(06-22-2021 09:57 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-22-2021 09:49 AM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-19-2021 04:29 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(06-19-2021 03:56 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  I was curious why was Bragga not successful? Was it poor communication with the players, coaching technique at this level, poor recruiting, etc.?

I’m no expert, but the first thing that jumps out for me is really poor management of the pitching staff. Also, his teams never seemed to have any spark. To me they seemed to play like they didn’t expect to win. JMO

I agree with this as well. Knowing when to get guys up and ready and when to pull the trigger on the starter/reliever currently in the game was always a head scratcher. I do believe that the bull pen guys should have been able to "hang out" in the BP around the 4th-5th inning at minimum and have some idea who is "on deck" should the starter falter so they could start whatever prep they need to be ready to go if called on vs running down there from the dugout (which is all I ever saw at games I attended) and rushing to get hot and likely not being fully ready when needed when the "you know what" hit the fan. Bottom line it was just a bad fit combined with some bad circumstances that were out of Bragga's control.

On another note, any word on potential pitching coaches?

The players loved Bragga, but aside from the much discussed woeful mismanagement of the pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, his practices and intrasquads were NOT intense and game-like. I also didn't understand some of his lineup and batting order logic. Just one example-- Antonio Cruz crushes left-handed pitching, but he was rarely inserted into the lineup when an opposing southpaw was starting.

As for the new coaching staff, I believe Paul Janish is not only being retained, but promoted to Assistant Head Coach and primary recruiting coordinator. Pitching coach should be named this week so long as Cheito gets the guy he wants. Wonder who he's going to bring in as the volunteer assistant.

Coach Janish is being retained. I believe that has been confirmed somewhere. I really really love that Jose is keeping him. I know current and former players loved playing for him and he brings a wealth of experience to the team. Also, as you have mentioned before, our fielding was greatly improved over the last few seasons and that is directly attributable to the work Janish did with the guys. Great first move by Jose.

(06-22-2021 09:57 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The players loved Bragga, but aside from the much discussed woeful mismanagement of the pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, his practices and intrasquads were NOT intense and game-like.

Cheito specifically mentioned OG's intense practices and the benefit of that... preparing kids for game day, performing under pressure and the pros... He alluded to the idea that his specific application of that intensity might be different as the kids are different... but that he intended to return to that intensity.

Bragga seems like a great guy... but he seemed to lack the urgency and intensity required of a top 10 program.

Cory Barton lands at Mercer as their new pitching coach.

Will Cruz Jr be meeting with the Owl Club members and taking questions?

(06-24-2021 10:59 AM)Texasowl Wrote:  Will Cruz Jr be meeting with the Owl Club members and taking questions?

I think Mike Melendez should set up the next Between The Hedges with Jose. Coach Edmonds is doing one right now as I type.

Great. Looking forward of meeting both coaches. What is Coach Edmonds and the Owl Club planning on doong? I hope this will not be virtual discussion.

(06-24-2021 11:06 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 10:59 AM)Texasowl Wrote:  Will Cruz Jr be meeting with the Owl Club members and taking questions?

I think Mike Melendez should set up the next Between The Hedges with Jose. Coach Edmonds is doing one right now as I type.

Would love a "report" on what Edmonds says from anybody in attendance.

(06-24-2021 01:49 PM)elw4796 Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 11:06 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-24-2021 10:59 AM)Texasowl Wrote:  Will Cruz Jr be meeting with the Owl Club members and taking questions?

I think Mike Melendez should set up the next Between The Hedges with Jose. Coach Edmonds is doing one right now as I type.

Would love a "report" on what Edmonds says from anybody in attendance.

It was recorded, so I assume it will be posted shortly. I was VERY disappointed. They had solicited questions from those of us who had registered, and then proceeded not to ask any of them. It was good to meet the new coach, but Mike asked only autobiographical or softball questions. Most of this we knew from the announcement on her hiring, and the one or two interviews she's already given.
Nothing about the elephant in the room-- namely that we currently have a severely depleted roster, having lost four of our five starters-- including our four best defenders, our two best ball handlers and three of our leading scorers....and that the one transfer we have signed so far appears to be little more than a role player; not a team leader.

New pitching coach hired. Colter Bostick founder of Maximized Baseball from San Antonio. Any of you analytics geeks, like myself, are going to love this hire. Do some research and you will see what I'm talking about. The pitching staff just got better today.

Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

(06-28-2021 02:24 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

Pretty sure he is the 2nd full time coach and will be our pitching coach...

(06-28-2021 02:24 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

Being reported as pitching coach. I'll say it again...this is a great hire. Definitely outside the box but what has "inside the box" got us lately. Shake it up with new ideas and approach. Cruz knows what he is doing as he has seen what works at the next level and how pro ball is developing pitchers. Cruz is bringing that to the college game here at Rice as others (Vandy, Wake Forest, UNC et. al) are doing. Rice has been behind on innovative coaching especially at the pitching position. Bostick speaks the language these kids are being exposed to and I for one am excited about this choice. Just because anyone on this board has never heard of him does not make him the wrong choice. In fact that's a better reason to like the choice. IMO of course.

(06-28-2021 02:08 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  New pitching coach hired. Colter Bostick founder of Maximized Baseball from San Antonio. Any of you analytics geeks, like myself, are going to love this hire. Do some research and you will see what I'm talking about. The pitching staff just got better today.

Has anyone read his self-published fiction thriller, Justified Sedition?

