USD (28-25) travels to UC Irvine on Tuesday for a game against the Anteaters that will wrap up not only the regular season but the 2009 season itself. It is an early ending for a program that has become accustomed to postseason appearances.
The Toreros were torpedoed by injuries to their top two pitchers — Sammy Solis and Kyle Blair — and four position players — center fielder Kevin Muno, third baseman Victor Solis, first baseman Jose Valerio and infielder Steven Chatwood — which explains, at least in part, how the team staggered down the stretch.
USD opened West Coast Conference play by winning its first six games. The Toreros went 5-10 the rest of the way, however, and won't be around to defend their back-to-back WCC championships. Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount will meet in two weeks to determine the conference's automatic entrant in the NCAA Tournament.
This is the first time in 10 seasons that USD has failed to reach the 30-win plateau and the first time in four years the Toreros will miss the postseason.
Showing posts with label USD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USD. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Assessing postseason prospects for SDSU, USD
Here's how things shape up for San Diego State and USD as they approach the final two weeks of the regular season:
THE AZTECS
They control their destiny in the Mountain West Conference, thanks to UNLV taking two of three games over the weekend against New Mexico. By that, I mean that SDSU could still finish among the top two teams in the MWC and earn a first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament.
Here's the top four teams in the standings:
TCU 10-4
New Mexico 12-8
BYU 11-8
SDSU 10-8
If SDSU closes out the season with sweeps over Air Force and Utah, then the Aztecs would finish percentage points ahead of both New Mexico and BYU, which had MWC games rained out earlier this season that can't be made up. That means neither the Lobos nor the Cougars could get to 16 wins. BYU finishes up conference play this week when it hosts UNLV. New Mexico closes out conference play next week at home against Air Force. TCU has two series remaining — hosting Utah this week before traveling next week to UNLV.
Obviously, the Aztecs are hoping to win the MWC Tournament and claim the automatic NCAA Tournament berth that comes with it. A strong finish down the stretch could enable the Aztecs to earn an at-large berth, however. It would be the first at-large awarded in the MWC's 10-year history.
By the way, SDSU is preparing to put in a bid to host an NCAA Regioanal or Super Regional. The Aztecs still need to play their way into such a scenario — UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State are the most likely West Coast sites — but bids are due by May 15 so the paperwork must be filed just in case the opportunity presents itself.
THE TOREROS
Loyola Marymount's three-game sweep of USD was devastating to the Toreros' chances of playing in the West Coast Conference Championship Series.
Here's the top three teams in the standings:
Gonzaga 12-6
Loyola Marymount 12-6
USD 10-8
The only way for USD to reach the championship series is by sweeping this weekend's home series against USF AND a three-game sweep by either LMU or Gonzaga when the teams meet next week in Spokane, Wash. Pretty unlikely scenario, although stranger things have happened. Injuries that have plagued USD throughout the season seem to have finally caught up with the Toreros, whose at-large chances also are all but gone.
THE AZTECS
They control their destiny in the Mountain West Conference, thanks to UNLV taking two of three games over the weekend against New Mexico. By that, I mean that SDSU could still finish among the top two teams in the MWC and earn a first-round bye in the upcoming conference tournament.
Here's the top four teams in the standings:
TCU 10-4
New Mexico 12-8
BYU 11-8
SDSU 10-8
If SDSU closes out the season with sweeps over Air Force and Utah, then the Aztecs would finish percentage points ahead of both New Mexico and BYU, which had MWC games rained out earlier this season that can't be made up. That means neither the Lobos nor the Cougars could get to 16 wins. BYU finishes up conference play this week when it hosts UNLV. New Mexico closes out conference play next week at home against Air Force. TCU has two series remaining — hosting Utah this week before traveling next week to UNLV.
Obviously, the Aztecs are hoping to win the MWC Tournament and claim the automatic NCAA Tournament berth that comes with it. A strong finish down the stretch could enable the Aztecs to earn an at-large berth, however. It would be the first at-large awarded in the MWC's 10-year history.
By the way, SDSU is preparing to put in a bid to host an NCAA Regioanal or Super Regional. The Aztecs still need to play their way into such a scenario — UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State are the most likely West Coast sites — but bids are due by May 15 so the paperwork must be filed just in case the opportunity presents itself.
THE TOREROS
Loyola Marymount's three-game sweep of USD was devastating to the Toreros' chances of playing in the West Coast Conference Championship Series.
Here's the top three teams in the standings:
Gonzaga 12-6
Loyola Marymount 12-6
USD 10-8
The only way for USD to reach the championship series is by sweeping this weekend's home series against USF AND a three-game sweep by either LMU or Gonzaga when the teams meet next week in Spokane, Wash. Pretty unlikely scenario, although stranger things have happened. Injuries that have plagued USD throughout the season seem to have finally caught up with the Toreros, whose at-large chances also are all but gone.
Friday, May 1, 2009
USD's Friday afternoon Blues
LOS ANGELES — The road beckoned the blog to the City of Angels this weekend for the West Coast Conference showdown between USD and Loyola Marymount.
The Lions drew first blood today with a 6-5 win over USD that tightened things up atop the WCC standings. USD (27-19, 10-6 WCC) and LMU (27-21, 10-6) are tied for second place. Gonzaga (29-13, 11-5) leads the conference by a game after tonight's 5-0 win over Saint Mary's. USD, LMU and Gonzaga — along with fourth-place USF — are battling for the top two spots in the WCC. The first- and second-place teams meet in the WCC Championship Series to determine the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Toreros have their backs to the wall now. They must win Saturday AND Sunday, otherwise LMU will move ahead of them in the standings as well as hold the tiebreaker advantage between the teams should it come into play. Gonzaga already has the tiebreaker over the Toreros after winning two of three games in their series last month. In the event of any ties in the standings, head-to-head competition will determine the host site and/or participants in the WCC Championship Series.
Eucalyptus trees, some as tall as 50 feet, ring the outfield wall at LMU's Page Stadium. But the most striking feature for those entering the ballpark is the Blue Monster — modeled after Fenway Park's Green Monster — that looms over left field. It is just 326 feet down the left-field line at the ballpark, but the 130-foot wide Blue Monster stands guard — rising 37 feet into the air. Set into the Monster is an old-school scoreboard that includes electronic features for ball, strikes, outs, hits and errors. But inning-by-inning scoring is updated manually, as are out of town scores for other WCC games.
With this backdrop, USD sent junior right-hander Matt Thomson (5-3, 5.30 ERA) to the mound against LMU senior right-hander Lee Roberts (6-0, 2.96 ERA).
Thomson (now 5-4) dug himself an early hole — fueled by two hits, two walks and two hit batters — allowing three runs in the first inning.
The Monster came into play several times during the game. There were three doubles — two by LMU — hit off it.
USD did well to avoid the wall altogether.
The Toreros' Sean Nicol lifted a ball over the Monster leading off the seventh inning for a home run that made it 6-4. USD's Austin Green may be a freshman, but he was astute enough to avoid the big wall as well. Green, batting in the ninth spot, homered just to the right of the Monster in the third inning for the Toreros' first run. He hit a ball in virtually the same spot in the eighth inning for another solo homer that made it 6-5.
That the Toreros came up a run short can be attributed to not getting the big hit when they needed it. USD outhit LMU 15-9, but the Toreros stranded 10 runners, including eight left in scoring position. The Lions stranded seven (three in the first), but they collected four of their six runs with two-out base hits. LMU also benefitted from two errors by USD third baseman Tony Strazzara, who allowed to balls hit to his backhand to go off his glove.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Injuries continue to plague Toreros
USD took the field for today's West Coast Conference game against Portland glad to be home but with its numbers continue to dwindle.
The Toreros (25-16, 8-3 WCC) have managed to stay competitive this season despite a string of injuries that have tested their depth on the mound and in the field.
