[Softball Fan]

Does anyone believe at this point there needs to be a substantial change of some sort or is it better to keep improving the same system?  I remember in 2016 Stanford was doing fairly well but did not seem to be on course to win an NC.  Coach Dunning completely revamped the system.  He went from two setters (Gray and Humphreys) to one setter (Gray) and changed Plummer from OPP to OH.   That was a massive risk and it worked out to win Stanford's seventh NC.

Not fair to make that comparison. In 2016, the only reason Dunning made that switch was because Hodson was no longer available, therefore Stanford couldn't run a 6-2 anymore. I am doubtful that if Hodson were healthy, that change would have occurred. Not to mention, Plummer was an oppo at that point. When Hodson was out for the season, it was the first time she had every played outside. No way that would have happened if Hodson were still available to play.

With this year's team, no need to change anything up. Rubin had one terrible offensive game, but you take her out and you lose all the great things she brings in the back row. Stanford just needs to learn to harness its momentum and not shoot itself in the foot with service errors. It's not the fact that we had so mamy service errors... it's when they happened.

It's true Plummer had not played OH previously.  Actually she didn't play OH at the prep level either.  There was no guarantee at that point Plummer could learn a new position in the middle of the season.  I read an article her parents where stunned to learn Plummer was moving to OH.  Dunning could have stayed with the lineup of Keefe and Vanjak at OH.  He could have also continued to use two setters.  Stanford was not doing bad, just not playing at a NC level.  It was a bold move on Dunning's part to make those changes in the middle of season.

The reason I ask the question about changes for the current team is I have no good ideas for any changes.  Is Stanford playing at a level to win an NC or get to that level of play?  Maybe.    I expect Rubin to get back on track so I'm nowhere close to the panic button based on one bad game.

[Softball Fan]

Does anyone believe at this point there needs to be a substantial change of some sort or is it better to keep improving the same system?  I remember in 2016 Stanford was doing fairly well but did not seem to be on course to win an NC.  Coach Dunning completely revamped the system.  He went from two setters (Gray and Humphreys) to one setter (Gray) and changed Plummer from OPP to OH.   That was a massive risk and it worked out to win Stanford's seventh NC.

Not fair to make that comparison. In 2016, the only reason Dunning made that switch was because Hodson was no longer available, therefore Stanford couldn't run a 6-2 anymore. I am doubtful that if Hodson were healthy, that change would have occurred. Not to mention, Plummer was an oppo at that point. When Hodson was out for the season, it was the first time she had every played outside. No way that would have happened if Hodson were still available to play.

With this year's team, no need to change anything up. Rubin had one terrible offensive game, but you take her out and you lose all the great things she brings in the back row. Stanford just needs to learn to harness its momentum and not shoot itself in the foot with service errors. It's not the fact that we had so mamy service errors... it's when they happened.

It's true Plummer had not played OH previously.  Actually she didn't play OH at the prep level either.  There was no guarantee at that point Plummer could learn a new position in the middle of the season.  I read an article her parents where stunned to learn Plummer was moving to OH.  Dunning could have stayed with the lineup of Keefe and Vanjak at OH.  He could have also continued to use two setters.  Stanford was not doing bad, just not playing at a NC level.  It was a bold move on Dunning's part to make those changes in the middle of season.

The reason I ask the question about changes for the current team is I have no good ideas for any changes.  Is Stanford playing at a level to win an NC or get to that level of play?  Maybe.    I expect Rubin to get back on track so I'm nowhere close to the panic button based on one bad game.