Time to bench Ella Parker?

[soonerTroll2]

In conference play Ella is now 2/26. Injuries, homesickness or whatever other rumors I've heard, I don't care. She's become a liability at the plate.

[OUchief2020]

Who will you put in?

[soonerTroll2]

Barker, Bland, anyone on the bench. I'm sure they got several players that can hit .077.

[1KCSoonerFan]

I catch your frustration vibe, Troll.

I'm not sure what the answer is for Parker; that's up to her and her coaches. I rest assured that anything that may hurt OU's chances to win in the context of the team and program, Patty will make the best call based on the information she has in dialogue with her great staff.

Do you bench a great hitter (or pitcher - reference KD) who is not performing well lately? Or, is the best course to keep them in the game and up to speed while they go through the process? I don't know. I'm sure there are reasons the coaches have for their decisions. Those reasons may not agree with my reasons in the time frame I want them to happen.

I want Parker to crush it every game and lead OUSB to more NC's. Maybe Ella feels that pressure and is pressing to be great rather than BEING great? Patty has mentioned in interviews this as the #1 cause of slumps for great hitters. It is very ironic and hard to understand to be sure.....since I have never been at that level of achievement, pressure, and expectation.

As a fan, I have wondered why in the heck the opposing team can shut down OU's capable offense for multiple innings just by throwing change-ups and off-speed pitches with hurlers who have a 3-4+ERA. What!? Why doesn't the message pass down to the next batter to look off-speed? Why does it take 5 innings to change? Maybe changes are harder to make than I think?

It would be a great experiment to have a team that is based solely on fan coaching and see how they do versus a professionally coached team and program. To make it more real, do this for five or ten years and compare records.

Any predictions on outcomes?

[Mokasthunder]

Absolutely not...

Without looking, even though she only has a couple of hits, she is still getting on base with walks, and the opposing pitcher definitely has to be very careful pitching to her vs whoever we would bring off the bench...

Most great players battle demons throughout their career, Alo quickly comes to mind, and it looks like Gasso is doing a great job supporting her...