Just posted by Kendall...

https://d1baseball.com/fall-report/fall-...akSb3mA2pI

Let me know if it's premium content and, if so, I'll cut and paste several key excepts.

Yes, it’s premium content except for the opening paragraph ...

“FALL REPORT Kendall Rogers - January 6, 2021
History would suggest that Rice isn’t the type of program needing a total overhaul.

Reality would say otherwise.

When Matt Bragga took over as the Owls head coach before the 2019 season, it was abundantly clear to everyone around the program this wasn’t going to be an overnight fix. And it wasn’t. The Owls struggled for much of Bragga’s first season, finishing the year with a 26-33 overall record and failing to make the NCAA tournament for a second-straight season.

The Owls’ situation only worsened during[…]“

Sure hope there is something more encouraging than the above.

(01-06-2021 07:18 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Yes, it’s premium content except for the opening paragraph ...

“FALL REPORT Kendall Rogers - January 6, 2021
History would suggest that Rice isn’t the type of program needing a total overhaul.

Reality would say otherwise.

When Matt Bragga took over as the Owls head coach before the 2019 season, it was abundantly clear to everyone around the program this wasn’t going to be an overnight fix. And it wasn’t. The Owls struggled for much of Bragga’s first season, finishing the year with a 26-33 overall record and failing to make the NCAA tournament for a second-straight season.

The Owls’ situation only worsened during[…]“

Sure hope there is something more encouraging than the above.

Actually, it's a pretty fair and balanced report. Kendall spoke to Bragga yesterday. It's a little rose colored on the pitching, IMO, but perhaps underestimates our offensive potential. Comeaux, Edwards and Bulman are all .300+ caliber hitters and plus defenders; not simply solid, veteran players.

Here's a couple excerpts...

Quote:You’re going to hear Garcia’s name a lot in this fall report, and in the spring. He’s the lynchpin to this Rice club. Garcia has a big-time arm with velocity in the mid-90s and impressive secondary stuff. However, he has always had trouble staying healthy and commanding the zone. If he can stay healthy and improve his command, the Owls would have a bonafide Friday night starter on this team — something it lacked last season. “We kept him pretty limited in the fall, but when he did pitch, it was a power breaking ball with a fastball up to 95 — his stuff was pretty electric,” he added. “He’s definitely going to be in the hunt for either that Friday or Saturday role, depending on our schedule. Overall, we’re really excited to have him back and healthy. We feel like he could come back and do a very, very good job for us.”

Elsewhere around the pitching staff, Bragga said the Owls had 16 or more pitchers touch 90 mph or better this fall, which was a significant improvement over last fall. “As you look at our pitching staff, velocity doesn’t win games for you — but it sure is a nice bullet to have, so to speak,” Bragga said. “The return and addition of more velocity is one of the things I’m most excited about with this team. Compared to where we were velocity-wise in the past, we’re in much better shape right now.

Quote:In all, the Owls welcome back several key cogs both in the outfield and infield. Particularly in the infield, Bragga’s bunch returns third baseman Braden Comeaux, catcher Justin Collins, second baseman Cade Edwards and first baseman Austin Bulman.

Comeaux has been a steady contributor throughout his career, and we don’t expect that to change. Edwards is a gritty player who can make things happen and Bulman has some definite power potential in the lineup. Then there’s Collins, who was off to a tough start offensively last season. However, he’s a strong backstop, excellent leader and he has certainly shown an ability to hit for power in the past. It would not surprise me if Collins finally has that breakout campaign it seems we’ve always been waiting for.

Adding to that infield experience is LSU transfer shortstop Hal Hughes. Hughes was a premier defender during his time with the Tigers but was not much of an offensive threat. That has changed since arriving in Houston.

There's a lot more on individual players, especially the newcomers. I still expect our lineup to be as follows:
1B Bulman, Becker (L)
2B Edwards
3B Comeaux
SS Hughes
C Collins, Benitez
CF Walsh
RF Garibay (L)
LF Gneiting (L), Cruz
DH Karp, Dunlap, Combs (L)

And if Garcia is healthy...
Weekend starters: Garcia, Brogdon, Holcomb/Deskins (LHP)
Midweek: Janac, DeLeon
Bullpen: Wood, Greenwood, Cienfuego, Larzabal, Linskey and Rickett

The problem with Bragga is he does not know Texas high schools and he did not help things with his decommits. I admit it was time for Graham to retire but it was a mistake to bring in someone outside the area.

Just to clarify...2021 newcomers are from:

Jersey Village HS
Beaumont, TX (Monsignor Kelly HS)
Baytown HS
Houston Memorial HS
Flower Mound HS
Dickinson HS
Penn Transfer - Georgetown HS
College Station (Bryan HS)
Atascocita HS
Kingwood HS

Norman OK
Princeton NJ

Niceville FL.

