Archive for May, 2011

You will not meet a more personable group than the Youngstown State University Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff. They are all very genuine, real, and fun people to talk with.  John Vogel, who handles the women’s basketball program from a sports information director position was gracious enough to tape the roundtable interview I got to conduct.  Topics discussed are the recruiting process, Brandi Brown being overlooked on postseason awards, and a fun segment where the coaches have to pinpoint what their peers like and dislike.

Big thanks to Mr. Vogel for not only creating this opportunity, but for also being very helpful with my requests.  Also, a million thanks to Coach Bob Boldon for being a guy who is always candid and approachable.  This was my first real conversation of any kind with the assistants.  Pictured above are John Cullen, Kate Schrader, and Tavares Jackson.  Not pictured but included in the video is Jen Theissen.

Just before this interview was conducted, these coaches were working with a few of the players on the last day of workouts until August.  To watch how they coach as a group was fun.  Coach Boldon is kind of an overseer and delegates authority for an assistant to watch a defender and another coach to monitor an offensive player.  The other assistants usually encourage the players working in the various drills.  The dedication of this staff is going to put bodies in seats over the next couple of years.

Also, a new piece of equipment was in use at practice.  As a player shoots a three-point shot, a three foot high box announces the arc, or highest point, that the ball hits on its way to the basket.  Coach Theissen explained that the machine would register different numbers based on factors such as a players size.  For example, Macey Nortey and  Tieara Jones are about a foot different in stature meaning their arc would be different.  Very nice piece of equipment!

Thanks again to all who participated!

For a guy who was supposed to light the world on fire and set home run records to rattle the history of Pittsburgh Sports, Pedro Alvarez sure has been a disappointment so far.  Through Sunday’s 8-4 win over the Colorado Rockies, Alvarez is batting .213, which was bolstered by two singles in four at-bats.  Prior to that game, Pedro was tinkering in the forbidden .200 range.

Pedro Alvarez was on the fast track.  The 24 year old native of the Dominican Republic had Pirates fans convinced he was ready to assume the duties at the hot corner finishing 2010 with 16 home runs in 347 at-bats.  Being known as a notoriously slow starter, Alvarez can really play a role for a franchise hoping for at least mediocrity.

Neal Walker and Jose Tabata have done their parts as young components of an inconsistency machine.  Lyle Overbay is starting to prove why the Pirates need a first baseman.  Overbay, much like Alvarez, has shown little with the bat so far in 2011.

At the rate Alvarez is going, he will end the season with about 40 RBI and just 5 dingers.  The numbers have to get better, don’t they?  If not, Hurdle better have a “Plan B” in place.  Maybe he can switch Overbay and Alvarez in the batting order and on defense.  Maybe he can let Alvarez pitch in a mop-up situation and make Overbay catch.

The moral here is that there are two guys holding Pittsburgh back from being at the very least, a .500 team.