11 guys have thrown at least one pitch. Historically we see 8--maybe 9--that will throw meaningful pitches in the post season. It's very early, but I'll sum up what I'm seeing. Playing a four game series this early (EDIT: Tiki rightly points out it was 5 games worth of work for pitchers--basically a regional) is unusual but offers a good glimpse of how things shape up.

The team ERA of 1.69 and BAA of .188 are crazy good given that half of our games have been against perennial post season teams.

I love what I've seen from Kubitza, Simms, Stephens, Lemond, and Rutter. 5 righties with varying degrees of experience but clearly loads of talent.

McDowell and McCanna look like they are in the next cut. Each with one superb outing and one lacking command.

It is noteworthy that lefty Fox got the ball today despite a so-so spring. I think there is a lot of upside there, and some information content as to coach's thinking.

Ditman, McNair, Spurlin may be competing for the final spot and to stand ready in case McDowell or McCanna cannot establish consistency. They seem poised to get lots of opportunities in midweek games.

The outings by Blake and Chase were huge. If those two can throw like they did this weekend it will give us a huge boost to quality depth. Hard to believe we were able to not burn up the staff given we played 44 innings.

In McKanna's start an error was originally charged that would have made all five runs unearned. If that were the case we'd now have a Bob Gibsonesque 1.12 ERA. Of course I'll take 1.69 any day.

(02-26-2013 07:53 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  Ditman, McNair, Spurlin may be competing for the final spot and to stand ready in case McDowell or McCanna cannot establish consistency. They seem poised to get lots of opportunities in midweek games.

Tons of opportunity this week with five games from Friday to Wednesday! Will be very interesting to see who starts games 4 and 5, and how well everyone performs!

Given The OG's comment about McCanna only being accustomed to date on the Reckling mound (see the Stitchhead article), my guess is that Simms gets the ball against Baylor on Sunday, with McCanna getting the start back home against Cal on Monday. I think Coach is feeling pretty good taking Simms out of the bullpen, with Lemond, Rutter, Fox, et al. I think McDowell will be our "swing" guy this year (ala Abe Gonzales and Taylor Wall)-- pitching the second mid-week game early in the season, but being our primary mid-inning stopper out of the bullpen. BTW, Mason was throwing in the bullpen late last night, and continued his session after the game had ended.

Just another note, Zech Lemond is the first guy out of the dugout to greet the team coming off the field each inning, and after a run scores.

Coming back to this important topic, it seems that Lemond and McDowell have really solidified. OG also seems to have a lot of confidence in Blake Fox as his lefty. Sure could use Rutter and McCanna to demonstrate some consistency. A bad outing by either Kubitza or Simms would probably spell failure in a regional--we just don't have the offense to overcome it.

Counting to 8?
1. Kubitza
2. Simms
3. Stephens
4. Lemond
5. McDowell
6. Fox
7. McCanna
8. Rutter

We have a few weeks to try to shore up those last three spots. I expect it will be these guys pitching better rather than other names jumping in, but who knows.

(04-01-2013 06:59 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  Coming back to this important topic, it seems that Lemond and McDowell have really solidified. OG also seems to have a lot of confidence in Blake Fox as his lefty. Sure could use Rutter and McCanna to demonstrate some consistency. A bad outing by either Kubitza or Simms would probably spell failure in a regional--we just don't have the offense to overcome it.

Counting to 8?
1. Kubitza
2. Simms
3. Stephens
4. Lemond
5. McDowell
6. Fox
7. McCanna
8. Rutter

We have a few weeks to try to shore up those last three spots. I expect it will be these guys pitching better rather than other names jumping in, but who knows.

We really need to get Rutter on track as he's got the stuff to truly dominant for an inning or two. Also strange that Mason, who hasn't pitched bad in his brief appearances, is once again dormant. Hope he didn't reinjure himself.

(04-01-2013 07:02 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Also strange that Mason, who hasn't pitched bad in his brief appearances, is once again dormant. Hope he didn't reinjure himself.

Good point, Walt.

I meant to mention Mason and Ditman as my darkhorse candidates to play roles if Kevin and Evan do not establish more consistency.

Here is what I do believe--we are good enough defensively to overcome our offense and win a regional if we have 8 guys of this ability level hitting spots with reasonable consistency.

