We cracked the Baseball America poll for the first time this year, coming in at #25 (with #24 UH and #23 TxTech).

Nice!!
Good to be back..

Also a few more:
3. TAMU(1)
7. TCU (8)
18. FAU(25)
22. ECU (NR)

At this point in the season, I finally feel that there is no doubt that Rice deserves to be ranked, but it will be hard to rise much in the rankings by season's end given the nature of the baseball polls.

Just based on past teams, this feels like a Rice team that should be ranked around 15-20 at this stage (and that's just a superficial "gut feel", not based on any substantial comparison of Rice versus other teams in the field this year). Any predictions on where Rice would/should end up in the pre-regional polls?

(04-04-2016 08:49 AM)I45owl Wrote:  At this point in the season, I finally feel that there is no doubt that Rice deserves to be ranked, but it will be hard to rise much in the rankings by season's end given the nature of the baseball polls.

Just based on past teams, this feels like a Rice team that should be ranked around 15-20 at this stage (and that's just a superficial "gut feel", not based on any substantial comparison of Rice versus other teams in the field this year). Any predictions on where Rice would/should end up in the pre-regional polls?

We luckily have a chance tomorrow, and then in the FAU (and possibly USM series) to play ranked teams. Should the team keep winning at the clip we are, right now, I don't see us breaking the top 10, but I can imagine us moving into 11-15.

We seem to be showing elite fielding and finally better than average fielding. After the first two games this weekend I am now worrying again about out hitting.

Moved into the "considered" spot of the D1 rankings. Idk what's going on over there but their rankings just seem to be way off this year. UK goes 3-2 on the week with losses to NKU and Tennessee, and wins over Xavier and UTenn x 2 and they jump from NR to #21? They also refuse to drop OSU out.

Predictably the SEC has 8 ranked teams with Arkansas on the edge so they will just trade places for the rest of the season in the polls with no fewer than 8 finishing in the top 25 come selection time.

(04-04-2016 09:01 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  ...We seem to be showing elite fielding and finally better than average fielding. After the first two games this weekend I am now worrying again about out hitting.

I assume you meant to type "elite pitching".

I'm worried about our hitting too, but will be content if our pitching and fielding continues to make the other guys' hitting more anemic than ours.

(04-04-2016 01:39 PM)sts60 Wrote:  

(04-04-2016 09:01 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  ...We seem to be showing elite fielding and finally better than average fielding. After the first two games this weekend I am now worrying again about out hitting.

I assume you meant to type "elite pitching".

I'm worried about our hitting too, but will be content if our pitching and fielding continues to make the other guys' hitting more anemic than ours.

Yep - brain thought pitching and fingers typed fielding.

From today's D1Baseball chat...

Quote:Comment From Trevor
Why does it seem like Rice manipulates their RPI every year?

Aaron Fitt:
If, by “manipulates their RPI,” you mean “plays a strong schedule,” you’re right. They’re 6-4 against the top 50, and that’s not counting a quality series against Arizona, which is just outside the top 50. Rice always schedules name-brand nonconference series, they deserve to reap the rewards in the RPI. And it helps that C-USA is pretty good this year, I think.

Quote:Comment From Brett
Thoughts on CUSA and how many bids they’ll receive. They did move up to the #3 RPI conference this week.

Kendall Rogers:
Brett,
Very solid year for the league so far. Right now, and we will discuss this as a staff tomorrow night for the projections Wednesday, but I would say a three-bidder with FAU, Rice and USM. Right now, I think ODU has lost too many crucial games lately on the weekend to get in … but it’s still very early.

Quote:Comment From Steve
Who is closer to the Top 25, Rice or Tulane?

Aaron Fitt:
They’re both right there, it’s really a toss-up. Rice has won 5 straight series now; Tulane didn’t get a chance to play its rubber game up at UConn, but might have won its fifth straight series too. Tulane beat LSU midweek; Rice beat Houston midweek last week. Rice has more top 50 RPI wins, so maybe I’d lean in that direction.

I cannot wait for FAU to come to town so we can pick up where we left off last year. Those guys are overrated,

(04-04-2016 04:22 PM)RiceOwl Wrote:  I cannot wait for FAU to come to town so we can pick up where we left off last year. Those guys are overrated,

Weren't they something like 18-2 when we swept them a couple years ago on the road?

(04-04-2016 03:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  From today's D1Baseball chat...

Quote:Comment From Trevor
Why does it seem like Rice manipulates their RPI every year?