The latest setback was to third baseman Steven Chatwood, who suffered a broken leg Tuesday night at Cal State Fullerton when he slid into a wall just beyond the Titans dugout after making a catch on a foul fly. Chatwood, who was at third because starter Victor Sanchez is out for the year with a shoulder injury, has seen his season come to an end.
Tony Strazzara started at third today against the Pilots. Strazzara has played third before, but he looked shaky in the third inning when a chopper down the line got under his glove and led to a run for the Pilots (20-18, 4-8).
Freshman Jon Hotta was in center field for Zach Walters, who was inexplicably missing from the starting lineup.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Thomson is USD's Friday starter now, by virtue of injuries to sophomores Sammy Solis (herniated disk) and Kyle Blair (biceps tendinities). Junior A.J. Griffin has made some Friday starts, but was pressed into service at Fullerton and likely will be used later in the series. Senior Matt Couch also is a candidate to start, but it remains to be seen how Couch (shoulder) responds from the inning he threw against the Titans.
The Toreros (25-16, 8-3 WCC) have managed to stay competitive this season despite a string of injuries that have tested their depth on the mound and in the field.
The latest setback was to third baseman Steven Chatwood, who suffered a broken leg Tuesday night at Cal State Fullerton when he slid into a wall just beyond the Titans dugout after making a catch on a foul fly. Chatwood, who was at third because starter Victor Sanchez is out for the year with a shoulder injury, has seen his season come to an end.
Tony Strazzara started at third today against the Pilots. Strazzara has played third before, but he looked shaky in the third inning when a chopper down the line got under his glove and led to a run for the Pilots (20-18, 4-8).
Freshman Jon Hotta was in center field for Zach Walters, who was inexplicably missing from the starting lineup.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Thomson is USD's Friday starter now, by virtue of injuries to sophomores Sammy Solis (herniated disk) and Kyle Blair (biceps tendinities). Junior A.J. Griffin has made some Friday starts, but was pressed into service at Fullerton and likely will be used later in the series. Senior Matt Couch also is a candidate to start, but it remains to be seen how Couch (shoulder) responds from the inning he threw against the Titans.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
USD's call to arms
Pitching injuries have hit USD especially hard, costing the Toreros their entire weekend rotation at various points this season.
USD opened the year with senior Matt Couch still mending from last year's Tommy John surgery. Sophomore Sammy Solis was lost three weeks into the season with a herniated disk. And sophomore Kyle Blair has been sidelined in recent weeks with biceps tendinitis.
Couch, who had a cortisone shot recently to ease shoulder pain, is expected to be back for this weekend's West Coast Conference series against Portland. Solis is out for the season. Blair is expected to rest for another week with the hope that things will have calmed down enough to return to the mound the first week of may at Loyola Marymount.
Junior right-handers A.J. Griffin (6-2, 3 SV, 3.10 ERA, 54 SO in 49.1 IP), an All-American as the Toreros' closer the past two years, and Matt Thomson (5-2, 4.91 ERA, 68 SO in 62.1 IP) have stepped into the breach, along with relievers Scott DeNault, Tyler Fick and Matt Hauser.
"Credit goes to A.J. and Thomson, who have really been willing to tax their arms," said USD coach Rich Hill.
Griffin, who today was selected USD's male Athlete of the Year, is nothing short of amazing. He emerged as the school's closer as a freshman two years ago and earned All-American recognition after going 6-2 with 11 saves in 34 appearances. He made 29 appearances last season, set a school record with 14 saves and earned a spot on the U.S. National team.
Hill toyed with the idea of using Griffin starting and relieving this season, but kept him in the 'pen until the injuries mounted and forced his hand. Griffin's pitch eight shutout innings in his first collegiate start, an 8-0 win at Rice that marked the turnaround for a team struggling to get over .500.
So, in fact, the injuries haven't all been a bad thing.
"A lot of creativity has been borne out of it," said Hill.
Sophomore Zach Walters has been a hitter in search of a position the past two years at USD. He bounced around the infield for more than a year before finding a home in center field after starter Kevin Muno suffered a broken hand at Rice earlier in the year. Walters has been so good that Muno may have to move to left field now when he's healthy next month.
USD may uncover some hidden pitching talent, too.
Toreros coaches recently asked position players to raise their hands if they were interested in taking the mound to show off their arms. Several players volunteered. A couple showed some promoise. Freshmen outfielders Bryan Haar and Austin Green may even get a chance to pitch in tonight's game at Cal State Fullerton. Hill was especially impressed with Green, who hit 90 mph with his fastball and showed a good curve.
I knew Green had a strong arm (he put it on display from right field two years ago at the San Diego Showcase, a local high school event hosted that year by USD), so it will be interesting to see what he can do on the mound.
USD (25-15) has battled through the injuries and still has an opportunity to make this a memorable season. Despite losing series at Gonzaga and Saint Mary's the past two weekends, the Toreros are tied with LMU atop the WCC standings at 8-4. The top two teams in the regular season play for the conference's automatic NCAA Regionals berth. USD, with an RPI that is still in the 20s, also could be in line for an at-large berth.
USD opened the year with senior Matt Couch still mending from last year's Tommy John surgery. Sophomore Sammy Solis was lost three weeks into the season with a herniated disk. And sophomore Kyle Blair has been sidelined in recent weeks with biceps tendinitis.
Couch, who had a cortisone shot recently to ease shoulder pain, is expected to be back for this weekend's West Coast Conference series against Portland. Solis is out for the season. Blair is expected to rest for another week with the hope that things will have calmed down enough to return to the mound the first week of may at Loyola Marymount.
Junior right-handers A.J. Griffin (6-2, 3 SV, 3.10 ERA, 54 SO in 49.1 IP), an All-American as the Toreros' closer the past two years, and Matt Thomson (5-2, 4.91 ERA, 68 SO in 62.1 IP) have stepped into the breach, along with relievers Scott DeNault, Tyler Fick and Matt Hauser."Credit goes to A.J. and Thomson, who have really been willing to tax their arms," said USD coach Rich Hill.
Griffin, who today was selected USD's male Athlete of the Year, is nothing short of amazing. He emerged as the school's closer as a freshman two years ago and earned All-American recognition after going 6-2 with 11 saves in 34 appearances. He made 29 appearances last season, set a school record with 14 saves and earned a spot on the U.S. National team.
Hill toyed with the idea of using Griffin starting and relieving this season, but kept him in the 'pen until the injuries mounted and forced his hand. Griffin's pitch eight shutout innings in his first collegiate start, an 8-0 win at Rice that marked the turnaround for a team struggling to get over .500.
So, in fact, the injuries haven't all been a bad thing.
"A lot of creativity has been borne out of it," said Hill.
Sophomore Zach Walters has been a hitter in search of a position the past two years at USD. He bounced around the infield for more than a year before finding a home in center field after starter Kevin Muno suffered a broken hand at Rice earlier in the year. Walters has been so good that Muno may have to move to left field now when he's healthy next month.
USD may uncover some hidden pitching talent, too.
Toreros coaches recently asked position players to raise their hands if they were interested in taking the mound to show off their arms. Several players volunteered. A couple showed some promoise. Freshmen outfielders Bryan Haar and Austin Green may even get a chance to pitch in tonight's game at Cal State Fullerton. Hill was especially impressed with Green, who hit 90 mph with his fastball and showed a good curve.
I knew Green had a strong arm (he put it on display from right field two years ago at the San Diego Showcase, a local high school event hosted that year by USD), so it will be interesting to see what he can do on the mound.
USD (25-15) has battled through the injuries and still has an opportunity to make this a memorable season. Despite losing series at Gonzaga and Saint Mary's the past two weekends, the Toreros are tied with LMU atop the WCC standings at 8-4. The top two teams in the regular season play for the conference's automatic NCAA Regionals berth. USD, with an RPI that is still in the 20s, also could be in line for an at-large berth.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Aztecs rise to No. 15 in the nation
San Diego State moved up three spots today to No. 15 in the nation in Baseball America's newest Top 25 rankings.
