It will be LHP Blake Fox vs. RHP Parker French in tonight's game...

French (Jr, RHP): 16 app 13 starts, 1 save, 5-5, 82.2 IP, 2.61 ERA, .237 BAA, 36 BBs, 12 HBP, 53 Ks

French has really struggled with his control his last four outings...

5/2 vs. W.Va. 8.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 BBs, 1 HBP, 2 Ks
5/18 vs. KSU 2.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 4 BBs, 1 HBP, 0 Ks
5/22 vs. OSU 1.0 IP, o hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks
5/24 vs. OSU 1.0 IP, 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 BBs, 1 K

I know it goes against our usual offensive approach, but we need to be patient against this guy; especially early. Let's not help him out by first pitch swinging on a regular basis. Let's make him work deep into the count. Note-- he's not a big strikeout pitcher.

No need to dwell on the rest of UT's game-- we know they rely on a quality, deep pitching staff, with no less than 5 elite bullpen arms...an excellent defense (.975 fielding percentage, 45 ground ball doubleplays turned, a catcher who has given up only 6 passed balls and limitted opponents to just 30 stolen bases in 57 games)...and an ultra-efficient and opportunistic offense that leads the nation in both BBs (253) and sac bunts (88), and have stolen 66-78 bases (an amazing 85% success rate). Payton (48) and Marlow (43) both have 40+ BBs, and Clemens adds another 36. (Byrd leads Rice with 28 BBs.)

Having said that, the Longhorns are hitting just .267/.363/.361 as a team, with 20 HRs, 89 doubles/triples and averaging 4.7 runs per game. They rely on other teams "gifting" them runs via free passes, wild pitches, passed balls and errors. Fortunately, Blake Fox is not only our best strikethrower, but he does a great job limitting the running game (6 pickoffs).

Here's the UT roster, stat sheet and schedule/results to date...
http://www.texassports.com/roster.aspx?path=baseball
http://www.texassports.com/cumestats.asp...&year=2014
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2014/schedule/Texas

Offensively, we need to get to their starter given how good and deep UT's bullpen is (with multiple righty and left-handed options).

Let's even up our season series with the Longhorns at two games apiece, and stay in the all-important winners bracket. Statement time, tonight. Go Owls!

(05-31-2014 09:37 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Let's even up our season series with the Longhorns at two games apiece, and stay in the all-important winners bracket. Statement time, tonight. Go Owls!

+1

And if Matty Ditman is truly unavailable this weekend, the criticality of staying in the winners bracket is all the more important.

Pouring rain in the Heights right now. Any report from campus? I suspect that the early game will be delayed which would then affect us.

Pouring in Kirby/59 area as well. Gotta think we're delayed.

Lightning strike at 2:20 per twitter.

No one being allowed into the seats. Rain slowly working towards stadium. Tarp just rolled out.

Weather.com's "future" radar predictions show storms in the Rice area until about 5 p.m.

(05-31-2014 02:20 PM)rice-76-03-06 Wrote:  Pouring rain in the Heights right now. Any report from campus? I suspect that the early game will be delayed which would then affect us.

First lightning delays, then pouring rain (for past 30+ minutes), but it appears to be slowly lightening up a bit. Just heard another thunderclap out my hotel window. Having said that, the radar is not showing all the fronts passing until around 5:00pm, so I'd be surprised if the first game starts before 5:00pm, meaning another 8:30pm - 9:00pm, at the earliest start for us.

(05-31-2014 03:42 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  First lightning delays, then pouring rain (for past 30+ minutes), but it appears to be slowly lightening up a bit.

Wow, a correct use of the word "lightening" -- you don't see that every day, especially not in weather reports.

My thoughts exactly George.

Tarp coming off. Fans allowed in.

I note in the Watch ESPN "Upcoming" Listings that the Rice UT game is "subject to blackout." This is the first time this weekend a game has been subject to blackout. Does anyone know what conditions will trigger the blackout?

(05-31-2014 04:37 PM)Ranger Wrote:  I note in the Watch ESPN "Upcoming" Listings that the Rice UT game is "subject to blackout." This is the first time this weekend a game has been subject to blackout. Does anyone know what conditions will trigger the blackout?

Living in Texas

(05-31-2014 04:39 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(05-31-2014 04:37 PM)Ranger Wrote:  I note in the Watch ESPN "Upcoming" Listings that the Rice UT game is "subject to blackout." This is the first time this weekend a game has been subject to blackout. Does anyone know what conditions will trigger the blackout?

Living in Texas

Good. For my bad karma, I have been sentenced to live in Ohio.

Blacked out in TX on all ESPN channels including ESPN3. Only available on Longhorn Network. Outside of Texas, I think it will be available as planned.

Driving as many people as possible to the LHN, that great channel featuring master chef and wine connoisseur Augie Garrido.

(05-31-2014 03:42 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Just heard another thunderclap out my hotel window. Having said that, the radar is not showing all the fronts passing until around 5:00pm, so I'd be surprised if the first game starts before 5:00pm, ...

Pretty close, Walt. First pitch was 4:47.

Quote:Rice Owls ‏@RiceOwlsdotcom 25m
Officially, start of game was delayed 1:37.