BamaFan334]

What do you want Byrne to do? And they aren’t gonna fire him, so take that option off the table.

That sounds like some rec ball politics. The program wants more and more money from it's boosters but gonna continue to allow a once proud program continue to lower the bar? Let's all face it, for a number of years it was National Championship aspirations. Then it was hoping to get to Oklahoma City, and now it seems to be hoping we get to host a Regional. Can't have a Champion every year, although Oklahoma may disagree, but absolutely zero reason the recent trends should be happening in Tuscaloosa.

As some have said, Alabama is a desirable place to play, but that will not be the case if you keep letting one guy run the program inefficiently. Second year in a row that I recall where the fielding was terrible. Multiple years in a row we couldn't hit based on so many comments.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

That sounds like some rec ball politics. The program wants more and more money from it's boosters but gonna continue to allow a once proud program continue to lower the bar? Let's all face it, for a number of years it was National Championship aspirations. Then it was hoping to get to Oklahoma City, and now it seems to be hoping we get to host a Regional. Can't have a Champion every year, although Oklahoma may disagree, but absolutely zero reason the recent trends should be happening in Tuscaloosa.

As some have said, Alabama is a desirable place to play, but that will not be the case if you keep letting one guy run the program inefficiently. Second year in a row that I recall where the fielding was terrible. Multiple years in a row we couldn't hit based on so many comments.

My gosh. They made World Series last year.
Every body making sound like bottom dwellers.
And OK is just over n beyond all others

 

[BamaFan334]

My gosh. They made World Series last year.
Every body making sound like bottom dwellers.
And OK is just over n beyond all others

If you're satisfied, so be it. Sloppy ball and falling upwards is not my idea of success. We won two SEC series. The SEC is the best conference in America, but still a number of teams behind the times that give you a great opportunity to pad your record. We showed potential in beating Oklahoma during the season, and that was huge, but to say there weren't multiple letdowns and we were a fundamental ball team isn't factual.

 

[Bammerboy321]

My gosh. They made World Series last year.
Every body making sound like bottom dwellers.
And OK is just over n beyond all others

I think it pertains more to the fact that Alabama's leaving a lot of success on the table because of Murphy's stubbornness to not adapt. He's essentially the Les Miles of college softball. No one argues his success and his ability to win in the playoffs, but Alabama would not be against OU in the Supers had they been able to play better in the regular season.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

If you're satisfied, so be it. Sloppy ball and falling upwards is not my idea of success. The SEC is the best conference in America, but still a number of teams behind the times that give you a great opportunity to pad your record. We showed potential in beating Oklahoma during the season, and that was huge, but to say there weren't multiple letdowns and we were a fundamental ball team isn't factual.

True. But. One thing for sure. More sec schools are emphasizing softball. More competition in recruiting.
Arkansas. Texas AnM. Etc. all means dominating talent pool is more difficult ( except patty n Ok).

Much like womens bball. ( or mens for that)

Thats all whats competition is gonna cause.

And u know like the rest $$$ and nil are gonna play bigger parts.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

That sounds like some rec ball politics. The program wants more and more money from it's boosters but gonna continue to allow a once proud program continue to lower the bar? Let's all face it, for a number of years it was National Championship aspirations. Then it was hoping to get to Oklahoma City, and now it seems to be hoping we get to host a Regional. Can't have a Champion every year, although Oklahoma may disagree, but absolutely zero reason the recent trends should be happening in Tuscaloosa.

As some have said, Alabama is a desirable place to play, but that will not be the case if you keep letting one guy run the program inefficiently. Second year in a row that I recall where the fielding was terrible. Multiple years in a row we couldn't hit based on so many comments.

It's not really politics at all, at least in terms of the bottom line. It's literally about money and finances.

The fielding was bad. IMO, it improved in the 2nd half of the year, but overall.... VERY BAD. I do like the SS though, she has a glove.

The hitting wasn't just better this season, it was significantly better. Lept from a team average or .251 last season to .314 this season. Hr's went from 42 to 58. SLG% went from 3.81 to 492. OBP went from .346 to .397. A lot of fans last year, a couple on here, bemoaned the hitting every week. And that is/was fine, it was really bad last year. But it was pointed out time and time again that Murphy's teams would never hit again, they had lost their magic bat dust of yesteryear. It was going to THE downfall of the program. Then this season, when this hitting, overall was pretty good (especially compared to last year), there's been no real acknowledgement of it by those same people. Either they double down and say the hitting still sucks, which is either dishonest or ignorant, or they move the strike zone and act as if pitching is suddenly the problem.

