Morning Coffee
by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 1:14 AM CDT
in Quick Hits
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The Longhorns pounded Arkansas-Pine Bluff 10-4 on Saturday afternoon, which was expected. What I can't figure out, though, is how Randy Boone was credited with the win. The 'Horns led 10-0 after six innings, and though APB would pick up four runs in the seventh off of Josh Prince, they certainly never tied up the game, and Boone's only action came in the 9th inning, pitching with a 10-4 lead. Still, TexasSports credits Boone with the win. I can't figure this out...
You have to love how virtually everything winds up on YouTube these days, such that all those moments we label "timeless" really are nowadays. Anyway, your Monday YouTube fun, courtesy of 40AS: Vince Young's high school All Star game. Watching Vince never gets old, of course, but what's really fun is watching folks who aren't intimately aware of his greatness try to talk about him. His NFL rookie season was full of classic moments when the announcers would try to describe Vince Young the way they talk about virtually every other player.
Turning briefly to the NBA: remember when I heaped praise upon Bill Simmons for being one of the best NBA writers of all-time and said that I was excited he was showing an interest in covering Texas hoops? He made me look bad by abandoning the nuanced rationalism that defnes his NBA writing by slamming Rick Barnes unfairly - a tremendous disappointment. But March Madness is gone, the NBA Playoffs are upon us and, if you hadn't noticed, Simmons is predicting the outcomes of each game and series with such uncanny accuracy that if you didn't know better, you'd swear he was reading the morning papers before the games were actually played. From the Jazz' win at The Oracle to the Spurs Game 3 adjustments to the Pistons handling the Bulls with ease - Simmons is simply nailing it all. (If only Rick Barnes had been treated so thoughtfully...)
Speaking of which, ESPN.com ranks the top ten programs in college basketball, slotting Rick Barnes' program at #7 on the list. Longhorn basketball fans have settled into expecting good things from this team each year, making it easy to forget how unlikely Texas appearance on this list was before Barnes' arrival. It wasn't long ago that Tom Penders was torturing Texas fans with his no-defense, run-n-gun ways - all while sketchily bringing in the best under-the-radar talent that money could buy. (God, it's still painful to talk about the Penders era, like getting engaged to a near-perfect girl and then trying to talk about the eighteen months you wasted dating your poisonous ex-girlfriend without your blood reaching a boil. It's easier just to shake your head and pretend it didn't happen.)
And last, while we're talking Penders, NBADraft.net projects Dion Dowell as a second round pick in the 2008 draft. The former Longhorn transferred to Houston after Rick Barnes tired of his prima donna act. Occasionally, you'll hear Longhorn fans wonder if Barnes made a huge mistake in letting Dowell get away, but the very fact that he ran into the waiting arms of Penders ought to answer any lingering questions about whether he's the kind of kid Barnes needed to bend over backwards for.
--PB--
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the Boone win
the Texas starter, Russell, only went 2 innings, not the requisite 5 for getting a win. normally when that happens, the starter leaves with a deficit, but in this case, it was with a lead that Texas never relinquished, meaning that the win is up for grabs among the relief pitchers. the official scorer makes the call and for whatever reason, he decided to give it to Boone.
at least, that's what happens in MLB. i don't watch enough college baseball to know this rule for sure.
by billyzane on May 14, 2007 1:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hmm
Surprised I didn't know that rule. My understanding (incorrect, apparently) was that, under MLB rules, the pitcher who finished the fifth (since Texas had a lead at that point) would get the win. If you're right, though, the Boone win makes more sense.
Interesting.
by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boone win
Augie supposedly said in his post game interview that he decided before the game to give the win to the pitcher who gave up the fewest runs, despite Russell making a declared start. Since four pitchers did not give up a run, Augie decided to draw cards after the game to decide a winner. Boone drew the highest card, giving him the win for the day.
by 40AS on May 14, 2007 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ridiculous...
Don't know why they don't have the same 5th inning rule that MLB does. Of course, the MLB rule is pretty damn ad hoc, too, so...
by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
All levels of baseball...
