2023 Texas Baseball

[hobbes2702 13049]

Just now, Rickylovesweed said:

We can't keep benching FR that go through prototypical FR struggles. Or else we are going to see players like Kash every year producing at other schools in their 2nd or 3rd years. 

 

This is Texas. We don’t play for next year here.

[Rickylovesweed 14533]

Just now, hobbes2702 said:

This is Texas. We don’t play for next year here.

This made sense last year when our lineup was loaded. It doesn't this season when we have upperclassmen that aren't hitting worth a shit. 

It's just a bad decision calculus. Why run off talented FR for older guys that aren't hitting? IMO Thomas, Duplantier, and Flores are all eventually going to be very good players. Part of coaching is trying to keep those guys on the roster for the future. 

[hobbes2702 13049]

13 minutes ago, Rickylovesweed said:

This made sense last year when our lineup was loaded. It doesn't this season when we have upperclassmen that aren't hitting worth a shit. 

It's just a bad decision calculus. Why run off talented FR for older guys that aren't hitting? IMO Thomas, Duplantier, and Flores are all eventually going to be very good players. Part of coaching is trying to keep those guys on the roster for the future. 

Because non of those guys are better than the players in front of them this year.

Who says we are running off anyone? All those guys have gotten play time this year and didn’t produce in the chances. We aren’t going to sacrifice the current quality of the lineup or defense to get someone reps for next year. 

Flores is hitting 150 in 17 games.

Duplantier is fielding 750.

Thomas plays every game.

Im sure they will eventually be good players. They are currently freshman and playing like it. 
 

A bigger part of coaching is winning. DP has gotten a winning lineup and defense on the field for 15 straight games. He seems to be pretty good at this despite some areas the could use improvement.

Edited March 30, 2023 by hobbes2702

[Hookem2147 21345]

56 minutes ago, Spaceman_Spiff said:

I’d probably put in Carlson, and replace Thomas (Powell to 1B) before anything else. Daly is who he is, but the defensive dropoff with another SS is too big to risk. And we’re struggling already defensively. It’s not like Daly is the one weak link in our lineup.

It took us a long time to find a reliable 3B defensively and Powell has finally settled in there. I don’t think I’m messing with that and Thomas has been better at 1B and has put together better at bats the last 7-10 days.

If anything they just need to slide Carlson into the DH spot. Galvan is too feast or famine at the plate right now imo to justify DH at bats when he isn’t catching. I do like that they are giving Galvan 1-2 starts a week though behind the plate. He is definitely the catcher of the future.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Hookem2147

[Rickylovesweed 14533]

12 minutes ago, hobbes2702 said:

Because non of those guys are better than the players in front of them this year.

Who says we are running off anyone? All those guys have gotten play time this year and didn’t produce in the chances. We aren’t going to sacrifice the current quality of the lineup or defense to get someone reps for next year. 

Flores is hitting 150 in 17 games.

Duplantier is fielding 750.

Thomas plays every game.

Im sure they will eventually be good players. They are currently freshman and playing like it. 
 

A bigger part of coaching is winning. DP has gotten a winning lineup and defense on the field for 15 straight games. He seems to be pretty good at this despite some areas the could use improvement.

I don't have a huge issue with how Pierce has used the young guys this year. Thomas is starting and he attempted to play Flores until it was obvious that Flores wasn't ready at this level. The sample with Duplantier is too small to really reach a conclusion and I think his upside as a hitter is much higher than Daly. My only small gripe would be for Duplantier to be getting more at bats over Daily. 

Galvan is also getting a lot of starts now in the DH role. I think Pierce has actually realized he needed to do a better job of retaining younger players. 

"Running players off" was probably bad wording but it's just a reality now in college sports. Talented players transfer if they don't get playing time. 

 

 

Edited March 30, 2023 by Rickylovesweed

[Had Enough 2083]

This is Texas. We don’t play for next year here.

Whether you like it or not, you always have to make decisions with a consideration to next year.

But just because you consider those implications that does not mean you are conceding anything for this season.

Injuries can occur. Spot duty can provide the difference in the season. Almost all the roster needs to be engaged for the duration of the season. If the freshmen have talent, they can contribute this season.

[Valmy77 13251]

I am absolutely against benching Thomas or Galvan. They both will be great, you can see it. They just need some experience.

