Keeping track of the best and worst from March 1st games
Before this weekend’s action LSU was ranked number one in National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll in massive thanks to their offense. Averaging 11.5 runs per game, I had to see how the Tigers would hold up with a trip to Austin facing the #20 Texas Longhorns.
What I saw was an offense that finally faced good pitching, a lack of good pitching from LSU, and poor infield defense resulting in an 8-1 loss for the Tigers, their first defeat of 2019.
Many teams had their unbeaten streaks snapped Friday night as only eight teams in Divison I remain undefeated.
While keeping the Tigers vs. Longhorns in my peripheral vision, most of my attention Friday night was fixated on West Virginia against #3 Oregon State. An early draft storyline was the emergence of the right-handed starting pitcher, Alek Manoah. With an ideal body frame of a power pitcher standing at 6’6” and weighing 260 pounds, Manoah dominated in his first two starts of 2019. In 12.1 innings, Manoah struck out 21 hitters while just walking two, and limiting opposing offenses to seven hits with only three runs (one run earned).
Manoah’s arsenal is a four-pitch mix of a four-seamer that runs 94-95 mph, a 90-92 mph sinker, a sharp slider, and a show-me changeup. In his first inning against the Beavers, Manoah was working his fastballs and sliders well striking out two which included consensus #1 pick, Adley Rutschman.
https://twitter.com/soxmachine_josh/status/1101668423963234304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In total, Manoah allowed seven runs (four earned) in the second inning and his night was done. Definitely worth a second look because Manoah at times Friday night looked impressive, but he just lacked composure when put into a jam and the results were ugly.
On the other side, Oregon State’s Kevin Abel was really sharp. The 2018 College World Series hero didn’t have the best start to 2019, but while Manoah faltered Abel dominated. Striking out 11 in six innings compared to three walks while allowing only one hit and one run. Abel is someone to track for those concerned about the 2020 MLB Draft.
Adley Rutschman had a quiet night going 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Thursday night was a quiet one for the reigning Golden Spikes winner, Andrew Vaughn, and his Cal teammates as St. Mary’s won 10-3. Vaughn had a tough time barreling up pitches going hitless 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Different story on Friday, as Vaughn had no trouble barreling up pitches and showcased his power hitting two home runs with four RBI in a 4-for-5 night at the plate.
Andrew Vaughn sends a liner over the LF wall for his second 2-run homer of the night. 5 HRs and 13 RBI in 9 games for the 2018 Golden Spikes winner. #CalBaseball pic.twitter.com/jmoAeCBPam
— Joe Stiglich (@Joe_Stiglich) March 2, 2019
Vaughn already has five home runs and 13 RBI to start 2019, hitting 15-for-30 with 15 walks to just five strikeouts. First two weeks Vaughn is continuing to show why many believe he’s the most polished bat available in the 2019 MLB Draft.
While scouts are still searching for quality pitchers the best place to see some this weekend was down in Houston for the Shriners Classic. Southpaw starter Nick Lodolo of TCU has been followed by scouts for his starts early in 2019. According to sources, both White Sox GM Rick Hahn and Director of Player Development Chris Getz were in attendance for his first start on February 15th against Cal State Fullerton.
Lodolo has a slender frame standing 6’6” and weighing 185 pounds. His pitch mix is an average fastball that runs 92-94 mph, a cutter/changeup (scouts are split on what the pitch actually is) at 86-88 mph, and his best pitch is the slider. Lodolo gets great horizontal movement on his breaking ball that helps him establish strike one, or used to punch out hitters.
Against Houston, Lodolo was lights out striking out 13 batters to one walk over seven innings allowing just two hits and one earned run on 97 pitches. In three starts, Lodolo has pitched 19 innings striking out 25 with only two walks allowing 11 hits and five earned runs. Someone to keep an eye on as Lodolo may emerge in the Sox Machine Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects in the next release on March 15th.
