(01-23-2018 11:23 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 10:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 08:43 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  If we don’t go 2-1 or better at the tourney in FL, I will not have high hopes for this season.

Samford is a must-win, UCF is a should-win, and UVA is a tough game but the type of game we need to win if we want to get back to the hosting level.

??? UCF is ranked higher than us (they're between #28 - 40 in most of the polls), and they're home. And Samford is no slouch-- they finished last year with a #102 RPI (33-26, 3-5 vs. Top 50, 6 - 9 vs. Top 100, with a series wins vs. #34 Indiana and #66 Kansas, and 1-1 vs.#38 Auburn). A 2-1 opening weekend on the road against high quality opposition would be fantastic. With 7 of our first 8 games on the road, including 5 games against Top 15 teams (UVA, Stanford), I'd be very happy if we start 4-4, and then build momentum from there. Let's be realistic and not set the bar unreasonably high.

You claim that there hasn’t been much fall-off but then you make preemptive excuses for us losing to teams like UCF and Samford. Can’t have it both ways.

I have to agree here. 102 RPI and under 0.500 vs top 100 is not a team that i think is acceptable to expect to lose to.

Home top 30 UCF is one thing, but Samford we have got to beat. Samford is like a 7-5 football team in terms of record - can't go in to the season expecting anything short of a win there, home or road, IMO.

(01-24-2018 12:28 AM)Antarius Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 11:23 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 10:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 08:43 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  If we don’t go 2-1 or better at the tourney in FL, I will not have high hopes for this season.

Samford is a must-win, UCF is a should-win, and UVA is a tough game but the type of game we need to win if we want to get back to the hosting level.

??? UCF is ranked higher than us (they're between #28 - 40 in most of the polls), and they're home. And Samford is no slouch-- they finished last year with a #102 RPI (33-26, 3-5 vs. Top 50, 6 - 9 vs. Top 100, with a series wins vs. #34 Indiana and #66 Kansas, and 1-1 vs.#38 Auburn). A 2-1 opening weekend on the road against high quality opposition would be fantastic. With 7 of our first 8 games on the road, including 5 games against Top 15 teams (UVA, Stanford), I'd be very happy if we start 4-4, and then build momentum from there. Let's be realistic and not set the bar unreasonably high.

You claim that there hasn’t been much fall-off but then you make preemptive excuses for us losing to teams like UCF and Samford. Can’t have it both ways.

I have to agree here. 102 RPI and under 0.500 vs top 100 is not a team that i think is acceptable to expect to lose to.

Home top 30 UCF is one thing, but Samford we have got to beat. Samford is like a 7-5 football team in terms of record - can't go in to the season expecting anything short of a win there, home or road, IMO.

No argument, but the football or basketball analogy is not appropriate in baseball, as almost every D-1 program has at least one stud pitcher, and that pitcher usually pitches on Friday (when we play Samford). Don't think it's a coincidence that UCF conveniently schedule Samford on Sunday, when they will probably have run out of pitchers after facing Rice and UVA.

2018 PRESEASON BASEBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA’s head coaches)


PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Southern Miss (11)
2. Rice (1)
3. Florida Atlantic
4. Old Dominion
5. FIU
6. Charlotte
7. Louisiana Tech
8. UTSA
9. Middle Tennessee
10. Marshall
11. UAB
12. WKU
(first place votes in parentheses)


PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Wallner, Southern Miss (Sophomore, OF/P)


PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Nick Sandlin, Southern Miss (Junior, RHP)


ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P Matt Canterino So. Rice
P Nick MacDonald So. FIU
P Jake Miednik Sr. Florida Atlantic
RP Nick Sandlin Jr. Southern Miss
C Dominic DiCaprio Jr. Rice
IF Bryan Arias Jr. UTSA
IF Tyler Frank Jr. Florida Atlantic
IF Ford Proctor Jr. Rice
IF Vinny Pasquantino So. Old Dominion
OF Kyle Battle So. Old Dominion
OF Mason Irby Sr. Southern Miss
OF David Miranda Sr. Florida Atlantic
OF Matt Wallner So. Southern Miss
DH/UT Aaron Aucker Sr. Middle Tennessee

Weren't Proctor and Otto preseason player and pitcher of the year picks last year? Just saying.

(01-23-2018 10:48 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 10:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 08:43 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  If we don’t go 2-1 or better at the tourney in FL, I will not have high hopes for this season.

Samford is a must-win, UCF is a should-win, and UVA is a tough game but the type of game we need to win if we want to get back to the hosting level.

