By FullertonBaseballFan
The sluggish 4-7 start that Cal State Fullerton got off to looks like it could be in the rear view mirror with the Titans going 8-1 over the last three weekends and winning two out of three games at Goodwin Field last weekend against Hawaii (3-0, 13-7, 7-10). It was a balanced effort at the plate for Fullerton against the Rainbows with Corey Jones leading the way with six hits and six other players each getting five hits. The leader for the pitching staff unquestionably was Noe Ramirez, the Big West pitcher of the week after throwing a CG shutout with a career high 14 strikeouts. The Titans are looking to build off of the momentum of their recent success as they open Big West play this weekend at Goodwin Field against the UC Davis Aggies.
UC Davis (12-9) qualified for a regional in 2008 with a veteran laden team in their first year of D1 eligibility and their first year as a full member of the Big West. The Aggies knew that 2009 would be a rebuilding year after losing so many players from their regional team but nothing could prepare them for how poorly they played in winning only seven of their first 43 games before going 6-6 in their last twelve games, including series wins against UC Riverside and Cal State Northridge. UC Davis is playing outside of northern part of the state for the first time this weekend although they have played on the road quite a bit and are 7-4 away from home. The Aggies split home series with Utah and BYU and won a H/A series with Causeway Cup rival Sacramento State before hitting the road and going 3-1 in the Bay Area in a tournament hosted by San Jose State and Santa Clara and losing two out of three games last weekend at Fresno State. Due to last season’s poor results, despite returning most of their team UC Davis didn’t come into this season with high expectations after being picked to finish last in the Big West but they have already nearly matched last season’s win total before conference play has gotten started.
LINEUP
The ballpark at UC Davis favors pitchers with dimensions that are 385 to the power alleys and 410 to straight away center with a good amount of foul territory and according to Boyd’s World the ballpark helps hold down offense by 20%. Playing in a pitchers park influences the hitting approach of the Aggies because they go to the plate looking to make contact and spray line drives around the park. UC Davis had one of the worst offenses in the country last season and ranked in the bottom 20 in AVG, R, HR, SLG, BB and SB. Despite losing two of their best hitters (Ty Kelly, Ryan Scoma) the Aggies have been much better at the plate with their team average going up over 40 points to .311 (tied for 2nd in the conf) and scoring about two more runs per game (averaging six runs per game). UC Davis doesn’t hit for much power (8th in the conf in SLG, last in extra base hits) and doesn’t walk much (8th in the conf in BB) and their hitters will make contact, trailing only UC Irvine for fewest strikeouts in the conf. The Aggies will only bunt with a couple of hitters and will run some (23-34 SB’s).
UC Davis was a below average fielding team in 2009 with a .962 FLD % and made 79 errors but have improved their defense somewhat this season, especially in the infield, and have made 29 E’s for a .964 FLD %. The Aggies were fielding the ball pretty well in their first 16 games when they made 20 errors but have gotten sloppy lately and made nine errors in their last five games.
Infield
UC Davis returns an experienced infield, losing only 3B Kelly from last season, despite not starting any upperclassmen. The Aggies switched their 2B and SS and moved a FR to 3B and those moves have worked out pretty well.
C – Soph #7 Scott Kalush (RH – .333/.396/.375, 0-13-0; ’09 – .200 in 100 AB’s) is in his second season as the starting C and his offense has improved (tied for 2nd in RBI) after not hitting well as a FR. He has struggled defensively and allowed 96-108 SB’s the last two years including 27-30 this season. Kalush usually hits 8th and went 1-8 last season against Fullerton. JR #3 Alex Dreyfuss (RH – 6-22) has started six games as the backup C but hasn’t started a game in the last two weeks.
1B – Soph #19 Eric Johnson (RH – .367/.446/.418, 0-20-2; ’09 – .276 in 87 AB’s) was a part-time starter in 2009 and has hit well as the full-time 1B and leads the team in RBI. He is 2nd on the team in OBP and leads the team with 9 HBP but has only walked three times. Johnson will hit either cleanup or 5th. He is a big guy who does a solid job defensively at 1B.
2B – Soph #7 Scott Heylman (RH – .257/.368/.286, 0-10-2; ’09 – .279/.369/.364, 0-12-2) was the starting SS in 2009 and did ok there but his range was a little limited and he is a better fit at 2B where he has made four errors this season and has been solid. He is in the lineup for his glove and usually hits 9th. Heylman went 1-6 against Fullerton last season.
SS – Soph #23 Justin Schafer (RH – .318/.378/.412, 1-13-2; ’09 – .338/.411/.432, 2-11-7) led the Aggies in AVG and SB and was 2nd in SLG in 2009. He got off to a slow start and was only hitting .238 going into last week but has gone 11-22 the last five games. Schafer was the 2B last year but is a better athlete than Heylman and has done a good job since being switched to SS and has made only three errors. He will usually lead off or hit 2nd. Schafer went 3-10 against Fullerton last season.
3B – FR #34 Paul Politi (RH – .250/.329/.375, 1-13-1) took over for Kelly and barely hit .200 going into last week but has gone 7-18 his last five games and is tied for 2nd in RBI. He was playing well defensively going into last week with only two errors but has made four errors in the last five games. Politi will usually hit 7th or 8th.
Outfield and DH
UC Davis returns two of their OF’s from last season and has been getting some surprising help from one of their utility players who was only a pitcher in 2009 but has been both an OF and a SP this season.
CF – JR #11 Daniel Cepin (RH – .301/.354/.315, 0-8-5; ’09 - .269/.348/.330, 0-12-2) is one of the faster players on the team and has been the leadoff man the past two seasons. He got off to a good start but has been nicked up for the last week and has started only twice in the last five games, both times as the DH.
If Cepin is unable to play in the outfield, SR #24 Kyle Mihaylo (RH – .329/.356/.486, 3-8-3; ’09 – .237/.298/.333, 1-12-2) will move over from a corner outfield spot. Mihaylo is the one player on the team that has trouble with making contact, leading the team in K’s last season and striking out nearly 1/3 of the time this season. He is leading the team in HR’s and had one of the better SLG %’s on the team in 2008 but had a bad year in 2009. Mihaylo usually hits either 6th or 7th.
LF – FR #9 Seth Batty (RH – .233/.352/.233, 0-6-6) has been in the lineup six of the last nine games and is one of the faster runners on the team. He has been leading off when he is in the lineup because he does a solid job of drawing walks and he leads the team in SB.
RF – Soph #30 Scott Lyman (RH – .363/.386/.538, 2-12-1) focused on pitching as a FR but has been in the OF when he’s not pitching and has turned into one of the better hitters on the team. When Lyman is up the ball will be put in play because he has only 1 BB and 7 K’s. Lyman will hit in the middle of the lineup in the first two games but will not hit as the DH when he is the SP. Runners will have to be careful trying to take an extra base because of his arm.
DH – Soph David Popkins (RH – .426/.556/.630, 2-11-1; ’09 – 2-18) barely played in 2009 but has been on fire this year and leads the team in AVG, OBP, SLG and BB. He also does a good job of making contact and has only K’d six times. Popkins will usually hit 3rd or 4th.
PITCHING
The position players for UC Davis weren’t the only ones who had issues in 2009 because the pitching staff was last in the Big West with a 6.72 team ERA after they returned none of their SP’s from their 2008 regional team. The Aggies are much more experienced on the mound this season, returning most of their SP’s and eight pitchers who threw 20+ innings in 2009, and there has been drastic improvement with a 4.20 ERA (2nd in the conf), a .262 BA (2nd in the conf) and a conf best 7 HR allowed.
Starters
THURS – Soph #6 Dayne Quist (LHP – 4-1, 2.90 ERA, 5 starts, 3 CG, 40 IP, 30 H, 10 BB, 31 K, .213 BA, 3 HR, 1 HBP, 3 WP) is a crafty lefty who relies on control, changing speeds and keeping the ball down to get hitters out. He was outstanding in his first four starts, winning all of them and throwing three CG’s with an ERA under 2. Quist allowed 1 R against Utah, 0 R against BYU and 3 R against Sac State and Southern Illinois. He struggled last week at Fresno State and allowed 8 R (6 ER) and 11 H in 6 IP. Quist had the best ERA of the SP’s in 2009 (2-6, 5.48 ERA, 17 apps, 8 starts, 67 IP, 75 H, 29 BB, 32 K). He allowed 8 R and 13 H in 7 IP in his start against Fullerton last season.
FRI – Soph #8 Anthony Kupbens (LHP – 3-2, 3.71 ERA, 6 starts, 34 IP, 34 H, 14 BB, 19 K, .264 BA, 1 HR, 5 HBP, 0 WP) is another crafty lefty who relies on keeping the ball down to get hitters out. He pitched primarily out of the bullpen in 2009 (2-1, 4.88 ERA, 8 apps, 24 IP, 19 H, 11 BB, 16 K) and has done a good job in the rotation. Kupbens has allowed 3 R or less in four of his five starts. He allowed 2R against Utah, 2 R against Sac State, 2 R against Santa Clara and 3 R against Fresno State with his only bad start when he allowed 7 R (5 ER) against BYU.
SAT – Soph #30 Scott Lyman (RHP – 1-2, 6.08 ERA, 5 starts, 1 CG, 27 IP, 34 H, 15 BB, 22 K,.312 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 8 WP) is a hard thrower who had issues with his control as a FR (0-5, 6.41 ERA, 13 apps, 39 IP, 38 H, 33 BB, 26 K) and leads the staff in BB and WP. He struggled in his first three starts but had a strong start against Fresno State last week when he threw a CG and allowed 2 R (1 ER) on 6 H and 4 BB.
The midweek SP is Soph #26 Nathan Slater (LHP – 2-2, 4.84 ERA, 7 apps, 4 starts, 22 IP, 24 H, 8 BB, 20 K, .279 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 5 WP) and he threw 3 IP against St. Mary’s on Tuesday so he will be available out of the bullpen.
Relievers
UC Davis doesn’t have a set closer but has several relief pitchers that they have been going to often who have been solid out of the bullpen.
SR #31 Scott Heinig – (RHP – 0-1, 4.22 ERA, 10 apps, 11 IP, 10 H, 5 BB, 4 K, .286 BA, 0 HR). Heinig has been solid except for allowing 4 R in 1 1/3 IP against Santa Clara.
JR #15 Matt Derr – (RHP – 0-0, 3.86 ERA, 1 save, 7 apps, 7 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 6 K, .269 BA, 0 HR)
SR #33 Sean Watson – (LHP – 0-1, 4.97 ERA, 7 apps, 13 IP, 15 H, 7 BB, 4 K, .313 BA, 1 HR)
FR #32 CJ Blom – (LHP 1-0, 3.52 ERA, 6 apps, 8 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 13 K, .258 BA, 0 HR). Blom has the best stuff of the RP’s.
JR #43 Matthew Lewis – (RHP – 1-0, 4.22 ERA, 6 apps, 11 IP, 6 H, 10 BB, 11 K, .171 BA, 1 HR). Lewis has been tough to hit but has also been very wild.
Soph #16 LHP Scott Chew will be available this weekend after throwing 1 IP at Fresno last weekend in his first appearance of the season. He had a good start against Fullerton last season when he held the Titans to 1 R on 3 H in 7IP.
OUTLOOK
Their probably won’t be high scoring games this weekend because these pitching staffs have the two best ERA’s in the Big West and cool weather is in the forecast. Fullerton has averaged less than three runs per game in their losses. UC Davis has scored four runs or less in nearly half of their games.
The Fullerton pitching staff matches up well with a UC Davis offense that doesn’t look to muscle up and swing for the fences and also isn’t patient at the plate. If the Titan pitchers are on their game they should be able to hold down the Aggie lineup.
The UC Davis pitching staff presents an interesting challenge because the first two SP’s are crafty LHP’s that have given the LH heavy Fullerton lineup trouble this season.
Fullerton is the best team that Davis has faced in a weekend series. Fullerton’s offense has been clicking lately and has usually been more productive than the UC Davis lineup has. If the lineup puts up enough runs against the Davis LHP’s in the first two games, Noe Ramirez keeps pitching like he has been and Renken and Pill bounce back then Fullerton should be able to win this series.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Video: Building Future Titans
Titan Baseball isn't built in a day. Remember that, in what's transpiring to be a trying season:
Building Future Titans from FullertonTitansTV on Vimeo.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Hawaii Series Preview
By FullertonBaseballFan
The roller coaster ride that has been the 2010 season for Cal State Fullerton continued over the past six games with two close losses to #1/ #2 Arizona State 6-5 and 8-6 with the Sun Devils coming from behind in each game. That midweek series was followed by a three game sweep at Washington (9-7, 19-6 and 6-0) and a 4-2 loss at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday which evened up Fullerton’s record at 10-10. The leading hitters for the Titans against Washington were Christian Colon (8-13, 4 HR and 7 RBI), Gary Brown (11-16, 5 RBI), Carlos Lopez (8-13), Joey Siddons (5-12) and Billy Marcoe (4-12, 2 HR) and the best pitching effort came from Kyle Mertins when he had an outstanding start and threw eight scoreless innings. Next up for the Fullerton in their first weekend at home since the beginning of March is a visit from the Hawaii Rainbows.
Hawaii (12-9) is traveling to the mainland for the first time this year after a 20 game homestand to start the season and got their trip off to a good start with an 8-2 win at Long Beach on Wednesday night. The Rainbows got off to a slow start when they lost 3 of 4 games to a strong Oregon State squad, won 3 of 4 games in a low scoring series with Oregon, split four games with The Citadel (one of the favorites in the Southern Conference), lost 3 of 4 games to USC and swept four games against Air Force. Hawaii came into this season with expectations of making a run at a regional after finishing 32-26, 11-12 and in 5th place in the WAC with a solid nucleus returning both in the lineup and on the mound. The Rainbows were picked to finish either 2nd or 3rd by the media and the WAC coaches.
LINEUP
Hawaii plays their home games on field turf at Les Murakami Stadium, which has a ballpark factor according to Boyd’s World of 73 and decreases offense by 27%. As a result of playing in a pitchers park and in a conference with some bandboxes the Rainbows had the lowest team average (.278) and scoring offense (6 RPG) in the WAC in 2009 but they did hit 64 HR’s and have a .496 SLG %. The offense has been similar this season with a .242 team average and 4.5 RPG with 15 HR in their first sixteen games before scoring 41 R and hitting .376 an overmatched Air Force pitching staff to increase their team average to .273. Hawaii will have some hitters work counts but they aren’t looking to bunt much (32 SAC’s in 2009, 11 this year) or run much (38 SB’s in 2009, 12 this year) they are looking to swing for the fences and are striking out nearly eight times per game.
Hawaii takes advantage of playing on field turf and was a good fielding team last season and made 58 errors with a .975 fielding % (14th in the country) and has a good fielding team again this year with a .976 fielding % and 19 errors.
Infield
Hawaii lost starters at C, 2B and 3B from last season and moved one of their OF’s to 2B and has two recruits starting at C and 3B and the new starters have worked out well.
C – JC transfer David Freitas (RH – .281/.359/.469, 3-15-0) led his JC team in AVG, HR and RBI in 2009 and has gotten off to a solid start hitting in the cleanup spot and is 2nd on the team in HR and RBI. He started out hitting .255 before going 6-14 last weekend against Air Force. Freitas was expected to be able to hit but he has also done a good job behind the plate throwing out half of the baserunners who have attempted to steal (16-32 SB’s). SR Kevin Fujii (RH – 3-18; .220 in 58 AB’s in ‘09) has started one game in each series with Freitas moving over to DH.
1B – SR Kevin Macdonald (RH – .207/.356/.466, 5-14-1; ’09 – .271/.352/.516, 14-60-0) is a three year starter at 1B and led the team in HR and RBI last season when he was 1st team All WAC. He leads the team in HR again this season and is an all or nothing hitter who swings for the fences and led the team with 52 K’s in 2009 and is striking out over 1/3 of the time this year. Macdonald does a good job on defense and hits 6th.
2B – Soph Kolten Wong (LH – .342/.451/.526, 2-13-6; ’09 – .341/.418/.597, 11-52-11) is Hawaii’s best player and one of the best players in the WAC. He was a FR All-American last season and was among the team leaders in AVG, R, HR, RBI, SLG, OBP and SB and played on Team USA last summer. Wong played OF in 2009 but moved to 2B this year and has played well there and has only made two errors. He has gotten off to a good start and hits 3rd.
