CowboyMRW
4/15/2011, 10:32 AM
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/weekend-preview/2011/2611585.html
Scouting Report
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
The Bedlam rivalry between the Sooners and Cowboys is one of college baseball's best, but it had lost just a bit of its luster over the last two years, as Oklahoma State sunk to the bottom of the Big 12 and Oklahoma won each of the last two series. But the Cowboys are back in the Top 25 this weekend and sitting ahead of the Sooners in the conference standings—OSU is 8-4, while OU is 6-5. Both teams are also competing for chances to host a regional, so this weekend's series in Tulsa and Oklahoma City takes on even more importance. The Sooners won the first of two midweek meetings between the teams this year, 8-3 in Norman on April 5. A National League scout broke down the matchup.
"Coming into the season, I would say Oklahoma would have been the definite favorite in this series, but Oklahoma State's been playing very good. (OSU coach) Frank (Anderson) has got the Cowboys going. They've got a lot of the same type of guys they had last year, but they're playing better this year. Frank has got (lefty) Michael Strong throwing really well—sounds like they've done a very good job getting those guys going. They seem to be playing pretty good. (Righthander Chris) Marlowe is solid, throwing really well in the bullpen. Marlowe's got that plus-plus breaking ball, the great breaking ball. He throws it a lot, and there's nothing wrong with that because it's a very good pitch and it works, but he can run it up there to 94-95 with his fastball, too. He's just not very physical, and I think he might have some trouble in back-to-back days. But he's helped himself this year. With his size and his delivery, he's probably not a top 50 pick, but he could crawl up into the third round or so.
Andrew Heaney
"(Lefty Andrew) Heaney's solid—he's going to be a guy for next year. (Righthander Brad) Propst is throwing really well. Those four are the main guys. Heaney is a little like Hoby Milner at Texas—he'll touch a 91 or so with a good breaking ball, he can pitch a little bit, lefthanded. Propst is just a good senior type pitcher that throws strikes and competes, gives them a chance to win. He's not a big stuff guy, but a good pitchability guy. With the new bats this year, you throw strikes like he does; you put them in position to win. (Randy) McCurry's come back pretty good (from Tommy John surgery). His stuff's back—I saw him up to 92-93. He's got a bad delivery, so you do worry about that, but he's good.
"(Second baseman Davis) Duren had that great year last year, and he started slow this year, but he's come out of it. I like him as a prospect; he's a senior, but more than just a fill guy. He's a gap guy, he can steal a base, plays pretty good defense, puts the bat on the ball. (Third baseman Mark) Ginther is finally playing with more confidence—just looks more comfortable to me. The hits are coming; he's starting to get some big hits, showing up in the big games. Dane Phillips is swinging the bat well. He's got some power; he should be a pretty good draft for next year. The hit tool is his best tool, and he's OK behind the plate, a little arm strength.
"They definitely have a shot against Oklahoma. OU will run out three pretty good starters. They're more physical offensively and deeper pitching than Oklahoma State.
"(OU ace righty) Michael Rocha is a good senior sign, just because he throws strikes and competes, he's had success in a big conference. He doesn't wow you with any of his stuff, but he's done a really good job throwing strikes. His body's not good, and it's nothing plus, but throwing strikes is the main thing, and competing. He goes out and gives his team a chance to win. They've got a good offensive team, which you think helps him, but he doesn't give up any runs or hits anyway. Other arms on the team are better prospects, but if you're trying to win games, that's the guy. Everything's fringy—slider, changeup—but he can throw strikes with them and uses them well. He might touch a 90, but he'll pitch 87-88.
Burch Smith
"(Junior righty) Burch Smith has thrown well. He's doing a better job of throwing strikes, and he's up to 93-94 with a good slider, a change, showing some pitchability. He's got the good body, and he's done well. Dillon Overton, the freshman lefthander, he's helped them. He'll throw some velocity at you and a decent breaking ball. He's a projectable guy, and I think he'll just continue to get better.
"In the bullpen, Ryan Duke's been OK since he's been back. Tyson Seng has been throwing for them in the bullpen; Bobby Shore is in and out of the rotation and the bullpen. Then they have a lefty, Jordan Johns. That's the big difference: They're just deeper pitching-wise than Oklahoma State.
"(Third baseman Garrett) Buechele just hits. He's a good hitter and a bad athlete. He surprises you at third base, he makes some plays, his hands are OK, and he really knows how to play baseball. He's a baseball player, and he can hit. His draft status depends on the club. Teams that are big on athleticism will shy away, but maybe the stats people will jump on him. Seven home runs with these bats is impressive, but he's not a power guy at the next level, more of a gap-to-gap guy. He'll hit some home runs, but having that many surprises me. He hasn't hit one in a while.
"They mix and match, different lineups every day. Guys are in and out of the lineup. (Caleb) Bushyhead, the shortstop, has been solid. Tyler Ogle, the catcher, is having a really good year. (Cam) Seitzer seems like he's gotten hot the last couple weeks. Chris Ellison is a good ballplayer in center field—he can really run; he's like another leadoff hitter down there lower in the lineup. The corner outfielders, Cody Reine plays mostly in right, then left is mix and match with Casey Johnson and Max White, those guys. They've got a good team."