??? UCF is ranked higher than us (they're between #28 - 40 in most of the polls), and they're home. And Samford is no slouch-- they finished last year with a #102 RPI (33-26, 3-5 vs. Top 50, 6 - 9 vs. Top 100, with a series wins vs. #34 Indiana and #66 Kansas, and 1-1 vs.#38 Auburn). A 2-1 opening weekend on the road against high quality opposition would be fantastic. With 7 of our first 8 games on the road, including 5 games against Top 15 teams (UVA, Stanford), I'd be very happy if we start 4-4, and then build momentum from there. Let's be realistic and not set the bar unreasonably high.

Aka be happy with a top two finish in conference and second place in a regional. Just like football should apparently be happy with 7-5 seasons and bowl appearances.

And we’re going to do better than that by NOT battling for any football recruit just because they’re offered by a P5?

(01-25-2018 06:33 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 10:48 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 10:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 08:43 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  If we don’t go 2-1 or better at the tourney in FL, I will not have high hopes for this season.

Samford is a must-win, UCF is a should-win, and UVA is a tough game but the type of game we need to win if we want to get back to the hosting level.

??? UCF is ranked higher than us (they're between #28 - 40 in most of the polls), and they're home. And Samford is no slouch-- they finished last year with a #102 RPI (33-26, 3-5 vs. Top 50, 6 - 9 vs. Top 100, with a series wins vs. #34 Indiana and #66 Kansas, and 1-1 vs.#38 Auburn). A 2-1 opening weekend on the road against high quality opposition would be fantastic. With 7 of our first 8 games on the road, including 5 games against Top 15 teams (UVA, Stanford), I'd be very happy if we start 4-4, and then build momentum from there. Let's be realistic and not set the bar unreasonably high.

Aka be happy with a top two finish in conference and second place in a regional. Just like football should apparently be happy with 7-5 seasons and bowl appearances.

And we’re going to do better than that by NOT battling for any football recruit just because they’re offered by a P5?

1. It was not I who made the comment on football recruiting.
2. Must you and others always cannabalize a thread by commenting on a totally different topic and sport than the one intended?

Lol....I love Walt....

Dude gets salty! (Especially on twitter about Trump)

It's my daily entertainment. And I truly enjoy and appreciate his Rice loyalty!

since the topic is polls, coaches poll out today, with 50 teams receiving votes, but not Rice. Ouch.

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/ranki...d/10031000


we are ranked about 40 at end of 2017, if you believe Rice is better this year(I am not sure), then you have reason to believe we should be around 30.

time will approve.

I give a %^^* to these ranking only if we are ranked.

(01-23-2018 10:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 08:43 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  If we don’t go 2-1 or better at the tourney in FL, I will not have high hopes for this season.

Samford is a must-win, UCF is a should-win, and UVA is a tough game but the type of game we need to win if we want to get back to the hosting level.

??? UCF is ranked higher than us (they're between #28 - 40 in most of the polls), and they're home. And Samford is no slouch-- they finished last year with a #102 RPI (33-26, 3-5 vs. Top 50, 6 - 9 vs. Top 100, with a series wins vs. #34 Indiana and #66 Kansas, and 1-1 vs.#38 Auburn). A 2-1 opening weekend on the road against high quality opposition would be fantastic. With 7 of our first 8 games on the road, including 5 games against Top 15 teams (UVA, Stanford), I'd be very happy if we start 4-4, and then build momentum from there. Let's be realistic and not set the bar unreasonably high.

UCF is ranked #22 in Baseball America's preseason poll, and features one of the most experienced and deepest pitching staffs in the country.

Perfect Game's CUSA preview mirrors the preseason picks of the conference coaches almost across the board-- Rice picked to be runner up to USM (with FAU 3rd)...Proctor, DiCap and Canterino selected to the all-conference team...USM's Wallner and Sandlin selected preseason player and pitcher of the year...

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/Vie...icle=14816

Quote:Rice: The Owls will be young for the most part this spring, though there are a few returning staples littered throughout the lineup too. Last year Matt Canterino excelled as a freshman on the bump and looks to carry that momentum into 2018. Armed with a fastball that can bump into the mid-90s, the projected Friday night starter punched out 111 in just 90 innings while holding opponents to a mere .194 batting average. Kendal Jefferies looks to step up as a consistent rotation piece while Ricardo Salinas looks healthy and ready to go out of the gate. Power arms are in no shortage as both Roel Garcia and closer Garrett Gayle offer big heaters and should help shorten games on the back end. Having Dominic DiCaprio back in the mix on both sides is huge as his numbers across the board (.366-6-49, .508 slugging) are among the best on the team and his abilities behind the dish are certainly noted. Ford Proctor is another key piece to the Owls’ success as the lefthanded hitting middle infielder offers a smooth stroke with pop as well as sound defensive instincts. Center fielder Ryan Chandler is a senior leader at the top of the lineup while fellow senior Andrew Dunlap will provide additional thump for the offense.

