I talked about questionable decision making so here is a logical suggestion. Make Otto a starter. He came to Rice as a Starter. This team is wasting him in a closer role. he also has not been as sharp this year as last year. Make Otto your Friday starter. Now everyone is going to say who will close. Well if no one else is capable of getting outs you are not going to get to Otto anyway. Find another closer such as Salinas. Ricky has the mental makeup to close. He also has problems when people see him for the 2nd and third time.

(03-08-2017 11:50 AM)stepfordowl Wrote:  I talked about questionable decision making so here is a logical suggestion. Make Otto a starter. He came to Rice as a Starter. This team is wasting him in a closer role. he also has not been as sharp this year as last year. Make Otto your Friday starter. Now everyone is going to say who will close. Well if no one else is capable of getting outs you are not going to get to Otto anyway. Find another closer such as Salinas. Ricky has the mental makeup to close. He also has problems when people see him for the 2nd and third time.

Its easy to armchair coach but from an opinion standpoint, I agree. Otto is rarely going to be in a situation to close a game unless our starters/middle relievers can keep from walking 7-9 hitters every single game. I've been around college baseball for 20+ years and I've never seen a team (at any level of NCAA) that issues this many free passes.

I like this idea. I have advocated similar things in the past with Rice closers (including Otto last year). Easier to find someone who can get through 1 inning that someone who can be effective for 6+ innings. Also, you end up getting more innings out of Otto. If he can start and give you 6-7 innings, that is more than if he closes 2-3 times in a week and gives you 1-2 innings. Easier on the body to just pitch once every 7 days as well!

Also, some guys really aren't built to start. Not that I was a pitcher in college, but when I pitched in high school and in an adult league, I always knew by body really wasn't built to throw 100+ pitches in a single outing, regardless of how good of shape I was in. But I could throw 1-3 innings without fatiguing. If a guy is a really good pitcher (like Otto) and can maintain his stuff for 90+ pitches, he should be a starter!

(03-08-2017 11:56 AM)mrbig Wrote:  I like this idea. I have advocated similar things in the past with Rice closers (including Otto last year). Easier to find someone who can get through 1 inning that someone who can be effective for 6+ innings. Also, you end up getting more innings out of Otto. If he can start and give you 6-7 innings, that is more than if he closes 2-3 times in a week and gives you 1-2 innings. Easier on the body to just pitch once every 7 days as well!

he fits the Friday starter mold.

(03-08-2017 11:58 AM)stepfordowl Wrote:  

(03-08-2017 11:56 AM)mrbig Wrote:  I like this idea. I have advocated similar things in the past with Rice closers (including Otto last year). Easier to find someone who can get through 1 inning that someone who can be effective for 6+ innings. Also, you end up getting more innings out of Otto. If he can start and give you 6-7 innings, that is more than if he closes 2-3 times in a week and gives you 1-2 innings. Easier on the body to just pitch once every 7 days as well!

he fits the Friday starter mold.

Being viewed as a starter instead of a reliever would also help his draft stock (also true for past Rice closers who might have been able to start).

The one thing potentially arguing against this is that he's coming off an injury that may not respond well to increased workload. I obviously haven't seen his medical records, but a shoulder issue may or may not be best managed by avoiding 5+ inning outings.

It makes sense, but medical standing can have a big impact.

(03-08-2017 12:01 PM)gsloth Wrote:  The one thing potentially arguing against this is that he's coming off an injury that may not respond well to increased workload. I obviously haven't seen his medical records, but a shoulder issue may or may not be best managed by avoiding 5+ inning outings.

It makes sense, but medical standing can have a big impact.

This is just my personal opinion, but I think pitching on both Friday and Sunday is tougher on the arm than starting. Especially if the pitcher throws >30 pitches in one of the outings. Bonus difficulty points if the pitcher warms up on Saturday, but doesn't get into the game.

To clarify, I have no idea if this has happened to Otto. Just making the more general point that multiple appearances by a reliever is arguably more taxing that starting once/week. This could be true for a fully healthy player or someone returning from injury.

(03-08-2017 11:50 AM)stepfordowl Wrote:  I talked about questionable decision making so here is a logical suggestion. Make Otto a starter. He came to Rice as a Starter. This team is wasting him in a closer role. he also has not been as sharp this year as last year. Make Otto your Friday starter. Now everyone is going to say who will close. Well if no one else is capable of getting outs you are not going to get to Otto anyway. Find another closer such as Salinas. Ricky has the mental makeup to close. He also has problems when people see him for the 2nd and third time.

I like this idea as well, assuming Otto's arm is up to increased use. In conjunction with this I would like to see Myers moved back to 3rd, and used only sparingly on the mound. Not that he's been pitching that badly, but given the state of our defense I feel having him back at 3rd is the best use of him overall.

You three best pitchers need to be your Friday and Saturday starters and your closer. Who goes where is subject to some discretion, but that's where your three best need to be.

