(06-15-2021 07:01 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Kirk Saarloos expected to be named TCU's new head coach this afternoon.

Well deserved

(06-15-2021 08:15 AM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 07:01 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Kirk Saarloos expected to be named TCU's new head coach this afternoon.

Well deserved

And worst kept secret in college baseball

(06-15-2021 11:45 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 08:15 AM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 07:01 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Kirk Saarloos expected to be named TCU's new head coach this afternoon.

Well deserved

And worst kept secret in college baseball

It certainly was. Wonder why all the "doing a nationwide search" mumbo jumbo. Should've just announced it when Schloss left.

(06-15-2021 11:45 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 08:15 AM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 07:01 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Kirk Saarloos expected to be named TCU's new head coach this afternoon.

Well deserved

And worst kept secret in college baseball

And why Saarloos wasn't going anywhere else.

Interesting that Cheito focused on pitching in his presser, but he never did say what his philosophy was (though he did insinuate it was more MLB approach than college approach).

A little disappointed no one asked questions regarding use of analytics or his priorities in selecting his coaching staff.

In a post-conference interview in The Roost, Cheito emphasizes the use of science in both hitting and pitching development (I'm assuming he's referring to analytics), and leaks out that Paul Janish will be retained as an assistant coach. Congrats, Paul! Also, based on his comments, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he names a pitching coach from MLB, as opposed to the college ranks. That would also mean Paul becomes the primary recruiting coordinator.

https://twitter.com/RiceOwlsVoice/status...8165106693

Here's Janish's comments confirming his being retained...

https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/stat...2012484608

I am happy to see our new staff will have a Rice/MLB flavor.

Now go win some games.

Interesting comment from yesterday...apparently AJ Hinch told Jose Jr that he could be a major league manager at some point in his career and recommended that he stay with the Tigers but told Jr that he understood his desire to return to Rice and would do what he could to help in his career move.

(06-15-2021 06:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Interesting that Cheito focused on pitching in his presser, but he never did say what his philosophy was (though he did insinuate it was more MLB approach than college approach).

A little disappointed no one asked questions regarding use of analytics or his priorities in selecting his coaching staff.

The parts I noticed (and apologize for not answering on facebook... too long for my tiny phone keyboard) were this and his focus on player development, getting players to the pros, getting degrees for kids who go to the pros, embracing pro-style language etc etc... It was all about the intention of targeting kids who would otherwise go to the minors quickly... imo.

He also spoke about doing better IMMEDIATELY with the players already on the roster, especially pitchers... which I thought was ballsy and loved.

The final thing I noticed was that we didn't just hire him... we got his MOM (and father and brothers and sons and sisters and daughter etc) This is a Rice family (even his SMU daughter)... forge your own path, but share the same values. If he recruits kids like that, both from current rice families (Blake Fox etc) AND he starts NEW legacies (Gritman Jr just as an example).. Rice will be back to long strings of trips to the regionals and Omaha (as he noted).

(06-16-2021 10:02 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  .

He also spoke about doing better IMMEDIATELY with the players already on the roster.

Immediately, if not sooner, is good.

(06-15-2021 09:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Here's Janish's comments confirming his being retained...
https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/stat...2012484608

(06-16-2021 08:02 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I am happy to see our new staff will have a Rice/MLB flavor.
Now go win some games.

I like retaining Janish and I like the idea of a pitching coach with MLB flavor. Before taking the Tigers job, Jose was working with MLB in the player development end. He dropped more than a few suggestions about player development in his comments. How about the recruiting pitch of Rice education, plus I can get you ready for MLB because that's what I've been doing for the past few years, plus the Rice Investment to cover the money end, plus obvious deep connections in the Houston baseball and particularly Hispanic baseball communities. I think that's a recruiting winner. I also like the we're going to be better now approach.

Bragga is not a bad coach or a bad guy. This just wasn't the right environment for him. Everything suggests that this is precisely the right environment for Cheito.

Also, I spoke with Joe... and told him how much I admired/appreciated that he had so relatively quickly, even despite the excuse of COVID, recognized the poor fit of Bragga and not just fixed it, but IMO, easily potentially REVERSED it. I think that was a HUGE act and I told him so. I still have some issues/concerns with his leadership in some areas, but this wasn't one of those days or events. Even if it doesn't work as we hope or if there was an arguably better option available in the eyes of some... this was a GREAT move.

Jose will no doubt, pull out ALL the stops to be successful here... Bleeding Blue and Grey means something to a lot of us.

(06-16-2021 10:22 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  Also, I spoke with Joe... and told him how much I admired/appreciated that he had so relatively quickly, even despite the excuse of COVID, recognized the poor fit of Bragga and not just fixed it, but IMO, easily potentially REVERSED it. I think that was a HUGE act and I told him so. I still have some issues/concerns with his leadership in some areas, but this wasn't one of those days or events. Even if it doesn't work as we hope or if there was an arguably better option available in the eyes of some... this was a GREAT move.
Jose will no doubt, pull out ALL the stops to be successful here... Bleeding Blue and Grey means something to a lot of us.

I really, really like the hire. I am sorry I could not make it yesterday afternoon, but I think we may have baseball on the right track. I wonder what, if anything, was done to restore the RBI Club to its former status, as that was clearly a factor in Graham's success.

(06-16-2021 10:33 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(06-16-2021 10:22 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  Also, I spoke with Joe... and told him how much I admired/appreciated that he had so relatively quickly, even despite the excuse of COVID, recognized the poor fit of Bragga and not just fixed it, but IMO, easily potentially REVERSED it. I think that was a HUGE act and I told him so. I still have some issues/concerns with his leadership in some areas, but this wasn't one of those days or events. Even if it doesn't work as we hope or if there was an arguably better option available in the eyes of some... this was a GREAT move.
Jose will no doubt, pull out ALL the stops to be successful here... Bleeding Blue and Grey means something to a lot of us.

