torre

Just saw this MLB draft projection from December for Tanner and commit Travis Sykora. Others have Tanner listed as a compensation pick from 29-34, Sykora remains in 1st round. Hope it comes true for Tanner. Like Bijan, great player, great person. 24. Braves: Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas A bit of a wild card here as Witt is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and it’s unclear if and when he’ll pitch in 2023. But the Braves, who took a pair of high school right-handers early last year, aren’t afraid of taking a risk, and a healthy Witt could be one of the most electric arms in the class. 25. Padres: Travis Sykora, RHP, Round Rock HS (Texas) It’s a bit of an easy mock card to play, having the Padres taking a high-risk/high-reward pick. But they’ve earned it, taking a high schooler with their first pick in six straight Drafts and selecting two prep arms with their first two picks last year. Sykora, a 6-foot-6 high schooler who throws 100 mph, almost makes too much sense here. https://www.mlb.com/news/mock-mlb-draft-2023

Below is an excerpt from an article last summer on MLB Prospects Live on Duce Robinson. Currently, he is not listed in the Top 100 Prospects but MLB could sign him with above slot bonus. He may have delayed his signing to see results of MLB draft in July and use draft position to increase his NIL bonus if taken early, or not. Depends on his priorities. There’s no denying Robinson’s talent, and pro scouts have taken notice, but the college athletics landscape might make it even more difficult for Major League Baseball to sway Robinson away from campus. With so much NIL money flooding college athletes’ bank accounts of late, Robinson is sure to have financial options wherever he goes to school, especially given his resume and pedigree. Realistically, unless a team is willing to throw Top-15 money at Robinson next summer, there’s an outside chance he’ll be able to make that much money in three years on campus through his likeness and the opportunities that come with it. That may be a bit presumptive on my part, especially with Robinson being a tight end and not a marquee quarterback name, but the point stands. Money will assuredly be offered his way. And this doesn’t even consider the money the NFL offers out of the gate. The first pick of the fourth round in the NFL Draft this year signed a four-year deal worth ~$4.1 million. Not to mention that player can become a free agent at 25/26 years old. $4.1 million is the slot bonus for the 15th pick in the MLB Draft, and that player likely wouldn’t become a free agent until the age of 27 at the earliest. The financial gap is obviously vast. https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/8/17/duce-robinson-is-a-prodigious-two-sport-star-and-an-opportunity-for-mlb

No longer on roster. Her experience and contributions will be missed. Had a few key moments within that high ERA. Staff will now be Czech, Morgan, Simpson, and Gutierrez. Gutierrez looked good in the Fall.

Good to see Sark at the celebration of Gus' life. Link is worth a read. USC and El Camino College baseball[edit] After a standout baseball and football career at West High School in Torrance, California, Sarkisian's size (6', 165 lb) did not attract any college football offers. He began his collegiate athletic career in 1992 at the University of Southern California (USC) as a non-scholarship middle infielder on the Trojans baseball team. He struggled playing NCAA Division I baseball and transferred after a semester to El Camino College, a two-year community college adjacent to his hometown of Torrance, where he played shortstop. steve sarkisian wiki - Search (bing.com) Cliff Gustafson remembered as baseball icon, family man, music lover (statesman.com)

Nice story on Phil Dawson, recently honored at the NCAA Convention in San Antonio. If not aware, Phil is the head coach at Hyde Park. Led them to an 8-3 record last year and the TAPPS playoffs. (excerpts) Seems wherever he goes, success always follows him around. Funny how that works. It caught up with the former Texas and NFL place-kicker again here at the NCAA Convention on Wednesday night when he became the first Longhorns football player ever to be named a Silver Anniversary Award recipient for impacts in community and careers. He was honored alongside Peyton Manning and other wildly accomplished athletes a quarter-century after their collegiate careers. (Virginia kick) Curiously enough, head coach John Mackovic immediately called for the kick team without blinking. His kicker was equally confident. “I was young and dumb. I really was,” Dawson said. “Maybe I was borderline arrogant because I thought I was going to make every kick. It runs deep. Coach Mackovic was very decisive, and that helped my confidence.” That said, it didn’t help when, as Dawson was leaving the sidelines before the kick, UT’s offensive line coach yelled at Mackovic, “What the hell are you doing, John?” Making history, that’s what. Dawson made some more the next year when the Longhorns beat the Aggies in College Station to clinch a spot in the Sugar Bowl. “Whoever won that game was going to go,” Dawson said. “As a Texas kid who grew up hating the Aggies, that was big. I still remember the bus ride home. It doesn’t get much better than beating the Aggies in their place in a fantastic environment. That’s on my list.” Football made UT, NFL kicker Phil Dawson a star; now he's giving back (statesman.com)

KXAN reports service will be televised on LHN. It is on the TV guide this morning. The service for former Texas baseball coach Cliff Gustafson, who died Jan. 2 at 91 years old, is set for 3 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The doors will open at 2:30 p.m. and the service will be broadcast on Longhorn Network. https://www.kxan.com/sports-general/horns-report/celebration-of-life-for-coach-gus-set-for-jan-12/

