It was certainly a satisfying bounce-back, morale boosting weekend for the Baseball Owls, as we regained our bearings in our sweep of the Rice Invitational Tournament, albeit against only so-so competition (vs. Elon, Nebraska and TAMU-CC). The pitching-- both amongst the starters and the bullpen-- was outstanding. Unfortunately, the offense continues to struggle, and needs to break out of it's early season slump this week, as we're expected to face elite quality pitching this weekend against UT and TCU, in particular. Thus far, our only two consistent hitters have been Rendon and Fuda, and we have four everyday players hitting .200 or below. Losing Diego for a while doesn't help matters. Our experienced, upperclass hitters need to shake the early season rust and begin to step up and show the way if our offense is to get in high gear. Alternately (but far less preferable), we need to get out running game in gear, and work at manufacturing some more runs.

This coming week is critical for setting the direction for the season. We've righted the ship somewhat this past weekend, but the level of competition rises over the next few days as we close out our home stand against UH on Tuesday (4:00pm CST scheduled start), take the road to San Marcos vs. Texas State on Wednesday (6:30pm CST start), and then head to Minute Maid Park for weekend evening games against UT, Texas Tech and TCU, with both the scouting community and national college baseball media in attendance. Both the Horns and Frogs are Top 10 ranked this week after impressive series wins this past weekend against Stanford (swept easily) and CSF, respectively. The Owls need to build on the momentum and quality pitching of the past three games, take care of business in the two mid-weekers, and come into Minute Maid on a mini-roll. I'm guessing Anthonio Fazio gets the opportunity to rebound at home against the Coogs tomorrow, while the Sr. Jay Rogers (fresh off his strong relief appearance on Friday night) gets the starting nod on the road at Texas State on Wednesday. Time to make a statement this week, and send a signal to the college baseball world that our struggles against Stanford and Lamar in the opening week was nothing more than early season rust and jitters, and that Rice Baseball is back on it's projected course.

The Coogs are off to another slow start, coming into Reckling with a 2 - 4 overall record, after being swept at home by Texas State in the season-opener (0-6, 3-6, 7-9). They did, however, bounce back this past weekend, taking two of three from Santa Clara at home (17-9, 3-2, 7-8). They've yet to play a mid-week or road game. Here's their individual and team stats for their first six games...

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-basebl...l#TEAM.MLB

Several things to note...
-- The same three pitchers have started both weekend series (Goodnight, Stuckey, Brooks), with only Stuckey pitching effectively; however, their bullpen has been superb to date with Dempsay (3 app, 9.0 IP, 2.00 ERA, .281 BAA, 2 BBs, 9 Ks), Creel (3 app, 5.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, .235 BAA, 2 BBs, 3 Ks), Hammack (3 app, 5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, .190 BAA, 3 BBs, 2 Ks) and Morehouse (2 app, 5.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, .176 BAA, 6 BBs, 2 Ks) all impressive in multiple early outings. According to the UH game notes (see link below), Soph RHP Mo Wiley will get the start for the Coogs. He was hit hard in his one appearance, in relief last weekend, but I wouldn't attempt to read too much into a single 2.0 inning appearance.

-- Their offense is already performing better than last season, as they're currently hitting .303/.382/.385 as a team, and averaging just over 6 runs per game. What hasn't changed is the reality that they have very little power (only 2 HRs so far) and rely heavily on their running game (they've been successful on 8-9 SB attempts). Matt Creel and Blake Kelso have been their best and most consistent hitters so far.

With a slate of five intrastate opponents, including two nationally ranked teams, this is our first rivalry week of the season, and an opportunity to make a statement. If we can emerge Sunday night with a 4-1 or better record on the week, the college baseball world will take notice, and the ugly first week will all but be forgotten...but that's easier said than done. We're going to have to bring the energy and the focus to each game. Go Owls!

Here's the official UH game notes for Tuesday's first game of the Silver Glove series...
http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-basebl...10aaa.html

Here's Eric Sorenson's preseason writeup on the Coogs...