SS – JR Greg Garcia (LH – .303/.424/.526, 2-12-1; ’09 – .265/.359/.385, 2-23-6) is a three year starter in the middle infield and started at 2B as a FR and at SS the last two years. He is patient at the plate and works counts and was 2nd on the team in BB in 2009 but also struck out 40 times because he will also swing for the fences. Garcia will hit 2nd and got off to a very slow start, hitting .214 the first four series before going 9-16 against Air Force. He was a little shaky at SS last season with 16 E’s and a .950 FLD % but has improved this year and made only two errors and has a .978 FLD %.
3B – FR Pi’ikea Kitamura (RH – .254/.351/.349, 1-9-0) has moved into the lineup right away as a FR and started every game. He has done a solid job defensively but struggled at the plate in adjusting to D1 ball and was hitting .229 before going 5-13 with 6 RBI’s against Air Force. Kitamura will usually hit 8th or 9th.
Outfield and DH
Hawaii returned all of their OF’s from last season but with Wong moving to 2B that opened up a spot in the OF.
CF – JC transfer Collin Bennett (RH – .347/.435/.569, 3-17-1) is another newcomer who has moved right into the lineup and hit the ground running. He leads the team in AVG, SLG and RBI as a power bat in the middle of the lineup and usually hits 5th.
LF and RF – SR Matt Roquemore (LH – .385/.484/.385, 0-2-0; ’09 – .281/.357/.352, 0-12-4), JR Sean Montplaisir (LH – .174/.304/.196, 0-4-2; ’09 – .291/.358/.510, 5-26-2) and SR Christian Johnson (LH – .185/.290/.333, 1-1-1; ’09 – .214/.304/.412, 6-23-1) have been sharing time at the corner OF spots after also splitting up time in the OF in 2009. Roquemore has gotten off to the best start and will bat leadoff when he is in the lineup and is a slap hitter. Montplaisir was the best all around hitter last year and a pre-season All WAC selection but has been in a major slump to start the year. Johnson has the most raw power but is an all or nothing hitter (41 K’s in 131 AB’s in 2009) which means not much AVG and the occasional HR. FR Kalani Brackenridge (RH – 4-20) has gotten a few AB’s lately due to the slow starts of Montplaisir and Johnson.
DH – JR Jeffrey Van Doornum (RH – .321/.387/.554, 2-7-1; ’09 – .228/.293/.315, 2-16-6) has been the DH most of the last two years and gives the lineup some pop in the 7th spot. Freitas will DH if he takes a game off from catching.
PITCHING
Hawaii’s pitching staff struggled last season with a 5.74 ERA including a 7.26 ERA in conference games. The pitchers for the Rainbows have done a much better job this season with a 4.14 ERA with two strong SP’s at the front of the rotation and some good work out of the bullpen. Hawaii only scored 11 runs in the Oregon series but won 3 of 4 games because they held the Ducks to nine runs. The Rainbows have allowed four runs or less in 12 of their 21 games.
Starters
FRI – JR Josh Slaats (RHP – 2-0, 0.40 ERA, 4 starts, 23 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 25 K, .197 BA, 0 HR, 3 HBP, 2 WP) is a big power pitcher who was on the Baseball America pre-season All WAC team and has been outstanding during the first month of the season. He allowed two unearned runs in 6 IP against Oregon State, 1 R in 4 1/3 IP against Oregon and threw seven scoreless innings against The Citadel when he only gave up two hits. He missed his start against USC with some arm soreness but came back last week to hold Air Force scoreless in 5 1/3 IP with 10 K’s. Slaats was a reliever in 2009 and struggled with consistency (2-2, 8.33 ERA, 4 saves in 18 apps, 27 IP, 29 H, 17 BB, 30 K) but has turned it around this year.
SAT – JR Sam Spangler (LHP – 2-3, 3.67 ERA, 5 starts, 27 IP, 26 H, 10 BB, 31 K, .277 BA, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 2 WP) was drafted in the 20th round last June as a 3rd yr Soph and was the Baseball America pre-season WAC pitcher of the year. Spangler split time as a closer last season (5-3, 4.17 ERA, 4 saves, 19 apps, 45 IP, 49 H, 14 BB, 48 K) and has a live arm with a fastball that sits in the low 90’s and his changeup he has developed to go with his breaking pitch. He didn’t get past the fifth inning in his first two starts before holding The Citadel to 1 R and 7 H in 7 IP and USC to 3 R and 7 H in 6 2/3 IP. Spangler allowed 4 R in 5 IP last weekend against Air Force.
SUN – Soph Matt Sisto (RHP – 2-3, 6.33 ERA, 5 starts, 27 IP, 28 H, 7 BB, 18 K,.269 BA, 2 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) had a good FR season (5-4, 4.37 ERA, 13 starts, 82 IP, 104 H, 14 BB, 50 K, .314 AVG) and was expected to be one of the better pitchers on the staff but did not pitch well in three of his first four starts. He had a good start against Oregon (one unearned run in 6 IP) in between bad starts against Oregon State (6 R in 5 2/3 IP) and The Citadel (8 R in 6 IP). After another poor start against USC (4 R in 2 1/3 IP) he bounced back to hold Air Force to 1 R in 7 IP. Sisto is a strike thrower but has often been getting too much of the plate allowing teams to put together big innings.
SR RHP Nate Klein (1-0, 5.59 ERA, 4 starts) was the other SP returning from last season (3-4, 5.10 ERA in 10 starts) along with Sisto and started the first game in of each of the first four series for Hawaii but injured his arm in his start against USC, did not pitch against Air Force and will not pitch this weekend
Relievers
Hawaii has some experience in their bullpen and their relievers have usually done a solid job, especially their closer.
Soph Lenny Linsky (RHP – 0-9, 0.00 ERA, 4 saves, 10 apps, 13 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 9 K, .163 BA, 0 HR) has been nearly unhittable with five of the seven hits allowed coming in a 2 1/3 IP appearance last weekend.
JR Alex Capaul (RHP – 4-1, 4.71 ERA, 6 apps, 1 start, 21 IP, 20 H, 1 BB, 10 K, 2 HR) has done a good job in middle relief and is able to throw several innings. He started against Air Force last weekend for Klein and allowed 5 R in 6 1/3 IP.
Other relievers who would be most likely to come into games would be JC transfer Blair Walters (LHP – 0-1, 4.26 ERA, 8 apps, 13 IP, 11 IP, 4 BB, 15 K, 0 HR), Soph Jesse Moore (RHP – 0-0, 3.97 ERA, 6 apps, 1 save, 11 IP, 9 H, 6 BB, 7 K, 1 HR) who threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the save against Long Beach and Soph Connor Little (RHP – 0-0, 4.91 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 9 K, 0 HR).
OUTLOOK
Fullerton has showed quite a bit of progress recently in rebounding from a 4-7 start to win three straight games each of the last two weekends. Hawaii will give the Titans a major test this weekend with the pitching staff that they are bringing to Goodwin Field and Fullerton’s inability to hit in most of their losses with 20 runs scored in their ten defeats.
The Fullerton pitching staff should be able to hold down the Hawaii hitters if they keep the ball in the yard. If the Titan pitching staff is making mistakes and allowing the Hawaii hitters to tee off this could be a long weekend for Fullerton.
This will be only the second game that Hawaii has played on grass this season. Also, the teams that Hawaii has played haven’t put too much pressure on the Rainbows except for Oregon, whose offense was shut down by Hawaii. It will be interesting to see if Fullerton will be able to put pressure on the Hawaii pitchers and fielders and how they respond.
Runs figure to be at a premium this weekend after the slugfests that broke out in the first couple of games in Seattle. This series looks like it will come down to the pitching staffs because both offenses have been running hot and cold. If Fullerton is able to establish some consistency at the plate this weekend like they have the last two weekends then the Titans have a solid chance to win the series. If Fullerton struggles offensively Hawaii has a pitching staff that will give them a chance to sneak out of Goodwin Field with a series win.
The roller coaster ride that has been the 2010 season for Cal State Fullerton continued over the past six games with two close losses to #1/ #2 Arizona State 6-5 and 8-6 with the Sun Devils coming from behind in each game. That midweek series was followed by a three game sweep at Washington (9-7, 19-6 and 6-0) and a 4-2 loss at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday which evened up Fullerton’s record at 10-10. The leading hitters for the Titans against Washington were Christian Colon (8-13, 4 HR and 7 RBI), Gary Brown (11-16, 5 RBI), Carlos Lopez (8-13), Joey Siddons (5-12) and Billy Marcoe (4-12, 2 HR) and the best pitching effort came from Kyle Mertins when he had an outstanding start and threw eight scoreless innings. Next up for the Fullerton in their first weekend at home since the beginning of March is a visit from the Hawaii Rainbows.
Hawaii (12-9) is traveling to the mainland for the first time this year after a 20 game homestand to start the season and got their trip off to a good start with an 8-2 win at Long Beach on Wednesday night. The Rainbows got off to a slow start when they lost 3 of 4 games to a strong Oregon State squad, won 3 of 4 games in a low scoring series with Oregon, split four games with The Citadel (one of the favorites in the Southern Conference), lost 3 of 4 games to USC and swept four games against Air Force. Hawaii came into this season with expectations of making a run at a regional after finishing 32-26, 11-12 and in 5th place in the WAC with a solid nucleus returning both in the lineup and on the mound. The Rainbows were picked to finish either 2nd or 3rd by the media and the WAC coaches.
LINEUP
Hawaii plays their home games on field turf at Les Murakami Stadium, which has a ballpark factor according to Boyd’s World of 73 and decreases offense by 27%. As a result of playing in a pitchers park and in a conference with some bandboxes the Rainbows had the lowest team average (.278) and scoring offense (6 RPG) in the WAC in 2009 but they did hit 64 HR’s and have a .496 SLG %. The offense has been similar this season with a .242 team average and 4.5 RPG with 15 HR in their first sixteen games before scoring 41 R and hitting .376 an overmatched Air Force pitching staff to increase their team average to .273. Hawaii will have some hitters work counts but they aren’t looking to bunt much (32 SAC’s in 2009, 11 this year) or run much (38 SB’s in 2009, 12 this year) they are looking to swing for the fences and are striking out nearly eight times per game.
Hawaii takes advantage of playing on field turf and was a good fielding team last season and made 58 errors with a .975 fielding % (14th in the country) and has a good fielding team again this year with a .976 fielding % and 19 errors.
Infield
Hawaii lost starters at C, 2B and 3B from last season and moved one of their OF’s to 2B and has two recruits starting at C and 3B and the new starters have worked out well.
C – JC transfer David Freitas (RH – .281/.359/.469, 3-15-0) led his JC team in AVG, HR and RBI in 2009 and has gotten off to a solid start hitting in the cleanup spot and is 2nd on the team in HR and RBI. He started out hitting .255 before going 6-14 last weekend against Air Force. Freitas was expected to be able to hit but he has also done a good job behind the plate throwing out half of the baserunners who have attempted to steal (16-32 SB’s). SR Kevin Fujii (RH – 3-18; .220 in 58 AB’s in ‘09) has started one game in each series with Freitas moving over to DH.
1B – SR Kevin Macdonald (RH – .207/.356/.466, 5-14-1; ’09 – .271/.352/.516, 14-60-0) is a three year starter at 1B and led the team in HR and RBI last season when he was 1st team All WAC. He leads the team in HR again this season and is an all or nothing hitter who swings for the fences and led the team with 52 K’s in 2009 and is striking out over 1/3 of the time this year. Macdonald does a good job on defense and hits 6th.
2B – Soph Kolten Wong (LH – .342/.451/.526, 2-13-6; ’09 – .341/.418/.597, 11-52-11) is Hawaii’s best player and one of the best players in the WAC. He was a FR All-American last season and was among the team leaders in AVG, R, HR, RBI, SLG, OBP and SB and played on Team USA last summer. Wong played OF in 2009 but moved to 2B this year and has played well there and has only made two errors. He has gotten off to a good start and hits 3rd.
SS – JR Greg Garcia (LH – .303/.424/.526, 2-12-1; ’09 – .265/.359/.385, 2-23-6) is a three year starter in the middle infield and started at 2B as a FR and at SS the last two years. He is patient at the plate and works counts and was 2nd on the team in BB in 2009 but also struck out 40 times because he will also swing for the fences. Garcia will hit 2nd and got off to a very slow start, hitting .214 the first four series before going 9-16 against Air Force. He was a little shaky at SS last season with 16 E’s and a .950 FLD % but has improved this year and made only two errors and has a .978 FLD %.
3B – FR Pi’ikea Kitamura (RH – .254/.351/.349, 1-9-0) has moved into the lineup right away as a FR and started every game. He has done a solid job defensively but struggled at the plate in adjusting to D1 ball and was hitting .229 before going 5-13 with 6 RBI’s against Air Force. Kitamura will usually hit 8th or 9th.
Outfield and DH
Hawaii returned all of their OF’s from last season but with Wong moving to 2B that opened up a spot in the OF.
CF – JC transfer Collin Bennett (RH – .347/.435/.569, 3-17-1) is another newcomer who has moved right into the lineup and hit the ground running. He leads the team in AVG, SLG and RBI as a power bat in the middle of the lineup and usually hits 5th.
LF and RF – SR Matt Roquemore (LH – .385/.484/.385, 0-2-0; ’09 – .281/.357/.352, 0-12-4), JR Sean Montplaisir (LH – .174/.304/.196, 0-4-2; ’09 – .291/.358/.510, 5-26-2) and SR Christian Johnson (LH – .185/.290/.333, 1-1-1; ’09 – .214/.304/.412, 6-23-1) have been sharing time at the corner OF spots after also splitting up time in the OF in 2009. Roquemore has gotten off to the best start and will bat leadoff when he is in the lineup and is a slap hitter. Montplaisir was the best all around hitter last year and a pre-season All WAC selection but has been in a major slump to start the year. Johnson has the most raw power but is an all or nothing hitter (41 K’s in 131 AB’s in 2009) which means not much AVG and the occasional HR. FR Kalani Brackenridge (RH – 4-20) has gotten a few AB’s lately due to the slow starts of Montplaisir and Johnson.
DH – JR Jeffrey Van Doornum (RH – .321/.387/.554, 2-7-1; ’09 – .228/.293/.315, 2-16-6) has been the DH most of the last two years and gives the lineup some pop in the 7th spot. Freitas will DH if he takes a game off from catching.
PITCHING
Hawaii’s pitching staff struggled last season with a 5.74 ERA including a 7.26 ERA in conference games. The pitchers for the Rainbows have done a much better job this season with a 4.14 ERA with two strong SP’s at the front of the rotation and some good work out of the bullpen. Hawaii only scored 11 runs in the Oregon series but won 3 of 4 games because they held the Ducks to nine runs. The Rainbows have allowed four runs or less in 12 of their 21 games.
Starters
FRI – JR Josh Slaats (RHP – 2-0, 0.40 ERA, 4 starts, 23 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 25 K, .197 BA, 0 HR, 3 HBP, 2 WP) is a big power pitcher who was on the Baseball America pre-season All WAC team and has been outstanding during the first month of the season. He allowed two unearned runs in 6 IP against Oregon State, 1 R in 4 1/3 IP against Oregon and threw seven scoreless innings against The Citadel when he only gave up two hits. He missed his start against USC with some arm soreness but came back last week to hold Air Force scoreless in 5 1/3 IP with 10 K’s. Slaats was a reliever in 2009 and struggled with consistency (2-2, 8.33 ERA, 4 saves in 18 apps, 27 IP, 29 H, 17 BB, 30 K) but has turned it around this year.
SAT – JR Sam Spangler (LHP – 2-3, 3.67 ERA, 5 starts, 27 IP, 26 H, 10 BB, 31 K, .277 BA, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 2 WP) was drafted in the 20th round last June as a 3rd yr Soph and was the Baseball America pre-season WAC pitcher of the year. Spangler split time as a closer last season (5-3, 4.17 ERA, 4 saves, 19 apps, 45 IP, 49 H, 14 BB, 48 K) and has a live arm with a fastball that sits in the low 90’s and his changeup he has developed to go with his breaking pitch. He didn’t get past the fifth inning in his first two starts before holding The Citadel to 1 R and 7 H in 7 IP and USC to 3 R and 7 H in 6 2/3 IP. Spangler allowed 4 R in 5 IP last weekend against Air Force.
SUN – Soph Matt Sisto (RHP – 2-3, 6.33 ERA, 5 starts, 27 IP, 28 H, 7 BB, 18 K,.269 BA, 2 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) had a good FR season (5-4, 4.37 ERA, 13 starts, 82 IP, 104 H, 14 BB, 50 K, .314 AVG) and was expected to be one of the better pitchers on the staff but did not pitch well in three of his first four starts. He had a good start against Oregon (one unearned run in 6 IP) in between bad starts against Oregon State (6 R in 5 2/3 IP) and The Citadel (8 R in 6 IP). After another poor start against USC (4 R in 2 1/3 IP) he bounced back to hold Air Force to 1 R in 7 IP. Sisto is a strike thrower but has often been getting too much of the plate allowing teams to put together big innings.