Mason had some elbow problems. Don't know his status.

(04-01-2013 07:04 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  Here is what I do believe--we are good enough defensively to overcome our offense and win a regional if we have 8 guys of this ability level hitting spots with reasonable consistency.

I don't think you need 8 pitchers IN the regional. I think we can win a regional and SR with our top 5 guys - which seems to be the number right now. Our top 4 are all capable of elite level preformances and Fox is becoming pretty darn reliable. Those guys are capable of turning every game into a race to 3 runs & we can win in the tournament that way.

Now if one of the top guys stumble or we fall into the losers bracket via a 2-1 loss that's a different story...

I think this team is shaping up to be a regional #2 or #3 seed that NOBODY wants to face because of our top 5 pitchers.

My concern is GETTING to the regions without more pitching depth. If 2-3 guys don't step up and eat some innings, I think there's a risk that the top 5 may be tired (and no longer elite) come tournament time. It sure would be nice if somebody other than Kubitza/Stephens/ Simms/Lemond/Fox could throw about a dozen innings a week from here to the end of the season.

(04-02-2013 08:21 AM)CoatzaOwl Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:04 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  Here is what I do believe--we are good enough defensively to overcome our offense and win a regional if we have 8 guys of this ability level hitting spots with reasonable consistency.

I don't think you need 8 pitchers IN the regional. I think we can win a regional and SR with our top 5 guys - which seems to be the number right now. Our top 4 are all capable of elite level preformances and Fox is becoming pretty darn reliable. Those guys are capable of turning every game into a race to 3 runs & we can win in the tournament that way.

Now if one of the top guys stumble or we fall into the losers bracket via a 2-1 loss that's a different story...

I think this team is shaping up to be a regional #2 or #3 seed that NOBODY wants to face because of our top 5 pitchers.

My concern is GETTING to the regions without more pitching depth. If 2-3 guys don't step up and eat some innings, I think there's a risk that the top 5 may be tired (and no longer elite) come tournament time. It sure would be nice if somebody other than Kubitza/Stephens/ Simms/Lemond/Fox could throw about a dozen innings a week from here to the end of the season.

Aren't you forgetting McDowell here? Yes, he had a very unusual one-inning loss of command/control that almost cost us the game yesterday, but aside from that he was unhittable...and he's been pretty consistent on the positive side for his past several outings. The only question mark I have for Chase is whether he can be equally effective coming out of the bullpen. If Simms remains as starter, we really need a reliable set-up guy for Lemond in the back of the bullpen. That was supposed to be Evan Rutter, and he certainly has the stuff to be that guy...but he's got to regain his command, which has been lost the past 4+ weeks. McCanna has pitched well of late, but I see him (this year) as more a #4 or #5 starter or middle reliever; not a set-up guy or closer. Then again, if we can get Chase and Kevin in a groove as starters, it might allow The OG to consider moving Simms back to the bullpen, where the trio of Fox, Simms and Lemond would be formidable.

I also have a bit of a concern about AK's control and pitch count issues, which is forcing him to consistently pitch out of self-induced jams and has limitted him to 6 - 7 innings almost every outing this year. He's still unhittable, but we need him to go deeper into games; especially in the post-season when conserving one's bullpen is at a premium.

(04-02-2013 08:21 AM)CoatzaOwl Wrote:  Now if one of the top guys stumble or we fall into the losers bracket via a 2-1 loss that's a different story...

That's the whole point. I think in 06 or 07 we may have gotten to Omaha only playing 5 games and using 5 pitchers.

I'm not counting on that with this offense. 8 is the number that can get you through a five game regional.

Kendall Rogers on Zech:

PROSPECT WATCH

We've talked a lot about some of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB draft, but it's never too early to dissect some of the top names to watch for 2014.
One of those names is Rice sophomore right-handed pitcher Zech Lemond.
We've seen the hard-throwing 6-foot-4, 195-pound, righty several times this season, and each time, it seems like I become more and more impressed. That once again was the case this past weekend against Tulane.

Lemond worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Tulane over the weekend. As usual, the righty, who has an unorthodox motion, showed some plus stuff. He had a fastball sitting 90-94 with some armside run, a slider 82-83 that is still a developing pitch, and a hard, spiking, curveball 79-81, sometimes a plus offering.

