Obviously, sweeping a three game series is a positive result, especially to start the season against what appears to be a solid ball club.
Wright State had several good looking pitchers but not enough depth to hold onto early leads. They battled throughout each game however and were fundamentally very sound in my view. Their defense committed only one error and made all the routine plays as well as several truly exceptional plays. They play smart baseball and have a history of winning. They’ve averaged over 40 wins a season for the past four including going 2-2 and losing in the finals of two NCAA regionals. They are favorites in their conference and have a chance for a very good season. I hope to meet them again at Turchin in a Super Regional. (Okay, that's probably unlikely)
In fact our future opponents had a very good weekend overall which is good for our eventual RPI. Our eight conference challengers went 16-8, which, since we play each of them three times, translates into a 48-24 (.667) record for them as opponents (50% of the RPI calculation). Teams on our OOC schedule, based on the weekend, will count as 50-37 (.575) towards the same calculation. That’s also very good. Now, about our own performance--
There certainly is a lot to like about our weekend. We fell behind in each game and came back to win, for one. When Wright scored, we almost always came back immediately with a score of our own. That’s excellent. We also played as fundamentally sound as I can ever remember from a Tulane team, even our World Series squads. We moved runners up, took advantage of pitchers whose slow deliveries allowed us to steal bases uncontested, and ran the bases without the foolish errors we’ve seen over the years. Except for the near collision between Owen and Witherspoon in the outfield on Sunday (and that worked out fine), we looked poised and confident in the field. Our only two errors were on failed pick-off attempts. Unfortunately, the camera angle on “All Access” didn’t allow me to analyze those problems.
At the plate there were also some positives. So far we’re making much better contact with two strikes than in recent years. We’re only striking out 6.4 times per 9 innings this season compared to 9.3 per 9 innings last. Last year, with 2 strikes on the batter, we struck out 54% of the time and hit only .142. In the previous two regional seasons, we struck out 51% and 49% of the time with 2-strikes and hit only .147 and .155 respectively. Through the first weekend, we’re only striking out 39% of the time with 2 strikes and hitting .217 with that count, which would probably be an all-time high if we could keep it up.
At the same time, we’re not taking advantage of pitches early in the count. Despite those who think we should intentionally get behind in the count by taking a strike, the first strike is the batter’s best chance to get a hit. Last year we hit .413 putting the first strike into play. The previous two years it was .382 and .355 respectively. In all four years (counting this one) we put the ball into play on the first strike roughly 26% of the time so we are neither no more, nor less, aggressive so far, but we’re only hitting .280 on that pitch. That’s a very small sample, of course, and I’m confident it will rise.
We’ve also stolen 7 bases in 8 tries so far with almost all of them coming at the expense of pitchers who allowed us running leads. I don’t see super speed on the team though a number of players run well. How much we run will be interesting as the year progresses. Wright State was successful on all four of their base stealing attempts, also, best I could tell, due to inattention or slow delivery on the part of our pitchers. Yet, this has been an area of concern to me going into the year. Acy Owen only threw out 4 of 33 runners who attempted to steal against him this past summer. Without knowing the circumstances, it’s hard to come to any conclusion, but that’s not a good statistic.
On the mound, we’re issuing far too many free passes. So far, in 28 innings we’ve issued 22 walks and HBPs (7.07 per 9 innings). In last year’s record-breaking season, we issued 6.64 per 9 innings. Yes, in this small sample, we’re doing even worse than last year despite all the talk and emphasis on getting the ball over the plate. In those 28 innings, we’ve walked or hit the lead-off man 7 times and he’s scored on four of those occasions. Three other times, free passes came around to score. That’s 7 runs. We also forced in two runs with a walk and a hit batsman with the bases loaded, though one of those had reached via walk. So, 8 of 13 runs allowed (61.5%) were a direct result of BB’s and HBP’s. That’s terrible and must be redressed.
