waltgreenberg
Legend
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: Chicago
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RE: Rice Baseball @ #10 Stanford
Here are the various preseason Top 25 previews for the Stanford Cardinal...
Collegesports madness ranked Stanford #22 in their Top 44 preseason poll...
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/15607
D1Baseball's Fall report on the Cardinal...
https://d1baseball.com/fall-report/fall-...tanford-2/
...they had the Cardinal ranked #13 in the preseason poll, with 3 players named preseason all-americans (RHP Beck,LHP Bubic, SS Hoerner)...
https://d1baseball.com/analysis/top-25-b...-stanford/
Perfect Game ranked Stanford #10 preseason...
https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/Vie...icle=14815
Quote:10. Stanford
Kris Bubic (Stanford Athletics)
Head Coach: David Esquer
Conference: Pac-12
2017 record: 42-16 (21-9 Pac-12)
2017 finish: Stanford Regional
Top returning hitters: 3B Jesse Kuet (.333-0-12), 1B/DH Daniel Bakst (.311-3-38), SS Nico Hoerner (.307-1-33), 2B Duke Kinamon (.284-3-22), OF Brandon Wulff (.231-6-23), IF Mikey Diekroeger (.262-0-14), C Maverick Handley (.257-0-13)
Top returning pitchers: RHP Will Matthiessen (3-0, 2.33 ERA, 38.2 IP, 32:9, 3 SV), RHP Tristan Beck (6-5, 2.48 ERA, 83.1 IP, 76:26 – from 2016), LHP Kris Bubic (7-6, 2.79 ERA, 90.1 IP, 96:31), LHP Erik Miller (5-2, 3.65 ERA, 61.2 IP, 34:21)
Top newcomers: OF Christian Robinson, 1B Nick Brueser, LHP Austin Weiermiller, LHP Jacob Palisch, OF Tim Tawa, RHP Brendan Beck, SS/2B Zach Sehgal
Top 2018 prospects: LHP Kris Bubic (39), RHP Tristan Beck (58), SS Nico Hoerner (60), 2B Duke Kinamon
Why they’re here: Pitching and defense wins championships. Stanford has always set the standard when it comes to pitching and defense, and 2017 was no exception as the team finished with the 12th best team ERA in the nation and were the 15th best team in regards to fielding percentage. The starting staff should be intact, with a significant arm returning in the form of Preseason All-American Tristan Beck. Beck was expected to be a first-round pick a year ago as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he wasn't able to take the mound due to injury. Reports out of Stanford's camp are positive for the flame-throwing righty's return. Lefthander Kris Bubic is poised to take over as staff ace after earning Cape Cod League Player of the Year honors last summer thanks to his ability to carve up hitters with a three-pitch mix. Throw in another proven lefty, Erik Miller, and you have a formidable weekend staff. When it comes to defense, Nico Hoerner is a take-charge leader on both sides of the ball that excels defensively, while second baseman Duke Kinamon can match Hoerner's efforts. Maverick Handley is solid behind the plate, as is senior Jesse Kuet at third, and freshman outfielder Tim Tawa has been praised for his defensive versatility.
Difference maker: Beck. A full healthy season of Tristan Beck is going to go a long way in determining the final outcome for the Cardinal, as his pure stuff matches up with any other staff ace in the nation with the results from his freshman year proving he knows how to throw strikes and record outs. Will Matthiessen is another key member of the pitching staff that will be asked to close out games after recording a 2.33 ERA in 20 relief appearances last year.
Fun fact: New head coach David Esquer was the starting shortstop on Stanford's 1987 championship team, the first of back-to-back CWS championships secured by the Cardinal under their legendary skipper Mark Marquess. Esquer guided the Cal Bears to Omaha in 2011 after saving the program from extinction and has 525 career wins as Cal's head coach.
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