We have really dug ourselves into a hole with our all-around poor play this past weekend (when even our usually stout pitching and outstanding defense deserted us). More disappointing than the losses themselves, we're simply not playing quality Rice baseball at the moment. Thankfully, our guys have no quit in them; a quality which should serve us well going forward. Also, in a down year for C-USA, no team has broken away from the pack (though USM has gotten on a pretty nice roll since we beat them the opening weekend of conference play). However, we can ill-afford to keep playing the way we did this past weekend. Even with the heightened academic pressures associated with the last week of the semester and the upcoming Final exams, we have got to find a way to snap out of our funk this week against in-state rivals, Texas Tech (at Reckling on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings) and Houston (across town over the weekend). Note the Wednesday game against Tech will be starting 30 minutes earlier than usual at 6:00am.

Texas Tech comes into town struggling through their worst stretch of the season, having lost their last six games (including Sunday against non-Division 1 Lubbock Christian), and ten of their last eleven games (with the opposition scoring at least 6 runs in each of the past 8 games). Keep in mind, however, that UCF came into our series this past weekend on a similar losing skid...and we know how that turned out. Overall, the Red Raiders have posted a 17 - 19 record (5-12 on the road, but a respectable 6-9 vs. Top 100, and national rankings of #100 in RPI, #115 in ISR and #62 in SoS). They have quality wins against #9 Arizona State, #45 Texas x 2, #65 BYU, #73 Arizona and #99 FIU. Unfortunately, They're only 8-8 vs. teams ranked #101 - 200. Here's their schedule/results over their first 36 games...

http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2013/sch...Texas-Tech

Offensively, Tech's stats are earily similar to our own, though against a much better Strength of Schedule (#62 vs. #108) and over two fewer games-- they're hitting .250/.363/.331 as a team, with 11 HRs, 56 doubles/triples and averaging 5.2 runs per game (vs. Rice hitting .270/.365/.341, with 11 HRs, 53 doubles/triples and averaging 4.7 runs/game). They have actually averaged half a run more per game than we have, and againt superior competition. They have but one batter hitting over .281 (Jake Barrios at .306/.387/.519, 3 HRs, 10 doubles/triples, 30 RBIs) and one batter with an on-base percentage over .390 (Jarrad Poteete at ..267/.444/.366, 1 HR, 7 doubles, 15 RBIs, 31 BBs). As a team, they are averaging 6 free passes received and 7 strikeouts per game, both of which are above average, which would appear to indicate that they make an effort to work the pitch count. Especially after the walkathon which was this past weekend, our pitchers must pound the strikezone against these guys. It also appears that they like to crowd the plate and rack up hit by pitch totals, as four guys have been hit 6+ times, led by Eric Gutierrez with 12 HBP). With two quality basestealers (Devon Conley 10-10 SBs and speedy leadoff man Brett Bell 22-26 SBs), the Red Raiders have only 18 sac bunts on the year (and Conley and Bell have over half of them).

Defensively, they have an outstanding and experienced infield, posting a .973 fielding percentage, having turned a whopping 47 double plays (vs. the 45 we've turned in two more games), and their catchers have allowed just one passed ball all year. No one on the team has committed more than 7 errors.

On the mound, the Red Raiders started the season quite positively-- recording 6 shutouts and limitting the opposition to 2 or fewer runs in 15 of their first 23 games. Unfortunately, things have fallen apart of late, and they've averaged giving up 8.3 runs/game over the past 10 games, with only once during this span holding the opposition to less than 6 runs. They do have one elite starter, Jr RHP Trey Masek (6 starts, 3-0, 0.82 ERA, .184 BAA), but he just returned Sunday from a two-week absence due to injury, and is unlikely to see action against Rice. They also have two quality (though not elite level), workhorse relievers. No one else on the staff has an ERA under 4.00. As a staff, their numbers have turned decidedly sub-par: 4.56 ERA, .283 BAA, but a very good 2.4 strikeout:walk ratio thanks to outstanding control and keeping the walk total down to an average of just 3 BBs per game (which is exceptional).

They do have a big advantage over us in that they did not play a weekend series this past weekend; simply a single game Sunday evening against Lubbock Christian (a 5-6 loss), in which their usual Friday and Saturday starters each threw 3.0 - 4.0 innings. Consequently, not only is their bullpen fully rested, but we'll likely face two of their weekend starting pitchers. (Note-- their best pitcher, Trey Masek, had missed the previous two weekends with injury, but returned to pitch 3 innings against Lubbock Christian. Their #4 starter, Corey Taylor, has started Sundays the past two weekends.)

Johnny Drozd (JUCO, LHP): 10 app, 6 starts, 3-3, 39.1 IP, 4.12 ERA, .284 BAA, 6 BBs, 27 Ks
Corey Taylor (So, RHP): 12 app, 5 starts, 204, 37.1 IP, 5.79 ERA, .265 BAA, 15 BBs, 26 Ks, 17 xtrabase hits


Jerad McCrummen Sr, RHP): 17 app, 1-5, 3 saves, 29.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, .275 BAA, 9 BBs, 25 Ks, only 2 xtrabase hits
Andre Wheeler (Jr, LHP): 16 app, 3-0, 25.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, .274 BAA, 11 BBs, 17 Ks

Here are Tech's individual/team stats over their first 36 games...

http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-basebl...mcume.html

An early report (unofficial as yet) indicated that Austin Kubitza would get the start Tuesday evening, but I suspect both Chase McDowell and Kevin McCanna will see action against the Red Raiders (especially since Austin threw well over 80 pitches in his 4 innings of action Friday night, and he'll likely be projected to start again in the series finale against UH on Sunday).

