The Diamond Owls return home to Reckling Park this weekend feeling good about themselves following a victorious road trip (including a series win in our conference opener against UTSA and this past Tuesday's 7-4 take down of the Coogs). Don't look now, but despite our early struggles, pedestrian 11 - 9 record and inconsistent play, we have won three consecutive weekend series, and have now posted a very respectable 4 - 5 record against top 25 ranked opponents (ECU x 3, TCU x 2, UH, Arkansas, ULaLa, DBU). In fact, it's our #4 ranked Strength of Schedule (SoS) that's bolstering our #30 ranked RPI (with our W-L record having more influence on our #51 ranked ISR). Importantly, our weekend rotation of Duplantier - Fox - Salinas has been giving us quality starts and our defense has solidified from it's early season error-fest (with our fielding percentage now up to a respectable .965). On offense, though we continue to put up sub-par numbers overall (.348./.326/328, with only 6 HRs, and averaging just 4.2 runs/game), some of the regulars are beginning to show signs of finally breaking out. Ryan Chandler is currently riding a two-week red hot streak, having recorded 17 hits in his last 32 at bats (.531 AVG), and both Ford Proctor (.333/.418/.420) and Charlie Warren (.296/.373/.333) have been consistent contributors all year. Perhaps most encouraging has been the power bat of Andrew Dunlap and Connor Teykl's breakout 3-hit, 2 doubles game against UH.
We still need to play more consistently and stop beating ourselves; so there is certainly room for improvement. Our baserunning (we're a woeful 12-24 in stolen base attempts, and have been picked off at least 5 - 6 times already this year), bunting and situational htting continues to be a major area of concern. We simply need to execute better, and play sound, fundamental baseball. Our bullpen is still very much a work in progress. We need a couple guys from amongst Myers, Jefferies, Amador, Kravitz, Orewiler and Solecitto to step up and join Glenn Otto as consistent, reliable relief options if we are to get to the next level...and we need all of our pitchers to cut down on the free passes (we're averaging 5 BBs/HBPs per game). I do believe this team has the talent to win our 21st consecutive conference championship-- even with CUSA appearing to be the strongest it has been in five years, but we need to start doing the little things better, and show a little more focus, emotion and energy. A series win this weekend against an Old Dominion team that has received Top 25 consideration from all the major college baseball sites would definitely be a step in the right direction, and give us positive momentum for the first time this year.
Game times are 6:30pm CST Friday, 2:00pm Saturday, and 1:00pm (changed from 12:00p) Sunday . The Rice Fans/Parents Tailgate will be this Friday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at Audrey Moody Ley Plaza, the same location as last year. Please bring your favorite snack and beverage to share. All are welcome!
The Old Dominion Monarchs come into Reckling sporting a sparkling 18 - 4 overall record (3-0 CUSA, 2-2 road, #18 RPI, #16 ISR, #130 SoS) and riding a 7-game win streak. And though their schedule to date has not exactly been intimidating, they did beat NC State (16-7) and Kent State (14-5), and swept a quality Western Kentucky squad. They lost their one previous road series to West Virginia. One advantage we might have-- ODU played a pair of mid-week games this week vs. VMI (the primary reason why we're the only CUSA series playing on Easter Sunday, rather than running Thursday - Saturday). Here's their schedule and results to date...
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...tT1MQTC.97
Looking over ODU's stat sheet one would never guess that they've posted an 18-4 record to date. Yes, they have a couple elite pitchers, a very deep pitching staff (with 11 different guys who have pitched at least 10 innings so far this year vs. only 6 such pitchers for the Owls), and five everyday players hitting .295 or better, but their overall offensive and pitching stats are not eye-popping. However, unlike us, they're doing the little things well-- they're an outstanding baserunning team (35-47 SBs), everyone up and down the lineup bunts, and they are VERY disciplined hitters. They all work the count and force the opposing pitchers to throw strikes, as reflected in their very high walk and strikeout rates. They're receiving 6 free passes per game, with 6 guys posting an OBP above .400. On the mound, though they only have one or two power pitchers, they are all strike throwers, limitting the frequency of walks surrendered to just 3 per game. And they've given up just 12 unearned runs in 22 games (vs. Rice giving up 21 unearned runs in 20 games). Put simply, they are not beating themselves, and have been extremely efficient on offense, despite a lack of power and rather average overall stats (.272/.374/.378, with 9 HRs, 43 doubles/triples, 35-47 SBs, and averaging 6.0 runs/game)
Offensively, the Monarchs are led by their three best hitters, all speedsters and all at the top of the lineup-- leadoff hitter Connor Myers (.337/,429/.517, 3 HRs, 7 doubles, 13 RBIs, 22 runs, 5-8 SB), Zach Rutherford (.321/.410/.393, 4 doubles, triples, 13 RBIs, 5 bunts, 7-8 SBs) and Nick Walker (.342/.476/.443, 6 doubles/triples, 18 RBIs, 22 BBs, 5-7 SBs). As mentioned above, they are a very efficient and opportunistic offense. Everyone knows how to take pitches and work walks, everyone bunts and everyone runs. I know I say this every week, but to beat this team, our pitchers have to throw strikes, get ahead in the count and keep the number of free passes to an absolute minimum. They have six everyday players, and platoon the other three positions. Their lineup will include at most 4 left-handed hitters (with only two being everyday players), and their 3 best hitters are all right-handed. This favors our right-handed heavy pitching staff.
