A Quick Note and Apology
I want to take a moment to apologize—particularly to HokiePro and others on the board—for coming across as negative in recent posts. My emotions got the best of me, and that’s never the right tone for thoughtful discussion.
I played this game at the Power 5 level—back when it was called the Power 5—and I know firsthand how incredibly difficult it is, especially now with the way pitching has evolved. People sometimes forget just how tough this sport is, especially for young players trying to earn opportunities in high-pressure environments.
Early in my own career, I struggled coming off the bench. It’s nearly impossible to get into a rhythm when your at-bats are few and far between. You press. You overthink. And when you don’t have consistent playing time, it’s hard to settle in. I know what it feels like to read criticism online during those times—it hurts. These kids read this stuff too. That’s why I regret some of my recent posts.
When I finally got the chance to play every day, my game improved dramatically. That experience shaped how I see today’s players: these are young men competing in a game built on failure, even under the best of circumstances.
As for the coaching decisions—we all have opinions, and I understand the frustration. Coaches at this level are paid well and have access to deep analytics and advanced scouting. They’re expected to make the best decisions based on data and performance. It doesn’t mean they’re above criticism, but I also respect that there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than we often see.
1 Reply
1y
I have always tended to do the tough love thing….but I recognize how that can look to be negative. I was a fringe college athlete (could’ve played D3 in a couple different sports if I wanted ended up an D1 manager) and really only got to play at the level I did often thru bball IQ. Just frustrating to see fundamental failures hurt us at the worst times 🤷🏻♂️
We all are frustrated that our teams aren’t going further in postseason
But guess what…neither is UVA hahaha
(In response to this post by Hokiefan554455)