Texas Baseball 2025 - Show Me A Schloss

[Fletch 5800]

@Hookem2147 what are your very early thoughts on our projected lineup and pitching rotation?

[Hookem2147 20970]

9 hours ago, Fletch said:

@Hookem2147 what are your very early thoughts on our projected lineup and pitching rotation?

C-Galvan

1B- Schuessler/Stewart

2B- Mendoza

SS- Flores

3B- Borba/Rodriguez- Would give Borba the edge right now

LF- Winfield

CF- Gasparino

RF- Belyeu

DH- Rodriguez/Farmer/Polk/Stewart

Pitching is really tough to figure out because so many guys were limited in the fall due to workload or completely shut down. Whitehead is obviously still recovering from surgery and I believe Grubbs was limited all fall. 

This pitching staff has about 8 guys I could see as a weekend starter but no one I really see a clear-cut Friday night guy, so that is probably both a good and bad thing. We couldn't figure out Friday nights last year, and that dug us into way too many holes.

[Fletch 5800]

54 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

C-Galvan

1B- Schuessler/Stewart

2B- Mendoza

SS- Flores

3B- Borba/Rodriguez- Would give Borba the edge right now

LF- Winfield

CF- Gasparino

RF- Belyeu

DH- Rodriguez/Farmer/Polk/Stewart

Pitching is really tough to figure out because so many guys were limited in the fall due to workload or completely shut down. Whitehead is obviously still recovering from surgery and I believe Grubbs was limited all fall. 

This pitching staff has about 8 guys I could see as a weekend starter but no one I really see a clear-cut Friday night guy, so that is probably both a good and bad thing. We couldn't figure out Friday nights last year, and that dug us into way too many holes.

Sounds right. Looking forward to Gaspo this year. Should take the next step. Keep forgetting Schuessler. He’ll be a beast at first. 
 

Say what you will about DP, but he brought in a good young core. Galvan, gaspo, Flores, Belyeu, borba, ace and Howard are a good core to build around. I’m feeling an Omaha team here. Gonna be a fun season. 

[HTXfan 25]

3 hours ago, Hookem2147 said:

C-Galvan

1B- Schuessler/Stewart

2B- Mendoza

SS- Flores

3B- Borba/Rodriguez- Would give Borba the edge right now

LF- Winfield

CF- Gasparino

RF- Belyeu

DH- Rodriguez/Farmer/Polk/Stewart

Pitching is really tough to figure out because so many guys were limited in the fall due to workload or completely shut down. Whitehead is obviously still recovering from surgery and I believe Grubbs was limited all fall. 

This pitching staff has about 8 guys I could see as a weekend starter but no one I really see a clear-cut Friday night guy, so that is probably both a good and bad thing. We couldn't figure out Friday nights last year, and that dug us into way too many holes.

Pitching will surprise many on the upside.  It will be a competitive staff in the SEC.

[Hookem2147 20970]

19 minutes ago, HTXfan said:

Pitching will surprise many on the upside.  It will be a competitive staff in the SEC.

There are certainly more quality options than previous years. Just a matter of the puzzle pieces fitting together and seeing who performs when the lights turn on.

Edited November 4 by Hookem2147

[MuellerHorn 4202]

14 hours ago, Fletch said:

Sounds right. Looking forward to Gaspo this year. Should take the next step. Keep forgetting Schuessler. He’ll be a beast at first. 
 

Say what you will about DP, but he brought in a good young core. Galvan, gaspo, Flores, Belyeu, borba, ace and Howard are a good core to build around. I’m feeling an Omaha team here. Gonna be a fun season. 

We (the fans) are going to have to learn to temper our expectations when it comes to W/L record. The SEC is going to be insane this year. This team might have a poor record by historical Texas terms, and then wind up in Omaha. Who knows. Gonna be a different type of season, that's for sure. Glad to hear we should have the pitching depth.

It'll also be fun playing in some of these smaller SEC parks. It assume the Disch plays a lot bigger (and is) than most of them.

[BurntOrange&White 39829]

12 hours ago, Hookem2147 said:

There are certainly more quality options than previous years. Just a matter of the puzzle pieces fitting together and seeing who performs when the lights turn on.

