(12-02-2018 08:38 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:11 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  So are we happy now with Bragga’s recruiting and not retaining some of the previous staff’s commits? Also looking like he has really gotten buy in from former players if you look at the list of RBI board. Thet’s a big change and a good one. One thing that hasn’t been talked about is whether Bragga is heavy on analytics. JK had said the next coach would have to be more analytics oriented and certainly Lance’s bid emphasized it.

Tiki, there's no question that Coach Bragga and the athletic department are focused on increasing the involvement and engagement of former players, and I think stacking the RBI Club board with former players (12 of the 15 members) is a reflection of that. Whether they ultimately get that buy in, with more former players showing up at games and contributing $$$s to the program remains to be seen. Their support has been lacking in the recent past and not for lack of trying by those running the RBI Club. Personally, I think the Board is way over-represented by former players, and at the expense of the alumni who have been supporting the program for the past 20+ years.

As for recruiting, Bragga and Barton have done a great job on the 2020 class (2021 Freshmen). The problem is going to be next year's incoming class. We really need to find several quality JUCOs-- both in the field and on the mound-- if we're going to be at all competitive in the 2020 season.

The baseball recruiting process wraps up so ridiculously early that I don’t think we can put too much heat on Barton and Bragga for 2020. That said, Barton does a rep for being a very well connected in the JuCo circuit and he did a great job with that LA Tech staff last year which was full of JuCo guys so I’ll cross my fingers and trust him.

(12-02-2018 11:25 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:11 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  So are we happy now with Bragga’s recruiting and not retaining some of the previous staff’s commits? Also looking like he has really gotten buy in from former players if you look at the list of RBI board. Thet’s a big change and a good one. One thing that hasn’t been talked about is whether Bragga is heavy on analytics. JK had said the next coach would have to be more analytics oriented and certainly Lance’s bid emphasized it.

I definitely know they've been advertising around campus that they're looking for a bunch of students to help out with analytics. I don't know if that means there will be as big of a focus as there is at other schools, but it's a refreshing change. Back when a couple other students and I approached the previous staff offering to help out, I think we almost got laughed out of the office.

https://twitter.com/643charts/status/106...83744?s=21

(12-02-2018 05:03 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 11:25 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:11 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  So are we happy now with Bragga’s recruiting and not retaining some of the previous staff’s commits? Also looking like he has really gotten buy in from former players if you look at the list of RBI board. Thet’s a big change and a good one. One thing that hasn’t been talked about is whether Bragga is heavy on analytics. JK had said the next coach would have to be more analytics oriented and certainly Lance’s bid emphasized it.

I definitely know they've been advertising around campus that they're looking for a bunch of students to help out with analytics. I don't know if that means there will be as big of a focus as there is at other schools, but it's a refreshing change. Back when a couple other students and I approached the previous staff offering to help out, I think we almost got laughed out of the office.

https://twitter.com/643charts/status/106...83744?s=21

Excellent.

Who is on the new RBI board? And who selects the board? Is it voted on by the general membership or appointed?

(12-03-2018 08:50 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Who is on the new RBI board? And who selects the board? Is it voted on by the general membership or appointed?

Mike Ley Wilson '96 was named the President of the "new" RBI Club; my guess is he was selected by the Athletic Department. The remainder of the 15-member board (which includes 11 former players) were selected by Mike Wilson (as it includes 4 other members from his 1995 - '96 team) and the athletic department. Members include Berkman, Cruz Jr, Austin Davis, Kenny Baugh, Matthew Reckling and Joe Savery. Oddly, Savery, Davis and Reckling are the only 3 among the 11 former players who played while the RBI Club was in existence. Non-player alums named to the Board include Sten Gustufson, RJ Nitsche and Kim McDonald Koehn. I believe Austin Davis is the only previous Board member asked to remain on the Board.

The e-mail we all just received, which was the first communication we have received since Sarah Longpre (the former President) sent her resignation letter (forced out) back in August, was clearly written by the Athletic Department. The annual baseball banquet, usually held during Homecoming week, and was an opportunity to meet the players and coaches, was not held this year. It would appear that the "new" RBI Club is being run by the Athletic Department and not the baseball program. Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

(12-03-2018 09:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 08:50 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Who is on the new RBI board? And who selects the board? Is it voted on by the general membership or appointed?