The uptick came on the strength of last week's 3-1 record, which included a midweek win at Long Beach State and a Mountain West Conference series win at UNLV, where the Aztecs (25-12) won two of three games.
MWC rival TCU is right behind SDSU at No. 16 in the rankings.
USD (23-13), which was ranked No. 25 last week, fell out of the rankings after losing two or three games in the Toreros' West Coast Conference series at Gonzaga over the weekend. The Bulldogs jumped into the rankings for the first time in school history, debuting at No. 22.
LSU took over the top spot in the rankings after winning two of three games at SEC rival Alabama. The Tigers replace Arizona State, which fell to No. 4 after losing a midweek series to Arkansas.
The top 25 rankings include seven West Coast teams — No. 3 UC Irvine, No. 4 ASU, No. 6 Cal State Fullerton, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 15 SDSU, No. 18 Cal Poly, No. 22 Gonzaga — and TCU.
The uptick came on the strength of last week's 3-1 record, which included a midweek win at Long Beach State and a Mountain West Conference series win at UNLV, where the Aztecs (25-12) won two of three games.
MWC rival TCU is right behind SDSU at No. 16 in the rankings.
USD (23-13), which was ranked No. 25 last week, fell out of the rankings after losing two or three games in the Toreros' West Coast Conference series at Gonzaga over the weekend. The Bulldogs jumped into the rankings for the first time in school history, debuting at No. 22.
LSU took over the top spot in the rankings after winning two of three games at SEC rival Alabama. The Tigers replace Arizona State, which fell to No. 4 after losing a midweek series to Arkansas.
The top 25 rankings include seven West Coast teams — No. 3 UC Irvine, No. 4 ASU, No. 6 Cal State Fullerton, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 15 SDSU, No. 18 Cal Poly, No. 22 Gonzaga — and TCU.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Aztecs, Toreros in good standing
The Aztecs took two of three at UNLV and are tied with New Mexico, with a showdown looming this weekend in Albuquerque. USD lost two of three over the weekend at Gonzaga, which could come back to bite the Toreros if the teams tie for the regular season championship. The series winner hosts the WCC Championship Series.
Both teams can secure automatic berths by winning their conference's postseason events. Plan B would be an at-large berth, which also seems within the realm of possibility (although it would be the first ever for a MWC team). Strong RPIs, overall record and record in their last 10 games are among the keys to at-large selection.
SDSU's RPI was as high as ninth earlier in the season after winning two of three at TCU — according to RPIs modeled by boydsworld.com. The Aztecs' RPI sits at 27 now and will drop some — call it the curse of the MWC — with series remaining against New Mexico (65), Utah (123) and Air Force (266). Only TCU (7) is ahead of SDSU in RPI among conference foes.
USD's RPI is at 25, with conference series remaining against Loyola Marymount (67), USF (103), Saint Mary's (115) and Portland (184).
Best-case scenario: Both teams reach the postseason and SDSU hosts a first-round NCAA Regional. The Aztecs are expected to make a host bid. They would have to play themselves into position to be at least a No. 2 seed to host one of 16 four-team regionals. The West is expected to get three and perhaps four regional sites. Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, Stanford and Oregon State are other West Coast schools that could be in position to bid and host. SDSU was the site for a regional in 2007 that was hosted by USD.
Perhaps we're getting ahead of ourselves here, though. There's still a lot of baseball to be played before the postseason arrives.
TEAM CONF OVERALL
San Diego State . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4 25-12
New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4 28-8
TCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 22-10
BYU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5 20-13
UNLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7 16-18
Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 13-18
Air Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 11-22
SDSU's remaining MWC games
April 17-19 at New Mexico
April 24-26 vs. TCU
May 8-10 vs. Air Force
May 14-16 at Utah
MWC Tournament
Double-elimination format May 19-23 at TCU
note: top two regular-season finishers receive first-round byes
(winner receives automatic berth to NCAA Tournament)
West Coast Conference standings
TEAM CONF OVERALL
USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 23-13
Loyola Marymount . . . . . . . . . . 7-2 22-15
Gonzaga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 23-10
Pepperdine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 20-13
USF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 16-20
Saint Mary's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 19-17
Santa Clara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 13-17
Portland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 17-16
USD's remaining WCC games
April 17-19 at Saint Mary's
April 24-26 vs. Portland
May 1-3 at Loyola Marymount
May 8-9 vs. USF
WCC Championship Series (best-of-three)
Second-place team at first-place team May 22-24
(winner receives automatic berth to NCAA Tournament)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Couch makes return in USD loss at Riverside
USD's Matt Couch returned to the mound for the first time in more than a year in tonight's game at UC Riverside, although it was a less than storybook finish in the senior right-hander's return from Tommy John surgery. Couch was in line for a victory before the Highlanders rallied for an 8-7 win.Couch, who blew out his arm during a start at Hawaii-Hilo on March 15, 2008, had last weekend's West Coast Conference-opening series against Pepperdine circled on his calendar months ago. He worked tirelessly over the summer, all fall and into the spring to be ready to return. He was available over the weekend, even warming up Sunday as the Toreros completed a three-game sweep of Pepperdine, but didn't get into a game.
USD coach Rich Hill handed the ball to Couch for tonight's game. He allowed two doubles among the first three hitters he faced and allowed two runs to the Highlanders in the inning. Couch settled down thereafter, retiring the side in order in both the second and third innings. Couch was on a strict pitch count and Chris Jensen replaced him in the fourth. Couch was designated for a limited outing, so he was in line for the victory after USD took a 6-2 lead in the third. The opportunity to win in his return escaped Couch when UC Riverside rallied for six runs after he departed. For the game, Couch allowed three hits and one earned run over three innings. A control specialist, Couch did not have a strikeout or walk a batter.
Still, it was encouraging seeing Couch back on the mound and had to be comforting to the USD faithful, especially with sophomore left-hander Sammy Solis (herniated disk) sidelined for the season. Couch ranks among the national leaders with 23 career victories. He could pitch his way into a weekend starting spot or serve in a late-inning role if the Toreros keep closer A.J. Griffin in the starting rotation.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
USD where it wants to be after Pepperdine sweep
It never ceases to amaze me how seasoned baseball observers will come to a conclusion based only on a small sampling of the season.
How do you decide that what happens in a week — or worse, a weekend — is the way it's going to be in a 56-game season? Especially when those observations are made at the start of the year when everything is still shaking out.
But that was the sense I got hanging around USD's Cunningham Stadium in the season's first three weeks of the season. Was it that USD had lost four of five games to crosstown rival SDSU or that the Toreros were struggling to get above .500? How soon they forget. USD was 7-7 last season when the Toreros went on a 10-game winning streak. USD won a school-record 44 games by the time it was over. The Toreros came within a game of advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals, their season ended by a Fresno State team that went on to win the national championship.
USD was 8-9 this year after losing the first two games of a series at Rice. Winning the last game of the three-game series against the Owls got USD back to .500, but it didn't prevent the Toreros from tumbling out of the top 25. That victory did start a stretch of 11 wins in 12 games that has USD at 19-10 and knocking on the door of the top 25 again. We'll see Monday if Baseball America answers.
By the way, that 19-10 record? It's exactly where the Toreros were this time last year. With one big difference. They opened West Coast Conference play in 2008 by losing two out of three games to Santa Clara. USD opened WCC action this weekend with a three-game sweep. Either USD or Pepperdine has won every WCC championship since 2000 and they are the favorites for the 2009 title as well. The sweep ensures that the Toreros will host the WCC Championship Series (a best-of-three affair) should the teams meet to determine who receives the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
A few highlights in the sweep of the Waves:
— Two homers by right fielder James Meador in Friday's 8-6 win.
