Just not playing well at the moment. Have to find a way to get it done tomorrow. UCF pulls into a tie with us in the conference and USM and Memphis could pass us today as well.

Not looking good for the conference title streak or the postseason streak at the moment. Need to right the ship now.

edit: Check that, Memphis and USM already have passed us. We are tied for 4th with UCF at the moment.

(04-13-2013 05:52 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(04-13-2013 05:45 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Chase has been extremely inconsistent all year long. This is not his first bad outing.

Got to say, if I were on the Selection Committee, a series loss at home to an almost 200 RPI team would make a huge difference to me.

Well, after beating us twice on the road, they won't be down near 200 any more. But, we definitely are not doing ourselves any favors at the moment.

I blame Walt. He shows up and we play poorly.

Kidding of course.

It's pretty uncool to lay a series loss at the feet of any one player or person, but yeah, Walt.

(04-13-2013 06:02 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  hard to blame the hitting. We did score 7 runs. Pitching and defense let us down today.

Blame the hitting, blame the fielding, blame the pitching, blame sun spots. I'm starting to feel like we just won't make it this year. I count four good pitchers and a lot of question marks. Spotty hitting, spotty pitching. But you know what? They still have a chance. And yes, I too blame Walt.

(04-13-2013 06:12 PM)elf owl Wrote:  

(04-13-2013 06:02 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  hard to blame the hitting. We did score 7 runs. Pitching and defense let us down today.

Blame the hitting, blame the fielding, blame the pitching, blame sun spots. I'm starting to feel like we just won't make it this year. I count four good pitchers and a lot of question marks. Spotty hitting, spotty pitching. But you know what? They still have a chance. And yes, I too blame Walt.

Elf, I think you are right. Anything is possible, but not everything is probable. Unless the trajectory changes significantly, and a lot of people step up, Rice will for what is it, the third year in a row, not make it to a SuperRegional. Seems like our last championship caliber team was Rendon's frosh year.

There was little doubt that the passed ball was because Geoff was crossed up by Chase. He was expecting a breaking ball and got a fast ball that hit off the edge of his mitt. After the run scored they conversed for several seconds.

Just a pretty miserable two days at the Reck. Even as poor of a hitting club UCF is they kept getting leadoff hitters on base putting the pressure on us. So far the better team the past two days has won.

Not our weekend. But we've got some determination.. As we came back in the 9th to tie it. Easy to lose patience with this team but I remember what the football team did at about this point in the season. I'm hoping we dig deep and get the win tomorrow. And then become the gritty, determined scratch-out-runs-any-way-you-can team. And make it to the post season.
It's been a long time since we've been in this position and we , as fans, should be in total support mode.

Need some better recruits that can actually hit the ball consistently, unfortunately. Guys just are not panning out they way they were projected freshman year. There are notable examples, but I don't feel it's proper to call them out by name in this post. Plain and simple, you can't be a below-average hitting team in NCAA baseball and expect to make a Super Regional or even a CWS. That's exactly what we are, like it or not. Apologists can espouse all the ideas they want, but we are simply not an elite club right now, and have not been for the past few years. I personally feel extremely bad for guys like Simms and Kubitza, who will probably leave this year after pretty unsatisfactory success in the postseason, despite being some of the best pitchers we've brought in in a while. Something needs to be done, because we have done absolutely nothing in the last few years to warrant the "elite" program association that we claim to have. Omaha and title droughts are getting further and further away, and I'd hate to think that our program is content with being a one-hit wonder, which is exactly the title that we deserve right now, until we can actually make a CWS in this decade.

(04-14-2013 05:50 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Need some better recruits that can actually hit the ball consistently, unfortunately. Guys just are not panning out they way they were projected freshman year. There are notable examples, but I don't feel it's proper to call them out by name in this post. Plain and simple, you can't be a below-average hitting team in NCAA baseball and expect to make a Super Regional or even a CWS. That's exactly what we are, like it or not. Apologists can espouse all the ideas they want, but we are simply not an elite club right now, and have not been for the past few years. I personally feel extremely bad for guys like Simms and Kubitza, who will probably leave this year after pretty unsatisfactory success in the postseason, despite being some of the best pitchers we've brought in in a while. Something needs to be done, because we have done absolutely nothing in the last few years to warrant the "elite" program association that we claim to have. Omaha and title droughts are getting further and further away, and I'd hate to think that our program is content with being a one-hit wonder, which is exactly the title that we deserve right now, until we can actually make a CWS in this decade.

Pretty much the thoughts of our section yesterday. Add to that the improvement of our recruits over time doesn't seem to be taking place either. For me the last truly quality team we have had was Rendon's freshman year where we lost to LSU in the Supers. Had Ojala not been pitching hurt and had not Rendon gotten hurt in the first game (still waiting for a cart to take him off the field at Alex Box) that team might have finished in Omaha. But for the most part ever since the Savery phantom K at the 2007 CWS the story hasn't been the same (yes I know we got back to Omaha but we were a quick 2 and Que). We haven't won a game against anyone but the SWAC in the last two home Regionals.

