Looking forward to some home baseball this weekend after a weekend on the road. Also a good opportunity to get some guys with less experience this year in a game as well. Anything less than a sweep is unacceptable; there's a reason why this Harvard team is 1-6, as they were pretty decimated by the recent cheating scandal at Harvard.

(03-15-2013 10:56 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(03-15-2013 10:53 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-15-2013 10:34 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(03-15-2013 10:30 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-15-2013 10:26 AM)grol Wrote:  Could be. Or it could signal some changes in the Sat. - Sun. starters....

Very much doubt it, given conference play starts next weekend, and everything you do this week should be aimed at setting yourself up for the USM series. I think the only question mark will be Sunday, and whether The OG elects to have Simms start or assume the primary closer role going forward...and part of that, I suspect, depends on how Lemond responds this weekend.

Don't think it would be appropriate to start Simms Sunday after his workload Tuesday. My guess is that Stephens and McCanna make the starts this weekend. Against USM, the Sunday starter could change.

I agree in theory; however, if The OG's plan is to emplant Big John as our Sunday starter for USM and beyond, I suspect he'll start and get 3 - 5 innings of work in this Sunday against Harvard. You don't want to give him almost two weeks off and risk him getting rusty (which would be the case if he doesn't pitch until NEXT Sunday), and you don't want to pitch him on Tuesday night in relief if he's going to start on Sunday.

I don't see any issue with him throwing a couple innings Tuesday and then starting Sunday. But, we can agree to disagree on that.

I hope opposing dugouts burn as many calories speculating about what it does/doesn't mean, who might/might not, this/that, if/and/or/but! :muttering:

That Graham's a genious!

BTW, one item I forgot to mention in my preview-- opposing teams have stolen 22-24 bases against Harvard so far this year, or better than 3 per game. If we are ever to attempt to get our "running" game in gear, this is certainly the weekend to do so.

Interesting that Kirby Taylor getting another shot at 1B tonight, despite facing a RHP. You'd think Blake Fox would have gotten the start; especially since he's not likely to be available out of the pen after pitching 3 innings on Wednesday...

Quote:Rice Owls‏@RiceOwlsdotcom
Rice lineup: Byrd CF, Stainback SS, Aquino DH, Stringer 2B, Teykl 3B, Ratterree RF, Cook LF, Perrott C, Taylor 1B, Kubitza P.

Late in Fall Ball and early in Spring practice, Taylor looked like he was making a place for himself as a utility player (5th infielder/DH) poised to get a bunch of ABs. Then he suffered some type of injury and spent the end of Spring scrimmages and early regular season with a cast on his hand/wrist.

Now that he's health, I suspect Wayne wants to get Kirby some at-bats to see what he can do. And since nobody's exactly taken over at 1B, I guess coach thinks giving him a chance at 1B is as good a place for him to play as any.

You might wonder if he might get a chance in the OF. I suppose it's possible. But I don't remember Kirby ever playing in the OF during Fall Ball or Spring scrimmages.

I was told a thrown ball hit his bat, hand and face, and that a finger was broken (maybe fractured?). And that is why we didn't see him until this week.