Mike Rooney and Perfect Game just came out with their Eight For Omaha 2017, and includes the Owls in his "Next Eight"...

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=12749

Quote:Rice
2016 Record: 38-24
2016 Finish: Baton Rouge Regional

The Owls will be seeking their first trip to Omaha since 2008, but if not for a controversial call in the Baton Rouge Regional, it might have been Rice playing Coastal Carolina in a Super Regional last year. Blake Fox and Jon Dulplantier are enormous losses but Rice’s offense, led by PG Freshman All-American Ford Proctor, should be their best in recent memory. Glenn Otto brings versatility as he could emerge as the Friday night starter or remain a lockdown closer.

I do think our offense has the potential to be our best at least 2010, especially if Warren DOES return and the Weatherford CC Juco transfer 1B proves to be the power bat we so desperately need.

As for the pitching staff, I think much depends upon whether Myers and Esquivel can further develop into consistently quality bullpen arms. I see Salinas, Amador, and Kravetz as starters.

(07-05-2016 08:28 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Mike Rooney and Perfect Game just came out with their Eight For Omaha 2017, and includes the Owls in his "Next Eight"...

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=12749

Quote:Rice
2016 Record: 38-24
2016 Finish: Baton Rouge Regional

The Owls will be seeking their first trip to Omaha since 2008, but if not for a controversial call in the Baton Rouge Regional, it might have been Rice playing Coastal Carolina in a Super Regional last year. Blake Fox and Jon Dulplantier are enormous losses but Rice’s offense, led by PG Freshman All-American Ford Proctor, should be their best in recent memory. Glenn Otto brings versatility as he could emerge as the Friday night starter or remain a lockdown closer.

I do think our offense has the potential to be our best at least 2010, especially if Warren DOES return and the Weatherford CC Juco transfer 1B proves to be the power bat we so desperately need.

As for the pitching staff, I think much depends upon whether Myers and Esquivel can further develop into consistently quality bullpen arms. I see Salinas, Amador, and Kravetz as starters.

Do you not see any freshmen pitching breaking into the line up?

(07-05-2016 09:16 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-05-2016 08:28 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Mike Rooney and Perfect Game just came out with their Eight For Omaha 2017, and includes the Owls in his "Next Eight"...

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=12749

Quote:Rice
2016 Record: 38-24
2016 Finish: Baton Rouge Regional

The Owls will be seeking their first trip to Omaha since 2008, but if not for a controversial call in the Baton Rouge Regional, it might have been Rice playing Coastal Carolina in a Super Regional last year. Blake Fox and Jon Dulplantier are enormous losses but Rice’s offense, led by PG Freshman All-American Ford Proctor, should be their best in recent memory. Glenn Otto brings versatility as he could emerge as the Friday night starter or remain a lockdown closer.

I do think our offense has the potential to be our best at least 2010, especially if Warren DOES return and the Weatherford CC Juco transfer 1B proves to be the power bat we so desperately need.

As for the pitching staff, I think much depends upon whether Myers and Esquivel can further develop into consistently quality bullpen arms. I see Salinas, Amador, and Kravetz as starters.

Do you not see any freshmen pitching breaking into the line up?

Don't know any of the new recruits, but we lost to the draft the only one that was a Top 300 prospect. We need Esquivel, Kravetz, Schragger and Schwartz to develop into quality college pitchers-- and Amador to demonstrate more consistency-- if we are to become a legit Omaha contender.

(07-05-2016 08:28 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  As for the pitching staff, I think much depends upon whether Myers and Esquivel can further develop into consistently quality bullpen arms. I see Salinas, Amador, and Kravetz as starters.

I'd expect Partha and Pettitte to be in the mix for starters, also.

We need a couple freshmen pitchers to emerge for our rotation, also. No clue who those might turn out to be.

(07-05-2016 09:23 AM)wheredidmypantsgo Wrote:  

(07-05-2016 08:28 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  As for the pitching staff, I think much depends upon whether Myers and Esquivel can further develop into consistently quality bullpen arms. I see Salinas, Amador, and Kravetz as starters.

I'd expect Partha and Pettitte to be in the mix for starters, also.

We need a couple freshmen pitchers to emerge for our rotation, also. No clue who those might turn out to be.

Geez, I forgot about Jackson P., who will most definately be a starter if and when healthy. I can see him and Amador competing for the final weekend spot (assuming Salinas and Kravetz hold the other two spots). (Note-- Wayne has always liked to have one LHP in the weekend rotation.) Hopefully, the shoulder/elbow healed with rest, and he won't need the surgery. As for Josh, given this is his second TJS rehab, and he didn't have the surgery until just before the season started in mid-February, I wouldn't count on him contributing next year, and if he does, he probably won't be cleared for action until mid-season at the earliest.

IMO, the wild card is whether Myers and Esquivel can step it up a notch or two; thereby enabling Otto to move out of the bullpen into the Friday starter role. If that happens, and DiCaprio develops into a satisfactory defensive catcher, it could be a very special season. I do expect us to have three legit all-american candidates (Otto, Proctor, Gray) and several other all-conference candidates (Salinas, Warren, Chandler, Myers).

Hopefully a bunch of pitchers develop, we were paper thin at times this year!

Rice did not make Baseball America's Eight for Omaha for 2017, or BA's "next eight".