Somebody needs to remind Thomas he is a slugger and he needs to hit the ball, not hope for walks.

[Valmy77 13251]

37 minutes ago, hobbes2702 said:

This is Texas. We don’t play for next year here.

We are playing for this year. These guys will be smashing homers by May.

[zlavydra 2123]

1 hour ago, Valmy77 said:

Carlson has been in the dog house since the Fullerton series. Not sure what is going on there.

No kidding. Maybe he did say something moronic to that ump that caused him to get tossed in Fullerton, and Pierce has been pissed since?  Pure conjecture, but it's hard to comprehend why he can't get any playing time at all.

[Fletch 5800]

2 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

Didn't O'Dowd come in a couple games last year at SS in blowouts? Seems like a very easy solution is to slide him to SS and put Duplantier at 2nd. 

Either way, I don't really buy the argument because Daly is far from an elite defensive player at SS to begin with. 

 

Yeah Daly is a great 2nd baseman. Switch it up and see what happens. Fuck it

[Fletch 5800]

2 hours ago, Spaceman_Spiff said:

I’d probably put in Carlson, and replace Thomas (Powell to 1B) before anything else. Daly is who he is, but the defensive dropoff with another SS is too big to risk. And we’re struggling already defensively. Its not like Daly is the one weak link in our lineup.

Thomas has been really improving lately. He's come up clutch the last few games. Hes finally getting comfortable at first and in the box

[Horn80 6131]

10 hours ago, hobbes2702 said:

This is Texas. We don’t play for next year here.

Alex, I will take $500 for Universities not named Texas A&M.

[Biff Tannen 45695]

11 hours ago, Valmy77 said:

Somebody needs to remind Thomas he is a slugger and he needs to hit the ball, not hope for walks.

He reminds me of Kash from last year.  Or Jared Kelenic on the Mariners (shudder).  Just looks lost.

[ztejas 43524]

11 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

This made sense last year when our lineup was loaded. It doesn't this season when we have upperclassmen that aren't hitting worth a shit. 

It's just a bad decision calculus. Why run off talented FR for older guys that aren't hitting? IMO Thomas, Duplantier, and Flores are all eventually going to be very good players. Part of coaching is trying to keep those guys on the roster for the future. 

This team has won 15 straight games. If Duplantier and Flores think their PAs are more valuable than being on a winning baseball team with integrity and meritocracy then they can fuck off. When someone like Kash leaves it says more about that kid's character than it does about Texas baseball. Regardless of what he winds up slashing somewhere else. 

[Rickylovesweed 14533]

51 minutes ago, ztejas said:

This team has won 15 straight games. If Duplantier and Flores think their PAs are more valuable than being on a winning baseball team with integrity and meritocracy then they can fuck off. When someone like Kash leaves it says more about that kid's character than it does about Texas baseball. Regardless of what he winds up slashing somewhere else. 

I have no problem with this line of thinking when the player in question to be replaced is a good player. That isn’t Daly. 

It’s been 2 years of hitting around .240 with zero power. Texas is playing winning baseball in despite of Daly. 

[MuellerHorn 4256]

FCB on Texas' 15-game winning streak. Actually a good breakdown of the teams'/player-by-player progress:

Spoiler

The Insider: UT baseball's 15-game win streak

WHAT TO MAKE OF TEXAS BASEBALL’S 15-GAME WIN STREAK

(Photo: Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman, USA TODAY Sports)

The 21st-ranked Longhorns will take a nation-leading 15-game win streak into this weekend’s series at Oklahoma State, so let’s dissect the streak.

After opening the season 4-7, the Longhorns had 11 straight games against lesser programs that currently have a combined record of 69-77: Sam Houston (16-10); Mercer (16-9); a three-game sweep of Manhattan (6-16); a two-game sweep of North Dakota State (5-19); a three-game sweep of New Orleans (13-11) and a win over Incarnate Word (13-12).

David Pierce scheduled the season that way anticipating this year’s team would need time to gel after replacing seven position players, two starting pitchers and some key relievers and with a new hitting/infield coach in Steve Rodriguez and pitching coach in Woody Williams.

And that scheduling appears to be paying off. By the time Texas opened conference play at home against Texas Tech last weekend, the Longhorns had some confidence and are continuing to figure out some roles.