SR RHP Nate Klein (1-0, 5.59 ERA, 4 starts) was the other SP returning from last season (3-4, 5.10 ERA in 10 starts) along with Sisto and started the first game in of each of the first four series for Hawaii but injured his arm in his start against USC, did not pitch against Air Force and will not pitch this weekend
Relievers
Hawaii has some experience in their bullpen and their relievers have usually done a solid job, especially their closer.
Soph Lenny Linsky (RHP – 0-9, 0.00 ERA, 4 saves, 10 apps, 13 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 9 K, .163 BA, 0 HR) has been nearly unhittable with five of the seven hits allowed coming in a 2 1/3 IP appearance last weekend.
JR Alex Capaul (RHP – 4-1, 4.71 ERA, 6 apps, 1 start, 21 IP, 20 H, 1 BB, 10 K, 2 HR) has done a good job in middle relief and is able to throw several innings. He started against Air Force last weekend for Klein and allowed 5 R in 6 1/3 IP.
Other relievers who would be most likely to come into games would be JC transfer Blair Walters (LHP – 0-1, 4.26 ERA, 8 apps, 13 IP, 11 IP, 4 BB, 15 K, 0 HR), Soph Jesse Moore (RHP – 0-0, 3.97 ERA, 6 apps, 1 save, 11 IP, 9 H, 6 BB, 7 K, 1 HR) who threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the save against Long Beach and Soph Connor Little (RHP – 0-0, 4.91 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 9 K, 0 HR).
OUTLOOK
Fullerton has showed quite a bit of progress recently in rebounding from a 4-7 start to win three straight games each of the last two weekends. Hawaii will give the Titans a major test this weekend with the pitching staff that they are bringing to Goodwin Field and Fullerton’s inability to hit in most of their losses with 20 runs scored in their ten defeats.
The Fullerton pitching staff should be able to hold down the Hawaii hitters if they keep the ball in the yard. If the Titan pitching staff is making mistakes and allowing the Hawaii hitters to tee off this could be a long weekend for Fullerton.
This will be only the second game that Hawaii has played on grass this season. Also, the teams that Hawaii has played haven’t put too much pressure on the Rainbows except for Oregon, whose offense was shut down by Hawaii. It will be interesting to see if Fullerton will be able to put pressure on the Hawaii pitchers and fielders and how they respond.
Runs figure to be at a premium this weekend after the slugfests that broke out in the first couple of games in Seattle. This series looks like it will come down to the pitching staffs because both offenses have been running hot and cold. If Fullerton is able to establish some consistency at the plate this weekend like they have the last two weekends then the Titans have a solid chance to win the series. If Fullerton struggles offensively Hawaii has a pitching staff that will give them a chance to sneak out of Goodwin Field with a series win.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Diamond Club Newsletter (March 21, 2010)
CSF Baseball will continue to host and archive the Diamond Club newsletters throughout the 2010 season. Click on each page to enlarge:
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Washington Series Preview
By FullertonBaseballFan
Cal State Fullerton started to break out of their funk last weekend in San Diego. After getting only four hits against Matt Morse in a 5-0 shutout loss to Fresno State to fall to 4-7, the Titans rebounded to win their next three games behind good starting pitching and the bats starting to come to life. Daniel Renken held San Diego State to 1 R in 5 2/3 IP in an 11-1 win, Noe Ramirez held San Diego to 2 R in 8 IP in a 4-2 win and Kyle Mertins held UAB to 2 R in 6 1/3 IP in a 12-2 win. The leading hitters for Fullerton were Gary Brown (7-17), Carlos Lopez (7-16), Corey Jones (8-17), Christian Colon (6-16) and Tyler Pill (5-11).
The Titans were unable to keep their momentum going against Arizona State, who came into this week ranked first or second in four of the five major polls. Fullerton had leads in both games but were unable to hold on in either game against the Sun Devils in 6-5 and 8-6 hard fought defeats. The 7-9 Titans know they won’t be able to get back over .500 for the first time this season unless they win all three games in their series up in Seattle against the Washington Huskies.
It is the beginning of a new era for Washington after long time coach Ken Knutson was fired after the Huskies missed out on playing in regionals for their fifth straight season and they hired Lindsay Meggs away from Indiana State. The expectations for Washington weren’t that high going into the season with the Huskies picked to finish in the bottom two spots in the Pac 10 standings by the coaches and the media. Washington lost their two best hitters (Jake Rife, Kyle Conley), best starting pitcher (Jason Erickson) and two best relievers (Brian Pearl, Seth Haehl) from last season but they have a pretty experienced team with most of the other players returning.
As often happens during the first season with a new coach Washington has had their ups and downs in splitting their first fourteen games. The Huskies started the season winning two of three games in a tournament in Tucson (W – New Mexico State, L – Missouri, W – Gonzaga), lost two out of three at home to Fresno State, split midweek games with Oregon, won two out of three at Long Beach State and lost two out of three at BYU.
LINEUP
Washington had an offense that was pretty much all or nothing last season because they were among the Pac 10 leaders with 64 HR’s but were near the bottom of the conference in AVG, OBP and R and averaged 9 K’s per game. The Huskies also didn’t do much to get runners moving with little ball because they were last in the Pac 10 in sac bunts and SB’s. After changing coaches and losing their two best hitters who accounted for 25 HR’s, Washington has changed their philosophy and they are more of a line drive hitting team, cutting their strikeouts to six per game, and have improved their team average over 30 points to .299 on the season with only 7 HR’s in 14 games and they are scoring almost a run more per game. The Huskies still aren’t running much with only 4 SB’s but they are moving runners over much more by bunting and already have 17 sac bunts.
The outfield dimensions at Husky Ballpark are favorable to hitters with short porches down each line (327 to LF and only 317 to RF) and short power allies (365 to left center and right center) and 395 to straightaway CF. The ballpark has field turf over the entire surface except for the mound and the home plate area, which favors ground ball pitchers. Despite the dimensions, Husky Ballpark has tended to be more of a pitchers park due to the playing surface and weather that is often cool and damp and the ballpark factor according to Boyd’s World is 87, which means the ballpark decreases offense by 13%.
Washington was an average fielding team last season and made 67 errors with a .967 fielding %, which should have been better playing on field turf. The Huskies have struggled on defense this year and have made 22 errors for a .957 fielding %.
Infield
Washington has a pretty experienced infield with most of the players who received playing time returning except for their catcher.
C – JR Pierce Rankin (RH – .327/.404/.531, 1-13-1; ’09 – .299/.369/.530, 6-26-3) is a good athlete who started over 20 games at 2B and also started a dozen games behind the plate as the backup C last season. He was 3rd on the team in HR and SLG in 2009. Rankin leads the team in RBI and is 2nd in SLG and usually bats cleanup. Rankin has worked on shortening his swing after striking out over 25% of the time and has K’d only six times. JC transfer Miles Kizer (RH – .250/.357/.500, 1-3-0) is the backup and has started five times, with Rankin usually moving to the DH spot. They are doing a solid job of blocking pitches and have allowed 10 WP’s/PB’s (3 PB’s by Kizer) but Rankin has struggled against the running game (12-14 SB’s).
1B – JR Troy Scott (LH – .320/.433/.520, 1-9-0; ’09 – .251/.377/.492, 11-31-1) is a three year starter at 1B and was 2nd on the team in HR and 3rd in R and RBI last season. Scott will see lots of pitches and led the team in BB’s in 2009 but also has a big swing and was 2nd on the team in K’s, striking out almost 1/3 of the time. He leads the team in BB’s and K’s. Scott is solid defensively and usually hits 3rd.
2B – SR Bradley Boyer (RH – .292/.352/.417, 1-9-1) and SR Doug Cherry (RH – .409/.552/.500, 0-5-0; ’09 – .257/.289/.394, 3-17-4) have been splitting time at 2B. Boyer was the starter in ’08 before taking a medical redshirt last season and Cherry started half of the games at 2B in 2009. Boyer is a versatile player who has also started games at 3B and in the OF and has started 12 of 14 games, usually batting 1st or 2nd. Cherry will usually bat in the lower part of the lineup. Boyer is also a good bunter and leads the team in SAC bunts. Both are solid defensively.
SS – JR David Bentrott (RH – .310/.412/.345, 0-5-1; ’09 – .224/.294/.383, 0-5-3) has started most of the time at SS over the last three years. He is the lineup for his glove and hasn’t been much of a hitter his first two seasons and was often overmatched at the plate (37 K’s in 107 AB’s in 2009) but has gotten off to a solid start. Bentrott will usually hit 9th when he’s in the lineup.
3B – FR Jacob Lamb (LH – .348/.423/.478, 1-10-0) has made a big impact in his first season and is 2nd on the team in AVG among the regulars and 2nd in RBI. He will usually hit 5th when he’s in the lineup. Lamb has struggled defensively and made five errors.
Outfield and DH
Washington lost their main power threat from the OF and their DH but returns several other OF’s who received playing time last season.
LF and RF – JR Julien Pollard (Both – .200/.286/.220, 0-2-0; ’09 – 228/.348/.356, 3-15-5), FR Brian Wolfe (LH – .182/.217/.182, 0-1-0) and Soph Sean Meehan (RH – .273/.385/.318, 0-1-0; redshirt in ‘09) have been sharing time at the corner OF spots. Boyer started in LF the last two games last weekend. Pollard is one of the faster runners on the team and will usually bat leadoff when he is in the lineup. Wolfe and Meehan will usually bat in the lower part of the lineup.
CF – Soph Caleb Brown (RH – .388/.474/.592, 2-7-1; 09 – .279/.377/.405, 3-14-5) is one of the better athletes on the team and is having an outstanding season and is leading the team in AVG, OBP, SLG and HR. He was batting sixth most of the time before moving up to 2nd and 3rd in the last two games last weekend.
DH – FR Chase Anselment (LH – .290/.371/.355, 0-5-0) has been the DH most of the time and usually hits 7th. Rankin will usually DH when he’s not caching.
PITCHING
Washington was competitive on the mound last season with two solid SP’s and two solid relievers but didn’t have enough depth for the Huskies to finish better than tied for 5th at 13-14 but they only return one of those SP’s and lost both of those relievers. The pitching staff has struggled this season with the staff ERA going up two full runs from 4.88 last season to 6.88 this year. After Andrew Kittredge the Huskies have struggled getting consistent outings from their SP’s and are moving two LHP relievers into the rotation this weekend.
Starters
FRI – JR Adrian Gomez (LHP – 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 5 apps, 0 starts, 13 IP, 14 H, 1 BB, 12 K, .250 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) will be making his first start of the season after having two solid long relief appearances earlier in the season. He allowed 4 R (1 ER) on 4 H with 5 K in 5 2/3 IP against Fresno and 1 R on 6 H with 5 K in 6 IP last Fri at BYU. Gomez was 1-3, 5.47 ERA last season in 10 apps (4 starts) and 26 IP.
SAT – Soph Andrew Kittredge (RHP – 3-1, 4.50 ERA, 1 save, 5 apps, 4 starts, 28 IP, 35 H, 4 BB, 35 K, .292 BA, 6 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP) had a 2.93 ERA and had allowed 3 R in 5 IP going into the 6th inning last Saturday in the snow at BYU before allowing six runs. He held the powerful New Mexico State offense to 2 R on 7 H in 6 IP with 0 BB and 7 K opening weekend and followed that up by holding Fresno to 3 R and 7 H with 2 BB and 8 K in a CG loss, getting a save against Long Beach and a win when he allowed 4 R (1 ER) on 7 H in 7 2/3 IP with 0 BB and 10 K before his start at BYU. Kittredge had a solid FR season (4-5, 4.27 ERA, 72 IP, 71 H, 17 BB, 64 K) and is expected to be drafted in the first 5-7 rounds in next year’s draft.
SUN – JR Geoff Brown (LHP – 0-0, 6.92 ERA, 6 apps, 1 start, 13 IP, 21 H, 3 BB, 11 K, 1 HR, .350 BA, 3 HBP, 0 WP) allowed 8 R in 3 IP in his only start of the season opening weekend against Gonzaga. He has allowed 3 R (2 ER) in five relief appearances since then and is being moved back into the rotation. Brown made 31 relief appearances without a start last season (4-4, 5.01 ERA, 32 IP).
Relievers
With the loss of their closer and primary set-up man Washington has had to try to sort out roles in the bullpen and has ended up going to a FR to close games.
FR Adam Cimber (RHP – 1-1, 6.97 ERA, 4 saves, 8 apps, 10 IP, 14 H, 2 BB, 8 K, .326 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) has had his ups and downs like the Huskies have. He threw three scoreless innings to get the win against Gonzaga opening weekend and then blew a save against Fresno State when he allowed 4 R in 1 2/3 IP. Cimber has gotten saves in his last three appearances.
Other relievers who will be available this weekend are former SP’s Soph Aaron West (RHP – 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 4 apps, 3 starts, 9 IP, 15 H, 7 BB, 7 K, 5 HR), JR Ben Guidos (LHP – 0-3, 10.20 ERA, 5 apps, 3 starts, 15 IP, 24 IP, 6 BB, 7 K, 0 HR) and JR Forrest Snow (RHP – 1-0, 8.10 ERA, 6 apps, 2 starts, 10 IP, 16 H, 6 BB, 8 K, 1 HR), Soph Brandon Rohde (LHP – 1-0, 8.44 ERA, 5 apps, 1 start, 11 IP, 15 H, 9 BB, 6 K, 1 HR) and JR Jacob Clem (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR).
OUTLOOK
Fullerton has started to show signs of life despite being swept in a two game midweek series against ASU. After averaging two runs per game in their seven losses during their 4-7 start the Titans have scored 38 R’s in their last five games. The starting pitching for Fullerton has started to come around with their four primary starters throwing the ball well lately.
Washington has had an up and down season in splitting their four weekend series but they are playing hard, which is a credit to their coaching staff. If Fullerton is going to win this series the Huskies will be going down fighting.
Fullerton should have the advantage on the mound on Friday night. Saturday should be a pitching duel between Noe Ramirez and Kittredge. If Mertins throws like he did against UAB he will give the Titans a good chance to win on Sunday.
The key to this series for Fullerton will be to establish things early in games both at the plate and on the mound. If the Titans are able to jump out to leads and build momentum Fullerton has a good chance to win this series. The longer the Titans let the Huskies hang around in games the more difficult it will be to win the series.
Cal State Fullerton started to break out of their funk last weekend in San Diego. After getting only four hits against Matt Morse in a 5-0 shutout loss to Fresno State to fall to 4-7, the Titans rebounded to win their next three games behind good starting pitching and the bats starting to come to life. Daniel Renken held San Diego State to 1 R in 5 2/3 IP in an 11-1 win, Noe Ramirez held San Diego to 2 R in 8 IP in a 4-2 win and Kyle Mertins held UAB to 2 R in 6 1/3 IP in a 12-2 win. The leading hitters for Fullerton were Gary Brown (7-17), Carlos Lopez (7-16), Corey Jones (8-17), Christian Colon (6-16) and Tyler Pill (5-11).
The Titans were unable to keep their momentum going against Arizona State, who came into this week ranked first or second in four of the five major polls. Fullerton had leads in both games but were unable to hold on in either game against the Sun Devils in 6-5 and 8-6 hard fought defeats. The 7-9 Titans know they won’t be able to get back over .500 for the first time this season unless they win all three games in their series up in Seattle against the Washington Huskies.
It is the beginning of a new era for Washington after long time coach Ken Knutson was fired after the Huskies missed out on playing in regionals for their fifth straight season and they hired Lindsay Meggs away from Indiana State. The expectations for Washington weren’t that high going into the season with the Huskies picked to finish in the bottom two spots in the Pac 10 standings by the coaches and the media. Washington lost their two best hitters (Jake Rife, Kyle Conley), best starting pitcher (Jason Erickson) and two best relievers (Brian Pearl, Seth Haehl) from last season but they have a pretty experienced team with most of the other players returning.
As often happens during the first season with a new coach Washington has had their ups and downs in splitting their first fourteen games. The Huskies started the season winning two of three games in a tournament in Tucson (W – New Mexico State, L – Missouri, W – Gonzaga), lost two out of three at home to Fresno State, split midweek games with Oregon, won two out of three at Long Beach State and lost two out of three at BYU.