— Freshman Bryan Haar's first two collegiate homers, one on Friday and another in Saturday's 4-0 win.
— Matt Thomson's two-hit, complete-game shutout in Saturday's victory. Campbell had a career-high 10 strikeouts.
— A.J. Griffin closing out the victory over the last 2 2/3 innings in Friday's opener and pitching the first five innings on the way to a 9-4 win in today's finale.
— USD is now 10-1 against Pepperdine since 2007.
How do you decide that what happens in a week — or worse, a weekend — is the way it's going to be in a 56-game season? Especially when those observations are made at the start of the year when everything is still shaking out.
But that was the sense I got hanging around USD's Cunningham Stadium in the season's first three weeks of the season. Was it that USD had lost four of five games to crosstown rival SDSU or that the Toreros were struggling to get above .500? How soon they forget. USD was 7-7 last season when the Toreros went on a 10-game winning streak. USD won a school-record 44 games by the time it was over. The Toreros came within a game of advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals, their season ended by a Fresno State team that went on to win the national championship.
USD was 8-9 this year after losing the first two games of a series at Rice. Winning the last game of the three-game series against the Owls got USD back to .500, but it didn't prevent the Toreros from tumbling out of the top 25. That victory did start a stretch of 11 wins in 12 games that has USD at 19-10 and knocking on the door of the top 25 again. We'll see Monday if Baseball America answers.
By the way, that 19-10 record? It's exactly where the Toreros were this time last year. With one big difference. They opened West Coast Conference play in 2008 by losing two out of three games to Santa Clara. USD opened WCC action this weekend with a three-game sweep. Either USD or Pepperdine has won every WCC championship since 2000 and they are the favorites for the 2009 title as well. The sweep ensures that the Toreros will host the WCC Championship Series (a best-of-three affair) should the teams meet to determine who receives the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
A few highlights in the sweep of the Waves:
— Two homers by right fielder James Meador in Friday's 8-6 win.
— Freshman Bryan Haar's first two collegiate homers, one on Friday and another in Saturday's 4-0 win.
— Matt Thomson's two-hit, complete-game shutout in Saturday's victory. Campbell had a career-high 10 strikeouts.
— A.J. Griffin closing out the victory over the last 2 2/3 innings in Friday's opener and pitching the first five innings on the way to a 9-4 win in today's finale.
— USD is now 10-1 against Pepperdine since 2007.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
USD battles injuries as well as opposition
The injury bug has bitten USD so badly in recent weeks that it even extended to a Toreros batboy, who went down in the first game of today's doubleheader against Brown.
With USD batting in the bottom of the seventh, the Toreros' Chris Engell laid a perfect bunt down the third-base line for a two-out single. All eyes were focused on Engell beating out the bunt and teammate Tony Strazzara coming home from third base before everyone noticed a batboy down just beyond the USD on-deck circle. The kid was running out to retrieve Engell's bat when he was inadvertently hit in the chest as USD's James Meador took a practice swinging in the on-deck circle.
The boy's mother and father came down from the stands and joined a Toreros trainer and Meador, who came to his aid.
The batboy apparently just had the wind knocked out of him. He was back on his feet after a minute or two, got a high five and a fist pump from a couple Toreros players and a big hand from the crowd.
If only USD's other injuries could be overcome so quickly. Such is not the case. The list of the more prominent players who are missing in action:
— Starting pitcher Sammy Solis, who is out for the season with a herniated disk in his back. Solis looked strong in a season-opening victory over Southern at the MLB Urban Youth Academy. It was shoulder tendinitis that made Solis miss his second start. Then the back flaired up. He didn't look the same in a loss to San Diego State. Solis should heal with rest rather than surgery, according to USD coach Rich Hill.v"He will be fine next year," said Hill. "It was something that started coming on in the fall. He didn't participate in any fall drills at all. The thing got better. He was good. Seeing a chiropractor and was 100 percent healthy."
— Leaoff hitter and center fielder Kevin Muno, who is out for 6-8 weeks after breaking the third and fourth metacarpals in his left hand after being hit by a pitch last week at Rice. "We're hoping he's there for the WCC Championship Series and NCAA Regionals," said Hill.
— Catchers Nick McCoy and Steven Chatwood, who are battling knee and groin injuries, respectively. McCoy was due for an MRI to learn the extend of his injury. Preliminary diagnosis was meniscus damage, which means he could be back. Chatwood appears day-to-day depending on how he respondes to treatment.
This is all on top of early-season injuries to first baseman Jose Valerio (thumb), outfielder Bryan Haar (hamstring) and closer A.J. Griffin (shoulder). Valerio has been used as a defensive replacement but isn't swinging a bat. Haar has been eased into the lineup. Hill said Griffin, who had a cortisone shot a few weeks ago, is good, and who can argue after Griffin tossed eight innings of shutout relief last week in a win at Rice.
With injuries to some comes opportunity for others.
Freshman outfielder Jon Hotta (Oceanside High) and junior catcher Brian Farris have made the most of their chances in the starting lineup. It means the Toreros will have more depth, be more tested, when the games that make or a break a season arrive. Hotta is batting .286 (4-for-14) and could give the Toreros a big boost on the base paths. He stole 24 bases last season for the Pirates. Farris was pretty much a spectator before the injuries to McCoy and Chatwood. Now he's started five games and he was hitting .304 (7-for-23) coming into the second game of today's doubleheader against Brown.
The loss of Solis, one of the Toreros' top two starters, can be overcome on a pitching staff that is among the deepest in the nation. Especially with the impending return of senior Matt Couch, who is expected back from Tommy John surgery next week. That's just in time for USD's West Coast Conference-opening series against Pepperdine.
Kyle Blair, Matt Thomson and Griffin are expected to form the Toreros' weekend rotation. Darrin Campbell and Couch will be the first relievers called upon.
"Thomson, A.J. and Blair are obviously our go-to guys," said Hill. "We could go with A.J. for an inning on Friday, start Thomson on Saturday and A.J. on Sunday. Or we could close Thomson, He's a could candidate for the one inning deal, and start him on Sunday.
"We haven't really figured out what we're going to do, but it's going to be something like that. It's going to be seventh game of the World Series. Every game's an elimination game.
"The real key to this thing is going to be Couch. We'll throw him right into the fire. . . . Probably to close."
The schedule is accommodating USD to some degree.
The Toreros fell out of Baseball America's Top 25 after two losses in three games at Rice that dropped their record to 8-9. But Columbia came to town at the beginning of the week with only one win on the season. Three games later, the Columbians departed, still with just one win. Brown is here now. The Bears also came to town with just one win. They took USD to 10 innings today before losing 4-3. The Toreros are now 13-9 with three games left against Brown and a game Tuesday against Long Beach State before Pepperdine comes in to open WCC play.
With USD batting in the bottom of the seventh, the Toreros' Chris Engell laid a perfect bunt down the third-base line for a two-out single. All eyes were focused on Engell beating out the bunt and teammate Tony Strazzara coming home from third base before everyone noticed a batboy down just beyond the USD on-deck circle. The kid was running out to retrieve Engell's bat when he was inadvertently hit in the chest as USD's James Meador took a practice swinging in the on-deck circle.
The boy's mother and father came down from the stands and joined a Toreros trainer and Meador, who came to his aid.
The batboy apparently just had the wind knocked out of him. He was back on his feet after a minute or two, got a high five and a fist pump from a couple Toreros players and a big hand from the crowd.
If only USD's other injuries could be overcome so quickly. Such is not the case. The list of the more prominent players who are missing in action:
— Starting pitcher Sammy Solis, who is out for the season with a herniated disk in his back. Solis looked strong in a season-opening victory over Southern at the MLB Urban Youth Academy. It was shoulder tendinitis that made Solis miss his second start. Then the back flaired up. He didn't look the same in a loss to San Diego State. Solis should heal with rest rather than surgery, according to USD coach Rich Hill.v"He will be fine next year," said Hill. "It was something that started coming on in the fall. He didn't participate in any fall drills at all. The thing got better. He was good. Seeing a chiropractor and was 100 percent healthy."
