After 31 games, the Beavs are 20-11 overall and 6-6 in conference play. I've seen enough to conclude several things:
- This is a poor defensive club
- The starting pitching is hit or miss…no consistency
- Bad bullpen other than Boyd/Bryant
- The offense looks like Murder's Row one weekend and 9 Mario Mendozas the next
- Pat Casey et al are having a bad year–many questionable and desperate decisions.
In baseball, a team can get hot and make naysayers quickly look dumb. But I've watched enough baseball in my life to say this year's team doesn't play consistently good baseball, and therefore they're a second tier team at best (my pre-season #35 ranking seems about right). They have talented arms and bats, but the gloves and mental fortitude just isn't there. For all the recent prestige around the program, it seems like every year there are glaring weaknesses.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-25-1) is the type of team they've padded their record against, and I expect more of that this weekend (expecting a sweep), but the notion of hosting a regional has likely faded. We're in the stretch run. At this point the Beavs need to enter survival mode: make the tournament, and hope to get hot late in the season. For that reason, this weekend's series puts pressure squarely on the Beavs, and if they play tight, Arkansas-Pine Bluff might steal a game and completely derail the season.
Do we really have to talk about Arky PB baseball? If we win big, it will be expected and ho-hum. If we drop even one, we’ll be disappointed. It’s a lose/lose.
And I really like my DE’s:
http://www.kval.com/sports/Crichton-We-got-to-try-and-get-this-team-to-a-bowl-game-147267335.html
https://twitter.com/#!/Pnbuker/status/190603231066464257
I think we might have an identity before spring ball is done.
After getting a stop on a run, DE Dylan Wynn gets up and shouts “Coach Riley I can read your mind.”
Hahaha, a toddler could read Langs and Riley’s playcalling.
Yep…..that is so sad……
Agreed. I’m really excited to see what these two accomplish in their careers. I think they have the potential to be even better than the Victor Butler/Slade Norris combo.
It’s crazy that we had one of the biggest monsters in the country at DT a couple years ago, but had absolutely no pass rush to complement him with. Now we’ve got one of the better DE combos in the conference but can’t seem to find anyone to man the DT position. Go figure.
Potential? I think these two are going to be better than Butler/Norris and the Presidents combined in this coming year, let alone their potential. They have taken the mantle of leadership, and they are having fun with it.
Go Beavs!
I disagree with this assessment. While I agree this is not the club of 05 or 06, (07 not included because they were mediocre until it mattered and then red hot), they have all the potential to be a great team. I think youth is the main issue and mistakes are being made. Errors on D have come from the youth (signifcantly from catcher) and could shore up with time and coaching. Keep in mind the middle infield is a strength and the beavs are one of the better teams at turning double plays.
Starting pitching has been outstanding. I don’t see where you think you have seen inconsistency other than the first few weeks of the year (thats why their ERAs are high) and a couple of times the coaches leaving in starting pitching in just a bit too long. Other than that, the weekend starters have been fantastic ever since the Nike College showcase weekend. Our losses are not attributed to them but to either weak bats and/or inconsistent relief pitching. If you want to point at pitching issues, relief and closing have been where inconsistancy has shown up, which is surprising since that was supposed to be the strength of the team.
Hitting is better than usual since Pat Casey clubs are never known for hitting the cover off the ball. Its nice to finally some guys with a little more potential and they are young so inconsistency will happen with them, but I like their up side.
Pac-12 is as strong as ever this year, so I would hardly call the beavs a second teir team just yet. There is going to be a lot of parity this year because there is so much tallent on a lot of PAC-12 teams the beavers included.
This Arkansas Pine-Bluff series couldn’t come at a better time so the beavs can work on some things before returning to PAC-12 play. Should be a nice hitting display the beavs will put on this weekend.
The middle infield actually has 20 errors combined. C has 3 errors and 12 passed balls. The Beavs are weak up the middle (C, SS, 2B, CF).
You’re correct about the bullpen. Added the bullet point.
Yeah I guess you are right about middle infield. My mind gets a little fogged since I always think about how great Smith has been at the plate and forget his fielding bluders although he has made some clutch plays as well. He sure looked crappy in the field against UAPB with a couple of dumb errors.