Mike Ley Wilson '96 was named the President of the "new" RBI Club; my guess is he was selected by the Athletic Department. The remainder of the 15-member board (which includes 11 former players) were selected by Mike Wilson (as it includes 4 other members from his 1995 - '96 team) and the athletic department. Members include Berkman, Cruz Jr, Austin Davis, Kenny Baugh, Matthew Reckling and Joe Savery. Oddly, Savery, Davis and Reckling are the only 3 among the 11 former players who played while the RBI Club was in existence. Non-player alums named to the Board include Sten Gustufson, RJ Nitsche and Kim McDonald Koehn. I believe Austin Davis is the only previous Board member asked to remain on the Board.



The e-mail we all just received, which was the first communication we have received since Sarah Longpre (the former President) sent her resignation letter (forced out) back in August, was clearly written by the Athletic Department. The annual baseball banquet, usually held during Homecoming week, and was an opportunity to meet the players and coaches, was not held this year. It would appear that the "new" RBI Club is being run by the Athletic Department and not the baseball program. Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

How was the Athletic Department able to force these changes? I thought the RBI Club was independent of Rice administrative control.

(12-03-2018 09:35 AM)ranfin Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 08:50 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Who is on the new RBI board? And who selects the board? Is it voted on by the general membership or appointed?

Mike Ley Wilson '96 was named the President of the "new" RBI Club; my guess is he was selected by the Athletic Department. The remainder of the 15-member board (which includes 11 former players) were selected by Mike Wilson (as it includes 4 other members from his 1995 - '96 team) and the athletic department. Members include Berkman, Cruz Jr, Austin Davis, Kenny Baugh, Matthew Reckling and Joe Savery. Oddly, Savery, Davis and Reckling are the only 3 among the 11 former players who played while the RBI Club was in existence. Non-player alums named to the Board include Sten Gustufson, RJ Nitsche and Kim McDonald Koehn. I believe Austin Davis is the only previous Board member asked to remain on the Board.



The e-mail we all just received, which was the first communication we have received since Sarah Longpre (the former President) sent her resignation letter (forced out) back in August, was clearly written by the Athletic Department. The annual baseball banquet, usually held during Homecoming week, and was an opportunity to meet the players and coaches, was not held this year. It would appear that the "new" RBI Club is being run by the Athletic Department and not the baseball program. Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

How was the Athletic Department able to force these changes? I thought the RBI Club was independent of Rice administrative control.

??? When was any of the sports-specific clubs independent of athletic department oversight? While all RBI Club spending (as well as that of the baseball endowment, for that matter) is theoretically under the direction and approval of the head coach, the AD has to be in concurrence. There has long been tension between the "old" RBI Club and the top of the Athletic Department, largely because the club refused to use Club funds to be spent on normal operating expenses and, consequently, forced the athletic department to increase the annual budget. (Previous to 2012, the RBI Club funds were used to cover equipment and other normal operating expenses, despite a charter that clearly stated that funds were to be used for player experience-enhancing needs and activities.)

I wish Bragga all the best.

But I'm really not happy with how these changes have come about.

(12-03-2018 09:44 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:35 AM)ranfin Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 08:50 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Who is on the new RBI board? And who selects the board? Is it voted on by the general membership or appointed?

Mike Ley Wilson '96 was named the President of the "new" RBI Club; my guess is he was selected by the Athletic Department. The remainder of the 15-member board (which includes 11 former players) were selected by Mike Wilson (as it includes 4 other members from his 1995 - '96 team) and the athletic department. Members include Berkman, Cruz Jr, Austin Davis, Kenny Baugh, Matthew Reckling and Joe Savery. Oddly, Savery, Davis and Reckling are the only 3 among the 11 former players who played while the RBI Club was in existence. Non-player alums named to the Board include Sten Gustufson, RJ Nitsche and Kim McDonald Koehn. I believe Austin Davis is the only previous Board member asked to remain on the Board.



The e-mail we all just received, which was the first communication we have received since Sarah Longpre (the former President) sent her resignation letter (forced out) back in August, was clearly written by the Athletic Department. The annual baseball banquet, usually held during Homecoming week, and was an opportunity to meet the players and coaches, was not held this year. It would appear that the "new" RBI Club is being run by the Athletic Department and not the baseball program. Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

How was the Athletic Department able to force these changes? I thought the RBI Club was independent of Rice administrative control.

