Warren safely carries the third out over the fence in right field for the third out.

I have to wonder if Rice isn't the best pitching team in the nation with runners in scoring position over the last 10-15 years or so...

An Italian gets a walk to get a leadoff runner on base for Rice in the T5. Nice bunt advances an Italian to 2nd base.

Rice strands an Italian at 2nd as Lewis gets robbed in short right by a sliding catch.

(04-02-2016 12:08 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-02-2016 09:55 AM)Howlomaha Wrote:  

(04-02-2016 07:35 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We really need Blake to be at the top of his game this afternoon...and we need to offense to be much more patient at the plate, at least in the early going against a pitcher who has struggled mightily with his control...

T.Troutt (Sr, LHP): 6 starts, 1-4, 31.2 IP, 4.26 ERA, .274 BAA, 20 BBs, 5 WPs, 20 Ks

...that's just under one free pass (BB, HBP) per IP this year.

Keeping in mind, MTSU's deep and talented bullpen is well-rested. We cannot let them jump out to an early lead and feed their confidence (and have our guys pressing). Consequently, it's absolutely imperative we put some early runs on the board. Part of this is simply getting baserunners. Last night, we had two periods in our game where our offense was retired for 12 consecutive outs and 11 consecutive outs.

It will be very interesting to see how The OG structures our lineup today going against the southpaw. Does Wunderlich get the start in LF instead of Gray. If so, I do hope Coach moves him back in the order. The #2 hitter should be a high OBP guy, who can get the bunt down and who usually makes contact (with low frequency strikeouts). That's why I just don't understand the logic of putting Dayne or Tristan in that spot in the lineup. Does Dunlap DH, recognizing that this is a hitters park, with short fences?

Personally, I'd go with the following lineup....

Warren-Lewis-Chandler-Myers-Proctor-Dunlap (DH)-Teykl-Kop/DiCaprio-Wunderlich

...and I'd structure the alternating righty-lefty lineup since 3 of MTSU's top relievers are right-handed.

Just win, baby! Go Owls!

Walt funny you mention OBP because I agree 100% that is a very telling stat. I was surprised to find Tristan in the number 2 spot considering his performance prior to injury and rust from being inactive. With regard to stats the point I was trying to make is you don't look at only one stat. For pitchers WHIP should be under 1.3, ERA under 3.00, BA against under .250 and strikeout to walk 3:1 would be goals. Notice I didn't comment about walks because that is a component of WHIP. With batters we want to look at BA and OBP. The BA should be greater than .250 and OBP above .300.

Agree with several exceptions...

1. For relief pitchers, a quality ERA is below 2.50; for starters, 3.00.
2. Most people view a 2:1 K:BB ratio as the yardstick; anything below that is considered sub-par.
3. IMO, at the college level, anything offense below .275 in AVG and .350 in OBP is sub-par. A .300 OBP stinks. Quality, disciplined hitters are almost always above .375.
4. Another team stat I look at on offense, as it reflects plate discipline and efficiency is the differential between free passes (BB, HBP) received and strikeouts. For whatever reason, we receive walks at a far lower frequency than most other Top 50 caliber teams, and that has significantly impacted both our efficiency and our run scoring ability.

I was trying to be somewhat generous with the OBP and BA considering our challenges.

(04-02-2016 05:22 PM)I45owl Wrote:  Rice strands an Italian at 2nd as Lewis gets robbed in short right by a sliding catch.

Now that is too funny but he is an Italian. Long live the Italians. But in all seriousness now you know why I am pushing for all the best bats in the lineup. Our hitting is atrocious.

Teachers' College announcers calling for Fox's MM pickoff move so that they can tell their grandkids...

I guess Walt is there making his opinion heard...

(04-02-2016 05:24 PM)Howlomaha Wrote:  

(04-02-2016 05:22 PM)I45owl Wrote:  Rice strands an Italian at 2nd as Lewis gets robbed in short right by a sliding catch.

Now that is too funny but he is an Italian. Long live the Italians. But in all seriousness now you know why I am pushing for all the best bats in the lineup. Our hitting is atrocious.

I think everyone can agree that we want the best hitters in the lineup (though to be fair, both DiCaprio and Hunter K. have been on base the same number of times, and both have the same number of CS in this game).

From JP's audio descriptions, it sounds like Myers made two fielding gems at 3rd -- first diving and then jumping -- to throw out the first two MTSU batters of B5.

For any soccer fans out there, Gareth Bale was robbed...

Rice now at 15 consecutive scoreless innings at MTSU ...
The team may be built on pitching and defense but at minimum, one run per game is necessary to win.

Going into this series, MTSU had given up 106 runs in 25 games. I thought their pitching record would be better than this, given what we have seen this week-end.

Fox is pitching great; 1 may be enough.

(04-02-2016 05:41 PM)owlsfan Wrote:  Going into this series, MTSU had given up 106 runs in 25 games. I thought their pitching record would be better than this, given what we have seen this week-end.

Fox is pitching great; 1 may be enough.

16 innings scoreless is atrocious

Fox at about 110 pitches thru 7 innings. The MTSU pitcher has thrown 87 pitches entering the 8th (just 1 hit for Rice).

We got our 2nd hit of the game w 1 out in the 8th. A steal, WP and walk and now it's runners on the corner, 1 out. This may be our best (and only) chance - got to do something here.

ETA - Chandler SF makes it 1-0 Rice

At last, a RUN!

We strand the runner at 2nd after the MTSU pitching change.

Otto in for Fox to start the bottom of the 8th. 1-0 Rice.

Otto gets them 1-2-3. On to the 9th.

Otto gets a 3 up, 3 down B8. Going to T9 Rice up 1-0. An insurance run would be welcome.

Owls go quietly in T9.
It's up to Otto to hold the 1-0 lead.