Quite a few newcomers from Texas.

@KendallRogers
BREAKING:
@ConferenceUSA athletic directors have approved #CUSA's season structure for the spring:

* 8 series (four-game series)
* 32 total conference games
* Non-conference games at institutions discretion. Midweek games WILL be allowed.

(01-07-2021 09:55 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  @KendallRogers
BREAKING:
@ConferenceUSA athletic directors have approved #CUSA's season structure for the spring:

* 8 series (four-game series)
* 32 total conference games
* Non-conference games at institutions discretion. Midweek games WILL be allowed.

I know we have the first two weekends scheduled for home OOC games. We open in a four-game "series" against HBU and Arkansas-Little Rock (replacing New Mexico, which canceled due to COVID), and the next weekend is currently scheduled against Northern Illinois.

(01-07-2021 10:46 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-07-2021 09:55 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  @KendallRogers
BREAKING:
@ConferenceUSA athletic directors have approved #CUSA's season structure for the spring:

* 8 series (four-game series)
* 32 total conference games
* Non-conference games at institutions discretion. Midweek games WILL be allowed.

I know we have the first two weekends scheduled for home OOC games. We open in a four-game "series" against HBU and Arkansas-Little Rock (replacing New Mexico, which canceled due to COVID), and the next weekend is currently scheduled against Northern Illinois.

When does the season begin? RiceOwls.com is still showing 2020 schedule.

Any word on whether or not fans will be allowed into Reckling this spring? In any event, baseball can’t get here soon enough. Go Owls!

(01-08-2021 11:28 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(01-07-2021 10:46 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-07-2021 09:55 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  @KendallRogers
BREAKING:
@ConferenceUSA athletic directors have approved #CUSA's season structure for the spring:

* 8 series (four-game series)
* 32 total conference games
* Non-conference games at institutions discretion. Midweek games WILL be allowed.

I know we have the first two weekends scheduled for home OOC games. We open in a four-game "series" against HBU and Arkansas-Little Rock (replacing New Mexico, which canceled due to COVID), and the next weekend is currently scheduled against Northern Illinois.

When does the season begin? RiceOwls.com is still showing 2020 schedule.

Any word on whether or not fans will be allowed into Reckling this spring? In any event, baseball can’t get here soon enough. Go Owls!

Just got a call from the Rice ticket office regarding season ticket renewals. The Athletic Department has submitted their proposal for fans at Reckling to the COVID-19 Crisis Committee and, following the success of the final home game at HRS, they are expecting a favorable outcome. I get a sense they're shooting for a 1,000 fan capacity at Reckling.

BTW, for those who didn't catch it, CUSA has made if official for the baseball season-- 8 4-game weekend series (not clear whether there will be doubleheaders and, if so, when they will be 7- or 9-inning games), plus schools are free to schedule OOC weekend series and midweek games to fill their schedules. As I indicated before, I believe we open up the weekend of February 19th at home against HBU and Arkansas-Little Rock (we'll play each twice) and the next weekend is also at home against Northern Illinois (pending their ability to travel TBD).

I spoke with them yesterday and got the same story, except for the possibility of a different opening weekend opponent. Contracts were expected to be done by end of the week with the schedule being released early next week, hopefully.

(01-13-2021 08:37 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  I spoke with them yesterday and got the same story, except for the possibility of a different opening weekend opponent. Contracts were expected to be done by end of the week with the schedule being released early next week, hopefully.

My info on schedule was from Bragga himself, but it was almost a month ago. The opening series was canceled by two opponents due to COVID issues, the last being New Mexico. Originally, Arkansas-Little Rock was schedule to open their season at HBU. After the two cancellations Bragga and Mello were having difficulty finding an opponent. HBU got Arkansas-Little Rock to agree to move their series to Reckling, and to include two games each against Rice in the mix.

(01-13-2021 10:33 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 08:37 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  I spoke with them yesterday and got the same story, except for the possibility of a different opening weekend opponent. Contracts were expected to be done by end of the week with the schedule being released early next week, hopefully.

My info on schedule was from Bragga himself, but it was almost a month ago. The opening series was canceled by two opponents due to COVID issues, the last being New Mexico. Originally, Arkansas-Little Rock was schedule to open their season at HBU. After the two cancellations Bragga and Mello were having difficulty finding an opponent. HBU got Arkansas-Little Rock to agree to move their series to Reckling, and to include two games each against Rice in the mix.

Little Rock posted their schedule and confirms one game vs Houston Baptist (Feb. 19) and two games at Rice (Feb. 19-20). Houston Baptist also posted their schedule and show 2 games at Rice (Feb. 20-21).

