To state the obvious, this has not been the start to the season that the Baseball Owls envisioned. Stumbling out of the gates to an early 6 - 6 record (despite not playing a game outside Houston), we have been plagued with many of the same shortcomings that we saw the past couple seasons-- porous defense, unproductive offense, inability to get a bunt down, poor baserunning, etc. And though the defense has shown signs of stabilizing the past couple weeks, our lack of offense is really holding us back. Interestingly (though not surprising), we're 0-6 when scoring 2 or fewer runs, but 6-0 when scoring 3 or more runs. We're hitting a very weak .237/.327/.298 as a team, with just 14 extrabase hits (vs. 27 for our opponents), and averaging only 4 runs scored per game. We do have four guys (Proctor, Warren, Wunderlich, Lewis) hitting over .300, but no one else is batting over .260. Making matters worse, we've hit into 12 doubleplays (vs. just 4 by the opposition). When you combine that with our 21 errors and .953 fielding percentage, one can only imagine the pressure that is placing on our pitching staff. Having said that, save for 2 - 3 really poor outings, our pitching has been solid. Big Jon Duplantier, reigning CUSA and national Pitcher of the Week, appears to be fully recovered from last year's injury woes, and ready to live up to his high expectations. His 1-hit, 14 strikeout outing last weekend against a quality UCF team was an all-time great Rice pitching performance. True Freshman Jackson Parthasarathy has had two consecutive strong mid-week starts, leads the team in most pitching stats (ERA, BAA, WHIP), and may be making a case to move into the weekend rotation. Blake Fox has rebounded nicely from his sub-par opening day start, and appears to be back in form (despite his 0-3 record). Otto, Solecitto and Orewiler have all been solid out of the pen. It's time for the offense to do it's part and begin showing some consistency. Since we don't have the power bats, we need to do a better job of getting on base, moving runners over and executing bunts and situational hitting...and we need to stop running ourselves out of innings. We need to start manufacturing runs as we did last Sunday vs. UCF. Yes, it's too early to panic, but this weekend series takes us to the quarter point of the season. We need to regain our footing, and start playing quality, fundamental baseball.
This weekend we play another old conference mate in the ECU Pirates.
Game times are 6:00pm CST Friday, 2:00pm Saturday, 12:30pm Sunday. The Rice Fans/Parents Tailgate will be this Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at Audrey Moody Ley Plaza, the same location as last year. Please bring your favorite snack and beverage to share. All are welcome!
Here are the Rice game notes for the series...
http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-basebl/...16aaa.html
The East Carolina Pirates are off to an outstanding start, sporting a 10 - 3 record (2-1 on road), and garnering their first Top 25 ranking in several years This week they were ranked as high as #16 in the USAToday/ESPN Coaches poll. Though they have played a largely home-baked schedule against second-tier teams, they made a statement a couple weeks back by taking 2 of 3 on the road vs. nationally ranked Virginia, and beat a quality Maryland team last weekend. They come into Reckling with a 7-2 record over their first three weekend series (vs. 3-6 for the Owls). While we had our lone mid-week game rained out at Lamar, ECU beat George Mason twice by a combined score of 14-1. Here's their schedule and results over their first 13 games...
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2016/sch...t-Carolina
The Pirates are hitting a robust .311/.398/.445 as a team, with 5 HRs, 37 doubles/triples and averaging 6.2 runs per game. Though they do not hit for much power, they do average better than 3 extrabase hits/game (vs. just 1 for us). 7 regulars are hitting .333 or better. They appear to be very aggressive contact hitters up and down the lineup, with relatively low free passes and strikeout frequency. My guess is they're going up there looking to swing at any first pitch fastball in the zone. Consequently, this may be a series where our pitchers consider leading with their breaking ball and off-speed stuff. The Pirates are also very aggressive and efficient baserunners, having stolen 28 - 31 bases, with virtually every player in their lineup getting in on the act. They stole 5 bases against George Mason this past Wednesday. Given opposing teams have had great success running against us (we've thrown out only 4 of 22 attempted basestealers, and 2 of those were on pickoffs), I would expect ECU to run on us at every opportunity (or until we can demonstrate an ability to keep the running game in check).
The lone vulnerability for ECU in the early going has been defense. They, too, have committed 21 errors (but in 2 more games), and have posted a sub-par .961 fielding percentage. However, their catchers/pitchers have held opposing basestealers to just a 60% success rate, having thrown out or picked off 6 of 15 attempted steals.
