Small sample size, but so far this may be the worst Rice baseball team that I can remember. Both DBU and SELA have looked so much better than us. Nowhere to go but up I suppose... (And should add that a few individual performances and the depth in our bullpen make me think great improvement is possible).
(This post was last modified: 02-24-2017 11:12 PM by RiceFootball2K5.)
(02-24-2017 10:53 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote: Rice actually outhit SELA, but lots of stranded runners and too many walks.
SELA didn't hit diddledeesquat. They had two seeing eye singles against Dane, and then the hard hit leadoff double in the 6th. And that was the only "real" hit in the debacle of an inning. The two 3-base errors on bunts were both ruled singles, as was that pop fly that should have been ruled an out via infield fly rule, but dropped just beyond the infield. We gave them 7 runs on what was essentially one hit-- a leadoff double.
Dane pitched solid, but he clearly is a very different pitcher from the stretch vs. full wind up. He lacks the control and aggression when throwing from the stretch.
The only redeeming qualities from tonight's game was the bounceback performance from Addison Moss (3 really strong innings), and the hitting of Proctor, DiCaprio and Gneiting. Sarchet, Sheppard and Chandler all look lost at the plate at the moment. Whenever Gray does come back, my guess is he goes back to LF, keeping Gneiting at 2B and in the lineup. I'd also like The OG to give Andrew Dunlap an opportunity at DH. He was one of our very best hitters throughout Spring intrasquads, and deserves a shot.
(02-24-2017 11:34 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote: I like Moss. I think he's going to be really good.
He is really good. Just had a bad outing in Austin. Happens to the best of them. Today was a much-needed confidence builder. He's going to be a critically importance piece of our bullpen this year as set-up man and alternate closer (when Otto's not available). I see the 3rd and 4th starting pitching slots a competition between Canterino, Esquivel and Amador, with the "loser" becoming key relievers (along with Kravetz, Moss, Parthasarathy, Garcia and Otto).
Everybody calm down, the team is not that great as we expected, and all the preseason ranking about us is right, so keep the expectation low, otherwise gonna be a long season.
(02-25-2017 08:30 AM)junrice Wrote: Everybody calm down, the team is not that great as we expected, and all the preseason ranking about us is right, so keep the expectation low, otherwise gonna be a long season.
Yes, I think the preseason rankings in the #21 - #27 range is about right, but despite our past two sloppy games, I do think this team has the potential to be very, very good. And I do think our pitching staff is going to be the biggest surprise of the season.
(02-25-2017 08:30 AM)junrice Wrote: Everybody calm down, the team is not that great as we expected, and all the preseason ranking about us is right, so keep the expectation low, otherwise gonna be a long season.
Yes, I think the preseason rankings in the #21 - #27 range is about right, but despite our past two sloppy games, I do think this team has the potential to be very, very good. And I do think our pitching staff is going to be the biggest surprise of the season.
Doesn't it bother you that teams like DBU and SELA can come out and look so much better than us? Over the last 5 years our teams have played some terrible baseball at times. Complete mental breakdowns just like football. This year you've been touting our offense but now you're switching to say the pitching is going to be the big surprise? If our offense is half as successful as you've suggested all offseason that will definitely win the award for biggest surprise.
(02-25-2017 08:30 AM)junrice Wrote: Everybody calm down, the team is not that great as we expected, and all the preseason ranking about us is right, so keep the expectation low, otherwise gonna be a long season.
Yes, I think the preseason rankings in the #21 - #27 range is about right, but despite our past two sloppy games, I do think this team has the potential to be very, very good. And I do think our pitching staff is going to be the biggest surprise of the season.
Doesn't it bother you that teams like DBU and SELA can come out and look so much better than us? Over the last 5 years our teams have played some terrible baseball at times. Complete mental breakdowns just like football. This year you've been touting our offense but now you're switching to say the pitching is going to be the big surprise? If our offense is half as successful as you've suggested all offseason that will definitely win the award for biggest surprise.
DBU was ranked just behind us in most of the polls, just outside the Top 25. And I would argue that SELA did not look that much better than us last night. They hit no more than 2 - 3 hard hit balls all night. Several seeing eye grounders, a pop fly landing just beyond the infield (which should have been ruled an infield fly rule) and two thrown away bunts. That was their offense, combined with a walkathon by our pitchers. Our offense is struggling mightily outside of Proctor, DiCaprio and Gneiting. Warren has gotten his share of hits, but his swing is not yet right, and everything he hits is on the ground. I don't expect any of that to continue.
Dom may be the most improved position player in college baseball this young season. I'm incredibly impressed with his catching and blocking of balls in the dirt; something that was a definite liability last year. Hope it continues.
Until we get our defensive act together on bunts, expect opposing teams to bunt on us on every opportunity. This has been a problem for us early in seasons almost every single year. Outfield has missed hitting the cut-off man on at least 3 occassions in just the last two games. We need to improve our fundamentals...but all of that is achievable with focus and practice.
(This post was last modified: 02-25-2017 09:51 AM by waltgreenberg.)
(02-25-2017 08:30 AM)junrice Wrote: Everybody calm down, the team is not that great as we expected, and all the preseason ranking about us is right, so keep the expectation low, otherwise gonna be a long season.
Yes, I think the preseason rankings in the #21 - #27 range is about right, but despite our past two sloppy games, I do think this team has the potential to be very, very good. And I do think our pitching staff is going to be the biggest surprise of the season.
Doesn't it bother you that teams like DBU and SELA can come out and look so much better than us? Over the last 5 years our teams have played some terrible baseball at times. Complete mental breakdowns just like football. This year you've been touting our offense but now you're switching to say the pitching is going to be the big surprise? If our offense is half as successful as you've suggested all offseason that will definitely win the award for biggest surprise.
DBU was ranked just behind us in most of the polls, just outside the Top 25. And I would argue that SELA did not look that much better than us last night. They hit no more than 2 - 3 hard hit balls all night. Several seeing eye grounders, a pop fly landing just beyond the infield (which should have been ruled an infield fly rule) and two thrown away bunts. That was their offense, combined with a walkathon by our pitchers. Our offense is struggling mightily outside of Proctor, DiCaprio and Gneiting. Warren has gotten his share of hits, but his swing is not yet right, and everything he hits is on the ground. I don't expect any of that to continue.
Dom may be the most improved position player in college baseball this young season. I'm incredibly impressed with his catching and blocking of balls in the dirt; something that was a definite liability last year. Hope it continues.
Until we get our defensive act together on bunts, expect opposing teams to bunt on us on every opportunity. This has been a problem for us early in seasons almost every single year. Outfield has missed hitting the cut-off man on at least 3 occassions in just the last two games. We need to improve our fundamentals...but all of that is achievable with focus and practice.
ok... Sounds like excuses.
Dom does look much improved though. I agree this team seems to have more talent than the last couple of years.
For the infield fly rule to apply, the ball has to be catchable by an infielder "with ordinary effort." No inielder was anywhere near the ball because of the wheel play; it would have had to be a sprint and diving catch after reversing direction.
ok... Sounds like excuses.