Let’s go position by position:

1B: Freshman Jared Thomas has started 23 of 26 games at first base and has been a liability at the plate (.227) before coming to life with the bat the last two games — going 5-for-9 with two RBIs and two runs scored in victories against Texas Tech and A&M after going 2-for-20 in the previous six games. 

Thomas has two errors on the season but, against Texas A&M Tuesday, he made an athletic catch in the eighth inning of a high throw from catcher Garret Guillemette after a dropped third strike for the final out when the Aggies had two men on.

2B: Junior Jack O’Dowd has started 25 of 26 games at second base and has been solid in the field (.971, with three errors) while gradually improving as a hitter (.284) this season. Through the first seven games of the season, O’Dowd was batting .167 but then went on an 11-game hitting streak. O’Dowd has been batting sixth, and the bottom half of the lineup could definitely use some juice at the plate.

SS: Junior Mitchell Daly has started 24 of 26 games at shortstop, replacing Trey Faltine, after starting at second base last season. Through 26 games last year, Faltine had turned 13 double plays with four errors, while Daly has 16 double plays with three errors. Where Daly, who is batting seventh in the lineup, needs to pick it up as at the plate. He was batting .311 through the first 18 games but is just 2-of-24 (.083) in the last eight games.

3B: Fourth-year junior Peyton Powell is easily the surprise story of the season for the Longhorns.

Powell came to Texas four years ago as a catcher and got stuck behind first-team All-Big 12 star Silas Ardoin. Used sparingly as a designated hitter his first three seasons at UT, David Pierce decided to start him at first base in Game 1 at Cal-State Fullerton, and Powell went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a home run, and two runs scored.

In Game 2 against Cal-State Fullerton, Powell started at third base in place of Tanner Carlson and went 2-for-5 in a 4-2 win, and then Pierce stuck with Powell at third in Game 3 against the Titans as Powell went 2-for-5, including an RBI double in the 10th inning that put Texas up 4-3. But the Longhorns’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead in a 5-4 loss.

Powell hasn’t left the lineup at third since, batting a team-best .416 with five home runs while fielding at a .984 clip with only one error.

Powell batted eighth in Game 1 against Fullerton; batted fifth in Game 2 and has now made a home batting in the two hole for the Longhorns.

What might be most impressive is how patient Powell is at the plate, striking out only six times in 77 at-bats.

😄After 24 starts, junior USC transfer catcher Garret Guillemette is settling in behind the plate for the Longhorns and is becoming one of the team’s vocal leaders (on a team that lacks vocal leaders).

It was going to be hard to find a defensive catcher on par with 2022 first-team All-Big 12 selection Silas Ardoin, who caught baserunners stealing 13 times through the first 26 games of last season with two errors while batting .284 with two home runs.

Guillemette, who has caught 6-of-12 base runners stealing with two errors, is batting .314 with three home runs and 17 RBIs.

LF: Redshirt junior TCU transfer Porter Brown is evolving into the player David Pierce was hoping for, fielding at a .976 clip with one error (he dropped a line shot against A&M Tuesday) while providing some offensive punch at the plate.

A .286 hitter while playing in parts of four seasons at TCU, Brown is batting .363 with six home runs and a team-best 28 RBI. Brown seemed to want to make sure his old coach at TCU — Jim Schlossnagle, who is now at A&M — knew Brown was doing just fine at Texas — going 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-RBI double in the first inning, in UT’s 5-2 win over the Aggies on Tuesday.

CF: Fifth-year senior center fielder and lead-off man Eric Kennedy is off to his best season as a Longhorn. 

Using his blazing speed to patrol center field at a .980 clip while beating out throws on infield hits, Kennedy is batting a career-best .374 with seven home runs and has an 11-game hitting streak going into UT’s weekend series at Oklahoma State. 

Like Brown, Kennedy had a little extra motivation against the Aggies on Tuesday night. Kennedy was 0-3 against A&M (the 2020 meeting was canceled due to COVID-19), but he clearly wasn’t going to end his lengthy Longhorn career without a win over the Aggies. Like a man possessed, Kennedy was 4-for-6 with two runs scored as Texas ended a four-game losing streak to the Aggies as well as snapped a four-game losing streak to A&M in College Station dating to 2011.