Here's D1Baseball's CUSA preview (premium content) which, again, picks Rice to finish 2nd to USM, with the Owls and Eagles the only teams to make the post-season...

https://d1baseball.com/analysis/2018-con...ews-c-usa/

Interestingly, Proctor is named the #1 2019 draft prospect despite the fact that FAU's Frank beat him out on everybody's preseason all-american listings.

Quote:• Rice appeared destined to miss the NCAA postseason with just a couple of weeks left to the regular season last season, but went on a hellacious run in the Conference USA tournament and won the auto bid to the postseason. While making the postseason was a successful way to end the season, there’s zero doubt the Owls have lost some luster over the past few seasons and are in need of a big statement on the national stage. The Owls, as with anyone, have some question marks entering the 2018 campaign. But there’s absolutely big-time potential with this team, and it all starts on the mound with RHP Matt Canterino, RHP Kendal Jefferies and RHP Ricardo Salinas leading the way, while the combo of Garrett Gayle, Roel Garcia, Addison Moss and Evan Kravetz headline what should be a strong bullpen. Gayle, a righty, is one of the more interesting arms to watch in college baseball after he sat in the mid-90s with a fastball up to 98 during fall workouts, while Garcia, too, has a big-time arm, getting up to 95-96 in the fall. Meanwhile, Moss gained some muscle in the offseason and is up to 92-93 with his fastball, while Kravetz, a big and funky lefty, continues to make strides with a fastball touching 90 at times during the fall.

The Owls don’t look like an explosive offense on paper, but there’s definitely potential here, too. Husky catcher Dominic DiCaprio lost some serious weight during the offseason and has a much more physical frame, and the Owls are confident in his ability to take a big step forward across the board. This after DiCaprio finished last season with a .366 batting average. Shortstop Ford Proctor anchors the infield and is a consistent producer, while Chace Sarchet and Brad Gneiting both have upside and speedy Ryan Chandler is back for another season. There’s also Andrew Dunlap, who has some definite raw power. Also keep an eye on Braden Comeaux at the hot corner. Comeaux is known for his defensive skill set, but still should produce, while fellow newcomer Trei Cruz had a solid fall at the plate. This isn’t an overwhelming offensive unit, but I don’t think the Owls have to necessarily be that great at the plate with the overall potential on the mound. It’ll be fascinating to see how the season plays out for Graham’s club.

IMO, Kendall is underestimating our offense and overstating our pitching. Time will tell.

Talk about no respect, even Eric Stitchhead Sorensen has dissed us royally...

https://d1baseball.com/season-preview/fi...l-coastal/

look like we need earn these rankings on field.

(02-02-2018 08:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Talk about no respect, even Eric Stitchhead Sorensen has dissed us royally...

https://d1baseball.com/season-preview/fi...l-coastal/

I mean, were kinda like the Bengals now- make the playoffs, lose in the first round.still better than the Browns (that's more like our football team) but far from being the Packers or the Steelers etc.

How much respect do we deserve? We haven't made it past the first round (read to Omaha) in a decade.

I don't expect to be picked as anything special. We need to show it at this point as the mulligans are over

(02-03-2018 01:51 AM)Antarius Wrote:  

(02-02-2018 08:50 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Talk about no respect, even Eric Stitchhead Sorensen has dissed us royally...

https://d1baseball.com/season-preview/fi...l-coastal/

I mean, were kinda like the Bengals now- make the playoffs, lose in the first round.still better than the Browns (that's more like our football team) but far from being the Packers or the Steelers etc.

How much respect do we deserve? We haven't made it past the first round (read to Omaha) in a decade.

I don't expect to be picked as anything special. We need to show it at this point as the mulligans are over

Um, we made it to the Supers in 2013 (after winning the Oregon regional). Also, by your standard, only 16 teams (those who advance beyond the regional round) each year would be ranked in anyone's Top 40.

Who cares? I love being underestimated. Much sweeter when we win.

I care more about being in the polls at the end of the year.

I am more ambitious than you guys. I wanna Graham to CWS again before he retire.


It is possible with some luck, always dream big.

(02-03-2018 10:28 AM)junrice Wrote:  I am more ambitious then you guys. I wanna graham to CWS again before he retire.


It is possible with some luck, always dream big.

Absolutely.