(01-13-2021 06:19 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-08-2021 11:28 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(01-07-2021 10:46 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-07-2021 09:55 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  @KendallRogers
BREAKING:
@ConferenceUSA athletic directors have approved #CUSA's season structure for the spring:

* 8 series (four-game series)
* 32 total conference games
* Non-conference games at institutions discretion. Midweek games WILL be allowed.

I know we have the first two weekends scheduled for home OOC games. We open in a four-game "series" against HBU and Arkansas-Little Rock (replacing New Mexico, which canceled due to COVID), and the next weekend is currently scheduled against Northern Illinois.

When does the season begin? RiceOwls.com is still showing 2020 schedule.

Any word on whether or not fans will be allowed into Reckling this spring? In any event, baseball can’t get here soon enough. Go Owls!

Just got a call from the Rice ticket office regarding season ticket renewals. The Athletic Department has submitted their proposal for fans at Reckling to the COVID-19 Crisis Committee and, following the success of the final home game at HRS, they are expecting a favorable outcome. I get a sense they're shooting for a 1,000 fan capacity at Reckling.

BTW, for those who didn't catch it, CUSA has made if official for the baseball season-- 8 4-game weekend series (not clear whether there will be doubleheaders and, if so, when they will be 7- or 9-inning games), plus schools are free to schedule OOC weekend series and midweek games to fill their schedules. As I indicated before, I believe we open up the weekend of February 19th at home against HBU and Arkansas-Little Rock (we'll play each twice) and the next weekend is also at home against Northern Illinois (pending their ability to travel TBD).

They’re also still trying to sell me basketball tickets...

1000 fan capacity should be more than enough. Even before the pandemic it was pretty easy to be socially distanced within the stands at games.

I’m guessing though that the outdoor eating area by the Roost would be closed though, which would suck.

I’m also guessing no 2021 FanFest day?

I should add I was told the Athletics Dept was hopeful of having fans at Reckling to start the season based on the fans-in-stands effort at the UAB football game. However, the Crisis Management Team still has to approve the Athletics Dept plan for baseball, and that hasn’t happened yet.

Anyone know the membership of the CMT? I have not been able to find such on line.

(01-14-2021 11:04 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Anyone know the membership of the CMT? I have not been able to find such on line.

My quick search did not find a membership roster either. But the Rice Crisis Management phone number on the Emergency Contacts page is the number for Jerusha Kasch, Rice's director of crisis management.

The 2017 news release announcing her hiring also mentioned that "Vice President for Administration Kevin Kirby (is) chair of Rice’s Crisis Management Team."

A Sept. 3, 2020, Thresher article says that "The Crisis Management Advisory Committee is chaired by Kirby and is composed of 10 senior Rice officials, including the president, provost and dean of undergraduates, among others."

(01-13-2021 11:43 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 10:33 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 08:37 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  I spoke with them yesterday and got the same story, except for the possibility of a different opening weekend opponent. Contracts were expected to be done by end of the week with the schedule being released early next week, hopefully.

My info on schedule was from Bragga himself, but it was almost a month ago. The opening series was canceled by two opponents due to COVID issues, the last being New Mexico. Originally, Arkansas-Little Rock was schedule to open their season at HBU. After the two cancellations Bragga and Mello were having difficulty finding an opponent. HBU got Arkansas-Little Rock to agree to move their series to Reckling, and to include two games each against Rice in the mix.

Little Rock posted their schedule and confirms one game vs Houston Baptist (Feb. 19) and two games at Rice (Feb. 19-20). Houston Baptist also posted their schedule and show 2 games at Rice (Feb. 20-21).

3rd weekend (March 5-7) is the Minute Maid Classic, where we will play TCU, Texas State and Texas Tech. We play Texas State again in a mid-weeker on March 17th, according to Texas State's schedule.

At this point with Rice Baseball, my attitude is "I'll believe it when I see it" with regard to improvements.

But I'll keep watching (or listening to JP in the case of baseball)...

(01-14-2021 02:49 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-14-2021 11:04 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Anyone know the membership of the CMT? I have not been able to find such on line.

My quick search did not find a membership roster either. But the Rice Crisis Management phone number on the Emergency Contacts page is the number for Jerusha Kasch, Rice's director of crisis management.

The 2017 news release announcing her hiring also mentioned that "Vice President for Administration Kevin Kirby (is) chair of Rice’s Crisis Management Team."

A Sept. 3, 2020, Thresher article says that "The Crisis Management Advisory Committee is chaired by Kirby and is composed of 10 senior Rice officials, including the president, provost and dean of undergraduates, among others."

Thanks Mike! That’s way more than I was able to dredge up.

Practice starts on the 26th, the day after classes start. 4 game series will be 9 inning game Friday. 2 7 inning games Saturday and a 9 inning game Sunday.