RF: After getting off to a painfully slow start at the plate, junior Dylan Campbell, who has made all 26 starts in right field, has finally put a charge into this team with his bat.

Pierce remained patient with Campbell, who is hitting No. 3 in the lineup, when Campbell got off to a 5-for-35 start (.143) to the season through the first 12 games with three RBI and one home run. 

The last 14 games, Campbell is 20-for-59 (.339) with 14 RBI and four home runs.

The surge in confidence has also brought out Campbell’s vocal leadership (on a team that lacks vocal leadership).

DH: This is a major hole in the lineup for the Longhorns. About the only time the designated hitter isn’t batting ninth in the lineup is when Pierce puts freshman Rylan Galvan in at catcher and plugs Guillemette, who bats fourth, into the DH role.

Galvan (.189) has been the DH the last two games. 

At the beginning of the season, the DH was freshman Jayden Duplantier (.269), then it was freshman Jalin Flores (.150). Freshman Max Belyeu (.273) has gotten a couple starts at DH and redshirt sophomore Cam Constantine (.000, 0-for-10) has a start as well.

The hope was Duplantier or Flores would grab the DH role and run with it. But that hasn’t happened yet.

Starting pitching: Junior lefty Lucas Gordon (2-0, 1.65 ERA) has been rock solid as the Friday night starter. 

Travis Sthele (2-2, 4.55 ERA) moved from Sunday starter to Saturday starter when Zane “The Nightmare” Morehouse was moved into a closing role in mid-March. 

Sthele had an outstanding outing against New Orleans in his first Saturday start on March 18, giving up one run on two hits in six innings of work with nine strikeouts. But Sthele lasted only 3.1 innings against Texas Tech on Saturday after giving up three runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts before being replaced by Johnson.

New Sunday starter, USC 6-foot-8 transfer Charlie Hurley (2-0, 1.86 ERA), shows a lot of promise. Hurley was a little wild in his start against Tech last weekend, hitting three batters in three different innings. But Hurley gave up only one run on one hit in four innings of work with four strikeouts to go along with the three walks/hit batters.

Tuesday night starter LeBarron “LBJ” Johnson (3-1, 2.97 ERA) could easily slide into a weekend starter role.

He has 30.1 innings pitched and 34 strikeouts, second only to Gordon’s 32.2 innings and 41 Ks. With the help of pitching coach Woody Williams, LBJ has added a split-finger fastball that was dominant against then-No. 1 LSU as LBJ pitched five scoreless innings, giving up only three hits with nine strikeouts. LBJ also got the win over A&M Tuesday.

Relief pitchers: Rice sophomore lefty transfer David Shaw (1-1, 1.86 ERA) is the reliever Pierce trusts the most when the Longhorns suddenly find themselves in a jam. Shaw is the fireman, because he doesn’t seem to get flustered if he parachutes into the middle of an inning with runners on base.

Righty Arkansas transfer Heston Tole (0-0, 3.86 ERA) seems to be the first option out of the bullpen on Fridays when starter Lucas Gordon finishes his work.

Johnson may be the Tuesday night starter, but he’s also the top long relief option out of the bullpen on the weekend and tends to be the reliever for Saturday starter Travis Sthele (2-2, 4.55 ERA), who has lacked consistency.

Closer: Zane “The Nightmare” Morehouse (4-0, 3.12 ERA with three saves) moved out of the Saturday starter role when he emerged as the team’s best option as the back end of the bullpen.

Morehouse picked up the save against A&M on Tuesday night after throwing scoreless eighth and ninth innings with three strikeouts and two walks, including a hit batsman.

Top three reasons Texas will keep winning:

No. 1: The top five batters in the lineup — Eric Kennedy (.374), Peyton Powell (.416), Dylan Campbell (.266), Garret Guillemette (.314) and Porter Brown (.363) — continue to rake.

No. 2: UT’s starting pitchers — Lucas Gordon, Travis Sthele, Charlie Hurley and LeBarron Johnson — continue to get better and more consistent.

No. 3: The bullpen continues to develop more depth behind Zane Morehouse, David Shaw and Heston Tole.

Top three reasons Texas won’t keep winning:

No. 1: The bottom half of the batting lineup — the No. 6 through No. 9 hitters — must pick it up, and a designated hitter needs to emerge.

