(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.

How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.

How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Per the AD thread - if JK gets the NU job by some miracle do we think a new or temporary AD has the stones to make some changes? Similarly, do we think him sticking around might accelerate the end of the Bragga experiment or does a clean house solve the problem faster.

A fun nugget from a former player this weekend that captures the predicament that is Rice Owl baseball:

It really is worst case for your program when you’re unhappy with whatever the result is. I always look at the scores and am disappointed no matter what.

The Rice way is run the program into the ground, which we are pretty close, before making a change. I suspect Bragga be back next year.

On the original schedule, Rice was supposed to host Sam Houston tonight. Anyone know what happened?

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.

How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

And the talent pool is unbelievably deep, too, I would imagine.

(04-20-2021 12:43 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  On the original schedule, Rice was supposed to host Sam Houston tonight. Anyone know what happened?

The Jan. 19, 2021, news release of the Owls' 2021 baseball schedule makes no mention of hosting Sam Houston this week ... or anytime during the season.

https://riceowls.com/news/2021/1/19/owls...edule.aspx

(04-20-2021 01:07 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 12:43 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  On the original schedule, Rice was supposed to host Sam Houston tonight. Anyone know what happened?

The Jan. 19, 2021, news release of the Owls' 2021 baseball schedule makes no mention of hosting Sam Houston this week ... or anytime during the season.

https://riceowls.com/news/2021/1/19/owls...edule.aspx

The Owls "played" and were embarrassed by Sam Houston State, 12-4, on March 5, 2021, at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at MMP.

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.

How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.

How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The last defense of any failing coach is "You will lose this great next recruiting class if you fire me." I do not think second to last or last in conference USA in baseball (Rice's former flagship sport) is what Rice had in mind in promoting its image of excellence.

(04-20-2021 04:43 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The last defense of any failing coach is "You will lose this great next recruiting class if you fire me." I do not think second to last or last in conference USA in baseball (Rice's former flagship sport) is what Rice had in mind in promoting its image of excellence.

Not what I was asking. I've never heard Bragga opine on recruiting one way or the other. Not following Rice baseball all that closely, tbh.

Just curious if his initial recruiting missteps had been repaired given what I'd heard second or third hand or read on the parliament.

The 2018 Super Regional that Bragga's T. Tech lost to UT was competitive.

Tech's pitching was decent enough to beat Ole Miss and take UT to a third game.

Makes the current lack of pitching management that much more bizarre.

I don't recall the particulars, but do recall having a couple of "huh?" moments watching that regional and some of the moves B made.

But, then again, I've always had those moments to spare.

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.
How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

They have an interesting coaching staff. The head coach (Robert Woodward) is his own pitching coach, and with good reason. Over the past decade, he has served as pitching coach at several stops and has had 28 pitchers drafted by MLB in the time frame. Bicknell is recruiting coordinator. The third member of the staff is AHC/hitting coach Bo Robinson, former outstanding player at Charlotte who spent several seasons in the minors, making it as far as AAA.

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 04:19 PM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Well, we are a game and a half up on Marshall for the worst record in the conference, so it will be exciting to see if we can hold them off.

How in the world did Charlotte get so good?

They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The old saying "first impressions"....

Bragga isn't righting the ship when it comes to this....not when the first thing he did was yank scholarship offers from kids who were 2 year commits. Really upset a lot of important people. They don't forget.

(04-20-2021 07:43 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2021 07:22 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  They hired good coaches. Toby Bicknell, the former director for Prep Baseball Report in Texas, was hired as the recruiting coordinator there last year. You can bet there will be Texas kids headed to Charlotte in the near future. He, unlike our guy, understands how important the relationship with HS coaches can be...especially in Texas.

Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The old saying "first impressions"....

Bragga isn't righting the ship when it comes to this....not when the first thing he did was yank scholarship offers from kids who were 2 year commits. Really upset a lot of important people. They don't forget.

You keep saying this, but I've seen plenty of videos with Bragga being praised by high school coaches, and we've recently signed two highly regarded guys from the Texas traveling squads. If high school coaches don't ever forget, regardless to the subsequent efforts to repair things, then they're doing a disservice to their players. IMO, you're the one holding a grudge.

(04-20-2021 07:47 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 07:43 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 06:52 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote:  Thank-you for the helpful information. That strikes me as very fixable for Rice, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The old saying "first impressions"....

Bragga isn't righting the ship when it comes to this....not when the first thing he did was yank scholarship offers from kids who were 2 year commits. Really upset a lot of important people. They don't forget.

You keep saying this, but I've seen plenty of videos with Bragga being praised by high school coaches, and we've recently signed two highly regarded guys from the Texas traveling squads. If high school coaches don't ever forget, regardless to the subsequent efforts to repair things, then they're doing a disservice to their players. IMO, you're the one holding a grudge.

Ok, Walt.

Again, as I've said before, it doesn't mean that Bragga won't sign any kids. Of course they will sign kids. The point I have made many times is Bragga hurt himself deeply and it WILL (and HAS) affected his ability to turn the program around by getting the type of recruits he needs to regain national power status. You can say I'm holding a grudge all you want. I don't really care what you think. These are simply the facts of the situation. In 2 years, I will ask you where these "highly regarded guys" are....

(04-20-2021 07:52 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 07:47 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 07:43 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:59 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Absolutely. Its the single most important thing Rice can (and should have) done. Hire someone who is knowledgeable about Texas HS recruiting and how important the relationships are from the HS level, travel ball level, and the collegiate level. Its a huge state but a small community. They talk. And they're very protective of their kids.

Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The old saying "first impressions"....

Bragga isn't righting the ship when it comes to this....not when the first thing he did was yank scholarship offers from kids who were 2 year commits. Really upset a lot of important people. They don't forget.

You keep saying this, but I've seen plenty of videos with Bragga being praised by high school coaches, and we've recently signed two highly regarded guys from the Texas traveling squads. If high school coaches don't ever forget, regardless to the subsequent efforts to repair things, then they're doing a disservice to their players. IMO, you're the one holding a grudge.

Ok, Walt.

Again, as I've said before, it doesn't mean that Bragga won't sign any kids. Of course they will sign kids. The point I have made many times is Bragga hurt himself deeply and it WILL (and HAS) affected his ability to turn the program around by getting the type of recruits he needs to regain national power status. You can say I'm holding a grudge all you want. I don't really care what you think. These are simply the facts of the situation. In 2 years, I will ask you where these "highly regarded guys" are....

Oh, I get it-- you're opinions are facts, but you ridicule and mock my facts as simply opinions. Gotcha. Look, I respect your knowledge and insights on the recruiting and scouting fronts, but you have had an axe to grind with Bragga from the get go, and you've been ragging on him non-stop on this board since he was hired.

(04-20-2021 08:01 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 07:52 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 07:47 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 07:43 PM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 04:03 PM)ausowl Wrote:  Is this not correctable by Bragga? My understanding is that the next recruiting class is pretty good. Is he righting the Texas HS, travel ball ship?

The old saying "first impressions"....

Bragga isn't righting the ship when it comes to this....not when the first thing he did was yank scholarship offers from kids who were 2 year commits. Really upset a lot of important people. They don't forget.

You keep saying this, but I've seen plenty of videos with Bragga being praised by high school coaches, and we've recently signed two highly regarded guys from the Texas traveling squads. If high school coaches don't ever forget, regardless to the subsequent efforts to repair things, then they're doing a disservice to their players. IMO, you're the one holding a grudge.

Ok, Walt.

Again, as I've said before, it doesn't mean that Bragga won't sign any kids. Of course they will sign kids. The point I have made many times is Bragga hurt himself deeply and it WILL (and HAS) affected his ability to turn the program around by getting the type of recruits he needs to regain national power status. You can say I'm holding a grudge all you want. I don't really care what you think. These are simply the facts of the situation. In 2 years, I will ask you where these "highly regarded guys" are....

Oh, I get it-- you're opinions are facts, but you ridicule and mock my facts as simply opinions. Gotcha. Look, I respect your knowledge and insights on the recruiting and scouting fronts, but you have had an axe to grind with Bragga from the get go, and you've been ragging on him non-stop on this board since he was hired.

I was asked a question....I answered it with first hand knowledge. Call it an "axe to grind" if you want.

Things aren't good, Walt.

Agree or no?

This isn't personal. I want Rice to be great again in baseball.

I think you do too.

I used to be on Walt’s side of this.. I thought Owl1998 was way too tough on Bragga and quite honestly, I still don’t think Bragga was wrong about the guys who ended up at WCJC who Owl1998 panned Bragga for “processing.”

That said, I think Owl1998 is more right than wrong. Rice baseball hasn’t been more irrelevant than it is now since the 1970’s. The freshmen out there (with the exception of Garibay) don’t seem to be up to the standard that we came to expect of Rice Baseball, the in-game management has been pathetic, etc... Even a guy like Connor Walsh... You can see why he didn’t last at Ole Miss.

I just keep telling myself that it’s always tough to follow a legend and that the next coach will be a better hire. Kind of like what happened at South Carolina.

(04-20-2021 08:19 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  I used to be on Walt’s side of this.. I thought Owl1998 was way too tough on Bragga and quite honestly, I still don’t think Bragga was wrong about the guys who ended up at WCJC who Owl1998 panned Bragga for “processing.”

That said, I think Owl1998 is more right than wrong. Rice baseball hasn’t been more irrelevant than it is now since the 1970’s. The freshmen out there (with the exception of Garibay) don’t seem to be up to the standard that we came to expect of Rice Baseball, the in-game management has been pathetic, etc... Even a guy like Connor Walsh... You can see why he didn’t last at Ole Miss.

I just keep telling myself that it’s always tough to follow a legend and that the next coach will be a better hire. Kind of like what happened at South Carolina.

Good post...and I agree with pretty much everything you said...with the exception of the guys that ended up elsewhere. I wish we had them quite frankly....especially Kiddy. He's proven to be a really good pitcher vs great competition in the Juco ranks this year. We could certainly use him.

But, alas, that ship has sailed... I do hope changes are made and we hire someone who can go after more than a couple good players per year.

As much as I like Bragga personally, and was comfortable with his hiring (though I was hoping for Riser or Deggs at the time), I agree with you both that it's time for a change. As I've said in previous posts, enough is enough. And while I didn't think either was ready for the job 4 years ago, I'd love to see either Pat Hallmark or Lance get the opportunity this time....but I think this time we'd have to be the ones courting them.

Re. Connor Walsh, cut him some slack. He was redshirted at Ole Miss, not because of lack of talent, but because two upper class all-americans were locked in at the middle infield positions. He clearly has the tools, and has been hitting much better after his horrible first month of the season.