The 2012 incoming class is shaping up as another Top 10-caliber recruiting class. And let's not forget, Kottman and Mason will effectively be newcomers, as well; meaning we can concentrate on position players in our recruiting.

Houston5ABaseball is showing that Mitchell Traver (2012) has given us a verbal. He's a 6'7" 240lb RHP from Houston Christian. Probably a draft risk, not sure how high though. Jeff Niemann II?

(12-22-2010 09:28 AM)Volente Beach Owl Wrote:  Houston5ABaseball is showing that Mitchell Traver (2012) has given us a verbal. He's a 6'7" 240lb RHP from Houston Christian. Probably a draft risk, not sure how high though. Jeff Niemann II?

Why are you presuming a draft risk? "Big Country" Hamilton didn't work out, so I guess The OG continues to search for the next Jeff Niemann.

Maybe we need to split things off for 2012?

From PG:

Quote:Mitchell Traver is a 2012 RHP/1B with a 6-7 235 lb. frame from Sugar Land, TX who attends Houston Christian. Traver has a huge frame, very good pitchers build, ball comes out well, good downhill plane, fastball has life, ball gets on you fast, projects to add even more velo, off speed has potential but needs refinement. Very interesting RHP to watch very closely.

Quote:Mitchell Traver is a 2012 RHP/1B with a 6'7'', 240 lb. frame from Sugar Land, TX who attends Fort Bend Baptist Academy. XXL frame. Surprisingly smooth delivery, low effort, online to plate, good clean arm action, good downhill plane, good mound presence, good run on fastball, has feel for change, developing 11/5 curveball, projects very high. Also hit and showed some raw power, could figure it out. Very good student, Named to Top Prospect team.

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playe...?ID=227133

With a grade of 10, which is " 10-- Potential very high draft pick, Top DI in the nation prospect"

(12-22-2010 09:38 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-22-2010 09:28 AM)Volente Beach Owl Wrote:  Houston5ABaseball is showing that Mitchell Traver (2012) has given us a verbal. He's a 6'7" 240lb RHP from Houston Christian. Probably a draft risk, not sure how high though. Jeff Niemann II?

Why are you presuming a draft risk? "Big Country" Hamilton didn't work out, so I guess The OG continues to search for the next Jeff Niemann.

Nieman was not a top draft pick coming out of HS, more of a diamond in the rough. Sounds to me like the OG isn't looking for the "next Jeff Nieman" in the Traver kid but a "Jamo Taillon" who'll actually matriculate.

Just saw Kevin Hahn's name on a roster at Blinn Junior College.

Class of 2013 but......I'd like to see Rice at least make some kind of attempt at Calallen's Wyatt Mathisen. I was talking with his dad (who I've known for 35 years) at a scrimmage the other day. I half jokingly mentioned how disappointed I was that Wyatt had given his verbal to UT this past winter. He told me that they never even heard from Rice. I was told last football season by someone very close to the Rice baseball program that they didn't think they had a shot at the kid. So they didn't even give him a phone call? I really don't think the competition for him is over, although he very well may be a high draft choice that June. I am talking about a Rendon-type player here.

(02-15-2011 08:37 AM)OldCatNewOwl Wrote:  Class of 2013 but......I'd like to see Rice at least make some kind of attempt at Calallen's Wyatt Mathisen. I was talking with his dad (who I've known for 35 years) at a scrimmage the other day. I half jokingly mentioned how disappointed I was that Wyatt had given his verbal to UT this past winter. He told me that they never even heard from Rice. I was told last football season by someone very close to the Rice baseball program that they didn't think they had a shot at the kid. So they didn't even give him a phone call? I really don't think the competition for him is over, although he very well may be a high draft choice that June. I am talking about a Rendon-type player here.

Since we're talking about recruiting players in the South Texas area, how about Courtney Hawkins or Mark Blackmer or any of the other 5A Texas State Champion Corpus Christi Carroll Tigers? Any of them on our radar?

(02-18-2011 01:08 PM)ColOwl Wrote:  

(02-15-2011 08:37 AM)OldCatNewOwl Wrote:  Class of 2013 but......I'd like to see Rice at least make some kind of attempt at Calallen's Wyatt Mathisen. I was talking with his dad (who I've known for 35 years) at a scrimmage the other day. I half jokingly mentioned how disappointed I was that Wyatt had given his verbal to UT this past winter. He told me that they never even heard from Rice. I was told last football season by someone very close to the Rice baseball program that they didn't think they had a shot at the kid. So they didn't even give him a phone call? I really don't think the competition for him is over, although he very well may be a high draft choice that June. I am talking about a Rendon-type player here.

Since we're talking about recruiting players in the South Texas area, how about Courtney Hawkins or Mark Blackmer or any of the other 5A Texas State Champion Corpus Christi Carroll Tigers? Any of them on our radar?

Blackmar was a senior last year, but Hawkins and a couple other Tigers are Juniors this year like Mathisen. These are all top-notch prospects. Look for Carroll to claim their second Championship and Calallen to get their 4th. Hey...almost forgot...they scrimmage each other today at 5. I'm gonna try to be there.