No. 2: Texas needs more consistency from its bullpen from relievers not named LBJ, David Shaw, Heston Tole and Zane Morehouse.

No. 3: If Texas hits some adversity, and the confidence built up while beating lesser opponents doesn’t last.

The Bottom Line: The Longhorns (19-7, 3-0 Big 12) could very well go struggle on the road at Oklahoma State (20-6, 4-2) this weekend. The Cowboys, who were picked to finish second in the Big 12 behind TCU (16-9, 4-2), are the No. 2 hitting team in the league at .314 and have an ace starter in junior righty Isaac Stebens (3-0, 1.88 ERA).

The confidence and chemistry the team was able to build while feasting on 11 lesser opponents after starting 4-7 now has to be tested on the road. This will be UT’s first weekend series away from Disch-Falk Field since the Longhorns went 1-2 at Cal State Fullerton in early March.

To compete for the Big 12 title, teams have to win at home and steal wins — any wins — on the road (and avoid being swept).

Pierce had some early growing pains ironing out the communication from coach-to-coach and from coach-to-player, including three players being picked off base in a 4-2 home loss to Indiana — a game Pierce called one of the most embarrassing of his coaching career.

But things seem to be clicking now between Pierce, Rodriguez and Williams.

 

[ztejas 43524]

Just now, Rickylovesweed said:

I have no problem with this line of thinking when the player in question to be replaced is a good player. That isn’t Daly. 

It’s been 2 years of hitting around .240 with zero power. Texas is playing winning baseball in despite of Daly. 

Fair enough. But he's pretty good on D (even though he isn't a good SS - but that isn't his fault) and his OPS is okay. I'd be fine if we start pinch hitting for him late. 

If he could get hot for a few weeks he could wind back up with some respectable numbers on the season. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21913]

I can't see tinkering with our middle infield going into the OSU series.  That seems like a bad idea to me.

[Hookem2147 21345]

OSU moving Watts-Brown up a day

 

[HenryJames 66135]

 

[WBT 20645]

Well this would be fun.  Florida can choke away a home regional with the best of them to let us host the super too.

Gainesville, Fla.		Austin
1. (3) Florida^		1. (14) Texas^
2. Florida Gulf Coast*		2. Texas-San Antonio*
3. Florida State		3. Texas State
4. Bethune-Cookman*		4. Sam Houston State*

[Had Enough 2083]

This team has won 15 straight games. If Duplantier and Flores think their PAs are more valuable than being on a winning baseball team with integrity and meritocracy then they can fuck off. When someone like Kash leaves it says more about that kid's character than it does about Texas baseball. Regardless of what he winds up slashing somewhere else. 

I think we need to be careful here. The dynamics of college athletics has changed yet baseball still has 11.7 scholarships, right? Money is important. Maybe more so than ever. With respect to Kash, money was the reason or at least a contributing factor that he left per Pierce. If you don’t play, that can impact next years dollars but also pro prospects. If you have legit pro prospects, you simply can’t risk a second unproductive year.

Not everyone is a fit everywhere. And there are absolutely situations that are not ideal for a particular players skill set. If a coach doesn’t show confidence in a player, that player likely isn’t going to play with that confidence. There are a number of factors that may cause someone to leave a situation with character being well down the list.

I value loyalty probably more than most. But we got lots of transfers. Does that mean they have character issues? Of course not.

Take it or not, but I’ve been reflective of the impact of coaching, their decision making and the impact of those decisions in basically an advisory role over a player/athlete and their career. Good people often making terrible decisions with potentially significant consequences. And of course the player/athlete also shoot themselves in the foot quite often. You also can be a good/great coach and fall short of doing your best for all your athletes.

Bottom line. Sports/athletics is too emotional to allow opportunities to pass that you simply cannot redo. The player has to own their decisions because they’ll live with it and let’s be honest the coach won’t have that emotional attachment for each player to do everything in their power to help them achieve ultimate success.

Just this week I’ve had discussions with two different high school parents about questionable coaching decisions regarding their kids. It happens at likely all levels in spite of coaches success being tied to their athletes. I’ve had a pretty good look into youth and high school athletics here recently and that’s probably made me a bit more pro player in doing what you need to do for yourself.

[Valmy77 13251]

All 11 people at D1Baseball picked OSU to win the series this weekend. Do they know something I don't?