Quote:- HOUSTON (31-27, 13-11)
2009 RPI: 108
Starters Returning: 9
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3
All Conference Candidates:
C Chris Wallace (.285-9-34)
SS Blake Kelso (.335, 12SBs)
OF Caleb Ramsey (.332-4-46, 16SBs)
OF Zak Presley (.301, 17SBs)
The Good News:
It may be tougher to find a more experienced team in the country than UofH will put on the field this season. All nine starters return to the order and most of the pitching does as well. Both RHP Michael Goodnight (5-5, 4.43) and RHP Jared Ray (4-4, 5.34) are going into their second years of starting on the hill and should improve their numbers. The defense fielded at an acceptable .966 last season, but with SS Kelso (who is also a great leadoff hitter) and 2B Taylor White bringing their double-play combo back, this year should be even better. Coach Raynor Noble loves the two-way talent of OF/LHP William Kankel (.284/2-1, 4.82, .261OBA) and OF/RHP Chase Dempsay (.275/4-0, 5.00, 2svs).
The Bad News:
A soul-crushing 3-14 start included some ugly blowout losses and bad injuries (especially that awful face-plunking I saw catcher Wallace take at the Astros Classic that made him miss a month of action). The Coogs readjusted, but never regained ground. There weren’t a lot of losses from last year but three-year staff ace Wes Musick and saves leader Donnie Joseph (11svs) will be big roles to re-fill. Dempsay was good last year, but pitching-wise, it’d be nice to see him revert to his Frosh All American form of 2008 where he went 8-3, 2.53. The team that stole 142 bases in ‘08 only ripped off 68 last season, getting caught stealing 36 times and adding some gray hairs to Coach Nobles’ dome.
Schedule Note:
A tougher West coast trip than the Donner Party.
As if the Astros College Classic wasn’t going to be difficult enough, the next two weeks that follow sees the Coogs make the trek out beyond the Rockies to play three at Cal Poly, one at Cal, one at San Francisco and then a three-gamer at Arizona State. That’s either a confidence-killer or an RPI booster. Speaking of, a home weekend vs. TCU in early April will accomplish the same thing.

Perfect Game/PG Crosschecker ranked UH #82 in their preseason Top 100...

Quote:82. HOUSTON
Coach: Raynor Noble (526-388, 15 years).
2009 Record: 27-31 (13-11/4th in Conference USA).
Top Senior Prospect: C Chris Wallace (.285-9-34). Led team in HR’s in 2009; quality veteran catch/throw receiver for Cougars talented young pitching staff.
Top Junior Prospect: RHP Jared Ray (4-4, 5.34, 62 IP/52 SO). Superior athlete, flashes high-round potential, FB to 93-94 mph, excellent slider at times; Friday starter.
Top Sophomore Prospect: RHP Michael Goodnight (5-5, 4.43, 65 IP/58 SO). Draft eligible-soph; top-notch athlete with 90-93 mph FB, outstanding changeup for age/experience, solid slider; could really blossom after modest success as freshman.
Top Freshman Prospect: RHP/OF Eric Brooks (undrafted/Taylor, Texas). Can reach 88-91 mph off mound; prep sprint star with 4.38 (40) and 6.30 (60) times to his credit, outstanding raw athlete.
Outlook: Houston underachieved in 2009, finishing below .500 with much of their success due to the sudden emergence of LHP Donnie Joseph (3-1, 2.16, 11 SV), a third-round pick of the Reds. Noble’s 16th team should be much improved, although much of that potential success rides on the shoulders of two young righthanders, Ray and Goodnight. Both have top-3 round potential in this year’s draft, but combined to go only 9-9 last year. Two big lefthanders who have flashed prospect potential, junior Taylor Hammack and sophomore Mo Wiley, fill out the starting rotation. The Cougars will field a veteran starting lineup, led by Wallace and leadoff hitter/SS Blake Kelso (.335-2-23), although they will have to scrape to score many runs. The team hit only 25 home runs as a team last year and Wallace’s nine blasts easily led the team.

Here's collegebaseball360.com's writeup on the Coogs...

Quote:Houston
2009 Record: (27-31, 13-11)
Mascot: Cougars
Head Coach: Rayner Noble
Location: Houston, TX

Vitals: .282 BA, 25 HR, .364 OBP, .966 Fld%…5.48 ERA, 453 K, 237 BB, .294 opp. BA

Bring It On: Houston plays 10 teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year, including CWS teams Texas (1), Arizona State (3) and Southern Mississippi (3).

Pass On The Pulp: The Cougars face Texas, Missouri and Texas Tech at the Houston College Classic in the Astros’ Minute Maid Park the first weekend of March.

