TCU Baseball: By the Numbers, Week 4

Welcome to the second week of "By the Numbers". Last week, we took off, because in light of the Cal Poly cancellation, there was really no point. However, after a stint in LA, and a big opening (conference) series against the green team from North Temple this weekend, we’re back, baby!

I’ll be working on a Mid-Season report for our pitchers, so throw me any ideas or anything you’d like to see in regards to that. Now, let the numbers flow through you...

Walk(s) of Life:

The Frogs don’t walk much--on either side of the baseball. Offensively, it’s hurting their OBP, and thereby doing the same to their runs. But like we’ve said before, this is a very different team in 2015. College baseball writers are starting to notice this trend too: the fact that TCU’s capable of doing damage at any point in the lineup, unlike last year where it began to nosedive after Bacak’s bunts--which, were great by the way. Though there’s not a whole lot of change in the offensive stats from last year; in 2015 there’s less small ball (we are 168th in sac-bunts, 253rd in sac flies) and less reliance on just three or four guys.

Other fun notes: Nolan Brown ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in Runs per game with 1.08. Brown and Cody Jones are both averaging .42 steals-per-game. 

Pitching wise, TCU fell back in the ERA rankings four spots (3 to 7), mostly because of their bullpen efforts against USC. Knowing this team however, it’s unlikely they’ll ever fall out of the Top 10, and by season’s end, just as they did last year, they’ll probably be either No.1 or No.2 alongside Virginia.

Other fun notes: Preston Morrison and Kansas State’s Nate Griep are the only two Big 12 pitchers to throw a complete game and both rank 6th Nationally. Alex Young ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in Hits Allowed Per 9-innings with 5.14. Riley "La Flama" Ferrell ranks 1st in the Big 12 in saves (5) and 11th Nationally. Mitchell Traver ranks 3rd in the Big 12 in K/9 with 10.32. Young, Traver, and Morrison all rank in the Big 12 Top 4 in WHIP, and all are in the Top 80 Nationally--all three trail Texas Tech’s Corey Taylor. That same crew plus Trey Teakell all rank in the Top 6 (Big 12) in BB/9.

What's the most comforting, is that defensively, TCU ranks 1st in the Big 12 and 8th Nationally in Fielding Percentage (.983). While the defense has given me a headache at times this season--as the errors have seem to come at the most inopportune times, this is still one of the best teams in the country with their leather.

Overall, I wouldn't be worried about TCU's lack of offense. I think we can all agree that it just feels better last year, despite the similarities numbers wise from 2014--and, we are only a quarter through the season: and have played 3 less games than most teams. The numbers will improve, and balance out, by season's end.

Two areas I would like to improve on are; Runs and OBP. The plea for the latter isn't a stretch, as this patience at the plate we've talked about could result in more walks and more hits. The former thus comes into place--because of this balance-- as TCU then has a really good chance of scoring at any point in the lineup with a hit, walk, fielder's choice or sac fly. Take a deep breath, it'll all be ok.