Oregon @ Hawaii (Series tied 2-2)

[oregontrack]

Unless you've read something I haven't (which is certainly possible), I don't think Marder is much of a candidate at third. Until Altobelli goes back I think Sabol and Gavin will probably man third, unless there's a freshman that has been impressing in practice that we don't know about. Sabol's got the bat, Gavin's a good fielder that's been around for 3 years now. He started 10 games last year.

When Serna was suspended last year, Pulfer led off.

Rain-outs depend entirely on who you're playing. If we miss a game against Seattle U, for instance, the the potential win probably won't be enough to make up for the RPI hit we'll take. Like college hoops, regional assignments and such is based almost entirely on RPI. SOS plays a big role in the formula.

Newbies starting... sounds like Kuresa at first, Sabol at third, Hambright should definitely be in the running for DH/C/

If I had to make a line-up for this weekend based on interviews I've gathered from Horton, and taking Serna's suspension into account, I guess I'd say:

2B Pulfer, Jr
LF Piazzisi, Sr
RF Marder, So
1B Kuresa, Fr
DH Eshleman/Peterson/Hambright (who knows?)
C Hambright, Jr
SS Altobelli, So
3B Sabol, Fr
CF Mendenhall, So

There's two Hambrights on the team, that's not an error.

Honestly though, I have no idea. Pulfer batted third last year, but hit lead-off when Serna was out. Piazzisi typically hit second. We have roughly six billion candidates at DH, that's a total shot in the dark by me up there. Esh got the most time there last year, but he's also in the catching pile. Hambright is by no means a lock at catcher. The freshmen could be higher or lower based on the mood Horton is in on a given day.

[UOducksTK1]

Unless you've read something I haven't (which is certainly possible), I don't think Marder is much of a candidate at third. Until Altobelli goes back I think Sabol and Gavin will probably man third, unless there's a freshman that has been impressing in practice that we don't know about. Sabol's got the bat, Gavin's a good fielder that's been around for 3 years now. He started 10 games last year.

When Serna was suspended last year, Pulfer led off.

Rain-outs depend entirely on who you're playing. If we miss a game against Seattle U, for instance, the the potential win probably won't be enough to make up for the RPI hit we'll take. Like college hoops, regional assignments and such is based almost entirely on RPI. SOS plays a big role in the formula.

Newbies starting... sounds like Kuresa at first, Sabol at third, Hambright should definitely be in the running for DH/C/

If I had to make a line-up for this weekend based on interviews I've gathered from Horton, and taking Serna's suspension into account, I guess I'd say:

2B Pulfer, Jr
LF Piazzisi, Sr
RF Marder, So
1B Kuresa, Fr
DH Eshleman/Peterson/Hambright (who knows?)
C Hambright, Jr
SS Altobelli, So
3B Sabol, Fr
CF Mendenhall, So

There's two Hambrights on the team, that's not an error.

Honestly though, I have no idea. Pulfer batted third last year, but hit lead-off when Serna was out. Piazzisi typically hit second. We have roughly six billion candidates at DH, that's a total shot in the dark by me up there. Esh got the most time there last year, but he's also in the catching pile. Hambright is by no means a lock at catcher. The freshmen could be higher or lower based on the mood Horton is in on a given day.

It sucks Serna isn't around. I don't recognize Mendenhall at all. Excited to see what Sabol can do though.

[oregontrack]

Mendenhall backed up Raulinaitis in center last year, starting 13 games and playing in 36. He was 14/44 (.318) with a .375 OBP, pretty good for a freshman in a reserve role. Good speed.

[Coastal Duck]

If I had to make a line-up for this weekend based on interviews I've gathered from Horton, and taking Serna's suspension into account, I guess I'd say:

2B Pulfer, Jr
LF Piazzisi, Sr
RF Marder, So
1B Kuresa, Fr
DH Eshleman/Peterson/Hambright (who knows?)
C Hambright, Jr
SS Altobelli, So
3B Sabol, Fr
CF Mendenhall, So

I see you have a freshman (Kuresa) at the #4 spot in the lineup - you must have a reason to exude such confidence in the young man. "Normally" a non-rookie occupies that pressure-packed slot. I might have the DH occupy the 4 spot, but I would like to hear your reasoning on Kuresa.

[UOducksTK1]

One day left til the season starts! Pretty excited.

[oregontrack]

Just a hunch, I could easily be wrong. Horton had Marder third and Hambright fifth in the first road trip last year, there's precedent for starting freshmen in the heart of the order on this team.