You are still wrong about starting pitching. They all have been very good with few exceptions. I can’t think of a game in the last month where I would attribute their performance as an issue. AZ series lost both games due to bullpen and bullpen tried to lose the one game we won, UW series (gave up 1 ER the whole weekend). ASU series loss (great starting pitching all 3 games spoiled by bullpen and poor hitting). If the overall hitting was better and bullpen better (especially Brocker) we would be raving about how fantastic are weekend starters are because they wouldn’t lose. I rest my case.
So let me recap……UO is clearly superior now in all three major sports, and world class in track, which we dont even have. Damn….
Oregon is not superior in baseball. Beavers are just in a little bit of a slump, they’ll break out if it. When Oregon hits their slump you won’t be saying they’re “Clearly superior”
You’re probably right, but it does feel the way rsteve put it right now. It has to turn around for us eventually…right?
“…It has to turn around for us eventually…right?…”
On a consistent basis, NO, not as long as the ‘ucks have deeper pockets than the Beavs. They can afford better facilities, better coaches, etc., etc.
Every now and then the Beavs will come up with a coaching staff in sport X which will put a better product on the court or field or track, but there’s a 99% chance OSU won’t be able to match the offers from other schools who will want to hire the coach away. So the moments of having a pretty good team will be fleeting and we’ll have to enjoy them when we have the chance.
Jmo
I’ve just found a link to a video which shows the ‘uck’s football locker room. Holy shit. It’s probably better than most if not all NFL locker rooms.
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201204/oregon-ducks-give-nike-ceo-sunglass-tribute
Just makes me hate the ‘ucks even more.
FTd
That’s not a locker room, it’s a beauty salon.
They’re not superior, but they’re almost even, and it only took a few years…
I don’t see how the starting pitching is hit or miss. Weekend starters all with an ERA under 3.50. That’s pretty damn good. Offense is inconsistent. It has been Tyler Smith and Michael Conforto being consistent and the rest have been struggling in conference play. Keyes has been a struggle all season, Ryan Dunn has struggled as of late, Dylan Davis hasn’t made the adjustments to the pitching in Pac-12 play. Ryan Gorton has been swinging the bat well as of late. Jake has gotten it turned around as well. Offense just needs to be consistent.
Biggest problem though is the bullpen. Cole Brocker gets teed off on a consistent basis. He’s just not good. His fastball location is awful and gets crushed. Boyd has looked shaky lately, Gorton has looked good though. Bryant has looked a little better lately but as a whole the bullpen stinks and has been a main reason for a lot of losses. They gave away a game against Arizona and put the series finale against ASU out of reach.
The bullpen needs some consistency and needs it fast. I think the offense will be fine, starting pitching is good, just need the bullpen to get it together.
I don’t see how the starting pitching is hit or miss. Weekend starters all with an ERA under 3.50. That’s pretty damn good
To me it’s a 2nd tier staff. I don’t feel they’ll go out and dominate/win the weekend on their own. They’ll keep the team in games on a good day, and sometimes they don’t even do that…
I just don’t fell it this year; maybe because the vibe I get is that the guys don’t feel it, either. The frustrating thing is that this year’s team seems much less than the sum total of its parts, and I’ve been spoiled with teams in recent years that were far greater than the sum of their parts.
It’s difficult to put my finger on it. In any given game, I can’t pin it on players, on coaches, but it’s just there. The line dances are nice and funny in the bullpen, but even so, they don’t seem like a team.
Of course, tonight we can blame it on the umps – one in particular. The expectation for Saturday and Sunday should be not just a sweep, but these guys – players AND coaches – have to find themselves and figure out how they can start adding up to be the team we need them to be before heading back into Pac play.
I’ll take the W – with an asterisk.
No question, this series puts the pressure squarely on the Beavs and APB could take a game, even two if the Beavs play either tight or overconfident. Casey has to keep their heads in the game. I don’t think one loss would derail the season though.
This team has been too dependent on Conforto and Smith for offense as GB pointed out above. Things will really improve when/IF Keyes comes around and Dunn, Davis, Gorton, Tommasini and Rodriguez go on streaks of their own; if a few of them don’t then it is gonna be rough getting into post season and making any kind of a run.
