wow, the LaTech CF made a great catch (wobbly route to the ball, but ultimately effective) at the wall to save 2 runs. Still 3-2 Tech

(05-27-2016 04:28 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Walt, I've been tracking the FAU game. What do you think. As a practical matter, FAU probably has more pitching available than Tech. Is that correct?

More quality pitching-- yes. I just don't want to face LaTech's offense again. They're like the walking dead; we've been unable to stick a fork in them as hard as we try-- they keep coming back. And though we barely won the other day, I don't like our chances in a high-scoring shoot out against anybody. The other reality-- we don't have much pitching left; especially for tomorrow's game(s). I'm assuming Otto is not available until Sunday, unless it's a strictly one-inning save situation. And Salinas is probably good for only 50 or so pitches. Both Amador and Esquivel have been batting practice pitchers the past 3 weeks in multiple appearances...and Solecitto continues to struggle throwing strikes. He's averaging almost 1.5 free passes per inning pitched, and that just isn't going to cut it.

FAU outhitting LaTech 7 - 2, but down on the scoreboard 2 - 3.

(05-27-2016 04:38 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-27-2016 04:28 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Walt, I've been tracking the FAU game. What do you think. As a practical matter, FAU probably has more pitching available than Tech. Is that correct?

More quality pitching-- yes. I just don't want to face LaTech's offense again. They're like the walking dead; we've been unable to stick a fork in them as hard as we try-- they keep coming back. And though we barely won the other day, I don't like our chances in a high-scoring shoot out against anybody. The other reality-- we don't have much pitching left; especially for tomorrow's game(s). I'm assuming Otto is not available until Sunday, unless it's a strictly one-inning save situation. And Salinas is probably good for only 50 or so pitches. Both Amador and Esquivel have been batting practice pitchers the past 3 weeks in multiple appearances...and Solecitto continues to struggle throwing strikes. He's averaging almost 1.5 free passes per inning pitched, and that just isn't going to cut it.

Both are good fielding teams, but LaTech is the much better and more aggressive baserunning team (though LaTech's Kerr and Endris are serious SB threats). Also, and I keep pointing to this, FAU's vulnerability is at the catcher position defensively-- with a whopping 23 passed balls and 51 wild pitches. We have benefited from this both yesterday (wild pitch scored the insurance run) and in our series two weeks ago. On the down side, FAU's Rhodes did shut us out for 4 innings in their 10-3 win over us, before handing it over to the bullpen. Remember, FAU starters rarely go more than 5 innings even when pitching lights out.

Ugh, FAU had a runner on second with one out, but a strikeout and then a pickoff ended the threat. Still 3-2 Tech

FAU got a leadoff single in top of the 6th inning and a stolen base, but after 2 consecutive strikeouts, the runner on 2B was picked off. They've out hit LaTech 8 - 2.

BTW, LaTech's 2 runs in the first inning came on 3 consecutive two-out walks, followed by a single.

2-out double for LaTech leads to nothing. To the top of the 7th, still 3-2 Tech, with FAU coming up.

Should we face LaTech, the good news is that they've now pretty much burned their stud set-up man, Harris, who's already thrown 65 pitches and counting. They still have their stud closer in Adkins, who shut us down in the middle innings on Wednesday.

Harris is cruising. 1-2-3 inning and to the stretch we go, still 3-2 Tech

LaTech executing--leadoff single, sac bunt over to 2nd, then a slap single to drive in the run. Now 4-2 Tech in bottom of 7th with Tech still at bat

Tech threatening to blow this open. Now runners at 1st and 3rd with only one out.

a win vs. FAU will really help Tech's RPI since they haven't met previously

(05-27-2016 05:08 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Should we face LaTech, the good news is that they've now pretty much burned their stud set-up man, Harris, who's already thrown 65 pitches and counting. They still have their stud closer in Adkins, who shut us down in the middle innings on Wednesday.

Correction, it wasn't their closer who shut us down, but rather their mediocre (ERA in the mid-4s) middle reliever, Graham Ahlrich, who kept us at bay for 5 innings, allowing LaTech to gradually crawl back into the game.

(05-27-2016 05:24 PM)techdawg88 Wrote:  a win vs. FAU will really help Tech's RPI since they haven't met previously

And we care, why?

Double play enables the FAUx Owls to escape more damage. To the 8th, now 4-2 Tech

(05-27-2016 05:21 PM)Swede Owl Wrote:  Tech threatening to blow this open. Now runners at 1st and 3rd with only one out.

...but the new pitcher got LaTech's cleanup hitter, Lunceford, who killed us, to hit into an inning-ending DP. Their closer, Atkins, now in. Harris threw 65 pitches.

FAU threatening in the 8th: leadoff single, K, E-3 puts runners on 1B and 2B with one out, and Franks (2-2 on day) due up. And Franks comes through again with an RBI single...with a throwing error scoring the tying run. 4-4. FAU has a runner on 3B with only one out. What a dramatic turn of events-- due to shoddy fielding. Tech has committed 5 errors already.

LaTech has 5 errors...

Geez. Lashley strikes out for the 2nd consecutive time with a runner on 3B and less than two outs. It's up to Kerr with runners at the corners and two outs....and Kerr fans, as well. Ugh. They were truly gifted those two runs, much like LaTech was gifted those 2 first inning runs.