Speed Over Power: Houston hit just 25 home runs last year, with Chris Wallace (9 HR) being the only player to hit more than 4 home runs. However, the Cougars had 69 stolen bases on the season.

Solid Nucleus: Wallace (.285, 34 RBIs) is one of three Houston players who played at Cape Cod last summer. He’s joined by Blake Kelso (.335, 2 HR, 23 RBIs, 12 SB) & Caleb Ramsey (.332, 4 HR, 46 RBIs, 16 SB) both played for Yarmouth-Dennis. Zak Presley (.301, 28 RBIs, 17 SB) is back as well.

And SEBaseball's preseason preview on UH.....

Quote:Offense
All three first basemen return with David Murphy (.271/1/14) leading Chase Dempsay (.275/1/27) and Ty Stuckey (.254/1/12). At second base Taylor White (.292/1/15) and junior transfer Ryan Still are competing while Jake Runte (.228/2/18) and sophomore transfer Austin Gracey are doing the same at third. There is no competition at shortstop where Blake Kelso (.335/2/23/12 sbs) is the man.

The outfielder is in good shape with Caleb Ramsey (.332/4/46/16 sbs) and Zak Presley (.301/2/28/17 sbs) both returning as quality players. LSU Eunice transfer Matt Creel, freshman Eric Brooks, William Kankel (.284/1/29), and White are all options. Chris Wallace (.285/9/34) returns at catcher with John Cannon (.125/1/9) as the backup. Freshman MP Cokinos is the probable DH.

Pitching
The rotation should be better with Michael Goodnight (5-5/4.43) and Jared Ray (4-4/5.34) in the top two spots. Freshman Taylor Hammack and Mo Wiley (2-4/6.55) are also starters while Ty Stuckey (0-3/7.01) could get some starts as well.

Chase Dempsay (4-0/5.00/2 svs) is the probable closer with Barry Laird (0-0/5.29) and William Kankel (2-1/4.82) as relief options.

What to watch for
While he only had two saves last season, Dempsay set freshman records for 11 saves and eight wins in his first season at UH, on his way to becoming one of only four players in school history at that time to record double-digit saves in a single season.

Strengths: Experience; Outfield
Weaknesses: Power; Pitching depth

Final Analysis
Houston has loads of experience back and has added some quality newcomers. How far they go depends on how much improvement those returnees make.

Two tough midweek games. UH is always a battle, and Texas St. is never easy.. plus they're opening a new stadium.

(03-02-2010 01:19 AM)At Ease Wrote:  Two tough midweek games. UH is always a battle, and Texas St. is never easy.. plus they're opening a new stadium.

Texas State (and SHS) always give us tough games. And Wednesday's game, in particular, will be made more difficult since the players will be taking the relatively long bus ride only a couple hours before the scheduled start.

With a steady diet of right-handed pitchers going against us (would you throw a southpaw against our right-handed laden lineup if you had a choice?), we really need Manuel, Gonzales and McDowell to deliver, and for Chad (who has been making pretty good contact) to start having his luck even out.

Somewhat surprised that Jay Rogers is getting the start against UH (according to the Rice game notes below) and not Anthony Fazio. I had expected the experienced and upperclass JR to get the road assignment in San Marcos on Wednesday instead; thereby allowing Fazio to rebound from his roughed up and brief initial outing at the friendly confines of Reckling. Unless, of course, Coach elects to ease Fazio in now in relief, and decides to go with Reckling or Benak vs. Texas State. Another option would be for The OG to go with "all staff" for the second of our two mid-week games through March, as it maximizes his ability to give as many different pitchers an opportunity to earn future playing time as possible. While it's a bit of a risky strategy, the long-term benefit as the season progresses could be huge. Ensuring that guys such as Fazio, Benak, Haynes, Evers, Simmons, McDowell, Spurlin, Chargois and McNair get weekly game action is very important as this point in the season.

The one advantage with throwing Rogers tonight is that he should be available again out of the bullpen at some point this weekend.

http://riceowls.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl...10aab.html

Texas State's new stadium opened last year -- first game was against UT (the first time, and probably only time, UT decided to drive the 30 miles to San Marcos).

You're right grol, I misread the Rice press notes.

I like Rogers going today against the Cougars.

The Texas State game should offer some of our pitchers a chance to erase some of their early struggles.

What is the situation with Diego? I noticed that he didn't play at all this past weekend, but never saw an injury report.

Strained oblique. Waiting to hear how bad it is.