Exactly, and they've been lucky that scouts haven't been able to see in these non-draftees what Graham and his coaches/scouts have. There is nothing wrong about that comment, even though it looks like I was probably speaking too much for RIET.
Lucky in what sense? That other schools weren't smart enough to recruit Rice's two best pitchers? The reason why I hesitate to say Rice is "lucky" is because they've been doing this ever since Wayne has been at the helm. If Niemann and Townsend were the first two sleepers who have developed under Rice, then I'd be more inclined to say it was "lucky". After 8+ years of this, I think it's more intentional than lucky. To my memory, Adam Hale is the only top-tier recruit Rice has really signed in the last few years. Rice did get lucky that Hale, who was a projected 3rd-5th rounder, went undrafted.
If you hit a batter and they score, that's an earned run. If you walk a player and they score, that's an earned run. When you throw 85 mph you better hit the strike zone. A crafty lefthander who can't find the plate = worthless.
Lucky that the MLB scouts didn't see something in the players that Graham did. I don't understand what's so hard to understand about that point. Just like we were lucky that no one took Cuttino before us or Seattle was lucky that no one took Lewis before them or San Antonio was lucky that no one took Ginobli before them... It's not a knock on Rice's program at all. It's a compliment that Graham does a better job of seeing potential than MLB scouts do.
Well, I guess I'm more inclined to think that Graham is a genius, when it comes to recruiting kids for COLLEGE potential than college/MLB scouts. If Graham were just an average talent evaluator, then I'd be more inclined to say that Graham was lucky to strike oil with Townsend and Niemann. Yes, a little luck helped Rice get them, in the fact that they are lucky to have Graham...
Chris George is the player that you are thinking of, kidrock, who was signed by Rice and then signed with the Royals. He has pitched a lot this season.
A friendly wager since I only bet money on College Football. Whoever wins gets to change the other person's signature for 3 months. The wager will be for the 1st rematch game (assuming Texas beats Miami- which is not a given). If UT holds Rice to 4 or less earned runs, I win. If Rice scores more than 4 earned runs, you win.
So, Rice is lucky in recruiting when they win, and Rice is just overmatched when they lose. hmmm. no matter how you slice, those are the words of a sore loser. "Damn, had Rice not been so lucky with sophmore pitchers developing, we would have beat them." What does that mean? Nothing. It means you are a transparent sore loser trying to cling to faulty logic that the best recruits always win, and if they don't, then it was luck that the other team developed with undrafted talent. No one calls Wayne Graham's recruiting lucky. Just you. btw: the hardest thrower is Aardsma, the closer. So, I guess the Owls are lucky thrice. Oh wait, their best pitcher is injured (Steven Herce) who also held UT to 2 runs last year. So, they are lucky four times over, except no one says they are lucky for Herce being injured. Graham has had several 94 mph pitchers and #1 picks. But it's just luck. btw: do you really believe that teaching mechanics of a proper arm swing, balance, timing of release, extension, legs...all that cannot gain velocity. You really believe 94mph is developed by age 17 or it just some destiny that is not recognizeable to scouts. That's laughable.
Can you show me where he's crying? Didn't the Rice pitcher have his toenails painted (or was that someone else? I was at a sports bar, couldn't hear)? What does that say about Rice fans?
