D1 Game Notes – Friday’s Premier Pitchers, Rock Rucker

D1 Game Notes – Friday’s Premier Pitchers, Rock Rucker

                                                                                                                       

·        Stock Down – TAMU top RHP Michael Wacha had a rough Friday night against Missouri. Stat like was ugly: 6.1-IP, 12-H, 5-R, 5-K, 1-BB. Wacha’s been hot and cold this season. Seasons stat line now: 7-ST, 4-0, 2.72, 46.1-IP, 52-K, 9-BB. He still projects as a definite first round pick.

·        Stock Up – Ole Miss RHP Bobby Wahl. Caught this one on TV. Tremendous focus from this kid who drips of enthusiasm. 90-94 fastball, which touched 95 late. Plus 80-83 slider. Completely dominated the nation’s number one team: 8.0-IP, 0-R, 2-H, 6-K, 5-0. Easily the best pitching performance in D1 this year. Seasonal stat line: 7-ST, 5-0, 1.91, 42.1-IP, 48-K, 15-BB. This performance might have elevated Wahl to a first round pick.

·        Stock Down – Stanford RHP Mark Appel, who continues to flip flop at a time he’s supposed to be locking up the overall number one spot in the draft. Friday night vs. Arizona: 8.0-IP, 12-H, 6-ER, only 5-K. Seasonal stat line: 6-ST, 3-1, 3.56, 48.0-IP, 52-K, 14BB. This simply is not good enough to be the first pick overall.

·        Stock Meh – The good news on LSU Kevin Gausman: 12-K in 20 batters faced. The bad news: 5-ER by Arkansas. Kauman has to do better than this if he wants to be picked number one overall. Seasonal stats: 7-ST, 5-9, 2.27, 47.2-IP,62-K,13-BB. Pitching coaches will tell you to look for the strikeout/innings ratio. Still a top 5 pick.

·        Stock Up – UCLA Adam Plutko pitched a gem against Utah: 6.2-IP, 0-R, 4-H, 6-K. One negative was five walks which just made it interesting. Season stat line:  7-ST, 4-1, 2.58, 45.1-IP, 52-K, 20-BB. Needs to cut back on the walks is he want to be an early pick.

·        Complete game – CSF’s ace, Dylan Floro, put one on CSN with 7-H, 1-ER, 9-K, and 0-BB. Season stat line: 8-G, 7-ST, 4-2, 2.25, 52.0-IP, 35-K, 4-BB. Control pitches usually don’t get picks on day one of the raft.

·        My email to Rock Rucker after throwing a no-hitter:  “show off”

  o   Rock’s response - "Alright Mr. Mack. I threw my no hitter on my birthday and before the game my Coach ( Tony Rasmus ) said " Why don't we throw a no hitter for your birthday present. " 6 innings and 80+ pitches later I was smiling from ear to ear. That outing pushed me to 4-0 on the mound with no earned runs in any starts with 37ks. Our area play starts April 3rd against Fort Valley high school and I hope to lead my team ( Russell County ) to a 5A Alabama State Championship."

·        Nick J. Faleris‏ @NickJFaleris - Good/bad for #OleMiss commit Stryker Trahan (c, Acadiana HS, Lafayette, La.). Showed pop on easy oppo HR. WTBD behind the plate.

·        Al Skorupa ‏@alskor   - Scout at NHSI: "Marcus Stroman is throwing serious gas today with a sharp two plane slider... getting better as the outing progresses"

·        Speed Checks

o   Kevin Gausman – 94-97, 97 on 115^th pitch

o   Rice RHP Jordan Stephens – 87-91, 76-77 CV, 79-82 CH

o   Southern Miss LHP Jake Drehoff - 88-90, 76-77 CV, 78-80 CH

o   Rice John Sims – 88-90, 79-CH

o   Tyler Beede – 90-94, 95, 97 1x 7^th inning

o   Carlos Rondon – 91-93, 94