JimBob
02-18-2008, 08:24 AM
OSU baseball: Season preview
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
2/17/2008
Stadium: Allie P. Reynolds Stadium (4,000)
Tickets: (405) 744-5745, (877) ALL-4-OSU or www.okstate.com
2007 record: 42-21 overall, 16-11 Big 12 (third)
Postseason finish: Louisville Super Regional (1-2)
Head coach: Frank Anderson (fifth season, 155-90)
Coaching staff: Greg Evans (defense/recruiting), Billy Jones (hitting/outfield), Trevor Brown (volunteer)
Preseason rankings: 31st Collegiate Baseball
Key losses: RF Corey Brown hit 48 career HRs and was a 2007 All-American. 2B Tyler Mach had 162 career RBIs and last year had 100 hits and was also All-American. OFs Keanon Simon (.338 average in '07) and Ty Wright (.405) were both four-year starters. 3B Matt Mangini hit .332 last year. RHP Justin Friend had six wins, seven saves and a 2.11 ERA in '07. LHP Josh Fritsche posted a 3.47 ERA. RHP Oliver Odle made 16 starts in '06 and '07 and won 12 games.
Key returnees: 1B Rebel Ridling was second-team All-Big 12 last year. SS-RHP Jordy Mercer was also second-team All-Big 12 and played on Team USA over the summer. RHP Matt Gardner (11-3 career record) is back from a circulation ailment. RHP Jeff Breedlove (44 appearances in '06-07) and Joe Kent (third on the team in strikeouts last year but coming off surgery) are back. LHP Andrew Oliver (6-1 last year) and LHP Tyler Lyons (20 relief appearances) are proven. RHP Tyler Blandford made 11 appearances with 21 strikeouts in just 23 innings in '07.
Key newcomers: C Luis Flores, 2B Tyrone Hambly, 3B Matt Hague, OF Rafael Thomas, OF Michael Dabbs, OF Neil Medchill
Coach speak: "I think it's a good group. We'll have some growing pains and some struggles early, but I think it's a team that could be very good. I like the group. I like the competitive nature of them. We've got kids that have been successful at this level. The two transfer kids (Matt Hague and Luis Flores) are huge for us. If we have to go through this thing without them, it's a little tougher transition." -- Head coach Frank Anderson
Bottom line: In back-to-back seasons, OSU finished second and third in the Big 12. Last year ended on the cusp of a trip to Omaha. But that team had a ton of proven veteran position players -- and strong leaders. This year's club lacks that, but, with the bullpen dominating pitching in 2007, might make up for it with performance on the mound. Leaning on too many newcomers in the lineup could prove tricky, but the Cowboys have no other options.
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OSU 2008 SCHEDULE
Feb. 22: Gonzaga....4 p.m.
Feb. 23: Gonzaga (DH)....1 p.m.
Feb. 24: Gonzaga....1 p.m.
Feb. 28: at South Florida....6 p.m.
Feb. 29: Northwestern #....6 p.m.
March 1: Northwestern #....2 p.m.
March 2: at South Florida....11 a.m.
March 6: Loyola Marymount +....8 p.m.
March 7: San Diego +....4 p.m.
March 8: Santa Clara +....5 p.m.
March 9: San Diego State....noon
March 11: Missouri State....4 p.m.
March 14: at Baylor *....6:30 p.m.
March 15: at Baylor *....6:30 p.m.
March 16: at Baylor *....1 p.m.
March 18: Ark.-Pine Bluff (DH)....3 p.m.
March 19: Ark.-Pine Bluff (DH)....1 p.m.
March 21: Texas A&M *....6:30 p.m.
March 22: Texas A&M *....2 p.m.
March 23: Texas A&M *....1 p.m.
March 25: Arizona....6:30 p.m.
March 26: Arizona....6:30 p.m.
March 28: at Kansas State *....6:30 p.m.
March 29: at Kansas State *....2 p.m.
March 30: at Kansas State *....1 p.m.
April 4: at Missouri *....6:30 p.m.
April 5: at Missouri *....2 p.m.
April 6: at Missouri *....1 p.m.
April 8: Western Illinois....6:30 p.m.
April 9: Western Illinois....3 p.m.
April 11: Nebraska *....6:30 p.m.
April 12: Nebraska *....2 p.m.
April 13: Nebraska *....1 p.m.
April 15: at Texas-Arlington....4 p.m.
April 18: at Texas *....6:05 p.m.
April 19: at Texas *....2 p.m.
April 20: at Texas *....1 p.m.
April 23: Wichita State....6:30 p.m.
April 25: Kansas *....6:30 p.m.
April 26: Kansas *....2 p.m.
April 27: Kansas *....1 p.m.
May 2: Utah Valley....6:30 p.m.
May 3: Utah Valley (DH)....1 p.m.
May 4: Utah Valley....1 p.m.
May 7: at Rice....6:30 p.m.
May 9: Texas Tech *....6:30 p.m.
May 10: Texas Tech *....2 p.m.
May 11: Texas Tech *....1 p.m.
May 13: Western Illinois....6:30 p.m.
May 16: Oklahoma * $....7:30 p.m.
May 17: Oklahoma * %....7:35 p.m.
May 18: Oklahoma* %....4 p.m.