At least we have a pitching coach and HC that can put the puzzle together instead of winging it through half the season.

[hobbes2702 12951]

4 hours ago, MuellerHorn said:

We (the fans) are going to have to learn to temper our expectations when it comes to W/L record. The SEC is going to be insane this year. This team might have a poor record by historical Texas terms, and then wind up in Omaha. Who knows. Gonna be a different type of season, that's for sure. Glad to hear we should have the pitching depth.

It'll also be fun playing in some of these smaller SEC parks. It assume the Disch plays a lot bigger (and is) than most of them.

I think some of the Disch playing big stuff has been gone for a few years. Bringing the fences in and having wind constantly blowing across the outfield towards left (seems like it always went the other way when I was a kid) has changed my view of it. The ball seems to fly out now.

[petscii 1189]

42 minutes ago, hobbes2702 said:

I think some of the Disch playing big stuff has been gone for a few years. Bringing the fences in and having wind constantly blowing across the outfield towards left (seems like it always went the other way when I was a kid) has changed my view of it. The ball seems to fly out now.

Wasn't that more about the pinball machine carpet over the concrete more than the wind?  And the bats of the day.

[hobbes2702 12951]

33 minutes ago, petscii said:

Wasn't that more about the pinball machine carpet over the concrete more than the wind?  And the bats of the day.

The ball didn’t used to leave the ballpark with regularity like it does now. Especially not out to left and the power alley 

[petscii 1189]

 

Cougar High comes to town the 18th of Feb

https://uhcougars.com/sports/baseball/schedule

No arizona state in 2025

https://thesundevils.com/sports/baseball/schedule

No wildcats, no TCU, no Baylor

[Fletch 5800]

2 hours ago, hobbes2702 said:

The ball didn’t used to leave the ballpark with regularity like it does now. Especially not out to left and the power alley 

Yeah bringing in the fences obviously helped. But you’re right, it just used to feel and play bigger. Hence why our bread and butter 02-09 was gap to gap dudes who can get you 8-12 homers a year. 

[.45s 28]

I think the freshman Cole Chamberlain played some first base in the Orange-White game.  Any updates on the fall practices or on some surprises by any of the old or new guys?

[BrazilHorn 6580]

Just a heads up (I wouldn't have checked had LHF not called me) that Season Ticket renewal season is upon us.

Not seat assignments yet, (if you want to move) but the actual renewal.

[Hookem2147 20970]

On 11/4/2024 at 11:41 AM, MuellerHorn said:

We (the fans) are going to have to learn to temper our expectations when it comes to W/L record. The SEC is going to be insane this year. This team might have a poor record by historical Texas terms, and then wind up in Omaha. Who knows. Gonna be a different type of season, that's for sure. Glad to hear we should have the pitching depth.

It'll also be fun playing in some of these smaller SEC parks. It assume the Disch plays a lot bigger (and is) than most of them.

It may not happen this year, but I don't think we are that far away from .500 in the SEC getting a hosting spot. Bama hosted at 16-14 in conference play a few years ago.

Edited November 6 by Hookem2147

[BillyGoatHill 4312]

On 11/4/2024 at 4:05 PM, hobbes2702 said:

I think some of the Disch playing big stuff has been gone for a few years. Bringing the fences in and having wind constantly blowing across the outfield towards left (seems like it always went the other way when I was a kid) has changed my view of it. The ball seems to fly out now.

I've read more than one report over the last couple of years that the college baseballs have been stitched tighter for more length/ home runs.....not sure if true but this article touched base ( no pun) on it.

https://www.batdigest.com/blog/4-reasons-behind-the-historic-home-run-surge-in-2023-college-baseball/

20 hours ago, BrazilHorn said:

Just a heads up (I wouldn't have checked had LHF not called me) that Season Ticket renewal season is upon us.

Not seat assignments yet, (if you want to move) but the actual renewal.

🤘

Yep. Monday the 18th is last day to renew. Seat Prices remained the same (for this year). Service fee up $10 (loss of one beer dammit)

Renewed mine last week.

[NBHorn7 59]

On 11/4/2024 at 12:49 PM, BurntOrange&White said:

At least we have a pitching coach and HC that can put the puzzle together instead of winging it through half the season.

