Transitioning From #OWLoha to Owlmaha-- 50 days & Counting
While we continue to savor last night's impressive Hawaii Bowl victory, and bask in the very positive spotlight that ESPN shone on us, I was just reminded that the baseball season-opener at Reckling vs. Texas is just 50 days away. In a couple weeks activity will once again be swirling inside Reckling as the 2015 edition of the Diamond Owls begin to take shape. And here are my early wishes for the upcoming season...
- A fully healthy, rested and rejuvenated John Clay (JC) Reeves behind the dish. Given what he accomplished playing with a fractured wrist and injured hip in his first year on South Main (.317, 6 HRs, 8 doubles/triples, 41 RBIs), I can't wait to see what he can do when healthy...aside from carry the team on his back.
- Junior LHP Blake Fox having a repeat of his all-American 2014 season, and continuing his unblemished record at Rice (now 18 - 0 and counting).
- Anticipated breakout seasons from our Junior duo of SS Leon Byrd (who had a phenominal Fall Ball) and 1B Connor Teykl (who tore it up in the California League over the Summer), as well as Big Jon Duplantier (who opened eyes this Summer and was named the #1 prospect in the California League by every publication and site).
- Continued improvement and increased contributions from our quartet of Junior RHPs: Kevin McCanna, Ryan McCarthy and Austin Orewiler
- Matt Ditman returns healthy after a Summer and Fall of rest, and steps up his game even further to become a legitimate Stopper of the Year and All-American candidate.
- Speedy rehabs and recovery of form/stuff from our quartet of pitchers coming back from arm troubles: Jordan Stephens, Josh Petitte, Max McElligott and Austin Solecitto. Hopefully, at least two of them will be ready to contribute positively to our already strong and deep pitching staff.
- Our numerous true Freshmen (RHP Glenn Otto, RHP Ricardo Salinas, LF Tristan Gray, CF Ryan Chandler, OF Khevin Brewer) and JUCO transfers (LHP Josh Petitte, LHP Austin Solecitto, 3B Grayson Lewis) prove to be key impact players from the get-go. I believe we will be relying on newcomers more in 2015 than in any year since that historically great incoming class of the 2005 season (Savery, Geer, Friday, Henley, Dodson, St.Clair, Bell, Lehmann, Bramhall, Tacker, et al.)
- Our quintet of Seniors (C JC Reeves, 2B Ford Stainback, UT Kirby Taylor, RHP Trevor Teykl, LHP/OF John JWiliie Williamson) take on the leadership role-- both on the field and in the lockerroom, and set the tone toward our long-overdue return to Owlmaha.
- Continued development and increased contributions from C Hunter Kopycinski and RF Charlie Warren.
We're likely to be somewhat disrespected in the various preseason polls due to our question marks on offense (based on returning production) and an overlooked pitching staff. I'm guessing that the reputable pundits will have us in the #13 - #17 range heading into the season....but with 11 of our first 13 games against Texas, Stanford and Arizona (representing a combined 20% of the regular season), we have the opportunity to quickly turn heads and make a statement.
This could very well be our best pitching staff since the Big 4 years of 2003 - '04, and certainly what appears to be our deepest staff in the Wayne Graham era. And though I suspect we still will not be much of a base stealing team, this year's squad should be our fastest in quite some time.
50 days and counting-- opening day cannot come fast enough.
(This post was last modified: 12-27-2014 10:35 AM by waltgreenberg.)
|