"Shake it off. Shake it off." Perhaps the Reckling pre-game music selection on Thursday should include a little Taylor Swift, for as disheartening and demoralizing as Tuesday's loss to UH was (snatching defeat from the claws of victory), the Baseball Owls need to quickly put it in the rear view mirror, and focus at the task at hand, and the very achievable goal within their grasp. With a magic number of two (any combination of wins by Rice and losses by Middle Tennessee), the Owls can clinch that coveted 20th consecutive conference championship, and keep The Streak alive for yet another year. However, we will be facing a very talented and dangerous, albeit underachieving, Florida International squad that will not only be playing for a CUSA tournament birth, but seeking revenge on our road sweep of them last year in Miami, from which they never recovered.
Due to the conference tournament starting next Wednesday in Hattiesburg, MS, this weekend's games are scheduled for
6:30pm CST on Thursday, 6:30pm on Friday and 12:00 noon on Saturday. Note that Friday is "Senior Recognition Night", with our Senior players and their families being introduced on the field prior to the game, beginning at 6:10pm. At 4:30 pm on Friday, everyone is invited to join the player’s parents for a SENIOR-ita Tailgate, the last tailgate of the regular season at the Audrey Moody Ley Plaza. Bring a Mexican-themed food or beverage of your choice to share with others. We’ll toast the senior parents during our Mexican Fiesta tailgate and get to Reckling in time to honor the senior players and their families.
This has been a very disappointing season for the FIU Golden Panthers, who came into the year with a veteran lineup, and young but talented pitching staff (including last year's CUSA Freshman of the Year, RHP Chris Mourelle), a Top 30 incoming recruiting class and projected by every college baseball site to be a post-season team. However, despite very solid across-the-board stats (offensively, defensively and on the mound), they have won just three of nine conference series, and have struggled on the road. Overall they have posted a 23 - 27 record (5-10 on the road, 12-15 CUSA, 2-5 vs. Top 50, 8-14 vs. Top 100, 15-13 vs. opponents RPI-ranked 100+, #181 RPI, #153 ISR, #128 SoS). They have been hovering around the .500 mark all season long and, in fact, are 9-9 in their last 18 games; 5-5 in the last 10 games. Having said that, they are a very talented team that have been badly underperforming, but who will be playing for a birth in the CUSA tournament (and I believe they need one more win to clinch one of the final two spots). Also, they will be well-rested since they did not play a midweek game this week. Here's their schedule and results to date...
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2015/schedule/FIU
Offensively, the Golden Panthers are hitting .274/.354/.389 as a team, with 39 HRs, 78 doubles/triples, 29-52 SBs and averaging 5.6 runs per game. They are led by preseason all-American and likely CUSA Player of the Year, Jr 1B
Edwin Rios (.319/.419/.633, 17 HRs, 7 doubles/triples, 51 RBIs, 32 BBs) and Brian Portelli (.343/.390/.502, 4 HRs, 19 doubles/triples, 42 RBIs). Take our chances with anyone else in the lineup, but we cannot let either of these guys beat us. They are a very aggressive, free-swinging, dead red fastball hitting lineup, which has struck out 124 more times (6.3 Ks per game) than they've received walks. Rios is the only FIU batter with an onbase percentage above .390. This would suggest our pitchers take a "backwards" approach this weekend, leading and getting ahead of the count with their breaking balls and off-speed pitches. Their everyday lineup features only three left-handed bats, but they represent three of their top 5 hitters (including Rios). They do not appear to be a very fast team as they have grounded into 31 double plays and have stolen only 29 of 52 bases (56%).
Defensively, FIU has been slightly above average-- posting a .968 fielding percentage (with only their SS having committed 10+ errors), but similar to ourselves, the miscues have come in bunches and at inopportune times. They've allowed a whopping 63 unearned runs in 51 games (vs. 51 unearned runs allowed by the Owls) thanks in part to 18 passed balls (vs. 12 for Rice) and 46 wild pitches (vs. 39 for Rice). Opposing teams have also successfully run against their pitchers and catchers, with only 28% base runners caught stealing. This may be the series to be aggressive on the bases, with the only red flag being their strong-armed RFer (Austin Rodriguez), who has thrown out 5 base runners in just 30 game starts. No other outfielder has more than 2 assists.
