Comments on: Arizona Wildcats softball 2012: What about the pitching?

By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:06:01 +0000

This is mostly true. Chambers' success after overcoming the life-altering concussion is a great story but (at least from personal observations) she wasn't nearly as feared as most of the great UA sluggers, and her stats and power usually suffered against Pac-10 competition.

To me, the list of top UA sluggers still starts with Espinoza, Braatz and Dalton ...

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:55:18 +0000

Chambers just didn’t produce in post-season play most years.

By: Mark B. Evans

Mark B. Evans — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:45:50 +0000

It sounds like Kenzie has durability problems, either she's prone to injury, or her nonstop pitching since she was 12 years old has worn her body out (beaning aside). Doesn't sound like she's the rubber-armed workhorse Finch or Monica Abbott were and that we hoped Fowler would be. Candrea needs another pitcher who can pick up 25 or so games. Judging by the past two seasons, 35 starts seems to be Fowler's max.

Besides pitching, run production seemed off this year. Have you crunched those numbers?

And why isn't Stacie Chambers getting more press as one of the all-time greats? She sets the Tater Record at UA and comes up three short for the NCAA record and no ESPN, USA Today, Arizona Republic, Sports Illustrated, etc. stories like there have been about past UA greats? When you Google her name, the first story about her that comes up that's not a Gimino, ADS or Daily Wildcat story is one by Rivals.com talking about signing with Arizona in 2006.

Other than Fowler, it seemed like this team lacked stars in the field. Yet Lastrapes and Chambers were as good as any of the names and photos on the outfield wall.

Perhaps we've started taking greatness for granted?

By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Tue, 31 May 2011 04:29:48 +0000

Nobody is saying Aldridge is the next Jennie Finch. She'll be a walk-on who can eat some innings, provide insurance and give the pitching staff a different look. Three of Candrea's four scholarship freshmen were on the junior national team, which seems to bode well and indicates they've impressed more than just the UA coaching staff.

As for a sophomore pitching recruit losing a playoff game ... I think I'll withhold judgment on her for a while.

By: billy gumbo

billy gumbo — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:58:31 +0000

hate to tell you guys but Shae Aldridge wasn’t even the number one pitcher on her high school team at seasons end !! and he has verble from a girl in San Marino couldn’t even beat Arroyo hs in the playoffs ? and the girl slapper from Whittier Christian ? fast — no arm ? I really don’t know ? i guess its wait and hope he knows what he’s doing ????

By: Anthony Gimino

Anthony Gimino — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:27:30 +0000

Didn't forget. She was in the same class as Bowling. Would have been two years away from UA still.

By: Andy Morales

Andy Morales — Mon, 30 May 2011 22:04:33 +0000

Don’t forget about Bri Matthews. She was the real deal and I think would have been an incoming freshman.