(03-08-2017 12:06 PM)AnotherOldOwl Wrote:  

(03-08-2017 11:50 AM)stepfordowl Wrote:  I talked about questionable decision making so here is a logical suggestion. Make Otto a starter. He came to Rice as a Starter. This team is wasting him in a closer role. he also has not been as sharp this year as last year. Make Otto your Friday starter. Now everyone is going to say who will close. Well if no one else is capable of getting outs you are not going to get to Otto anyway. Find another closer such as Salinas. Ricky has the mental makeup to close. He also has problems when people see him for the 2nd and third time.

I like this idea as well, assuming Otto's arm is up to increased use. In conjunction with this I would like to see Myers moved back to 3rd, and used only sparingly on the mound. Not that he's been pitching that badly, but given the state of our defense I feel having him back at 3rd is the best use of him overall.

How about move Otto to Friday starter and move Myers back to third and make him the closer?

First off, Dane Myers has pitched well so far in the Friday slot, and Ricky has been solid on Saturdays. With luck, Jackson Parthasarathy will be back in pitching shape and full arm strength by the end of the month (if not sooner).

I would not be surpised if Wayne was reconsidering using Otto as a starter, but he's not going to make such a move until he has confidence in 2 - 3 other relievers. Right now we have Kravetz and Moss. I'd throw in Amador if he's not going to start...but none of those guys has the stuff of a shut down, dominant closer.

(03-08-2017 02:23 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  First off, Dane Myers has pitched well so far in the Friday slot, and Ricky has been solid on Saturdays. With luck, Jackson Parthasarathy will be back in pitching shape and full arm strength by the end of the month (if not sooner).

I would not be surpised if Wayne was reconsidering using Otto as a starter, but he's not going to make such a move until he has confidence in 2 - 3 other relievers. Right now we have Kravetz and Moss. I'd throw in Amador if he's not going to start...but none of those guys has the stuff of a shut down, dominant closer.

Flawed logic. Salinas has not been solid at all. He has declined each year since his freshman season as a starter. Salinas is your closer and Otto your Friday starter.

(03-08-2017 02:57 PM)stepfordowl Wrote:  

(03-08-2017 02:23 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  First off, Dane Myers has pitched well so far in the Friday slot, and Ricky has been solid on Saturdays. With luck, Jackson Parthasarathy will be back in pitching shape and full arm strength by the end of the month (if not sooner).

I would not be surpised if Wayne was reconsidering using Otto as a starter, but he's not going to make such a move until he has confidence in 2 - 3 other relievers. Right now we have Kravetz and Moss. I'd throw in Amador if he's not going to start...but none of those guys has the stuff of a shut down, dominant closer.

Flawed logic. Salinas has not been solid at all. He has declined each year since his freshman season as a starter. Salinas is your closer and Otto your Friday starter.

??? Ricky's ERA is inflated this year because he gave up meaningless runs in our 15 - 5 win vs. SELA, when he had to sit on the bench a couple times during 30+ minute half-innings. And, BTW, Ricky was MUCH better last year than he was his Freshman season. He was arguably our most consistent pitcher in 2016.

(03-08-2017 03:11 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-08-2017 02:57 PM)stepfordowl Wrote:  

(03-08-2017 02:23 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  First off, Dane Myers has pitched well so far in the Friday slot, and Ricky has been solid on Saturdays. With luck, Jackson Parthasarathy will be back in pitching shape and full arm strength by the end of the month (if not sooner).

I would not be surpised if Wayne was reconsidering using Otto as a starter, but he's not going to make such a move until he has confidence in 2 - 3 other relievers. Right now we have Kravetz and Moss. I'd throw in Amador if he's not going to start...but none of those guys has the stuff of a shut down, dominant closer.

Flawed logic. Salinas has not been solid at all. He has declined each year since his freshman season as a starter. Salinas is your closer and Otto your Friday starter.

??? Ricky's ERA is inflated this year because he gave up meaningless runs in our 15 - 5 win vs. SELA, when he had to sit on the bench a couple times during 30+ minute half-innings. And, BTW, Ricky was MUCH better last year than he was his Freshman season. He was arguably our most consistent pitcher in 2016.

Sure continue to make excuses to fit your narrative. Throw out Salinas worst games and analyze. You need to take the good with the bad. I remember balls bouncing off the scoreboard at Minute Maid last year. Sure all will be right once we get into the light CUSA schedule and then once again reality sets in when we play real teams in the regionals. Omaha is a distant memory. Crank up Bruce's "Glory Days" one more time. Come on man.....remove your head from Graham's a$$ and think for yourself. Different note Chandler should be leadoff and told to walk more. Warren should be in a spot to drive in runs. Dunlop needs to be in the lineup. Otto Friday Starter. Myers Saturday starter or moved to closer. Salinas would be my first choice. Lastly, tell Graham he is head coach in name only and let someone else run the show. One CWS win does not give you the right to run the program into the ground.

My suggestion for the team (and Wayne) would be for him to delegate more among his coaches. For starters, may as well have Coach Pope take care of all the mound visits.

Would sure speed up the game if he did??

(03-08-2017 08:44 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  Would sure speed up the game if he did??

LMAO. Do they allow Hoverounds on the field?