I too worry about the LOB. Although it can be deceiving, as part of it is the fact that with our BA and OBP, we get so many on base. Statistically, you're going to leave 65% of those on base. But the many of the best batting teams (e.g. Michigan and Oregon) are better than us at this, and part is power.
We've hit 30 or more homeruns fewer than the top power teams, e.g. Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, ULL. Couple that with the fact that our number two pitcher is less dependable than many others, and I suspect we don't have enough to take it all the way this year. But perhaps the scrappiness will prevail.
I do think we'll find a way to make it to OKC, although U La La is will be a difficult super matchup.
I think this team can go as far as Stevens/Chestnut take them. I those two perform well behind Paige, we could do very well. If not, just making it to the WCWS could be this team's ceiling. Paige can take them a long way, but at some point, you'd have to expect we'll need one, or both of the other two to step up.
However, having said all that, the future is bright. We can reasonably expect the freshman to improve. I think Knighten and Aviu will develop into 17-20 HR hitters, possibly as early as next year. I think Romero and even Clifton can be double digit HR hitters. With young Gasso as hitting coach, we may not see 25 HR seasons, unless we have some ladies with prodigious power coming in next year and beyond. He (young Gasso) seems to favor line drive "power" and coaches them to drive the ball and stay on top of it. But I expect we will see this team get up into the 75-80 HR neighborhood, possibly next year.
On the pitching side, I think Finney and Chestnut can improve to where they're better than Stevens has been the last two years, and those "in-the-know" rave about next year's incoming pitchers. If those pitchers are as advertised, and if next years class has one or more power hitters that can hit for average also, at the college level, these ladies could quickly morph into something like the 2012/2013 teams.
Long winded, I know. But I guess I'm excited about the prospects for this team.
I too worry about the LOB. Although it can be deceiving, as part of it is the fact that with our BA and OBP, we get so many on base. Statistically, you're going to leave 65% of those on base. But the many of the best batting teams (e.g. Michigan and Oregon) are better than us at this, and part is power.
We've hit 30 or more homeruns fewer than the top power teams, e.g. Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, ULL. Couple that with the fact that our number two pitcher is less dependable than many others, and I suspect we don't have enough to take it all the way this year. But perhaps the scrappiness will prevail.
I do think we'll find a way to make it to OKC, although U La La is will be a difficult super matchup.
I think this team can go as far as Stevens/Chestnut take them. I those two perform well behind Paige, we could do very well. If not, just making it to the WCWS could be this team's ceiling. Paige can take them a long way, but at some point, you'd have to expect we'll need one, or both of the other two to step up.
However, having said all that, the future is bright. We can reasonably expect the freshman to improve. I think Knighten and Aviu will develop into 17-20 HR hitters, possibly as early as next year. I think Romero and even Clifton can be double digit HR hitters. With young Gasso as hitting coach, we may not see 25 HR seasons, unless we have some ladies with prodigious power coming in next year and beyond. He (young Gasso) seems to favor line drive "power" and coaches them to drive the ball and stay on top of it. But I expect we will see this team get up into the 75-80 HR neighborhood, possibly next year.
On the pitching side, I think Finney and Chestnut can improve to where they're better than Stevens has been the last two years, and those "in-the-know" rave about next year's incoming pitchers. If those pitchers are as advertised, and if next years class has one or more power hitters that can hit for average also, at the college level, these ladies could quickly morph into something like the 2012/2013 teams.
Long winded, I know. But I guess I'm excited about the prospects for this team.
I think you and Spock have mentioned the key to how far the Sooners advance this year...leaving players on base, especially those in scoring position. Missing scoring opportunities can and will bite you in close games.
Oh, and don't walk batters!
You're all right, of course. But OU has not had – and I don't expect they will have – a lot of close games against not-so-stellar opponents. I would include their opponents in this week's Norman regional. The Sooners should win those contests even if they leave a bunch of runners on base. They're just that much better than their opponents.
That will likely all change in the super regional, and even more so in the CWS, if the Sooners make it that far. That's when OU will be seeing teams that are almost as good, and in some cases as good as the Sooners. We probably won't be seeing a ton of runners left on base by any teams in the CWS. Those games will most likely be low scoring and will be won by the team(s) with the best pitchers and best defenses.
Those, at least in my opinion, are the games that will favor teams like OU and Florida.
You're all right, of course. But OU has not had – and I don't expect they will have – a lot of close games against not-so-stellar opponents. I would include their opponents in this week's Norman regional. The Sooners should win those contests even if they leave a bunch of runners on base. They're just that much better than their opponents.
That will likely all change in the super regional, and even more so in the CWS, if the Sooners make it that far. That's when OU will be seeing teams that are almost as good, and in some cases as good as the Sooners. We probably won't be seeing a ton of runners left on base by any teams in the CWS. Those games will most likely be low scoring and will be won by the team(s) with the best pitchers and best defenses.
Those, at least in my opinion, are the games that will favor teams like OU and Florida.
No question the seedings, playing at home should afford us an opportunity to host a super regional next weekend. But I do not thinkwe can afford to underestimate Tulsa. They have two quality starting pitchers (1.72 and 2.31 era's) and their staff era is ever so slightly better than OU's (2.14 vs 2.15). We only beat Tulsa 4-1 in early May.
Also they won the American conference tournament with scores of 2-0, 4-0 and 4-0 with two games against quality opponents in UCF and USF whose starting pitchers had era's of 1.51 and 1.65. We don't want to take the golden hurricane lightly. They are on a roll.
Tulsa played those games at home this past weekend because they hosted the American Tourney. Tulsa is good but I would bet the house that they will be playing Wichita on Saturday. Ole Miss is the tough team. Have faith in Patti and the women of OU!!!
This is one of the chief reasons that I believe the ceiling is so high for this team. Not only are the Sooners uber-talented as a team, they appear to be very close as injdividuals, and each of them seems genuinely thrilled when a teammate succeeds. Any team can be beaten on a given day, but given their talent and attitude, I believe this team has an excellent chance to make it to the CWS.
This the quality that Sherri recruits to and promotes over and above talent.