(04-14-2013 06:43 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 05:50 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Need some better recruits that can actually hit the ball consistently, unfortunately. Guys just are not panning out they way they were projected freshman year. There are notable examples, but I don't feel it's proper to call them out by name in this post. Plain and simple, you can't be a below-average hitting team in NCAA baseball and expect to make a Super Regional or even a CWS. That's exactly what we are, like it or not. Apologists can espouse all the ideas they want, but we are simply not an elite club right now, and have not been for the past few years. I personally feel extremely bad for guys like Simms and Kubitza, who will probably leave this year after pretty unsatisfactory success in the postseason, despite being some of the best pitchers we've brought in in a while. Something needs to be done, because we have done absolutely nothing in the last few years to warrant the "elite" program association that we claim to have. Omaha and title droughts are getting further and further away, and I'd hate to think that our program is content with being a one-hit wonder, which is exactly the title that we deserve right now, until we can actually make a CWS in this decade.

Pretty much the thoughts of our section yesterday. Add to that the improvement of our recruits over time doesn't seem to be taking place either. For me the last truly quality team we have had was Rendon's freshman year where we lost to LSU in the Supers. Had Ojala not been pitching hurt and had not Rendon gotten hurt in the first game (still waiting for a cart to take him off the field at Alex Box) that team might have finished in Omaha. But for the most part ever since the Savery phantom K at the 2007 CWS the story hasn't been the same (yes I know we got back to Omaha but we were a quick 2 and Que). We haven't won a game against anyone but the SWAC in the last two home Regionals.

Not to open a can of worms, but that is three years. Did not CDC leave about three years ago.

I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

(04-14-2013 07:48 AM)Ranger Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 06:43 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 05:50 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Need some better recruits that can actually hit the ball consistently, unfortunately. Guys just are not panning out they way they were projected freshman year. There are notable examples, but I don't feel it's proper to call them out by name in this post. Plain and simple, you can't be a below-average hitting team in NCAA baseball and expect to make a Super Regional or even a CWS. That's exactly what we are, like it or not. Apologists can espouse all the ideas they want, but we are simply not an elite club right now, and have not been for the past few years. I personally feel extremely bad for guys like Simms and Kubitza, who will probably leave this year after pretty unsatisfactory success in the postseason, despite being some of the best pitchers we've brought in in a while. Something needs to be done, because we have done absolutely nothing in the last few years to warrant the "elite" program association that we claim to have. Omaha and title droughts are getting further and further away, and I'd hate to think that our program is content with being a one-hit wonder, which is exactly the title that we deserve right now, until we can actually make a CWS in this decade.

Pretty much the thoughts of our section yesterday. Add to that the improvement of our recruits over time doesn't seem to be taking place either. For me the last truly quality team we have had was Rendon's freshman year where we lost to LSU in the Supers. Had Ojala not been pitching hurt and had not Rendon gotten hurt in the first game (still waiting for a cart to take him off the field at Alex Box) that team might have finished in Omaha. But for the most part ever since the Savery phantom K at the 2007 CWS the story hasn't been the same (yes I know we got back to Omaha but we were a quick 2 and Que). We haven't won a game against anyone but the SWAC in the last two home Regionals.

Not to open a can of worms, but that is three years. Did not CDC leave about three years ago.

maybe we willmeet TCU in the regionals.

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

Josh Vidales and Kyle Kirk from St.Pius and LaPorte have been pretty good for UH as freshmen.

(04-14-2013 10:08 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

Josh Vidales and Kyle Kirk from St.Pius and LaPorte have been pretty good for UH as freshmen.

I think a lot of this has to do with Pierce leaving. I love Wayne as a coach but since Pierce has left we haven't been the same. He is my vote for head coach if/when Wayne decides to leave.

Just a thought, but does anyone think the increase in exposure for college baseball hurt Rice's chance at recruiting the best players relative to big state schools? I've only been following college baseball since I was a freshman at Rice (5 years) but the public exposure has definitely increased. Are more elite prospects going to school? I know our philosophy is not to recruit the highest rated prospects so that could also hurt us.

Hey maybe this is just a case of us missing on a couple of our prospects which can easily be fixed with a good recruiting class. But nothing I've seen lately has made me think we are getting any star power help.

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

I'm thinking more about making the tournament than hosting at this point. Our hosting chances are pretty much dead, baring something miraculous.

We just need to win today and stop the bleeding. We are tied for 4th place in a bad conference right now. USM has gotten hot and are now 1.5 games ahead of us, fortunately we have the tiebreaker there. We need to win today to pull even with Memphis and then it is a must to take at least 2 out of 3 from UH to have any chance for the regular season crown.

(04-14-2013 10:50 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 10:08 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

Josh Vidales and Kyle Kirk from St.Pius and LaPorte have been pretty good for UH as freshmen.

