2 out single.

But then third out on 5-4 grounder.

(03-26-2013 08:27 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:24 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:22 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:16 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Besides, if he is going to be a bullpen contributor for us, he needs to figure out how to handle it. If Simms is going to be in the rotation, McCanna has to be able to be a stopper out of the pen. Need someone other than Lemond.

McCanna is being groomed to be a starter.

You could have fooled me. Seems like the first four in 2013 are Kubs, Stevens, Simms, and McDowell. If he is going to contribute in 2013, he needs to take the ball when given. There is a long history of future starters pitching out of the pen first.

Agreed...however, must he always be given the ball when he has no margin for error coming out of the pen? For even the most experienced stopper, that is a difficult situation; for a guy who's never come out of the bullpen before this season, that's asking quite a lot.

Most everyone in the bullpen never pitched in relief in high school. They all were starting pitchers, or not pitchers at all.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, but you're intentionally totally missing my point. Every relief situation is not coming in with the bases loaded, when you can't afford to throw anything but strikes.

(03-26-2013 08:26 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:23 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:22 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Stringer weak 5-1 groundout.

Struggling at the moment. Haven't seen him do that much at Rice. Can't afford it with Hoelscher on the shelf. Hopefully we can get him straightened out ASAP.

This is, by far, the worst 3 week stretch he's had since he's been at Rice. Hitting nothing hard. One would think something is out of whack with his mechanics (e.g., swing) given how long this has now been going on.

There is a lot of pressure on the kid. I think he is just trying too hard, now that he is being asked to be a run producer. Sometimes movement in the batting order affects what people do at the plate, sometimes not...

Williamson leading off. Walks.

This guy has only pitched 6 innings. It's like they are laughing at us. 7.5 ERA

(03-26-2013 08:30 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:26 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:23 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:22 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Stringer weak 5-1 groundout.

Struggling at the moment. Haven't seen him do that much at Rice. Can't afford it with Hoelscher on the shelf. Hopefully we can get him straightened out ASAP.

This is, by far, the worst 3 week stretch he's had since he's been at Rice. Hitting nothing hard. One would think something is out of whack with his mechanics (e.g., swing) given how long this has now been going on.

There is a lot of pressure on the kid. I think he is just trying too hard, now that he is being asked to be a run producer. Sometimes movement in the batting order affects what people do at the plate, sometimes not...

No question, but he was batting #3 and #4 earlier in the season, as well, and doing just fine. He's simply in an extended slump at the moment, and no doubt pressing. Why not move him into the #2 hole for several games to get whatever perceived pressure off?

(03-26-2013 08:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:27 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:24 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:22 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  McCanna is being groomed to be a starter.

You could have fooled me. Seems like the first four in 2013 are Kubs, Stevens, Simms, and McDowell. If he is going to contribute in 2013, he needs to take the ball when given. There is a long history of future starters pitching out of the pen first.

Agreed...however, must he always be given the ball when he has no margin for error coming out of the pen? For even the most experienced stopper, that is a difficult situation; for a guy who's never come out of the bullpen before this season, that's asking quite a lot.

Most everyone in the bullpen never pitched in relief in high school. They all were starting pitchers, or not pitchers at all.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, but you're intentionally totally missing my point. Every relief situation is not coming in with the bases loaded, when you can't afford to throw anything but strikes.

Dude, you don't sound like a fan, you sound like a parent/agent. It seems to me he handled himself well, he is talented. Why would you care when he is brought into the game?

Right now they could hand the ball to the batboy and we could find a way not to score. Or so it seems.

(03-26-2013 08:34 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:27 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:24 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:22 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  You could have fooled me. Seems like the first four in 2013 are Kubs, Stevens, Simms, and McDowell. If he is going to contribute in 2013, he needs to take the ball when given. There is a long history of future starters pitching out of the pen first.

Agreed...however, must he always be given the ball when he has no margin for error coming out of the pen? For even the most experienced stopper, that is a difficult situation; for a guy who's never come out of the bullpen before this season, that's asking quite a lot.

Most everyone in the bullpen never pitched in relief in high school. They all were starting pitchers, or not pitchers at all.

Yes, I'm well aware of that, but you're intentionally totally missing my point. Every relief situation is not coming in with the bases loaded, when you can't afford to throw anything but strikes.

Dude, you don't sound like a fan, you sound like a parent/agent. It seems to me he handled himself well, he is talented. Why would you care when he is brought into the game?

Cause I agree with everything you said above, and want to put him in the best position to succeed and gain confidence.

Aquino single. Runners 1st, 2nd, no outs. Another pitching change, J Simms.

(03-26-2013 08:33 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:30 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:26 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:23 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:22 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Stringer weak 5-1 groundout.

Struggling at the moment. Haven't seen him do that much at Rice. Can't afford it with Hoelscher on the shelf. Hopefully we can get him straightened out ASAP.

This is, by far, the worst 3 week stretch he's had since he's been at Rice. Hitting nothing hard. One would think something is out of whack with his mechanics (e.g., swing) given how long this has now been going on.

There is a lot of pressure on the kid. I think he is just trying too hard, now that he is being asked to be a run producer. Sometimes movement in the batting order affects what people do at the plate, sometimes not...

No question, but he was batting #3 and #4 earlier in the season, as well, and doing just fine. He's simply in an extended slump at the moment, and no doubt pressing. Why not move him into the #2 hole for several games to get whatever perceived pressure off?

And then who do you put the pressure of the four hole on? He'll come out of it soon. He is a leader.

Bad day for Houston College teams. Coogs trailing 5-0 also.

Simms in. Now they're taking us seriously again.

Teykl K'd looking. 1 out. FC advances runners to 2nd, 3rd. 2 out.

Ewing 2 RBI single. Byrd single.

(03-26-2013 08:42 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Ewing 2 RBI single.

Niiiiiiiiiice!

We break the drought finally. 5-2.

(03-26-2013 08:43 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-26-2013 08:42 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Ewing 2 RBI single.

Niiiiiiiiiice!

Really nice back-to-back games for Skyler-- gotta be a confidence booster. Both he and Aquino are 3-3 today.

Stainback grounder force out at second. 5-2 mid eighth.