— Leaoff hitter and center fielder Kevin Muno, who is out for 6-8 weeks after breaking the third and fourth metacarpals in his left hand after being hit by a pitch last week at Rice. "We're hoping he's there for the WCC Championship Series and NCAA Regionals," said Hill.
— Catchers Nick McCoy and Steven Chatwood, who are battling knee and groin injuries, respectively. McCoy was due for an MRI to learn the extend of his injury. Preliminary diagnosis was meniscus damage, which means he could be back. Chatwood appears day-to-day depending on how he respondes to treatment.
This is all on top of early-season injuries to first baseman Jose Valerio (thumb), outfielder Bryan Haar (hamstring) and closer A.J. Griffin (shoulder). Valerio has been used as a defensive replacement but isn't swinging a bat. Haar has been eased into the lineup. Hill said Griffin, who had a cortisone shot a few weeks ago, is good, and who can argue after Griffin tossed eight innings of shutout relief last week in a win at Rice.
With injuries to some comes opportunity for others.
Freshman outfielder Jon Hotta (Oceanside High) and junior catcher Brian Farris have made the most of their chances in the starting lineup. It means the Toreros will have more depth, be more tested, when the games that make or a break a season arrive. Hotta is batting .286 (4-for-14) and could give the Toreros a big boost on the base paths. He stole 24 bases last season for the Pirates. Farris was pretty much a spectator before the injuries to McCoy and Chatwood. Now he's started five games and he was hitting .304 (7-for-23) coming into the second game of today's doubleheader against Brown.
The loss of Solis, one of the Toreros' top two starters, can be overcome on a pitching staff that is among the deepest in the nation. Especially with the impending return of senior Matt Couch, who is expected back from Tommy John surgery next week. That's just in time for USD's West Coast Conference-opening series against Pepperdine.
Kyle Blair, Matt Thomson and Griffin are expected to form the Toreros' weekend rotation. Darrin Campbell and Couch will be the first relievers called upon.
"Thomson, A.J. and Blair are obviously our go-to guys," said Hill. "We could go with A.J. for an inning on Friday, start Thomson on Saturday and A.J. on Sunday. Or we could close Thomson, He's a could candidate for the one inning deal, and start him on Sunday.
"We haven't really figured out what we're going to do, but it's going to be something like that. It's going to be seventh game of the World Series. Every game's an elimination game.
"The real key to this thing is going to be Couch. We'll throw him right into the fire. . . . Probably to close."
The schedule is accommodating USD to some degree.
The Toreros fell out of Baseball America's Top 25 after two losses in three games at Rice that dropped their record to 8-9. But Columbia came to town at the beginning of the week with only one win on the season. Three games later, the Columbians departed, still with just one win. Brown is here now. The Bears also came to town with just one win. They took USD to 10 innings today before losing 4-3. The Toreros are now 13-9 with three games left against Brown and a game Tuesday against Long Beach State before Pepperdine comes in to open WCC play.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
SDSU beats Kansas; USD takes Columbia
Freshman right-hander Ryan O'Sullivan picked up his first collegiate victory tonight in San Diego State's 1-0 win over Kansas at Tony Gwynn Stadium. O'Sullivan limited the Jayhawks to three hits over seven innings and struck out three.
SDSU closer Addison Reed finished off Kansas in the ninth inning, but not before the Jayhawks made things tense. Kansas placed the tying run at second base with one out following a leadoff single and sacrifice bunt. Reed got a strikeout for the second out, but a hit batter and an error loaded the bases. A popup to first base ended the threat and the game.
Reed now has seven saves for the Aztecs, who have improved to 12-6 with a five-game winning streak.
USD 6, COLUMBIA 2
Junior right-hander Matt Thomson allowed one earned run in seven innings in USD's 6-2 win at Cunningham Stadium, the third straight victory for the Toreros after losing six of seven. Thomson struck out six and walked just to to improve to 3-0 for the Toreros, who are now 11-9 on the season.
Shortstop Sean Nicol and second baseman Chris Nicol collected three hits apiece for USD. Bryan Haar and Zach Walters each had two RBI.
SDSU closer Addison Reed finished off Kansas in the ninth inning, but not before the Jayhawks made things tense. Kansas placed the tying run at second base with one out following a leadoff single and sacrifice bunt. Reed got a strikeout for the second out, but a hit batter and an error loaded the bases. A popup to first base ended the threat and the game.
Reed now has seven saves for the Aztecs, who have improved to 12-6 with a five-game winning streak.
USD 6, COLUMBIA 2
Junior right-hander Matt Thomson allowed one earned run in seven innings in USD's 6-2 win at Cunningham Stadium, the third straight victory for the Toreros after losing six of seven. Thomson struck out six and walked just to to improve to 3-0 for the Toreros, who are now 11-9 on the season.
Shortstop Sean Nicol and second baseman Chris Nicol collected three hits apiece for USD. Bryan Haar and Zach Walters each had two RBI.
Friday, March 6, 2009
SDSU beats USD 6-4 on Vaughn's walkoff HR in 10th
RECAP
SDSU's Cory Vaughn hits a 1-2 curveball from USD closer A.J. Griffin for a three-run, walkoff homer in the 10th inning at Tony Gwynn Stadium that gives the Aztecs a 6-4 victory. It is the third straight victory over the Toreros (7-5) for SDSU (6-5), giving the Aztecs the season series between the teams.
PREGAME
The four-game series between No. 11-ranked USD (7-4) and San Diego State (5-5) continues today with the series moving to Tony Gwynn Stadium.
USD's Kyle Blair (1-0, 4.05 ERA, 17 SO, 8 BB in 13.1 IP) takes the mound against SDSU's Jon Berger (0-2, 4.61 ERA, 9 SO, 0 BB in 13.2 IP)
The Aztecs have won two games against USD this season, beating them 3-0 two weeks ago behind a two-hitter by Tyler Lavigne and 5-3 yesterday in a game highlighted by Stephen Strasburg's 18-strikeout performance.
SDSU has won 5 of the past 6 meetings between the teams, including taking 3 of 4 last season. USD had dominated the season before that, winning 9 of 11 games.
Berger defeated USD last year in his first start as an Aztec, pitching seven shutout innings in which he allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out three. It was quite a contrast to the rest of the season for Berger, who finished with a 2-7 record and an 8.54 ERA.
A late-arriving crowd will swell to 1,089 by mid-game.
HERE WE GO
2ND INNING — The Aztecs take a 1-0 lead in the second inning when freshman Jomel Torres (Eastlke High) singles in teammate Cory Vaughn from second base. Vaughn opened the inning with a walk and got into scoring position at second base on an infield out.
3RD INNING — Berger checks the Toreros without a hit through the first three innings. A two-out walk to James Meador in the first inning is the Toreros' only base runner to this point. The Aztecs make it 2-0 in the bottom of the inning when Vaughn lines a Blair fastball to center field to score teammate Pat Colwell from second base.
4TH INNING — USD comes to life. Steven Chatwood opens the inning with a walk, then Meador gets the Toreros' first hit with a single to center that just eludes SDSU shortstop Ryan O'Sullivan. A balk moves the runners to second and third. Sean Nicol had been showing bunt at the plate, but now he is allowed to swing away and lines a double to left field that makes it 2-2. Nicol advanced to third on an infield out and then scored when O'Sullivan dropped a a fly ball in short left-center that would have ended the inning. Left fielder Brandon Decker should have called O'Sullivan off and made the play. Instead, the ball falls and USD leads 3-2.