"Lemond. He has been really, and I mean, really good for us this season," Rice coach Wayne Graham said. "He's a special pitcher, maybe one of the better relievers we've had in quite a while."

Lemond entered the season as the No. 86 prospect for the 2014 MLB draft, but likely will get a substantial boost in our next rankings update. Lemond, for the season, has appeared in 13 games, recorded eight saves and has a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings of work. He also has struck out 26, walked eight and teams are hitting him at a .190 clip.

In addition to his plus stuff, Lemond has been a Godsend for the Owls. Entering the season, the Owls had right-handed pitcher John Simms penciled in as a possible closer, mainly because of his consistency, attitude and stuff. But with the rise of Lemond and others, such as left-hander Blake Fox, the Owls have been able to keep Simms in the weekend rotation.

Go ahead and file away Lemond's name for a while. You'll hear a lot more about him next year.

(04-02-2013 11:41 AM)Owl75 Wrote:  Kendall Rogers on Zech:

PROSPECT WATCH

We've talked a lot about some of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB draft, but it's never too early to dissect some of the top names to watch for 2014.
One of those names is Rice sophomore right-handed pitcher Zech Lemond.
We've seen the hard-throwing 6-foot-4, 195-pound, righty several times this season, and each time, it seems like I become more and more impressed. That once again was the case this past weekend against Tulane.

Lemond worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Tulane over the weekend. As usual, the righty, who has an unorthodox motion, showed some plus stuff. He had a fastball sitting 90-94 with some armside run, a slider 82-83 that is still a developing pitch, and a hard, spiking, curveball 79-81, sometimes a plus offering.

"Lemond. He has been really, and I mean, really good for us this season," Rice coach Wayne Graham said. "He's a special pitcher, maybe one of the better relievers we've had in quite a while."

Lemond entered the season as the No. 86 prospect for the 2014 MLB draft, but likely will get a substantial boost in our next rankings update. Lemond, for the season, has appeared in 13 games, recorded eight saves and has a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings of work. He also has struck out 26, walked eight and teams are hitting him at a .190 clip.

In addition to his plus stuff, Lemond has been a Godsend for the Owls. Entering the season, the Owls had right-handed pitcher John Simms penciled in as a possible closer, mainly because of his consistency, attitude and stuff. But with the rise of Lemond and others, such as left-hander Blake Fox, the Owls have been able to keep Simms in the weekend rotation.

Go ahead and file away Lemond's name for a while. You'll hear a lot more about him next year.

I posted this as a separate thread ("Zech Lemond Gets Some National Love") early this morning.

(04-02-2013 08:34 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 08:21 AM)CoatzaOwl Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 07:04 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  Here is what I do believe--we are good enough defensively to overcome our offense and win a regional if we have 8 guys of this ability level hitting spots with reasonable consistency.

I don't think you need 8 pitchers IN the regional. I think we can win a regional and SR with our top 5 guys - which seems to be the number right now. Our top 4 are all capable of elite level preformances and Fox is becoming pretty darn reliable. Those guys are capable of turning every game into a race to 3 runs & we can win in the tournament that way.

Now if one of the top guys stumble or we fall into the losers bracket via a 2-1 loss that's a different story...

I think this team is shaping up to be a regional #2 or #3 seed that NOBODY wants to face because of our top 5 pitchers.

My concern is GETTING to the regions without more pitching depth. If 2-3 guys don't step up and eat some innings, I think there's a risk that the top 5 may be tired (and no longer elite) come tournament time. It sure would be nice if somebody other than Kubitza/Stephens/ Simms/Lemond/Fox could throw about a dozen innings a week from here to the end of the season.

Aren't you forgetting McDowell here? Yes, he had a very unusual one-inning loss of command/control that almost cost us the game yesterday, but aside from that he was unhittable...and he's been pretty consistent on the positive side for his past several outings. The only question mark I have for Chase is whether he can be equally effective coming out of the bullpen. If Simms remains as starter, we really need a reliable set-up guy for Lemond in the back of the bullpen. That was supposed to be Evan Rutter, and he certainly has the stuff to be that guy...but he's got to regain his command, which has been lost the past 4+ weeks. McCanna has pitched well of late, but I see him (this year) as more a #4 or #5 starter or middle reliever; not a set-up guy or closer. Then again, if we can get Chase and Kevin in a groove as starters, it might allow The OG to consider moving Simms back to the bullpen, where the trio of Fox, Simms and Lemond would be formidable.

