Oregon Ducks Eugene Regional (vs Rice Mon 6pm)

[greenyellow]

Thorpe gets out a 7th inning jam with a K. Onto the 8th.

[greenyellow]

Oregon wastes a BB after Altobelli hits into DP. Bottom 8th now.

[UOducksTK1]

Owls DB to end the 8th. Last inning, Owls still lead 1-0.

[greenyellow]

Well, that was a craptacular display of offense by Oregon tonight. Also, a waste of a good outing by Thorpe tonight. Got to win 2 games now to advance.

[duckgrad99]

Horton needs to shake up the lineup. For example, Aaron Payne has to be the worst number 2 hitter in the pac-12. Just awful offense.

[Duck07]

Well, that was a craptacular display of offense by Oregon tonight. Got to win 2 games now to advance.

No, its actually 3. Rice has to lose twice to be knocked out.

[greenyellow]

Well, that was a craptacular display of offense by Oregon tonight. Got to win 2 games now to advance.

No, its actually 3. Rice has to lose twice to be knocked out.

Cr@p. I don't know if they can do it, considering how poorly they are performing at the plate and having to get 2 from Rice. Horton needs to find a way to get more hitters so the line-up isn't so dependent on just one guy. I don't think any pitcher is afraid of anyone besides Healy.

[oregontrack]

Well, that was a craptacular display of offense by Oregon tonight. Also, a waste of a good outing by Thorpe tonight. Got to win 2 games now to advance.

........ to advance to monday, where we'll have to beat rice again. we'll need to win 3 total to advance to the supers now.

the loser's bracket is rough because whereas rice will be waiting tomorrow evening with their #3, who by all accounts is a very capable pitcher, we'll be throwing irvin tomorrow at noon to try to get past san fran. if we get past san fran, we'll be throwing jeff gold, or maybe christian jones (who'd obviously be preferable) against rice's #3. and should we then win that game, we'll be throwing our entire bullpen because we've run out of starters.

[greenyellow]

Well, that was a craptacular display of offense by Oregon tonight. Also, a waste of a good outing by Thorpe tonight. Got to win 2 games now to advance.

........ to advance to monday, where we'll have to beat rice again. we'll need to win 3 total to advance to the supers now.

the loser's bracket is rough because whereas rice will be waiting tomorrow evening with their #3, who by all accounts is a very capable pitcher, we'll be throwing irvin tomorrow at noon to try to get past san fran. if we get past san fran, we'll be throwing jeff gold, or maybe christian jones (who'd obviously be preferable) against rice's #3. and should we then win that game, we'll be throwing our entire bullpen because we've run out of starters.

Similar to what happened in 2010 in Connecticut. Oregon just ran out of pitchers in that one going against FSU IIRC.

[OregonFan4Life]

Horton needs to do something about the lack of offense, this is pathetic. We're in a new era of sports in college and the pros. It doesn't matter if you have the best defense, if you have no offense, you're going to lose to really good teams, as simple as that. Defense used to win championships, but now teams win championships. You do need offense in this day. Absolutely pathetic to lose 1-0 in a game like this in PK Park.

[greenyellow]

Horton needs to do something about the lack of offense, this is pathetic. We're in a new era of sports in college and the pros. It doesn't matter if you have the best defense, if you have no offense, you're going to lose to really good teams, as simple as that. Defense used to win championships, but now teams win championships. You do need offense in this day. Absolutely pathetic to lose 1-0 in a game like this in PK Park.

Horton may have a lot games that way so far at Oregon, but many have been ugly and closer than they should be considering how dominant Oregon's pitching is. He just hasn't found a batting lineup that is formidable throughout. For this team to get to the next level, they need several more threats in the lineup like Healy and, when healthy, Thomas and Garlick. I think some of the Oregonian writers have hit it on the head with their articles tonight about Oregon needing better hitters. The incoming recruiting class is expected to bring some better hitters, but I think most who would help will not step foot in Eugene due getting drafted and signing a pro contract.

http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.s ... cart_river

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/inde ... cart_river

[Coastal Duck]

Horton needs to do something about the lack of offense, this is pathetic. We're in a new era of sports in college and the pros. It doesn't matter if you have the best defense, if you have no offense, you're going to lose to really good teams, as simple as that. Defense used to win championships, but now teams win championships. You do need offense in this day. Absolutely pathetic to lose 1-0 in a game like this in PK Park.