[totallynotabuttpirate 5400]

11 minutes ago, Valmy77 said:

All 11 people at D1Baseball picked OSU to win the series this weekend. Do they know something I don't?

[Noogman 161]

4 hours ago, HenryJames said:

 

Aggy getting sent out to Stanford would be fucking awesome.

[jimmyjazz 46001]

1 hour ago, Valmy77 said:

All 11 people at D1Baseball picked OSU to win the series this weekend. Do they know something I don't?

It's in Stillwater and OSU is ranked higher than us?

[Valmy77 13251]

7 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

It's in Stillwater and OSU is ranked higher than us?

Sure. And they said our pitching couldn't stop their offense.

But they just lost 8-0 to DBU and we just swept a team that beat them. I thought we at least had a decent shot. Just surprised not even the usual contrarians thought we could pull it out.

Edited March 31, 2023 by Valmy77

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2738]

Does this team lack vocal leaders?  I can't tell..

[closetojumping 62765]

11 hours ago, Had Enough said:

I think we need to be careful here. The dynamics of college athletics has changed yet baseball still has 11.7 scholarships, right? Money is important. Maybe more so than ever. With respect to Kash, money was the reason or at least a contributing factor that he left per Pierce. If you don’t play, that can impact next years dollars but also pro prospects. If you have legit pro prospects, you simply can’t risk a second unproductive year.

Not everyone is a fit everywhere. And there are absolutely situations that are not ideal for a particular players skill set. If a coach doesn’t show confidence in a player, that player likely isn’t going to play with that confidence. There are a number of factors that may cause someone to leave a situation with character being well down the list.

I value loyalty probably more than most. But we got lots of transfers. Does that mean they have character issues? Of course not.

Take it or not, but I’ve been reflective of the impact of coaching, their decision making and the impact of those decisions in basically an advisory role over a player/athlete and their career. Good people often making terrible decisions with potentially significant consequences. And of course the player/athlete also shoot themselves in the foot quite often. You also can be a good/great coach and fall short of doing your best for all your athletes.

Bottom line. Sports/athletics is too emotional to allow opportunities to pass that you simply cannot redo. The player has to own their decisions because they’ll live with it and let’s be honest the coach won’t have that emotional attachment for each player to do everything in their power to help them achieve ultimate success.

Just this week I’ve had discussions with two different high school parents about questionable coaching decisions regarding their kids. It happens at likely all levels in spite of coaches success being tied to their athletes. I’ve had a pretty good look into youth and high school athletics here recently and that’s probably made me a bit more pro player in doing what you need to do for yourself.

The post you quoted is jaw-droppingly terrrible. I forgot that poster existed, but now, now I remember. Good lord. 

[ztejas 43524]

26 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

The post you quoted is jaw-droppingly terrrible. I forgot that poster existed, but now, now I remember. Good lord. 

[Helobious 9464]

On 3/30/2023 at 9:33 AM, ztejas said:

This team has won 15 straight games. If Duplantier and Flores think their PAs are more valuable than being on a winning baseball team with integrity and meritocracy then they can fuck off. When someone like Kash leaves it says more about that kid's character than it does about Texas baseball. Regardless of what he winds up slashing somewhere else. 

It’s not little league anymore. Playing time = $$$$. 

[MuellerHorn 4256]

Huge game tonight, fellas. Gordon has been pitching lights out and the bats have come alive a little bit. Take game one and I feel really good about taking the weekend.

[ztejas 43524]

6 minutes ago, Helobious said:

It’s not little league anymore. Playing time = $$$$. 

Not if you aren't playing well. Flores has 40 ABs with a .452 OPS. As it stands he doesn't deserve more at bats. I'm not sure how this concept is controversial.

[Had Enough 2083]

The post you quoted is jaw-droppingly terrrible. I forgot that poster existed, but now, now I remember. Good lord. 

He’s got spirit and seems to be pretty well informed on the team and engaged in the program succeeding so I’d say he’s a net positive.

I’m just the bitch of a poster that is counter to the many “he sucks and should never play here” posters. And I’ll damn near always hope for success for dudes leaving the program unless they leave a fiery mess on their way out. You may have forgotten I’m that guy.

