I was surprised to see that we got 9 hits. Didn't seem like it.
It seemed to me that this was our worst overall performance of the season. We never looked confident.
Errors... again... Costly.
Hitting... Not consistent or timely.
Pitching ... Weak at first... But managed to keep us in the game and in sight of a comeback.
It's a young season. But this TCU team was, by far, in my estimation, the best team we've faced. A long way to go, but they looked solid. Elite solid.

We beat these guys 5-0 last year (?). And they still made it to Omaha.
Our Conference play starts this week. Let's right the ship and play like we are capable of.
Go Owls!

We're now 8-6 heading into conference play.

We're going to have to win a whole lot of games in conference to have a realistic chance to host a regional or better.

A whole lot.

We play a 30 game conference schedule this year ... I seriously think we're going to have to do like a 25-5 (as well as win some key midweek games) to be in this mix. As of this writing CUSA is 73-49 in OOC games per Warren Nolan, so that should mitigate the RPI drain a bit.

(03-03-2015 11:05 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  We're now 8-6 heading into conference play.

We're going to have to win a whole lot of games in conference to have a realistic chance to host a regional or better.

A whole lot.

We play a 30 game conference schedule this year ... I seriously think we're going to have to do like a 25-5 (as well as win some key midweek games) to be in this mix. As of this writing CUSA is 73-49 in OOC games per Warren Nolan, so that should mitigate the RPI drain a bit.

If we dominate the conference like that and pick up some midweek wins, I have a hard time imagining we'll have any trouble hosting.

(03-03-2015 10:55 PM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  

(03-03-2015 10:53 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(03-03-2015 10:10 PM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  Another poor inning at the plate for the Owls.

Maybe our hitting is overrated. We've struggled against truly great pitching this year...Parker French (UT), the Stanford Friday guy, TCU's entire rotation...

Of course our hitting is overrated. Isn't it a truism that good pitching beats good hitting?

Indeed. Although I would argue that we had exceptional pitching tonight and still lost. So maybe the equation is good pitching beats good hitting as long as the good pitching comes with solid defense behind it.

It's true that good defense beats good offense.

But good offense does not overcome offensive defense

:/

(03-03-2015 10:43 PM)THRILL Wrote:  so we're bitching about the game even being on TV in the first place ?

I cant get with that

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding...

(03-03-2015 11:04 PM)greyowl72 Wrote:  I was surprised to see that we got 9 hits. Didn't seem like it.

That's because Rice hit the ball with consistency - after getting two outs.

(03-04-2015 10:57 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(03-03-2015 11:04 PM)greyowl72 Wrote:  I was surprised to see that we got 9 hits. Didn't seem like it.

That's because Rice hit the ball with consistency - after getting two outs.

And all singles. IIRC, no extra-base hits.

(03-04-2015 11:01 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(03-04-2015 10:57 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(03-03-2015 11:04 PM)greyowl72 Wrote:  I was surprised to see that we got 9 hits. Didn't seem like it.

That's because Rice hit the ball with consistency - after getting two outs.

And all singles. IIRC, no extra-base hits.

And they only had one xtrabase hit, and 9 hits-- 4 of which were of the infield variety, and at least of which should have been ruled errors.

Wonder if we lead the country in most errors....

I think we host a regional at least, and it's possible we host a SR. Too much pitching to not host something.

Our defense is shaky, at best. Stainback has been poor on the field, and he was originally our SS last season before an injury. Only then did Byrd move from CF to SS, and while Byrd's been OK, it's obvious we don't have great defense up the middle. Gray on the corner has looked good at times, but he's a freshman and has made plenty of errors too. We haven't looked good throwing runners out from the catcher position, not sure which one has a better arm, but neither appears to be a great defensive catcher. Our offense is good, but not powerful enough to bash our way past multiple errors, so I fear we will lose a lot of low scoring games because of the defense (we've already lost more than one 3-1 game due to errors). And our pitching, while outstanding, doesn't have as many strikeout pitchers as I'd like with this defense. I expect the fielding to improve as the seasons continues, but when the pressure is on in late innings, I expect the infield to be shaky. IIRC we lost that SR two years ago vs Nebraska after blowing two 9th inning leads with errors. Stainback might've been at fault for some of those. He was good enough for WG to start at SS earlier in his career, so I have to think part of his problem is mental. The pattern is definitely troubling and has been going on for a while. Overall, this appears to be one of the weakest fielding team in the WG era.

(03-04-2015 06:30 PM)Buho00 Wrote:  so I have to think part of his problem is mental. The pattern is definitely troubling and has been going on for a while.

It seems to be mental for both Stainback and Byrd. Both have made several Sportscenter worthy plays in the field, yet they have also committed the most egregious of errors.

(03-04-2015 06:30 PM)Buho00 Wrote:  I think we host a regional at least, and it's possible we host a SR. Too much pitching to not host something.

Our defense is shaky, at best. Stainback has been poor on the field, and he was originally our SS last season before an injury. Only then did Byrd move from CF to SS, and while Byrd's been OK, it's obvious we don't have great defense up the middle. Gray on the corner has looked good at times, but he's a freshman and has made plenty of errors too. We haven't looked good throwing runners out from the catcher position, not sure which one has a better arm, but neither appears to be a great defensive catcher. Our offense is good, but not powerful enough to bash our way past multiple errors, so I fear we will lose a lot of low scoring games because of the defense (we've already lost more than one 3-1 game due to errors). And our pitching, while outstanding, doesn't have as many strikeout pitchers as I'd like with this defense. I expect the fielding to improve as the seasons continues, but when the pressure is on in late innings, I expect the infield to be shaky. IIRC we lost that SR two years ago vs Nebraska after blowing two 9th inning leads with errors. Stainback might've been at fault for some of those. He was good enough for WG to start at SS earlier in his career, so I have to think part of his problem is mental. The pattern is definitely troubling and has been going on for a while. Overall, this appears to be one of the weakest fielding team in the WG era.

