BB: Top Teams in West Region

[Ron Boerger]

Rauh has NEVER lost a game?  That's freakin' amazing. 

For all the deserved talk about Klimesh, don't overlook what Lucero has done so far:

ERA 0.64
W-L 4-0
APP/S 4-4
IP 28.1
H 11
R 2
ER 2
BB 8
SO 31
2B 0
3B 0
HR 0
AB 89
B/AVG .124
WP 0
HBP 1
K's per 9 - 10.0

[CrashDavisD3]

Rauh has NEVER lost a game?  That's freakin' amazing. 

For all the deserved talk about Klimesh, don't overlook what Lucero has done so far:

ERA 0.64
W-L 4-0
APP/S 4-4
IP 28.1
H 11
R 2
ER 2
BB 8
SO 31
2B 0
3B 0
HR 0
AB 89
B/AVG .124
WP 0
HBP 1
K's per 9 - 10.0

Not bad for a 1-2 punch for Trinity-TX, Marrieta last year had a great 1-2 pitchers and won a national championship

[BigPoppa]

Trinity has been winning games by grinding out every at bat, and every opportunity, they will keep running, bunting, slashing, hit and running, and putting pressure on you. If that does not work then someone, and you never know who, will jack one. They are relentless. They will do the same thing with Rau, and will either find a crack in his armor, or they will keep working him until he is out of there and then they will strike. It may only be a run but that is all that they will need with Klimesh and their bullpen. Even if they get down they don't care, as they know they will strike eventually, and many times it is with 2 outs late in the game and suddenly they break out, and you think how the heck did that happen. This is one very scrappy team and fun to watch. That said this series will likely be a low scoring affair with both pitching staffs.

108- Is your son going to see some innings this weekend? Looking over the Trinity roster, they have quite a few So Cal players form some top-notch high school programs. It will be nice for them to play versus some other SO Cal kids on Chapman's roster this weekend.

[Jack Parkman]

Trinity has been winning games by grinding out every at bat, and every opportunity, they will keep running, bunting, slashing, hit and running, and putting pressure on you. If that does not work then someone, and you never know who, will jack one. They are relentless. They will do the same thing with Rau, and will either find a crack in his armor, or they will keep working him until he is out of there and then they will strike. It may only be a run but that is all that they will need with Klimesh and their bullpen. Even if they get down they don't care, as they know they will strike eventually, and many times it is with 2 outs late in the game and suddenly they break out, and you think how the heck did that happen. This is one very scrappy team and fun to watch. That said this series will likely be a low scoring affair with both pitching staffs.

Chapman will throw Rauh 145 pitches if they need to, which I have given my opinion on before but this looks to be a big series, bigger for Chapman in my eyes.  I think whoever wins tonight takes 2 of 3.

[CrashDavisD3]

Chapman VS Trinity - LITTLE BALL STATS 

Chapman     Trinity
SB 6           SB 21
SF 4           SF 5
SH 5           SH 11

[CrashDavisD3]

Trinity has been winning games by grinding out every at bat, and every opportunity, they will keep running, bunting, slashing, hit and running, and putting pressure on you. If that does not work then someone, and you never know who, will jack one. They are relentless. They will do the same thing with Rau, and will either find a crack in his armor, or they will keep working him until he is out of there and then they will strike. It may only be a run but that is all that they will need with Klimesh and their bullpen. Even if they get down they don't care, as they know they will strike eventually, and many times it is with 2 outs late in the game and suddenly they break out, and you think how the heck did that happen. This is one very scrappy team and fun to watch. That said this series will likely be a low scoring affair with both pitching staffs.

Chapman will throw Rauh 145 pitches if they need to, which I have given my opinion on before but this looks to be a big series, bigger for Chapman in my eyes.  I think whoever wins tonight takes 2 of 3.

I believe Chapman will treat this series like a playoff time. Like a double elimination regional.

Rauh throws Game 1 comes back and closes Game 2 or Game 3 if Chapman is up and game is close. He did this a few times last year. Pitch counts...forgetaboutit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEvHzx-nal0&feature=related

[CrashDavisD3]

Chapman wins game 1 .....17 to 4.  Never count Chapman out. Saturday is a new day.
http://trinitytigers.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/stats/bb14.htm

http://trinitytigers.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/03-02-12_bb_chapman

Trinity's Klimesh does not throw in Game 1. Rauh only throws 1 inning since Chapman scored 13 in the 1st 2 innings and Rauh will most likely be back for either Game 2 or Game 3.

Chapman was able to keep their 1,2,3,4,5 pitchers available for Games 2 & 3.

Trinity had 3 errors Chapman 2.

Chapman outhits Trinity 9 hits to 6.

Chapman's catcher James has big day with 2 hits and 4 RBI's.

Rauh and Tachibana combined to throw 6.2 of shutout innings.

[BigPoppa]

Not throwing Klimesh signals to me that Trinity is hoping to just win one game in this series. I really wanted to see him face Rauh. Maybe today?!

[BBFan62]

Not throwing Klimesh signals to me that Trinity is hoping to just win one game in this series. I really wanted to see him face Rauh. Maybe today?!