Sickels has just listed his best HS pitchers for the purposes of the 2011 draft; 11 kids listed and none were Rice signees (whew!). There was a UT and an Oklahoma signee (both kids from the State of Oklahoma); a Florida signee; and maybe 1 or 2 Clemson. I assume, given the quality of college pitchers in this draft that 11 HS pitchers would at least take you somewhere into the mid 2nd round, so maybe we are safe. No Taillion for us this year (although the guys who did come have been fabulous).

(04-13-2011 05:14 PM)owlsfan Wrote:  Sickels has just listed his best HS pitchers for the purposes of the 2011 draft; 11 kids listed and none were Rice signees (whew!). There was a UT and an Oklahoma signee (both kids from the State of Oklahoma); a Florida signee; and maybe 1 or 2 Clemson. I assume, given the quality of college pitchers in this draft that 11 HS pitchers would at least take you somewhere into the mid 2nd round, so maybe we are safe. No Taillion for us this year (although the guys who did come have been fabulous).

Let's not forget that in addition to our 2012 commits, we add Connor Mason (originally part of this year's Big 3), RS Fr LHP Mueller and RS So LHP Kotten (the transfer from Brown). Even with the loss of Gonzo and Cingrani after this season, our 2012 pitching staff should be off the charts (especially with McDowell and Fazio returning, as well).

(04-13-2011 05:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-13-2011 05:14 PM)owlsfan Wrote:  Sickels has just listed his best HS pitchers for the purposes of the 2011 draft; 11 kids listed and none were Rice signees (whew!). There was a UT and an Oklahoma signee (both kids from the State of Oklahoma); a Florida signee; and maybe 1 or 2 Clemson. I assume, given the quality of college pitchers in this draft that 11 HS pitchers would at least take you somewhere into the mid 2nd round, so maybe we are safe. No Taillion for us this year (although the guys who did come have been fabulous).

Let's not forget that in addition to our 2012 commits, we add Connor Mason (originally part of this year's Big 3), RS Fr LHP Mueller and RS So LHP Kotten (the transfer from Brown). Even with the loss of Gonzo and Cingrani after this season, our 2012 pitching staff should be off the charts (especially with McDowell and Fazio returning, as well).

Our pitching will for sure be off the charts, let's just hope our hitting is not "off the scoreboard". I'm hoping the staff is combing the JUCO ranks for a proven stick to fill in, because frankly, losing AR and leaving us with the rest of the squad doesn't excite me too much right now from an offensive point of view. We'll need some guys to improve quickly. We really need the SS from Lufkin to enroll, for starters.

Is it the hitting coach ? Would adding some help there to him be in order ? I have no clue; just asking.

(04-14-2011 08:04 AM)Bigoldtackle Wrote:  Is it the hitting coach ? Would adding some help there to him be in order ? I have no clue; just asking.

Actually, I think the combination of Coach Taylor and The OG are more than capable in this regard. The problem is getting some of the kids to change their approach at the plate; especially when behind in the count. Remember, most of the guys recruited were the stars on their respective high school teams and were never asked to lay down a bunt or go the opposite way to move the runner. Also, as others have pointed out (The OG, himself, as well), hitting is contageous; once one or two of the guys get hot it usually has a ripple effect up and down the lineup. Unfortunately, Rendon has been at least somewhat hampered by his injured shoulder, Rathjen is out for the year, and our other two veteran leaders-- Fuda and Ratterree-- have been mired in extended slumps. Should both Fuda, Rathjen and Manuel return next season, I do believe we will hit just fine in 2012, as we shouldn't forget that everyone else in our current lineup is playing D-1 baseball for the first time this year...and are likely to improve going forward.

I'm guessing that the change in bats really has a lot of hitters messed up. With different bats, they need a different approach.

That's an expectation. I haven't really looked to see how actual results nationwide would compare. I haven't looked at the data, but I'm sure one of you gurus has, and I'm just wondering what is happening nationwide. I'd guess maybe the guys who have tended to be extreme small ball players haven't seen as big a fall-off, but then again, they didn't have as far to fall in the first place.

All good points. Thanks.

(12-23-2010 12:07 PM)ColOwl Wrote:  Nieman was not a top draft pick coming out of HS, more of a diamond in the rough. Sounds to me like the OG isn't looking for the "next Jeff Nieman" in the Traver kid but a "Jamo Taillon" who'll actually matriculate.

Wasn't Nieman from Duncanville? Seems like I recall that. A friend of mine who was a baseball coach over there moved out to W'fd when Jeff was at Rice. He told me that he and the old D'ville coaches were surprised how Jeff developed. Well, I didn't say it, but I wasn't surprised at all, given OG's history. Those D'ville coaches didn't know what they had. That's probably why my friend ended up in the admin for W'fd ISD, instead of still coaching baseball somewhere. That and the money was probably much better getting out of coaching. He had 2 young boys at the time who are now in high school, so the family needed him to bring home more mula more than they needed him to be a big time HS baseball coach.

Jeff was from Lamar.

(04-15-2011 12:26 AM)Bob Reinhold Wrote:  Jeff was from Lamar.

Houston Lamar, as opposed to the other Lamar high schools around the state (Arlington's Lamar is the other baseball power that comes to mind)

Courtesy of Alan Shelby, here's an article on Cy Ranch High, 2012 recruit (he's a high school junior this year), 2B Leon Byrd. A leadoff man and basestealer, no less!...

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cypress/s...f4359.html