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!