Perhaps worth discussing is the question: Which aspect of this team is more likely to take a turn for the better, the hitting of those mentioned OR the quality of the bullpen? Real success, it seems to me, is dependent on one or the other.
BTW: Where are ya Silverstream??
Hitting will get better, bullpen I just don’t know. Gorton has really improved. Boyd will get back on his game and Bryant is getting back on things. Just not much outside of them. That’s why they’ll need the starters to pitch deep into games, so they can give the ball to Gorton, Boyd or Bryant. Giving the ball to anybody else is very risky.
How is that inference on Conforto? He didn’t do anything wrong. That’s a crappy call.
Interference*
Inning/score?
1-0 Beavers bottom of the 3rd
Beavers probably shouldn’t have a run, been fortunate to get 3 errors from Arkansas-Pine Bluff to score twice in 3 innings.
There’s absolutely no focus tonight offensively.
End of 5 and a 2 run GIFT lead for the Beavs. Leave bases full on walks in the fifth, no focus, no emotion. Playing down to the competition and letting them hang around, no way to approach this game!
That call was brutal.
2 more errors (up the middle, SS and P)
…and Arkansas takes the lead…
Beavers are losing to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Unbelievable.
So very believable, when you let a team hang around and don’t have any offense bad things happen. No excuse for this team not knowing that. Are they overconfident?…..make that WERE they overconfident?
Of course they were overconfident.
Tommasini doesn’t get a bunt down and the Beavers don’t score. They are playing so terribly right now.
This kind of effort is completely embarrassing and unacceptable.
This thing is circling the drain. Wetzler a balk, Beavs can’t take advantage of 8 walks and can’t get an honest run against a team with an ERA over 6!!
Cole Brocker is coming in. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has won.
He did his job this time. Surprising. Sad the Beavers need some big pitches to just stay close to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
RBI double by Dunn and it’s tied at 3. Finally someone with an extra base hit.
Dunn an RBI double, no out, can they now get this thing started!
RBI groundout by Davis and the Beavers lead 4-3.
Smith on with a bunt, 2 on no outs and the “heart” of the lineup coming up.
WP and its Beavs 5-3……………….with 3 gift runs!
Not sure there will ever be a more unsatisfying win than tonight’s if Bryant closes this one out.
Amen. One must hope that this is the last wake-up call this team needs, the last reminder that each at bat and each out is important regardless of the opponent. And we had some concern that the team would be tight…wow.
Is it a team yet? I have yet to see a game at Goss where things seem to to gel together as a team effort. The parts are there, but I don’t thing they are all connected yet. I was hoping they would figure it out before Pac play; hopefully they can wake up and small the coffee and remember: Coffee is for closers. It’s time to shit or get off the pot.
The all around great team effort at Goss this year was the 9-0 win over Washington. You can see the potential, just inconsistent. Part of the inconsistency on offense is Keyes and Hayes were to expected to be big contributors this year, especially Keyes, but they’ve underachieved all season. I think the Beavers need to go with Ryan Gorton at DH and have Jake as the DH when Ryan catches. Max Gordon isn’t great but gives you some speed at the top and he has great patience. Keyes has to ride the pine, he’s a liability at the plate.
The lineup I consistently would like is
1) Gordon
2) Smith
3)Conforto
4)Dunn
5)Gorton
6)Davis
7)Barnes
8)Rodriguez
9)Tommasini.
Gorton doesn’t have Dylan’s pop in the 5 spot but he’s their third best hitter average wise has great plate discipline, doesn’t try to do too much at the plate. He’s really came through for the Beavers when given the opportunity.
I think that lineup gives the Beavers a good chance to produce. Pat Casey had guys in the right spots tonight in the lineup, just needed to have Barnes in there for Keyes. It’s amazing how many potential big innings Keye has killed with bad at-bats. Very frustrating player considering how talented he is. Just isn’t his season, it seems.
Gorton 5/5 for getting on base. He already had the second highest on base percentage on the team. And he was available to pitch in the end if needed (has the lowest ERA on the team). The dude is a stud.
