(03-27-2022 11:01 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(03-27-2022 03:25 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Shaw and Linskey have been fantastic so far (save for a couple hicups by Shaw when he was squeezed by the home plate ump).

Again, can we rework the lineup so that it makes sense and doesn't play into the opposing manager's hand (when managing the bullpen)? Riedel at leadoff is just a total headscratcher. He strikes out a ton, doesn't walk, isn't particularly fast, and is hitting right around the Mendoza line. Why exactly is he batting leadoff? Woody shouldn't be batting leadoff either since he is arguably the slowest runner on the team, strikes out a ton, and is more a middle of the lineup, power hitter. You want to maximize the ABs of your best hitters, which for us would be Garibay, Smiggy, Bulman, Becker and Woody-- 3 lefties, 2 righties. If you want speed at the top, I can see going with either Hoyle (if he's playing) or Gallo. I can also see the argument in going with Garibay at leadoff, followed by Bulman, Smiggy, Woody and Becker. Riedel (when playing ), Walsh (when playing) and Long should always be at the bottom of the lineup.

I have a few comments about this. Let's start with the lineup construction.

You seem to be hung up on that the lineup had 3 consecutive lefties last weekend against UAB on Friday and Saturday - Smigelski, Becker, Riedel. Who cares? I can remember on at least two occasions that UAB brought in a lefty when Rice got to this point in the order and that lefty failed to get any of them out. The one lefty who did have success threw the slow looping curve. With your proposed lineup, you end up with 4 righties in a row. I guess that is better than 3 lefties in a row. Also, I don't know if this team has a prototypical leadoff hitter, which is okay as that person is guaranteed to hit leadoff only in the first inning.

Regarding relief pitchers, I don't think every time you get into trouble it is because you have hit a wall. All hits are not equal in real life and neither are outs. Also, sometimes walks come because you are pushing for a strikeout in a situation.

In addition, there are multiple schools of thought about replacing pitchers. Some people are ready to pull pitchers when they get into trouble. While that may be appropriate at times, I have a different opinion. If you always take out pitchers in trouble, you never find out how they deal with pressure, nor give them an opportunity to show they can handle it and/or build mental toughness. I want guys who want the ball when the stakes are high, or want to be at bat, or want the ball hit to them. Things don't go your way every time, but if you have mental toughness, you come back to fight another day and want that next opportunity. These are D1 players who are not on teams because they have no talent. Things don't always go your way. For example, I recall seeing an opposing hitter this year hit an 0-2 pitch that was 6" outside into the gap for a double. Sometimes you can do everything right and still not get the results you want.

With regards to having four consecutive right-handed hitters in the back of the order-- first, since the vast majority of pitchers faced through high school are right-handed, all batters are more familiar and comfortable hitting against right-handed pitchers, including right-handed batters. Second, we're talking about the bottom of the order, not the top of the order. I'd also say that Gallo, and certainly Hoyle with his speed, are close to being prototypical leadoff hitters. Riedel there makes no sense whatsoever. Why give him more ABs than anyone else?

As for bullpen management, when has Jose had two guys warming up at once, or one guy start warming up in a close, late inning game when he puts in a new guy?

(03-28-2022 07:22 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Is there any possibility that analytics is playing a role in the batting order?

What analytics would have Riedel or even Woodcox batting leadoff?

(03-28-2022 07:27 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-28-2022 07:22 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Is there any possibility that analytics is playing a role in the batting order?

What analytics would have Riedel or even Woodcox batting leadoff?

I don't know. I haven't made a study of batting order analytics.

I am suggesting that the old conventional wisdom behind batting orders may have been replaced by something different.

(03-28-2022 07:25 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-27-2022 11:01 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(03-27-2022 03:25 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Shaw and Linskey have been fantastic so far (save for a couple hicups by Shaw when he was squeezed by the home plate ump).

Again, can we rework the lineup so that it makes sense and doesn't play into the opposing manager's hand (when managing the bullpen)? Riedel at leadoff is just a total headscratcher. He strikes out a ton, doesn't walk, isn't particularly fast, and is hitting right around the Mendoza line. Why exactly is he batting leadoff? Woody shouldn't be batting leadoff either since he is arguably the slowest runner on the team, strikes out a ton, and is more a middle of the lineup, power hitter. You want to maximize the ABs of your best hitters, which for us would be Garibay, Smiggy, Bulman, Becker and Woody-- 3 lefties, 2 righties. If you want speed at the top, I can see going with either Hoyle (if he's playing) or Gallo. I can also see the argument in going with Garibay at leadoff, followed by Bulman, Smiggy, Woody and Becker. Riedel (when playing ), Walsh (when playing) and Long should always be at the bottom of the lineup.

