Two massive home series over the next two weeks ladies and gentleman. These two weeks will go a long way to determining how Texas Tech can carry momentum to finish the season.
It's been hashed and re-hashed about how TTU has had bullpen struggles. And I was the captain of that ship criticizing them. Unfortunately for that group, every single arm out there has been thrust into some unusual roles due to the Davis Martin injury. The good news is that TTU has thus far kept it's head above water without one of the best pitchers in the country on Friday nights.
Let's take a look at the cowpokes.
Since Big 12 play began, Osu has gone 6-9 in their 15 games. Nothing to write home about, and digging even deeper into that stretch of games, it looks worse.
Lost 2 of 3 to the Jayhawks.
Swept by the Frogs
Lost 2 of 3 at home to WVU
Loss to Central Arkansas
Woof.
Personally I'd love to see Texas Tech continue that slide this weekend with sold out crowds in the LBK.
I'll get into the TTU season-to-date breakdown at the end of this post.
LINEUP
They have a team BA of .273, which is good enough for 4th in the league. (Thanks @KliffJumping )
Their three guys are McCain - Simpson - Benge, and the three have combined for 19 of the pokes 34 dingers. If you can keep those three at bay this weekend. Even to decent weekends, I think you can hold down the rest of that lineup for a series win.
There are a few offensive numbers that stick out from their stat page. They have over 300 K Burgers despite playing 6 fewer ball games than the Red Raiders. That could be an advantage if Gingery and Co can escape situations with strikeouts. (Tech only has 285)
Advantage - Red Raiders. But not by as much as you think. OSU is balanced, but I don't see the pop 1-9 in their lineup like I do for Texas Tech. Anyone in the Red Raider lineup can hurt you. Hell Tech scored three runs on 3 pitches Tuesday night. Triple - Single - Double. Boom tie game.
STARTERS
With a team ERA of 4.18 I really think that this tech lineup can ambush the Pokes for some runs this weekend. Especially with the re-emergence of Michael Davis and Orlando Garcia.
Tyler Buffett is their Gingery. And will start a game this weekend. Although I don't know if it will be Friday night. I would think it would be, since Martin is still an unknown and they might try to sneak a Friday night win to start the series.
Other than that, they really haven't had a consistent starting rotation at all. I believe 6 different guys have started big 12 games. And no-one has had the success that Buffett has had. Lienhart did get a win last weekend.
Still sticking with the Red Raiders on this one. I see two games this weekend being 10-8 type affairs. Maybe the light comes back on for Shetter, maybe Johnny Allstaff can get you a W Friday night. And Gingery gonna Gingery.
BULLPEN
Looks like Cowan is their go-to out of the pen. Heaseley has also recorded several saves, but has an ERA above 4. Bullpens are always strange in college baseball. One bad outing can skyrocket your ERA so I never put too much into numbers. But with the lack of success in Big 12 play, I think that Tech can score some runs this weekend.
Give me the Red Raiders, and for one reason alone. Talent. Arm talent. And lots of it. Like I said earlier, the ups and downs of this bullpen really became apparent when Davis went down. Guys were forced to throw more pitches, in different situations, and more often than earlier in the year. Kilian, Patterson, Quezada, Mushinski, McMillon, and others have all shown flashes, but we are getting to the point in the year where it's time to put it all together for a good weekend.
Just a couple closing thoughts going into the weekend. Again thanks to @KliffJumping posting that thread earlier. When you look at this team and realize they are now hitting over .300 as a squad, it's impressive. But let's look back;
- Tanner Gardner got off to a very slow start.
- Michael Davis went through the worst slump of his career.
- Orlando was non-existent for a week or so at the plate.
- You're lineup is littered with TRUE FRESHMAN.
.300 looks a little more astounding now, eh?
The emergence of Cody Farhat in CF has rejuvenated this lineup. If he can continue to hit around .275-.300, it opens up so many opportunities for others. Gardner can continue to DH and get more and more healthy. Long, Little, and Beck will all get chances in the OF. And you've added some serious speed to the bottom of your lineup.
IMO, you're gonna write down this Freshman class as one of the best to ever step on the field.
Jung - Berglund - Little - Kilian - Klein - JHG - McDonald - McMillon - Freeman - Davis - Koelzer
Talent freakin everywhere. And to me, Berglund, Little, McMillon, Kilian, and Jung are bonafide All Big 12 guys as frosh.
Ben's prediction, which is hardly ever correct, yet I predict anyway.
BROOMSTICKS!!
Some smaller predictions include that Davis Martin will throw an inning or more this weekend, but will not start.