Yup. Just needed the opportunity to hit, Keyes’ struggles did just this. He wasn’t getting any consistent at-bats but when Keyes started struggling and Rodriguez too for a little bit, he got that time and is showing what he can do at the plate.
His pitching has really improved. His freshman year he was awesome. The last 2 years have been a struggle on the mound, had to believe he lost a lot of confidence but he’s back on his game this season. Has done a great job out of the bullpen. Although he gave up a run in the 9th against Nevada, he got out of that jam and gave the Beavers a chance to score in the 10th. If it wasn’t for his relief that day the Beavers lose, he had to come in and put out the fire when Nevada was killing the bullpen. He’s been big. Trying to remember the last 2 way player for OSU who produced like this. Beavers have needed it badly. He’s a little underappreciated, I’m sure he will get the love he deserves if he keeps things up.
Damn Ducks beat Stanford in 10. They are looking impressive since they got their butts beat against Texas St.
Remind us again how the Stevens Institute of Technology has anything to do with this forum…. ?
GoBeav90, you are such a hater of Keyes. All you do is bash the kid. Did he steal you girlfriend or something?
A) Once you call someone a hater for an opinion then nothing you say can be taken seriously. B) Of all the regular guys who get the lineup he has the worst average by far. He has 9 RBI’s in 100 at-bats. Think about how often he has been on with runners in scoring in position. 9 RBI’s is a ridiculously low amount. He’s the clear weak link offensively. That is a fact. Cannot be argued. I want the Beavers to win games, him being in the lineup doesn’t give them the best chance to win games right now. If the truth bothers you then you shouldn’t come on this site.
Hey Dino, there is a big difference between being a “hater” who “bashes” the kid and taking an objective look at on field performance.
I have admired the grit and talent of Keyes as much as anyone but have to recognize that he has been in a season long funk at the plate and has been inconsistent in the field. Here is hoping a little time on the pine will help him return to the great form he exhibited last season.
Keyes has easily been the biggest disappointment of the entire team this year. After having a phenomenal freshman year he is batting a whopping .210 this season. As soon as he stops sucking people will stop being “haters”, but until then he remains our easiest out in the lineup.
Jake getting his first start in the infield this season. At 2B. Matthews and Gordon both playing and Gorton is DHing. Esposito behind the plate. Interesting lineup. First time Dylan has started in a while, been struggling.
Better defensive lineup. I like it.
Ryan Gorton with another hit. Nice approach there.
Beavers 1-0 lead on Esposito sac fly. Should have gotten more than 1 run in that situation though. Beavers really need a clutch 2 out hit, haven’t been getting any of those lately.
Ryan Dunn solo home run. Shame Tyler Smith got caught stealing, would have been a two run shot
He was caught stealing because it was a hit & run, and Dunn didn’t swing the bat to protect him.
Yeah, the throw beat him by a good margin, had to have been a missed sign.
I agree….on the replay, it showed Smith looking back towards the plate which means a definite hit & run. He has to watch the pitch to see if the ball is hit so he doesn’t get doubled-off. Unfortunately, Dunn didn’t swing, otherwise Smith probably would have been safe.
Good to see Robinson at the game – anyone have idea who the recruit is that’s at the game, being hosted by Gomis?
APB pitchers can be effectively wild at times. Hard for hitter to get really comfortable at the plate when a pitcher is completely wild one second and in the zone the next. Pretty sure the Beavers would much rather face pitchers who is around the plate a lot, allows a hitter to get more comfortable.
Off topic, but here’s the first part of my report on today’s/Saturday’s football practice at Reser, 12 April 2012:
I spent much of today’s practice focusing on the offensive line.
For the first 30 minutes, I watched Kyle DeVan coach up the offensive linemen. DeVan was working on the “punch” technique with one lineman at a time, as well as talking with the group about blocking angles. (At one point, DeVan called over loudly to another assistant, and joked “has anyone taught these guys any geometry?”) During breaks, DeVan was also telling the linemen NFL war stories (one of them started with, “You think Coach Cav is bad?”).