Time to bring both the focus and the energy level, and start playing quality Rice baseball once again. Despite the academic pressures and distractions, the team has to find a way to rise to the occassion this week, and put the bad memories of this past weekend in the rear view mirror. Let's go into the break feeling good about our most recent level of play. Go Owls!

Note-- as I'll be travelling back to Chicago on Thursday, followed by evening plans, I will not be able to prepare a preview for the big weekend series against the Coogs. Hopefully, others will be able to provide some scouting report info and pertenent links.

Kubitza now officially confirmed as Tuesday's starting pitcher...

http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-basebl/...13aad.html

(04-15-2013 03:51 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Note the Wednesday game against Tech will be starting 30 minutes earlier than usual at 6:00am.

Wow! 6:00 am is early.

Here's the Texas Tech game notes for the two mid-week games...

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/text...041613.pdf

...Strangely, they're going with a pair of seldom used, Freshman RHP pitchers who are making their first and second career starts, respectively...

Tuesday-- Justin Bethard: 7 app, 16.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, .250 BAA, 5 BBs, 9 Ks
Wednesday-- Dalton Brown: 4 app, 1 starts, 9.2 IP, 6.52 ERA, .325 BAA, 7 BBs, 4 WPs, 8 Ks

As mentioned in my original post, I fully expect their #3 and #4 weekend starters (Drozd and Taylor)-- neither of whom has pitched in over a week-- to see action against us, as well as their top two relievers (McCrummen, Wheeler).

The Owls are looking to extend their 14-game win streak against the Red Raiders, dating back to the 1996 SWC tournament.

(04-16-2013 07:57 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The Owls are looking to extend their 14-game win streak against the Red Raiders, dating back to the 1996 SWC tournament.

This is good news for those who believe in the power of streaks to control the future.

Quote:"Texas Tech has cancelled Wednesday's game due to travel and academic demands," said Rice head coach Wayne Graham. "Rice is understanding of their problems and has agreed to the cancellation."

(04-16-2013 01:03 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

Quote:"Texas Tech has cancelled Wednesday's game due to travel and academic demands," said Rice head coach Wayne Graham. "Rice is understanding of their problems and has agreed to the cancellation."

That isn't necessarily a bad thing for us. Allows us to go all out with the bullpen tonight.

Of course, not good b/c the tailgate for football season ticket holders who paid a bit early was supposed to be Wednesday night. Now rescheduled for May 16.

Hope we got some of Tech's BCS/Big12 money for the cancellation. After all we have folks that would have bought single tickets to the game, people who have already bought tickets that now get to use them for another game, and season ticket holders who get to eat their tickets (yea I know the email said they would do something for us...like let us bring someone for another game).

Did Tech just realize they had to go to class before finals? Was the weather tomorrow in the panhandle part of the reason? Whatever it seems kind of last moment to me. Of course as d1owls4life said it works out well with our pitching concerns but works for Tech as well since they are on a big downward skid.

You have to wonder was Tech the driving force for this two game series (hoping to get an RPI boost to try and get their dormant program going) or was it the Owls who wanted it? Who knows maybe Augie and DeLoss called Tech and said they shouldn't be playing us.

Last NCAA report had Tech baseball at a GSR (Graduation Success Ratio) pf 53%. Owls 90%.

(04-16-2013 03:06 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Hope we got some of Tech's BCS/Big12 money for the cancellation. After all we have folks that would have bought single tickets to the game, people who have already bought tickets that now get to use them for another game, and season ticket holders who get to eat their tickets (yea I know the email said they would do something for us...like let us bring someone for another game).

Did Tech just realize they had to go to class before finals? Was the weather tomorrow in the panhandle part of the reason? Whatever it seems kind of last moment to me. Of course as d1owls4life said it works out well with our pitching concerns but works for Tech as well since they are on a big downward skid.

You have to wonder was Tech the driving force for this two game series (hoping to get an RPI boost to try and get their dormant program going) or was it the Owls who wanted it? Who knows maybe Augie and DeLoss called Tech and said they shouldn't be playing us.

Looking at their academic calendar shows that their last day of class is May 7 and finals May 9 –14. Whereas Rice's last day is this Friday, April 19. With finals starting next Wednesday, April 24. So I'm not sure about the "academic demands" reason. And they have a home series this weekend.

"Academic demands" and "Texas Tech" in the same post? Really?

Something seems strange about this doesn't it? Wonder if we'll ever get the real story....

Maybe the fact that Tech has lost 10 of 11 games (and is getting killed tonight) has something to do with it.

They also cancelled the second game at New Mexico in May for supposedly the same reason. I just thought maybe they had changed the time for Sesame Street in Lubbock and today Prof. Count von Count was reviewing the number 3.

(04-17-2013 10:04 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  They also cancelled the second game at New Mexico in May for supposedly the same reason. I just thought maybe they had changed the time for Sesame Street in Lubbock and today Prof. Count von Count was reviewing the number 3.

(04-17-2013 10:04 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  They also cancelled the second game at New Mexico in May for supposedly the same reason. I just thought maybe they had changed the time for Sesame Street in Lubbock and today Prof. Count von Count was reviewing the number 3.