On the mound the Pirates have excelled with strong across the board stats: 2.44 ERA, .222 BAA, 3.5 K:BB ratio, and allowing only 2.3 BBs/game. Their weekend rotation is led by a pair of strike throwing left-handers, both of whom are off to very impressive starts, and their bullpen boasts four relievers currently sporting ERAs under 1.70...
E.Kruczynski (Jr, LHP): 3 starts, 1-0, 19.1 IP, 2.33 ERA, .181 BAA, 5 BBs, 16 Ks
J.Wolfe (Jr, LHP): 3 starts, 2-1, 19.0 IP, 0.47 ERA, .219 BAA, 3 BBs, 11 Ks
J. Boyd (Sr, RHP): 3 starts, 1-1, 16.2 IP, 3.78 ERA, .230 BAA, 4 BBs, 3 WPs, 2 HBP, 10 Ks
J.Ingle (So, RHP): 5 app, 2-1, 2 saves, 11.1 IP, 1.59 ERA, .146 BAA, 7 BBs, 18 Ks
D.Kilpatrick (So, RHP): 5 app, 1 save, 13.1 IP, 1.35 ERA, .224 BAA, 4 BBs, 9 Ks
C.Holba (Fr, RHP): 4 app, 2-0, 5.2 IP, 1.59 ERA, .111 BAA, 1 BB, 4 Ks
Their closer, Joe Ingle, appears to be the only true power pitcher in the group, but he's also the one guy on the staff that has had command issues. Note the right-hand laden bullpen.
Here's their individual and team stats, as well as their roster...
http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-baseb...mcume.html
http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-baseb...l-mtt.html
It's time to right the ship and start playing consistently, quality, fundamental baseball. It's time to prove we can beat a Top 25 caliber team on the weekend. As we make the quarter turn on the season, and recognizing that we open up conference play next week, the time is now. Go Owls!
Perfect Game picked the Pirates to finish 3rd in the AAC, and selected ace LHP Evan Kruczyinski to their preseason all-conference team...
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=12052
D1Baseball also picked ECU to finish 3rd in the AAC (behind UH and Tulane), and make the post-season...
http://www.d1baseball.com/analysis/2016-...-american/
Quote:• East Carolina, much like Tulane, made some serious waves last season by getting back to the NCAA postseason. Now, coach Cliff Godwin and his program look to take yet another step forward. This team, on paper at least, looks like one that could make some serious noise. There are some definite question marks offensively, but there’s also a strong foundation with the return of power-hitting first baseman Bryce Harman, toolsy second baseman Charlie Yorgen and talented C Travis Watkins, who really improved during fall workouts and has some legitimate pop in his bat. The big key for this offense is getting power-hitting left-handed hitters like Harman to be more consistent. As powerful and imposing as Harman is, he still finished last season with a lackluster .244 batting average, so consistency is the key here. Kirk Morgan and Eric Tyler, both in the mix for starting job at third base, have gap power and could be primed for good campaigns, while the outfield must be better with defensive specialists Parker Lamm and Garrett Brooks the main culprits after finishing last season with .270 and .234 batting averages, respectively.
On the mound, the Pirates should have some real stability. LHP Evan Kruzcynski is the staff ace, and he was a rock last season. The pitchability lefty, who sits 87-89, and up to 90 with his fastball, tallied 72 strikeouts in 99.1 innings last season, and will show an above-average changeup and good command of three pitches. Meanwhile, LHP Jacob Wolfe is another upper-80s, touching 90, lefty who has good life on his FB, and who shows feel for an average changeup and slider, while RHP Jimmy Boyd is an interesting prospect to watch. Boyd wasn’t ultra consistent last season, but has plenty of upside with a fastball that can get up to 92-93 and a pair of average secondary offerings – a curveball and changeup. RHP David Kirkpatrick is a true wild card as he returns from Tommy John surgery, but he showed in the past the ability to get up to 92 with his FB, while key relievers RHP Joe Ingle and Nick Durazo are intriguing arms. Ingle, who had a 1.17 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 31.2 innings last season, will sit 88-92, and up to 93 with his FB, along with a good curveball and average changeup, while Durazo will sit 86-90 with his FB, along with a good curveball.