Yet, on the good news side, we allowed 12 pitchers to gain some “real game” experience this weekend, some for the first time in Division 1 baseball. The results were clearly mixed, but as a group we held Wright State to a .208 batting average; that’s really good. The team ERA of 4.18 is less good but not too bad. Following a rough start, Kaleb Roper pitched extremely well and Ross Massey’s performance, following a walk to the first batter, was possibly the most encouraging development of the weekend. I also thought Sam Bjorngjeld’s outing was terrific. His curve ball to left-handed batters was unhittable; UNHITTABLE!! Several of the young guys showed terrific stuff but may have been nervous in their first appearance. I include Bates, Pellerin, and Celluci in that group. I thought McAffer looked good but his control was off and needs to improve as the year goes on. Again, early season nerves?
Conversely, White, Solesky, and Gillies were disappointing in my view. These are experienced guys who we need to pitch well. Finally, and most disappointing, was Trent Johnson. Based on his JC season and summer work, I expected him to be a solid weekend starter, if not our Friday night ace. Instead, he looked out of shape, overweight, and not ready for “prime time.” Two hits, a walk, a hit batsman, and a throwing error in 1/3 of an inning says it all. We need much more out of him. I hope he comes around.
At bat, obviously it’s still very early. I’ve covered some of the general stuff already and, as a team we’re hitting .260 with two HR’s during a weekend when the wind was blowing out. Everyone we’re really counting on got at least two hits over the weekend so no one is mired in a “deep slump.” Yet, Acy Owen, despite two really big hits, is batting .182. And both Matt Rowland and Trevor Jenson, again despite some clutch hitting, are also hitting below the “Mendoza line” (.167 and.154 respectively). Since they are batting #3 and #4 in our lineup, we need them up near or above .300. Gozzo, Ty Johnson, and Witherspoon had good weekends, all hitting over .300 while Kobi Owen and Hoese are in the .200s to start. The good news is that all of those guys have a chance to have good years and the first weekend didn’t spoil that opportunity.
I also thought Coach Jewett and staff did a good job all weekend of game management and keeping the players loose. Whatever problems there were last year don’t appear to be prevalent this season. Hope that continues.
Roll Wave!!!
Wright State had several good looking pitchers but not enough depth to hold onto early leads. They battled throughout each game however and were fundamentally very sound in my view. Their defense committed only one error and made all the routine plays as well as several truly exceptional plays. They play smart baseball and have a history of winning. They’ve averaged over 40 wins a season for the past four including going 2-2 and losing in the finals of two NCAA regionals. They are favorites in their conference and have a chance for a very good season. I hope to meet them again at Turchin in a Super Regional. (Okay, that's probably unlikely)
In fact our future opponents had a very good weekend overall which is good for our eventual RPI. Our eight conference challengers went 16-8, which, since we play each of them three times, translates into a 48-24 (.667) record for them as opponents (50% of the RPI calculation). Teams on our OOC schedule, based on the weekend, will count as 50-37 (.575) towards the same calculation. That’s also very good. Now, about our own performance--
There certainly is a lot to like about our weekend. We fell behind in each game and came back to win, for one. When Wright scored, we almost always came back immediately with a score of our own. That’s excellent. We also played as fundamentally sound as I can ever remember from a Tulane team, even our World Series squads. We moved runners up, took advantage of pitchers whose slow deliveries allowed us to steal bases uncontested, and ran the bases without the foolish errors we’ve seen over the years. Except for the near collision between Owen and Witherspoon in the outfield on Sunday (and that worked out fine), we looked poised and confident in the field. Our only two errors were on failed pick-off attempts. Unfortunately, the camera angle on “All Access” didn’t allow me to analyze those problems.
At the plate there were also some positives. So far we’re making much better contact with two strikes than in recent years. We’re only striking out 6.4 times per 9 innings this season compared to 9.3 per 9 innings last. Last year, with 2 strikes on the batter, we struck out 54% of the time and hit only .142. In the previous two regional seasons, we struck out 51% and 49% of the time with 2-strikes and hit only .147 and .155 respectively. Through the first weekend, we’re only striking out 39% of the time with 2 strikes and hitting .217 with that count, which would probably be an all-time high if we could keep it up.
