UConn @ #9/#11 Texas Tech (Friday 3/12/21 @ 3p ET, Saturday 3/13 @ 3p, Sunday 3/14 @ 3p, Monday 3/15@ 11a). All on ESPN+/WHUS

[BaseballDog]

This took way too long to review

 

[dbmill]

One of the big strengths of

This took way too long to review

That's why I don't care for reviews. The games are long enough as it is.

 

[huskymedic]

That was a shot.

 

[Bomber36]

Long mustache guy is back for game two...I envy him. Not for the stach, although it’s cool, but for being able to attend a game live.

 

[BaseballDog]

E5 on Langer on the throw

 

[dbmill]

Simeone has thrown over 30 pitches so far this inning. Gallagher going down to the bullpen to warm up.

Simeone threw 39 pitches in the 1st. 3-0 Tech.

 

[justfacts]

Long mustache guy is back for game two...I envy him. Not for the stach, although it’s cool, but for being able to attend a game live....

and if you watch the mustache closely you can tell which way the wind is blowing. LOL

 

[Bomber36]

and if you watch the mustache closely you can tell which way the wind is blowing. LOL

That does come in handy, lol.

 

[justfacts]

E5 on Langer on the throw

Reggie needs to catch that ball. Needs to stretch to the ball and not the fielder.

 

[BaseballDog]

After a sub 3 hour game yesterday we get a 30 minute first inning today.

 

[Bomber36]

Start it off Reg.

 

[dbmill]

A thought or two on yesterday's game. Disappointingly, it does go into the loss column, and it is another one of those 1 or 2 run losses that could have gone the other way. Still, on the positive side of things UConn did have some positive improvements that hopefully will start resulting in wins at some point. Coach Penders has been making a big point in postgame interviews about hitters putting the ball in play and putting pressure on the other team to make plays. This is a big part of the college game (and in the lower minor leagues as well). Well, UConn certainly did this yesterday. The only problem is that the Texas Tech defense made some unbelievable plays in the field that kept UConn from adding a number of runs to their tally. The Red Raiders are in the top 10 in the polls, and I would think that one of the reasons they are so highly ranked is that they are capable of making such plays. Anyway, Coach Penders seemed pleased in the post game interview about the contact the hitters were making in the game. Another positive is that UConn batters had a higher walk total than they have had in a number of their previous games this season. There are things that UConn still needs to clean up, such the walks and hit by pitches their pitchers give up among other things.

What would probably help the most is getting Kyler Fedko and Chris Winkel back on the beam at the plate. Kyler has gone from being a huge middle of the batting order threat last season to this season of being in and out of the lineup mostly due to his failure to make contact. Chris has had pretty much the same decline. Having these two bats pretty much disappear in terms of production has had a huge impact on the UConn offense.

Today we get to see what starting pitcher Joe Simeone has to offer against a really good team. I have been thinking the last couple of years that Simeone was soon to have something of a great leap forward in terms of his effectiveness. It certainly hasn't happened yet, and at this point UConn baseball really needs for it to happen soon.

What UConn really needs to remain competitive with Texas Tech over the next three games is some solid and productive outings from the starting pitchers. Whatever the case, that would help reduce what promises to be a potentially heavy work load on the bullpen this weekend. Of course, none of these guys are really solidly established as starters yet in their UConn careers.

One other thing. Up until a couple of years ago, weekend starting pitching was really one of the major year to year strengths of UConn baseball teams over the last 10 or so years. So far this season this is clearly not the case.

 

[Bomber36]

Gave it a ride...dang wind.

 

[Bomber36]

Two hard hit balls and nothing to show for it.

 

[dbmill]

Top 2nd, UConn again goes down in order.

 

[dbmill]

Bottom 2nd, a one out walk followed by a double makes it 4-0.

 

[scotty0330]

Oh boy what a disaster of a start...

 

[dbmill]

Simeone hits the next batter, he is coming out of the game, Gallagher coming in.

Having a starting rotation where no one is really solidly established as a starter from the previous season can make things pretty tough, but that is UConn's lot this season so far.

 

[scotty0330]

Joe sim can no longer be called a starter but rather an opener. He consistently doesn’t go very far into ball games. You get 4 innings out of him it’s considered lucky

 

[BaseballDog]

Hard to win when you get an inning and a third from the Saturday starter. Gallagher needs to eat up a bunch of innings here.

 

[huskymedic]

Gallagher coming in.

This is gonna hurt come Monday...

 

[dbmill]

This is gonna hurt come Monday...

You would think so. I would think they are trying to save the bullpen a bit for the rest of the series on the hope that Gallagher can go several innings here. One would guess Jimmy Wang is now likely for the Monday start.

 

[dbmill]

Gallagher with two strikeouts to end the 2nd inning. 4-0 Tech. Nice job by Pat.

 

[huskymedic]

Gallagher with two strikeouts to end the 2nd inning. 4-0 Tech. Nice job by Pat.

Nice to see Conley is human

 

[BaseballDog]

Kyler in the hit column... Need that going forward