I have a few comments about this. Let's start with the lineup construction.

You seem to be hung up on that the lineup had 3 consecutive lefties last weekend against UAB on Friday and Saturday - Smigelski, Becker, Riedel. Who cares? I can remember on at least two occasions that UAB brought in a lefty when Rice got to this point in the order and that lefty failed to get any of them out. The one lefty who did have success threw the slow looping curve. With your proposed lineup, you end up with 4 righties in a row. I guess that is better than 3 lefties in a row. Also, I don't know if this team has a prototypical leadoff hitter, which is okay as that person is guaranteed to hit leadoff only in the first inning.

Regarding relief pitchers, I don't think every time you get into trouble it is because you have hit a wall. All hits are not equal in real life and neither are outs. Also, sometimes walks come because you are pushing for a strikeout in a situation.

In addition, there are multiple schools of thought about replacing pitchers. Some people are ready to pull pitchers when they get into trouble. While that may be appropriate at times, I have a different opinion. If you always take out pitchers in trouble, you never find out how they deal with pressure, nor give them an opportunity to show they can handle it and/or build mental toughness. I want guys who want the ball when the stakes are high, or want to be at bat, or want the ball hit to them. Things don't go your way every time, but if you have mental toughness, you come back to fight another day and want that next opportunity. These are D1 players who are not on teams because they have no talent. Things don't always go your way. For example, I recall seeing an opposing hitter this year hit an 0-2 pitch that was 6" outside into the gap for a double. Sometimes you can do everything right and still not get the results you want.

With regards to having four consecutive right-handed hitters in the back of the order-- first, since the vast majority of pitchers faced through high school are right-handed, all batters are more familiar and comfortable hitting against right-handed pitchers, including right-handed batters. Second, we're talking about the bottom of the order, not the top of the order. I'd also say that Gallo, and certainly Hoyle with his speed, are close to being prototypical leadoff hitters. Riedel there makes no sense whatsoever. Why give him more ABs than anyone else?

As for bullpen management, when has Jose had two guys warming up at once, or one guy start warming up in a close, late inning game when he puts in a new guy?

From your comments, I believe you are saying a leadoff hitter should get walks and not strike out a ton. The two names you mention have 5 walks between them for the year and one has strikeouts in over 30% of his at-bats. Again, this guy is guaranteed to be the leadoff hitter only in the first inning. I don't know why who is hitting leadoff for Rice, but think there can be several approaches. I can see wanting a guy with power in the first spot if guys at the bottom of the order are having a hard time getting on so that you don't have to string as many hits together to score runs when they are on base. I think I care more about how the leadoff spot pairs with the hitters at the bottom of the lineup than being a prototypical leadoff hitter.

Regarding bullpen management, I have seen multiple guys in the pen at times, but not frequently. One time I can think of was against Tech when Jose wanted Shaw to pitch to Jung. While there can always be disagreements about whether a pitcher should be taken out or not (and that is part of what makes baseball fun), I can't remember a time this year where Rice did not replace a pitcher because there was no one ready. I don't recall Colter going out to talk to a pitcher to buy time to get someone ready like we have seen with some other schools.

Going back to a "balanced lineup", if Rice has 3 lefties in a row, it might include possibly the three best hitters in the lineup. I think these guys can "adjust" to a lefty pretty well, and if I thought the best chance for success was hitting those three in a row, I would not alter that because the opposition could bring in a lefty who would not have to face right handed hitters.

(03-28-2022 04:02 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(03-28-2022 07:25 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-27-2022 11:01 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(03-27-2022 03:25 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Shaw and Linskey have been fantastic so far (save for a couple hicups by Shaw when he was squeezed by the home plate ump).

Again, can we rework the lineup so that it makes sense and doesn't play into the opposing manager's hand (when managing the bullpen)? Riedel at leadoff is just a total headscratcher. He strikes out a ton, doesn't walk, isn't particularly fast, and is hitting right around the Mendoza line. Why exactly is he batting leadoff? Woody shouldn't be batting leadoff either since he is arguably the slowest runner on the team, strikes out a ton, and is more a middle of the lineup, power hitter. You want to maximize the ABs of your best hitters, which for us would be Garibay, Smiggy, Bulman, Becker and Woody-- 3 lefties, 2 righties. If you want speed at the top, I can see going with either Hoyle (if he's playing) or Gallo. I can also see the argument in going with Garibay at leadoff, followed by Bulman, Smiggy, Woody and Becker. Riedel (when playing ), Walsh (when playing) and Long should always be at the bottom of the lineup.

