A thread about a tournament this weekend: ARBSB 2026

Feral · Feb 16, 2026, 07:00 AM

TCU got run ruled by OU.

OU looks like elite coming out of the Arlington series.

Still feel good about our pitching but hitting is a work in progress.

Some way too early observations:
- Ryder is a Golden Spikes candidate
- we found ourselves a leadoff hitter in Ruiz. He currently has an OBP of .846 (!)
- Brumbaugh flashed a bit of leather at short.
- Niu has the of the lowest BA of the lineup (.143) but also leads the team in RBI (7), which is more than double the next guy
- we're 6-7 in stolen base attempts, and the lone out was Pompey who beat the throw but came off the bag. Sounds like we will be more aggressive on the basepaths this year.
- Gaeckle and Fisher combined for 9.1 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 17 Ks. Pretty good work for the bookend starters.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 02:14 PM

Hogs up 2-0 on Tarleton State. Ruiz gets on at his first AB. Surprise! Runners at the corners, 1 out. Anyone notice that Sousa appears to step backwards when he swings instead of stepping into the pitch? Also, we dropped a spot to #8 after this weekend. Hogs up 3-0 headed to the bottom of the first.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 02:56 PM

3-0 Hogs after 3.

Feral · Feb 16, 2026, 03:20 PM

Quote from: Son of Spam on Feb 16, 2026, 02:14 PMHogs up 2-0 on Tarleton State. Ruiz gets on at his first AB. Surprise! Runners at the corners, 1 out. Anyone notice that Sousa appears to step backwards when he swings instead of stepping into the pitch? Also, we dropped a spot to #8 after this weekend. Hogs up 3-0 headed to the bottom of the first.

I'm seeing some of Souza's bad habits from last year creep back into his plate approach.

Glad we found an OBP monster like Ruiz to lead off. I had zero confidence in Souza at that spot. I feel like he needs to go to the 9 hole to flip the order.

Feral · Feb 16, 2026, 03:25 PM

Hogs have scored 3 runs all on infield contact.

2 runs by way of fielder's choice and 1 run via infield single.

This offense is giving me serious 2024 vibes.

ETA - just as I typed this, I saw that we went 3 up, 3 down with 3 straight groundouts to the left side in the 5th. We seem to be hitting a ton of ground balls this year.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 03:27 PM

Quote from: Feral on Feb 16, 2026, 03:25 PMHogs have scored 3 runs all on infield contact.

2 runs by way of fielder's choice and 1 run via infield single.

This offense is giving me serious 2024 vibes.

It is sad. And Sousa looks lost at the plate again. Low and away is his nemesis.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 03:40 PM

3-1 Hogs after 5.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 04:03 PM

1 hit since the fourth inning....SMH.

cchog · Feb 16, 2026, 04:14 PM

Sounds like we're already in mid season form.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 04:31 PM

3-1 after 8. We are a scoring machine.

Feral · Feb 16, 2026, 04:39 PM

Quote from: Son of Spam on Feb 16, 2026, 03:27 PMIt is sad. And Sousa looks lost at the plate again. Low and away is his nemesis.

I was worried about him coming into the season. He was completely lost at the plate last year and was a strikeout machine before he went down to injury.

Low and away in his nemesis, as is anything high and inside.

Feral · Feb 16, 2026, 04:41 PM

We are hitting a shitload of ground balls so far this season. And of course they're usually right at the 3rd baseman or shortstop.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 04:45 PM

Quote from: Feral on Feb 16, 2026, 04:41 PMWe are hitting a shitload of ground balls so far this season. And of course they're usually right at the 3rd baseman or shortstop.

And still ain't good at hitting lefties.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 04:45 PM

Hogs win 3-1....against Tarleton State.

Feral · Feb 16, 2026, 04:49 PM

Quote from: Son of Spam on Feb 16, 2026, 04:03 PM1 hit since the fourth inning....SMH.

The first 3 Hog batters of the game reached and scored...and then only one Arkansas hitter even touched 3rd for the rest of the game (Robinett in the 6th).

We were objectively terrible at the plate today.

Sus-Scrofa · Feb 16, 2026, 04:58 PM

Quote from: Son of Spam on Feb 16, 2026, 04:45 PMHogs win 3-1....against Tarleton State.

The mighty...

(Checks Google)

Texan Riders!

DrMongoose · Feb 16, 2026, 05:22 PM

where was Phil?

Barton Fink · Feb 16, 2026, 05:35 PM

Quote from: DrMongoose on Feb 16, 2026, 05:22 PMwhere was Phil?

Lady Backs play tonight

Barton Fink · Feb 16, 2026, 06:26 PM

I'm leaning to this being a mediocre year. DVH played 4 freahmen yesterday. That makes me believe he isn't happy with the line up. I don't recall him ever doing that 3 games into the season. Outside of Kozeal, our returners are high swing and miss guys. Niu is known to be a high strike out guy as well. We were abysmal the last couple days with RISP.

Pitching is suspect. As great a Gaeckle has been, he struggled starting. I like some of the guys we returned, but don't love them. I think Fisher may be the best of the bunch.

Hope I'm wrong, but that's my early gut feeling.

Son of Spam · Feb 16, 2026, 06:28 PM

Quote from: Barton Fink on Feb 16, 2026, 06:26 PMI'm leaning to this being a mediocre year. DVH played 4 freahmen yesterday. That makes me believe he isn't happy with the line up. I don't recall him ever soing that 3 games into the season. Outside of Kozeal, our returners are high swing and miss guys. Niu is known to be a high strike out guy as well. We were abysmal that last couple days with RISP.

Pitching is suspect. As great a Gaeckle has been, he struggled starting. I like some of the guys we returned, but don't love them. I think Fisher may be the best of the bunch.

Hope I'm wrong, but that's my early gut feeling.

It doesn't look great right now. I have the same feeling. The SEC is going to be tougher than the games we have played so far. We seem to be swinging for the fences again every at bat this year.