I think a lot of this has to do with Pierce leaving. I love Wayne as a coach but since Pierce has left we haven't been the same. He is my vote for head coach if/when Wayne decides to leave.

Just a thought, but does anyone think the increase in exposure for college baseball hurt Rice's chance at recruiting the best players relative to big state schools? I've only been following college baseball since I was a freshman at Rice (5 years) but the public exposure has definitely increased. Are more elite prospects going to school? I know our philosophy is not to recruit the highest rated prospects so that could also hurt us.

Hey maybe this is just a case of us missing on a couple of our prospects which can easily be fixed with a good recruiting class. But nothing I've seen lately has made me think we are getting any star power help.

Interesting point about Pierce. I am 1000 miles away, so I do not have close up insight, but I had wondered if his departure might have had a big impact.

We also lost another good assistant coach this past season with Taylor leaving.

(04-14-2013 11:29 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

I'm thinking more about making the tournament than hosting at this point. Our hosting chances are pretty much dead, baring something miraculous.

We just need to win today and stop the bleeding. We are tied for 4th place in a bad conference right now. USM has gotten hot and are now 1.5 games ahead of us, fortunately we have the tiebreaker there. We need to win today to pull even with Memphis and then it is a must to take at least 2 out of 3 from UH to have any chance for the regular season crown.

My guess is 3 seed at Little Rock, but the plan only has two steps:

1. Make playoffs
2. Keep winning.

Still on track for the NC.

(04-14-2013 04:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 11:29 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

I'm thinking more about making the tournament than hosting at this point. Our hosting chances are pretty much dead, baring something miraculous.

We just need to win today and stop the bleeding. We are tied for 4th place in a bad conference right now. USM has gotten hot and are now 1.5 games ahead of us, fortunately we have the tiebreaker there. We need to win today to pull even with Memphis and then it is a must to take at least 2 out of 3 from UH to have any chance for the regular season crown.

My guess is 3 seed at Little Rock, but the plan only has two steps:

1. Make playoffs
2. Keep winning.

Still on track for the NC.

Fayetteville? UALR isn't playing well this year.

(04-14-2013 04:18 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 04:04 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 11:29 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

I'm thinking more about making the tournament than hosting at this point. Our hosting chances are pretty much dead, baring something miraculous.

We just need to win today and stop the bleeding. We are tied for 4th place in a bad conference right now. USM has gotten hot and are now 1.5 games ahead of us, fortunately we have the tiebreaker there. We need to win today to pull even with Memphis and then it is a must to take at least 2 out of 3 from UH to have any chance for the regular season crown.

My guess is 3 seed at Little Rock, but the plan only has two steps:

1. Make playoffs
2. Keep winning.

Still on track for the NC.

Fayetteville? UALR isn't playing well this year.

Or Norman. Just go somewhere and start implementing step 2.

(04-14-2013 10:50 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 10:08 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(04-14-2013 07:57 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  I posted in the Friday thread that I do believe there is a drop off in talent, measured as the professional prospectivity of our position players. Not sure what sits behind it, but I am quite reluctant to blame Rick Greenspan.

One guy who deserves to be called out favorably in Aquino. IIRC, he wasn't on the field a whole lot his first two years but has been a big part of whatever offense we have produced this year.

That said, I like to be optimistic, and it doesn't seem inordinately romantic to believe we can put together a run and get into the postseason. Our high end pitching alone makes that possible.

But putting aside all of the RPI and other inside baseball stuff, this doesn't feel like a team that deserves to host a regional.

Here is a question for the real baseball junkies. I would have thought that Byrd, Tekyl, Rathjen, and Hunter K were about as good as it gets in terms of recruits from Greater Houston, but their collective impact has not been transformative. Who is getting in done elsewhere among 2013 grads from Houston?

Last I checked, Boomer White (Memorial) had played his way into the lineup at TCU, and Jeremy Montalbano(Seven Lakes) was getting some reps at Catcher for UT.

Josh Vidales and Kyle Kirk from St.Pius and LaPorte have been pretty good for UH as freshmen.

I think a lot of this has to do with Pierce leaving. I love Wayne as a coach but since Pierce has left we haven't been the same. He is my vote for head coach if/when Wayne decides to leave.

Just a thought, but does anyone think the increase in exposure for college baseball hurt Rice's chance at recruiting the best players relative to big state schools? I've only been following college baseball since I was a freshman at Rice (5 years) but the public exposure has definitely increased. Are more elite prospects going to school? I know our philosophy is not to recruit the highest rated prospects so that could also hurt us.

Hey maybe this is just a case of us missing on a couple of our prospects which can easily be fixed with a good recruiting class. But nothing I've seen lately has made me think we are getting any star power help.

I've felt the same way about Pierce since he left. Also, the notion has been reinforced every time we have played SHSU, and he has gotten the better of us. I think Pierce and Wayne did a great job preparing the team, and it seems like the coaches who have come to fill in his shoes haven't done as good of a job. If only Lance would quit trying to win another World Series and focus on the more important CWS...