Almadenmike
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-04-2021 10:59 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote: Scenic beauty - Tucson wins in as landslide ... unless you really like pine trees, bayous and swamps, and petrochemical plant skylines
vs
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07-04-2021 11:53 AM |
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Tomball Owl
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
My 1st trip to Tucson years ago for a business conference we played golf at the La Paloma resort course. Each foursome had a forecaddy since most of the shots were blind. I asked him what people did for a living in Tucson. He said they were either in the military or some military support related field or they counted their money. Our forecaddy was in the Air Force and worked at the course on his off days.
I found the Tucson area to have stunning natural beauty. The only stunning beauty I found on my many trips to Baton Rouge was my future wife! And she was born in Dallas and grew up in the Chicago suburbs.
(This post was last modified: 07-04-2021 01:03 PM by Tomball Owl.)
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07-04-2021 01:01 PM |
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Musicowl1965
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-04-2021 10:30 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: (07-04-2021 10:03 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-04-2021 09:53 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote: (07-04-2021 09:45 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote: BTW, does anyone know the status of Roel Garcia? He still has another year of eligibility, and with another year of conditioning and working with Bostick, it's conceivable he could regain his former stuff. (Last year his fastball was down 3-5 MPH in velocity from his pre-TJS level.)
does he have enough skill and potential to be MLB draft-able with a better fastball and training?
Pre-TJS definitely. Pre injury he had elite stuff, and simply had to work on his control. He did not appear to be fully healthy last year. Missed a couple starts with arm soreness. Never got his velocity up. Also, he would almost predictably hit the wall after 3 - 4 innings.
Probably depends on whether or not he wants to be at Rice for a 6th year vs. any kind of MLB draft status… 24 y/o’s aren’t going to get drafted high even if with a great season.
Definitely was a draft prospect but with only 20 rds this year and a down velo season I think his most likely route may be as UDFA. He'll have choices where he goes and I'm not sure if UDFA money is limited to 10K this year vs. last. I believe Roel could be a real sleeper for someone willing to take a shot and I think several teams will take that shot with him. He has size and a track record (pre-TJ) and, in the right system, a good development team could really polish him up. Looking forward to seeing what happens.
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07-05-2021 10:42 AM |
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waltgreenberg
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(This post was last modified: 07-07-2021 04:12 PM by waltgreenberg.)
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07-07-2021 03:53 PM |
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Musicowl1965
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
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07-07-2021 04:31 PM |
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waltgreenberg
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
I didn't want to start a separate thread, but some of our Owls are tearing it up in Summer leagues. Bulman is have an absolutely monster Summer leading the Carolina League in AVG, HRs and RBIs. Becker and Garibay are also hitting well. Janac made the Valley League all-star game, and Aaron Fitt included a writeup on him in his top Valley League prospect...
https://d1baseball.com/summer-baseball/p...-league-5/
Quote:• Dillon Janac also saw limited action this past spring, posting a 12.27 ERA in 7.1 innings as a true freshman for Rice, but he’s shown flashes of excellence this summer for the Charlottesville TomSox, striking out 29 in 21.1 innings of work — though he’s also issued 18 walks. Improving his control is obviously paramount, but it’s easy to dream on the lanky, projectable 6-foot-5, 190-pound righthander, who owns a loose arm action. In the all-star game, Janac attacked at 90-92 and bumped 94 from a high slot, with good carry through the zone (spin rate in the 2400s). He also flashed a promising slider at 84 and possibly a cutter at 87, though it might have just been a firmer version of the same pitch.
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07-14-2021 07:40 PM |
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Owl 69/70/75
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-14-2021 07:40 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: https://d1baseball.com/summer-baseball/p...-league-5/
Quote:• Dillon Janac also saw limited action this past spring, posting a 12.27 ERA in 7.1 innings as a true freshman for Rice, but he’s shown flashes of excellence this summer for the Charlottesville TomSox, striking out 29 in 21.1 innings of work — though he’s also issued 18 walks. Improving his control is obviously paramount, but it’s easy to dream on the lanky, projectable 6-foot-5, 190-pound righthander, who owns a loose arm action. In the all-star game, Janac attacked at 90-92 and bumped 94 from a high slot, with good carry through the zone (spin rate in the 2400s). He also flashed a promising slider at 84 and possibly a cutter at 87, though it might have just been a firmer version of the same pitch.
Janac sounds like exactly the kind of pitcher who could benefit from the Cruz/Bostick approach.
(This post was last modified: 07-14-2021 08:08 PM by Owl 69/70/75.)
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07-14-2021 07:58 PM |
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waltgreenberg
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
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07-14-2021 09:35 PM |
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ExcitedOwl18
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
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07-16-2021 01:57 PM |
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franklyconfused
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
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07-16-2021 02:06 PM |
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dragon2owl
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: (07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Matt Bragga's dad, Larry Bragga?
https://riceowls.com/sports/baseball/ros...-bragga/38
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07-16-2021 02:23 PM |
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Tomball Owl
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-16-2021 02:23 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: (07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: (07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Matt Bragga's dad, Larry Bragga?
https://riceowls.com/sports/baseball/ros...-bragga/38
So does Larry Bragga get replaced by Jose (Cheo) Cruz?
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07-16-2021 03:16 PM |
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bobreinhold1
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Not true. At least it's not Larry Bragga.
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07-16-2021 04:00 PM |
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ExcitedOwl18
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
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07-16-2021 04:04 PM |
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waltgreenberg
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: (07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Both LSU and Nebraska (Childress) just hired their own Director of Player Development. Smacks of getting around the limit of 2 paid assistant coaches.
