Random Thoughts: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators in the SEC Baseball Tournament

HOOVER, Ala. — Welcome to a different dose of random observations, a set of all of the ideas that popped into my thoughts whereas taking in an early morning serving of Razorback baseball.

Shady from the beginning

The sport began with controversy as Arkansas lead-off hitter Braydon Webb stepped out of the batter’s field pondering he had a timeout whereas Florida’s Nick Pogue threw a flat, hittable fastball proper down the center of the plate.

The umpire referred to as strike three, sending Webb right into a match of rage.

Watching it reside, it regarded like Webb simply stepped out whereas Pogue began his wind-up.

Nonetheless, the replay clearly confirmed Webb calling trip earlier than the pitch began, hesitating for a second, after which stepping out. 

Cayden Wallace then made it a degree to shout a trip throughout his at-bat, ensuring the whole stadium may simply hear the sass in his voice whereas leaving little question time had been referred to as.

It was a second that may have drawn previous groups collectively in an “us in opposition to the whole SEC” seething anger that may result in a stream of stick this in a daylight poor area innings leading to an announcement mercy rule sport.

Nonetheless, that is not how this staff is constructed. These aren’t killers. 

We lastly noticed within the sixth inning what was anticipated whereas issues have been nonetheless uncooked within the first couple of innings as Cayden Wallace and Michael Turner took out their frustration with back-to-back solo residence runs after falling behind 5-0.

This staff misplaced its edge again when it allowed a bunch of truthful climate followers persuade a Prime 4 staff that it wasn’t worthy of their love as a result of they have been such a horrible staff. They began believing keyboard warriors who in all probability could not hit a dart board with a baseball from 10 yards away as a substitute of trusting in themselves and their coach.

In addition they misplaced their capacity to have enjoyable. Groups that notice they’re taking part in a children’ sport and have enjoyable alongside the way in which are those that win.

Suppose again to the Main League World Sequence groups at Texas and Anaheim with their antlers and rally monkey respectively. Check out the Arkansas softball staff at all times laughing, dancing, making loopy objects out of Powerade cups and carrying a rally squirrel on their head. 

Now consider the physique language of this Arkansas staff the previous two weeks. They appear depressing more often than not and so they’re so tight it seems to be like a fence put up has been run up their bottom to the highest of their shoulders. 

The look on their faces is that of a person who works at a job that has crushed him down and he desires nothing greater than to by no means report back to work once more, however has no selection. Arriving on the ballpark is figure for these younger males, which isn’t good at any stage, a lot much less throughout event play when enjoyable ought to be best to come back by.

This staff does not have a expertise downside. The distinction between probably profitable a School World Sequence championship and going out in two video games on the street in a regional is 100% psychological.

Unhealthy to worse

When a sport turns south in a rush, the aim is to get all gamers by way of safely and switch focus to the regionals, very like Mississippi State did final yr. 

Sadly, that did not occur. Brady Tygart, who had flashes of greatness all through the season was not having his finest outing, and it will definitely grew to become clear why. 

Tygart gave up a house run adopted by successful batter. He then tried a choose at first base and almost threw it into the stands. 

His day closed with a breaking ball that was to this point off that it went manner behind the batter, then took a tough break and hit him on the again proper shoulder. As coaches got here out to fulfill with Tygart, it regarded prefer it is perhaps an harm scenario.

Thankfully for the Hogs, Tygart was battling dizziness and was light-headed. He ought to be obtainable for the regionals.

There are individuals who suppose this a lot about sausage

Early within the sport, there was a Johnsonville sausage business that reminded us there’s somebody on this planet whose job it’s to do nothing however suppose as deeply about sausage as a pastor ought to be enthusiastic about the Lord each day.

The business identified that you may’t have sausage with out the USA. That is when the individuals at residence begin spelling sausage of their heads, and those who have been born earlier than spelling was eliminated as a topic at school notice the individuals at Johnsonville are proper.

SaUSAge. America of America is correct there within the title. 

Somebody get me a grill. It is time to make the most of the cool climate whereas honoring my nation.