Horton may have a lot games that way so far at Oregon, but many have been ugly and closer than they should be considering how dominant Oregon's pitching is. He just hasn't found a batting lineup that is formidable throughout. For this team to get to the next level, they need several more threats in the lineup like Healy and, when healthy, Thomas and Garlick. I think some of the Oregonian writers have hit it on the head with their articles tonight about Oregon needing better hitters. The incoming recruiting class is expected to bring some better hitters, but I think most who would help will not step foot in Eugene due getting drafted and signing a pro contract.

http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.s ... cart_river

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/inde ... cart_river

grenyellow - If you are a Rice fan, 1-0 IS pitching and defense and no offense.
OF4L - If all the hitters are signing pro contracts instead of coming to Oregon, wouldn't that hold true for other programs?

[oregontrack]

yes and no. there's a couple things working against us:

1. for all the recruiting hype this program has received since rebirth and for all of oregon state's success, i always have, and continue to, believe all the great hitters still prefer to play for southern schools. there's a reason all your cal-state whatever schools are national powerhouses. you can't recruit against weather.

2. horton is known as a pitching guru, so he gets a lot of top pitching prospects. he's always been a small ball guy. yes, he's always been successful -- dude won a CWS and all -- but there's still a stigma that top hitters have thinking they won't be able to just swing away here. he'll continue to get great pitching prospects because that's what we're becoming known for. that's what horton has been known for. but hitting may continue to be hit or miss.

this PARTICULAR line-up also had some problems from the start. you had the unexpected attrition of aaron jones and kyle garlick. these two were major run producers for us last year. for a program that will probably always have trouble scoring runs, losing kids to graduation or 3-year guys to the draft is tough enough; losing the heart of your order due to one kid up and quitting and another lost for the year w/ an injury is brutal. add in your all-conference 2B from a year ago looking lost at the plate all year (payne) and a coach's odd love affair with two guys who have never been able to hit the ball (hambright & hoffman) and you have, well, a really bad offense. THEN, for this particular postseason, add in the fact that brett thomas is clearly still hurt and playing through pain AND no scott heineman................. yeah. runs are at a premium.

[greenyellow]

yes and no. there's a couple things working against us:

1. for all the recruiting hype this program has received since rebirth and for all of oregon state's success, i always have, and continue to, believe all the great hitters still prefer to play for southern schools. there's a reason all your cal-state whatever schools are national powerhouses. you can't recruit against weather.

2. horton is known as a pitching guru, so he gets a lot of top pitching prospects. he's always been a small ball guy. yes, he's always been successful -- dude won a CWS and all -- but there's still a stigma that top hitters have thinking they won't be able to just swing away here. he'll continue to get great pitching prospects because that's what we're becoming known for. that's what horton has been known for. but hitting may continue to be hit or miss.

this PARTICULAR line-up also had some problems from the start. you had the unexpected attrition of aaron jones and kyle garlick. these two were major run producers for us last year. for a program that will probably always have trouble scoring runs, losing kids to graduation or 3-year guys to the draft is tough enough; losing the heart of your order due to one kid up and quitting and another lost for the year w/ an injury is brutal. add in your all-conference 2B from a year ago looking lost at the plate all year (payne) and a coach's odd love affair with two guys who have never been able to hit the ball (hambright & hoffman) and you have, well, a really bad offense. THEN, for this particular postseason, add in the fact that brett thomas is clearly still hurt and playing through pain AND no scott heineman................. yeah. runs are at a premium.

I'd imagine a lineup featuring Thomas (LF), Jones (C), Garlick (RF), Healy (1B), Altobelli (SS), Heineman (CF), Tolman (DH/3B), Payne (2B), and whoever else he wanted to fill in would easily have been the best line-up Horton had at Oregon, but it just was not meant to be. Horton, while known for small ball at Fullerton, had some pretty good hitters up and down his lineups typically, which meant he could attack in multiple ways that made his teams a top-20 team nearly every year. He needs to get some of his top position players in school and contributing if they want to improve the offense.

[greenyellow]

Lineup for today has been released. No Thomas but Heineman is playing today. Really wish there weren't such holes in the lineup in the 6-7-8 spots and now the leadoff spot with Thomas out.

Starting lineup: Payne 2B, Baumgartner LF, Healy 1B, Tolman DH, Heineman RF, Hambright 3B, Chase C, Hofmann CF, Altobelli SS