On the mound, FIU has a solid, but far from elite weekend rotation (all of whom are workhorses), an elite closer and several quality middle relievers. What they lack, aside from their closer, are dominant pitchers and back of the rotation/back of the bullpen depth. Consequently, their staff's across the board stats are somewhat pedestrian: 3.98 ERA, .250 BAA, 1.35 WHIP, 1.64 K:BB ratio, 7.3 Ks/game and 5.7 free passes (BBs, HBPs) per game. Strangely, their Sunday starter (Chris Mourelle) is the staff ace. However, aside from their Saturday starter (Cody Crouse) and one middle reliever (Charles Cormier), all the remaining Golden Panther pitchers are right-handed. This should give an edge to our left-handed laden lineup and help minimize late inning, lefty vs. lefty mismatches. Also, although they do have several strikeout pitchers (Nunez, Dopico, Durruthy), most have struggled with control issues (particularly Nunez). Our hitters may want to be a little more patient this weekend, and see if we can generate a few more free passes than usual.
Andres Nunez (Fr, RHP): 12 starts, 4-5, 68.0 IP, 3.97 ERA, .249 BAA, 31 BBs,
16 HBP, 62 Ks
Cody Crouse (So, LHP): 13 starts, 4-5, 76.0 IP, 4.26 ERA, .260 BAA, 29 BBs, 43 Ks
Chris Mourelle (So, RHP): 13 starts, 83.1 IP, 6-6, 3.35 ERA, ,244 BAA, 25 BBs, 41 Ks
Danny Dopico (Jr, RHP):
23 app, 2-4, 9 saves, 39.1 IP, 1.60 ERA, .163 BAA, 16 BBs, 7 HBP, 49 Ks
Williams Durruthy (So, RHP): 22 app, 1-1, 2 saves, 33.1 IP, 2.70 BAA, .211 BAA, 28 BBs, 7 WPs, 5 HBPs, 39 Ks
David Lee (Fr, RHP): 14 app, 4 starts, 2-1, 1 save, 32.1 IP, 3.34 ERA, .283 BAA, 14 BBs, 9 WPs, 36 Ks
Charles Cormier (Jr, LHP): 13 app, 1-0, 17.1 IP, 3.71 ERA, .286 BAA, 5 BBs, 11 Ks
Gianni Zayas (Jr, RHP): 20 app, 4 starts, 3-2, 35.0 IP, 5.14 ERA, .294 BAA, 23 BBs, 34 Ks
This time of year, in particular, you have to have short memories. We cannot let Tuesday's disappointment carry over into this series and, similarly, we cannot be lulled by FIU's mediocre record and take this series for granted. We've worked hard to control our own destiny. Time to take care of business, protect our home field advantage, and clinch our 20th consecutive conference championship. Let's do it in honor of our departing Seniors. Go Owls!
Baseball America picked FIU to finish 2nd in the conference, and named 1B Edwin Rios a preseason All-American...
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2...rence-usa/
Quote:NCAA At-Large Teams (1): Florida International. The Golden Panthers return the veteran core to a lineup that led CUSA in OPS (on-base plus slugging) at .759 last season. Jr. Edwin Rios (.296/.341/.400), a preseason All-American at third base, likely will play second this season in a veteran infield including Sr. 3B Josh Anderson (.300/.375/.427, 5 HR), while Sr. OF Brian Portelli (.350/.412/.466 in 103 ABs) is expected to take on a much larger role. The league’s 2014 freshman of the year, So. RHP Chris Mourelle (9-3, 1.95) helps Sr. RHP Robby Kalaf (3-2, 3.74) on an experienced weekend staff.
Perfect Game also picked FIU to finish 2nd in CUSA and named 1B Edwin Rios, 3B Josh Anderson and RHP Chris Mourelle to their all-conference team...