What can really make a difference is a pitching coach that can get his pitchers to attack the strike zone more and believe in their stuff. Walks hurt even the best Texas pitchers the past few years, see LBJ. The walks, hbp's, and even all the deep counts mounted the pitch count and lessened innings pitched and effectiveness.  Strike one is still the best pitch in baseball and sets the tone in the pitcher's favor for the at bat. How many times did Texas pitchers fall behind in the count and have to just groove a pitch to try to get back in the count that was hit hard, too many.

The other thing is a pitching coach that can help a pitcher when he loses his mechanics and loses command. This is the kind of pitching coach that develops trust in that coach and pitchers will listen to him. I don't think the last few pitching coaches, especially Pierce had this ability. Too many Texas pitchers just never developed and got better the last few years or some that should have been on the mound sooner weren't used or used enough, others digressed. Hopefully the depth of the staff under Weiner will be such, that once a closer is decided on and proves to be effective, he doesn't get overused like Boehm was. I think Weiner understands this and it won't be the case, another big plus from the past.

The other thing that I believe Weiner/Schlossnagle will do is know when it's time to remove a pitcher, this also cost Texas many times under the last pitching/head coach. Hoping a pitcher can get out of an inning instead of knowing it's time for his removal, and the inning gets out of hand and the game lost.

Hopefully the new regime will get better pitchers out of the portal, a few that might have been effective were injured, but some were really just cast offs from teams because they weren't that effective there. The recruiting of talented pitching can already be seen and most likely that will also apply to the portal. The reputations of Weiner and Schlossnagle are the reason for this.

All these things should help put more numbers in the win column and in SEC Baseball that really does "Just Mean More."

 

[MuellerHorn 4202]

18 hours ago, NBHorn7 said:

What can really make a difference is a pitching coach that can get his pitchers to attack the strike zone more and believe in their stuff. Walks hurt even the best Texas pitchers the past few years, see LBJ. The walks, hbp's, and even all the deep counts mounted the pitch count and lessened innings pitched and effectiveness.  Strike one is still the best pitch in baseball and sets the tone in the pitcher's favor for the at bat. How many times did Texas pitchers fall behind in the count and have to just groove a pitch to try to get back in the count that was hit hard, too many.

The other thing is a pitching coach that can help a pitcher when he loses his mechanics and loses command. This is the kind of pitching coach that develops trust in that coach and pitchers will listen to him. I don't think the last few pitching coaches, especially Pierce had this ability. Too many Texas pitchers just never developed and got better the last few years or some that should have been on the mound sooner weren't used or used enough, others digressed. Hopefully the depth of the staff under Weiner will be such, that once a closer is decided on and proves to be effective, he doesn't get overused like Boehm was. I think Weiner understands this and it won't be the case, another big plus from the past.

The other thing that I believe Weiner/Schlossnagle will do is know when it's time to remove a pitcher, this also cost Texas many times under the last pitching/head coach. Hoping a pitcher can get out of an inning instead of knowing it's time for his removal, and the inning gets out of hand and the game lost.

Hopefully the new regime will get better pitchers out of the portal, a few that might have been effective were injured, but some were really just cast offs from teams because they weren't that effective there. The recruiting of talented pitching can already be seen and most likely that will also apply to the portal. The reputations of Weiner and Schlossnagle are the reason for this.

All these things should help put more numbers in the win column and in SEC Baseball that really does "Just Mean More."

 

This was a really good post. I wish I could pos rep it more. I'll get you elsewhere.

Increased, as well as more skilled, pitching depth, a shorter leash so pitchers don't crater and start sliding in confidence (depth will help here too), and a different approach from a younger and more attuned pitching coach leads me to believe Texas will have fewer pitchers that look like this on the mound this season:

At least that's my hope.

 

Edited November 7 by MuellerHorn

[EZ$ 2102]

I’d just like to see pitchers who aren’t constantly down 2-0 and hitters who aren’t constantly down 0-2. 

[BurntOrange&White 39829]

1 hour ago, EZ$ said:

I’d just like to see pitchers who aren’t constantly down 2-0 and hitters who aren’t constantly down 0-2. 

I liked the plate discipline A&M had...hopefully Schloss can translate that here.