??? When was any of the sports-specific clubs independent of athletic department oversight? While all RBI Club spending (as well as that of the baseball endowment, for that matter) is theoretically under the direction and approval of the head coach, the AD has to be in concurrence. There has long been tension between the "old" RBI Club and the top of the Athletic Department, largely because the club refused to use Club funds to be spent on normal operating expenses and, consequently, forced the athletic department to increase the annual budget. (Previous to 2012, the RBI Club funds were used to cover equipment and other normal operating expenses, despite a charter that clearly stated that funds were to be used for player experience-enhancing needs and activities.)

If the administration could not force the RBI Club to spend money in the way it wanted, the RBI Club would appear to be independent of Rice administrative control.

(12-03-2018 10:00 AM)ranfin Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:44 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:35 AM)ranfin Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 08:50 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Who is on the new RBI board? And who selects the board? Is it voted on by the general membership or appointed?

Mike Ley Wilson '96 was named the President of the "new" RBI Club; my guess is he was selected by the Athletic Department. The remainder of the 15-member board (which includes 11 former players) were selected by Mike Wilson (as it includes 4 other members from his 1995 - '96 team) and the athletic department. Members include Berkman, Cruz Jr, Austin Davis, Kenny Baugh, Matthew Reckling and Joe Savery. Oddly, Savery, Davis and Reckling are the only 3 among the 11 former players who played while the RBI Club was in existence. Non-player alums named to the Board include Sten Gustufson, RJ Nitsche and Kim McDonald Koehn. I believe Austin Davis is the only previous Board member asked to remain on the Board.



The e-mail we all just received, which was the first communication we have received since Sarah Longpre (the former President) sent her resignation letter (forced out) back in August, was clearly written by the Athletic Department. The annual baseball banquet, usually held during Homecoming week, and was an opportunity to meet the players and coaches, was not held this year. It would appear that the "new" RBI Club is being run by the Athletic Department and not the baseball program. Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

How was the Athletic Department able to force these changes? I thought the RBI Club was independent of Rice administrative control.

??? When was any of the sports-specific clubs independent of athletic department oversight? While all RBI Club spending (as well as that of the baseball endowment, for that matter) is theoretically under the direction and approval of the head coach, the AD has to be in concurrence. There has long been tension between the "old" RBI Club and the top of the Athletic Department, largely because the club refused to use Club funds to be spent on normal operating expenses and, consequently, forced the athletic department to increase the annual budget. (Previous to 2012, the RBI Club funds were used to cover equipment and other normal operating expenses, despite a charter that clearly stated that funds were to be used for player experience-enhancing needs and activities.)

If the administration could not force the RBI Club to spend money in the way it wanted, the RBI Club would appear to be independent of Rice administrative control.

Again, the reason the AD could not dictate RBI Club spending is because of the charter which clearly states how funds are to be used. People made gifts based on that knowledge. However, the AD has always had oversight and veto power over club expenditures. Afterall, the baseball program falls under the AD, no? It's one of the reason why we were so careful and meticulous in the precise wording of the baseball endowment-- and it required a series of back and forth negotiations with the AD-- such that spending had to be on items "over and above" normal annual operating budget expenditures, and that though the AD had to be in concurrence with expenditures, spending was under the direction of the head coach.

(12-03-2018 10:08 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 10:00 AM)ranfin Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:44 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:35 AM)ranfin Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Mike Ley Wilson '96 was named the President of the "new" RBI Club; my guess is he was selected by the Athletic Department. The remainder of the 15-member board (which includes 11 former players) were selected by Mike Wilson (as it includes 4 other members from his 1995 - '96 team) and the athletic department. Members include Berkman, Cruz Jr, Austin Davis, Kenny Baugh, Matthew Reckling and Joe Savery. Oddly, Savery, Davis and Reckling are the only 3 among the 11 former players who played while the RBI Club was in existence. Non-player alums named to the Board include Sten Gustufson, RJ Nitsche and Kim McDonald Koehn. I believe Austin Davis is the only previous Board member asked to remain on the Board.



The e-mail we all just received, which was the first communication we have received since Sarah Longpre (the former President) sent her resignation letter (forced out) back in August, was clearly written by the Athletic Department. The annual baseball banquet, usually held during Homecoming week, and was an opportunity to meet the players and coaches, was not held this year. It would appear that the "new" RBI Club is being run by the Athletic Department and not the baseball program. Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

How was the Athletic Department able to force these changes? I thought the RBI Club was independent of Rice administrative control.