At the same time, we’re not taking advantage of pitches early in the count. Despite those who think we should intentionally get behind in the count by taking a strike, the first strike is the batter’s best chance to get a hit. Last year we hit .413 putting the first strike into play. The previous two years it was .382 and .355 respectively. In all four years (counting this one) we put the ball into play on the first strike roughly 26% of the time so we are neither no more, nor less, aggressive so far, but we’re only hitting .280 on that pitch. That’s a very small sample, of course, and I’m confident it will rise.
We’ve also stolen 7 bases in 8 tries so far with almost all of them coming at the expense of pitchers who allowed us running leads. I don’t see super speed on the team though a number of players run well. How much we run will be interesting as the year progresses. Wright State was successful on all four of their base stealing attempts, also, best I could tell, due to inattention or slow delivery on the part of our pitchers. Yet, this has been an area of concern to me going into the year. Acy Owen only threw out 4 of 33 runners who attempted to steal against him this past summer. Without knowing the circumstances, it’s hard to come to any conclusion, but that’s not a good statistic.
On the mound, we’re issuing far too many free passes. So far, in 28 innings we’ve issued 22 walks and HBPs (7.07 per 9 innings). In last year’s record-breaking season, we issued 6.64 per 9 innings. Yes, in this small sample, we’re doing even worse than last year despite all the talk and emphasis on getting the ball over the plate. In those 28 innings, we’ve walked or hit the lead-off man 7 times and he’s scored on four of those occasions. Three other times, free passes came around to score. That’s 7 runs. We also forced in two runs with a walk and a hit batsman with the bases loaded, though one of those had reached via walk. So, 8 of 13 runs allowed (61.5%) were a direct result of BB’s and HBP’s. That’s terrible and must be redressed.
Yet, on the good news side, we allowed 12 pitchers to gain some “real game” experience this weekend, some for the first time in Division 1 baseball. The results were clearly mixed, but as a group we held Wright State to a .208 batting average; that’s really good. The team ERA of 4.18 is less good but not too bad. Following a rough start, Kaleb Roper pitched extremely well and Ross Massey’s performance, following a walk to the first batter, was possibly the most encouraging development of the weekend. I also thought Sam Bjorngjeld’s outing was terrific. His curve ball to left-handed batters was unhittable; UNHITTABLE!! Several of the young guys showed terrific stuff but may have been nervous in their first appearance. I include Bates, Pellerin, and Celluci in that group. I thought McAffer looked good but his control was off and needs to improve as the year goes on. Again, early season nerves?
Conversely, White, Solesky, and Gillies were disappointing in my view. These are experienced guys who we need to pitch well. Finally, and most disappointing, was Trent Johnson. Based on his JC season and summer work, I expected him to be a solid weekend starter, if not our Friday night ace. Instead, he looked out of shape, overweight, and not ready for “prime time.” Two hits, a walk, a hit batsman, and a throwing error in 1/3 of an inning says it all. We need much more out of him. I hope he comes around.
At bat, obviously it’s still very early. I’ve covered some of the general stuff already and, as a team we’re hitting .260 with two HR’s during a weekend when the wind was blowing out. Everyone we’re really counting on got at least two hits over the weekend so no one is mired in a “deep slump.” Yet, Acy Owen, despite two really big hits, is batting .182. And both Matt Rowland and Trevor Jenson, again despite some clutch hitting, are also hitting below the “Mendoza line” (.167 and.154 respectively). Since they are batting #3 and #4 in our lineup, we need them up near or above .300. Gozzo, Ty Johnson, and Witherspoon had good weekends, all hitting over .300 while Kobi Owen and Hoese are in the .200s to start. The good news is that all of those guys have a chance to have good years and the first weekend didn’t spoil that opportunity.
I also thought Coach Jewett and staff did a good job all weekend of game management and keeping the players loose. Whatever problems there were last year don’t appear to be prevalent this season. Hope that continues.
Roll Wave!!!