7TH INNING — A potential inning-ending double play goes awry for USD, allowing the Aztecs to score the tying run to make it 3-3. Decker hit a sharp grounder to second that led to a force of Colwell, but Nicol's throw to first got by Zach Walters and allowed Zach Baitt to come home with the tying run. USD closer A.J. Griffin is on the mound now for the Toreros, having replaced Blair with one out in the inning. It's Griffin's first appearance in more than a week after sitting out with mild shoulder tendinitis.
8TH/9TH INNINGS — SDSU's Keegan Sharp and Griffin keep both sides scoreless to send the game into extra innings.
10TH INNING — Meador leads off the inning with a walk, moves to second base on a wild pitch that gets away from catcher Chris Wilson and comes home on Nicol's single to right-center to give the Toreros a 4-3 lead. Nicol stole second and third, but was then caught in a run-down on a squeeze play that went awry with Chris Engell at the plate. Engell singled to center a few moments later.
Griffin comes out for his fourth inning of work and walks leadoff hitter Brandon Decker on four stright pitches. USD coach Rich Hill comes out to talk to Griffin and his infielders before Mitch Blackburn steps to the plate. Griffin then walks Blackburn on four straight pitches. Griffin recovers to strike out O'Sullivan looking for the first out. Up steps Cory Vaughn, who quicky finds himself in an 0-2 hole. Griffin misses just outside with his next pitch, then Vaughn jumps on an offspeed pitch and launches it over the fence in left-center for a game-winning three-run homer. It is the only hit allowed by Griffin in three-plus innings on the mound.
The 6-4 win is the third straight victory for SDSU (6-5) over the Toreros (7-5) this season.
The teams meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at USD's Cunningham Stadium.
SDSU's Cory Vaughn hits a 1-2 curveball from USD closer A.J. Griffin for a three-run, walkoff homer in the 10th inning at Tony Gwynn Stadium that gives the Aztecs a 6-4 victory. It is the third straight victory over the Toreros (7-5) for SDSU (6-5), giving the Aztecs the season series between the teams.
PREGAME
The four-game series between No. 11-ranked USD (7-4) and San Diego State (5-5) continues today with the series moving to Tony Gwynn Stadium.
USD's Kyle Blair (1-0, 4.05 ERA, 17 SO, 8 BB in 13.1 IP) takes the mound against SDSU's Jon Berger (0-2, 4.61 ERA, 9 SO, 0 BB in 13.2 IP)
The Aztecs have won two games against USD this season, beating them 3-0 two weeks ago behind a two-hitter by Tyler Lavigne and 5-3 yesterday in a game highlighted by Stephen Strasburg's 18-strikeout performance.
SDSU has won 5 of the past 6 meetings between the teams, including taking 3 of 4 last season. USD had dominated the season before that, winning 9 of 11 games.
Berger defeated USD last year in his first start as an Aztec, pitching seven shutout innings in which he allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out three. It was quite a contrast to the rest of the season for Berger, who finished with a 2-7 record and an 8.54 ERA.
A late-arriving crowd will swell to 1,089 by mid-game.
HERE WE GO
2ND INNING — The Aztecs take a 1-0 lead in the second inning when freshman Jomel Torres (Eastlke High) singles in teammate Cory Vaughn from second base. Vaughn opened the inning with a walk and got into scoring position at second base on an infield out.
3RD INNING — Berger checks the Toreros without a hit through the first three innings. A two-out walk to James Meador in the first inning is the Toreros' only base runner to this point. The Aztecs make it 2-0 in the bottom of the inning when Vaughn lines a Blair fastball to center field to score teammate Pat Colwell from second base.
4TH INNING — USD comes to life. Steven Chatwood opens the inning with a walk, then Meador gets the Toreros' first hit with a single to center that just eludes SDSU shortstop Ryan O'Sullivan. A balk moves the runners to second and third. Sean Nicol had been showing bunt at the plate, but now he is allowed to swing away and lines a double to left field that makes it 2-2. Nicol advanced to third on an infield out and then scored when O'Sullivan dropped a a fly ball in short left-center that would have ended the inning. Left fielder Brandon Decker should have called O'Sullivan off and made the play. Instead, the ball falls and USD leads 3-2.
7TH INNING — A potential inning-ending double play goes awry for USD, allowing the Aztecs to score the tying run to make it 3-3. Decker hit a sharp grounder to second that led to a force of Colwell, but Nicol's throw to first got by Zach Walters and allowed Zach Baitt to come home with the tying run. USD closer A.J. Griffin is on the mound now for the Toreros, having replaced Blair with one out in the inning. It's Griffin's first appearance in more than a week after sitting out with mild shoulder tendinitis.
8TH/9TH INNINGS — SDSU's Keegan Sharp and Griffin keep both sides scoreless to send the game into extra innings.
10TH INNING — Meador leads off the inning with a walk, moves to second base on a wild pitch that gets away from catcher Chris Wilson and comes home on Nicol's single to right-center to give the Toreros a 4-3 lead. Nicol stole second and third, but was then caught in a run-down on a squeeze play that went awry with Chris Engell at the plate. Engell singled to center a few moments later.
Griffin comes out for his fourth inning of work and walks leadoff hitter Brandon Decker on four stright pitches. USD coach Rich Hill comes out to talk to Griffin and his infielders before Mitch Blackburn steps to the plate. Griffin then walks Blackburn on four straight pitches. Griffin recovers to strike out O'Sullivan looking for the first out. Up steps Cory Vaughn, who quicky finds himself in an 0-2 hole. Griffin misses just outside with his next pitch, then Vaughn jumps on an offspeed pitch and launches it over the fence in left-center for a game-winning three-run homer. It is the only hit allowed by Griffin in three-plus innings on the mound.
The 6-4 win is the third straight victory for SDSU (6-5) over the Toreros (7-5) this season.
The teams meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at USD's Cunningham Stadium.
Matusz putting up O's in spring training
The Baltimore Orioles don't want to rush former USD ace Brian Matusz, the O's first-round pick last June, but Matusz seems like he's in a hurry to get to the major leagues.
Matusz pitched three scoreless innings yesterday in a spring game against the Marlins. The left-hander from Cave Creek, Ariz., has yet to allow a run in three spring appearances (including one against the Italian national team) this year.
The Orioles are trying to get Matusz to develop his fastball and changeup, as The Baltimore Sun mentioned in
THIS REPORT on Matusz this morning.
Here's a link to some PHOTOS of Matusz tracing his journey so far from USD to this spring in Florida. I would have thought the Orioles could get him a lower number than 86. Then again, maybe it's his favorite number. I'll have to ask.
By the way, No. 17, the number Matusz wore for three years at USD, is on the back of Orioles DH Aubrey Huff.
Matusz pitched three scoreless innings yesterday in a spring game against the Marlins. The left-hander from Cave Creek, Ariz., has yet to allow a run in three spring appearances (including one against the Italian national team) this year.The Orioles are trying to get Matusz to develop his fastball and changeup, as The Baltimore Sun mentioned in
THIS REPORT on Matusz this morning.
Here's a link to some PHOTOS of Matusz tracing his journey so far from USD to this spring in Florida. I would have thought the Orioles could get him a lower number than 86. Then again, maybe it's his favorite number. I'll have to ask.
By the way, No. 17, the number Matusz wore for three years at USD, is on the back of Orioles DH Aubrey Huff.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Strasburg turns in 18K performance in 5-3 SDSU win
RECAP
San Diego State All-American Stephen Strasburg strikes out 18, allows five hits and two runs over 8 innings in the Aztecs' 5-3 win over No. 11-ranked USD. It is the most strikeouts ever at the Toreros' Cunningham Stadium, eclipsing the mark of 16 strikeouts posted last season by USD ace Brian Matusz.
PREGAME
San Diego State and USD open a four-game series today with a 2 p.m. start at the Toreros' Cunningham Stadium.