Not all commercials have a lot thought

There’s a automobile insurance coverage business that has run all through the event the place a child his a house run that presumably hit a automobile and broke the entrance glass of a automobile parked within the outfield.

Nonetheless, the child is being falsely blamed for the injury. The automobile is parked with its trunk and again glass going through the outfield fence. 

 The ball comes from in entrance of the automobile to interrupt the glass, so it could not have come from the house run. What seems to have occurred is the insurance coverage spokesman snatched up the house run ball and threw it into the windshield of this poor particular person’s automobile simply to attempt to persuade him/her of the necessity to purchase his insurance coverage.

If insurance coverage gross sales do not work out, perhaps this shady fellow may have a future as an SEC umpire.

Probably the most unsacrificing sacrifice of all time

Apparently a part of the situation of getting Jalen Battles to come back again was that Van Horn had to surrender his No. 2 jersey to the celebrated brief cease. 

The SEC announce crew tried to promote this as a heart-warming story of sacrifice, however even they could not maintain this pressured angle collectively for various seconds. 

There’s nothing extra unconsequential on this world than the quantity a baseball coach wears on his uniform. The reward of a manger’s quantity is on par with giving somebody the leftover pizza crust in your plate after you’ve got tapped out. 

It is nonetheless arduous to grasp why baseball coaches put on participant uniforms.

Softball does not do it. Courtney Deifel is not on the market rocking skin-tight baseball pants whereas sprinting to residence plate to high-five one other residence run hitter.

Jordyn Weiber is not working round Barnhill Area in a leotard and splashes of chalk powder. 

We might see Sam Pittman differently if he needed to strap on a set of lineman shoulder pads and a helmet whereas he labored the sidelines of Razorback Stadium. 

If Eric Musselman needed to throw on a basketball jersey and shorts whereas scowling at referees in entrance of a packed crowd at Bud Walton he would appear to be a disgruntled four-year-old carrying his massive brother’s hand-me-downs. He’d by no means get one other name once more.

It is a custom for the sake of custom that should go away.

Can Connor Noland nonetheless throw a soccer?

Seeing the form Connor Noland has gotten himself into this yr makes one surprise if he can nonetheless spin a soccer. 

He was as soon as the longer term at quarterback for the Razorbacks, however he was sensible sufficient to acknowledge that Chad Morris had a bag of nothing and opted to maneuver completely into baseball.

Sadly, prospect rankings present Razorbacks dropping like a rock, and Noland does not present up within the Prime 400 rankings.

Nonetheless, with Arkansas having such a necessity at quarterback for the upcoming season, perhaps it is a good time to make use of that COVID yr and see what may need been. 

Get that child an NIL deal

There was a ball boy alongside the third baseline who demonstrated the best of integrity. 

He promised a younger man sitting close by that he would get him a ball if the chance got here. When a foul ball went to left discipline, he grabbed it up with a gaggle of younger males making an attempt to stress him into give one among them the ball.

Nonetheless, the ball boy caught to his promise and gave it to the younger man who had initially requested. When the grateful fan tried to slide the ball boy a bit of money, he was shaken off.

There are lots of people on the market getting NIL offers who do not carry worth equal to what they’re being paid. It is a younger man who could be price each penny.

Sure Sir!

That rowdy group of foul ball chasers deep alongside the left discipline line did finally get a shot at a collectable. 

When the younger man who got here away with it after beating out a big group charging all the way down to the underside of the hill, he shouted out “Sure sir!” as he held the ball excessive. 

He was instantly echoed by these round him with Sam Pittman’s signature “Sure sir!” of their very own.

HOGS FEED

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LANE KIFFIN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT NEW WORLD OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MAY BE ON SLIPPERY SLOPE TO DRASTIC CHANGE IN ARKANSAS

IS GREG SANKEY, SEC, LOOKING BIGGER THAN ANY OF US WOULD GUESS?

HAVING ONE PERMANENT OPPONENT IN SEC MIGHT BE AWKWARD FOR HOGS

ESPN ANALYTICS SAYS HOGS NEXT TO LAST IN SEC WEST FOOTBALL RACE

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