TCU Baseball

Monday Morning Manager: February 25th, 2013

After another long, trying weekend of baseball, I have to write this column... The title: "Of Monsters, and Men"

By Dr. Frasier Crane, MD, Ph.D Feb 25, 2013, 7:00am CST

Coach Chuck Jeroloman is likely to face criticism over his handling of the hitters thus far in the season.

NOTES

- The Orioles are expected to shop Jake Arrieta this year, he probably doesn't have much of a role with the Orioles to start 2013.

- Scott Atchison is in Mets' camp on a minor league deal, and is reporting to be 100%. Scott had an elbow injury that ended a great 2012, but no TJ surgery after Dr. Andrews assured him his elbow was indeed stable. As Scott's spring progresses, I will keep you updated on his status, as well as the status of all the former Frogs currently in spring camps.

SERIES REVIEW

- The not-title title of this week's column is, "Of Monsters, and Men." There isn't much to say right now, so we can keep this short:

Monsters

- One monster is the total lack of offense this team has been able to produce. Eight runs through six games, AKA almost less than a run per game. The Frogs were shut out on Sunday, and on opening night, with four 2 run games in between.

Here is the lineup, as it has been for roughly 5 out of 6 games so far this year, and their current slash lines:

Cody Jones: .143/.250/.238
Jantzen Witte: .318/..375/.591
Kevin Cron: .136/.208/.182
Derek Odell: .143/.280/.143
Jerrick Suiter: .100/.217/.100
Brett Johnson: .227/.261/.227
Paul Hendrix: .286/.375/.286
Keaton Jones: .235/.278/.235
Kyle Bacak: .083/.154/.083

We don't yet have enough data to analyze the advanced numbers for these guys, or the starters, we need about 20 games for everybody before we can go there, but I can promise you they will not look great.

Another monster is the schedule, which is above and away the hardest initial schedule of any Big 12 team.

Just for shits and giggles, here is the team's current RPI and SOS ranking (with the rest of the Big 12 included)

Oklahoma (9-0) RPI: 40, SOS: 112
Kansas State (3-3) RPI : 65, SOS: 69
Kansas (4-3) RPI: 82, SOS: 99
TCU (0-6) RPI: 96, SOS: 21
West Virginia (3-4) RPI: 100, SOS: 113
Baylor (2-5) RPI: 110, SOS: 57
Texas (6-1) RPI: 116, SOS: 178
Texas Tech (4-3) RPI: 160, SOS: 171
Oklahoma State (7-1) RPI: 165, SOS: 251

That is right... At 0-6, TCU still has the fourth best RPI in the Big 12. They have the highest SOS so far, with Baylor coming in a distant second. If you ever needed proof that RPI is flawed, here it is (we also have a sample size problem).

There is an emerging monster, in the form of a Sunday starter problem, but I don't think we should get into that yet. First, the offense must get fixed... Then we can move to our other problems.

...And Men

You don't ever want to call guys out, but in the interest of stating the obvious, let's give it a try:

Cody Jones: I loved the defense this weekend, but you have to know that in order to use your greatest tool (speed), you have to get on base. If you aren't willing to take pitches or hit the ball on the ground, what is the point in batting you leadoff?

Jantzen Witte: I love you, all of you, thank you for being here. Where would we be without you? Well, we can't get any worse, so I guess it would be about where we are right now.

Kevin Cron: You ended 2012 with such flair, bashing balls all over the ballpark and dominating the competition... So far this year, you have been (frankly) inpatient, and you seem to be rushing everything. Take a breath, don't try to win the game on one pitch, and don't swing at anything that is down and away, please.

Derek Odell: You have the opportunity to be drafted this summer, and clearly your defense has improved since last season. But, you are a part of the offensive core now, your bat is needed in a bad way. I never thought I would say this, but please start being more like Taylor Featherston, ASAP.

Jerrick Suiter: All last weekend, you were bashing balls in every at bat with no luck. This weekend, not so much. Thanks for working hard to get back, I was pleasantly surprised to see you behind the plate, I know you aren't 100% back yet but please keep grinding... We need a 5 hole guy.

Everybody Else: Hey everybody, thanks for coming... All I need is for you guys to hit about .250 or so, just be consistently average. None of your jobs are locked, so if you can't hack it, it's the next guy up. Just be prepared, and get after it.

DBU is coming up on Tuesday... Then, Jacksonville over the weekend. Both are winnable, but not if we can't start hitting the ball. I know you are aggravated, I know we are all quite frustrated. But, remember this, we aren't playing lay down teams... We just played two likely super regional teams, which is no excuse but it is a reason to expect better things to come. All it takes is one win to get off the schnide. Then you need another, then another...

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a winning streak.

As my mom used to say, tomorrow is a new day... With no mistakes. Make the best of it.

Chuck's got the call this Tuesday at 6:30... I would guess Trevor Seidenberger is taking the ball... LESsssssGOoooooo

TCU BASEBALL RECRUITING CLASSES

Here are the commits I have for TCU Baseball, classes of 2013 and 2014.

2014 Class
Noah McGowan, OF
Justin Twine, IF/RHP
Austen Wade, OF

Drew Gooch, LHP
Tyler Kolek, RHP

2013 Class
Connor Beck, OF
Garrett Crain, IF
Will Foreman, OF/C
Will Fox, OF
Eric Garza, MIF
Billy McKinney, OF/1B
Walker Pennington, IF/OF
TJ Scott, OF
Ty Slanina, OF

Tyler Alexander, LHP
Ryan Burnett, LHP
Brandon Gilson, LHP
Brian Howard, RHP
Jordan Kipper, RHP
Alex Mata, RHP
Robby Medel, RHP

PROFESSIONAL FROGS

(Name, Team, Separated by Final 2012 Level)

Major Leagues
Andrew Cashner (Padres)
Matt Carpenter (Cardinals)
Scott Atchison (Mets)
Bryan Holaday (Tigers)