For the first several years he seemed overwhelmed and the way he dealt with that was to be stoic. He kind of brought this Pat Murphy/Auggie type energy with him where perfection was handled professionally and mistakes were unacceptable. Without getting into detail, he would just say the wrong things and he often brought this uncomfortable tension. I felt like he was trying to play the part of Pat Murphy.
In watching the first 4 games of this season it feels like he is settling into who he is as a coach. The first thing I noticed was in game (1?) the Devils were in a jam and he brought in a lefty and the tv guys said Bloomquist believed this pitcher had the best pick off move on the team. Sure enough, he picks the runner off and the camera shows Bloomquist in the dugout looking like
Giblin BATTLED today and when Bloomquist went to take him out, normally he walks up with a palm up for the baseball, avoids eye contact, gives the pitcher the obligatory "atta boy" as the pitcher walks past him which is pretty impersonal. Today, Giblin went to go hand him the ball and walk to the dugout but Bloomquist squared him up. Giblin took a half step back and Bloomquist stood there, raised his hands about shoulder high and pushed/hit him in the chest as if to say "That's what I'm talking about. Hell ya". Right in front of the infielders.
The pitcher coming in from the Pen was Carlon. I guarantee he felt the energy and first pitch there is a grounder to first, he busts it over and happens to be right where he needs to be to make an inning ending play. Notice Carlon's reaction after the play. This is on a Monday against Austin Peay.
If Carlon comes into the game and everyone is moping around I'm not sure he makes that play. @Devil Dust and I were talking before the game how some teams figure out how to win and others figure out how to lose.
I'm not telling anyone how to think. People have their opinions. But, for me..... I'm throwing the last 3 years out the window because this is a completely new coach. Pat Murphy was great because he allowed himself to be Pat Murphy. Willie Bloomquist has been trying to be Pat Murphy.... but he's not Pat Murphy, he's Willie Bloomquist and the more he embraces that the better it will be for ASU Baseball moving forward. So, I'm going to forget about the last 3 years because that coach is gone. This is essentially a new coach. I have a feeling that this new Bloomquist who is figuring out how to reach the players emotionally (combined with his vast knowledge of the game) is going to help this team figure out how to win more than not.
My opinion
In watching the first 4 games of this season it feels like he is settling into who he is as a coach. The first thing I noticed was in game (1?) the Devils were in a jam and he brought in a lefty and the tv guys said Bloomquist believed this pitcher had the best pick off move on the team. Sure enough, he picks the runner off and the camera shows Bloomquist in the dugout looking like
Giblin BATTLED today and when Bloomquist went to take him out, normally he walks up with a palm up for the baseball, avoids eye contact, gives the pitcher the obligatory "atta boy" as the pitcher walks past him which is pretty impersonal. Today, Giblin went to go hand him the ball and walk to the dugout but Bloomquist squared him up. Giblin took a half step back and Bloomquist stood there, raised his hands about shoulder high and pushed/hit him in the chest as if to say "That's what I'm talking about. Hell ya". Right in front of the infielders.
The pitcher coming in from the Pen was Carlon. I guarantee he felt the energy and first pitch there is a grounder to first, he busts it over and happens to be right where he needs to be to make an inning ending play. Notice Carlon's reaction after the play. This is on a Monday against Austin Peay.
If Carlon comes into the game and everyone is moping around I'm not sure he makes that play. @Devil Dust and I were talking before the game how some teams figure out how to win and others figure out how to lose.
I'm not telling anyone how to think. People have their opinions. But, for me..... I'm throwing the last 3 years out the window because this is a completely new coach. Pat Murphy was great because he allowed himself to be Pat Murphy. Willie Bloomquist has been trying to be Pat Murphy.... but he's not Pat Murphy, he's Willie Bloomquist and the more he embraces that the better it will be for ASU Baseball moving forward. So, I'm going to forget about the last 3 years because that coach is gone. This is essentially a new coach. I have a feeling that this new Bloomquist who is figuring out how to reach the players emotionally (combined with his vast knowledge of the game) is going to help this team figure out how to win more than not.
My opinion
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