I also have a bit of a concern about AK's control and pitch count issues, which is forcing him to consistently pitch out of self-induced jams and has limitted him to 6 - 7 innings almost every outing this year. He's still unhittable, but we need him to go deeper into games; especially in the post-season when conserving one's bullpen is at a premium.

You're concerned about Kubitza and convinced by McDowell. I don't see it that way.

As for the possibilities you speculate about... Maybe yes; maybe no - time will tell.

If the regionals were this weekend, I'd feel really good about Kubitza, Stephens, Simms, Lemond. And pretty optimistic about Fox. The rest - I'd be nervous.

If those guys stay fresh, healthy and sharp, we've got a buncher's chance in the tournament. If we stay in the winners bracket, I think we've got a decent chance to advance - and 5 pitchers are all we'll need. If we fall into the losers bracket, it becomes more of an offensive game & I'm concerned we'll struggle to advance.

I've kinda been hoping McDowell could fill the Abe Gonzalez middle-relief role, jumping in if Kubitza or Stephens don't have it one game, or just eating up innings 6, 7, and 8 to get it to Lemond (and/or Simms). I'd love to have end-of-game options in Lemond, Simms, and Fox. But I guess that means we'd need a third starter. Anyone who's seen McCanna's starts think he could settle into that role by year's end? Any news on the once-touted Connor Mason??

(04-03-2013 12:41 AM)smackdaddy Wrote:  I've kinda been hoping McDowell could fill the Abe Gonzalez middle-relief role, jumping in if Kubitza or Stephens don't have it one game, or just eating up innings 6, 7, and 8 to get it to Lemond (and/or Simms). I'd love to have end-of-game options in Lemond, Simms, and Fox. But I guess that means we'd need a third starter. Anyone who's seen McCanna's starts think he could settle into that role by year's end? Any news on the once-touted Connor Mason??

Bob R. already mentioned earlier in this thread that he's heard Mason has had soreness in his elbow, which would explain why he hasn't been seen in almost a month.

Bringing this one back up. Couple of observations.

1. As discussed during the game thread, neither AK nor Simms brought their best games this weekend. Maybe an indicator of how bad UAB is that we could still get the series. My simple thought is that if those 2 are pitching well, we can beat anyone; if not, we can lose to anyone.

2. Mixed signs of encouragement/discouragement in the four games coming out of break. I'm not really worried about Kubitza and Simms. they are veteran guys and we need to ride them. If they don't pitch well in the NCAA, we have no chance to advance, but worrying about that is like lying around worry about getting pancreatic cancer.

On the other hand, Stephens, Fox, and Lemond are collectively looking very solid coming out of the break.

The real concern to me is not Kubitza and Simms but rather the absence of other depth in the staff over the last four games. McDowell and McNair faced one batter each. Ditman faced four and was effective. McCanna and Rutter were not seen.

No indication as of now that we have the quality depth of staff to win a regional through the loser bracket. Our top 5 should get us comfortably through a 3-0 regional.

I wonder if the coaching staff has seen enough good things out of Fox recently to consider using him as the Sunday starter. I think our staff is best positioned to sweep a weekend with Lemond and Simms available to close out games. And that works best if somebody other than Simms is the Sunday starter. Nobody's stepped into that role.

I think I'd be inclined to give Fox a try over the next 2 weekends. If it doesn't work, then we go back to the current rotation for the Regional.

(05-06-2013 10:30 AM)CoatzaOwl Wrote:  I wonder if the coaching staff has seen enough good things out of Fox recently to consider using him as the Sunday starter. I think our staff is best positioned to sweep a weekend with Lemond and Simms available to close out games. And that works best if somebody other than Simms is the Sunday starter. Nobody's stepped into that role.

I think I'd be inclined to give Fox a try over the next 2 weekends. If it doesn't work, then we go back to the current rotation for the Regional.

I understand your logic-- and it certainly has merits, but not sure I agree. Simms has superior overall stuff than Fox, and is a more proven big game pitcher. Blake needs to keep the ball down to be effective. However, as a southpaw, he provides a change of pace coming in in relief. Not sure how well Blake would fare going through a lineup for a 3rd time.