(02-20-2022 01:14 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: (02-20-2022 01:02 PM)GoodOwl Wrote: (02-20-2022 10:56 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: Anybody remember the results of Wayne’s first two games at Rice? Scores? Opponents?
Although I would like the answers to the above questions, the point is, if Cruz goes on to achieve similar results over his career, nobody will care about these games. We gave Wayne a chance - let’s do the same for one of our own.
That's not at all what was asked about. I like Coach Cruz, Jr. and think in the long run he will do fine here. The question was how much can he be expected to improve the present/inherited players over the last guy through coaching? Some of the comments about play in the two game threads prompted the inquiry, that's all.
I think every time a new coach is hired due to the failures of the previous coach, there is an expectation that he will do better than his predecessor, utilizing mostly the same talent. This is true, IMO, at every school in every sport. Was there not a lot of expectation in Bloomgren’s first year along those lines?
The question though is, as you say, how much improvement can we expect? I cannot answer that at this point, even for myself. I just know that two games, no matter how disappointing, are not enough to make any judgements.
I do know that three games against the preseason #1 is a tougher start than three against Pan American. Maybe these games will be a learning experience that will pay dividends later in the season.
I agree two games against the #1 team is not enough to make many judgements in baseball, not at all what was meant by the question. Simply wondering how likely folks here think that Coach Cruz, Jr. will get more out of his
inherited players than Bragga did? I suppose it might not mean we win more games, actually, and didn't mean we'd be beating up on the whorns in this series by any means. But will the coaching that Coach Cruz, Jr. and his staff provide improve the inherited players' performances? This is a separate issue from being able to recruit better players into the program to improve the talent level. Two ways to improve: recruit better horses, and get the horses you already have (inherited) to play better than they were playing before. Baseball is a longer season than other major sports, so there's time.
Owl#s posted he thought we would not get run-ruled in any of these three, 2 of the 3 games would be legitimately competitive, and Rice will win one of them.
BigOwlsFan above seems to think that could take 6 mos or more.
WaltG responded as to the record but seemed to attribute that more to the transfers Coach Cruz, Jr. brought in than to improvement of the players already here. Noted the bunting problems continued so far and the errors.
elw4796 noted the sloppy play, as well as perhaps confusing being aggressive with apparently swinging "no matter what."
Tiki concurred on the first-pitch swinging.
Several noted the Ump's strikes zones were quite generous, which on the road against a very top rated team would be difficult no matter what.
...et cetera.
Perhaps the combination of Road game against #1 Tejas, which is a long way above from starting 5¢, their good pitching made better with some ump help and the desire to be aggressive to show a new leaf has been turned created some additional jitters that skewed the overall performance of the play. Settling a team down for a long season is part of what coaches have to do, and I expect Coach Cruz, Jr. will manage to do that. Everyone knows how it feels to come out juiced and excited for a new season and a new era when a regime changes. Rooting for the Owls to have a better day today.