I really, really like the hire. I am sorry I could not make it yesterday afternoon, but I think we may have baseball on the right track. I wonder what, if anything, was done to restore the RBI Club to its former status, as that was clearly a factor in Graham's success.

I don't think we're going to see any change in the RBI Club, as the guys who JK brought on after Wayne's departure (after canning anyone and everyone involved in it's prior success) were the one's who were on JK's small "advisory committee" and all are former classmates and teammates of Cheito. And unlike previously, it's clear the Athletic Department is running the RBI Club, as opposed to it being a separately run, independent SIG. Hopefully, that will now change with Cheito in charge. Since the new regime took over, total RBI Club dues have shrunk by more than half, and I believe the number of "homerun level" donors has gone down from 10 to 3. They no longer proactively reach out to baseball supporters and they're certainly nowhere near as accessible.

BTW, with Cheito in his new job and Berkman now coaching across town, there's two openings on the RBI Club Board. I hope they fill them with strong Rice baseball supporters who are NOT former players (as the composition of the Board is currently far too heavily weighted toward former players, IMO).

(06-16-2021 10:57 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-16-2021 10:33 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(06-16-2021 10:22 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  Also, I spoke with Joe... and told him how much I admired/appreciated that he had so relatively quickly, even despite the excuse of COVID, recognized the poor fit of Bragga and not just fixed it, but IMO, easily potentially REVERSED it. I think that was a HUGE act and I told him so. I still have some issues/concerns with his leadership in some areas, but this wasn't one of those days or events. Even if it doesn't work as we hope or if there was an arguably better option available in the eyes of some... this was a GREAT move.
Jose will no doubt, pull out ALL the stops to be successful here... Bleeding Blue and Grey means something to a lot of us.

I really, really like the hire. I am sorry I could not make it yesterday afternoon, but I think we may have baseball on the right track. I wonder what, if anything, was done to restore the RBI Club to its former status, as that was clearly a factor in Graham's success.

I don't think we're going to see any change in the RBI Club, as the guys who JK brought on after Wayne's departure (after canning anyone and everyone involved in it's prior success) were the one's who were on JK's small "advisory committee" and all are former classmates and teammates of Cheito. And unlike previously, it's clear the Athletic Department is running the RBI Club, as opposed to it being a separately run, independent SIG. Hopefully, that will now change with Cheito in charge. Since the new regime took over, total RBI Club dues have shrunk by more than half, and I believe the number of "homerun level" donors has gone down from 10 to 3. They no longer proactively reach out to baseball supporters and they're certainly nowhere near as accessible.

BTW, with Cheito in his new job and Berkman now coaching across town, there's two openings on the RBI Club Board. I hope they fill them with strong Rice baseball supporters who are NOT former players (as the composition of the Board is currently far too heavily weighted toward former players, IMO).

PICK ME lol

OH... my FAVORITE part about the press conference??

The Jersey he was given was the OE R pinstripe.... well that, plus seeing how excited (father) Cheo was... one of the last to leave and smiling and waving to everyone. He was SOOOOOOO proud.

Another post-presser interview with Cheito-- the best quote: "“That’s the goal (to) be the last standing (in Omaha) and plant that Old English R in the middle of the mound to celebrate,” @cruz22 says....

https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/14...1278368770

(06-16-2021 10:02 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(06-15-2021 06:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Interesting that Cheito focused on pitching in his presser, but he never did say what his philosophy was (though he did insinuate it was more MLB approach than college approach).

A little disappointed no one asked questions regarding use of analytics or his priorities in selecting his coaching staff.

The parts I noticed (and apologize for not answering on facebook... too long for my tiny phone keyboard) were this and his focus on player development, getting players to the pros, getting degrees for kids who go to the pros, embracing pro-style language etc etc... It was all about the intention of targeting kids who would otherwise go to the minors quickly... imo.

He also spoke about doing better IMMEDIATELY with the players already on the roster, especially pitchers... which I thought was ballsy and loved.

The final thing I noticed was that we didn't just hire him... we got his MOM (and father and brothers and sons and sisters and daughter etc) This is a Rice family (even his SMU daughter)... forge your own path, but share the same values. If he recruits kids like that, both from current rice families (Blake Fox etc) AND he starts NEW legacies (Gritman Jr just as an example).. Rice will be back to long strings of trips to the regionals and Omaha (as he noted).

I’ll admit my major bias toward the Cruz family, but it’s not without reason. When has there ever been a baseball family so plugged in and connected with a college baseball program?

I have these memories… In the lobby of the Hilton hotel after the 14-2 win over Stanford, I remember spraying cheap champagne all over Cheo while he did the same to me, both of us laughing crazily, while Zoraida stood by, hands on hips and shaking her head but with a big smile on her face. I remember a while later that night at the nightclub Pep Rally, Enrique hands me this giant cigar he’s been puffing on. “Here, Mr. Ricefootballnet, have a puff.” I remember chitchatting with Cheito’s granddad during an Owl game, standing on the concourse at Reckling. Don’t remember which of the boys were playing, but grandpa was chattering away to him telling him where to align and what he was doing wrong. Cheito’s grandpa might’ve been the best baseball mind of them all; he knew his stuff.

Can’t help but be happy over this course of events.

Here's a nice 2 1/2 minute video summary of yesterday's festivities...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucihiuh2P1I