A couple quick thoughts about the Regionals, then we will get to what OSU brings to the table in the Super Regional series this weekend. With it being OSU, this breakdown will be longer than normal.
- Dallas Baptist would have won the OSU regional in 3 games, IMO. They have two dominant starters, like to chirp, a lot, and their lineup is solid. The strength of DBU is their overall team speed, and TTU flat out didn't let them get a chance to show it. 2 runs in 18 innings to that lineup is the story of the weekend. Kudos to our pitching staff.
- Also, think about this. Erikson Lanning, Dane Haveman, Hunter Dobbins, Trey Garlett, Mason Montgomery, Clayton Beeter, and Connor Queen didn't even have to put on cleats the entire weekend. The regional round is notorious for exposing teams without pitching depth, and TTU has pitching depth in spades.
- A great weekend overall, as I thought that Army and DBU stealing over 200 bases could be a matchup problem, but that was a moot point. If there is nitpicking to be done, it's that other than Cameron Warren, we couldn't seem to get the big base hit this weekend. Lots of ducks on the pond that we just couldn't push across. I doubt this lineup with be that quiet this weekend against OSU.
"We're on to Oklahoma State."
- Texas Tech baseball faces a familiar foe this weekend as the Pokes come to Lubbock with a bid to Omaha at stake.
- Arguably two of the hottest teams in college baseball, OSU has won 14 of it's last 17 games since getting swept in Lubbock.
- Texas Tech has also played its best baseball as of late, since April 18th, Texas Tech has won 19 of its last 23 games. You also have to factor in that 2 of TTU's losses came in the Big 12 tournament, which Tim Tadlock has never much cared for.
- OSU got flat out dominated in Lubbock at the end of April. TTU outscored Okie Lite 27-8 during the series, and trailed for a total of 2 innings, coming in the Sunday game, for the entire weekend. TTU responded with 5 runs in the 7th and 8th inning to clinch the series sweep.
- During that series, TTU pitching recorded 46 strikeouts that weekend, and that seems to be the achilles heel of the OSU lineup. They hit a ton of home runs, but struggle with strikeouts. They have 609 strikeouts as a team this season. Whoa.
LINEUP
- Like stated above, OSU puts the fear of God into teams because of their ability to change baseball games in a hurry with the HR threat, but my goodness they strike out at an alarming rate. Not necessarily a trait you want to have when you look at how the TTU pitching staff has performed of late. Tech has 6+ guys that are strikeout pitchers. Not a good matchup for the pokes.
- McCusker and Navigato are the two players that TTU has to keep silent this weekend. Yes the other guys hit the home runs, but solo shots aren't that big of a deal. Keep the top of the lineup off the bases and that lets your pitching staff really attack the other guys.
- Boone, Simpson, Cabbiness, and Funk have combined for 54 home runs, and they've also combined to strikeout 283 times. In fact, those 4 strikeout in 35% of their at bats. Like I said, keep the other guys off the base paths, and this team can get offensively neutered in a hurry.
- Gabe Holt continues to be the straw that stirs the drink for TTU. He will go down as one of the best leadoff guys to ever do it for the Red and Black, and quite frankly, I think some, including myself, may have taken what he does for granted a little bit. Always tough at bats, very good pitch selection, doesn't strike out often, and is on base ALL THE TIME. You couldn't ask for more.
- Cameron Warren is the Big 12 player of the year. I don't care what anyone else says. He single handedly won the regional tourney last weekend. There is a reason that Jung has started to get hot, it's because teams are forced to pitch to him. The plastic chewing behemoth, Cameron Warren, is an intimidating force standing in the on deck circle.
- I think the unsung guys are gonna carry you over OSU this weekend. Neuse, Wilson, Masters, Murrell, and Stillwell will need to step up. Everyone knows that the meat of this lineup is phenomenal. Holt-Neuse-Klein-Jung-Warren. But 6-9 are quietly still hitting about .300.
- Fulford gets too much flak on here. He's had a great season at the plate, and gets timely hit after timely hit to flip the lineup over in crucial spots. I will check, but I don't think we gave up a steal this past weekend.
ADVANTAGE - TTU. In a big way.
Starting Rotation
- OSU - Elliot, Standlee, Lienhard. (Possibly Parker). 17-6 record. 93 runs in 216 innings. 3.88 ERA. 155 strikeouts to 75 walks. (Standlee had a much better outing during the regional. Parker didn't get out of the 3rd inning)
- TTU - Dallas, Kilian, Bonnin. 20-4 record. 94 runs in 205 innings. 4.12 ERA. 197 strikeouts to 81 walks.
- Jensen Elliot is the horse of the staff, and even his numbers aren't just phenomenal. Especially considering TTU torched him for 7 earned runs in 2.0 innings during their last matchup. He's a strike thrower, nothing dominant, and lives off of teams getting themselves out.