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...icle=10772
Quote:Florida International: Coach Turtle Thomas is known for hitting the recruiting trail hard and the Panthers are starting to reap the benefits of he and his staff’s hard work. Leading the charge both offensively and defensively for the 2015 edition of the Panthers are seniors Josh Anderson and Julius Gaines, who also form the left side of the infield. Anderson is the top returning hitter with a .300 average and five home runs while leading the team with 43 RBI. A big prospect coming out of high school, Gaines is fully healthy this spring and is poised for a breakout season, looking to build upon his .288 mark from 2014. Another player who was nicked up during summer ball but is back and looking for a strong 2015 campaign is middle infielder and righthanded slugger Edwin Rios. Starting in all 56 games last year, Rios took another step forward with his bat during his time on the Cape showing easy, above average power to all fields. Sophomore catcher J.C. Escarra continued to develop last spring and into the summer and will be a relied upon for his lefthanded bat and abilities behind the plate. Playing in 48 games last year, senior outfielder Ben Portelli is a bat the staff is excited about after fall practice and will impact the middle of the Panthers’ lineup, showing advanced barrel skills with plenty of strength. Highly athletic freshman Jack Schaaf has tools that can’t be ignored and will factor into the starting outfield with his speed and athleticism. The pitching staff is also strong, led by senior lefthander Robby Kalaf who went 3-2 last year with a 3.74 ERA. A pair of sophomore righthanders also return including last year's Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Chris Mourelle, who posted a 1.95 ERA, and Cody Crouse. The two combined for 13 wins and both displayed advanced command of the strike zone. Andres Nunez and Danny Dopico both impressed during the fall with above average stuff and low-90s fastballs, giving FIU plenty of options to turn to. Anchoring down the bullpen is freshman Garrett Cave, a righthanded arm who shows some of the best stuff in his class in the entire country, working in the mid-90s throughout fall practice.
D1Baseball joined in picking FIU to finish a close 2nd this year in CUSA...
http://www.d1baseball.com/prospects/2015...rence-usa/
Quote:Florida International figures to be one of C-USA’s more talented teams as Turtle Thomas has assembled another solid cast. 2B Edwin Rios (.296/2/38) is the top prospect and has a chance to earn some accolades as a junior. The physically imposing Rios is a big-time lefthanded bat who’s expected to put together an impressive 2015 campaign. C J.C. Escarra (.247/0/17) had a strong summer in the Valley League and is expected to be much improved offensively. Senior OF Brian Portelli (.350/2/11) may be the team’s best bat with a consistent and advanced approach. Keep an eye on speedy freshman OF Jack Schaaf and senior SS Julius Gaines (.288/1/27) to set the table, as both are good athletes that can make things happen. The Panthers have plenty of depth on the mound starting with Robbie Kalaf (3-2, 3.74), Cody Crouse (4-3, 2.23), and Chris Mourelle (9-3, 1.95). Kalaf will sit anywhere from 88-92 with a sinking fastball, along with a quality slider, while Crouse has a big frame and a heavy 90-92 fastball with late life. He also possesses a quality slider and changeup. They also get a boost from Maleko Galusha, who’s back from Tommy John surgery. The bullpen has two scary arms in freshman righty Garrett Cave, who was mid-90s in the fall, and righty Williams Durruthy (0-0,1.65) who was low 90s with a plus cutter.
Eric Sorenson ranked FIU #64 in his preseason Top 301 countdown...
http://www.collegebaseballtoday.com/2015...s-of-2015/
Quote:64- FIU (36-20, 16-14)
Projected Conference USA Finish: 3rd
2014 ISR: 65
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (15+inns.): 2
The Panthers raced out to a 16-1 start a year ago, then played near-.500 ball the rest of the way. Lots of experience back plus the No. 29-ranked recruiting class in the country will help make for a smoother season. RHPs Cody Crouse (4-3, 2.23), Chris Mourelle (9-3, 1.95) and Robby Kalaf (3-2, 3.74) combined for 34 starts and will be backed by Frosh Garrett Cave’s 95mph heater. OF Brian Portelli (.350) is the best hitter on the team. 3B Josh Anderson (.300-5-38) and 2B Edwin Rios (.296) will steady the D.