Really big wins for ODU. Coming into the season it looked like the Monarchs were destined for the middle of the pack. They had a bit of a slow start but are now 12-8, 3-3. Rice made several uncustomary errors in the first two games, but I'm sure they will work it out and have a great year. Coupled with ODU'S earlier win over top ranked UVA, it looks like we might end up finishing higher in the rankings than most predicted. We shall see.

(03-23-2015 10:05 AM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  Really big wins for ODU. Coming into the season it looked like the Monarchs were destined for the middle of the pack. They had a bit of a slow start but are now 12-8, 3-3. Rice made several uncustomary errors in the first two games, but I'm sure they will work it out and have a great year. Coupled with ODU'S earlier win over top ranked UVA, it looks like we might end up finishing higher in the rankings than most predicted. We shall see.

Rice is usually near the top of the conference every year in fielding, but they haven't been very good early this season. Looks like they can overcome a lot of it because they can still pitch and are hitting a ton.

The ODU/Rice and MT/FAU series were the two I had my eye on the most this weekend.

I really get the sense that the league is going to be wide open this year. Not sure that's best for the league but ODU and MT knocking off the two best teams so far this season could be a sign of things to come.

We have some good front end pitching and perhaps the best catcher in the league. A lot of power in the OF positions but we lack depth in the pitching rotation. We haven't been very good in midweek games as a result.

I do know one thing. I desperatley want us to get back to making NCAA Regionals again. If we don't make one this year it will be the longest consecutive drought for our program since a gap in appearances between 1968 and 1976.

Kind of surprised WKU is 4 and 2 in CUSA...WE have some hitters, but did not think our pitching would hold up very well...Still a long ways to go but not a bad start....We play UK at home tomorrow night...

(03-23-2015 10:19 AM)USMSTUD Wrote:  Rice is usually near the top of the conference every year in fielding, but they haven't been very good early this season. Looks like they can overcome a lot of it because they can still pitch and are hitting a ton.

Good synopsis. Rice has lots of pitching depth, even though a couple of Rice's weekend starters have been a little off this season. Plenty of hitting depth. Plenty of guys can make spectacular, MLB-quality plays on defense. Then those same guys have made mental errors or errors on routine plays that lead to runs. Rice's 2B Stainback has made some amazing plays, but his 6 errors have been very costly (.951 fielding%). SS Leon Byrd played short in HS, then OF his first few years at Rice, and is now back to SS. His rustiness shows with 8 errors (.934 fielding%). 3B has been split between freshman Tristan Grey and transfer Grayson Lewis. They have combined for 9 errors (and a sub-.900 fielding%). OF Charlie Warren has also made some great plays, but has somehow managed 4 errors! That is tough to do in the OF!

Rice has given up 33 unearned runs so far (25 games), 1.32/game, and realistically, this number is probably higher (mental errors, some errors counted as hits by scorekeepers). To put that in perspective, Rice gave up 33 unearned runs in 2014 (62 games), so 0.53/game, and 42 unearned runs in 2013 (64 games), so 0.66/game.

(03-23-2015 12:21 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Kind of surprised WKU is 4 and 2 in CUSA...WE have some hitters, but did not think our pitching would hold up very well...Still a long ways to go but not a bad start....We play UK at home tomorrow night...

If our pitching can hold up, we can compete. Love to put up 20+ against the kitty kats again at Hot Rods Stadium.

(03-23-2015 02:41 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(03-23-2015 10:19 AM)USMSTUD Wrote:  Rice is usually near the top of the conference every year in fielding, but they haven't been very good early this season. Looks like they can overcome a lot of it because they can still pitch and are hitting a ton.

Good synopsis. Rice has lots of pitching depth, even though a couple of Rice's weekend starters have been a little off this season. Plenty of hitting depth. Plenty of guys can make spectacular, MLB-quality plays on defense. Then those same guys have made mental errors or errors on routine plays that lead to runs. Rice's 2B Stainback has made some amazing plays, but his 6 errors have been very costly (.951 fielding%). SS Leon Byrd played short in HS, then OF his first few years at Rice, and is now back to SS. His rustiness shows with 8 errors (.934 fielding%). 3B has been split between freshman Tristan Grey and transfer Grayson Lewis. They have combined for 9 errors (and a sub-.900 fielding%). OF Charlie Warren has also made some great plays, but has somehow managed 4 errors! That is tough to do in the OF!

Rice has given up 33 unearned runs so far (25 games), 1.32/game, and realistically, this number is probably higher (mental errors, some errors counted as hits by scorekeepers). To put that in perspective, Rice gave up 33 unearned runs in 2014 (62 games), so 0.53/game, and 42 unearned runs in 2013 (64 games), so 0.66/game.

Amazing thing to me in all of this is that Blake Fox's unbeaten streak is still alive. He's been very shaky and a lot of those unearned runs were while he was on the mound.

(03-23-2015 10:05 AM)paintedblue2 Wrote:  Really big wins for ODU. Coming into the season it looked like the Monarchs were destined for the middle of the pack. They had a bit of a slow start but are now 12-8, 3-3. Rice made several uncustomary errors in the first two games, but I'm sure they will work it out and have a great year. Coupled with ODU'S earlier win over top ranked UVA, it looks like we might end up finishing higher in the rankings than most predicted. We shall see.

Congrats on the series win. ODU seems to have our number across sports this year!

(03-24-2015 10:26 AM)USMSTUD Wrote:  

(03-23-2015 02:41 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(03-23-2015 10:19 AM)USMSTUD Wrote:  Rice is usually near the top of the conference every year in fielding, but they haven't been very good early this season. Looks like they can overcome a lot of it because they can still pitch and are hitting a ton.

Good synopsis. Rice has lots of pitching depth, even though a couple of Rice's weekend starters have been a little off this season. Plenty of hitting depth. Plenty of guys can make spectacular, MLB-quality plays on defense. Then those same guys have made mental errors or errors on routine plays that lead to runs. Rice's 2B Stainback has made some amazing plays, but his 6 errors have been very costly (.951 fielding%). SS Leon Byrd played short in HS, then OF his first few years at Rice, and is now back to SS. His rustiness shows with 8 errors (.934 fielding%). 3B has been split between freshman Tristan Grey and transfer Grayson Lewis. They have combined for 9 errors (and a sub-.900 fielding%). OF Charlie Warren has also made some great plays, but has somehow managed 4 errors! That is tough to do in the OF!

Rice has given up 33 unearned runs so far (25 games), 1.32/game, and realistically, this number is probably higher (mental errors, some errors counted as hits by scorekeepers). To put that in perspective, Rice gave up 33 unearned runs in 2014 (62 games), so 0.53/game, and 42 unearned runs in 2013 (64 games), so 0.66/game.

Amazing thing to me in all of this is that Blake Fox's unbeaten streak is still alive. He's been very shaky and a lot of those unearned runs were while he was on the mound.

He's been about as lucky on the W/L front as any pitcher can get