- Lienhard is the senior starter of the group, another pitcher without dominant numbers, but seems like OSU has gone to him when they need a win. TCU lit him up in the Big 12 tourney, but he did not pitch during the series in Lubbock.
- It all starts with Dallas. The fiery freshman carried a no hitter into the 6th inning last weekend against Army, and was absolutely critical in keeping the bullpen rested for the remainder of the regional. I love this kid. He's emotional, understand the moment, and is filthy on the bump. He will be your Ace next season on Friday nights.
- Kilian didn't look great against DBU, but I also think they went to Floyd a little earlier than they would have against another team. Kilian is a strikeout pitcher, DBU is a contact team, and I think Caleb matches up REEALLY well against OSU.
- Quite frankly, I think you can win the whole 'effin thing if Bonnin's showing this weekend is not an anomaly. That was the best performance I can remember in a while, against a really good DBU team. When he throws strikes, he's unhittable.
ADVANTAGE - TTU.
BULLPEN
- OSU does have a strength in it's bullpen. Battenfield has 27 appearances, and he's shown that he can throw multiple innings as well. He's got good stuff and OSU is not afraid to bail on a struggling starter to go to him early. His role reminds me of Shetter following Dusek last year.
- Leeper-Lyons-Gragg will be the other guys you see first out of that pen. All have thrown more than 40 innings with decent numbers around 4.5 ERA. Other than that, I don't think OSU will dig much deeper into their pen. Barring some 20 run TTU outburst.
- I won't say much about our pen, other than this. D.E.E.P. So damn deep out there. To win a regional tournament and not have to use Lanning, Queen, Beeter, Dobbins, Garlett, Montgomery, or Haveman is absurd. Then you add Floyd, McMillon, Sublette, Freeman, etc.
- It's just a ton of guys that Tadlock trusts. He can matchup with lefties, he can go soft with Floyd following a flame thrower, or John McMillon can come in and throw up triple digits. It's such a strength.
ADVANTAGE - TTU
- Overall, I love this matchup for TTU. Not a massive fan of the familiarity and a lineup seeing our starters again, but when you look at the strength and identity of the OSU pokes, you have to like a pitching staff of strikeout pitchers against that lineup.
- When I looked at the regional teams coming to Lubbock, I immediately saw a disadvantage for TTU with teams that LOVE to run. We simply didn't allow them on base. You can't steal if you don't get on. Advantage silenced. OSU doesn't run, they strikeout a ton, and don't hit for average.
- TTU's offense will need to get going somewhat this weekend, and I think they will.
No Sunday game needed. I think TTU sweeps to get to Omaha.
- Dallas Baptist would have won the OSU regional in 3 games, IMO. They have two dominant starters, like to chirp, a lot, and their lineup is solid. The strength of DBU is their overall team speed, and TTU flat out didn't let them get a chance to show it. 2 runs in 18 innings to that lineup is the story of the weekend. Kudos to our pitching staff.
- Also, think about this. Erikson Lanning, Dane Haveman, Hunter Dobbins, Trey Garlett, Mason Montgomery, Clayton Beeter, and Connor Queen didn't even have to put on cleats the entire weekend. The regional round is notorious for exposing teams without pitching depth, and TTU has pitching depth in spades.
- A great weekend overall, as I thought that Army and DBU stealing over 200 bases could be a matchup problem, but that was a moot point. If there is nitpicking to be done, it's that other than Cameron Warren, we couldn't seem to get the big base hit this weekend. Lots of ducks on the pond that we just couldn't push across. I doubt this lineup with be that quiet this weekend against OSU.
"We're on to Oklahoma State."
- Texas Tech baseball faces a familiar foe this weekend as the Pokes come to Lubbock with a bid to Omaha at stake.
- Arguably two of the hottest teams in college baseball, OSU has won 14 of it's last 17 games since getting swept in Lubbock.
- Texas Tech has also played its best baseball as of late, since April 18th, Texas Tech has won 19 of its last 23 games. You also have to factor in that 2 of TTU's losses came in the Big 12 tournament, which Tim Tadlock has never much cared for.
- OSU got flat out dominated in Lubbock at the end of April. TTU outscored Okie Lite 27-8 during the series, and trailed for a total of 2 innings, coming in the Sunday game, for the entire weekend. TTU responded with 5 runs in the 7th and 8th inning to clinch the series sweep.
- During that series, TTU pitching recorded 46 strikeouts that weekend, and that seems to be the achilles heel of the OSU lineup. They hit a ton of home runs, but struggle with strikeouts. They have 609 strikeouts as a team this season. Whoa.
LINEUP
- Like stated above, OSU puts the fear of God into teams because of their ability to change baseball games in a hurry with the HR threat, but my goodness they strike out at an alarming rate. Not necessarily a trait you want to have when you look at how the TTU pitching staff has performed of late. Tech has 6+ guys that are strikeout pitchers. Not a good matchup for the pokes.