Honestly, upon reflection, I confused Kuresa and Sabol. Sabol should be fourth on my projected order, Kuresa farther down the line. Sabol's the impact hitter, Kuresa's the defensive whiz, I got it backwards.

"Of his two heralded freshmen, Horton says, “Kuresa excels and fits in right away defensively, but his bat still needs to come around. Sabol is the other way around and still has rough edges defensively. With his athleticism, we’ve looked at him in the OF as well as 3B.” Sabol could end up behind the plate replacing Eddy Rodriguez eventually"

http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/201 ... ge-horton/

[oregontrack]

Some line-up updates for tomorrow:

Marder will be the catcher, and will bat 3rd. JC transfer Brett Hambright will be the #2 catcher.

Freshman Aaron Jones looks like he'll get the nod in RF.

Either Mendenhall or Piazzisi will start in CF (still undetermined?).

Freshmen Steve Sabol and Connor Hoffman will rotate in LF, based on who Hawaii starts (lefty or righty).

Ryan Hambright will get the nod at 3B, since Altobelli will be replacing Serna at SS.

Kuresa and Healy, both freshmen, will platoon at 1B.

Peterson/Healy platoon as the primary DHs.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksb ... ack_m.html

This is why projecting rosters and depth chart is a crapshoot in this sport.

[Coastal Duck]

Two more questions - whose skollies weren't renewed to make way for the incoming group of recruits?

Didn't seem like that many seniors were on the team and only a couple of pitchers moved on, as I recall.

2) Are we giving out 1/2 scholarships, as many do nowdays? Related: Roster strength is different depending on home or away and I think it's different for PAC-10 vs. non-conf. Would someone please refresh my memory? - TIA

Hmm - 4 questions - so sue me.

[greenyellow]

Two more questions - whose skollies weren't renewed to make way for the incoming group of recruits?

Didn't seem like that many seniors were on the team and only a couple of pitchers moved on, as I recall.

2) Are we giving out 1/2 scholarships, as many do nowdays? Related: Roster strength is different depending on home or away and I think it's different for PAC-10 vs. non-conf. Would someone please refresh my memory? - TIA

Hmm - 4 questions - so sue me.

One player I don't see on the roster is Darrell Hunter, from Thurston HS in Springfield, OR. He was one of Horton's first commits, but missed all of last year with injury. Real surprised he didn't make the roster.

[oregontrack]

We lost E-Rod, LaTempa, Thornton, Hart, Fleck, Nichols, and Raulinatis to graduation; Gagnier to the MLB Draft; and Steven Packard to a Mormon mission.

Taylor Ausbun (2 GP), Nick Wagner (17 GP, 4 starts), and Steven Kaupang (10 GP; 6 starts) are the only casualties from last year's roster that I can't explain. Wagner was a freshman who I figured would return but may have just transfered, Kaupang came into last season as a huge potential HR threat, but he just couldn't hit the ball (1/25). I figured he wouldn't be back.

I had heard, offhand, that Hunter had to give up the game because of his eye injury that caused him to redshirt last year; don't know if there's a shred of truth to that, though. But after all the liberal cuts Horton made to the roster after that initial 14-42 season, the fact that he held onto Hunter would seem to indicate he wanted Hunter on the team when healthy.

[oregontrack]

GAME DAY!

Fun fact: Tyler Anderson is 2-0 on opening day, beating St. Mary's and Cal State Fullerton in '09 and '10.

Hawaii will start RHP Matt Sisto (5-5, 5.27 in 2010).

Final thought: Hawaii won the WAC last year, they're a damn fine team. Don't get frustrated if the Rainbows win a game or two, the season is young and baseball is a goofy game.

[Duck07]

I'm biased towards seeing Shawn Peterson get more AB's this year at DH, plus with the bat reductions he figures to still be one of the few to hit for power.

Does anybody know if this game is being broadcast tonight and if there will be a stream for it?

[oregontrack]

Well said, Petersen was a nice surprise last year. I thought Packard was our best frosh hitter, but Petersen was no slouch.

Can't say for sure on anything streaming, although I think I read in the Guard a few days ago that the game will be available for a fee on Hawaii's website. Not sure what that "fee" is; if it's not too crazy, I'm thinking about trying it for the weekend games.

[Duck07]

UH wants 6.28$ to watch the game on their stream - which is more than the price of some of the tickets at the game!

I'm listening live at http://espn1420am.com/

If I can find a live feed from KFVE in HI I'll post it as it seems that will be the way to find a feed.

[cordy02c]

ducks take lead 1-0 in top of 3 on rbi groundout by marder