I figure we’ve all got passion for the program and that comes out differently on the boards. That’s some of the draw I suppose.

We’re going to lose our share of transfers, but we’re positioned to end up a net winner. Hard to fault guys making moves they feel are in their best interest particularly when they’ve only got 3-4 years left.

[ztejas 43524]

4 minutes ago, Had Enough said:

He’s got spirit and seems to be pretty well informed on the team and engaged in the program succeeding so I’d say he’s a net positive.

I’m just the bitch of a poster that is counter to the many “he sucks and should never play here” posters. And I’ll damn near always hope for success for dudes leaving the program unless they leave a fiery mess on their way out. You may have forgotten I’m that guy.

I figure we’ve all got passion for the program and that comes out differently on the boards. That’s some of the draw I suppose.

We’re going to lose our share of transfers, but we’re positioned to end up a net winner. Hard to fault guys making moves they feel are in their best interest particularly when they’ve only got 3-4 years left.

I think a lot of us are harsh on Kash because it would be nice if he was hitting what he's hitting at Tech at Texas. 

I don't understand why he thought he was going to get significant playtime behind the lineup we had last season. And then he didn't travel to Omaha with the team. And then he left for Tech despite having the opportunity to walk into the starting spot at Texas this season. Maybe Tadlock made promises that Pierce wasn't willing to make. If that's the case, I'm fine with losing a guy like him. I think Pierce has a better handle on how to manage a perennial CWS program than TT does. 

Obviously I hope Duplantier and Flores stick around. But if the reason they leave is because they feel like they should be getting more playing time when I think DP has already been pretty generous then don't let the door hit you on the way out I guess. 

I feel like it's safe to say this team is better than any of us thought it would be after that brutal opening stretch and probably better than most of us thought it would be in the offseason. 

I'm pretty firmly in the let Pierce do his thing camp.

[Had Enough 2083]

I think a lot of us are harsh on Kash because it would be nice if he was hitting what he's hitting at Tech at Texas. 
I don't understand why he thought he was going to get significant playtime behind the lineup we had last season. And then he didn't travel to Omaha with the team. And then he left for Tech despite having the opportunity to walk into the starting spot at Texas this season. Maybe Tadlock made promises that Pierce wasn't willing to make. If that's the case, I'm fine with losing a guy like him. I think Pierce has a better handle on how to manage a perennial CWS program than TT does. 
Obviously I hope Duplantier and Flores stick around. But if the reason they leave is because they feel like they should be getting more playing time when I think DP has already been pretty generous then don't let the door hit you on the way out I guess. 
I feel like it's safe to say this team is better than any of us thought it would be after that brutal opening stretch and probably better than most of us thought it would be in the offseason. 
I'm pretty firmly in the let Pierce do his thing camp.

I generally like Pierce and think he’s good and potentially great. Tadlock is a great solution for a college baseball player so I’m not sure you could say he downgraded.

Duplantier and Flores already have more plate appearances than Kash last year. Galvan, Thomas too. They all have double the starts. It’s probably not a situation of I need a certain number of ABs. It’s about engagement/involvement and the player feeling he is improving. Yes, I’m very aware that our roster was stacked last year. Over the course of 70 games, you should be able to find some guys additional ABs though. Baseball America top 100-150 guys, yeah you probably have to make manage those guys differently because they’ve already been told they have options. Flores may be more likely to leave because it isn’t working. Belyeu is a bigger question, but maybe he sees his path clearly.

As a hitter, probably the last thing you need is to essentially miss a year. Timing and experience is too valuable. I assume Kash left early to get summer league ABs for that reason. Whatever decisions he has made since leaving Texas, it is difficult to argue they were wrong. At least for now.

[Hookem2147 21345]

1 hour ago, Had Enough said:

I assume Kash left early to get summer league ABs for that reason

Texas wanted him to leave early to get summer AB's. They didn't see the point in taking a backup 1B to Omaha when he could start getting live AB's and preparing for 2023.

Based off of Pierce's comments last week and the breadcrumbs laid out previously, it really sounds like it was less about the playing time last year and more about Texas not being able to guarantee his scholarship amount/playing time while they navigated the portal last summer. And of course there is the attitude thing that has been mentioned several times. I really don't think Kash looked at his performance last year and who was in front of him and thought "damn, why wasn't I getting more AB's."

