2019 Rice Baseball Way Too Early Preview & Thought Starter
With the completion of Fall Ball, and the end of the semester, it's time to turn our thoughts in earnest toward the upcoming 2019 season, and our prospects for the inaugural season of the Matt Bragga era. Despite Bragga's reputation as an offensive-minded coach (with his recent Tennessee Tech teams among the national leaders in almost all offensive categories), it would appear from the outset that the success of this Rice squad will ride on the depth and quality of our pitching staff.
While still early, here's how I see our lineup and pitching staff shaping up...
C DiCaprio/Collins/Frazier
1B DiCaprio/Collins (I believe the current game plan is to have the two rotate between 1B and C)
2B Edwards/Gneitting/Jefferies (assuming Edward's elbow issue finally allows him to hit-- still TBD)
SS T.Cruz
3B Comeaux
LF A.Dunlap/Cox (assuming Andrew applies and gets accepted into grad school-- still TBD)
CF Cox/Beaulaurier/A.Cruz
RF Gneitting/Brewer/Duluc (perhaps a righty-lefty platoon?)
DH A.Dunlap/Brewer/Duluc
Obviously, if Andrew Dunlap enrolls and returns for his final season, it provides our offense with a huge boost, and gives the lineup 3 power hitters (Dunlap, DiCaprio, Collins). My biggest concern is that we're going to be fielding an overwhelmingly right-handed lineup, with only Trei Cruz (switch hitter) and Gneitting as left-handed bats....and there are no other left-handed hitting position players on our roster. Quite the change from the past several seasons when we had Proctor, Chandler and Gray as central figures in the lineup. If Andrew Dunlap enrolls and Cade Edwards is healthy-- both big "ifs"-- I think the offense can hold its own. If not, we're really going to struggle scoring runs-- against anybody, and the defense will suffer, as well. Outfield defense is likely to be an issue regardless.
Friday starter: Canterino
Saturday starter: Moss
Sunday starter: Parthasarathy, Greenwood, Jefferies
Midweek starter: Parthasarathy, Greenwood, Jefferies
Jack-of-all-trades (the Abe Gonzales/Bobby Bramhall role of years past): Kendall Jefferies (I actually love him in this role, and think he's more valuable here than strictly as a starter)
Closers: Gayle, Garcia (both somewhat unproven, but both with unquestionable talent and upside)
Middle relief: Esquivel (finally healthy again), Kravitz, Deskins, Lewis, Jackson
If Kendall is used in the role I prescribe, we could have the best bullpen we've had in years, especially if Corey Barton can get Kravitz, Garcia and Gayle to take it to the next level (and from everything I've heard, Barton has become a big fan of Evan). And though our starters are all right-handers, Deskins and Kravitz give us two solid southpaw arms out of the pen. And while Esquivel doesn't have plus stuff, people forget how effective he was for us as a 5-inning starter a couple years back, before he suffered dead arm. I really like him as a 1 - 2 inning reliever, who doesn't have to face the lineup a second time through.
Clearly, our greatest strength is in our starting pitching, with Canterino-Moss arguably the best 1-2 in CUSA, and capable of keeping us in the game against anybody. Parthasarathy appeared in Fall Ball to have regained his early Freshman year form, before he got injured, and he (and Kravitz) both lost a ton of weight and appear to be in the best shape of their lives. Greenwood and Deskins did nothing but impress throughout Fall Ball, and should be major contributors.
I welcome opposing thoughts.
UPDATE: Based on the post below from SwedeOwl, Andrew Dunlap has been accepted into the Jones School, where he will seek his MBA, while playing his final season for Rice. Great news! Now to get Dom and Cade healthy!
(This post was last modified: 01-12-2019 10:36 AM by waltgreenberg.)
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