- Joined
- Dec 18, 2007
- Messages
- 59,337
- Likes
- 59,167
Earlier in the season many wondered if Missouri was legit. It's clear now that they are. For the first time since 2009, Mizzou is a consensus top 25 team. They swept Georgia in Athens, and at home, they won both the South Carolina and Florida series'. They are in 2nd place, two games behind Vanderbilt in the east and would be tied for 3rd with LSU in the league overall if the season ended today with an 8-4 SEC record, (22-11).
Nearly one third of their games have been 1 run games and they've gone 8-2 in them, that's outstanding.
Another recipe for success is this: The collective K-BB ratio of Missouri's starting weekend rotation: 136-24.
The Saturday guy, freshman Tanner Houck, was the SEC pitcher of the week, he sat down 21 of the first 22 batters he faced versus UF.
The Friday guy, Reggie McClain, has taken that honor three times this season.
In the field, they boast the second best defense in the conference with a .979 fielding percentage.
If this team has a weakness it's at the plate, they average 4.6 runs per game. Their team batting average is .256, one point ahead of our .255 team BA. They only have one player batting above .300.
THURSDAY
Jr. RHP Reggie McClain (4-3), 2.83 ERA
Jr. LHP Andy Cox (0-1), 2.96 ERA
This is what those of us who follow UT Baseball closely have been waiting for all season. Andy Cox will finally, 28 games into the season, get his first start. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he is truly healthy and can be the guy he was last year. That said, I don't think we can count on 6,7,8, innings of work from him at this point. If he could give us 4 or 5 innings, that would be a big help. This moves Serrano back into relief and because we don't have a mid week game, we should have plenty of arms.
If we could take game one, we would have a legit shot at winning the series.
FRIDAY
Fr. RHP Tanner Houck (5-1), 2.70 ERA
Jr. RHP Bret Marks (4-3), 2.45 ERA
Mizzou hasn't lost game two of an SEC series yet, Houck is a big reason why. Through 56.2 IP he has 46 K's while only walking 5...yes I have double checked that. :dunno: He also hasn't recorded a wild pitch.
That's pretty ridiculous for anyone, but especially a freshman. For some perspective, Bret Marks has 60 K and has allowed 18 walks through 51.1 IP.
Opposing hitters are batting .231 against Tanner and .161 versus Bret.
We'll need Marks to have a great outing and hopefully the freshmen picks this weekend to get off to a poor start and hopefully an early exit.
SATURDAY
Jr. RHP Peter Fairbanks (3-3), 2.32 ERA
Sr. LHP Drake Owenby (2-3), 3.12 ERA
PF: 42.2 IP, 38 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 40 SO, .236 b/avg
DO:43.1 IP, 36 H, 22 R, 15 ER, 11 BB, 36 SO, .217 b/avg
Guys to look for in relief/closers...Andrew Schwabb (2.86 ERA), Austin Tribby (4.79 ERA), Breckin Williams (1.96 ERA), Lake Dabney (0.75) ERA
AT THE PLATE
Here too, Mizzou is led by a true freshman. Catcher Brett Bond has the best BA, .318, leads the team with 35 Hits, 4 HR's and a .427 Slg%.
(3B) Josh Lester and (SS) Ryan Howard lead the team in RBI's.
Lead off hitter and 2nd baseman Brett Peel is very active when he gets on, 17/22 SB/ATT. As a team, they are second to Vanderbilt attempting to steal.
Bond and first baseman Zach Lavy account for 12 of the teams 27 errors.
SUMMARY
We can run on Mizzou, they've given up the most stolen bases in the SEC and they are last at picking them off. I suspect we'll test their young catcher early and often.
While the K/BB ratio of the starters is impressive, the staff has hit 37 batters this year, second only to Arkansas' 41...for some context our staff has 18, Marks is charged with 1/3 of them (6).
It doesn't matter how we get on and those count.
Missouri has only allowed 15 SAC Bunts this season, third fewest in the league, so it will be interesting to see the choices Coach Bergeron makes in this one.
