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ASU
Mar 13, 2017 9:08:19 GMT -8
Post by ochobeavo on Mar 13, 2017 9:08:19 GMT -8
Feels like we're getting them at a great time, pretty rough start and they are still trying to put all the pieces together. I think I'd rather see them now than in another month - though they did sweep LB State over the weekend to finish up 9-7 heading into conference play.
Sun Devils swept Northwestern to start the season, lost 2 out of 3 to TCU, lost 2 out of 3 to Loyola and lost 2 midweek games to Fullerton last week before sweeping LB. Also lost to Ok State and beat NM State. So they've definitely faced some quality teams so far.
Pitching has been pretty rough. Team wise, the have a 5.35 ERA - biggest trouble has been finding the plate. They have 85 walks and 23 wild pitches so far. Compare that to our 30 walks, 2 WP on the season.
Their weekend starters should be:
FRI Lingos 3-0 2.39 ERA 26.1 IP 23 H 7 ER 24 K 4 BB
SAT Van Scoyoc 0-0 2.00 ERA 18 IP 9 H 4 ER 12 K 17 BB
SUN Hingst 0-1 4.70 ERA 15.1 IP 13H 8 ER 13K 13 BB
Hitting - they come in at .286, OBP .361, slugging .396. We're at .284/.379/.404
I'm guessing we'll continue to be real patient at the plate and work pitch counts- aside from Lingos, none of their guys have gone very late into games. Their pen hasn't been any better than their starters. Let's get rid of the LOB monster and we should be set up to take care of business again this weekend.
Pac-12 opening schedule:
WSU at USC
Arizona at UCLA
Oregon at Cal
Utah at Washington
Stanford - Idle
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ASU
Mar 13, 2017 10:36:21 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by baseba1111 on Mar 13, 2017 10:36:21 GMT -8
ASU will be the best team we've faced... by a decent margin I'd think.
Personally I'm not liking the timing of our rankings going up while traveling to a team who had a stronger NC schedule. We have a lot of unknowns vs quality competition. Plus we're going on the road where its 30+ degrees warmer (15-20 deg over the norm).
We need a good start Thursday night and solid D on a natural field. And LOBs have to be at a minimum... right now too many holes in our lineup not getting done vs the comp they faced.
If we're going to determine our own fate OSU needs series wins and no getting swept this year. Our NC SOS is not going to help us out if we're again borderline... which I can't see happening.
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ASU
Mar 13, 2017 21:40:48 GMT -8
Post by eugenedave on Mar 13, 2017 21:40:48 GMT -8
Let me make one thing perfectly clear. Our pitching is AMAZINGLY GOOD. We issue very few walks, and our guys can mow them down. Somebody once said "They can't score if they can't get on base" I don't give a damn what our LOB number is. As long as we keep the base path clear, we will win. Our new catcher is also a weapon, in case they try to steal or get lazy around first and fall prey to a back pick. He has a cannon for an arm, that is very accurate.
Getting a series win on the road is never easy, but I like our odds at ASU this year.
GO BEAVS!
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 3:57:30 GMT -8
Post by badwack on Mar 14, 2017 3:57:30 GMT -8
Pitching, Pitching, Pitching and of course the Middle of the Line-up making contact and driving in Runs. From what it looks like today, Hitting will be the make or break point for this team.
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 6:35:13 GMT -8
Post by jefframp on Mar 14, 2017 6:35:13 GMT -8
Any ideas as to why this is a Thurs.-Sat deal instead of a Fri.-Sun. series?
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 9:37:57 GMT -8
Post by mbabeav on Mar 14, 2017 9:37:57 GMT -8
Pitching, Pitching, Pitching and of course the Middle of the Line-up making contact and driving in Runs. From what it looks like today, Hitting will be the make or break point for this team. I really think Nick is a better choice at 3rd in the order - we have players with high OB to put in front of him, and with he and KJ to protect each other at 3-4, it will make us an even tougher squad to deal with. |
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 10:03:00 GMT -8
Post by ochobeavo on Mar 14, 2017 10:03:00 GMT -8
Any ideas as to why this is a Thurs.-Sat deal instead of a Fri.-Sun. series? I was assuming that it's TV related. I know Thursday (6pm) and Friday (4pm) are televised. |
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 11:20:04 GMT -8
Post by orangeblood on Mar 14, 2017 11:20:04 GMT -8
The Pac-12 wants to televise as many games as possible, therefore two teams will have a Thursday-Saturday series each week. We have the same schedule when we play at oregon, and also at Washington (but that is because that Sunday is Easter).
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 11:23:21 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by zeroposter on Mar 14, 2017 11:23:21 GMT -8
Pitching, Pitching, Pitching and of course the Middle of the Line-up making contact and driving in Runs. From what it looks like today, Hitting will be the make or break point for this team. I really think Nick is a better choice at 3rd in the order - we have players with high OB to put in front of him, and with he and KJ to protect each other at 3-4, it will make us an even tougher squad to deal with. So who do you put in the leadoff spot with the high OBP and wheels to replace Nick? |
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Post by kersting13 on Mar 14, 2017 12:32:03 GMT -8
I really think Nick is a better choice at 3rd in the order - we have players with high OB to put in front of him, and with he and KJ to protect each other at 3-4, it will make us an even tougher squad to deal with. So who do you put in the leadoff spot with the high OBP and wheels to replace Nick? I think moving Madrigal out of the leadoff spot would be a bad idea. KJ, Larnach, and Rutschman - when he comes around - should provide plenty of bop for the middle of the order. |
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 12:45:23 GMT -8
Post by mbabeav on Mar 14, 2017 12:45:23 GMT -8
So who do you put in the leadoff spot with the high OBP and wheels to replace Nick? I think moving Madrigal out of the leadoff spot would be a bad idea. KJ, Larnach, and Rutschman - when he comes around - should provide plenty of bop for the middle of the order. Gretler and Donahue have good averages, high OBP and are very fast. Front loading the order with them, and having Madrigal, KJ, Larnach and Rutschman to follow would be a really solid batting order. |
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ASU
Mar 14, 2017 20:21:46 GMT -8
Post by Tigardbeav on Mar 14, 2017 20:21:46 GMT -8
I think moving Madrigal out of the leadoff spot would be a bad idea. KJ, Larnach, and Rutschman - when he comes around - should provide plenty of bop for the middle of the order. Gretler and Donahue have good averages, high OBP and are very fast. Front loading the order with them, and having Madrigal, KJ, Larnach and Rutschman to follow would be a really solid batting order. I think Rutsch has to be a 7 or 8 hole hitter until his balls start dropping. He is barely over the Mendoza line last I looked. I'm afraid I put thehex on him early. Mea Culpa. Bring me a chicken Off topic but why are we starting on a Thursday? Usually the only week we play Pac 12 on Thursday is Easter week to be off on Easter. Except that one year Stanford & Marquesses had to play Easter Sunday! |
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