??? When was any of the sports-specific clubs independent of athletic department oversight? While all RBI Club spending (as well as that of the baseball endowment, for that matter) is theoretically under the direction and approval of the head coach, the AD has to be in concurrence. There has long been tension between the "old" RBI Club and the top of the Athletic Department, largely because the club refused to use Club funds to be spent on normal operating expenses and, consequently, forced the athletic department to increase the annual budget. (Previous to 2012, the RBI Club funds were used to cover equipment and other normal operating expenses, despite a charter that clearly stated that funds were to be used for player experience-enhancing needs and activities.)

If the administration could not force the RBI Club to spend money in the way it wanted, the RBI Club would appear to be independent of Rice administrative control.

Again, the reason the AD could not dictate RBI Club spending is because of the charter which clearly states how funds are to be used. People made gifts based on that knowledge. However, the AD has always had oversight and veto power over club expenditures. Afterall, the baseball program falls under the AD, no? It's one of the reason why we were so careful and meticulous in the precise wording of the baseball endowment-- and it required a series of back and forth negotiations with the AD-- such that spending had to be on items "over and above" normal annual operating budget expenditures, and that though the AD had to be in concurrence with expenditures, spending was under the direction of the head coach.

Does the charter allow the AD to appoint the Board?

(12-03-2018 09:05 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  ...
Strange given the RBI Club was far and away the most successful of the sports-specific clubs, and provided great access to the team.

And baseball far and away the most successful of the sports

(12-02-2018 05:03 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 11:25 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  

(12-02-2018 08:11 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  So are we happy now with Bragga’s recruiting and not retaining some of the previous staff’s commits? Also looking like he has really gotten buy in from former players if you look at the list of RBI board. Thet’s a big change and a good one. One thing that hasn’t been talked about is whether Bragga is heavy on analytics. JK had said the next coach would have to be more analytics oriented and certainly Lance’s bid emphasized it.

I definitely know they've been advertising around campus that they're looking for a bunch of students to help out with analytics. I don't know if that means there will be as big of a focus as there is at other schools, but it's a refreshing change. Back when a couple other students and I approached the previous staff offering to help out, I think we almost got laughed out of the office.

https://twitter.com/643charts/status/106...83744?s=21

Perhaps of interest to any students thinking of a career in baseball analytics.

https://twitter.com/sabr/status/1070730085827731456

The latest 2020 recruit...

Quote:Cullen Hannigan
‏@cullen_hannigan
23m23 minutes ago
More
I am honored to announce that I will be continuing my education and baseball career at Rice University! @RiceBaseball

(12-15-2018 08:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The latest 2020 recruit...

Quote:Cullen Hannigan
‏@cullen_hannigan
23m23 minutes ago
More
I am honored to announce that I will be continuing my education and baseball career at Rice University! @RiceBaseball

He's actually a 2019 guy.

"Cullen Hannigan is a 2019 C/3B with a 5-9 175 lb. frame from Houston, TX who attends Stratford. Compact frame with a solid build. Projects for additional strength with continued physical maturity. Ran a 7.29 sixty-yard dash. Primary catcher with a balanced, athletic stance while receiving. Gains ground while working of out crouch with fundamental footwork. Gets baseball out quickly with a smooth arm stroke. Created accurate on line carry topping at 75 miles per hour, best workout pop time of 1.91. Right handed hitter with an upright, even stance. Creates coil with hands at load and works to contact with linear lower half actions. Inside path to contact with a naturally leveraged barrel plane through extension. Flashed some bat speed with strength at contact and flashed the ability to turn barrel and work to pull side with good jump off the barrel. Very good student as well." From PG

(12-15-2018 09:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 08:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The latest 2020 recruit...

Quote:Cullen Hannigan
‏@cullen_hannigan
23m23 minutes ago
More
I am honored to announce that I will be continuing my education and baseball career at Rice University! @RiceBaseball

He's actually a 2019 guy.

"Cullen Hannigan is a 2019 C/3B with a 5-9 175 lb. frame from Houston, TX who attends Stratford. Compact frame with a solid build. Projects for additional strength with continued physical maturity. Ran a 7.29 sixty-yard dash. Primary catcher with a balanced, athletic stance while receiving. Gains ground while working of out crouch with fundamental footwork. Gets baseball out quickly with a smooth arm stroke. Created accurate on line carry topping at 75 miles per hour, best workout pop time of 1.91. Right handed hitter with an upright, even stance. Creates coil with hands at load and works to contact with linear lower half actions. Inside path to contact with a naturally leveraged barrel plane through extension. Flashed some bat speed with strength at contact and flashed the ability to turn barrel and work to pull side with good jump off the barrel. Very good student as well." From PG

Thanks.

