SLOW PACE LULLS ROCK CATS TO SLEEP
The first aspect of Tuesday's game with the Binghamton Mets that caught the eye of Rock Cats manager Riccardo Ingram was the pace.
Pace? In baseball?
Yes, and while the casual fan will not make the connection, the pace is absolutely crucial to someone with a discerning eye like a manager.
On Tuesday, the game slowed to a crawl when the Rock Cats were in the field. Pitcher Jesse Floyd failed to establish a good rhythm and the defense lost its edge. Errors were followed closely by unearned runs. The Binghamton hitters took it from there, ripping shots all over the lot en route to a 12-4 win.
"We weren't intense enough pitching- and defense-wise to carry out what we needed to do," Ingram said. "I thought we were going to hit the ball and get some runs, and we were able to do that, but I thought the tempo was going against us on that side of the ball and it showed up big-time."
Floyd, not being the overpowering type, relies heavily on spotting the ball and staying ahead in the count. When he falls behind in the count, he's forced to come in with the fastball and the Mets began teeing off on him.
"The tempo was slow, the defense got on their heels and consequently couldn't make the plays," Ingram said. "When that happens, you give them extra outs, the pitcher has to make more pitches and a couple hits here and there and it can make for a big inning."
The B-Mets had a five-run fourth off Floyd then greeted veteran left-handed reliever Brian Forystek with three more in the fifth. Game over.
"We didn't make pitches when we had to and gave up the long ball," Ingram said. "Too many hard-hit baseballs. We didn't stay with our pitch plan. We didn't do anything right on the mound.
"It's a little bit of a downer when it happens with your veterans out there."
Both are a rare commodity on a Twins' Double-A club. The Twins, long known for promoting young pitchers from within the organization, grabbed both Floyd and Forystek from the otuside during the offseason. And both played in the Eastern League, Floyd with the Connecticut Defenders (Giants) and Forystek with the Bowie Baysox (Orioles).
Both have had great and bad moments thus far, and Ingram is looking to them and former Red Sox right-hander Brad Baker for their leadership with younger hurlers dotting the rest of the roster.
"You've got to have good pace and have good energy," Ingram said. "The game tends to flow more for us and that didn't happen. I didn't think we were aggressive enough."
Pace? In baseball?
Yes, and while the casual fan will not make the connection, the pace is absolutely crucial to someone with a discerning eye like a manager.
On Tuesday, the game slowed to a crawl when the Rock Cats were in the field. Pitcher Jesse Floyd failed to establish a good rhythm and the defense lost its edge. Errors were followed closely by unearned runs. The Binghamton hitters took it from there, ripping shots all over the lot en route to a 12-4 win.
"We weren't intense enough pitching- and defense-wise to carry out what we needed to do," Ingram said. "I thought we were going to hit the ball and get some runs, and we were able to do that, but I thought the tempo was going against us on that side of the ball and it showed up big-time."
Floyd, not being the overpowering type, relies heavily on spotting the ball and staying ahead in the count. When he falls behind in the count, he's forced to come in with the fastball and the Mets began teeing off on him.
"The tempo was slow, the defense got on their heels and consequently couldn't make the plays," Ingram said. "When that happens, you give them extra outs, the pitcher has to make more pitches and a couple hits here and there and it can make for a big inning."
The B-Mets had a five-run fourth off Floyd then greeted veteran left-handed reliever Brian Forystek with three more in the fifth. Game over.
"We didn't make pitches when we had to and gave up the long ball," Ingram said. "Too many hard-hit baseballs. We didn't stay with our pitch plan. We didn't do anything right on the mound.
"It's a little bit of a downer when it happens with your veterans out there."
Both are a rare commodity on a Twins' Double-A club. The Twins, long known for promoting young pitchers from within the organization, grabbed both Floyd and Forystek from the otuside during the offseason. And both played in the Eastern League, Floyd with the Connecticut Defenders (Giants) and Forystek with the Bowie Baysox (Orioles).
Both have had great and bad moments thus far, and Ingram is looking to them and former Red Sox right-hander Brad Baker for their leadership with younger hurlers dotting the rest of the roster.
"You've got to have good pace and have good energy," Ingram said. "The game tends to flow more for us and that didn't happen. I didn't think we were aggressive enough."
posted by Ken Lipshez at
6:40 PM
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