Defensively, ODU has been only average, posting a fielding percentage of .964 and having committed 32 errors in 22 games (vs. Rice's 27 errors in 20 games). Their vulnerability appears to be on the left side where their SS has committed 7 errors (though he's widely recognized as a defensive stud with great range) and 3B has committed 6 errors. Their catchers have thrown out 7 of 26 baserunners, or 26%). Their outfield is fast, but have only 4 assists between them (vs. 7 assists by Rice OFers).
On the mound, despite having several elite pitchers and a VERY deep staff, the staff's across the board stats are only average: 3.85 ERA, .262 BAA, 1.43 WHIP, 2.3 K:BBN ratio, and averaging under 7 ks/game. Their strength has been in limitting the number of free passes issued...
S.Sinnen (Jr, RHP): 5 starts, 2-0, 26.1 IP, 1.71 ERA, .188 BAA, 5 BBs, 20 Ks
A.Bainbridge (Jr, LHP): 5 starts, 1-0, 23.2 IP, 3.42 ERA, .340 BAA, 7 BBs, 9 Ks
V.Diaz (RS Sr, RHP): 7 app, 4 starts, 2-1, 24.1 IP, 1.48 ERA, .213 BAA, 6 BBs, 16 Ks
B.Smith (Fr, RHP): 8 app, 3 starts, 1-0, 19.0 IP, 2.84 ERA, .279 BAA, 5 BBs, 14 Ks
G.Bailey (RS Sr, LHP): 9 app, 1-0, 1 save, 10.1 IP, 2.81 ERA, .176 BAA, 7 BBs, 7 Ks
C.Lamb (So, RHP): 9 app, 2-1, 1 save, 17.0 IP, 3.18 BAA, 4 BBs, 17 Ks
J.Josephs (RS Jr, LHP): 9 app, 3 starts, 2-1, 17.2 IP, 3.57 ERA, .258 BAA, 3 BBs, 8 Ks
N.Hartman (Jr, RHP): 13 app, 3-1, 4 saves, 19.1 IP, 4.66 ERA, .276 BAA, 5 BBs, 23 Ks
M.Maguire (Fr, RHP): 12 app, 1-0, 1 save, 13.1 IP, 4.05 ERA, .220 BAA, 1 BB, 15 ks
Sam Sinnen has developed into a true Friday ace, though by all accounts, he lacks "plus" stuff. He mixes his speeds and locations well. Bainbridge would appear to be very similar to Blake Fox-- a "pitchability" southpaw, who has a very low strikeout frequency (much lower than Blake), and is quite hittable (.340 BAA), but has good poise and keeps the walks and extrabase hits to a minimum. Both Diaz and Smith have been weekend starters, but given Smith worked an inning in relief on Wednesday, I'm guessing Diaz gets the start on Sunday, with Smith available all weekend in relief. The ODU coach looks to get 5 quality innings out of his starter (and has pulled them on multiple occassions after 5 IP even when they're dominating), and then tends to go through a parade of relief pitchers. It's not unusual for him to use 4 or 5 relievers in a low scoring game, with most going only one inning, regardless to how they're performing. His philosophy appears to be to keep the opposing batters off-balanced; never allowing them to get too comfortable with any one pitcher. Hartman is the power armed closer, with a 96+ MPH fastball and "plus" slider, but he has been roughed up a bit in the early going.
Here's their individual and team stats for their first 22 games...
http://www.odusports.com//ViewContent.db...ID=1745471
...and here's the ODU game notes for the weekend series...
http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=210830687
Indeed, their rotation against us will be Sinnen - Bainbridge - Diaz in that order. I fully expect we'll counter with Duplantier - Fox - Salinas, even though we have yet to name probable starters.
