Black Sox must bounce back against Argentina

March 4, 2013

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QUICK REBOUND: Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase must get his side up after their loss to Canada as they face a must-win tonight against Argentina.

 

ORIGINAL STORY by Tony Smith in Auckland

The  Black Sox coaching staff claim the plate umpire's "tight zone'' was a  factor in their pitchers giving up a massive 17 safe hits in last  night's 9-7 world championship tiebreaker loss to Canada. 

    Head  coach Eddie Kohlhase and pitching coach Chubb Tangaroa said the  pitchers were forced to come in over the middle of the plate because  they were not getting the corners called in the 3hr-25min marathon. 

    Tangaroa,  a former world champion pitcher, said he was not blaming plate umpire  Randall McLamb because he was "consistent for both teams''. Canada's  four pitchers also gave up nine hits in a 26-hit slugfest that featured  five automatic home runs (three to the Black Sox - two to Brad Rona and  another by Donny Hale - and two to Canada). 

    But Kohlhase said the umpire "had a very tight zone'' and "one or two calls in the field probably didn't go our way as well." 

    "I'd  like to view the tape and have a good look at our zone, but certainly  some of our better hitters...we'll just leave it at that, I think...'' 

    Kohlhase said it was "a tough day at the office, you just can't compete at this level if you give up 17 hits''. 

    The  pitchers "just couldn't find the strike-zone, whether it was the  umpire not calling it for us or the guys just not finding rhythm. 

    "4-1  up with Jerry [Manley] on the mound, we probably should have put the  game away there, but he gave up that massive home run [to Ryan Boland],  which was a killer blow, really.'' 

    Tangaroa  spent almost as much time on the diamond as the players as he rang the  changes on the mound. The Black Sox made four pitching switches. Penese  Iosefo started, was replaced by Nik Hayes, who made way for Jeremy  Manley. Iosefo re-entered after Manley gave up nine hits, including a  three-run homer, and once he was spent, 40-year-old part-timer Jarrad  Martin threw the tiebreaker inning. 

    Tangaroa said it was "always tough to make a change'' but he and Kohlhase had no option. 

    "When the guys don't get corners, they have to put the ball over the plate - hence the reason why they got 17 hits. 

    "When you're not getting corners, we can't keep doing that all night or you're walking guys...we had to make a change, so we did." 

    Tangaroa  and Kohlhase now have to do a major motivational job to rebuild their  pitchers' confidence before their must-win game against Argentina  tonight which should decide who joins unbeaten Canada as top seeds from  Pool B. 

    Tangaroa had no doubt the hurlers would bounce back mentally. 

    "This is a world championship and they have to. We've finished this game and we've got to move on.'' 

    "We got everyone in there, except for Heinie Shannon...hopefully he'll be right tomorrow night.'' 

    Kohlhase  said Shannon, who sat out the Canada game to rest a calf twinge  sustained in the 7-2 win over Japan on Sunday night, would start against  Argentina. 

    Shannon's selection could mean his twin brother Patrick keeps his catcher's berth despite a lean batting tournament. 

    He was replaced twice for pinch hitters, leaving Wellington's Aaron Stroman-Neemia to catch the last couple of innings. 

    Tangaroa  said they would review the tape and see if the game plan was adhered to  before deciding if Shannon or Stroman-Neemia would start behind the  plate against Argentina. 

    Kohlhase  was happy with the Black Sox's own batting and said there were  "wonderful plays'' by Tyron Bartorillo at third base. "Offensively, there was some outstanding hitting displays. 

    "I thought Brad Rona was simply outstanding, world class, and the home run by Donny Hale was absolutely magnificent. 

    "I  said to the guys after the game you can't fault the commitment, they  kept coming back and they tried hard in the field, we've just got to  execute a bit better and get our zones right in terms of our defence.''