If TTU can sweep Okie Lite, it sets up for one of the biggest Home Series in the history of the program.
Wreck 'em
It's been hashed and re-hashed about how TTU has had bullpen struggles. And I was the captain of that ship criticizing them. Unfortunately for that group, every single arm out there has been thrust into some unusual roles due to the Davis Martin injury. The good news is that TTU has thus far kept it's head above water without one of the best pitchers in the country on Friday nights.
Let's take a look at the cowpokes.
Since Big 12 play began, Osu has gone 6-9 in their 15 games. Nothing to write home about, and digging even deeper into that stretch of games, it looks worse.
Lost 2 of 3 to the Jayhawks.
Swept by the Frogs
Lost 2 of 3 at home to WVU
Loss to Central Arkansas
Woof.
Personally I'd love to see Texas Tech continue that slide this weekend with sold out crowds in the LBK.
I'll get into the TTU season-to-date breakdown at the end of this post.
LINEUP
They have a team BA of .273, which is good enough for 4th in the league. (Thanks @KliffJumping )
Their three guys are McCain - Simpson - Benge, and the three have combined for 19 of the pokes 34 dingers. If you can keep those three at bay this weekend. Even to decent weekends, I think you can hold down the rest of that lineup for a series win.
There are a few offensive numbers that stick out from their stat page. They have over 300 K Burgers despite playing 6 fewer ball games than the Red Raiders. That could be an advantage if Gingery and Co can escape situations with strikeouts. (Tech only has 285)
Advantage - Red Raiders. But not by as much as you think. OSU is balanced, but I don't see the pop 1-9 in their lineup like I do for Texas Tech. Anyone in the Red Raider lineup can hurt you. Hell Tech scored three runs on 3 pitches Tuesday night. Triple - Single - Double. Boom tie game.
STARTERS
With a team ERA of 4.18 I really think that this tech lineup can ambush the Pokes for some runs this weekend. Especially with the re-emergence of Michael Davis and Orlando Garcia.
Tyler Buffett is their Gingery. And will start a game this weekend. Although I don't know if it will be Friday night. I would think it would be, since Martin is still an unknown and they might try to sneak a Friday night win to start the series.
Other than that, they really haven't had a consistent starting rotation at all. I believe 6 different guys have started big 12 games. And no-one has had the success that Buffett has had. Lienhart did get a win last weekend.
Still sticking with the Red Raiders on this one. I see two games this weekend being 10-8 type affairs. Maybe the light comes back on for Shetter, maybe Johnny Allstaff can get you a W Friday night. And Gingery gonna Gingery.
BULLPEN
Looks like Cowan is their go-to out of the pen. Heaseley has also recorded several saves, but has an ERA above 4. Bullpens are always strange in college baseball. One bad outing can skyrocket your ERA so I never put too much into numbers. But with the lack of success in Big 12 play, I think that Tech can score some runs this weekend.
Give me the Red Raiders, and for one reason alone. Talent. Arm talent. And lots of it. Like I said earlier, the ups and downs of this bullpen really became apparent when Davis went down. Guys were forced to throw more pitches, in different situations, and more often than earlier in the year. Kilian, Patterson, Quezada, Mushinski, McMillon, and others have all shown flashes, but we are getting to the point in the year where it's time to put it all together for a good weekend.
Just a couple closing thoughts going into the weekend. Again thanks to @KliffJumping posting that thread earlier. When you look at this team and realize they are now hitting over .300 as a squad, it's impressive. But let's look back;
- Tanner Gardner got off to a very slow start.
- Michael Davis went through the worst slump of his career.
- Orlando was non-existent for a week or so at the plate.
- You're lineup is littered with TRUE FRESHMAN.
.300 looks a little more astounding now, eh?
The emergence of Cody Farhat in CF has rejuvenated this lineup. If he can continue to hit around .275-.300, it opens up so many opportunities for others. Gardner can continue to DH and get more and more healthy. Long, Little, and Beck will all get chances in the OF. And you've added some serious speed to the bottom of your lineup.
IMO, you're gonna write down this Freshman class as one of the best to ever step on the field.
Jung - Berglund - Little - Kilian - Klein - JHG - McDonald - McMillon - Freeman - Davis - Koelzer
Talent freakin everywhere. And to me, Berglund, Little, McMillon, Kilian, and Jung are bonafide All Big 12 guys as frosh.
Ben's prediction, which is hardly ever correct, yet I predict anyway.
BROOMSTICKS!!
Some smaller predictions include that Davis Martin will throw an inning or more this weekend, but will not start.
If TTU can sweep Okie Lite, it sets up for one of the biggest Home Series in the history of the program.
Wreck 'em
