I was on the 1998 and 1999 teams. I do not remember either of them being good at bunting. Maybe not quite as bad as recent years, I don't watch enough games now to compare. But I remember a fair share of guys getting chewed out for unsuccessful bunt attempts. I remember a practice where, for ~45 minutes, the guys who played regularly (not me!) had bunting practice, and for every failed bunt had to run to the outfield fence and back

At least at the beginning of Rice's peak run, the team was a mediocre bunting team that made up for it in a plethora of other ways (chicks dig the long ball, sound defense, and great pitching). I think the bunting has just become more exposed because the game has changed.

Probably because Rice' hitters were the best or (maybe) the second best hitter on their high school team, and were never asked to bunt.

Edit: not excusing it--we shouldn't be this bad, just saying that is probably why our guys come in bad at bunting.

(03-23-2016 05:03 PM)RiceFootball2K5 Wrote:  Probably because Rice' hitters were the best or (maybe) the second best hitter on their high school team, and were never asked to bunt.

Edit: not excusing it--we shouldn't be this bad, just saying that is probably why our guys come in bad at bunting.

I'm sick and tired of this excuse. Every other top program have players who were the top hitters on their high school team, but almost every one of them bunt at close to a 75% success rate. We are the outlier in this regard.

(03-23-2016 05:01 PM)RiceFootball2K5 Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 04:21 PM)Ranger Wrote:  It was a great win, a much needed win.

But I write in support of Walt. There is a trend on this board for the politically correct police to condemn anyone who does not act like a Stepford wife. Everything must be sunny and rosy all the time. But the play on this team (and the past several teams for that matter) has not been up to what we have come to expect from Rice teams. It is hard to understand how guys who have played baseball 10+ years and been the stars of their teams cannot consistently perform basic baseball skills like bunting or avoiding being picked off base. Walt might be more vocal in his expression of disappointment with this situation, but his vocality reflects his extreme passion for Rice athletics and (I think this is fair to say) Rice baseball in particular. Passion is a very admirable quality, not one to be condemned. Walt expends enormous amounts of time (and from what I hear money as well) supporting Rice athletics and (once again I think it is fair to say) Rice baseball in particular.

Amen.

I'm totally with Walt. This criticism of him is ill-informed, ridiculous. I just wish Rice athletics had a dozen more like him.

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  ... support the team regardless of the result.

Walt does.

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  Stop complaining

Way, way out of line. Thought police are not welcome here (and really shouldn't be welcome anywhere).

There are lots of people on this board I disagree with about a number of things. It is their right to have their opinions, even if I really, really disagree with those opinions and want them to change (as I'm sure they want my thinking to change as well).

But saying, "Sit down, shut up, and eat your pudding in silence" is not good form.

(03-23-2016 05:33 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 05:03 PM)RiceFootball2K5 Wrote:  Probably because Rice' hitters were the best or (maybe) the second best hitter on their high school team, and were never asked to bunt.

Edit: not excusing it--we shouldn't be this bad, just saying that is probably why our guys come in bad at bunting.

I'm sick and tired of this excuse. Every other top program have players who were the top hitters on their high school team, but almost every one of them bunt at close to a 75% success rate. We are the outlier in this regard.

Completely agree. It's not as if we have the Murderers' Row in our batting order either (for a good few years now as well).

(03-23-2016 06:09 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  ... support the team regardless of the result.

Walt does.

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  Stop complaining

Way, way out of line. Thought police are not welcome here (and really shouldn't be welcome anywhere).

There are lots of people on this board I disagree with about a number of things. It is their right to have their opinions, even if I really, really disagree with those opinions and want them to change (as I'm sure they want my thinking to change as well).

But saying, "Sit down, shut up, and eat your pudding in silence" is not good form.

That's a whole lot of telling someone else what's okay to post and not post, Mr. Anti-Thought-Police. [Ugh, and down the rabbit hole we go with "don't tell me what to post" "no YOU don't tell ME what to post"...]

Anyway, it looks like RiceOwl is new. My suggestion: Put Walt on ignore. Took me years to do it, and I miss some of the value he brings, but I got tired of metaphorically sitting next to the loudest guy at the bar, listening him to shout insults and advice as if the staff has never coached a game. Isn't that what everyone else has done? It's been a couple years since I listened to endless complaints about "plate discipline" [in other words: "be a better hitter than you are, dammit!"], and I'm happier for it.