...follow the rule that for any scheduled nine inning game, a starting pitcher must complete 5.0 innings to qualify for a win. (A starting pitcher can receive a loss regardless of number of innings pitched.) If a relief pitcher inherits a lead from a starter who lasted less than the requisite 5.0 innings, it is up to the official scorer whether that reliever or a subsequent reliever contributes substantially enough to receive credit for the win. This is purely subjective and official scorers frequently unofficially consult a head coach at the amateur levels. (No such conversation would take place at the MLB level...the manager would likely respond, "I don't care. Stats are your job."
Ocassionally NCAA doubleheaders and high school games will be scheduled for 7 innings, in which case a starter need only to complete 4.0 innings.
No non-starter is guaranteed credit for the win solely based on pitching in the 5th with a lead.
by Lincoln on May 14, 2007 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
Learn something new every day.
Thanks.
by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
minimum 5 inning start
Are you positive about this? I think I remember something from the beginning of the season where Garrido had informed the scorer before the game that his starter wouldn't be going 5. Since it was predetermined that the starter would be coming out early, he was still eligible for the win.
I could definitely be wrong, though.
by loganck on May 15, 2007 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're right
I don't have the rule book but I believe with a declared start (in which the starting pitcher's outing is declared before the game) the pitcher need not go the five innings to pick up the win. It definitely happens all the time with these mid-week games.
Look at the box score to the UT-Texas State game this season:
http://www.texassports.com/doc_lib/0...
Hunter Harris got the win in a declared start.
by 40AS on May 15, 2007 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Baseball Title Nail-Biter
Both Missouri and Oklahoma State have 16-8 conference records to sit in second place, but they play each other next weekend so there will be no tie for second place. The best result for Texas would be a series split either way rather than a sweep for either team, obviously. But Texas still controls their destiny next weekend, which is the way it should be.
In other sports, Texas finished third in the Big XII in both mens and womens track & field, which was especially disappointing for the women given their past performance. Even more galling, our two biggest rivals (OU and aTM) won the mens and womens titles, respectively. Yes we're spoiled rotten, and these aren't exactly sports that we focus on as fans, but it still pisses me off when we don't win the conference, regardless of the sport.
These results follow hard on the heels of the disappointing performance of the softball team, which exited in the first round to Missouri. At least they managed to make the post-season, as a 3-seed in Florida, while OU and aTm were selected as the overall 3 and 4 seeds. Will a first-round exit from the NCAA's finally bring an end to the Connie Clark era at UT?
by patienthornsfan on May 14, 2007 6:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Speculation
Just to toss an idea around, I hear people say all the time that Simmons knows basketball. I know his game is the NBA, but could it be that he's seeing something in Barnes that UT fans don't?
by chief on May 14, 2007 6:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes and no
He sees that Barne's isn't an offensive innovator or has a system(only a select few in the college game do/are). I think most Texas fans agree with this assesment. At least I do.
But he focuses so much on the tree he misses Yellowstone National Park.
Barnes brings alot more to the table for a program that had been a zero before his arrival. He's a great game day coach and CEO for the Texas team.
One indefficiency does not make him a bad coach -- and quite frankly, the criticism that Durant doesn't get the ball "enough" is so stupid it almost makes you wonder if Simmons only caught 4 minutes of the game. How does the highest scoring freshmen in Div 1 basketball scoring 30+ a night, not get the ball "enough"?
Anyway....this is ground already covered....(time for my cup of joe)
by EYESofBEVO on May 14, 2007 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
The problem, chief, isn't that Rick Barnes doesn't deserve criticism. To the contrary, you'll find AW and I among the most vocal of critics when we're displeased with something.
However, there's a difference between qualified criticisms of a coach's tactics and blanket statements of incompetency. The former is instructive; the latter is grossly unfair and uninstructive.