Junior right-hander Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.46 ERA, 27 SO in 12.1 IP) will be on the mound for the Aztecs. USD sends right-hander Scott DeNault (2-0, 1.86 ERA, 6 SO in 9.2 IP) to the mound for his first career start.
Strasburg's coming out party was in the 2008 season opener against USD when he outdueled Toreros ace Brian Matusz in his first collegiate start. Strasburg went eight innings, allowing two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts in an 11-2 Aztecs win. That game was at SDSU's Tony Gwynn Stadium. This is Strasburg's first start at USD.
Strasburg struck out 16 in his last start, a 5-2 home victory last week against Nevada. Strasburg was clocked at 102 mph on one radar gun, and I'll try to peek over the shoulders of a few scouts this afternoon to see how fast he's bringing it.
DeNault has finished his warmup pitches and we're underway.
FIRST INNING
DeNault gets out of the first without allowing a run, stranding SDSU's Brandon Decker at third base. Decker tripled with one out when USD center fielder Kevin Muno allowed a sun ball to get over his head.
The crowd, swelling to near capacity as Strasburg approaches the mound, gets louder in anticipation of the All-American's first pitch. Strasburg makes quick work of leadoff hitter Muno for his first strikeout. Steven Chatwood gets a quick strike, prompting one fan to yell out, "Show bunt. It's your only chance." Two pitches later Chatwood walks back to the dugout as Strasburg's second strikeout vicim. USD's James Meador then grounds a ball to first base and SDSU's Brandon Meredith takes it himself to end the inning.
More than two dozen scouts line the second and third rows in the stands, many of them with speed guns. Strasburg is clocked at 99 mph by most (one guy had him at 100 mph).
RANDOM ASIDE: SDSU's Ryan O'Sullivan fouled off a ball in the top of the first that just missed USD pitching coach Eric Valenzuela's Envoy parked just beyond the Toreros bullpen down the left-field line. It's a danger zone for foul balls. Valenzuela must have a zero deductible on his SUV.
SECOND INNING
The Aztecs take a 1-0 lead on Decker's infield chopper with the bases loaded.
USD came right back in the bottom of the inning when Sean Nicol led off with a booming double that got over the head of SDSU center fielder Pat Colwell and Victor Sanchez singled to center to bring Nicol home. Strasburg got out of the inning with a double play and a strikeout.
Get this: DeNault, using an effective curveball had four strikeouts in two innings. Strasburg had three.
THIRD INNING
Strasburg struck out Tony Strazzara to open the bottom of the third before No. 9 hitter Nick McCoy jumps on a fastball and sends it sailing over the left-field fence for a 2-1 Toreros lead. McCoy sprints around first before going into a trot around second. SDSU pitching coach Rusty Filter visits Strasurg, who walks the next hitter, Muno. Muno steals second. After Chatwood strikes out, Meador lines a single to right field. SDSU's Cory Vaughn comes up throwing and his throws nails Muno at the plate to end the inning.
SDSU wanted to set the tone for this four-game series by starting Strasburg here, but the No. 11-ranked Toreros have gone right after him. Meanwhile, USD is on its third pitcher in four innings as Chris Jensen and Darrin Campbell follow DeNault to the mound.
Buoyed by the 2-1 lead, a USD fan shouts out: "This isn't the Mountain West. The closest you're getting to Omaha is Utah."
FOURTH INNING
A double play prevents the Aztecs from getting anything going in the top of the inning. Strasburg retires the side in order in the bottom, getting the last two batters swinging to give him seven strikeouts.
FIFTH INNING
SDSU ties it 2-2 when O'Sullivan's two-out single to left field scores teammate Easton Gust from third. Strasburg retires the side in order again, and he again gets the last two batters on strikeouts. He catches McCoy looking this time around.
SIXTH INNING
The Aztecs load the bases with two singles and a walk, then take a 4-2 lead on singles by Colwell and Decker. Strasburg takes it from there, striking out all three hitters he faces in the bottom of the sixth to give him 12 strikeouts for the game. After struggling a bit early on, Strasburg is sailing now. He has retired nine straight batters — seven on strikeouts.
SEVENTH INNING
Strasburg strikes out the side again, giving him 15 for the game. With 106 pitches, the only question is whether he will come out for the eighth.
EIGHTH INNING
Strasburg does return. And why not? He strikes out Jon Hotta, McCoy and Muno (who reaches on a drpped third strike) before Chatwood flies to center to end the inning. That's 18 strikeouts.
NINTH INNING
The Aztecs add an insurance run to make it 5-2.
SDSU closer Addison Reed replaces Strasburg.
Strasburg's line for the afternoon: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 18 SO, 1 BB. He threw 116 pitches, including 79 for strikes.
Reed allows Meador's infield single and Sean Nicol's looping single to center. But Victor Sanchez flies out to right field, Engell looks at a called third strike for the second out. Walters singles in Meador to make it 5-3. Reed gets two quick strikes on pinch hitter Bryan Haar, wastes a pitch outside, then gets Haar swinging to end the game.
Monday, March 2, 2009
What to make of the Toreros
USD is sitting at 6-3 following the first two weeks of the season, riding a three-game winning streak and still ranked No. 11 in the nation by Baseball America.
That's all well and good, but it hides the fact that the Toreros are still searching to find answers in key areas. USD coach Rich Hill loves to tinker with his club (especially the batting order) even in good times, so there's no telling how much he will move the parts around.
The biggest concern in my mind is where the team is supposed to be so deep — the pitching staff. It's sporting a 4.95 ERA in nine games, which can partly be explained away by the competition. Oklahoma can bang. But the pitchers have hit 23 batters already and walked 34 more. That's six base runners a game they're allowing without making hitters earn their way on.
Sammy Solis is reportedly experiencing some tendinitis and Kyle Blair hasn't found his groove yet, so the Toreros' projected No. 1 and No. 2 starters are a question mark. The middle relief has been spotty at best, failing to stop the bleeding in an 11-2 loss to Oklahoma and a 14-6 loss to Pacific last week.
There have been bright spots. SCOTT DeNAULT (2-0) has not allowed a run in four relief appearances covering eight innings. Matt Hauser has compiled a 2.89 ERA in three appearances (one start) covering 9 1/3 innings.
The offense lacks for power — third baseman Victor Sanchez has two of the team's five homers — so the Toreros have to make up for it with execution, timely hits and heads up base-running. It doesn't help that two of the players who had breakout seasons a year ago, first baseman Jose Valerio and catcher Nick McCoy, have struggled at the plate in the early going. McCoy's defense will keep in the lineup to some degree, although junior Steven Chatwood has come on. Valerio will have to get it going before too long, or Hill will move someone else into the lineup.
Pleasant surprises early on have been junior transfer CHRIS ENGELL (.391, 5 RBI), who is settling in at second base, Chatwood (.381) and sophomore Tony Strazzara (.308), two returners who saw limited playing time a year ago and freshman outfielder Austin Green (.267), who has seized an opportunity afforded by injury.
Nine games is much too early to pass judgment. Heck, USD was under .500 (5-6) after 11 games last year and went on to the best record in school history.
Just saying what I'm seeing.
That's all well and good, but it hides the fact that the Toreros are still searching to find answers in key areas. USD coach Rich Hill loves to tinker with his club (especially the batting order) even in good times, so there's no telling how much he will move the parts around.
The biggest concern in my mind is where the team is supposed to be so deep — the pitching staff. It's sporting a 4.95 ERA in nine games, which can partly be explained away by the competition. Oklahoma can bang. But the pitchers have hit 23 batters already and walked 34 more. That's six base runners a game they're allowing without making hitters earn their way on.
Sammy Solis is reportedly experiencing some tendinitis and Kyle Blair hasn't found his groove yet, so the Toreros' projected No. 1 and No. 2 starters are a question mark. The middle relief has been spotty at best, failing to stop the bleeding in an 11-2 loss to Oklahoma and a 14-6 loss to Pacific last week.