In some ways, watching DeVan coach the o-line reminded me of watching Rod Perry coach the defensive backs during last Saturday’s practice. The offensive linemen were clearly treating DeVan — a former starting guard with the Indianapolis Colts — with respect, and listening closely to what he was saying. Of course, unlike Rod Perry, DeVan is only in his late 20’s, and graduated from OSU just a few years ago. DeVan seems to relate well to the guys, and to have a good sense of humor and a light touch — a welcome counterpoint to Coach Cav’s screaming (which really can get old). I think DeVan is going to add value this year and is going to help make OSU’s offensive line better. I think DeVan will be especially effective with the talented group of o-line recruits that arrive this Fall.
At this morning’s practice, Isaac Seumalo (wearing sweats) was one of the guys listening closely to Kyle DeVan. Seumalo was not participating in practice — he was just an observer. But he seemed to be taking it seriously. When the offensive line broke up into two groups, one with Coach Cav, and the other with Kyle DeVan, Isaac chose to go with DeVan’s group (perhaps because Isaac has already heard a lot from Cav, and was interested to hear whether Kyle DeVan had something new/different to say — although that’s pure speculation on my part). Isaac attended the whole, long Saturday practice, hanging out with the offensive linemen and the coaches, and soaking up information.
I spent a fair amount of time today watching the two centers, Roman Sapolu and Jake Welch. I think each of them has talent. Jake Welch is about 30-40 pounds heavier than Sapolu — Welch has a broader frame, and looks stronger than Sapolu. During one-on-one blocking drills, Welch had some impressive moments, where he overwhelmed his opponents with his size and strength. However, Sapolu had some good moments, too. Sapolu does it with technique and determination rather than sheer size and strength, but looks like Sapolu can be effective, especially as a pass blocker.
More later when I get time….
Thanks, SS. I thought Kyle Devan could really help out the offensive lineman and it appears he’s doing just that. Having a guy with NFL experience on the staff is always a good thing. I think the OL will be even better with having Kyle on the staff.
That’s awesome that Issac is showing up at the practices like this. You’ve got to love when an 18 year old is already showing that kind of dedication.
RBI double by Ryan Gorton, 4-0 Beavers. Ryan comes through again.
There’s the two out clutch hit the Beavers needed. 6-0 Beavers in the 5th
This looks like a game where Fry can easily throw a shutout. He’s dominating and has just 39 pitches through 5 innings.
Tyler Smith needs to pick it up defensively
Three run triple by Michael Conforto, 9-2 Beavers
RBI single by Dunn and it’s 10-2
Jake hits into a DP against a guy struggling to throw strikes. Scores a run. 11-2 Beavers. Jake seemed a little overly aggressive there.
Joey Matthews hits a walk-off home run thanks to the mercy rule! 12-2 Beavers win
Ryan Gorton RBI single gives Beavers a 1-0 lead
Can anyone verify that Adam Duke has left the team and school. Word is he left or was kicked out. Can anyone confirm this?
Seriously?
Ryan Barnes RBI single, 2-0 Beavers in the 2nd
Wild pitch and a two run single by Conforto and it’s 5-0 Beavers
Two run single by Conforto and a two run triple by Matthews and it’s 10-0 Beavers
Dylan Davis solo shot, 11-1 Beavers in the bottom of the 7th
Keyes RBI double and a passed ball makes it 13-1 Beavers
Anyone else notice who is on top of the PAC 12? Damn you Phil. We all need to eat more tater salad and prepackaged burritos.
Appears it will be a 2 way tie between Oregon and UCLA. Oregon still has some tough series’ left on the road. Have to go to Tucson and have to come to Goss at the end of the season. They’ll hit a little bit of a skid, conference is too tough not to. All I’m concerned about is OSU playing some good ball the rest of the way. UCLA next weekend will be a test, Beavers win that series and they can gain some confidence and could get hot. Hopefully the offense will swing the bat well and the bullpen does their job.
You go to many games?
No, wish I could attend more. I will be making it out to Goss in a few weeks though.
Yo Angry, where’s today’s game thread for the UP game?!!!?? You’re slippin’ man and it ain’t pretty.
This might be my first game to attend this year if the weather holds out. Go Beavs!