I'm fine with Simmons criticizing Barnes, but my complaint was always that he didn't do so with the same measured nuance that defines his tremendously insightful NBA writing. With Barnes, he just flippantly dismissed him as a general dope. Not fair.
by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to completely sidetrack
from sports and this thread, but did any one watch the Sopranos last night?
Holy gawd was that an insane episode or what?
by EYESofBEVO on May 14, 2007 8:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hell yes
i was wondering when they were gonna throw in something crazy like since the newer episodes started showing
by greenman on May 14, 2007 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There were moments it
was almost hard to watch it was so intense.
My only bone to pick is with AJ's beard. As a viewer I can't take him seriously as the next generation until he gets rid of that stupid Backstreet Boy's pencil beard.
I do however like that he has become an interesting character for the first time in about 3 seasons.
I don't want to spoil anything for those who didn't get to watch, but those first 5-10 of the show left me speachless....and it only got better from there.
by EYESofBEVO on May 14, 2007 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In defense of Penders
Despite the sleaze factor, Penders did the program a lot of good. Remember, when he came in we were under Bob Weltlich, whose style most fans and recruits found repulsive. The magic of the Lemons era had faded and attendance was flat.
Penders brought energy to the program and found a way to lift it to the point where UT could attract someone like Barnes. Paul Westhead's run-and-gun style was all the fashion in those days and the three point shot had just come in. We even got a dance squad and a pep band. Suddenly fans were going wild and the team was in the tournament.
But of course there was the seamy underside to all the good times, and I can't defend Tom on that. But I will contend that the Penders era was as memorable as Lemons or Barnes, and that Texas still owes a lot to Tom Terrific.
by Caradoc on May 14, 2007 10:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes, yes, but...
You're right, of course, but I can't find it in myself not to dwell on the negative.
Like I said: Barnes has spoiled us...
by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Penders brought East coast
connections and a higher profile for Texas. Without that I don't think the job is as appealing to Barnes -- and it requires more work to build the first few years.
by EYESofBEVO on May 14, 2007 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
More on Simmons...
Continuing on Bill's excellence in NBA writing, his latest basketball blog is nothing short of a masterpiece proposal. And in true Bill Simmons form, his solution is so obviously simple, the NBA execs will never make it happen.
If the Suns actually come back and win the series, all bets are off. But if they don't, well...read his basketball blog here.
by jc25 on May 14, 2007 5:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Concerning the Vince video...
its almost unbelievable how skinny he is. I know he is only a senior in high school, but he looks so so small, with chicken legs like Reggie McNeal had throughout his college career.
Its really a testament to how well the Texas strength coaches do in developing talent and physical size.
by HWO on May 15, 2007 1:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Baseball RPI
There should be a new set released today, but here's the current standings through May 6th:
Rank Prev Rank Name
1 2 Rice
2 1 Vanderbilt
3 3 Texas
4 5 North Carolina
5 4 South Carolina
6 6 Texas A&M
7 11 Coastal Caro.
8 8 Mississippi St.
9 9 Long Beach St.
10 12 Florida St.
11 14 Virginia
12 7 Arkansas
12 13 San Diego
I think at this point Rice, Vandy, Texas, North Carolina and aTm are locks to host Super Regionals. That leaves three slots to be filled. Arkansas is stumbling to finish out the season, so they are likely out. I would think Arizona State will be in the hunt given their weekend sweep of UCLA. Either San Diego or Long Bech State will probably get another. And it's hard to imagine the committee not awarding FSU a host slot. So my projected SR's are:
- Vandy
- Rice
- Texas
- UNC
- ASU
- aTm
- San Diego
- FSU
What a coup it would be to have three of the host sites in the state of Texas!
Digging deeper into the RPI's, I was surprised at the poor showing of the rest of the Big XII. Co-second place teams Missouri (21) and OSU (49) have no shot at this point, but one of them should get first-round games at home - whichever team wins the series this weekend. Nebraska (22), KSU (32) OU (34) and Baylor (39) will also likely get invites to the post-season.
by patienthornsfan on May 15, 2007 4:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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