I think with Faraimo it’s not just above average speed or spin that is confusing us. It’s really her windup and delivery. Here is a six footer who basically starts the motion more like a bowler than a pitcher (schooched way down almost to the ground). Then she has this massive sweep of a long arm, and when she releases, the ball is gaining some serious velocity. That’s especially problematic on a rise ball, as you saw repeatedly last night. What our batters saw coming out of her arm was nowhere near what they saw when the ball hit the catcher’s mitt. But I think our batters were kind of getting psyched out by her crazy delivery.

The good news: I actually think she is fairly predictable. You saw fastballs or change ups on the first pitch, generally right down Broadway and ripe for smacking, generally followed by rise balls in the middle of the count, and then change up or rise ball with 2 strikes. Pitchers who use a card on their arm (as Faraimo does—VT’s pitchers do not) are using it for a reason, and that’s generally because it tells them what to throw on a given count, sometimes tailored to each specific batter. Bottom line, if VT’s coaching staff burned the midnight oil last night and studied Faraimo’s tendencies, our batters might have better strategies tonight in terms of swinging early in the count and laying off the middle pitches. I’m also wondering if Coach Lewis or anyone else on the staff (a redshirting pitcher, perhaps) could simulate Faraimo’s motion, much like in football when scout team QB’s simulate the opposing team’s QB if he does something unique.

The bad news: I’m not entirely convinced that we can actually hit Faraimo. Others have said this too. Adjustments/strategy might help, but last night she was just in a different universe. It’s certainly possible that she can’t repeat that 2 nights in a row (even a minor loss of velocity or placement could make the difference). But I have to say, if she stays in that same zone, I wouldn’t be surprised if we are blanked again.

Pete strikes me as a guy who doesn’t go around completely messing with the lineup after one tough loss. Obviously, everyone except Fagan really struggled. I am surprised Pete hasn’t gotten Cana Davis into the lineup more, and wonder if maybe she could be a spark. I’ve got my own idea of a few of our hitters who looked especially lost last night but there’s no reason to name them here, and one game is a very small sample size. I will say, Bennett had some of the best swings I saw against Faraimo. Yes, she chased some rise balls way out of the zone but those were very high quality swings that would’ve produced extra based had they connected. I’m also torn on using Chavez as a pinch hitter. Half of her 14 hits are home runs, but she’s batting just .203 so while it’s a 1-in-5 chance of getting a hit, it’s a 1-in-10 chance of getting a home run which is quite high (and best on the team). I guess if there are 2 outs in the 7th, this is probably who you want up. She did homer in Tempe so it hasn’t been that long.

Best of luck to the ladies tonight, we’ll all still be extremely proud of them even if they lose, but I think overnight they probably did some next level prep/scouting and some soul searching and I bet they’ll be ready to go.