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07-16-2021 04:20 PM |
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bigowlsfan
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-16-2021 04:20 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: (07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Both LSU and Nebraska (Childress) just hired their own Director of Player Development. Smacks of getting around the limit of 2 paid assistant coaches.
I think in the battle of the limited minds at the ncaa thinking up new rules and SEC money figuring out how to get around those rules, I will bet on the SEC money every time.
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07-17-2021 07:29 AM |
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Tomball Owl
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-17-2021 07:29 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote: (07-16-2021 04:20 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: (07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Both LSU and Nebraska (Childress) just hired their own Director of Player Development. Smacks of getting around the limit of 2 paid assistant coaches.
I think in the battle of the limited minds at the ncaa thinking up new rules and SEC money figuring out how to get around those rules, I will bet on the SEC money every time.
Hasn't Rice done exactly the same thing with Larry Bragga's position the last few years? I don't see anything new or special with what LSU, Nebraska or Auburn are doing.
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07-17-2021 12:09 PM |
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waltgreenberg
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-17-2021 12:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote: (07-17-2021 07:29 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote: (07-16-2021 04:20 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: (07-16-2021 01:57 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: Bragga lands at Auburn as “Director of Player Development.”
Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Both LSU and Nebraska (Childress) just hired their own Director of Player Development. Smacks of getting around the limit of 2 paid assistant coaches.
I think in the battle of the limited minds at the ncaa thinking up new rules and SEC money figuring out how to get around those rules, I will bet on the SEC money every time.
Hasn't Rice done exactly the same thing with Larry Bragga's position the last few years? I don't see anything new or special with what LSU, Nebraska or Auburn are doing.
Big difference. Bragga's father was really in the role Daniel Watson filled previously-- Head of Baseball Operations. He was basically Bragga's assistant, and at a very low salary. The guys LSU, Nebraska, Auburn and others are hiring are ex-head coaches, at substantial salaries, and who will almost assuredly be integral parts of the coaching staff. It's circumventing the NCAA's limit on 2 paid assistant coaches (which is admittedly as ridiculous as the 11.7 scholarship limit).
(This post was last modified: 07-17-2021 12:16 PM by waltgreenberg.)
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07-17-2021 12:14 PM |
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Tomball Owl
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-17-2021 12:14 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-17-2021 12:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote: (07-17-2021 07:29 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote: (07-16-2021 04:20 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-16-2021 02:06 PM)franklyconfused Wrote: Do we even have an equivalent position on our staff, or is that one of those "We've got SEC football money and nowhere else to spend it" situations?
Both LSU and Nebraska (Childress) just hired their own Director of Player Development. Smacks of getting around the limit of 2 paid assistant coaches.
I think in the battle of the limited minds at the ncaa thinking up new rules and SEC money figuring out how to get around those rules, I will bet on the SEC money every time.
Hasn't Rice done exactly the same thing with Larry Bragga's position the last few years? I don't see anything new or special with what LSU, Nebraska or Auburn are doing.
Big difference. Bragga's father was really in the role Daniel Watson filled previously-- Head of Baseball Operations. He was basically Bragga's assistant, and at a very low salary. The guys LSU, Nebraska, Auburn and others are hiring are ex-head coaches, at substantial salaries, and who will almost assuredly be integral parts of the coaching staff. It's circumventing the NCAA's limit on 2 paid assistant coaches (which is admittedly as ridiculous as the 11.7 scholarship limit).
Yes, the big difference is those P5 programs are smarter about how they use such positions. Unless there is a rule that says a program can’t hire a former head coach as Director of Player Development, and I seriously doubt there is, then those programs are smarter and more creative than Rice. Nothing preventing Rice from doing the same except Rice being Rice. LSU/Nebraska/Auburn hire former head coaches. Rice hired the head coach’s dad. Whining about the advantages of the P5 gets Rice nowhere.
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07-17-2021 03:34 PM |
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ExcitedOwl18
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RE: Cruz Jr Hired as Next Coach
(07-17-2021 03:34 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote: (07-17-2021 12:14 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: (07-17-2021 12:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote: (07-17-2021 07:29 AM)bigowlsfan Wrote: (07-16-2021 04:20 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: Both LSU and Nebraska (Childress) just hired their own Director of Player Development. Smacks of getting around the limit of 2 paid assistant coaches.
I think in the battle of the limited minds at the ncaa thinking up new rules and SEC money figuring out how to get around those rules, I will bet on the SEC money every time.
Hasn't Rice done exactly the same thing with Larry Bragga's position the last few years? I don't see anything new or special with what LSU, Nebraska or Auburn are doing.
Big difference. Bragga's father was really in the role Daniel Watson filled previously-- Head of Baseball Operations. He was basically Bragga's assistant, and at a very low salary. The guys LSU, Nebraska, Auburn and others are hiring are ex-head coaches, at substantial salaries, and who will almost assuredly be integral parts of the coaching staff. It's circumventing the NCAA's limit on 2 paid assistant coaches (which is admittedly as ridiculous as the 11.7 scholarship limit).
Yes, the big difference is those P5 programs are smarter about how they use such positions. Unless there is a rule that says a program can’t hire a former head coach as Director of Player Development, and I seriously doubt there is, then those programs are smarter and more creative than Rice. Nothing preventing Rice from doing the same except Rice being Rice. LSU/Nebraska/Auburn hire former head coaches. Rice hired the head coach’s dad. Whining about the advantages of the P5 gets Rice nowhere.
Doesn’t even have to be a former D1 coach. I’m sure there are plenty of ex-D2 or D3 coaches who would love to be on the Rice staff and would do a better job than Bragga’s dad.
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07-17-2021 04:33 PM |
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