I’m not sure what the remainder of the season will bring or, for that matter, if we’ll even see a complete season due to the Corona Virus situation. Regardless, the best I can tell, we’re going into the Long Beach State series in good shape physically. The fact that Slagel and Jannetta had rough outings this week is somewhat made up for by the performance of Holcombe after a tough beginning on Tuesday and Johnson on Wednesday. The fact that the team came back from being down multiple times by multiple runs also suggests something good.
Long Beach State did not play any mid-week games this week so they are coming in fresh with all arms ready to play Tulane. Currently, they have a 10-5 record against much stronger competition than our Wave has face, taking 2 of 3 each from California, Mississippi State, and Xavier, and sweeping three from Wake Forest, while winning a single game against San Diego and losing single games to Washington and San Diego State.
They are not a good hitting team, batting only .248 as a team with three HR’s in 15 games and don’t score a lot of runs. Hopefully, we can continue that trend. But their strength is on the mound. With a team ERA of 2.38, they are one of very few teams with a better ERA than the Wave. And their weekend starters have been extremely impressive. Adam Semanaris, a lefty, is their Friday night guy with an ERA of 1.23 and 36 K’s in 22 innings. That’s a LOT of strikeouts. Saturday’s starter, another lefty, Alfredo Ruiz, has a 1.8o ERA and 24 K’s in 25 innings. Luiz Ramirez (2.78 ERA) is their Sunday starter, a righty who has fanned 27 in 20.1 innings. Between them they’ve only walked 16 guys in 47.1 innings—not bad. Unfortunately, getting to their bullpen hasn’t been much of a picnic either. Their top five out of the pen have a combined ERA of 2.00.
Based on the season so far, I think we compare well with their starters on Friday and Saturday; not so much on Sunday. Clearly, their relievers have fared better than ours. But if we are slightly disadvantaged overall on the mound, I think our hitting should make up for it. In short, I’d rather face their lineup with our pitching (even the bullpen) than face our lineup with their pitching.
All things point to low scoring games but, overall, I think we match up well. More important, I pray for the health of everyone as our nation and the world combat this virus. Sports doesn't seem all that important under the current circumstances.
Still, Roll Wave!!!
Long Beach State did not play any mid-week games this week so they are coming in fresh with all arms ready to play Tulane. Currently, they have a 10-5 record against much stronger competition than our Wave has face, taking 2 of 3 each from California, Mississippi State, and Xavier, and sweeping three from Wake Forest, while winning a single game against San Diego and losing single games to Washington and San Diego State.
They are not a good hitting team, batting only .248 as a team with three HR’s in 15 games and don’t score a lot of runs. Hopefully, we can continue that trend. But their strength is on the mound. With a team ERA of 2.38, they are one of very few teams with a better ERA than the Wave. And their weekend starters have been extremely impressive. Adam Semanaris, a lefty, is their Friday night guy with an ERA of 1.23 and 36 K’s in 22 innings. That’s a LOT of strikeouts. Saturday’s starter, another lefty, Alfredo Ruiz, has a 1.8o ERA and 24 K’s in 25 innings. Luiz Ramirez (2.78 ERA) is their Sunday starter, a righty who has fanned 27 in 20.1 innings. Between them they’ve only walked 16 guys in 47.1 innings—not bad. Unfortunately, getting to their bullpen hasn’t been much of a picnic either. Their top five out of the pen have a combined ERA of 2.00.
Based on the season so far, I think we compare well with their starters on Friday and Saturday; not so much on Sunday. Clearly, their relievers have fared better than ours. But if we are slightly disadvantaged overall on the mound, I think our hitting should make up for it. In short, I’d rather face their lineup with our pitching (even the bullpen) than face our lineup with their pitching.
All things point to low scoring games but, overall, I think we match up well. More important, I pray for the health of everyone as our nation and the world combat this virus. Sports doesn't seem all that important under the current circumstances.
Still, Roll Wave!!!
