...start next Friday, three weeks before Opening Day in Orlando.
Most preseason polls have us outside the Top 40. IMO, here are the key questions going into Spring intrasquads...
1. What's the health status of Ricky Salinas (coming off TJS), Wily Amador and Zach Esquivel (the latter two came down with sore arms late last season and have hardly pitched since)? If Ricky is ready to go, I think he's our Saturday or Sunday starter, with Moss or Jefferies filling the other final weekend rotation spot. Amador and Esquivel are both better suited for the bullpen, IMHO, as they tended to falter the second time through the batting order. Is Acker a starter or a middle reliever? Parthasarathy is now fully healthy, but has he regained his form and stuff (as he had a miserable Fall Ball)?
2. Are Garrett Gayle and Raul Garcia truly ready to anchor our bullpen? Can they be counted upon to throw strikes? If not, I think Addison Moss moves back into the bullpen and the multi-inning closer role. He was lights out in the Fall, and arguably our most improved pitcher. Ditto Evan Kravitz, who has consistently pitched well in intrasquads only to lose all control of his pitches once real games begin.
3. It would appear the lineup is set with the exception of 1B and LF. Aviles and Sarchet are the favorites to fill those spots, but who plays where? The likely other starters are: C DiCaprio, 3B Comeaux, SS Proctor, 2B Cruz, RF Gneitting, CF Chandler, DH Dunlap. Going to be interesting to see how The OG decides to construct the actual lineup card. I can see Proctor-DiCaprio-Dunlap as our middle of the order hitters. Gneitting, if he can improve his bunting, is a prototypical #2 hitter. Despite his speed, I'd go with Chandler at #5 or #6 in the lineup since he rarely if ever walks. Go with switch hitting Cruz at leadoff? 2 switch hitters (Cruz, Aviles), 3 right-hand hitters (DiCap, Dunlap, Comeaux), 4 left-handed hitters (Proctor, Chandler, Gneitting, Sarchet).
Thanks, Walt. I always appreciate your insights into the nuts and bolts, the nooks and crannies, of our baseball team.
For me, though, there is only one question. Can we return to our winning ways? And i don't mean 33-31 winning.
Just tweeted by Ricky-- music to my ears...
Quote:Ricky Salinas
@Ricky_Salinas21
2h2 hours ago
More
10 months out of surgery and I’ve never felt this good before. It’s been a long journey pitching through injuries. Glad I don’t have to do that anymore and I can just feel normal!
If Ricky is truly back to his Freshman/Sophomore form, I really like our weekend rotation of Canterino, Salinas and Moss. Jefferies was solid in mid-weeks last year, and Acker would then be our other mid-weeker (as we'll need 5 starters through mid-March). And this would allow Amador and Esquivel to solidify and add much needed experience to the bullpen. Other relievers are expected to be Silber, Kravetz, Lewis, Garcia and Gayle.
be short, could we make conference regular champ and host ?
(01-20-2018 04:22 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Just tweeted by Ricky-- music to my ears...
Quote:Ricky Salinas
@Ricky_Salinas21
2h2 hours ago
More
10 months out of surgery and I’ve never felt this good before. It’s been a long journey pitching through injuries. Glad I don’t have to do that anymore and I can just feel normal!
If Ricky is truly back to his Freshman/Sophomore form, I really like our weekend rotation of Canterino, Salinas and Moss. Jefferies was solid in mid-weeks last year, and Acker would then be our other mid-weeker (as we'll need 5 starters through mid-March). And this would allow Amador and Esquivel to solidify and add much needed experience to the bullpen. Other relievers are expected to be Silber, Kravetz, Lewis, Garcia and Gayle.
(01-21-2018 07:49 PM)junrice Wrote: [ -> ]be short, could we make conference regular champ and host ?
(01-20-2018 04:22 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Just tweeted by Ricky-- music to my ears...
Quote:Ricky Salinas
@Ricky_Salinas21
2h2 hours ago
More
10 months out of surgery and I’ve never felt this good before. It’s been a long journey pitching through injuries. Glad I don’t have to do that anymore and I can just feel normal!
If Ricky is truly back to his Freshman/Sophomore form, I really like our weekend rotation of Canterino, Salinas and Moss. Jefferies was solid in mid-weeks last year, and Acker would then be our other mid-weeker (as we'll need 5 starters through mid-March). And this would allow Amador and Esquivel to solidify and add much needed experience to the bullpen. Other relievers are expected to be Silber, Kravetz, Lewis, Garcia and Gayle.
Not sure if we're quite top 16 caliber, but who knows. I think the CUSA title is between us and USM, though FAU, FIU and WKU will be in the hunt. (FIU has a Top 10 recruiting class, and WKU has stocked up with no less than 10 JUCO transfers). I think USM has a solid edge on offense, but we have an edge in starting pitching as they lost their entire weekend rotation. How big that edge is depends upon how quickly Salinas returns to form and whether Moss is used as a weekend starter vs. multi-inning closer. Going into the season I'd definitely give USM the edge, but we have the talent and potential; it's just a question of how quickly we can tap it.
be realistic, I will be really happy if got regular or tournament champ of cusa, and ranked top 25.
cannot expect too much in the current decaying trend.
Off topic, but Jon Duplantier is Baseball America's 73rd best MLB prospect.