Brandon will be 35 in April. Perhaps the last ride. A great Longhorn. TORONTO -- First baseman Brandon Belt and the Toronto Blue Jays finalized a $9.3 million, one-year contract on Tuesday. Belt, 34, had spent his previous 12 big league seasons with the San Francisco Giants. He was limited to 78 games last year because of a right knee injury that required season-ending surgery. "As we continue to improve upon a strong Blue Jays roster, the elite offensive skills and veteran presence of Brandon is an addition that will greatly complement this team," general manager Ross Atkins said in a statement. "His consistency and experience on the game's biggest stages make him a great addition culturally and within our clubhouse." Belt gives the Blue Jays a left-handed bat who likely will serve primarily as a designated hitter and a backup to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35421429/toronto-blue-jays-get-brandon-belt-1-year-93-million-deal

Hope LHN televises and the video board is working. The family of Cliff Gustafson will hold a celebration of the life of the legendary Texas baseball coach next week at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Gustafson died early Monday of congestive heart failure at age 91. The services will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the stadium where Gustafson recorded many of his 1,466 victories as the then-winningest coach in college baseball history. He coached for 29 seasons and won two national championships and 22 Southwest Conference titles. The funeral will be open to the public — “even Aggies,” his daughters said — and will be followed by a reception at the Cliff Gustafson Pavilion in the right-field stands. Coach Gus, as he was known to Longhorn Nation, will be laid to rest at the Texas State Cemetery in a private family ceremony at a later date, his daughter Jill Gustafson Balderama said. Associate Pastor Ken Baldwin of the Real Life church in Austin will preside over the service. The three Kyle sisters will provide the music. Former Longhorns Keith Moreland and Ty Harrington will eulogize Gustafson and his grandson, Scott Shepperd, will speak on behalf of the family. University rules do not allow a casket on campus, so the family will choose to display his No. 18 jersey at home plate. Afterward, Gustafson’s daughter Jann Gustafson Shepperd said, “Yeah, (Texas baseball coach) David Pierce should probably just have a scrimmage on the field. Daddy would like that.” Following the ceremony, Longhorns super-fan Scott Wilson will lead the crowd in a rendition of “The Eyes of Texas” as Longhorn Nation says goodbye to a legend. https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2023/01/04/former-texas-coach-cliff-gustafson-funeral-services-disch-falk-field/69778836007/

RIP, Coach Gus.

Not exactly. 14 transfers this year in key positions. And Duggan always mentions the culture change Dykes instilled. “Recruiting is not always about finding the bigger, fastest guys,” Dykes said. “Sometimes it’s about finding, especially from a transfer perspective, somebody who can come in and move the needle in a room.” TCU brought in 14 total transfers this season, coming up big in positions of need. The fact that the transfers were coming in with a blank slate just like a new coaching staff helped too. https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/tcu-horned-frogs/2022/12/27/how-tcu-sonny-dykes-used-the-transfer-portal-to-move-the-needle-toward-cfb-playoff/

Hope the parking for you and your Dad worked out OK ?

Someone photoshop Chris Beard.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/23/supply-chain-managers-expect-problems-continue-2024.html Disappointing article about the future of the supply chain. Let's hope this is over pessimistic and relief is found. (excerpt) More than half of logistics managers at major companies and trade groups say they do not expect the supply chain to return to normal until 2024 or after, according to a new CNBC survey. Sixty-one percent of respondents said their current supply chain is not operating normally, compared with 32% that said it is functioning normally. When questioned when they see a return to normalcy, 22% were unsure, 19% said 2023, and 30% said 2024. Another 29% said in or after 2025, or never.

Boerne vs Calallen Boerne 28-12, 5 min till half.

KSt 28 WVU 19 end of 1Q ESPN+

Not sure of timeline, I think you can transfer before completion of 2 years. AFA just had a baseball player transfer to LSU.

Steele vs Lake Travis. Heard SA TV was broadcasting.

Thoughts and prayers, lilMac ! Some excellent advice above.

Was Breece Hall right ?

iirc, schedule has been released early December. Ticket info seems to be later this year, may want to call ticket office 512-471-3333. Look forward to your game photos (was you, if not mistaken ?)

He is an expert in recruiting for exact need, not wasting slots, and going out of state for key players.

Per TV guide, LHN replay at 9PM tonight and noon Sat. Likely other replays later. Others may address the hitting and hopefully add comments on all. Pitching did not look bad. Pierce was concerned about walks per LHN interview. Tole (Ark transfer) looks like the real deal. Disappointed that Sthele did not show improvement, really needs some off speed, more sharp breaking stuff. iirc, Starters, key pitchers from last year did not throw except Sthele. Grubbs, freshman, looks good. Guillemette seems to be solid at catcher. Not really challenged with steals, seems to handle pitchers well, had a double. Not sure of the leading backup, likely Schuessler and will be pressed by Galvan. Flores (3B) and Thomas as advertised. As @BillyGoatHill mentioned above, Thomas looks real comfortable at 1B and his footwork is excellent. Keep an eye on Jayden Duplantier, looked slick at 2B, scrappy hitter with excellent speed. Witt is coaching the Returners, Harrison the Newcomers. Harrison mentioned in LHN interview he has a sore elbow and is in rehab with limited throwing. Says it will not need surgery. We have seen that movie before. Sore elbows seem to always lead to TJ, hopefully not in his case.

Good comments in the OP. Certainly not an insider or BMD, but heard from key people in the know that Bill Powers was very key in the Strong hire, very key.

Games are said to be on LHN but not sure the current LHN TV guide is correct for the Fri and Sun games.