Aaron Fitt:
If, by “manipulates their RPI,” you mean “plays a strong schedule,” you’re right. They’re 6-4 against the top 50, and that’s not counting a quality series against Arizona, which is just outside the top 50. Rice always schedules name-brand nonconference series, they deserve to reap the rewards in the RPI. And it helps that C-USA is pretty good this year, I think.

Quote:Comment From Brett
Thoughts on CUSA and how many bids they’ll receive. They did move up to the #3 RPI conference this week.

Kendall Rogers:
Brett,
Very solid year for the league so far. Right now, and we will discuss this as a staff tomorrow night for the projections Wednesday, but I would say a three-bidder with FAU, Rice and USM. Right now, I think ODU has lost too many crucial games lately on the weekend to get in … but it’s still very early.

Quote:Comment From Steve
Who is closer to the Top 25, Rice or Tulane?

Aaron Fitt:
They’re both right there, it’s really a toss-up. Rice has won 5 straight series now; Tulane didn’t get a chance to play its rubber game up at UConn, but might have won its fifth straight series too. Tulane beat LSU midweek; Rice beat Houston midweek last week. Rice has more top 50 RPI wins, so maybe I’d lean in that direction.

The response to the first question is great. Sounds like an SEC baseball fan...

Trevor is almost certainly a butt-hurt Aggie. They have a poster who really has it out for Rice - likely due to insane jealousy at our past success vs. A&M paltry results on a national scale.

(04-04-2016 05:10 PM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  Trevor is almost certainly a butt-hurt Aggie. They have a poster who really has it out for Rice - likely due to insane jealousy at our past success vs. A&M paltry results on a national scale.

My guess was someone from Arkansas. Remember, they were the ones who were caught on video chanting "overrated" toward us during the Selection Show last year, and they're currently sitting with a #132 ranked RPI.

(04-04-2016 03:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  From today's D1Baseball chat...

Also of possible interest to Parliament readers was this:

Quote:Comment From James
With hitting and bullpen continuing to be a challenge at Texas, do see Augie sticking around another year without at least shaking up some of his assistants?

Kendall Rogers:
If things continue and they are at Texas right now, I would say I would be surprised if Coach Garrido is still in Austin next year. yep, I said it.

(04-04-2016 05:35 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(04-04-2016 03:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  From today's D1Baseball chat...

Also of possible interest to Parliament readers was this:

Quote:Comment From James
With hitting and bullpen continuing to be a challenge at Texas, do see Augie sticking around another year without at least shaking up some of his assistants?

Kendall Rogers:
If things continue and they are at Texas right now, I would say I would be surprised if Coach Garrido is still in Austin next year. yep, I said it.

How many national titles has Augie won? I believe 5. With that being said he should retire. No coach can go on forever. They eventually should move aside for the betterment of the program. There is no disputing at an advanced age you are not as sharp, can't relate to substantially younger players plus recruiting takes a hit. Look at Penn State and Florida State in football as examples.

(04-04-2016 05:31 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-04-2016 05:10 PM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  Trevor is almost certainly a butt-hurt Aggie. They have a poster who really has it out for Rice - likely due to insane jealousy at our past success vs. A&M paltry results on a national scale.

My guess was someone from Arkansas. Remember, they were the ones who were caught on video chanting "overrated" toward us during the Selection Show last year, and they're currently sitting with a #132 ranked RPI.

They also beat us (with our Friday night ace on the hill) 5-2 this year.

(04-04-2016 05:31 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-04-2016 05:10 PM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  Trevor is almost certainly a butt-hurt Aggie. They have a poster who really has it out for Rice - likely due to insane jealousy at our past success vs. A&M paltry results on a national scale.

My guess was someone from Arkansas. Remember, they were the ones who were caught on video chanting "overrated" toward us during the Selection Show last year, and they're currently sitting with a #132 ranked RPI.

Wasn't that Okie State?

(04-04-2016 05:44 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(04-04-2016 05:31 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-04-2016 05:10 PM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  Trevor is almost certainly a butt-hurt Aggie. They have a poster who really has it out for Rice - likely due to insane jealousy at our past success vs. A&M paltry results on a national scale.

My guess was someone from Arkansas. Remember, they were the ones who were caught on video chanting "overrated" toward us during the Selection Show last year, and they're currently sitting with a #132 ranked RPI.

Wasn't that Okie State?

Yes. It was from a write up since one of the staff members was there for the show. Wouldn't say whether it was a coach or player

Huge loss for USM-- they just announced that their best player (3B) will miss rest of season with a knee injury: .323, 10 HRs already this season.

(04-05-2016 01:12 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Huge loss for USM-- they just announced that they're best player (3B) will miss rest of season with a knee injury: .323, 10 HRs already this season.

Ouch!