Pitchers for the first three intrasquads (Fri - Sun) have been posted and several interesting things pop out-- some good, some of concern...
https://rubpa.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=4294976136
1. Appears all the sore/injured arms from last year are healthy. Salinas, Amador and Esquivel are all scheduled to pitch on Friday, along with Canterino, Jefferies, Kravetz, Garcia and Gayle. Traditionally, The OG pitches all of our core pitchers the opening day of intrasquads for 1 - 2 inning apiece. Also, Pettitte is scheduled to pitch on Sunday. I'm less optimistic about his timetable than Ricky's based on tweets, but who knows.
2. Though Tyner is not listed on the official roster yet, he's schedule to pitch on Sunday.
3. Now the bad news, or reason for concern-- Moss and Acker, both expected to play major roles on this year's pitching staff, are absent from this weekend's action. Both ended Fall intrasquads strong and healthy, so I'm hoping they just came down with the flu bug, and will be back on the mound next week.
Getting excited!
Looks like the opener in Orlando against Samford is at noon ET on the 16th. That’s my travel day back from a week at KSC, flying back from Orlando. I think I can make that game!
(01-24-2018 09:00 AM)sts60 Wrote: [ -> ]Looks like the opener in Orlando against Samford is at noon ET on the 16th. That’s my travel day back from a week at KSC, flying back from Orlando. I think I can make that game!
Our roadtripping group will be there, as well. From what I'm hearing, we should have a nice contingent of alums and parents attending.
It would be great to meet some of you. I haven’t been back to Houston for > 15 years, and haven’t seen the Owls play in person since the David Hall era. Fingers crossed I can make it.
(01-24-2018 10:32 AM)THRILL Wrote: [ -> ] (01-24-2018 09:23 AM)sts60 Wrote: [ -> ]It would be great to meet some of you. I haven’t been back to Houston for > 15 years, and haven’t seen the Owls play in person since the David Hall era. Fingers crossed I can make it.
You say that now...
I think the unstated assumption is "some of you" does not include you, THRILL
(01-24-2018 01:22 PM)Antarius Wrote: [ -> ] (01-24-2018 10:32 AM)THRILL Wrote: [ -> ] (01-24-2018 09:23 AM)sts60 Wrote: [ -> ]It would be great to meet some of you. I haven’t been back to Houston for > 15 years, and haven’t seen the Owls play in person since the David Hall era. Fingers crossed I can make it.
You say that now...
I think the unstated assumption is "some of you" does not include you, THRILL
Well not all of you are as smart as you should be.
Some from here have met me twice.
(01-24-2018 08:47 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Pitchers for the first three intrasquads (Fri - Sun) have been posted and several interesting things pop out-- some good, some of concern...
https://rubpa.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=4294976136
1. Appears all the sore/injured arms from last year are healthy. Salinas, Amador and Esquivel are all scheduled to pitch on Friday, along with Canterino, Jefferies, Kravetz, Garcia and Gayle. Traditionally, The OG pitches all of our core pitchers the opening day of intrasquads for 1 - 2 inning apiece. Also, Pettitte is scheduled to pitch on Sunday. I'm less optimistic about his timetable than Ricky's based on tweets, but who knows.
2. Though Tyner is not listed on the official roster yet, he's schedule to pitch on Sunday.
3. Now the bad news, or reason for concern-- Moss and Acker, both expected to play major roles on this year's pitching staff, are absent from this weekend's action. Both ended Fall intrasquads strong and healthy, so I'm hoping they just came down with the flu bug, and will be back on the mound next week.
Getting excited!
Amazed that there has been no comments about Tyner pitching intrasquads. Also, I think it says a lot that Salinas is listed as the co-starter on Friday, along with Canterino. IMO, that indicates that Ricky has impressed The OG and John Pope in bullpen sessions, and they truly believe he's fully healthy, throwing as well as ever, and ready to regain his spot in the weekend rotation. Ricky may not have the stuff to be a true ace, but he's an experienced and proven weekend starter, with good poise, a strong competitive edge and the ability to consistently give us 6+ quality innings. And, as he's tweeted repeatedly over the past couple months, he's never felt better on the mound. Previous Tommy John Surgery "survivors" have on occassion seen an increase in velocity. Very encouraging. What killed us last year and made our weak and inexperienced bullpen that much more of a liability is that our starting pitching rarely if ever made it through 6 innings.
(01-24-2018 08:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Amazed that there has been no comments about Tyner pitching intrasquads.
I, for one, look forward to how the OG implements Bailiff's / Lynch's nefarious "Agenda Based Offense". Or does it change to "Agenda Based Pitching" now?
(01-25-2018 01:25 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-24-2018 08:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Amazed that there has been no comments about Tyner pitching intrasquads.
I, for one, look forward to how the OG implements Bailiff's / Lynch's nefarious "Agenda Based Offense". Or does it change to "Agenda Based Pitching" now?
We saw it here first - new acronym - ABP.
(01-25-2018 02:03 PM)Antarius Wrote: [ -> ] (01-25-2018 01:25 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-24-2018 08:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: [ -> ]Amazed that there has been no comments about Tyner pitching intrasquads.
I, for one, look forward to how the OG implements Bailiff's / Lynch's nefarious "Agenda Based Offense". Or does it change to "Agenda Based Pitching" now?
We say it here first - new acronym - ABP.
If i'm not mistaken this thread is about baseball but since you bring up the ABO... it seems that those guys (other than Vestal and Steward) coached themselves out of jobs anywhere.
Looking at Tyner's HS stats he seemed to be a decent pitcher. Looks like he played with the Houston Banditos some as well.
Play ball! 3 weeks of intrasquads as the road to Omaha (and Biloxi) begins.
I just like the fact that the ABO has enough steam that it's a thing with some of you guys... Kinda almost proves part of my implied point...