(03-23-2016 07:35 PM)JOwl Wrote:  That's a whole lot of telling someone else what's okay to post and not post, Mr. Anti-Thought-Police. [Ugh, and down the rabbit hole we go with "don't tell me what to post" "no YOU don't tell ME what to post"...]

Which is exactly what I knew would be posted next...

Whatever. Like you say, down the rabbit hole. Inevitable. There should at least be some implicit standards for tolerance.

(03-23-2016 08:03 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 07:35 PM)JOwl Wrote:  That's a whole lot of telling someone else what's okay to post and not post, Mr. Anti-Thought-Police. [Ugh, and down the rabbit hole we go with "don't tell me what to post" "no YOU don't tell ME what to post"...]

Which is exactly what I knew would be posted next...

Whatever. Like you say, down the rabbit hole. Inevitable. There should at least be some implicit standards for tolerance.

Weren't you the one getting frustrated last fall about playing Baylor because of their religious affiliation?

(03-23-2016 04:51 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 03:48 PM)austinowl73 Wrote:  Walt and Tiki are two of the biggest supporters of Rice sports I have known. They may occasionally make comments that grate and one can certainly disagree with them (Walt and I do from time to time -- usually until I surrender) but questioning their support, dedication and love of Rice sports is totally beyond the realm.

+1. Well said.

+2

Just returned to semi-civilization so just catching up on the game.

So.... yaaaaaaaaaay. Beating UH is always very satisfying.

(03-23-2016 07:35 PM)JOwl Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 06:09 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  ... support the team regardless of the result.

Walt does.

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  Stop complaining

Way, way out of line. Thought police are not welcome here (and really shouldn't be welcome anywhere).

There are lots of people on this board I disagree with about a number of things. It is their right to have their opinions, even if I really, really disagree with those opinions and want them to change (as I'm sure they want my thinking to change as well).

But saying, "Sit down, shut up, and eat your pudding in silence" is not good form.

That's a whole lot of telling someone else what's okay to post and not post, Mr. Anti-Thought-Police. [Ugh, and down the rabbit hole we go with "don't tell me what to post" "no YOU don't tell ME what to post"...]

Anyway, it looks like RiceOwl is new. My suggestion: Put Walt on ignore. Took me years to do it, and I miss some of the value he brings, but I got tired of metaphorically sitting next to the loudest guy at the bar, listening him to shout insults and advice as if the staff has never coached a game. Isn't that what everyone else has done? It's been a couple years since I listened to endless complaints about "plate discipline" [in other words: "be a better hitter than you are, dammit!"], and I'm happier for it.

And people wonder why US politics are getting more and more polarized and divided.

Ignoring dissent is a pretty good reason as to why that is.

(03-23-2016 07:35 PM)JOwl Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 06:09 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  ... support the team regardless of the result.

Walt does.

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  Stop complaining

Way, way out of line. Thought police are not welcome here (and really shouldn't be welcome anywhere).

There are lots of people on this board I disagree with about a number of things. It is their right to have their opinions, even if I really, really disagree with those opinions and want them to change (as I'm sure they want my thinking to change as well).

But saying, "Sit down, shut up, and eat your pudding in silence" is not good form.

That's a whole lot of telling someone else what's okay to post and not post, Mr. Anti-Thought-Police. [Ugh, and down the rabbit hole we go with "don't tell me what to post" "no YOU don't tell ME what to post"...]

Anyway, it looks like RiceOwl is new. My suggestion: Put Walt on ignore. Took me years to do it, and I miss some of the value he brings, but I got tired of metaphorically sitting next to the loudest guy at the bar, listening him to shout insults and advice as if the staff has never coached a game. Isn't that what everyone else has done? It's been a couple years since I listened to endless complaints about "plate discipline" [in other words: "be a better hitter than you are, dammit!"], and I'm happier for it.

Smart man

(03-23-2016 06:09 PM)Wiessman Wrote:  

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  ... support the team regardless of the result.

Walt does.

(03-23-2016 11:05 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  Stop complaining

Way, way out of line. Thought police are not welcome here (and really shouldn't be welcome anywhere).

There are lots of people on this board I disagree with about a number of things. It is their right to have their opinions, even if I really, really disagree with those opinions and want them to change (as I'm sure they want my thinking to change as well).

But saying, "Sit down, shut up, and eat your pudding in silence" is not good form.

+1

Walt is one of Rice's biggest supporters. I have to chuckle for those who have to retreat to their "safe space" because they can't handle some of Walt's complaints. I grew up playing sports so perhaps I've got thicker skin after years of verbal abuse from coaches and others, so Walt doesn't irritate me.