(12-15-2018 09:04 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 09:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 08:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The latest 2020 recruit...

Quote:Cullen Hannigan
‏@cullen_hannigan
23m23 minutes ago
More
I am honored to announce that I will be continuing my education and baseball career at Rice University! @RiceBaseball

He's actually a 2019 guy.

"Cullen Hannigan is a 2019 C/3B with a 5-9 175 lb. frame from Houston, TX who attends Stratford. Compact frame with a solid build. Projects for additional strength with continued physical maturity. Ran a 7.29 sixty-yard dash. Primary catcher with a balanced, athletic stance while receiving. Gains ground while working of out crouch with fundamental footwork. Gets baseball out quickly with a smooth arm stroke. Created accurate on line carry topping at 75 miles per hour, best workout pop time of 1.91. Right handed hitter with an upright, even stance. Creates coil with hands at load and works to contact with linear lower half actions. Inside path to contact with a naturally leveraged barrel plane through extension. Flashed some bat speed with strength at contact and flashed the ability to turn barrel and work to pull side with good jump off the barrel. Very good student as well." From PG

Thanks.

Given that he isn’t a pitcher, I continue to think we’re going to go in JuCo direction for that.

(12-15-2018 09:12 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 09:04 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 09:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 08:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The latest 2020 recruit...

Quote:Cullen Hannigan
‏@cullen_hannigan
23m23 minutes ago
More
I am honored to announce that I will be continuing my education and baseball career at Rice University! @RiceBaseball

He's actually a 2019 guy.

"Cullen Hannigan is a 2019 C/3B with a 5-9 175 lb. frame from Houston, TX who attends Stratford. Compact frame with a solid build. Projects for additional strength with continued physical maturity. Ran a 7.29 sixty-yard dash. Primary catcher with a balanced, athletic stance while receiving. Gains ground while working of out crouch with fundamental footwork. Gets baseball out quickly with a smooth arm stroke. Created accurate on line carry topping at 75 miles per hour, best workout pop time of 1.91. Right handed hitter with an upright, even stance. Creates coil with hands at load and works to contact with linear lower half actions. Inside path to contact with a naturally leveraged barrel plane through extension. Flashed some bat speed with strength at contact and flashed the ability to turn barrel and work to pull side with good jump off the barrel. Very good student as well." From PG

Thanks.

Given that he isn’t a pitcher, I continue to think we’re going to go in JuCo direction for that.

As I've posted previously, I heard that Bragga and Barton are looking for a JUCO ace (Friday starter) and power hitting OFer for the 2019 incoming class.

(12-15-2018 09:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 09:12 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 09:04 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 09:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(12-15-2018 08:53 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The latest 2020 recruit...

He's actually a 2019 guy.

"Cullen Hannigan is a 2019 C/3B with a 5-9 175 lb. frame from Houston, TX who attends Stratford. Compact frame with a solid build. Projects for additional strength with continued physical maturity. Ran a 7.29 sixty-yard dash. Primary catcher with a balanced, athletic stance while receiving. Gains ground while working of out crouch with fundamental footwork. Gets baseball out quickly with a smooth arm stroke. Created accurate on line carry topping at 75 miles per hour, best workout pop time of 1.91. Right handed hitter with an upright, even stance. Creates coil with hands at load and works to contact with linear lower half actions. Inside path to contact with a naturally leveraged barrel plane through extension. Flashed some bat speed with strength at contact and flashed the ability to turn barrel and work to pull side with good jump off the barrel. Very good student as well." From PG

Thanks.

Given that he isn’t a pitcher, I continue to think we’re going to go in JuCo direction for that.

As I've posted previously, I heard that Bragga and Barton are looking for a JUCO ace (Friday starter) and power hitting OFer for the 2019 incoming class.

Maybe this is personal bias but I’m of opinion that we’re more likely to find the latter than the former at the JuCo level.

Corey Barton just posted his dancing owl tweet signifying a new commit. No idea who it is yet. Hopefully, a JUCO pitcher or OFer for next year's class.