May 21-25: Big 12 Tournament %
May 30-June 2: NCAA Regionals
June 6-9: NCAA Super Regionals
June 13-23: NCAA College World Series
Key
# at South Florida
+ San Diego State Tournament
* Big 12 Conference game
$ Drillers Stadium
% Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
2/17/2008
Stadium: Allie P. Reynolds Stadium (4,000)
Tickets: (405) 744-5745, (877) ALL-4-OSU or www.okstate.com
2007 record: 42-21 overall, 16-11 Big 12 (third)
Postseason finish: Louisville Super Regional (1-2)
Head coach: Frank Anderson (fifth season, 155-90)
Coaching staff: Greg Evans (defense/recruiting), Billy Jones (hitting/outfield), Trevor Brown (volunteer)
Preseason rankings: 31st Collegiate Baseball
Key losses: RF Corey Brown hit 48 career HRs and was a 2007 All-American. 2B Tyler Mach had 162 career RBIs and last year had 100 hits and was also All-American. OFs Keanon Simon (.338 average in '07) and Ty Wright (.405) were both four-year starters. 3B Matt Mangini hit .332 last year. RHP Justin Friend had six wins, seven saves and a 2.11 ERA in '07. LHP Josh Fritsche posted a 3.47 ERA. RHP Oliver Odle made 16 starts in '06 and '07 and won 12 games.
Key returnees: 1B Rebel Ridling was second-team All-Big 12 last year. SS-RHP Jordy Mercer was also second-team All-Big 12 and played on Team USA over the summer. RHP Matt Gardner (11-3 career record) is back from a circulation ailment. RHP Jeff Breedlove (44 appearances in '06-07) and Joe Kent (third on the team in strikeouts last year but coming off surgery) are back. LHP Andrew Oliver (6-1 last year) and LHP Tyler Lyons (20 relief appearances) are proven. RHP Tyler Blandford made 11 appearances with 21 strikeouts in just 23 innings in '07.
Key newcomers: C Luis Flores, 2B Tyrone Hambly, 3B Matt Hague, OF Rafael Thomas, OF Michael Dabbs, OF Neil Medchill
Coach speak: "I think it's a good group. We'll have some growing pains and some struggles early, but I think it's a team that could be very good. I like the group. I like the competitive nature of them. We've got kids that have been successful at this level. The two transfer kids (Matt Hague and Luis Flores) are huge for us. If we have to go through this thing without them, it's a little tougher transition." -- Head coach Frank Anderson
Bottom line: In back-to-back seasons, OSU finished second and third in the Big 12. Last year ended on the cusp of a trip to Omaha. But that team had a ton of proven veteran position players -- and strong leaders. This year's club lacks that, but, with the bullpen dominating pitching in 2007, might make up for it with performance on the mound. Leaning on too many newcomers in the lineup could prove tricky, but the Cowboys have no other options.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSU 2008 SCHEDULE
Feb. 22: Gonzaga....4 p.m.
Feb. 23: Gonzaga (DH)....1 p.m.
Feb. 24: Gonzaga....1 p.m.
Feb. 28: at South Florida....6 p.m.
Feb. 29: Northwestern #....6 p.m.
March 1: Northwestern #....2 p.m.
March 2: at South Florida....11 a.m.
March 6: Loyola Marymount +....8 p.m.
March 7: San Diego +....4 p.m.
March 8: Santa Clara +....5 p.m.
March 9: San Diego State....noon
March 11: Missouri State....4 p.m.
March 14: at Baylor *....6:30 p.m.
March 15: at Baylor *....6:30 p.m.
March 16: at Baylor *....1 p.m.
March 18: Ark.-Pine Bluff (DH)....3 p.m.
March 19: Ark.-Pine Bluff (DH)....1 p.m.
March 21: Texas A&M *....6:30 p.m.
March 22: Texas A&M *....2 p.m.
March 23: Texas A&M *....1 p.m.
March 25: Arizona....6:30 p.m.
March 26: Arizona....6:30 p.m.
March 28: at Kansas State *....6:30 p.m.
March 29: at Kansas State *....2 p.m.
March 30: at Kansas State *....1 p.m.
April 4: at Missouri *....6:30 p.m.
April 5: at Missouri *....2 p.m.
April 6: at Missouri *....1 p.m.
April 8: Western Illinois....6:30 p.m.
April 9: Western Illinois....3 p.m.
April 11: Nebraska *....6:30 p.m.
April 12: Nebraska *....2 p.m.
April 13: Nebraska *....1 p.m.
April 15: at Texas-Arlington....4 p.m.
April 18: at Texas *....6:05 p.m.
April 19: at Texas *....2 p.m.
April 20: at Texas *....1 p.m.
April 23: Wichita State....6:30 p.m.
April 25: Kansas *....6:30 p.m.
April 26: Kansas *....2 p.m.
April 27: Kansas *....1 p.m.
May 2: Utah Valley....6:30 p.m.
May 3: Utah Valley (DH)....1 p.m.
May 4: Utah Valley....1 p.m.
May 7: at Rice....6:30 p.m.
May 9: Texas Tech *....6:30 p.m.
May 10: Texas Tech *....2 p.m.
May 11: Texas Tech *....1 p.m.
May 13: Western Illinois....6:30 p.m.
May 16: Oklahoma * $....7:30 p.m.
May 17: Oklahoma * %....7:35 p.m.
May 18: Oklahoma* %....4 p.m.
May 21-25: Big 12 Tournament %
May 30-June 2: NCAA Regionals
June 6-9: NCAA Super Regionals
June 13-23: NCAA College World Series
Key
# at South Florida
+ San Diego State Tournament
* Big 12 Conference game
$ Drillers Stadium
% Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City