LINEUP
Washington had an offense that was pretty much all or nothing last season because they were among the Pac 10 leaders with 64 HR’s but were near the bottom of the conference in AVG, OBP and R and averaged 9 K’s per game. The Huskies also didn’t do much to get runners moving with little ball because they were last in the Pac 10 in sac bunts and SB’s. After changing coaches and losing their two best hitters who accounted for 25 HR’s, Washington has changed their philosophy and they are more of a line drive hitting team, cutting their strikeouts to six per game, and have improved their team average over 30 points to .299 on the season with only 7 HR’s in 14 games and they are scoring almost a run more per game. The Huskies still aren’t running much with only 4 SB’s but they are moving runners over much more by bunting and already have 17 sac bunts.
The outfield dimensions at Husky Ballpark are favorable to hitters with short porches down each line (327 to LF and only 317 to RF) and short power allies (365 to left center and right center) and 395 to straightaway CF. The ballpark has field turf over the entire surface except for the mound and the home plate area, which favors ground ball pitchers. Despite the dimensions, Husky Ballpark has tended to be more of a pitchers park due to the playing surface and weather that is often cool and damp and the ballpark factor according to Boyd’s World is 87, which means the ballpark decreases offense by 13%.
Washington was an average fielding team last season and made 67 errors with a .967 fielding %, which should have been better playing on field turf. The Huskies have struggled on defense this year and have made 22 errors for a .957 fielding %.
Infield
Washington has a pretty experienced infield with most of the players who received playing time returning except for their catcher.
C – JR Pierce Rankin (RH – .327/.404/.531, 1-13-1; ’09 – .299/.369/.530, 6-26-3) is a good athlete who started over 20 games at 2B and also started a dozen games behind the plate as the backup C last season. He was 3rd on the team in HR and SLG in 2009. Rankin leads the team in RBI and is 2nd in SLG and usually bats cleanup. Rankin has worked on shortening his swing after striking out over 25% of the time and has K’d only six times. JC transfer Miles Kizer (RH – .250/.357/.500, 1-3-0) is the backup and has started five times, with Rankin usually moving to the DH spot. They are doing a solid job of blocking pitches and have allowed 10 WP’s/PB’s (3 PB’s by Kizer) but Rankin has struggled against the running game (12-14 SB’s).
1B – JR Troy Scott (LH – .320/.433/.520, 1-9-0; ’09 – .251/.377/.492, 11-31-1) is a three year starter at 1B and was 2nd on the team in HR and 3rd in R and RBI last season. Scott will see lots of pitches and led the team in BB’s in 2009 but also has a big swing and was 2nd on the team in K’s, striking out almost 1/3 of the time. He leads the team in BB’s and K’s. Scott is solid defensively and usually hits 3rd.
2B – SR Bradley Boyer (RH – .292/.352/.417, 1-9-1) and SR Doug Cherry (RH – .409/.552/.500, 0-5-0; ’09 – .257/.289/.394, 3-17-4) have been splitting time at 2B. Boyer was the starter in ’08 before taking a medical redshirt last season and Cherry started half of the games at 2B in 2009. Boyer is a versatile player who has also started games at 3B and in the OF and has started 12 of 14 games, usually batting 1st or 2nd. Cherry will usually bat in the lower part of the lineup. Boyer is also a good bunter and leads the team in SAC bunts. Both are solid defensively.
SS – JR David Bentrott (RH – .310/.412/.345, 0-5-1; ’09 – .224/.294/.383, 0-5-3) has started most of the time at SS over the last three years. He is the lineup for his glove and hasn’t been much of a hitter his first two seasons and was often overmatched at the plate (37 K’s in 107 AB’s in 2009) but has gotten off to a solid start. Bentrott will usually hit 9th when he’s in the lineup.
3B – FR Jacob Lamb (LH – .348/.423/.478, 1-10-0) has made a big impact in his first season and is 2nd on the team in AVG among the regulars and 2nd in RBI. He will usually hit 5th when he’s in the lineup. Lamb has struggled defensively and made five errors.
Outfield and DH
Washington lost their main power threat from the OF and their DH but returns several other OF’s who received playing time last season.
LF and RF – JR Julien Pollard (Both – .200/.286/.220, 0-2-0; ’09 – 228/.348/.356, 3-15-5), FR Brian Wolfe (LH – .182/.217/.182, 0-1-0) and Soph Sean Meehan (RH – .273/.385/.318, 0-1-0; redshirt in ‘09) have been sharing time at the corner OF spots. Boyer started in LF the last two games last weekend. Pollard is one of the faster runners on the team and will usually bat leadoff when he is in the lineup. Wolfe and Meehan will usually bat in the lower part of the lineup.
CF – Soph Caleb Brown (RH – .388/.474/.592, 2-7-1; 09 – .279/.377/.405, 3-14-5) is one of the better athletes on the team and is having an outstanding season and is leading the team in AVG, OBP, SLG and HR. He was batting sixth most of the time before moving up to 2nd and 3rd in the last two games last weekend.
DH – FR Chase Anselment (LH – .290/.371/.355, 0-5-0) has been the DH most of the time and usually hits 7th. Rankin will usually DH when he’s not caching.
PITCHING
Washington was competitive on the mound last season with two solid SP’s and two solid relievers but didn’t have enough depth for the Huskies to finish better than tied for 5th at 13-14 but they only return one of those SP’s and lost both of those relievers. The pitching staff has struggled this season with the staff ERA going up two full runs from 4.88 last season to 6.88 this year. After Andrew Kittredge the Huskies have struggled getting consistent outings from their SP’s and are moving two LHP relievers into the rotation this weekend.
Starters
FRI – JR Adrian Gomez (LHP – 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 5 apps, 0 starts, 13 IP, 14 H, 1 BB, 12 K, .250 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) will be making his first start of the season after having two solid long relief appearances earlier in the season. He allowed 4 R (1 ER) on 4 H with 5 K in 5 2/3 IP against Fresno and 1 R on 6 H with 5 K in 6 IP last Fri at BYU. Gomez was 1-3, 5.47 ERA last season in 10 apps (4 starts) and 26 IP.
SAT – Soph Andrew Kittredge (RHP – 3-1, 4.50 ERA, 1 save, 5 apps, 4 starts, 28 IP, 35 H, 4 BB, 35 K, .292 BA, 6 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP) had a 2.93 ERA and had allowed 3 R in 5 IP going into the 6th inning last Saturday in the snow at BYU before allowing six runs. He held the powerful New Mexico State offense to 2 R on 7 H in 6 IP with 0 BB and 7 K opening weekend and followed that up by holding Fresno to 3 R and 7 H with 2 BB and 8 K in a CG loss, getting a save against Long Beach and a win when he allowed 4 R (1 ER) on 7 H in 7 2/3 IP with 0 BB and 10 K before his start at BYU. Kittredge had a solid FR season (4-5, 4.27 ERA, 72 IP, 71 H, 17 BB, 64 K) and is expected to be drafted in the first 5-7 rounds in next year’s draft.
SUN – JR Geoff Brown (LHP – 0-0, 6.92 ERA, 6 apps, 1 start, 13 IP, 21 H, 3 BB, 11 K, 1 HR, .350 BA, 3 HBP, 0 WP) allowed 8 R in 3 IP in his only start of the season opening weekend against Gonzaga. He has allowed 3 R (2 ER) in five relief appearances since then and is being moved back into the rotation. Brown made 31 relief appearances without a start last season (4-4, 5.01 ERA, 32 IP).
Relievers
With the loss of their closer and primary set-up man Washington has had to try to sort out roles in the bullpen and has ended up going to a FR to close games.
FR Adam Cimber (RHP – 1-1, 6.97 ERA, 4 saves, 8 apps, 10 IP, 14 H, 2 BB, 8 K, .326 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) has had his ups and downs like the Huskies have. He threw three scoreless innings to get the win against Gonzaga opening weekend and then blew a save against Fresno State when he allowed 4 R in 1 2/3 IP. Cimber has gotten saves in his last three appearances.
Other relievers who will be available this weekend are former SP’s Soph Aaron West (RHP – 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 4 apps, 3 starts, 9 IP, 15 H, 7 BB, 7 K, 5 HR), JR Ben Guidos (LHP – 0-3, 10.20 ERA, 5 apps, 3 starts, 15 IP, 24 IP, 6 BB, 7 K, 0 HR) and JR Forrest Snow (RHP – 1-0, 8.10 ERA, 6 apps, 2 starts, 10 IP, 16 H, 6 BB, 8 K, 1 HR), Soph Brandon Rohde (LHP – 1-0, 8.44 ERA, 5 apps, 1 start, 11 IP, 15 H, 9 BB, 6 K, 1 HR) and JR Jacob Clem (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR).
OUTLOOK
Fullerton has started to show signs of life despite being swept in a two game midweek series against ASU. After averaging two runs per game in their seven losses during their 4-7 start the Titans have scored 38 R’s in their last five games. The starting pitching for Fullerton has started to come around with their four primary starters throwing the ball well lately.
Washington has had an up and down season in splitting their four weekend series but they are playing hard, which is a credit to their coaching staff. If Fullerton is going to win this series the Huskies will be going down fighting.
Fullerton should have the advantage on the mound on Friday night. Saturday should be a pitching duel between Noe Ramirez and Kittredge. If Mertins throws like he did against UAB he will give the Titans a good chance to win on Sunday.
The key to this series for Fullerton will be to establish things early in games both at the plate and on the mound. If the Titans are able to jump out to leads and build momentum Fullerton has a good chance to win this series. The longer the Titans let the Huskies hang around in games the more difficult it will be to win the series.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Will Winning Cure All?
By Samuel Chi
After winning the final three games at the San Diego tournament, the Titans are finally at .500 for the first time this season.
But does that mean Fullerton has righted its ship?
The Titans were far from impressive in beating San Diego State, San Diego and Alabama-Birmingham during the winning streak. And a case may be made that the quality of those three teams - none of them looked worthy to be in the NCAA postseason - is questionable at best. Fullerton struggled to put away San Diego despite having numerous opportunities. Against UAB, it wasn't until the seventh inning when the Titans finally put the game away.
Fullerton will get a better idea where it's at this week when it hosts Arizona State in a mini series. The Sun Devils, along with UCLA, are the only two undefeated teams in Division I. To be sure, neither Fullerton nor ASU will be treating those two games like typical midweek affairs, with Johnny Wholestaff on the mount and reserves all over the field.
While we await the ASU series - a split would not be an undesirable outcome, given the current state of affairs - the Titans did show a number of encouraging signs during the four-game tournament, weak opponents or not:
* Pitching, predicted to be the Titans' strength this season, has been solid if not spectacular. Except ace Daniel Renken on Friday, every starter got into at least the seventh inning in each of the four games. Tyler Pill was victimized by a lack of run support but pitched well. Noe Ramirez spun a gem against USD, and Kyle Mertins, in his first career start (in non-exhibitions), made a strong case to be the team's fourth starter.
* After getting shut out by Fresno, the top of the order delivered in the final three games, with Christian Colon and Gary Brown setting the table. The Titans' speed has proved to be destructive and bunts were executed with better efficiency, most notably Matt Orloff's flawless suicide squeeze in the UAB game.
* Defensively, the Titans performed much better in the final two games. There are still issues both in the infield and the outfield, and the audition continues in a couple of spots. But it seems the coaches are leaning toward Orloff at second and Austin Kingsolver in left, with Corey Jones staying at third base.
The Titans are set up to have Pill pitching in one of the two games in the ASU series, which is shaping up to be an important one, as is the upcoming road trip to Washington. Currently at No. 43, Fullerton will need to claw its way back in the RPI if it wants to play in the postseason for the 19th consecutive year.
The Titans' remaining nonconference schedule - with only Hawaii and Santa Clara remaining for weekend series - will be of limited help in terms of boosting their RPI. Therefore beating these two Pac-10 teams, plus a pair against UCLA, will be invaluable. (The Titans will not play USC this season.)
We should find out in the next five games if the three-game winning streak marked the turning point or was merely a mirage. But the bottom line: Winning not-so-impressively sure still beats losing.
After winning the final three games at the San Diego tournament, the Titans are finally at .500 for the first time this season.
But does that mean Fullerton has righted its ship?
The Titans were far from impressive in beating San Diego State, San Diego and Alabama-Birmingham during the winning streak. And a case may be made that the quality of those three teams - none of them looked worthy to be in the NCAA postseason - is questionable at best. Fullerton struggled to put away San Diego despite having numerous opportunities. Against UAB, it wasn't until the seventh inning when the Titans finally put the game away.
Fullerton will get a better idea where it's at this week when it hosts Arizona State in a mini series. The Sun Devils, along with UCLA, are the only two undefeated teams in Division I. To be sure, neither Fullerton nor ASU will be treating those two games like typical midweek affairs, with Johnny Wholestaff on the mount and reserves all over the field.
While we await the ASU series - a split would not be an undesirable outcome, given the current state of affairs - the Titans did show a number of encouraging signs during the four-game tournament, weak opponents or not:
* Pitching, predicted to be the Titans' strength this season, has been solid if not spectacular. Except ace Daniel Renken on Friday, every starter got into at least the seventh inning in each of the four games. Tyler Pill was victimized by a lack of run support but pitched well. Noe Ramirez spun a gem against USD, and Kyle Mertins, in his first career start (in non-exhibitions), made a strong case to be the team's fourth starter.
* After getting shut out by Fresno, the top of the order delivered in the final three games, with Christian Colon and Gary Brown setting the table. The Titans' speed has proved to be destructive and bunts were executed with better efficiency, most notably Matt Orloff's flawless suicide squeeze in the UAB game.
* Defensively, the Titans performed much better in the final two games. There are still issues both in the infield and the outfield, and the audition continues in a couple of spots. But it seems the coaches are leaning toward Orloff at second and Austin Kingsolver in left, with Corey Jones staying at third base.
The Titans are set up to have Pill pitching in one of the two games in the ASU series, which is shaping up to be an important one, as is the upcoming road trip to Washington. Currently at No. 43, Fullerton will need to claw its way back in the RPI if it wants to play in the postseason for the 19th consecutive year.
The Titans' remaining nonconference schedule - with only Hawaii and Santa Clara remaining for weekend series - will be of limited help in terms of boosting their RPI. Therefore beating these two Pac-10 teams, plus a pair against UCLA, will be invaluable. (The Titans will not play USC this season.)
We should find out in the next five games if the three-game winning streak marked the turning point or was merely a mirage. But the bottom line: Winning not-so-impressively sure still beats losing.
Friday, March 12, 2010
San Diego Tournament Preview (USD)
By FullertonBaseballFan
Saturday – San Diego Toreros (8-7)
USD entered last season with high expectations but had their hopes derailed by several season ending injuries to key players and ended up going 29-25 and finishing in 5th place in the WCC at 11-10 after being the pre-season favorites to win the conference. The Toreros once again entered this season with high expectations as the conference favorites.
USD opened the season by winning their first three games against Indiana before losing the final game of the series. Starting with that loss to Indiana, the Toreros lost seven out of eight games including an 11-4 midweek loss at Fullerton and losses in two out of three games against cross-town rival San Diego State and bottomed out when they were shutout by Kentucky last weekend. Since then, USD has won four out of five games including the first two games of the tournament against San Francisco 15-7 and UAB 5-2.
USD expected to be carried by their pitching staff this season with several pitchers who are expected to be high draft picks on the roster. But, the Toreros have struggled on the mound and have allowed 5+ R’s in 9 of 15 games. The USD pitchers have started to right the ship in their last five games and have allowed 13 R’s in their four wins.
USD returns an experienced lineup that lost only one player from last season. After getting off to a hot start and scoring 34 runs in their first three games the Toreros bats went cold and they scored only 22 runs in their next eight games. USD has started to heat up again and they have scored 32 runs in their last four games. The Toreros have solid power with 14 HR’s and a .449 SLG % but do not have a patient approach at the plate and are walking just over three times per game. USD didn’t run much last season with 51 SB’s (19 by one player) but are running more this season and are 21-30 on SB attempts. Despite having so many experienced players USD has been playing poor defense and has committed 27 errors for a .951 FLD %.
Lineup
C – SR Nick McCoy (RH). .260/.377/.360, 1-6-0. Baserunners are 15-19 on SB attempts. .270-6-28-3 in '09.
1B – JR Victor Sanchez (RH). .262/.326/.381, 1-4-0. .263-5-23-0 in 23 games before a season ending injury that he is struggling to return from (torn labrum). 12 HR's as a FR.
2B – JR Tony Strazzara (RH). .400/.472/.567, 1-10-1. .321-0-18-0 in ’09.
SS – Soph Bryan Haar (RH). .275/.356/.451, 2-9-5. Has already made 8 errors. .298-5-38-0 in '09.
