Sweep complete! 10-3!

Great weekend. This team seems to have turned the corner. Still a lot to improve on but headed in the right direction. Pitching is much better as of late. Really encouraged by Blank - he looks like he could be a good one for a long time to come.

(04-21-2024 03:13 PM)ChitownOwl Wrote:  Great weekend. This team seems to have turned the corner. Still a lot to improve on but headed in the right direction. Pitching is much better as of late. Really encouraged by Blank - he looks like he could be a good one for a long time to come.

Vastly improved situational hitting this weekend, putting the ball in play with guys in scoring position...hitting sac flies....and even better 2-strike hitting, though we still strikeout way too much. Again, difficult to assess the improvement in the offense given how bad USF's pitching is, but we'll certainly find out next weekend with UTSA coming to town.

As for the pitching, we're still walking and hitting way too many batters, but Parker and JD both have very solid BAAs. And Jose has greatly shrunk his bullpen options when the game is still on the line. Hickson and Vincent are clearly the most reliable, but Blank, Fernandez and Stratton (if he can only throw strikes) have all stepped up recently. Urbanczyk has been up and down, but I think we should use him as our mid-week guy the rest of the way. It's taken forever, but Jose has finally stopped going to Hamilton, Ben-Shoshan and Rodriguez in key situations. I'm surprised Mayo has received more action of late. He's had control issues (who on this staff hasn't), but he's only allowed 3 hits in 8.3 IP, with 10 Ks. Why not use him as a situational lefty?

Double digit runs 3 games in a row. Let’s hope this offensive efficiency continues.

Good job Owls!

BTW - I listened to JP today as we were driving to Houston from the Hill Country. He made reference to some bad sportsmanship by some of the USF fans after Rank was hit on the hand. For anyone watching, could you explain what JP was referencing?

(04-21-2024 04:00 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Double digit runs 3 games in a row. Let’s hope this offensive efficiency continues.

Good job Owls!

BTW - I listened to JP today as we were driving to Houston from the Hill Country. He made reference to some bad sportsmanship by some of the USF fans after Rank was hit on the hand. For anyone watching, could you explain what JP was referencing?

Not sure. I watched on ESPN+ and Rank was obviously peeved at getting hit and glared at the pitcher. The home plate umpire moved to be between Rank and their pitcher. There was nothing I could see or hear, but would not be surprised if some USF fans reacted to Rank's glare. I doubt it would be anything more than what would be in most college parks, but I was not there.

Congrats!!! WTG, Owls!!

(04-21-2024 04:19 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(04-21-2024 04:00 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Double digit runs 3 games in a row. Let’s hope this offensive efficiency continues.

Good job Owls!

BTW - I listened to JP today as we were driving to Houston from the Hill Country. He made reference to some bad sportsmanship by some of the USF fans after Rank was hit on the hand. For anyone watching, could you explain what JP was referencing?

Not sure. I watched on ESPN+ and Rank was obviously peeved at getting hit and glared at the pitcher. The home plate umpire moved to be between Rank and their pitcher. There was nothing I could see or hear, but would not be surprised if some USF fans reacted to Rank's glare. I doubt it would be anything more than what would be in most college parks, but I was not there.

Thanks! I got the impression listening to JP some of the USF fans were harping at Trey, but wasn't sure why.

I will be a believer if we take 2 out 3 from UTSA this coming weekend. We have to win seven more games to break our win-loss record relative to last year.

(04-21-2024 05:01 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(04-21-2024 04:19 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  

(04-21-2024 04:00 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Double digit runs 3 games in a row. Let’s hope this offensive efficiency continues.

Good job Owls!

BTW - I listened to JP today as we were driving to Houston from the Hill Country. He made reference to some bad sportsmanship by some of the USF fans after Rank was hit on the hand. For anyone watching, could you explain what JP was referencing?

Not sure. I watched on ESPN+ and Rank was obviously peeved at getting hit and glared at the pitcher. The home plate umpire moved to be between Rank and their pitcher. There was nothing I could see or hear, but would not be surprised if some USF fans reacted to Rank's glare. I doubt it would be anything more than what would be in most college parks, but I was not there.

Thanks! I got the impression listening to JP some of the USF fans were harping at Trey, but wasn't sure why.

Probably because he had absolutely owned USF all weekend long.

Tyler Duffy promoted back to the majors with the Royals.

Last Friday was the last day of classes for the spring semester. Finals start Wednesday and run thru the following Tuesday.

In most of the Graham years, baseball did not play during finals. However, IIRC, in the last few years, they did play during finals. I recall hearing that another conference school had to agree to play Rice a week before everyone else started conference play and that at some point, no other school would agree to it.

(04-22-2024 08:45 PM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  Last Friday was the last day of classes for the spring semester. Finals start Wednesday and run thru the following Tuesday.

In most of the Graham years, baseball did not play during finals. However, IIRC, in the last few years, they did play during finals. I recall hearing that another conference school had to agree to play Rice a week before everyone else started conference play and that at some point, no other school would agree to it.

That is correct.