The fielding will almost assuredly improve, and significantly so. Gray has a cannon for an arm, and we must remember he's only been playing 3B for 3 weeks. (He was a SS in high school, played SS during intrasquads, and had been slated to play LF for us this year.) It took Hoelscher half a season before he became comfortable at 3B, subbing in for an injured Rendon. In particular, Tristan needs to get more comfortable with the bunt defense and with cutting off balls in the hole to his left. Byrd just needs to stop thinking too much. Whenever he has a reaction type play he has made them, often in spectacular fashion. Going somewhat unnoticed, we have one of the better defensive outfields in the country. Chandler and Warren, in particular, cover large chunks of field, and Charlie has already made several diving, web gem plays.

I disagree with you comment re. strikeout pitchers. Save for Blake Fox and perhaps Ricardo Salinas (who is more of a sinker baller), all our guys are strikeout pitchers, with Otto, Ditman, Williamson and Orewiler off-the-charts in that regard. As a staff, we're averaging almost exactly a strikeout per inning pitched, which is exceptional.

(03-04-2015 06:45 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-04-2015 06:30 PM)Buho00 Wrote:  I think we host a regional at least, and it's possible we host a SR. Too much pitching to not host something.

Our defense is shaky, at best. Stainback has been poor on the field, and he was originally our SS last season before an injury. Only then did Byrd move from CF to SS, and while Byrd's been OK, it's obvious we don't have great defense up the middle. Gray on the corner has looked good at times, but he's a freshman and has made plenty of errors too. We haven't looked good throwing runners out from the catcher position, not sure which one has a better arm, but neither appears to be a great defensive catcher. Our offense is good, but not powerful enough to bash our way past multiple errors, so I fear we will lose a lot of low scoring games because of the defense (we've already lost more than one 3-1 game due to errors). And our pitching, while outstanding, doesn't have as many strikeout pitchers as I'd like with this defense. I expect the fielding to improve as the seasons continues, but when the pressure is on in late innings, I expect the infield to be shaky. IIRC we lost that SR two years ago vs Nebraska after blowing two 9th inning leads with errors. Stainback might've been at fault for some of those. He was good enough for WG to start at SS earlier in his career, so I have to think part of his problem is mental. The pattern is definitely troubling and has been going on for a while. Overall, this appears to be one of the weakest fielding team in the WG era.

The fielding will almost assuredly improve, and significantly so. Gray has a cannon for an arm, and we must remember he's only been playing 3B for 3 weeks. (He was a SS in high school, played SS during intrasquads, and had been slated to play LF for us this year.) It took Hoelscher half a season before he became comfortable at 3B, subbing in for an injured Rendon. In particular, Tristan needs to get more comfortable with the bunt defense and with cutting off balls in the hole to his left. Byrd just needs to stop thinking too much. Whenever he has a reaction type play he has made them, often in spectacular fashion. Going somewhat unnoticed, we have one of the better defensive outfields in the country. Chandler and Warren, in particular, cover large chunks of field, and Charlie has already made several diving, web gem plays.

I disagree with you comment re. strikeout pitchers. Save for Blake Fox and perhaps Ricardo Salinas (who is more of a sinker baller), all our guys are strikeout pitchers, with Otto, Ditman, Williamson and Orewiler off-the-charts in that regard. As a staff, we're averaging almost exactly a strikeout per inning pitched, which is exceptional.

I remember Friday was error-prone in the first half of his freshman season, so there is reason to believe we will improve, but we have already burned 1/4 of the season, so it cannot come too soon. As long as our guys are making defensive errors, we will need strikeout pitchers.

Brian Friday's defense got to a point where he was eventually benched about midway through his freshman year.

He obviously eventually became a very good shortstop.

(03-04-2015 11:05 AM)Antarius Wrote:  Wonder if we lead the country in most errors....

Not close. We have committed 22 errors for a .957 fielding percentage, which is #197 in D1.

Dead last (#290) is Alcorn State, with 42 errors (.888).

We are the highest fielding-ranked team with 22 errors. UC-Riverside also has 22 (.957) but is ranked #201.

Other high-error teams/errors/fielding%/rank include:

Central Michigan / 23 / .954 / #209
New Orleans / 22 / .953 / #214
Mercer / 23 / .952 / #222
Sam Houston State / 22 / .952 / #223
. . .
Texas State / 26 / .942 / #261
Savannah State / 26 / .939 / #269
Eastern Michigan / 32 / .936 / #275
UNC-Asheville / 27 / .935 / #277
Prairie View / 28 / .932 / #281

(03-04-2015 09:21 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(03-04-2015 11:05 AM)Antarius Wrote:  Wonder if we lead the country in most errors....

Not close. We have committed 22 errors for a .957 fielding percentage, which is #197 in D1.

Dead last (#290) is Alcorn State, with 42 errors (.888).

We are the highest fielding-ranked team with 22 errors. UC-Riverside also has 22 (.957) but is ranked #201.

Other high-error teams/errors/fielding%/rank include:

Central Michigan / 23 / .954 / #209
New Orleans / 22 / .953 / #214
Mercer / 23 / .952 / #222
Sam Houston State / 22 / .952 / #223
. . .
Texas State / 26 / .942 / #261
Savannah State / 26 / .939 / #269
Eastern Michigan / 32 / .936 / #275
UNC-Asheville / 27 / .935 / #277
Prairie View / 28 / .932 / #281

Fascinating. Thanks for posting this.

Definitely was not expecting this.