[BrazilHorn 6580]

4 hours ago, EZ$ said:

I’d just like to see pitchers who aren’t constantly down 2-0 and hitters who aren’t constantly down 0-2. 

I want to see batters that aren’t trying out for UT’s golf team all the time. 

[cochamps 1879]

22 hours ago, NBHorn7 said:

What can really make a difference is a pitching coach that can get his pitchers to attack the strike zone more and believe in their stuff. Walks hurt even the best Texas pitchers the past few years, see LBJ. The walks, hbp's, and even all the deep counts mounted the pitch count and lessened innings pitched and effectiveness.  Strike one is still the best pitch in baseball and sets the tone in the pitcher's favor for the at bat. How many times did Texas pitchers fall behind in the count and have to just groove a pitch to try to get back in the count that was hit hard, too many.

The other thing is a pitching coach that can help a pitcher when he loses his mechanics and loses command. This is the kind of pitching coach that develops trust in that coach and pitchers will listen to him. I don't think the last few pitching coaches, especially Pierce had this ability. Too many Texas pitchers just never developed and got better the last few years or some that should have been on the mound sooner weren't used or used enough, others digressed. Hopefully the depth of the staff under Weiner will be such, that once a closer is decided on and proves to be effective, he doesn't get overused like Boehm was. I think Weiner understands this and it won't be the case, another big plus from the past.

The other thing that I believe Weiner/Schlossnagle will do is know when it's time to remove a pitcher, this also cost Texas many times under the last pitching/head coach. Hoping a pitcher can get out of an inning instead of knowing it's time for his removal, and the inning gets out of hand and the game lost.

Hopefully the new regime will get better pitchers out of the portal, a few that might have been effective were injured, but some were really just cast offs from teams because they weren't that effective there. The recruiting of talented pitching can already be seen and most likely that will also apply to the portal. The reputations of Weiner and Schlossnagle are the reason for this.

All these things should help put more numbers in the win column and in SEC Baseball that really does "Just Mean More."

 

As Mueller said, really good post.  

[Balcones 335]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:26 PM, Hookem2147 said:

C-Galvan

1B- Schuessler/Stewart

2B- Mendoza

SS- Flores

3B- Borba/Rodriguez- Would give Borba the edge right now

LF- Winfield

CF- Gasparino

RF- Belyeu

DH- Rodriguez/Farmer/Polk/Stewart

Pitching is really tough to figure out because so many guys were limited in the fall due to workload or completely shut down. Whitehead is obviously still recovering from surgery and I believe Grubbs was limited all fall. 

This pitching staff has about 8 guys I could see as a weekend starter but no one I really see a clear-cut Friday night guy, so that is probably both a good and bad thing. We couldn't figure out Friday nights last year, and that dug us into way too many holes.

Wow. 7 starters and 2 weekend pitchers from Pierce’s team last year. I thought Schloss would have brought in better roster than what Pierce could.

[Hookem2147 20970]

31 minutes ago, Balcones said:

Wow. 7 starters and 2 weekend pitchers from Pierce’s team last year. I thought Schloss would have brought in better roster than what Pierce could.

It's funny you should say that because several of those players would have been leaving the program if Pierce had returned. 

[Balcones 335]

3 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

It's funny you should say that because several of those players would have been leaving the program if Pierce had returned. 

Might be true. But the comments/consensus I seem to remember was Pierce couldn’t recruit or work the portal. Odd that the majority of team is his talent.

[Derka 6003]

 

[petscii 1189]

33 minutes ago, Derka said:

 

To be fair, mine was the 2025 schedule thread that got merged...

[Fletch 5800]

8 hours ago, Balcones said:

Might be true. But the comments/consensus I seem to remember was Pierce couldn’t recruit or work the portal. Odd that the majority of team is his talent.

He was a solid to good recruiter and developer of talent. Schloss is going to get so much more out of Flores, Gaspo, Galvan, all those dudes. It’s a great young core

[BurntOrange&White 39829]

12 hours ago, Balcones said:

Might be true. But the comments/consensus I seem to remember was Pierce couldn’t recruit or work the portal. Odd that the majority of team is his talent.

He fucking sucked, that's why he was fired. 