Scouting Report
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
The Bedlam rivalry between the Sooners and Cowboys is one of college baseball's best, but it had lost just a bit of its luster over the last two years, as Oklahoma State sunk to the bottom of the Big 12 and Oklahoma won each of the last two series. But the Cowboys are back in the Top 25 this weekend and sitting ahead of the Sooners in the conference standings—OSU is 8-4, while OU is 6-5. Both teams are also competing for chances to host a regional, so this weekend's series in Tulsa and Oklahoma City takes on even more importance. The Sooners won the first of two midweek meetings between the teams this year, 8-3 in Norman on April 5. A National League scout broke down the matchup.
"Coming into the season, I would say Oklahoma would have been the definite favorite in this series, but Oklahoma State's been playing very good. (OSU coach) Frank (Anderson) has got the Cowboys going. They've got a lot of the same type of guys they had last year, but they're playing better this year. Frank has got (lefty) Michael Strong throwing really well—sounds like they've done a very good job getting those guys going. They seem to be playing pretty good. (Righthander Chris) Marlowe is solid, throwing really well in the bullpen. Marlowe's got that plus-plus breaking ball, the great breaking ball. He throws it a lot, and there's nothing wrong with that because it's a very good pitch and it works, but he can run it up there to 94-95 with his fastball, too. He's just not very physical, and I think he might have some trouble in back-to-back days. But he's helped himself this year. With his size and his delivery, he's probably not a top 50 pick, but he could crawl up into the third round or so.
Andrew Heaney
"(Lefty Andrew) Heaney's solid—he's going to be a guy for next year. (Righthander Brad) Propst is throwing really well. Those four are the main guys. Heaney is a little like Hoby Milner at Texas—he'll touch a 91 or so with a good breaking ball, he can pitch a little bit, lefthanded. Propst is just a good senior type pitcher that throws strikes and competes, gives them a chance to win. He's not a big stuff guy, but a good pitchability guy. With the new bats this year, you throw strikes like he does; you put them in position to win. (Randy) McCurry's come back pretty good (from Tommy John surgery). His stuff's back—I saw him up to 92-93. He's got a bad delivery, so you do worry about that, but he's good.
"(Second baseman Davis) Duren had that great year last year, and he started slow this year, but he's come out of it. I like him as a prospect; he's a senior, but more than just a fill guy. He's a gap guy, he can steal a base, plays pretty good defense, puts the bat on the ball. (Third baseman Mark) Ginther is finally playing with more confidence—just looks more comfortable to me. The hits are coming; he's starting to get some big hits, showing up in the big games. Dane Phillips is swinging the bat well. He's got some power; he should be a pretty good draft for next year. The hit tool is his best tool, and he's OK behind the plate, a little arm strength.
"They definitely have a shot against Oklahoma. OU will run out three pretty good starters. They're more physical offensively and deeper pitching than Oklahoma State.
"(OU ace righty) Michael Rocha is a good senior sign, just because he throws strikes and competes, he's had success in a big conference. He doesn't wow you with any of his stuff, but he's done a really good job throwing strikes. His body's not good, and it's nothing plus, but throwing strikes is the main thing, and competing. He goes out and gives his team a chance to win. They've got a good offensive team, which you think helps him, but he doesn't give up any runs or hits anyway. Other arms on the team are better prospects, but if you're trying to win games, that's the guy. Everything's fringy—slider, changeup—but he can throw strikes with them and uses them well. He might touch a 90, but he'll pitch 87-88.
Burch Smith
"(Junior righty) Burch Smith has thrown well. He's doing a better job of throwing strikes, and he's up to 93-94 with a good slider, a change, showing some pitchability. He's got the good body, and he's done well. Dillon Overton, the freshman lefthander, he's helped them. He'll throw some velocity at you and a decent breaking ball. He's a projectable guy, and I think he'll just continue to get better.
"In the bullpen, Ryan Duke's been OK since he's been back. Tyson Seng has been throwing for them in the bullpen; Bobby Shore is in and out of the rotation and the bullpen. Then they have a lefty, Jordan Johns. That's the big difference: They're just deeper pitching-wise than Oklahoma State.
"(Third baseman Garrett) Buechele just hits. He's a good hitter and a bad athlete. He surprises you at third base, he makes some plays, his hands are OK, and he really knows how to play baseball. He's a baseball player, and he can hit. His draft status depends on the club. Teams that are big on athleticism will shy away, but maybe the stats people will jump on him. Seven home runs with these bats is impressive, but he's not a power guy at the next level, more of a gap-to-gap guy. He'll hit some home runs, but having that many surprises me. He hasn't hit one in a while.
"They mix and match, different lineups every day. Guys are in and out of the lineup. (Caleb) Bushyhead, the shortstop, has been solid. Tyler Ogle, the catcher, is having a really good year. (Cam) Seitzer seems like he's gotten hot the last couple weeks. Chris Ellison is a good ballplayer in center field—he can really run; he's like another leadoff hitter down there lower in the lineup. The corner outfielders, Cody Reine plays mostly in right, then left is mix and match with Casey Johnson and Max White, those guys. They've got a good team."