3B – SR Steven Chatwood (RH). .311/.404/.533, 2-11-2. .327-1-20-0 in '09.
LF – FR Matt Moynihan (LH). 9-18 (all singles), 1 BB, 0 RBI.
CF – SR James Meador (RH). .321/.415/.500, 2-13-4. 2009 WCC Player of the Year. .376-6-45-7.
RF – FR Kalei Hanawahine (LH). .387/.412/.419, 0-7-1.
DH – JR Mike Ferraro (LH). .464/.500/.714, 1-5-0. Redshirted last season.
Reserves
All three of these players have been regulars and have been in and out of the lineup due to minor injuries.
CF Kevin Muno (RH). .244/.352/.444, 2-4-5. Pre-season all-WCC selection. Hit .305 with 9 SB's in 17 games in ‘09 before a season ending injury. Hit .326 with 21 SB's in '08.
2B Chris Engell (RH). .231/.302/.333, 0-4-1. .358-3-37-3 in '09.
SS Zach Walters (LH). .281/.273/.469, 1-7-0. All-WCC in 2009. .377-1-24-4
Pitching
Starting Pitcher
RHP Kyle Blair. 1-0, 3.12 ERA. Expected to be drafted in the first round and was drafted in the fifth round out of HS. Fastball sits in the low 90’s with one of the best sliders in the country. Only made 8 starts last season due to injuries (3-2, 3.12, 55 IP, 47 H, 18 BB, 62 K). Allowed 1 R on 4 H and 4 BB in 4 IP with 8 K against Indiana, 3 R on 3 H and 6 BB in 6 IP with 11 K against San Diego State and 2 R on 3 H and 1 BB in 7 IP with 5 K against Monmouth in his three starts.
Relievers
All RHP's because the only LHP on the staff is SP Sammy Solis. The most likely relievers to see action are closer Matt Thompson (0-1, 2.61 ERA, 7 apps, 2 saves, 15 K's in 10 IP in 7 apps), Matt Hauser (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 2 saves, 12 IP in 6 apps), Andrew Walter (3.38 ERA, 5 IP in 4 apps) and Mike Dedrick (7.00 ERA, 9 IP in 7 apps). Hauser had a two inning save in Friday’s game against UAB. Thompson threw three innings against USF on Thursday.
Saturday – San Diego Toreros (8-7)
USD entered last season with high expectations but had their hopes derailed by several season ending injuries to key players and ended up going 29-25 and finishing in 5th place in the WCC at 11-10 after being the pre-season favorites to win the conference. The Toreros once again entered this season with high expectations as the conference favorites.
USD opened the season by winning their first three games against Indiana before losing the final game of the series. Starting with that loss to Indiana, the Toreros lost seven out of eight games including an 11-4 midweek loss at Fullerton and losses in two out of three games against cross-town rival San Diego State and bottomed out when they were shutout by Kentucky last weekend. Since then, USD has won four out of five games including the first two games of the tournament against San Francisco 15-7 and UAB 5-2.
USD expected to be carried by their pitching staff this season with several pitchers who are expected to be high draft picks on the roster. But, the Toreros have struggled on the mound and have allowed 5+ R’s in 9 of 15 games. The USD pitchers have started to right the ship in their last five games and have allowed 13 R’s in their four wins.
USD returns an experienced lineup that lost only one player from last season. After getting off to a hot start and scoring 34 runs in their first three games the Toreros bats went cold and they scored only 22 runs in their next eight games. USD has started to heat up again and they have scored 32 runs in their last four games. The Toreros have solid power with 14 HR’s and a .449 SLG % but do not have a patient approach at the plate and are walking just over three times per game. USD didn’t run much last season with 51 SB’s (19 by one player) but are running more this season and are 21-30 on SB attempts. Despite having so many experienced players USD has been playing poor defense and has committed 27 errors for a .951 FLD %.
Lineup
C – SR Nick McCoy (RH). .260/.377/.360, 1-6-0. Baserunners are 15-19 on SB attempts. .270-6-28-3 in '09.
1B – JR Victor Sanchez (RH). .262/.326/.381, 1-4-0. .263-5-23-0 in 23 games before a season ending injury that he is struggling to return from (torn labrum). 12 HR's as a FR.
2B – JR Tony Strazzara (RH). .400/.472/.567, 1-10-1. .321-0-18-0 in ’09.
SS – Soph Bryan Haar (RH). .275/.356/.451, 2-9-5. Has already made 8 errors. .298-5-38-0 in '09.
3B – SR Steven Chatwood (RH). .311/.404/.533, 2-11-2. .327-1-20-0 in '09.
LF – FR Matt Moynihan (LH). 9-18 (all singles), 1 BB, 0 RBI.
CF – SR James Meador (RH). .321/.415/.500, 2-13-4. 2009 WCC Player of the Year. .376-6-45-7.
RF – FR Kalei Hanawahine (LH). .387/.412/.419, 0-7-1.
DH – JR Mike Ferraro (LH). .464/.500/.714, 1-5-0. Redshirted last season.
Reserves
All three of these players have been regulars and have been in and out of the lineup due to minor injuries.
CF Kevin Muno (RH). .244/.352/.444, 2-4-5. Pre-season all-WCC selection. Hit .305 with 9 SB's in 17 games in ‘09 before a season ending injury. Hit .326 with 21 SB's in '08.
2B Chris Engell (RH). .231/.302/.333, 0-4-1. .358-3-37-3 in '09.
SS Zach Walters (LH). .281/.273/.469, 1-7-0. All-WCC in 2009. .377-1-24-4
Pitching
Starting Pitcher
RHP Kyle Blair. 1-0, 3.12 ERA. Expected to be drafted in the first round and was drafted in the fifth round out of HS. Fastball sits in the low 90’s with one of the best sliders in the country. Only made 8 starts last season due to injuries (3-2, 3.12, 55 IP, 47 H, 18 BB, 62 K). Allowed 1 R on 4 H and 4 BB in 4 IP with 8 K against Indiana, 3 R on 3 H and 6 BB in 6 IP with 11 K against San Diego State and 2 R on 3 H and 1 BB in 7 IP with 5 K against Monmouth in his three starts.
Relievers
All RHP's because the only LHP on the staff is SP Sammy Solis. The most likely relievers to see action are closer Matt Thompson (0-1, 2.61 ERA, 7 apps, 2 saves, 15 K's in 10 IP in 7 apps), Matt Hauser (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 2 saves, 12 IP in 6 apps), Andrew Walter (3.38 ERA, 5 IP in 4 apps) and Mike Dedrick (7.00 ERA, 9 IP in 7 apps). Hauser had a two inning save in Friday’s game against UAB. Thompson threw three innings against USF on Thursday.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
San Diego Tournament Preview (San Diego State)
By FullertonBaseballFan
Friday – San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego State had their most successful season in 2009 in nearly twenty years by qualifying for a regional for the first time since 1991 and went 1-2 at the Irvine regional. The Aztecs were 41-23 and led by national player of the year Steven Strasburg and a solid pitching staff that finished in the top 25 in all four major pitching stats that the NCAA keeps track of (ERA, H/9 IP, K/9 IP, BB/9 IP). They lost most of the major contributors from that pitching staff except for All-American closer Addison Reed, who has been moved into the starting rotation, but the Aztecs do return most of the starting position players from last season except for All-MWC catcher Erik Castro, who led the team in AVG, HR, RBI, OBP and SLG, and they were picked to finish 3rd in the MWC by the conference coaches.
San Diego State got off to a slow start this season by losing all four games in their opening series at home with Oklahoma. The Sooners outscored the Aztecs 38-16 and won every game by at least three runs. The stats were a little skewed in the second game when the bullpen gave up sixteen runs in a 17-5 loss. The Aztecs have bounced back from their tough opening weekend to go 5-3, including a series win against their local rivals the USD Toreros, heading into the tournament. San Diego State has squared away most of their pitching issues by allowing 4 R’s or less in six of the last eight games. The Aztecs have also started to hit the ball better and have scored 5 R’s or more in six of the last eight games.
San Diego State’s offensive philosophy is to take a patient approach at the plate and work counts. The Aztecs were in the top 50 in the country in BB’s last season and are walking nearly six times a game but they are also striking out nearly ten times a game. They don’t have much power in their lineup with 7 HR’s and a .360 SLG % and have gotten off to a slow start with a .261 AVG. San Diego State doesn’t bunt much but they will hit and run and steal bases (16-25 SB’s). The Aztecs were a solid defensive team last season with 61 E’s and a .974 fielding % but have had a few issues on defense and have made 17 E’s for a .963 fielding %.
San Diego State’s pitching staff carried the team to a regional last year with a 3.86 ERA but they are starting from scratch in the starting rotation. Their pitching has been better than expected with a 3.94 ERA considering how many pitchers they lost from last season and not having Ryan O’Sullivan available, who was expected to be one of their weekend SP’s but injured his arm in the first inning of his first start. After getting knocked around by Oklahoma the pitching staff has put together some solid outings.
Lineup
C – JR Matt Parker (RH – .286 BA/.375 OBP/.429 SLG, 1 HR-11 RBI-0 SB) was able to see a decent amount of action behind the plate last season (.247 in 93 AB’s) despite being the backup to Castro. He has hit 5th or 6th most of the time and is tied for the team lead in RBI’s. Parker has done a good job of shutting down the running game and has held opponents to 10-19 on SB attempts.
1B – Soph Jomel Torres (LH – .344/.512/.469, 1-6-3) doesn’t have much power for a 1B (.295 with 1 HR in 95 AB’s last year) but has been an on base machine and leads the team in AVG and OBP. He has usually hit 2nd to help set the table for the middle of the order.
2B – SR Mitch Blackburn (LH – .256/.411/.279, 0-7-0) is the leadoff hitter and has gotten off to a slow start after hitting .306 last season. He doesn’t have much power but is very patient at the plate and was 2nd on the team in BB’s last year and leads the team this season. Blackburn is a good defensive player who has also started three games at SS and made only three errors last year with a .988 FLD %. He was an All MWC pre-season pick by the conference coaches.
SS – SR Brandon Decker (RH – .125/.300/.125, 0-0-1) has been playing SS with O’Sullivan out (O’Sullivan was the SS last season on weekends and the midweek SP). Decker has done a solid job defensively and hasn’t made an error in the eight games he has started but has struggled at the plate again this year after hitting only .250 last season.
3B – Soph Chris Wilson (RH – .241/.371/.310, 0-4-0) has been starting at 3B most of the time the last two weekends. He is also the backup C and has started twice behind the plate. Wilson was solid in a part-time role last season (.298-4-22) and usually hits 7th. FR Corey Black (RH – 1-12) has also gotten some starts at SS and 3B.
LF – Soph Brandon Meredith (RH – .302/.456/.512, 2-11-1) and FR Van Hoosier (RH – .333/.478/.361, 0-5-7) have both played all over the diamond. Meredith has also made starts at RF and 1B and Van Hoosier has also made starts at 3B and more recently 2B. Meredith has batted 3rd every game and gotten off to a good start after losing 20 lbs since last season and is tied for the team lead in HR’s and RBI’s and leads the team in SLG. He does have trouble with making contact after striking out 46 times last year and leads the team with 15 K’s. Meredith was 2nd team All MWC last season after hitting .315 with 41 RBI’s. Van Hoosier has hit all over the lower part of the batting order and has very good speed and easily leads the team in SB’s.
CF – JR Cory Vaughn (RH – .302/.400/.488, 2-8-1) is the best prospect among the position players and is projected to be drafted in the first 5-6 rounds in June. He was 1st team All MWC last season after hitting .329 with 10 HR’s and 51 RBI’s and led the team with 15 SB’s. Vaughn is the cleanup hitter and has gotten off to a solid start but has had trouble making contact after leading the team with 57 K’s last season and has K’d 14 times this year.
RF – SR Josh Chasse (RH – .227/.419/.409, 1-5-2) is a good defensive outfielder but doesn’t have much pop with the bat (.197 in 79 AB’s) and usually hits at the bottom of the order.
DH – FR Blair Moore (LH – .306/.324/.417, 0-7-0) has gotten off to a solid start and has been the DH most of the time and usually hits 6th.
Pitching
Starting Pitchers
JR Addison Reed (RHP – 2-1, 3.20 ERA, 3 starts, 20 IP, 14 H, 5 BB, 23 K, .203 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP) is a big power pitcher with a fastball in the mid 90’s who was the national leader in saves last season. He started for the Aztecs in their first game of the tournament against UAB. Reed struggled in his first start against Oklahoma (4 R in 4 2/3 IP) before two dominant starts against San Diego and Kentucky when he allowed 3 R on 9 H in 15 IP with 2 BB and 17 K. He is projected to go in the first two rounds of the draft in June.
FR Bryan Crabb (RHP – 1-1, 1.72 ERA, 3 starts, 16 IP, 12 H, 8 BB, 16 K, .214 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP) is only 5’10” so he relies on good movement on his off-speed pitches to get batters out, resulting in some walks but him being very tough to hit. He will be starting against Fullerton. Crabb didn’t get out of the 5th inning in his first two starts but allowed only 3 R’s in those starts before throwing seven scoreless innings against Monmouth.
The other SP’s for the Aztecs are SR Andrew Leary (RHP – 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 3 apps, 1 start, 9 IP, 14 H, 4 BB, 11 K, .326 BA, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP), JR Craig Rasmussen (LHP – 0-2, 11.05 ERA, 3 apps, 2 starts, 7 IP, 14 H, 0 BB, 6 K, .378 BA, 4 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) and midweek SP JC transfer Steven Moranda (RHP – 1-0, 4.97 ERA, 5 apps, 2 starts, 13 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 9 K, .260 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP), who will be available out of the bullpen this weekend.
Relief Pitchers
San Diego State is still working on sorting out the closer spot and the other roles in the bullpen with Reed being moved into the starting rotation. Here are the relievers most likely to see action this weekend.
Soph John Pecoraro (RHP – 0-0, 1.59 ERA, 5 apps, 11 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 8 K, .211 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP).
JC transfer Shawn Sanford (LHP – 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 3 apps, 4 IP, 10 H, 6 unearned R, 2 BB, 1 K, .556 BA, 2 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP).
FR Matthew McDaniel (LHP – 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 3 apps, 3 IP, 5 H, 4 unearned R, 3 BB, 1 K, .313 BA, 1 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP).
SR Kegan Sharp (RHP – 1-1, 4.91 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K, .115 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP).
JC transfer Ryan Wynveen (LHP – 0-1, 4.91 ERA, 6 apps, 7 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 6 K, .269 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 3 WP).
Friday – San Diego State Aztecs
San Diego State had their most successful season in 2009 in nearly twenty years by qualifying for a regional for the first time since 1991 and went 1-2 at the Irvine regional. The Aztecs were 41-23 and led by national player of the year Steven Strasburg and a solid pitching staff that finished in the top 25 in all four major pitching stats that the NCAA keeps track of (ERA, H/9 IP, K/9 IP, BB/9 IP). They lost most of the major contributors from that pitching staff except for All-American closer Addison Reed, who has been moved into the starting rotation, but the Aztecs do return most of the starting position players from last season except for All-MWC catcher Erik Castro, who led the team in AVG, HR, RBI, OBP and SLG, and they were picked to finish 3rd in the MWC by the conference coaches.
San Diego State got off to a slow start this season by losing all four games in their opening series at home with Oklahoma. The Sooners outscored the Aztecs 38-16 and won every game by at least three runs. The stats were a little skewed in the second game when the bullpen gave up sixteen runs in a 17-5 loss. The Aztecs have bounced back from their tough opening weekend to go 5-3, including a series win against their local rivals the USD Toreros, heading into the tournament. San Diego State has squared away most of their pitching issues by allowing 4 R’s or less in six of the last eight games. The Aztecs have also started to hit the ball better and have scored 5 R’s or more in six of the last eight games.
San Diego State’s offensive philosophy is to take a patient approach at the plate and work counts. The Aztecs were in the top 50 in the country in BB’s last season and are walking nearly six times a game but they are also striking out nearly ten times a game. They don’t have much power in their lineup with 7 HR’s and a .360 SLG % and have gotten off to a slow start with a .261 AVG. San Diego State doesn’t bunt much but they will hit and run and steal bases (16-25 SB’s). The Aztecs were a solid defensive team last season with 61 E’s and a .974 fielding % but have had a few issues on defense and have made 17 E’s for a .963 fielding %.
San Diego State’s pitching staff carried the team to a regional last year with a 3.86 ERA but they are starting from scratch in the starting rotation. Their pitching has been better than expected with a 3.94 ERA considering how many pitchers they lost from last season and not having Ryan O’Sullivan available, who was expected to be one of their weekend SP’s but injured his arm in the first inning of his first start. After getting knocked around by Oklahoma the pitching staff has put together some solid outings.