[hobbes2702 12951]

9 hours ago, Fletch said:

He was a solid to good recruiter and developer of talent. Schloss is going to get so much more out of Flores, Gaspo, Galvan, all those dudes. It’s a great young core

He was a pretty average recruiter, at least in terms of building a roster. He had the ability to put some decent classes together but his teams always had pretty large holes that had to be plugged in some way throughout the season. It happened every year. Now he also had some ability to get his teams playing well at the right time and overachieve but he was fired because Texas doesn’t want to rely on overachieving just to get to Omaha. 
I had no issue retaining DP if there wasn’t a real upgrade to be made. I was vocal about that. Schloss, despite my dislike of him, is a real upgrade. He’s one of the 5 best coaches in college baseball right now.

Edited November 8 by hobbes2702

[HOOKEM4 5034]

Look, Pearce was not our standard. I have it on good authority that kids are looking to learn under Schloss/Max if possible and were looking to dip if Pearce was still there. We are going to average 2-3 draft level kids per year coming to Texas with this coaching staff imo.

[NorthLoop 14142]

On 11/8/2024 at 6:24 AM, BurntOrange&White said:

He fucking sucked, that's why he was fired. 

Balcones would like a word with you. 

[Herpa Derpa 6118]

18 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

Balcones would like a word with you. 

[WBT 20487]

On 11/6/2024 at 6:04 PM, NBHorn7 said:

What can really make a difference is a pitching coach that can get his pitchers to attack the strike zone more and believe in their stuff. Walks hurt even the best Texas pitchers the past few years, see LBJ. The walks, hbp's, and even all the deep counts mounted the pitch count and lessened innings pitched and effectiveness.  Strike one is still the best pitch in baseball and sets the tone in the pitcher's favor for the at bat. How many times did Texas pitchers fall behind in the count and have to just groove a pitch to try to get back in the count that was hit hard, too many.

The other thing is a pitching coach that can help a pitcher when he loses his mechanics and loses command. This is the kind of pitching coach that develops trust in that coach and pitchers will listen to him. I don't think the last few pitching coaches, especially Pierce had this ability. Too many Texas pitchers just never developed and got better the last few years or some that should have been on the mound sooner weren't used or used enough, others digressed. Hopefully the depth of the staff under Weiner will be such, that once a closer is decided on and proves to be effective, he doesn't get overused like Boehm was. I think Weiner understands this and it won't be the case, another big plus from the past.

The other thing that I believe Weiner/Schlossnagle will do is know when it's time to remove a pitcher, this also cost Texas many times under the last pitching/head coach. Hoping a pitcher can get out of an inning instead of knowing it's time for his removal, and the inning gets out of hand and the game lost.

Hopefully the new regime will get better pitchers out of the portal, a few that might have been effective were injured, but some were really just cast offs from teams because they weren't that effective there. The recruiting of talented pitching can already be seen and most likely that will also apply to the portal. The reputations of Weiner and Schlossnagle are the reason for this.

All these things should help put more numbers in the win column and in SEC Baseball that really does "Just Mean More."

 

I'd be happy with a coaching staff that can figure out what they have and start the season with their 3 best pitchers in the weekend starter roles

[BurntOrange&White 39829]

Blake Munroe

 

Today will be a busy day for many sports on the Forty Acres, especially when it comes to baseball. The Longhorns are expecting 16 kids to sign at some point throughout the day.

Don't expect many fireworks, as it should be a relatively quiet NSD. I'm being told that there aren't any surprises or decisions that they're monitoring. The staff is very excited about this class and the potential of it.

It's been the status quo for a while now, but the focus will continue to be on 2026 recruiting.

[HOOKEM4 5034]

1 hour ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Blake Munroe

 

Today will be a busy day for many sports on the Forty Acres, especially when it comes to baseball. The Longhorns are expecting 16 kids to sign at some point throughout the day.

Don't expect many fireworks, as it should be a relatively quiet NSD. I'm being told that there aren't any surprises or decisions that they're monitoring. The staff is very excited about this class and the potential of it.

It's been the status quo for a while now, but the focus will continue to be on 2026 recruiting.

Coop "signed" this morning along side Taylor.

[BurntOrange&White 39829]