Comments on: Arizona’s pitching patchwork can’t prevent Arizona State’s sweep

By: Short and Sour: ASU’s quick win prolongs Arizona’s baseball slump - UAsports.net

Short and Sour: ASU’s quick win prolongs Arizona’s baseball slump - UAsports.net — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:14:25 +0000

[...] Oh. [...]

By: Carlos J. M.

Carlos J. M. — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:44:12 +0000

"I have total respect for the UA," Escobedo said. "But I was really looking forward to pitching in this ballpark. I have been here before, visiting as a younger pitcher; I wanted to pitch here myself." FWIW Anthony, here's Dallas' quote from the Star after her Thursday (grandslam) shutout of U of A. I'm no wordsmith, for sure, but to my way of thinking this could go either way. Water over the bridge, though, as Miss E. will be a thorn, err, fork in Candrea and his Cats' side for some time to come.

By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:23:56 +0000

Carlos,

If we're reading the same story, that quote about her looking forward to pitching in Hillenbrand isn't the same as saying she wanted to be a Wildcat and was spurned by Candrea. It's not like Escobedo was some under-the-radar talent. Anybody would have taken her.

Again, it's really difficult to sign two super-elite pitchers so close together in eligibility. Clearly, the playing-time opportunity was going to be more wide-open at ASU -- and give Myers credit. He is doing at ASU what could have been 20 years ago. It just took the Devils a while to find their "Candrea."

By: Carlos J. M.

Carlos J. M. — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 05:19:17 +0000

Anthony, in a piece by the Star Escobedo hinted that she wanted to play her college ball at Hillendrand…as a Cat. If I’m Candrea it’s a no-brainer. Babcock doesn’t know ASU, doesn’t get ASU, has a long way to go to play even with, much less beat, ASU.

Escobedo, an Arizona HS product, no doubt doesn’t need a UA primer to know what it takes to not only beat Candrea and his team – program? – but also sweep them right out of contention for the PAC-10 crown. Looks to me like Coach not only has been outcoached by Myers, but he’s also been outsmarted at recruiting by this guy. Something I thought I would never see. Might it be time? Who’s to say?

By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:43:53 +0000

Lindsey Sisk would have been a senior on this team, but she transferred after the 2009 season. That hurt the pitching continuity. With Fowler coming in, other super-elite pitchers shied away.

Candrea searched in the offseason for help via transfer or other method, but anybody good enough would have had better opportunities (playing time, scholarship money) elsewhere. And if they weren't good enough, why bring them in?

Arizona has a commitment from a pitcher/position player for next year who could help in situations like this, but this team just doesn't have that kind of hybrid player. The next "elite" pitching prospect for Arizona figures to be Nancy Bowling, a junior in high school.

As for Escobedo, I don't think she was going somewhere just to share time (as she would have with Fowler).

By: RCW

RCW — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:08:28 +0000

Questions:
1) With Fowler somewhat susceptible to injuries, why does this team have only 2 pitchers?
2) Did the Cats recruit Escobedo? If she was a fair target, not totally loyal to ASU, it makes sense to to lean towards a pitcher who succeeded in AZ (Escobedo) vs. one who succeeded in Colorado (Babcock) due to the superior competition in AZ, all other things being equal.