Lineup
C – JR Matt Parker (RH – .286 BA/.375 OBP/.429 SLG, 1 HR-11 RBI-0 SB) was able to see a decent amount of action behind the plate last season (.247 in 93 AB’s) despite being the backup to Castro. He has hit 5th or 6th most of the time and is tied for the team lead in RBI’s. Parker has done a good job of shutting down the running game and has held opponents to 10-19 on SB attempts.
1B – Soph Jomel Torres (LH – .344/.512/.469, 1-6-3) doesn’t have much power for a 1B (.295 with 1 HR in 95 AB’s last year) but has been an on base machine and leads the team in AVG and OBP. He has usually hit 2nd to help set the table for the middle of the order.
2B – SR Mitch Blackburn (LH – .256/.411/.279, 0-7-0) is the leadoff hitter and has gotten off to a slow start after hitting .306 last season. He doesn’t have much power but is very patient at the plate and was 2nd on the team in BB’s last year and leads the team this season. Blackburn is a good defensive player who has also started three games at SS and made only three errors last year with a .988 FLD %. He was an All MWC pre-season pick by the conference coaches.
SS – SR Brandon Decker (RH – .125/.300/.125, 0-0-1) has been playing SS with O’Sullivan out (O’Sullivan was the SS last season on weekends and the midweek SP). Decker has done a solid job defensively and hasn’t made an error in the eight games he has started but has struggled at the plate again this year after hitting only .250 last season.
3B – Soph Chris Wilson (RH – .241/.371/.310, 0-4-0) has been starting at 3B most of the time the last two weekends. He is also the backup C and has started twice behind the plate. Wilson was solid in a part-time role last season (.298-4-22) and usually hits 7th. FR Corey Black (RH – 1-12) has also gotten some starts at SS and 3B.
LF – Soph Brandon Meredith (RH – .302/.456/.512, 2-11-1) and FR Van Hoosier (RH – .333/.478/.361, 0-5-7) have both played all over the diamond. Meredith has also made starts at RF and 1B and Van Hoosier has also made starts at 3B and more recently 2B. Meredith has batted 3rd every game and gotten off to a good start after losing 20 lbs since last season and is tied for the team lead in HR’s and RBI’s and leads the team in SLG. He does have trouble with making contact after striking out 46 times last year and leads the team with 15 K’s. Meredith was 2nd team All MWC last season after hitting .315 with 41 RBI’s. Van Hoosier has hit all over the lower part of the batting order and has very good speed and easily leads the team in SB’s.
CF – JR Cory Vaughn (RH – .302/.400/.488, 2-8-1) is the best prospect among the position players and is projected to be drafted in the first 5-6 rounds in June. He was 1st team All MWC last season after hitting .329 with 10 HR’s and 51 RBI’s and led the team with 15 SB’s. Vaughn is the cleanup hitter and has gotten off to a solid start but has had trouble making contact after leading the team with 57 K’s last season and has K’d 14 times this year.
RF – SR Josh Chasse (RH – .227/.419/.409, 1-5-2) is a good defensive outfielder but doesn’t have much pop with the bat (.197 in 79 AB’s) and usually hits at the bottom of the order.
DH – FR Blair Moore (LH – .306/.324/.417, 0-7-0) has gotten off to a solid start and has been the DH most of the time and usually hits 6th.
Pitching
Starting Pitchers
JR Addison Reed (RHP – 2-1, 3.20 ERA, 3 starts, 20 IP, 14 H, 5 BB, 23 K, .203 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP) is a big power pitcher with a fastball in the mid 90’s who was the national leader in saves last season. He started for the Aztecs in their first game of the tournament against UAB. Reed struggled in his first start against Oklahoma (4 R in 4 2/3 IP) before two dominant starts against San Diego and Kentucky when he allowed 3 R on 9 H in 15 IP with 2 BB and 17 K. He is projected to go in the first two rounds of the draft in June.
FR Bryan Crabb (RHP – 1-1, 1.72 ERA, 3 starts, 16 IP, 12 H, 8 BB, 16 K, .214 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP) is only 5’10” so he relies on good movement on his off-speed pitches to get batters out, resulting in some walks but him being very tough to hit. He will be starting against Fullerton. Crabb didn’t get out of the 5th inning in his first two starts but allowed only 3 R’s in those starts before throwing seven scoreless innings against Monmouth.
The other SP’s for the Aztecs are SR Andrew Leary (RHP – 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 3 apps, 1 start, 9 IP, 14 H, 4 BB, 11 K, .326 BA, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP), JR Craig Rasmussen (LHP – 0-2, 11.05 ERA, 3 apps, 2 starts, 7 IP, 14 H, 0 BB, 6 K, .378 BA, 4 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) and midweek SP JC transfer Steven Moranda (RHP – 1-0, 4.97 ERA, 5 apps, 2 starts, 13 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 9 K, .260 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP), who will be available out of the bullpen this weekend.
Relief Pitchers
San Diego State is still working on sorting out the closer spot and the other roles in the bullpen with Reed being moved into the starting rotation. Here are the relievers most likely to see action this weekend.
Soph John Pecoraro (RHP – 0-0, 1.59 ERA, 5 apps, 11 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 8 K, .211 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP).
JC transfer Shawn Sanford (LHP – 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 3 apps, 4 IP, 10 H, 6 unearned R, 2 BB, 1 K, .556 BA, 2 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP).
FR Matthew McDaniel (LHP – 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 3 apps, 3 IP, 5 H, 4 unearned R, 3 BB, 1 K, .313 BA, 1 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP).
SR Kegan Sharp (RHP – 1-1, 4.91 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K, .115 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP).
JC transfer Ryan Wynveen (LHP – 0-1, 4.91 ERA, 6 apps, 7 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 6 K, .269 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 3 WP).
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
San Diego Tournament Preview (Fresno State)
By FullertonBaseballFan
Thursday – Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6)
Fresno State has qualified for four straight regionals and is predicted to make it five in a row after being picked by the WAC coaches to win the conference. The Bulldogs struggled last season to live up to the expectations of being the defending national champions after losing almost every pitcher who contributed to their run to the national title in 2008 and had to win the WAC tournament to get into a regional and they went 0-2 at Irvine. Fresno State brought an experienced team into this season and lost only one pitcher from last year and a few position players although one of them was one of the heroes in their national title run, 3B Tom Mendonca (3rd in the country with 27 HR’s in 2009).
Fresno State got off to a good start this season by winning three of four games in their opening series with Nebraska and followed that up by winning two out of three games at Washington. The Bulldogs hit .327 with 12 HR’s and a .538 SLG % in bludgeoning their way to five wins in those seven games and scored 39 R’s in their 5 wins and 10 R’s in one of their losses but their offense came to a screeching halt when George Horton brought his Oregon Ducks to town last weekend. Fresno State scored only 11 runs while being swept in a four game series as Horton improved his record against Fresno State to 25-3 in his last 28 games against them. The Bulldogs rebounded on Tuesday with a 10-9 win at home against Santa Clara and got a solid outing from their SP before the bullpen gave up 8 R’s. The pitching staff has been fairly consistent for Fresno State with an ERA in the high 4’s before Tuesday’s slugfest but the defense has been porous and has committed 26 errors, 11 against Oregon.
Fresno State’s offensive philosophy is to play grip and rip it baseball. The Bulldogs will take a patient approach at the plate and wait for their pitch and tag it when they get it. Fresno State finished fifth in the country in BB’s and was in the top 25 in HR’s and top 50 in runs scored. The Bulldogs rarely bunt (29 SAC’s last season, 3 this year) and don’t run much (44 SB’s last year, 8 this season). Fresno State has had a pretty consistent lineup with seven of their regulars starting in every game except for one start by the backup catcher. The Bulldogs were a below average defensive team last season with 86 E’s and a .964 fielding % and that has carried over to this season.
Fresno State’s pitching staff took its lumps last season with the departure of so many pitchers after their 2008 title run. The staff had an ERA of 5.61 and allowed teams to hit .283. Two areas that the Bulldogs pitching staff was adequate in was not walking batters and for the most part keeping the ball in the ballpark by not giving up HR’s. Fresno State figured to have an improved pitching staff and the ERA is better but not as good as expected. The Bulldogs got three solid starts in four games against Nebraska but the SP’s struggled in the first two games against Washington and were ok in the last three games against Oregon but weren’t done any favors by the poor defense. Fresno State has gone to their bullpen often with no starter going longer than 6 1/3 IP in any start and the relievers have usually done a solid job of keeping the Bulldogs in the game.
Lineup
C – Soph Trent Garrison (LH – .375 BA/.405 OBP/.719 SLG, 3 HR-11 RBI-0 SB) started 25 games last season and hit .219 in 96 AB’s but has flourished at the plate as the regular catcher. He usually hits 8th and gives Fresno power at the bottom of the lineup. Garrison has struggled some defensively and allowed 13-15 SB’s and 11 WP’s/PB’s.
1B – JR Jordan Ribera (LH – .333/.412/.778, 6-11-0) had some big hits in Omaha in 2008 but struggled at the plate last season (.189 in 74 AB’s, K’d 30% of the time) before getting hot in the WAC tournament and hitting a couple of key HR’s. He started out scorching hot in the first two series and hit .429 with 6 HR’s and 10 RBI’s in seven games before he cooled off against Oregon when he went 2-13. Ribera usually hits 6th.
2B – JR Danny Muno (Both – .333/.444/.489, 1-4-0) was the SS the last two seasons but is a poor defensive player and made 28 errors last season and has already made 6 errors this year. However, at the plate it is a different story because Muno does an outstanding job of getting on base. Muno was the leadoff hitter last year but has been hitting 3rd this season. He led the team with a .379 AVG, .525 OBP and 13 SB’s last season and was in the top ten nationally in BB’s and 2B’s. He was 1st team all WAC last season and was chosen by the WAC coaches as the pre-season MVP. FR Justin Charles (LH – 2-8) has played in the last four games with Muno usually playing SS and Charles batted 9th in three of those games.
SS – SR Isacc Vivas (RH – .250/.286/.375, 1-3-0) is a better defensive player than Muno and only made four errors last season in 32 starts but has already matched that total this year. He only hit .225 last season and has usually been a liability at the plate before he hit a walk-off HR on Tuesday. Vivas has started in 8 of 11 games and will hit 9th when he is in the lineup.
3B – JC transfer Garrett Weber (LH – .298/.340/.319, 0-6-2) had the unenviable task of replacing Mendonca in the lineup. He started out well going 11-30 with 6 RBI in the first two series before struggling against Oregon when he went 3-16 with 0 RBI. Weber hit 2nd in the first ten games. He has struggled some defensively and has made three errors.
LF – JR Bobby Coyle (LH – .296/.321/.370, 1-8-1) transferred from Arizona (’09 stats – .316/.345/.483, 3-37-6) and received a hardship waiver in order to be eligible to play without having to sit out a season. He has been a solid hitter at the top of the lineup and led off the first ten games before hitting 2nd and 3rd the past two games.
CF – Soph Dusty Robinson (RH – .327/.365/.469, 1-8-2) doesn’t have the best range in CF but more than makes up for it at the plate and has been the cleanup hitter in every game. He had an outstanding FR season (‘09 stats –.319/.394/.604, 15-45-7) and was 1st team all WAC last year and was chosen by the coaches to be 1st team all WAC again this season.
RF – Soph Brennan Gowens (LH – .356/.431/.467, 0-3-2) had a solid FR season (‘09 stats – .280/.404/.423, 5-27-6) and has gotten off to a good start this year. He has batted 5th in 11 of 12 starts.
DH – Soph Kenny Wise (LH – .429/.538/.810, 2-9-0) didn’t start the first five games of the season but has been in the lineup since then and usually hits 7th. He is another player who had a solid FR season (‘09 stats –.291/.368/.551, 6-28-6 in 102 AB’s).
Pitching
Starting Pitchers
Soph Derek Benny (RHP – 0-0, 6.59 ERA, 4 apps, 3 starts, 14 IP, 20 H, 8 BB, 11 K, .345 BA, 0 HR, 6 HBP, 2 WP) came into this season as the Fri SP and was picked by the coaches as the pre-season WAC pitcher of the year after a solid FR season (4-4, 5.09 ERA, 16 apps, 12 starts, 87 IP). Benny got roughed up by both Nebraska and Washington and wasn’t in the rotation against Oregon and pitched better against Santa Clara on Tuesday when he allowed 1 R on 8 H in 5 2/3 IP. He has a good sinking fastball in the low 90’s and a solid slider.
Soph Cody Kendall (RHP – 0-2, 5.74 ERA, 1 save, 4 apps, 2 starts, 16 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 13 K, .317 BA, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP) started last Friday and could be in line to get the start against Fullerton. He had a solid outing against Nebraska when he allowed 3 R on 8 H with 0 BB and 6 K in 6 IP but was roughed up by Oregon when he allowed 6 R on 10 H in 4 IP. Kendall pitched mostly in relief last season (2-1, 9.21 ERA, 18 apps, 6 starts, 43 IP).
SR Matt Morse (RHP – 0-2, 5.74 ERA, 4 apps, 2 starts, 16 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 13 K, .317 BA, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP) has had two solid outings in three starts (2 R allowed in 5 IP vs. Nebraska, 9 R allowed in 5 IP at Washington, 3 ER allowed in 6 1/3 IP vs. Oregon) but pitched last Sat and it would be doubtful that he would be brought back on short rest with Fresno having four games in four days. He has a fastball in the upper 80’s with a good changeup and good command. Mores was one of the SP’s for most of last season (4-3, 4.72 ERA, 19 apps, 11 starts, 80 IP).
Soph Charlie Robertson (RHP – 0-1, 3.75 ERA, 3 apps, 1 start, 12 IP, 13 H, 4 BB, 6 K, .295 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) has taken on a bigger role on the pitching staff after throwing only seven innings last year. He started last Sat against Oregon (5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H) with Benny moved to the bullpen.
Soph Josh Poytress (LHP – 1-1, 4.15 ERA, 4 apps, 3 starts, 17 IP, 16 H, 9 BB, 11 K, .271 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) is the only lefty in the rotation and has started all three Sunday games. He pitched poorly vs. Nebraska but has had solid outings in his last two starts against Washington and Oregon. Poytress was one of the SP’s last season (2-2, 4.25, 20 apps, 8 starts, 42 IP).
Relief Pitchers
Fresno State doesn’t have an established closer so they have been mixing and matching in middle relief and to finish games. Here are the relievers most likely to see action this weekend. All of them saw action out of the bullpen last season except for Gonzalez, who is the only reliever with a save besides Kendall who is now in the rotation.
JR Gene Escat (RHP – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 5 H, 6 BB, 2 K, .263 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP).
SR Sean Bonesteele (RHP – 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 3 apps, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, .250 BA, 1 HR, 0 HBP, 1 WP).
Soph Tom Harlan (LHP – 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 7 apps, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K, .267 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP).
Soph Taylor Garrison (RHP – 1-1, 6.35 ERA, 4 apps, 6 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 4 K, .400 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP).
JC transfer Greg Gonzalez (RHP – 1-0, 10.50 ERA, 1 save, 5 apps, 6 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 8 K, .455 BA, 2 HR, 0 HBP, 2 WP).
SR Zac Bishcoff (RHP – 0-0, 10.80 ERA, 4 apps, 3 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K, .438 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP).
Thursday – Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6)
Fresno State has qualified for four straight regionals and is predicted to make it five in a row after being picked by the WAC coaches to win the conference. The Bulldogs struggled last season to live up to the expectations of being the defending national champions after losing almost every pitcher who contributed to their run to the national title in 2008 and had to win the WAC tournament to get into a regional and they went 0-2 at Irvine. Fresno State brought an experienced team into this season and lost only one pitcher from last year and a few position players although one of them was one of the heroes in their national title run, 3B Tom Mendonca (3rd in the country with 27 HR’s in 2009).
Fresno State got off to a good start this season by winning three of four games in their opening series with Nebraska and followed that up by winning two out of three games at Washington. The Bulldogs hit .327 with 12 HR’s and a .538 SLG % in bludgeoning their way to five wins in those seven games and scored 39 R’s in their 5 wins and 10 R’s in one of their losses but their offense came to a screeching halt when George Horton brought his Oregon Ducks to town last weekend. Fresno State scored only 11 runs while being swept in a four game series as Horton improved his record against Fresno State to 25-3 in his last 28 games against them. The Bulldogs rebounded on Tuesday with a 10-9 win at home against Santa Clara and got a solid outing from their SP before the bullpen gave up 8 R’s. The pitching staff has been fairly consistent for Fresno State with an ERA in the high 4’s before Tuesday’s slugfest but the defense has been porous and has committed 26 errors, 11 against Oregon.