I really don't look at the situations for Duplantier/Flores/Belyeu similarly because it seems like all 3 have good heads on their shoulders and have been singled out by Pierce in recent weeks as guys who are continuing to put in the work. Plus dudes like Duplantier are honestly a dime a dozen. Right handed speedy contact first hitters who play second base or OF and are still working on their offensive game. We have 2 or 3 of those same guys already signed in the next class alone. If he works out and develops, great, if he doesn't feel the 'love' and bounces, there will be 5 other dudes on the roster just like him over the next few years. The jump from HS to college in baseball might be the biggest of any of the 3 major sports, especially for hitters, and I think players and coaches understand that. It's why the majority of these HS evaluations take place over a 2 month period in the summer when these guys are playing against other dudes their same skill level and not the other parts of the year when they are facing future Texas State fraternity presidents on their high school team who throw 82.

Edited March 31, 2023 by Hookem2147

[BillyGoatHill 4312]

14 hours ago, Valmy77 said:

All 11 people at D1Baseball picked OSU to win the series this weekend. Do they know something I don't?

Pretty simple, those guys at D1B lack confidence.

 

[ztejas 43524]

56 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

Texas wanted him to leave early to get summer AB's. They didn't see the point in taking a backup 1B to Omaha when he could start getting live AB's and preparing for 2023.

Right - forgot about that. 

[Bevo&Pevo 5213]

14 hours ago, Valmy77 said:

All 11 people at D1Baseball picked OSU to win the series this weekend. Do they know something I don't?

 

[Had Enough 2083]

I don’t remember reading that Texas sent him to summer ball early, but that process makes sense. He needed ABs.

I’d agree he is different than Duplantier in terms of upside. Flores is a bit different too in that he had opportunities to show. He gave almost nothing over 10 games and that’s why his time dwindled.

[TrashMaster G 17581]

15 hours ago, Noogman said:

Aggy getting sent out to Stanford would be fucking awesome.

I saw aggy play in a Regional game at Stanford way back in the mid-90's.  The Stanford pitcher had something like 20 K's. It was glorious.

[Cajun 11722]

5 hours ago, Had Enough said:

I’m just the bitch of a poster that is counter to the many “he sucks and should never play here” posters. And I’ll damn near always hope for success for dudes leaving the program unless they leave a fiery mess on their way out. You may have forgotten I’m that guy.

 

Username does not check out.

[Hookem2147 21345]

RPI up to 11. 7-5 in Q1 games (will be 8-7 if Fullerton wins tonight as they are right outside Q1 territory). Indiana series is really helping us right now as they are 18-7 overall and have a RPI of 23.

Edited April 1, 2023 by Hookem2147

[Valmy77 13251]

On 3/28/2023 at 10:39 PM, The Dog said:

according to Boydsworld we can't be a top 8 seed but can host. 

would be incredible after the way the season started.

So...11 in the RPI with all these games left to play and we can't be a top 8 seed? 

I don't know if Boydsworld has it right there. Seems like a path to a top 8 seed is there. Now can we successfully make it down that path? We'll see. But it is there.

[Had Enough 2083]

I can’t imagine with this many games left to play that anything is certain. Our noncon opponents could dominate. Other top 8s could flop. Or we could just win out.

[troph 24896]

27 minutes ago, Valmy77 said:

So...11 in the RPI with all these games left to play and we can't be a top 8 seed? 

I don't know if Boydsworld has it right there. Seems like a path to a top 8 seed is there. Now can we successfully make it down that path? We'll see. But it is there.

that this can even be typed out at this point in the season after the start is just incredible. a loooong way to go but wow.  some augie teams had an about face similar to this but none this drastic imo but I could be wrong.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21913]

[Fletch 5800]

13 hours ago, ztejas said:

Not if you aren't playing well. Flores has 40 ABs with a .452 OPS. As it stands he doesn't deserve more at bats. I'm not sure how this concept is controversial.

This aged well

 

That was an Augie type move tonight putting him in the line up. 

[ztejas 43524]

5 minutes ago, Fletch said:

This aged well

 

That was an Augie type move tonight putting him in the line up. 

I mean I stand by my comment. I'm not against playing him but he's going to have to produce at a higher level. Maybe tonight's the turning point and he can contribute in spot duty the rest of the season.