I was at the game yesterday and will see today's game too before heading back to Chicago tonight. I was impressed by both teams, although I was disappointed in not seeing a Klimesh-Rauh matchup and Rauh for only one inning. A Chapman player told me Rauh most likely go Sunday.

For me, it was a treat seeing these two top level teams go at each other, plus I was able to meet 108stitches and talk with him for awhile. It's true that it's a small world. I told him my son (plays out East) played against Hall since they were 9 years old and through highschool and faced Klimesh in highschool too. Well, as it turns out a highschool teammate of 108's son plays with my son out East.
My only regret of this weekend is I won't be here for the Sunday game.

[Jack Parkman]

I think Trinity's coach made a really poor decision by not starting Klimesh on Friday night.  I am sure many will not agree but it almost looks like a sign of little faith that your team is good enough to beat Rauh.  Rauh is legit, no doubt, but he has won a lot of very close games in his career and if Trinity is able to beat him they are in very good position to win the series.  Now they will have to face Raugh again and that is a tough thing to do.
As for game 1....The score is a little misleading in my eyes.  I didn't see the game but read the little blurb on TU's web site and starting your #3 in game 1 of a series is weak.  Trinity's "D" didnt help out one bit but that start by Fink by flat out terrible.
I hate to say it but I think Chapman sweeps this series.  No matter what a coach says after getting your head kicked in, you are still thinking about the night before.  I will probably have plenty of people think I am crazy but I honestly think Trinity set Chapman up for a lot of success and Chapman will play it's way straight back to the top of the West Region.

I will be the first one to come on here and admit I was wrong but please be gentle.

[dp643]

You could be right. But lets not foget that Trinity has alot of confidence in Fink. If he keeps the game manageable and Rauh has to pitch most of the game its not a bad strategy. It really backfired though because Rauh could start today or Sunday and throw a complete game. Its a risk, and to be honest, I probably would have done the same thing. And I would have looked like an idiot too. 

Im now predicting a Chapman sweep as well. While I think Klimesh and Lucero are very good pitchers, I dont think its anything Chapman hitters havent seen before.

[BBFan62]

I think Trinity's coach made a really poor decision by not starting Klimesh on Friday night.  I am sure many will not agree but it almost looks like a sign of little faith that your team is good enough to beat Rauh.  Rauh is legit, no doubt, but he has won a lot of very close games in his career and if Trinity is able to beat him they are in very good position to win the series.  Now they will have to face Raugh again and that is a tough thing to do.
As for game 1....The score is a little misleading in my eyes.  I didn't see the game but read the little blurb on TU's web site and starting your #3 in game 1 of a series is weak.  Trinity's "D" didnt help out one bit but that start by Fink by flat out terrible.
I hate to say it but I think Chapman sweeps this series.  No matter what a coach says after getting your head kicked in, you are still thinking about the night before.  I will probably have plenty of people think I am crazy but I honestly think Trinity set Chapman up for a lot of success and Chapman will play it's way straight back to the top of the West Region.

I will be the first one to come on here and admit I was wrong but please be gentle.

Fink might be #3 on Trinity, but he'd be a #1 on quite a few teams. I agree with you that he had a terrible game, but he impressed me overall with his arm.

What I liked about Chapman pulling Rauh is it shows that nobody is more important than the team and the coach is there to guide his team to 3 wins, not just let his top guy possibly cruise to an easy win. Watching Rauh, I felt he has a somewhat strange delivery, in the way he seems to snap his arm. However, the ball seems to explode out of his hand.

[108 Stitches]

Test, I have posted a couple times and it did not post. Strange. Hotel?

OK here it is...

Well now, that was ugly. Although the book has 3 errors there really were 5. Very un TU like. I think they only have 5-6 for the whole season. Flush it, new day, new game today.

I heard that the coach threw Fink as he was next in line to pitch and they are treating this as another series. Actually a good strategic move that backfired. It almost backfired on Chapman as TU got 4, had the bases loaded as was a jack or gapper away from making it a game. I talked to some Chapman parents that were worried about the same thing. Rau will likely go on Sunday.

Nice to meet BBFan, it is fun to meet people "in real" that share a love of college baseball.

Chapman is solid as is Trinity. TU will flush it and come out strong today, this team has a pretty level head.

[dp643]

In defense to Trinity, they always do weird things with their pitching staff. I remember when we played them when I was playing we always faced their #1 and #2 on Tuesday doubleheaders. Then in a conference weekend those guys didnt always throw. It may not even be that they were conceding they couldnt beat Rauh. This could have been planned no matter who they played.

[Jack Parkman]

In defense to Trinity, they always do weird things with their pitching staff. I remember when we played them when I was playing we always faced their #1 and #2 on Tuesday doubleheaders. Then in a conference weekend those guys didnt always throw. It may not even be that they were conceding they couldnt beat Rauh. This could have been planned no matter who they played.

Absolutely agree.  After paying attention for the past few years it does seem that Trinity is a rather "different" team when it comes to stuff like this.  I, on the other hand, am a very firm believer that if your #1 is able to start, you start him.  Saying Fink was "next in line" doesn't really do it for me, this isn't a rec league where everyone has to play.

Oh well, I will just be a casual observer now since my phone didn't ring and nobody asked for my advice on how to set up the staff this weekend.