Fresno State’s offensive philosophy is to play grip and rip it baseball. The Bulldogs will take a patient approach at the plate and wait for their pitch and tag it when they get it. Fresno State finished fifth in the country in BB’s and was in the top 25 in HR’s and top 50 in runs scored. The Bulldogs rarely bunt (29 SAC’s last season, 3 this year) and don’t run much (44 SB’s last year, 8 this season). Fresno State has had a pretty consistent lineup with seven of their regulars starting in every game except for one start by the backup catcher. The Bulldogs were a below average defensive team last season with 86 E’s and a .964 fielding % and that has carried over to this season.
Fresno State’s pitching staff took its lumps last season with the departure of so many pitchers after their 2008 title run. The staff had an ERA of 5.61 and allowed teams to hit .283. Two areas that the Bulldogs pitching staff was adequate in was not walking batters and for the most part keeping the ball in the ballpark by not giving up HR’s. Fresno State figured to have an improved pitching staff and the ERA is better but not as good as expected. The Bulldogs got three solid starts in four games against Nebraska but the SP’s struggled in the first two games against Washington and were ok in the last three games against Oregon but weren’t done any favors by the poor defense. Fresno State has gone to their bullpen often with no starter going longer than 6 1/3 IP in any start and the relievers have usually done a solid job of keeping the Bulldogs in the game.
Lineup
C – Soph Trent Garrison (LH – .375 BA/.405 OBP/.719 SLG, 3 HR-11 RBI-0 SB) started 25 games last season and hit .219 in 96 AB’s but has flourished at the plate as the regular catcher. He usually hits 8th and gives Fresno power at the bottom of the lineup. Garrison has struggled some defensively and allowed 13-15 SB’s and 11 WP’s/PB’s.
1B – JR Jordan Ribera (LH – .333/.412/.778, 6-11-0) had some big hits in Omaha in 2008 but struggled at the plate last season (.189 in 74 AB’s, K’d 30% of the time) before getting hot in the WAC tournament and hitting a couple of key HR’s. He started out scorching hot in the first two series and hit .429 with 6 HR’s and 10 RBI’s in seven games before he cooled off against Oregon when he went 2-13. Ribera usually hits 6th.
2B – JR Danny Muno (Both – .333/.444/.489, 1-4-0) was the SS the last two seasons but is a poor defensive player and made 28 errors last season and has already made 6 errors this year. However, at the plate it is a different story because Muno does an outstanding job of getting on base. Muno was the leadoff hitter last year but has been hitting 3rd this season. He led the team with a .379 AVG, .525 OBP and 13 SB’s last season and was in the top ten nationally in BB’s and 2B’s. He was 1st team all WAC last season and was chosen by the WAC coaches as the pre-season MVP. FR Justin Charles (LH – 2-8) has played in the last four games with Muno usually playing SS and Charles batted 9th in three of those games.
SS – SR Isacc Vivas (RH – .250/.286/.375, 1-3-0) is a better defensive player than Muno and only made four errors last season in 32 starts but has already matched that total this year. He only hit .225 last season and has usually been a liability at the plate before he hit a walk-off HR on Tuesday. Vivas has started in 8 of 11 games and will hit 9th when he is in the lineup.
3B – JC transfer Garrett Weber (LH – .298/.340/.319, 0-6-2) had the unenviable task of replacing Mendonca in the lineup. He started out well going 11-30 with 6 RBI in the first two series before struggling against Oregon when he went 3-16 with 0 RBI. Weber hit 2nd in the first ten games. He has struggled some defensively and has made three errors.
LF – JR Bobby Coyle (LH – .296/.321/.370, 1-8-1) transferred from Arizona (’09 stats – .316/.345/.483, 3-37-6) and received a hardship waiver in order to be eligible to play without having to sit out a season. He has been a solid hitter at the top of the lineup and led off the first ten games before hitting 2nd and 3rd the past two games.
CF – Soph Dusty Robinson (RH – .327/.365/.469, 1-8-2) doesn’t have the best range in CF but more than makes up for it at the plate and has been the cleanup hitter in every game. He had an outstanding FR season (‘09 stats –.319/.394/.604, 15-45-7) and was 1st team all WAC last year and was chosen by the coaches to be 1st team all WAC again this season.
RF – Soph Brennan Gowens (LH – .356/.431/.467, 0-3-2) had a solid FR season (‘09 stats – .280/.404/.423, 5-27-6) and has gotten off to a good start this year. He has batted 5th in 11 of 12 starts.
DH – Soph Kenny Wise (LH – .429/.538/.810, 2-9-0) didn’t start the first five games of the season but has been in the lineup since then and usually hits 7th. He is another player who had a solid FR season (‘09 stats –.291/.368/.551, 6-28-6 in 102 AB’s).
Pitching
Starting Pitchers
Soph Derek Benny (RHP – 0-0, 6.59 ERA, 4 apps, 3 starts, 14 IP, 20 H, 8 BB, 11 K, .345 BA, 0 HR, 6 HBP, 2 WP) came into this season as the Fri SP and was picked by the coaches as the pre-season WAC pitcher of the year after a solid FR season (4-4, 5.09 ERA, 16 apps, 12 starts, 87 IP). Benny got roughed up by both Nebraska and Washington and wasn’t in the rotation against Oregon and pitched better against Santa Clara on Tuesday when he allowed 1 R on 8 H in 5 2/3 IP. He has a good sinking fastball in the low 90’s and a solid slider.
Soph Cody Kendall (RHP – 0-2, 5.74 ERA, 1 save, 4 apps, 2 starts, 16 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 13 K, .317 BA, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP) started last Friday and could be in line to get the start against Fullerton. He had a solid outing against Nebraska when he allowed 3 R on 8 H with 0 BB and 6 K in 6 IP but was roughed up by Oregon when he allowed 6 R on 10 H in 4 IP. Kendall pitched mostly in relief last season (2-1, 9.21 ERA, 18 apps, 6 starts, 43 IP).
SR Matt Morse (RHP – 0-2, 5.74 ERA, 4 apps, 2 starts, 16 IP, 20 H, 4 BB, 13 K, .317 BA, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP) has had two solid outings in three starts (2 R allowed in 5 IP vs. Nebraska, 9 R allowed in 5 IP at Washington, 3 ER allowed in 6 1/3 IP vs. Oregon) but pitched last Sat and it would be doubtful that he would be brought back on short rest with Fresno having four games in four days. He has a fastball in the upper 80’s with a good changeup and good command. Mores was one of the SP’s for most of last season (4-3, 4.72 ERA, 19 apps, 11 starts, 80 IP).
Soph Charlie Robertson (RHP – 0-1, 3.75 ERA, 3 apps, 1 start, 12 IP, 13 H, 4 BB, 6 K, .295 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) has taken on a bigger role on the pitching staff after throwing only seven innings last year. He started last Sat against Oregon (5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H) with Benny moved to the bullpen.
Soph Josh Poytress (LHP – 1-1, 4.15 ERA, 4 apps, 3 starts, 17 IP, 16 H, 9 BB, 11 K, .271 BA, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP) is the only lefty in the rotation and has started all three Sunday games. He pitched poorly vs. Nebraska but has had solid outings in his last two starts against Washington and Oregon. Poytress was one of the SP’s last season (2-2, 4.25, 20 apps, 8 starts, 42 IP).
Relief Pitchers
Fresno State doesn’t have an established closer so they have been mixing and matching in middle relief and to finish games. Here are the relievers most likely to see action this weekend. All of them saw action out of the bullpen last season except for Gonzalez, who is the only reliever with a save besides Kendall who is now in the rotation.
JR Gene Escat (RHP – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 apps, 7 IP, 5 H, 6 BB, 2 K, .263 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP).
SR Sean Bonesteele (RHP – 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 3 apps, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, .250 BA, 1 HR, 0 HBP, 1 WP).
Soph Tom Harlan (LHP – 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 7 apps, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K, .267 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP).
Soph Taylor Garrison (RHP – 1-1, 6.35 ERA, 4 apps, 6 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 4 K, .400 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP).
JC transfer Greg Gonzalez (RHP – 1-0, 10.50 ERA, 1 save, 5 apps, 6 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 8 K, .455 BA, 2 HR, 0 HBP, 2 WP).
SR Zac Bishcoff (RHP – 0-0, 10.80 ERA, 4 apps, 3 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K, .438 BA, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 WP).
Friday, March 5, 2010
Arizona Series Preview
By FullertonBaseballFan
Cal State Fullerton’s slow start continued against TCU as the Titans lost two out of three games for the second weekend in a row and lost the series to the Horned Frogs at Goodwin Field for the second straight season. Fullerton lost the first game 5-2 as their bats were throttled by Steven Maxwell and he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. After Saturday’s game was rained out, the teams split a doubleheader on Sunday with the Titans winning the first game 6-4 behind the hitting and pitching of Nick Ramirez before TCU came back to win the second game 8-1 when the Horned Frogs broke open the game with a five run sixth inning while Kyle Winkler shut down the Fullerton offense. The Titans rebounded against San Diego with an 11-4 midweek win and this weekend Fullerton hits the road for the first time season and will be traveling down to Tucson to take on the Arizona Wildcats.
Andy Lopez led Arizona to the College World Series in 2004 and had the Wildcats in regionals in five out of six years and in a super regional in 2008 before a mediocre 30-25, 13-14 season in 2009. Things were pretty miserable for Arizona both on and off the field and Lopez cleaned house after the season with fifteen players leaving the program who had eligibility remaining in addition to having seven players leave the program after being drafted and/or graduating. With that type of attrition the result is the Wildcats have one of the youngest teams on the west coast with seventeen freshmen in the program. Arizona returns only four position players who saw regular playing time and four pitchers with pitched at least 35 innings last season. The expectations for the Wildcats are fairly low and they are being predicted to finish anywhere between fifth and eighth place in the Pac 10 and are expected to miss post-season play for the second straight season.
Arizona is 4-3 after getting their season off to a fast start by winning all three games at home against Utah Valley State, one of the lower level teams in the western region, by the scores of 8-1, 18-1 and 8-7. The Wildcats struggled last weekend while facing a better team when they lost both games to Long Beach with the third game of the series rained out. Arizona blew a late lead to lose 8-7 in the first game before losing 10-3 in the second game. The Wildcats faced UNLV in a midweek series and lost 12-10 in the first game before rebounding to win the second game 5-4 in 13 innings.
LINEUP
Arizona had one of the better lineups in the Pac 10 in 2009 and led the conference in BA, 2B’s, 3B’s and were 2nd in R’s, SLG % and SB’s. Unfortunately for the Wildcats most of the leaders of that offense have moved on and they have only a few contributors back from last season. Arizona has come out swinging the bats this season and are hitting .318 with five players hitting over .350, three of them returners from last season. The Wildcats did most of their damage against Utah Valley State when they hit .358 and scored 34 runs in that series and have hit .289 and scored 25 runs in their last four games against Long Beach and UNLV. Arizona will play little ball with by using the hit and run, stealing bases (13 in 7 games) and bunting (8 in the last 4 games). The Wildcats are also being patient at the plate and are averaging around five walks per game and doing a solid job of making contact and are striking out about five times per game.
The dimensions at Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium are spacious down the lines (360 ft), relatively short to the power alleys (378 ft) and standard (400 ft) to CF which means there tend to be lots of 2B’s and 3B’s hit there. Due to the ballpark dimensions and Tucson’s elevation (over 2000 feet above sea level) according to Boyd’s World the park factor is 126, which means the ballpark increases offense by 26% and significantly favor hitters, especially when the weather warms up and the ball travels well.
Arizona was a poor fielding team last season and made 76 errors and was eighth in the Pac 10 with a .965 fielding %. The Wildcats have shored things up some this year and are fielding better with a .972 fielding %.
Infield
Arizona had a pretty experienced infield last season but didn’t field well. This year the Wildcats have three players returning but only one of them played the same position last season and the defense has improved some.
C – Soph Jett Bandy (RH – .485/.514/.848, 3-11-1; ’09 – .299/.397/.500, 4-39-1) was the 3B last season and has moved to C and done a solid job against the running game (3-5 SB’s) but has struggled some at blocking pitches (8 WP’s/PB’s). He has been on fire to start the season and will hit either 4th or 5th as one of the power bats in the lineup with 3 of the team’s 5 HR’s, including a walk off grand slam in the third game of the Utah Valley State series, and is tied for the team lead in RBI’s. He went 2-7 in last year’s midweek series at Fullerton. Bandy’s backup is JC transfer Jacob Meskin, who is 0-4 in two starts.
1B – SR Rafael Valenzuela (LH – .375/.484/.583, 0-8-1; ’09 – .277/.331/.411, 0-14-4) split time at 1B and DH last season and is doing that again this season but is limited defensively. Valenzuela went 7-13 against Utah Valley State and 2-11 the last four games. Bandy has started twice at 1B when Valenzuela has been the DH. Valenzuela does a good job of getting on base and bats 2nd.
2B – JR Bryce Ortega (RH – .143/.324/,143, 0-3-3; ’09 – .324/.429/.438, 3-33-16) was the starting SS last season but has been moved to 2B, which has helped improve Arizona’s infield defense. Ortega was predicted to contend for all-conf honors after leading the team in SB’s last season but he has gotten off to a very slow start. He has been the leadoff hitter every game and will work counts and leads the team with seven walks. Ortega went 0-8 in last year’s midweek series at Fullerton.
SS – FR Alex Mejia (RH – .192/.300/.269, 0-4-0) is a good athlete in the middle infield but he has struggled at the plate with making the adjustment to D1 pitching. Mejia has batted 9th in every game.
3B – FR Seth Mejias-Brean (RH – .133/.278/.200, 0-2-0) and FR Robert Refsnyder (RH – .423/.483/.423, 0-6-1) have been splitting time at 3B with Mejia-Brean getting most of the starts and usually batting 8th. Refsnyder is a versatile player and a good athlete who was the QB on his HS football team. He has also been playing in the OF and has often switched over to 3B during games and usually hits 5th or 6th. Refsnyder went 8-17 the last four games.
Outfield and DH
Arizona returned only one OF from last season so they have been relying on incoming players to take over and the newcomers have been playing well.
LF – Soph Bobby Brown (LH – .333/.385/.583, 0-2-1) and Refsnyder have been splitting time in LF with Brown going 4-8 over the last four games. Brown usually hits in the lower part of the lineup and is the only other LH bat along with Valenzuela.
CF – FR Joey Rickard (RH – .367/.406/.667. 2-11-4) was the most heralded newcomer in the large recruiting class and he has delivered. He has hit 2 of the team’s 5 HR’s and is tied for the team lead in RBI’s. Rickard went 7-12 against Utah Valley State but is 4-18 over the last four games. Rickard is a good athlete in CF and leads the team in SB’s and has been hitting 6th or 7th.
RF – Soph Steve Selsky (RH – .424/.472/.485, 0-6-0; ’09 – .318/.386/.541, 7-21-2) is the only returning player in the OF. He went 8-14 against Utah Valley State and has gone 6-19 the past four games. Selsky usually hits 3rd and has good power, which is why he is projected to be drafted around the 10th round in June as a draft eligible soph. He went 3-6 in last year’s midweek series at Fullerton.
DH – JC transfer Josh Garcia (RH – .200 in 10 AB’s) is one of several players who will see time at DH, including Valenzuela, Brown and Refsnyder as Arizona rotates players at this position.
PITCHING
A major reason why Arizona ended up under .500 in conf games despite having a potent lineup was a pitching staff that ended up 9th in team ERA at 5.46 and allowed opponents to hit a conference worst .293. The pitchers also allowed the most 2B’s and 3B’s in the conference. Arizona lost their Friday SP, top middle reliever and closer to the draft after last season. The Wildcats allowed only one run in each of their first two games before allowing 41 runs in their next five games.
Starters
FRI – FR Kurt Heyer (RHP – 1-0, 3.86 ERA, 2 starts, 12 IP, 14 H, 1 BB, 20 K, .304 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP) had an outstanding start against Utah Valley State when he allowed 1 R on 3 H in 6 IP with 13 K’s but struggled against Long Beach when he allowed 4 R on 11 H in 5 2/3 IP last Friday. Heyer has good stuff with very good control. He is the best pitching prospect in the recruiting class and helped lead Edison HS to the CIF D1 final, losing a 1-0 game to Capo Valley and 1st round draft pick Tyler Matzek.