- McCusker and Navigato are the two players that TTU has to keep silent this weekend. Yes the other guys hit the home runs, but solo shots aren't that big of a deal. Keep the top of the lineup off the bases and that lets your pitching staff really attack the other guys.
- Boone, Simpson, Cabbiness, and Funk have combined for 54 home runs, and they've also combined to strikeout 283 times. In fact, those 4 strikeout in 35% of their at bats. Like I said, keep the other guys off the base paths, and this team can get offensively neutered in a hurry.
- Gabe Holt continues to be the straw that stirs the drink for TTU. He will go down as one of the best leadoff guys to ever do it for the Red and Black, and quite frankly, I think some, including myself, may have taken what he does for granted a little bit. Always tough at bats, very good pitch selection, doesn't strike out often, and is on base ALL THE TIME. You couldn't ask for more.
- Cameron Warren is the Big 12 player of the year. I don't care what anyone else says. He single handedly won the regional tourney last weekend. There is a reason that Jung has started to get hot, it's because teams are forced to pitch to him. The plastic chewing behemoth, Cameron Warren, is an intimidating force standing in the on deck circle.
- I think the unsung guys are gonna carry you over OSU this weekend. Neuse, Wilson, Masters, Murrell, and Stillwell will need to step up. Everyone knows that the meat of this lineup is phenomenal. Holt-Neuse-Klein-Jung-Warren. But 6-9 are quietly still hitting about .300.
- Fulford gets too much flak on here. He's had a great season at the plate, and gets timely hit after timely hit to flip the lineup over in crucial spots. I will check, but I don't think we gave up a steal this past weekend.
ADVANTAGE - TTU. In a big way.
Starting Rotation
- OSU - Elliot, Standlee, Lienhard. (Possibly Parker). 17-6 record. 93 runs in 216 innings. 3.88 ERA. 155 strikeouts to 75 walks. (Standlee had a much better outing during the regional. Parker didn't get out of the 3rd inning)
- TTU - Dallas, Kilian, Bonnin. 20-4 record. 94 runs in 205 innings. 4.12 ERA. 197 strikeouts to 81 walks.
- Jensen Elliot is the horse of the staff, and even his numbers aren't just phenomenal. Especially considering TTU torched him for 7 earned runs in 2.0 innings during their last matchup. He's a strike thrower, nothing dominant, and lives off of teams getting themselves out.
- Lienhard is the senior starter of the group, another pitcher without dominant numbers, but seems like OSU has gone to him when they need a win. TCU lit him up in the Big 12 tourney, but he did not pitch during the series in Lubbock.
- It all starts with Dallas. The fiery freshman carried a no hitter into the 6th inning last weekend against Army, and was absolutely critical in keeping the bullpen rested for the remainder of the regional. I love this kid. He's emotional, understand the moment, and is filthy on the bump. He will be your Ace next season on Friday nights.
- Kilian didn't look great against DBU, but I also think they went to Floyd a little earlier than they would have against another team. Kilian is a strikeout pitcher, DBU is a contact team, and I think Caleb matches up REEALLY well against OSU.
- Quite frankly, I think you can win the whole 'effin thing if Bonnin's showing this weekend is not an anomaly. That was the best performance I can remember in a while, against a really good DBU team. When he throws strikes, he's unhittable.
ADVANTAGE - TTU.
BULLPEN
- OSU does have a strength in it's bullpen. Battenfield has 27 appearances, and he's shown that he can throw multiple innings as well. He's got good stuff and OSU is not afraid to bail on a struggling starter to go to him early. His role reminds me of Shetter following Dusek last year.
- Leeper-Lyons-Gragg will be the other guys you see first out of that pen. All have thrown more than 40 innings with decent numbers around 4.5 ERA. Other than that, I don't think OSU will dig much deeper into their pen. Barring some 20 run TTU outburst.
- I won't say much about our pen, other than this. D.E.E.P. So damn deep out there. To win a regional tournament and not have to use Lanning, Queen, Beeter, Dobbins, Garlett, Montgomery, or Haveman is absurd. Then you add Floyd, McMillon, Sublette, Freeman, etc.
- It's just a ton of guys that Tadlock trusts. He can matchup with lefties, he can go soft with Floyd following a flame thrower, or John McMillon can come in and throw up triple digits. It's such a strength.
ADVANTAGE - TTU
- Overall, I love this matchup for TTU. Not a massive fan of the familiarity and a lineup seeing our starters again, but when you look at the strength and identity of the OSU pokes, you have to like a pitching staff of strikeout pitchers against that lineup.
- When I looked at the regional teams coming to Lubbock, I immediately saw a disadvantage for TTU with teams that LOVE to run. We simply didn't allow them on base. You can't steal if you don't get on. Advantage silenced. OSU doesn't run, they strikeout a ton, and don't hit for average.
- TTU's offense will need to get going somewhat this weekend, and I think they will.
No Sunday game needed. I think TTU sweeps to get to Omaha.
