I exchanged a brief email with PantherSon's HS coach today. Since I am such an unobtrusive dad (sorry FO -- large word), he must have been surprised to hear from me. Anyway....I wished him success beginning next week and asked (just for the sake of conversation) his thoughts on the pitching rotation..........I knew he was an innovator but his 2007 plans blew me away! You gotta like a coach with a sense of humor.

His reply:

"The pitching rotation is pretty much set. I have this big bag with all our pitchers' names in it and I will pull one out and pitch that guy! I do have the right to pick another name if the one I pull out is not acceptable to me. Also, we will implement a "poll the stands inning" and the pitcher of the next inning will be elected by a show of hands in the stands."

Swingdoc & Swami -- I think he's on to something

6 more days!

PD,

Seen that approach work very well on "Deal or No Deal".

He should do that in the first half of district and then agonize over every start in the second half and see which half results in the better record.

I spoke at a clinic in Plano and am speaking again the first weekend in February. Coach C stole that idea from me and I'm appalled that he didn't give me credit. It worked for me. Payne has seen this plan in action and is a true follower of its foundation. The only twist is the name I drew ~ His Dad had to warm him up in the Bull Pen and he had to furnish seeds and Power-Aide while Junior was on the mound. Any pitcher who saw action, his Mom had to spring for SnowCones following the game.
Any siblings that were in attendence had to tamp the mound following the contest.

Shows you how naive I am -- I thought this type of wisdom came from the sage old coaches in Waco! I shudda known it was local.

T-BD -- he does indeed agonize after the losses -- fortunate for his dog that his drive home takes 90 minutes.

See, if he drew his pitcher out of a hat, no agony...he can blame the baseball gods.