And that is ignoring the other facets of this like NIL and the overall conference wide investment in softball (which I've talked about before).


Disclaimer: This post was NOT an acknowledgment that everything with the Alabama Softball program is ok or that Patrick Murphy is infallible and immune from scrutiny or being questioned.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

It's not really politics at all, at least in terms of the bottom line. It's literally about money and finances.

The fielding was bad. IMO, it improved in the 2nd half of the year, but overall.... VERY BAD. I do like the SS though, she has a glove.

The hitting wasn't just better this season, it was significantly better. Lept from a team average or .251 last season to .314 this season. Hr's went from 42 to 58. SLG% went from 3.81 to 492. OBP went from .346 to .397. A lot of fans last year, a couple on here, bemoaned the hitting every week. And that is/was fine, it was really bad last year. But it was pointed out time and time again that Murphy's teams would never hit again, they had lost their magic bat dust of yesteryear. It was going to THE downfall of the program. Then this season, when this hitting, overall was pretty good (especially compared to last year), there's been no real acknowledgement of it by those same people. Either they double down and say the hitting still sucks, which is either dishonest or ignorant, or they move the strike zone and act as if pitching is suddenly the problem.

And that is ignoring the other facets of this like NIL and the overall conference wide investment in softball (which I've talked about before).


Disclaimer: This post was NOT an acknowledgment that everything with the Alabama Softball program is ok or that Patrick Murphy is infallible and immune from scrutiny or being questioned.

Right. If we take a million out of potential football nil n put in basketball or softball. Or baseball.

Its talent. Teach all you want but talent is talent

Saban loaded us with talent. Talent rose the program.

And ur disclaimer is interesting. I think it could be said about Oats. Or KD.

 

[TerryP]

Really close to 4:20

 

[bamanc50]

IMO Oklahoma is good because every year there is potential to play for and win a NC. That always attracts talent. Heck, one only has to look at Nick Saban and Alabama football.

 

[BamaFan334]

It's not really politics at all, at least in terms of the bottom line. It's literally about money and finances.

The fielding was bad. IMO, it improved in the 2nd half of the year, but overall.... VERY BAD. I do like the SS though, she has a glove.

The hitting wasn't just better this season, it was significantly better. Lept from a team average or .251 last season to .314 this season. Hr's went from 42 to 58. SLG% went from 3.81 to 492. OBP went from .346 to .397. A lot of fans last year, a couple on here, bemoaned the hitting every week. And that is/was fine, it was really bad last year. But it was pointed out time and time again that Murphy's teams would never hit again, they had lost their magic bat dust of yesteryear. It was going to THE downfall of the program. Then this season, when this hitting, overall was pretty good (especially compared to last year), there's been no real acknowledgement of it by those same people. Either they double down and say the hitting still sucks, which is either dishonest or ignorant, or they move the strike zone and act as if pitching is suddenly the problem.

And that is ignoring the other facets of this like NIL and the overall conference wide investment in softball (which I've talked about before).


Disclaimer: This post was NOT an acknowledgment that everything with the Alabama Softball program is ok or that Patrick Murphy is infallible and immune from scrutiny or being questioned.

NIL won't come in when a guy that thinks he knows it all won't adjust. Teams never winning anything like Texas Tech that have a billionaire backing them will see steady flow until they win something, but Alabama folks won't pay up unless they know they have a guy that can get it done and the money isn't going down the toilet. I genuinely do not know, but what is Murphy doing outside the lines to bring interest and money to support his recruiting needs? Guess I get tired of the finger being pointed at the boosters and would love to know what the staff is doing to gain funds.

We are up 1.5 runs per game this year over last year and up 1 run per game from 2023. Six less wins last year from 2023 and one more win this year from 2024. Two hitters over .300 in 2023, zero in 2024, and four in 2024, so hitting did appear better in that simple calculation, but it did not translate to any more wins of note.

 

[BamaFan334]

Right. If we take a million out of potential football nil n put in basketball or softball. Or baseball.

Its talent. Teach all you want but talent is talent

Saban loaded us with talent. Talent rose the program.

And ur disclaimer is interesting. I think it could be said about Oats. Or KD.

Texas Tech paid $1M to their pitcher from Stanford. $1M ain't turning a roster over and winning a conference title or ring in the SEC.