Winning this series would put all goals back in play. It would also be big for the program in the eyes of the national media, like it or not, it's important. The Vols are finally home after a seven game road trip, hopefully, they'll be fired up to be back at LNS, playing in front of good home crowd.
GBO!!!
Nearly one third of their games have been 1 run games and they've gone 8-2 in them, that's outstanding.
Another recipe for success is this: The collective K-BB ratio of Missouri's starting weekend rotation: 136-24.
The Saturday guy, freshman Tanner Houck, was the SEC pitcher of the week, he sat down 21 of the first 22 batters he faced versus UF.
The Friday guy, Reggie McClain, has taken that honor three times this season.
In the field, they boast the second best defense in the conference with a .979 fielding percentage.
If this team has a weakness it's at the plate, they average 4.6 runs per game. Their team batting average is .256, one point ahead of our .255 team BA. They only have one player batting above .300.
THURSDAY
Jr. RHP Reggie McClain (4-3), 2.83 ERA
Jr. LHP Andy Cox (0-1), 2.96 ERA
This is what those of us who follow UT Baseball closely have been waiting for all season. Andy Cox will finally, 28 games into the season, get his first start. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he is truly healthy and can be the guy he was last year. That said, I don't think we can count on 6,7,8, innings of work from him at this point. If he could give us 4 or 5 innings, that would be a big help. This moves Serrano back into relief and because we don't have a mid week game, we should have plenty of arms.
If we could take game one, we would have a legit shot at winning the series.
FRIDAY
Fr. RHP Tanner Houck (5-1), 2.70 ERA
Jr. RHP Bret Marks (4-3), 2.45 ERA
Mizzou hasn't lost game two of an SEC series yet, Houck is a big reason why. Through 56.2 IP he has 46 K's while only walking 5...yes I have double checked that. :dunno: He also hasn't recorded a wild pitch.
That's pretty ridiculous for anyone, but especially a freshman. For some perspective, Bret Marks has 60 K and has allowed 18 walks through 51.1 IP.
Opposing hitters are batting .231 against Tanner and .161 versus Bret.
We'll need Marks to have a great outing and hopefully the freshmen picks this weekend to get off to a poor start and hopefully an early exit.
SATURDAY
Jr. RHP Peter Fairbanks (3-3), 2.32 ERA
Sr. LHP Drake Owenby (2-3), 3.12 ERA
PF: 42.2 IP, 38 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 40 SO, .236 b/avg
DO:43.1 IP, 36 H, 22 R, 15 ER, 11 BB, 36 SO, .217 b/avg
Guys to look for in relief/closers...Andrew Schwabb (2.86 ERA), Austin Tribby (4.79 ERA), Breckin Williams (1.96 ERA), Lake Dabney (0.75) ERA
AT THE PLATE
Here too, Mizzou is led by a true freshman. Catcher Brett Bond has the best BA, .318, leads the team with 35 Hits, 4 HR's and a .427 Slg%.
(3B) Josh Lester and (SS) Ryan Howard lead the team in RBI's.
Lead off hitter and 2nd baseman Brett Peel is very active when he gets on, 17/22 SB/ATT. As a team, they are second to Vanderbilt attempting to steal.
Bond and first baseman Zach Lavy account for 12 of the teams 27 errors.
SUMMARY
We can run on Mizzou, they've given up the most stolen bases in the SEC and they are last at picking them off. I suspect we'll test their young catcher early and often.
While the K/BB ratio of the starters is impressive, the staff has hit 37 batters this year, second only to Arkansas' 41...for some context our staff has 18, Marks is charged with 1/3 of them (6).
It doesn't matter how we get on and those count.
Missouri has only allowed 15 SAC Bunts this season, third fewest in the league, so it will be interesting to see the choices Coach Bergeron makes in this one.
Winning this series would put all goals back in play. It would also be big for the program in the eyes of the national media, like it or not, it's important. The Vols are finally home after a seven game road trip, hopefully, they'll be fired up to be back at LNS, playing in front of good home crowd.
GBO!!!
