Three Four things before I start the preview:
- I’ve got way too much work this week, cutting into my preview time for the weekend.
- Jacksonville’s website wasn’t very conducive for digging up information. So some areas are kind of light.
- As mentioned in a comment, it’s the Minute Maid College Classic in Houston this weekend, so I’m going to be at Minute Maid Park watching 5 top 10 teams (and UHouston) face off in the tournament of DEATH! Blood sport style. Posting will be light and I may or may not get the Akron Preview done.
- ARGH! Play better! [updated 10am]
Enjoy the weekend.
 |
| Image from jacksonvilledolphinsfans |
@Jacksonville, Doubleheader
3:30 & 6 pm – February 28, 2009
John Session Stadium (Jacksonville Campus)
Jacksonville, FL
Media: Live Stats, Live Audio, and Live Video ($)
Media (Game 2): Live Stats, Live Audio, & Live Video ($)
Home Team: I believe Jacksonville will be home both games
Probable Pitchers (Game 1): Chris Fetter (0-0) vs Billy Schlee (RHP, 0-1)
Probable Pitchers (Game 2): Eric Katzman (0-0) vs Carson Andrew ( , 1-0)
Michigan Record vs Opponent: 0-1
Last Series/Game: 9-2 L @ Jacksonville on 2/29/2000
Overview
Jacksonville is another middle of the road Atlantic Sun (woo they have pay per view for baseball!) team much like UNF during the midweek game. Jacksonville was picked to finish 5th in conference by the preseason coaches’ poll. They were 27-29 last year finishing with an RPI of 134. In conference, the Dolphins were 13-20, good for 10th of 11.
This year Jacksonville started the season with a three game series at Florida International. The Dolphins emerged 1-2 after the series, losing the opening two games by scores of 4-3 and 20-1. They did managed to pull out the last game however, by a score of 9-3. Florida International isn’t that good of a team for those wondering (finished 158 last year).
Offensive Stars
The leader of the Dolphins is catcher Jeremy Gillian. Gillian is all preseason Atlantic Sun for his efforts last year, hitting .377 with 60 RBIs including 9 homeruns and 10 doubles. He also is a force behind the plate, throwing out 17 runners last year.
The second leading hitter for Jacksonville last year was second baseman Chuck Opachich. Opachich hit .323 last year, only scoring 28 runs and 18 RBIs. That seems pretty low for that batting average. This year he is the lead off man, and he’s done alright in limited playing time. He’s 2/7 with a K in 2 games, only one a start.
Hitting in the two hole will be returning left fielder Kyle Fleming who is 2/7 with a run and RBI, and 2BBs this season. Last season he hit .313 with 40 runs scored. He’s the one setting up Gillian with RBIs.
Pitching
Billy Schlee is a closer converted to starter for the Dolphins. Last season he was 0-1 with a 6.91 ERA with 6 savees. He only had 12 appearances for 14.1 innings where he gave up 17 hits and 11 runs, while striking out 11. In one relief appearance this season he went 3.2 innings, he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, a walk, and striking out 5.
Carson Andrew was the second starter for the Dolphins a year ago, going 5-3 with a 4.61 ERA (2nd on team). In 18 appearances (11 starts) he logged 70.1 innings while giving up 53 runs (36 earned, which tells you about their fielding last year). Andrew did collect 7.67 K’s-per-9-innings which is respectable, and only walked 26. That’s pretty solid for college starters.
This year Andrew had the start in the team’s only win. He lasted 4 innings giving up 4 hits and 2 runs. He walked 2 and struck out 3 in the win. His statistics appear to point to him not lasting long into games (only about 5 innings per start).
There isn’t enough information about the relievers, and the 20-1 loss last week has all their numbers looking pretty poorly.
Semi-Relavant Reading
Got nothin’.
Posted under Baseball
Tags: chris fetter, eric katzman, jacksonville
So far so good. Six run 2nd inning in game one, had 3 doubles and a two singles with two outs. Huge error by the third basemen leading to all 6 runs being unearned. Keep it on ’em.
Hey, I didn’t think you were going to be around. I was just coming to post an encouraging update. The stolen base business is going much better today, as is the pitching so far.
The second game I was supposed to umpire was canceled, so I decided to catch the first game and whip up as much of an Akron preview as I could. Once I finish, I’ll schedule it for 9pm or so, then head to the juicebox to catch Rice and A&M. The plans are currently that I’ll be at Minute Maid from noon to 10pm (or whenever I run out of beer money).
back to back jacks, first time since april 11 last year at illinois! lamarre and dufek… this game is so over.
so its the 7th inning and we have already surpassed the season high in at-bats in a game. 36 at bats so far.
brandon sinnery just hasn’t found his game yet in college. hopefully these mop up spots prepare him for the midweek starts. we’re going to need him to start producing a lot next season.
and we fall apart in game 2. ugh.
Yeah, that was ugly. Too bad they couldn’t use some of the runs from the previous game….
I’m calling McLouth and Dufek switch places in the batting order next week. I don’t know what happens with the pitching. Did we just come in cocky to this weekend? I don’t understand.