Wow. I miss the start of the game and Rice gets down 5-1. Good thing you get 27 outs not 9. Also all of these runs were charged to the freshman? I am guessing he didn't start the game with bases loaded today...Hopefully the offense will bail him out later in the game.

We're down 4 runs and need baserunners, so why is everyone first pitch swinging?

Great, a 4 pitch inning for ECU. Maybe we can give him a 3-pitch inning next. We do realize this is a guy who threw 100 pitches Tuesday night-- just over 4 days ago? Why in the world are we not working his pitch count today?

(04-07-2013 09:42 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We're down 4 runs and need baserunners, so why is everyone first pitch swinging?

Great, a 4 pitch inning for ECU. Maybe we can give him a 3-pitch inning next. We do realize this is a guy who threw 100 pitches Tuesday night-- just over 4 days ago? Why in the world are we not working his pitch count today?

Over eager and seeing what look like fat pitches. Probably how this guy gets it done for ECU.

(04-07-2013 09:42 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We're down 4 runs and need baserunners, so why is everyone first pitch swinging?

There was an Owl who went on to play in the majors. The was/is a fan favorite at Reckling. He is/was considered one of the best Owl players ever by some. He openly told people why he had low walk totals and didn't see many pitches each at bat. I am paraphrasing, "I swing at the first fastball I see. I don't want to get down in the count where I HAVE to hit a curveball." And this guy made the majors. Which of the current hitters will make the majors? Just Sayin'...

The ECU announcer just said something about a partial score... Marshall 0...

Rat flies out to center. I notice it seems he just squared it up and did not try to pull. He is having a good weekend swinging the stick, just doesn't have anything to show for it in this at bat.

Ewing fouls out to short left. The shortstop made a great play in a crowd of yellow shirts.

Teykl goes quietly for the third out.

(04-07-2013 09:46 AM)elf owl Wrote:  

(04-07-2013 09:42 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We're down 4 runs and need baserunners, so why is everyone first pitch swinging?

Great, a 4 pitch inning for ECU. Maybe we can give him a 3-pitch inning next. We do realize this is a guy who threw 100 pitches Tuesday night-- just over 4 days ago? Why in the world are we not working his pitch count today?

Over eager and seeing what look like fat pitches. Probably how this guy gets it done for ECU.

Sorry, no excuse. The game plan going into today's game HAD to be to work the pitch count on this guy as much as possible. Not only did he throw 100 pitches 4 days ago, but one of their only two quality relievers has pitched 6 innings the past two games and is almost assuredly unavailable. First pitch swinging is just playing into ECU's hands. I thought we went to Rice?

Houston tied 0-0 in the second.

(04-07-2013 09:54 AM)13thOwl Wrote:  Rat flies out to center. I notice it seems he just squared it up and did not try to pull. He is having a good weekend swinging the stick, just doesn't have anything to show for it in this at bat.

Ewing fouls out to short left. The shortstop made a great play in a crowd of yellow shirts.

Teykl goes quietly for the third out.

Yes, Rat is the one guy who has quality ABs consistently this weekend. Yesterday, he got on base 4 times.

If we keep making outs early in the count this game is going to be over quickly.

(04-07-2013 09:47 AM)13thOwl Wrote:  

(04-07-2013 09:42 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We're down 4 runs and need baserunners, so why is everyone first pitch swinging?

There was an Owl who went on to play in the majors. The was/is a fan favorite at Reckling. He is/was considered one of the best Owl players ever by some. He openly told people why he had low walk totals and didn't see many pitches each at bat. I am paraphrasing, "I swing at the first fastball I see. I don't want to get down in the count where I HAVE to hit a curveball." And this guy made the majors. Which of the current hitters will make the majors? Just Sayin'...

There also is a former outstanding Rice pitcher who went on to professional baseball, who told me that it is crucially important, in college and professional baseball, to work the count. Unless you are a major league pitcher, he explained, it is unlikely that the first pitch a batter sees will be the only good one for him in that at-bat. Furthermore, the more pitches, the more likely it is that the starter will bee lifted before it is time to bring in the closer.

(04-07-2013 09:55 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-07-2013 09:46 AM)elf owl Wrote:  

(04-07-2013 09:42 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  We're down 4 runs and need baserunners, so why is everyone first pitch swinging?

Great, a 4 pitch inning for ECU. Maybe we can give him a 3-pitch inning next. We do realize this is a guy who threw 100 pitches Tuesday night-- just over 4 days ago? Why in the world are we not working his pitch count today?

Over eager and seeing what look like fat pitches. Probably how this guy gets it done for ECU.

Sorry, no excuse. The game plan going into today's game HAD to be to work the pitch count on this guy as much as possible. Not only did he throw 100 pitches 4 days ago, but one of their only two quality relievers has pitched 6 innings the past two games and is almost assuredly unavailable. First pitch swinging is just playing into ECU's hands. I thought we went to Rice?

I frankly don't know what the gameplan was today. No one called from the ECU campus to tell me. You might be correct, but I am less than certain.

Byrd beats out an infield chopper.

Stringer lashes on to right. Runners on first and second.

Loaded for Aquino. No outs.

No outs. Ford Goes opposite field with a single (first pitch).

(04-07-2013 09:57 AM)elf owl Wrote:  If we keep making outs early in the count this game is going to be over quickly.

Is there a noon Eastern time travel curfew?

Aquino gets punched out looking. Either a great pitch on the outside corner or the ump expanded the zone...

(04-07-2013 10:03 AM)13thOwl Wrote:  No outs. Ford Goes opposite field with a single (first pitch).

Maybe the strategy is to lull the ECU pitcher into overconfidence that whatever he throws will produce an out?

Single by Cook plates one. Still loaded for Perrott.