There have been bright spots. SCOTT DeNAULT (2-0) has not allowed a run in four relief appearances covering eight innings. Matt Hauser has compiled a 2.89 ERA in three appearances (one start) covering 9 1/3 innings.The offense lacks for power — third baseman Victor Sanchez has two of the team's five homers — so the Toreros have to make up for it with execution, timely hits and heads up base-running. It doesn't help that two of the players who had breakout seasons a year ago, first baseman Jose Valerio and catcher Nick McCoy, have struggled at the plate in the early going. McCoy's defense will keep in the lineup to some degree, although junior Steven Chatwood has come on. Valerio will have to get it going before too long, or Hill will move someone else into the lineup.
Pleasant surprises early on have been junior transfer CHRIS ENGELL (.391, 5 RBI), who is settling in at second base, Chatwood (.381) and sophomore Tony Strazzara (.308), two returners who saw limited playing time a year ago and freshman outfielder Austin Green (.267), who has seized an opportunity afforded by injury.Nine games is much too early to pass judgment. Heck, USD was under .500 (5-6) after 11 games last year and went on to the best record in school history.
Just saying what I'm seeing.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Toreros re-arm with Solis, Blair
Pitchers Brian Matusz and Josh Romanski led USD to a national profile the past three years, particularly last season when the Toreros came within a win of reaching the NCAA Super Regionals.
Nearly half of the Toreros’ school-record 44 victories in 2008 came with either Matusz (12-2) or Romanski (9-1) on the mound. Romanski also was one of the Toreros’ top hitters.
Now that the left-handers have moved on — Matusz with the Baltimore Orioles organization and Romanski with the Milwaukee Brewers — it is time for someone else to take the ball and throw with it.
“You can’t replace those guys,” said USD coach Rich Hill. “The other guys are going to have to take the opportunity to step up.
“In a tradition-rich program — look to USC football as the model — somebody’s ready to step in every single year. At a private school with limited resources like us, it’s difficult to do. . . . We’re not deep. We have a small roster where we pour our scholarship money into a few guys and roll with it.”
Sophomores Sammy Solis, a left-hander from Arizona, and Kyle Blair, a right-hander from Northern California, were eased into the mix a year and responded well. Ready or not, Solis and Blair will be front and center this season.
The Toreros, ranked No. 11 in Baseball America’s preseason rankings, open the 2009 season on Friday against Southern University at the MLB Urban Youth Academy Tournament in Compton. Solis (3-1, 3.83 ERA, 42 SO/49.1 IP in 2008) will be on the mound against Southern. Blair (8-4, 3.86 ERA, 99 SO/74.2 IP) follows the next day against Bethune Cookman.
“They are quite large shoes to fill, but I think everyone here is up to the task,” said Solis. “Obviously, without Matusz and Romo there are some doubts. But not with us. I think we’re stronger than we were last year, and we’re excited to get out there.”
Blair, staying with the shoe analogy, wants to take it one step further.
“Not just fill the shoes, but make that shoe size a little bigger,” he said.”If Matusz wears an 11 1/2, hopefully, I’m going to wear a 12. . . . I don’t feel any pressure at all. You just go out and do your thing.”
The load won’t be shouldered entirely by Solis and Blair. Not with the return of two other talented sophomores — Matt Thomson and Darrin Campbell — as well as senior Matt Couch (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and All-American junior closer A.J. Griffin.
But all eyes will be on the Toreros’ No. 1 and No. 2 starters to watch their development. Hill and USD pitching coach Eric Valenzuela will do their best to mold Solis and Blair. But much of it is up to the players themselves.
“Michelangelo used to look at a slab of marble and see the sculpture inside it,” said Hill. “That’s how every kid is. They are that sculpture inside that marble and they’re very unique.
“We all get in trouble when we start comparing Kyle Blair to player X, or Sammy Solis to player Y. They’ve just got to be their own person and do their own thing.”
NOTABLE
— The schedule is front-loaded with home games (31 of the first 40 are at the Toreros’ Cunningham Stadium), so a strong start is not only important it’s expected.
— Power will not be the offense’s strong suit, so the Toreros will have to showcase their speed. Shooting for the school record (105 SB in 1980) would be a good goal. CF Kevin Muno led the Toreros last season with 21 SB. Freshman LF Bryan Haar, who swiped 17 last season at Grossmont High, could challenge him this year.
— Junior closer A.J. Griffin, another Grossmont High alum, set a USD record with 14 saves last season. The All-American could see some starts as well this year, perhaps in midweek games or on Sundays when he hasn’t appeared in a weekend series.
Nearly half of the Toreros’ school-record 44 victories in 2008 came with either Matusz (12-2) or Romanski (9-1) on the mound. Romanski also was one of the Toreros’ top hitters.
Now that the left-handers have moved on — Matusz with the Baltimore Orioles organization and Romanski with the Milwaukee Brewers — it is time for someone else to take the ball and throw with it.
“You can’t replace those guys,” said USD coach Rich Hill. “The other guys are going to have to take the opportunity to step up.
“In a tradition-rich program — look to USC football as the model — somebody’s ready to step in every single year. At a private school with limited resources like us, it’s difficult to do. . . . We’re not deep. We have a small roster where we pour our scholarship money into a few guys and roll with it.”
Sophomores Sammy Solis, a left-hander from Arizona, and Kyle Blair, a right-hander from Northern California, were eased into the mix a year and responded well. Ready or not, Solis and Blair will be front and center this season.
The Toreros, ranked No. 11 in Baseball America’s preseason rankings, open the 2009 season on Friday against Southern University at the MLB Urban Youth Academy Tournament in Compton. Solis (3-1, 3.83 ERA, 42 SO/49.1 IP in 2008) will be on the mound against Southern. Blair (8-4, 3.86 ERA, 99 SO/74.2 IP) follows the next day against Bethune Cookman.
“They are quite large shoes to fill, but I think everyone here is up to the task,” said Solis. “Obviously, without Matusz and Romo there are some doubts. But not with us. I think we’re stronger than we were last year, and we’re excited to get out there.”
Blair, staying with the shoe analogy, wants to take it one step further.
“Not just fill the shoes, but make that shoe size a little bigger,” he said.”If Matusz wears an 11 1/2, hopefully, I’m going to wear a 12. . . . I don’t feel any pressure at all. You just go out and do your thing.”
The load won’t be shouldered entirely by Solis and Blair. Not with the return of two other talented sophomores — Matt Thomson and Darrin Campbell — as well as senior Matt Couch (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and All-American junior closer A.J. Griffin.
But all eyes will be on the Toreros’ No. 1 and No. 2 starters to watch their development. Hill and USD pitching coach Eric Valenzuela will do their best to mold Solis and Blair. But much of it is up to the players themselves.
“Michelangelo used to look at a slab of marble and see the sculpture inside it,” said Hill. “That’s how every kid is. They are that sculpture inside that marble and they’re very unique.
“We all get in trouble when we start comparing Kyle Blair to player X, or Sammy Solis to player Y. They’ve just got to be their own person and do their own thing.”
NOTABLE
— The schedule is front-loaded with home games (31 of the first 40 are at the Toreros’ Cunningham Stadium), so a strong start is not only important it’s expected.
— Power will not be the offense’s strong suit, so the Toreros will have to showcase their speed. Shooting for the school record (105 SB in 1980) would be a good goal. CF Kevin Muno led the Toreros last season with 21 SB. Freshman LF Bryan Haar, who swiped 17 last season at Grossmont High, could challenge him this year.
— Junior closer A.J. Griffin, another Grossmont High alum, set a USD record with 14 saves last season. The All-American could see some starts as well this year, perhaps in midweek games or on Sundays when he hasn’t appeared in a weekend series.
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