Random Thoughts Before Bradenton

Okay, maybe not that deep, but before we head back to Florida for spring break, I thought we should look back at the Papa John’s Palm Beach Classic last weekend. Obviously, the Bucks had their eyes set on a 3-0 weekend with Air Force, Maine and Connecticut on the docket. Instead, they went 1-2 for the second straight weekend with the lone win of the weekend coming against the Huskies. They are 5-4 on the year.

I don’t think it is time to throw in the towel this season. With seven games in seven days in Sarasota and Bradenton, Ohio State has a chance to get a lot of guys some experience against a bunch of teams they should beat. They’ll be looking back at last season hoping to win all seven games on Florida’s Gulf Coast. They play Bucknell, Dartmouth, Northern Iowa, Bradley, St. Louis, Army and Kansas. At least four of the other five teams shouldn’t be able to offer much resistance. The Bucks have historically struggled with Northern Iowa and Kansas. They have a chance to get to a respectable 12-4 before the home opener March 26 vs. Pittsburgh. I know coach Bob Todd will add a few more guys to the travel roster for the trip, but as readers of this blog have pointed out, he does have his favorites. I’m guessing though with so many games in consecutive days, they’ll have to get some of the guys who have yet to see the field some playing time while resting the few guys that have.

Looking back to West Palm Beach, J.B. Shuck led all batters with a .455 batting average. He was 5-for-11 with four runs scored, a triple and one RBI. Cory Rupert, Ryan Dew and Justin Miller each had four hits in the three games. Rupert was 4-for-10 with three RBI, while Dew was 4-for-12 with a double and two RBI. Miller slipped a little offensively this weekend, going 4-for-15, but he did manage to drive in four runs. In the three games the team batted .267, but only five of the team’s 28 hits were for extra bases. The lone home run came off the bat of Tony Kennedy. Brian DeLucia returned to the lineup against Maine and came off the bench Sunday against UConn. The Buckeyes need him to be healthy when conference play begins March 28 vs. Penn State.

Shuck also was a star on the hill this weekend, going 6.0 scoreless innings in which he allowed just one hit and struck out three. Jake Hale made his season debut after missing the first two weeks of the season with tendinitis. He struggled Sunday in his debut against the Huskies, but managed to get a save after his 3.0-inning outing in which he allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits. He struck out his first two batters before surrendering a home run. When I spoke to the coaching staff in College Station, they mentioned Hale would like be the No. 1 starter this season. He would likely be followed by Dan DeLucia in game two and Shuck in game four. The third starter is up for discussion, but it appears Dean Wolosianky has an inside track after a strong showing the first three weeks of the season. Wolo is 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA and a .258 batting average by the opposition. Shuck is also 2-1 and a 3.18 ERA, but is limiting batters to a .180 average. The 4.25 team ERA is tied for the lead in the Big Ten.

Fielding should get better by playing every day. Ohio State had nine errors last weekend, including four against Maine. The season total is at 23, easily the highest total in the league. That is in just nine games. I know how dreadful the weather has been in Columbus, keeping the Buckeyes pent up inside the Woody. I mean, it even snowed twice in Dallas (where I live) last week. Of course, it is finals week in Columbus, so practice time is limited anyway. Even still, no one can defend the errors. Other northern teams haven’t struggled as much. We just have to keep working on it.