SAT – Soph Kyle Simon (RHP – 1-1, 3.55 ERA, 2 starts, 13 IP, 11 H. 6 BB, 8 K, .239 BA, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 3 WP) is the most experienced pitcher returning from last season (’09 stats – 3-5, 6.03 ERA, 19 apps, 11 starts, 75 IP, 106 H, 26 BB, 42 K, 2 HR, .305 BA, 12 HBP, 6 WP). He doesn’t have overpowering stuff but is a battler. Simon was very effective against Utah Valley State and allowed 1 R on 5 H and 1 BB in 8 IP but didn’t pitch well against Long Beach when he gave up 5 R on 6 H and 4 BB in 5 IP. In his midweek start at Fullerton last year he allowed 5 R on 7 H in 2 1/3 IP.
SUN – TBA. The most likely SP’s would be either FR RHP Stephen Manthei or JR RHP Daniel Workman. Both made midweek starts this week against UNLV. Workman was one of the more effective returning pitchers for Arizona (’09 stats – 3-1, 3.86 ERA,15 apps, 6 starts, 42 IP, 45 H, 13 BB, 25 K, 5 HR, .271 BA, 5 HBP, 3 WP). He was shelled by Utah Valley State for 6 R and 7 H in 1 2/3 IP. Manthei allowed 0 R in 4 1/3 IP in relief of Workman in that game and was scheduled to start the Sun game against Long Beach that was rained out. Manthei started the Tues game against UNLV and allowed 5 R without retiring a batter. Workman was effective in his Wed start against UNLV and allowed 1 R on 2 H and 4 BB in 4 1/3 IP.
Relievers
Arizona has been scrambling for answers in the bullpen with so much roster turnover and the loss of their two most effective and experienced relievers from last season.
Soph Bryce Bandilla (LHP – ’09 stats – 3-3, 6.20 ERA, 26 apps, 6 starts, 49 IP, 51 H, 32 BB, 30 K, .280 BA, 2 HR, 11 HBP, 4 WP) was one of two experienced RP’s coming into the season and the projected closer due to his power arm although he has struggled with wildness. He blew the save against Long Beach when he allowed 3 R on 4 H in 2 IP. Bandilla struggled in his next outing on Tues against UNLV when he allowed 5 R on 5 H in 5 IP but did have 8 K’s.
JR Joe Allison (RHP – ’09 stats – 5-1, 4.66 ERA, 21 apps, 3 starts, 39 IP, 41 H, 11 BB, 21 K, .272 BA, 9 HR, 4 HBP, 1 WP) is the other experienced RP but has been brought along slowly due to some minor injuries. He made his first appearance on Wed against UNLV and held the Rebels hitless in 1 2/3 IP in picking up the extra inning win. Allison has good control but his pitches tend to get too much of the zone and led allowed the most HR’s on the staff last season. He allowed 3 R on 5 H in 4 IP in his midweek start at Fullerton last year.
FR Nick Cunningham (RHP – 5 apps, 2.84 ERA, 6 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K) has been effective and earned the coaching staff’s confidence and leads the staff in appearances.
FR Tyler Hale (RHP – 4 apps, 6.48 ERA, 8 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 8 K) was projected to have a chance to be the closer due to his power arm but he has struggled out of the gate. He has allowed 2 R in each of his last 3 outings.
No other pitcher has made more than one appearance out of the bullpen and the only other LHP on the roster besides Bandilla is JR Matt Chaffee, who only threw nine innings last year.
OUTLOOK
Fullerton has gotten off to a slow start and is looking to get their first series win this weekend. It looked like the ballclub started to turn the corner in their midweek win vs. San Diego against a weekend SP who should be better than any of the SP’s that they will see this weekend, although he was very wild which helped out the Titan hitters.
Arizona is a very young team that got off to a fast start against an inferior opponent before having a bit of a reality check while going 1-3 when the level of competition improved.
Runs don’t figure to be hard to come by this weekend with the way that Arizona swings the bats at home and with the struggles that the Wildcat pitching staff has had in allowing over eight runs a game the past five games. The Titans should have the pitching advantage in this series if they don’t allow Arizona to gain confidence at home in a hitters ballpark.
Fullerton is a more well rounded club than Arizona and if the Titans pitchers are effective and the hitters are able to have a good approach at the plate and swing the bats the way that they did on Tuesday night then Fullerton should win two out of three games this weekend.
Cal State Fullerton’s slow start continued against TCU as the Titans lost two out of three games for the second weekend in a row and lost the series to the Horned Frogs at Goodwin Field for the second straight season. Fullerton lost the first game 5-2 as their bats were throttled by Steven Maxwell and he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. After Saturday’s game was rained out, the teams split a doubleheader on Sunday with the Titans winning the first game 6-4 behind the hitting and pitching of Nick Ramirez before TCU came back to win the second game 8-1 when the Horned Frogs broke open the game with a five run sixth inning while Kyle Winkler shut down the Fullerton offense. The Titans rebounded against San Diego with an 11-4 midweek win and this weekend Fullerton hits the road for the first time season and will be traveling down to Tucson to take on the Arizona Wildcats.
Andy Lopez led Arizona to the College World Series in 2004 and had the Wildcats in regionals in five out of six years and in a super regional in 2008 before a mediocre 30-25, 13-14 season in 2009. Things were pretty miserable for Arizona both on and off the field and Lopez cleaned house after the season with fifteen players leaving the program who had eligibility remaining in addition to having seven players leave the program after being drafted and/or graduating. With that type of attrition the result is the Wildcats have one of the youngest teams on the west coast with seventeen freshmen in the program. Arizona returns only four position players who saw regular playing time and four pitchers with pitched at least 35 innings last season. The expectations for the Wildcats are fairly low and they are being predicted to finish anywhere between fifth and eighth place in the Pac 10 and are expected to miss post-season play for the second straight season.
Arizona is 4-3 after getting their season off to a fast start by winning all three games at home against Utah Valley State, one of the lower level teams in the western region, by the scores of 8-1, 18-1 and 8-7. The Wildcats struggled last weekend while facing a better team when they lost both games to Long Beach with the third game of the series rained out. Arizona blew a late lead to lose 8-7 in the first game before losing 10-3 in the second game. The Wildcats faced UNLV in a midweek series and lost 12-10 in the first game before rebounding to win the second game 5-4 in 13 innings.
LINEUP
Arizona had one of the better lineups in the Pac 10 in 2009 and led the conference in BA, 2B’s, 3B’s and were 2nd in R’s, SLG % and SB’s. Unfortunately for the Wildcats most of the leaders of that offense have moved on and they have only a few contributors back from last season. Arizona has come out swinging the bats this season and are hitting .318 with five players hitting over .350, three of them returners from last season. The Wildcats did most of their damage against Utah Valley State when they hit .358 and scored 34 runs in that series and have hit .289 and scored 25 runs in their last four games against Long Beach and UNLV. Arizona will play little ball with by using the hit and run, stealing bases (13 in 7 games) and bunting (8 in the last 4 games). The Wildcats are also being patient at the plate and are averaging around five walks per game and doing a solid job of making contact and are striking out about five times per game.
The dimensions at Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium are spacious down the lines (360 ft), relatively short to the power alleys (378 ft) and standard (400 ft) to CF which means there tend to be lots of 2B’s and 3B’s hit there. Due to the ballpark dimensions and Tucson’s elevation (over 2000 feet above sea level) according to Boyd’s World the park factor is 126, which means the ballpark increases offense by 26% and significantly favor hitters, especially when the weather warms up and the ball travels well.
Arizona was a poor fielding team last season and made 76 errors and was eighth in the Pac 10 with a .965 fielding %. The Wildcats have shored things up some this year and are fielding better with a .972 fielding %.
Infield
Arizona had a pretty experienced infield last season but didn’t field well. This year the Wildcats have three players returning but only one of them played the same position last season and the defense has improved some.
C – Soph Jett Bandy (RH – .485/.514/.848, 3-11-1; ’09 – .299/.397/.500, 4-39-1) was the 3B last season and has moved to C and done a solid job against the running game (3-5 SB’s) but has struggled some at blocking pitches (8 WP’s/PB’s). He has been on fire to start the season and will hit either 4th or 5th as one of the power bats in the lineup with 3 of the team’s 5 HR’s, including a walk off grand slam in the third game of the Utah Valley State series, and is tied for the team lead in RBI’s. He went 2-7 in last year’s midweek series at Fullerton. Bandy’s backup is JC transfer Jacob Meskin, who is 0-4 in two starts.
1B – SR Rafael Valenzuela (LH – .375/.484/.583, 0-8-1; ’09 – .277/.331/.411, 0-14-4) split time at 1B and DH last season and is doing that again this season but is limited defensively. Valenzuela went 7-13 against Utah Valley State and 2-11 the last four games. Bandy has started twice at 1B when Valenzuela has been the DH. Valenzuela does a good job of getting on base and bats 2nd.
2B – JR Bryce Ortega (RH – .143/.324/,143, 0-3-3; ’09 – .324/.429/.438, 3-33-16) was the starting SS last season but has been moved to 2B, which has helped improve Arizona’s infield defense. Ortega was predicted to contend for all-conf honors after leading the team in SB’s last season but he has gotten off to a very slow start. He has been the leadoff hitter every game and will work counts and leads the team with seven walks. Ortega went 0-8 in last year’s midweek series at Fullerton.
SS – FR Alex Mejia (RH – .192/.300/.269, 0-4-0) is a good athlete in the middle infield but he has struggled at the plate with making the adjustment to D1 pitching. Mejia has batted 9th in every game.
3B – FR Seth Mejias-Brean (RH – .133/.278/.200, 0-2-0) and FR Robert Refsnyder (RH – .423/.483/.423, 0-6-1) have been splitting time at 3B with Mejia-Brean getting most of the starts and usually batting 8th. Refsnyder is a versatile player and a good athlete who was the QB on his HS football team. He has also been playing in the OF and has often switched over to 3B during games and usually hits 5th or 6th. Refsnyder went 8-17 the last four games.
Outfield and DH
Arizona returned only one OF from last season so they have been relying on incoming players to take over and the newcomers have been playing well.
LF – Soph Bobby Brown (LH – .333/.385/.583, 0-2-1) and Refsnyder have been splitting time in LF with Brown going 4-8 over the last four games. Brown usually hits in the lower part of the lineup and is the only other LH bat along with Valenzuela.
CF – FR Joey Rickard (RH – .367/.406/.667. 2-11-4) was the most heralded newcomer in the large recruiting class and he has delivered. He has hit 2 of the team’s 5 HR’s and is tied for the team lead in RBI’s. Rickard went 7-12 against Utah Valley State but is 4-18 over the last four games. Rickard is a good athlete in CF and leads the team in SB’s and has been hitting 6th or 7th.
RF – Soph Steve Selsky (RH – .424/.472/.485, 0-6-0; ’09 – .318/.386/.541, 7-21-2) is the only returning player in the OF. He went 8-14 against Utah Valley State and has gone 6-19 the past four games. Selsky usually hits 3rd and has good power, which is why he is projected to be drafted around the 10th round in June as a draft eligible soph. He went 3-6 in last year’s midweek series at Fullerton.
DH – JC transfer Josh Garcia (RH – .200 in 10 AB’s) is one of several players who will see time at DH, including Valenzuela, Brown and Refsnyder as Arizona rotates players at this position.
PITCHING
A major reason why Arizona ended up under .500 in conf games despite having a potent lineup was a pitching staff that ended up 9th in team ERA at 5.46 and allowed opponents to hit a conference worst .293. The pitchers also allowed the most 2B’s and 3B’s in the conference. Arizona lost their Friday SP, top middle reliever and closer to the draft after last season. The Wildcats allowed only one run in each of their first two games before allowing 41 runs in their next five games.
Starters
FRI – FR Kurt Heyer (RHP – 1-0, 3.86 ERA, 2 starts, 12 IP, 14 H, 1 BB, 20 K, .304 BA, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 WP) had an outstanding start against Utah Valley State when he allowed 1 R on 3 H in 6 IP with 13 K’s but struggled against Long Beach when he allowed 4 R on 11 H in 5 2/3 IP last Friday. Heyer has good stuff with very good control. He is the best pitching prospect in the recruiting class and helped lead Edison HS to the CIF D1 final, losing a 1-0 game to Capo Valley and 1st round draft pick Tyler Matzek.
SAT – Soph Kyle Simon (RHP – 1-1, 3.55 ERA, 2 starts, 13 IP, 11 H. 6 BB, 8 K, .239 BA, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 3 WP) is the most experienced pitcher returning from last season (’09 stats – 3-5, 6.03 ERA, 19 apps, 11 starts, 75 IP, 106 H, 26 BB, 42 K, 2 HR, .305 BA, 12 HBP, 6 WP). He doesn’t have overpowering stuff but is a battler. Simon was very effective against Utah Valley State and allowed 1 R on 5 H and 1 BB in 8 IP but didn’t pitch well against Long Beach when he gave up 5 R on 6 H and 4 BB in 5 IP. In his midweek start at Fullerton last year he allowed 5 R on 7 H in 2 1/3 IP.
SUN – TBA. The most likely SP’s would be either FR RHP Stephen Manthei or JR RHP Daniel Workman. Both made midweek starts this week against UNLV. Workman was one of the more effective returning pitchers for Arizona (’09 stats – 3-1, 3.86 ERA,15 apps, 6 starts, 42 IP, 45 H, 13 BB, 25 K, 5 HR, .271 BA, 5 HBP, 3 WP). He was shelled by Utah Valley State for 6 R and 7 H in 1 2/3 IP. Manthei allowed 0 R in 4 1/3 IP in relief of Workman in that game and was scheduled to start the Sun game against Long Beach that was rained out. Manthei started the Tues game against UNLV and allowed 5 R without retiring a batter. Workman was effective in his Wed start against UNLV and allowed 1 R on 2 H and 4 BB in 4 1/3 IP.
Relievers
Arizona has been scrambling for answers in the bullpen with so much roster turnover and the loss of their two most effective and experienced relievers from last season.
Soph Bryce Bandilla (LHP – ’09 stats – 3-3, 6.20 ERA, 26 apps, 6 starts, 49 IP, 51 H, 32 BB, 30 K, .280 BA, 2 HR, 11 HBP, 4 WP) was one of two experienced RP’s coming into the season and the projected closer due to his power arm although he has struggled with wildness. He blew the save against Long Beach when he allowed 3 R on 4 H in 2 IP. Bandilla struggled in his next outing on Tues against UNLV when he allowed 5 R on 5 H in 5 IP but did have 8 K’s.
JR Joe Allison (RHP – ’09 stats – 5-1, 4.66 ERA, 21 apps, 3 starts, 39 IP, 41 H, 11 BB, 21 K, .272 BA, 9 HR, 4 HBP, 1 WP) is the other experienced RP but has been brought along slowly due to some minor injuries. He made his first appearance on Wed against UNLV and held the Rebels hitless in 1 2/3 IP in picking up the extra inning win. Allison has good control but his pitches tend to get too much of the zone and led allowed the most HR’s on the staff last season. He allowed 3 R on 5 H in 4 IP in his midweek start at Fullerton last year.
FR Nick Cunningham (RHP – 5 apps, 2.84 ERA, 6 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K) has been effective and earned the coaching staff’s confidence and leads the staff in appearances.
FR Tyler Hale (RHP – 4 apps, 6.48 ERA, 8 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 8 K) was projected to have a chance to be the closer due to his power arm but he has struggled out of the gate. He has allowed 2 R in each of his last 3 outings.
No other pitcher has made more than one appearance out of the bullpen and the only other LHP on the roster besides Bandilla is JR Matt Chaffee, who only threw nine innings last year.
OUTLOOK
Fullerton has gotten off to a slow start and is looking to get their first series win this weekend. It looked like the ballclub started to turn the corner in their midweek win vs. San Diego against a weekend SP who should be better than any of the SP’s that they will see this weekend, although he was very wild which helped out the Titan hitters.
Arizona is a very young team that got off to a fast start against an inferior opponent before having a bit of a reality check while going 1-3 when the level of competition improved.
Runs don’t figure to be hard to come by this weekend with the way that Arizona swings the bats at home and with the struggles that the Wildcat pitching staff has had in allowing over eight runs a game the past five games. The Titans should have the pitching advantage in this series if they don’t allow Arizona to gain confidence at home in a hitters ballpark.
Fullerton is a more well rounded club than Arizona and if the Titans pitchers are effective and the hitters are able to have a good approach at the plate and swing the bats the way that they did on Tuesday night then Fullerton should win two out of three games this weekend.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Diamond Club Newsletter (March 5, 2010)
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