I have a few comments about this. Let's start with the lineup construction.

You seem to be hung up on that the lineup had 3 consecutive lefties last weekend against UAB on Friday and Saturday - Smigelski, Becker, Riedel. Who cares? I can remember on at least two occasions that UAB brought in a lefty when Rice got to this point in the order and that lefty failed to get any of them out. The one lefty who did have success threw the slow looping curve. With your proposed lineup, you end up with 4 righties in a row. I guess that is better than 3 lefties in a row. Also, I don't know if this team has a prototypical leadoff hitter, which is okay as that person is guaranteed to hit leadoff only in the first inning.

Regarding relief pitchers, I don't think every time you get into trouble it is because you have hit a wall. All hits are not equal in real life and neither are outs. Also, sometimes walks come because you are pushing for a strikeout in a situation.

In addition, there are multiple schools of thought about replacing pitchers. Some people are ready to pull pitchers when they get into trouble. While that may be appropriate at times, I have a different opinion. If you always take out pitchers in trouble, you never find out how they deal with pressure, nor give them an opportunity to show they can handle it and/or build mental toughness. I want guys who want the ball when the stakes are high, or want to be at bat, or want the ball hit to them. Things don't go your way every time, but if you have mental toughness, you come back to fight another day and want that next opportunity. These are D1 players who are not on teams because they have no talent. Things don't always go your way. For example, I recall seeing an opposing hitter this year hit an 0-2 pitch that was 6" outside into the gap for a double. Sometimes you can do everything right and still not get the results you want.

With regards to having four consecutive right-handed hitters in the back of the order-- first, since the vast majority of pitchers faced through high school are right-handed, all batters are more familiar and comfortable hitting against right-handed pitchers, including right-handed batters. Second, we're talking about the bottom of the order, not the top of the order. I'd also say that Gallo, and certainly Hoyle with his speed, are close to being prototypical leadoff hitters. Riedel there makes no sense whatsoever. Why give him more ABs than anyone else?

As for bullpen management, when has Jose had two guys warming up at once, or one guy start warming up in a close, late inning game when he puts in a new guy?

From your comments, I believe you are saying a leadoff hitter should get walks and not strike out a ton. The two names you mention have 5 walks between them for the year and one has strikeouts in over 30% of his at-bats. Again, this guy is guaranteed to be the leadoff hitter only in the first inning. I don't know why who is hitting leadoff for Rice, but think there can be several approaches. I can see wanting a guy with power in the first spot if guys at the bottom of the order are having a hard time getting on so that you don't have to string as many hits together to score runs when they are on base. I think I care more about how the leadoff spot pairs with the hitters at the bottom of the lineup than being a prototypical leadoff hitter.

Regarding bullpen management, I have seen multiple guys in the pen at times, but not frequently. One time I can think of was against Tech when Jose wanted Shaw to pitch to Jung. While there can always be disagreements about whether a pitcher should be taken out or not (and that is part of what makes baseball fun), I can't remember a time this year where Rice did not replace a pitcher because there was no one ready. I don't recall Colter going out to talk to a pitcher to buy time to get someone ready like we have seen with some other schools.

Going back to a "balanced lineup", if Rice has 3 lefties in a row, it might include possibly the three best hitters in the lineup. I think these guys can "adjust" to a lefty pretty well, and if I thought the best chance for success was hitting those three in a row, I would not alter that because the opposition could bring in a lefty who would not have to face right handed hitters.

Just one example-- last weekend in the Saturday game against UAB, Shaw was given the quick hook after giving up a walk and single (after being badly squeezed by the home plate umpire-- he had both guys struck out). DeLeon was brought in without time to warm up in the pen...and proceeded to walk the first batter then get hammered.

I'm not necessarily saying have two guys warming up always. However, in a critical, close game situation, when bringing in a reliever, you should always have the next guy begin warming up. In college ball, especially, you're rolling the dice when bringing in a middle reliever-- sometimes they're on, other times they have no control or have nothing. In a close game you can ill-afford to stick with a middle reliever who comes in to stem a rally and instead throws fuel on it.

Despite the loss, MTSU also lost, keeping Rice tied for 4th place in the conference standings.
However it is now a 5-way tie at 3-3.