Let's build on our emotional mid-week victory over our cross-town rivals (our second consecutive at their house!), win our fourth consecutive weekend series and start making our presence felt within the conference. (Note-- in the conference race, ODU gets a break by not playing a quality USM team this year, while we don't play lowly Marshall.) What's more, a series win over ODU will likely improve our RPI to the low-to-mid 20s range. As we approach the mid-way point of the season, it's time to step up our overall level of play, demonstrate greater consistency and improved execution, and take our game to the next level. It's due time we started playing a quality brand of baseball, which has been a hallmark of Rice Baseball the past two decades. Let's get it done. Go Owls!
In his weekly column, Eric "Stitchhead" Sorenson included ODU as one of the "snowbelt teams to keep an eye on"...and
don't miss (toward the end of the column) his no holds barred interview with Wayne Graham (who even he calls "The O.G." publicly!) following our 1-0 win over UTSA last Sunday...
http://www.d1baseball.com/columns/sorens...-march-24/
Quote:– Old Dominion
Record: 18-4
RPI: 18
ISR: 15
SOS:111
Best Win: vs. Kent State
This Weekend: at Rice
Lucky for the Monarchs, Conference USA has a few strong teams to build their RPI in Rice (29th) and Florida Atlantic (38th). Too bad they won’t be facing off with 15th-ranked Southern Miss.
Perfect Game picked ODU to finish in the middle of the pack in CUSA, but named SS Zack Rutherford to their all-conference team, and ranked closer Nick Hartman as the 5th top CUSA prospect in this year's draft...
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=12040
Quote:Old Dominion: Old Dominion looks to build off a 27-win season, and though they lost some of their key bats they return nearly all of their innings on the bump. Junior righthander Sam Sinnen and junior lefthander Adam Bainbridge finished the 2015 season on a high note as each started the last six weekend series. Both spent the early portion of the season out of the bullpen where they proved to be effective as Bainbridge finished with a team-low 2.39 ERA while Sinnen showed advanced overall feel and a competitive nature with his 86-90 mph fastball and solid breaking ball. Victor Diaz is an experienced lefthander who will provide quality innings while Jake Josephs was a quality arm out of the bullpen and should do a little bit of everything this year. Righthander Nick Hartman has made the opposite move as Sinnen and Bainbridge as the 6-foot-2 junior moved from the rotation to the closer’s role and thrived the moment he took the job. Armed with possibly the biggest fastball in Conference USA, clocked upwards of 96 mph this fall, Hartman also shows a swing-and-miss type breaking ball giving him two quality out pitches. Though P.J. Higgins, Josh Eldridge and Taylor Ostrich won’t return to the offense this year sophomore shortstop Zach Rutherford does and he looks to build off a fantastic freshman season. Finishing 2015 with a .317 average, Rutherford is a name to keep in mind for the 2017 draft as his defensive actions are very advanced, committing just five errors over 42 games. Senior center fielder Connor Myers will be another critical piece and has been a four-year starter. Not only is he fast on his feet, stealing a team-best 20 bases, he handles the barrel well and is a leader on both sides of the ball. Nick Walker had quite the freshman season and followed it up by leading the team with six home runs in 2015. He’ll join Rutherford in the heart of the order and does a little bit of everything offensively.
D1Baseball picked ODU to finish fifth in conference...
http://www.d1baseball.com/analysis/2016-...ews-c-usa/
Quote:• Old Dominion has one of the more intriguing teams in this league for a variety of reasons. There’s not a ton of star power on the mound, but there is quality and quantity. For instance, ace pitcher Adam Bainbridge is a pitchability lefty who had a 2.39 ERA last season and will sit anywhere from 85-89 mph with his fastball, along with good feel for three pitches, while freshman righty Nick Hartman is rather interesting. Hartman was up to 96 during fall workouts with a hard 82-84 mph slider, and will occupy an important role, while Sam Sinnen and Jake Josephs give the Monarchs added stability to the rotation. Offensively, there’s a lot of potential with this group, as 6.60-running outfielder Connor Myers (.302/1/28) and SS Zach Rutherford (.317/0/18) lead the way. Myers is a terrific athlete and can really make things happen on the bases, while Rutherford is a rising prospect who is extremely steady in the field, but who also has a chance to get things started offensively. OF Nick Walker is an other intriguing bat with his combination of gap power and athleticism.
Baseball America ranked CFer Connor Myers both the fastest and best baserunner in the conference...
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...tT1MQTC.97
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ODU Baseball Preview-- Taking It To The Next Level