(06-28-2021 02:57 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-28-2021 02:24 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

Being reported as pitching coach. I'll say it again...this is a great hire. Definitely outside the box but what has "inside the box" got us lately. Shake it up with new ideas and approach. Cruz knows what he is doing as he has seen what works at the next level and how pro ball is developing pitchers. Cruz is bringing that to the college game here at Rice as others (Vandy, Wake Forest, UNC et. al) are doing. Rice has been behind on innovative coaching especially at the pitching position. Bostick speaks the language these kids are being exposed to and I for one am excited about this choice. Just because anyone on this board has never heard of him does not make him the wrong choice. In fact that's a better reason to like the choice. IMO of course.

No recruiting experience is a red flag especially when our head coach has never recruited and Janish hasn’t exactly been a rainmaker.

(06-28-2021 03:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(06-28-2021 02:57 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-28-2021 02:24 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

Being reported as pitching coach. I'll say it again...this is a great hire. Definitely outside the box but what has "inside the box" got us lately. Shake it up with new ideas and approach. Cruz knows what he is doing as he has seen what works at the next level and how pro ball is developing pitchers. Cruz is bringing that to the college game here at Rice as others (Vandy, Wake Forest, UNC et. al) are doing. Rice has been behind on innovative coaching especially at the pitching position. Bostick speaks the language these kids are being exposed to and I for one am excited about this choice. Just because anyone on this board has never heard of him does not make him the wrong choice. In fact that's a better reason to like the choice. IMO of course.

No recruiting experience is a red flag especially when our head coach has never recruited and Janish hasn’t exactly been a rainmaker.

Again, do a little research. He is very tied into the HS baseball scene in Texas both at the HS and select levels (which is where it starts). Regarding Janish, we do not know where final decisions were made in the prior administration (i.e. Bragga) so lets not lay all the recruiting missteps on Janish. Janish, I believe, will have a larger voice in the decision making process on recruits with Cruz than he may have had with Bragga.

(06-28-2021 03:00 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(06-28-2021 02:08 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  New pitching coach hired. Colter Bostick founder of Maximized Baseball from San Antonio. Any of you analytics geeks, like myself, are going to love this hire. Do some research and you will see what I'm talking about. The pitching staff just got better today.

Has anyone read his self-published fiction thriller, Justified Sedition?

As long as it's more Vince Flynn than what I'm imagining, then we'll be fine. Somebody should read up and give us a nice book report.

(06-28-2021 02:08 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  New pitching coach hired. Colter Bostick founder of Maximized Baseball from San Antonio. Any of you analytics geeks, like myself, are going to love this hire. Do some research and you will see what I'm talking about. The pitching staff just got better today.

I understand he was recommended by both AJ Hinch and Brett Strom. He's going to set up the bio lab (ala Vandy, Wake and Arkansas) in the dungeon.

(06-28-2021 02:57 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-28-2021 02:24 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

Being reported as pitching coach. I'll say it again...this is a great hire. Definitely outside the box but what has "inside the box" got us lately. Shake it up with new ideas and approach. Cruz knows what he is doing as he has seen what works at the next level and how pro ball is developing pitchers. Cruz is bringing that to the college game here at Rice as others (Vandy, Wake Forest, UNC et. al) are doing. Rice has been behind on innovative coaching especially at the pitching position. Bostick speaks the language these kids are being exposed to and I for one am excited about this choice. Just because anyone on this board has never heard of him does not make him the wrong choice. In fact that's a better reason to like the choice. IMO of course.

Non-traditional for a college pitching coach, but one of the best around with regards to pitching analytics and developing pitchers. He also has experience as a recruiter and scout. Love the hire. Again, Janish is the Assistant Head Coach and recruiting coordinator, though Cheito will be VERY heavily involved....and your kidding yourselves if you don't think Bostick will not attract some of the top arms around.

Reading through his LinkedIn profile and his comments in the activity section, he sounds like exactly the kind of cerebral, cutting-edge-technology-using coach we want at Rice who should be able to attract like-minded players. Welcome to Rice Coach Bostick!

I like the fact he graduated magna *** laude in communications ... you can't coach if you can't communicate.

I particularly liked this post:

"Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn said, “Hitting is Timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.” Short, succinct, and almost spot on. Hitting is the hardest skill to perfect, truly, because the variables involved are never the same. The art of pitching is not in the ability to upset the timing of the hitter, it is to control it. The only advantage that a hitter has is a pitcher who isn’t paying attention."

Looking forward to Owl pitchers who pay attention!

(06-28-2021 02:57 PM)Musicowl1965 Wrote:  

(06-28-2021 02:24 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is he joining as the 2nd “full-time” coach or is he going to be the volunteer assistant?

Not a fan of the hire if he’s our 2nd assistant but I think it has a lot of potential if he’s the volunteer.

Being reported as pitching coach. I'll say it again...this is a great hire. Definitely outside the box but what has "inside the box" got us lately. Shake it up with new ideas and approach. Cruz knows what he is doing as he has seen what works at the next level and how pro ball is developing pitchers. Cruz is bringing that to the college game here at Rice as others (Vandy, Wake Forest, UNC et. al) are doing. Rice has been behind on innovative coaching especially at the pitching position. Bostick speaks the language these kids are being exposed to and I for one am excited about this choice. Just because anyone on this board has never heard of him does not make him the wrong choice. In fact that's a better reason to like the choice. IMO of course.

I like the outside the box thinking and energy this could bring to the entire program. If we're no longer cutting edge on facilities, we need to be cutting edge on approach/implementation to attract up and coming stars.