How Texas Baseball Came Alive

Discussion in 'Baseball' started by Godz40acres, May 27, 2015.

  1. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    With finals coming up, Augie Garrido told his players to focus on their studies and take their minds off of baseball - with the exception of personal workouts - until the team gathered to go to Waco for the Baylor series May 16.

    "We had to get rid of the demons. They had a choke-hold on us," Garrido said Monday.

    Players said that 13-day break from organized team activity allowed them to get away from expectations and refocus, leading to their four-game run through the Big 12 tourney in Tulsa for an automatic NCAA bid. Winning the conference tournament was the only way for Texas to extend its season. And the Longhorns got three complete-game pitching performances from Parker French, Ty Culbreth and Connor Mayes en route to the league tourney title after not having one complete game from a pitcher all season.

    "It wasn't about fixing our swings or our arms. It was about fixing our minds," sophomore outfielder Zane Gurwitz said of the 13-day break Garrido gave them from organized team practices.

    Gurwitz went on a hitting tear at the Big 12 tourney... But things didn't come together for Gurwitz until Garrido sat him down in Game 1 of the Longhorns' final regular-season, Big 12 series at Baylor.

    In the bottom of the sixth inning, with Texas trailing 4-3, Gurwitz walked to pick up a ball in centerfield after a fielding error at second base, and Baylor DH Darryn Sheppard took advantage of a slow-moving Gurwitz to advance to third. The Bears then got a single that allowed Sheppard to score and take a 5-3 lead in the inning.

    Garrido took Gurwitz out... And the 76-year-old head coach had a fiery warning for Gurwitz and the rest of the clubhouse if he caught them loafing. They'd be on the bench, watching, next to him.

    Texas came back to win Game 1 of the Baylor series, 6-5. But Gurwitz sat for the second game of the series - a 7-1 Baylor win.

    Gurwitz returned to the starting lineup for Game 3 of the BU series, an 11-1 Texas win, and has been on a hitting spree ever since - going 11 of 17 (.647) with six runs scored and five RBIs.

    "I'm glad it happened when it did. I think it helped kick my butt into gear. That was uncharacteristic of me, and we had a lot of things that were uncharacteristic of us this season."

    From Parker French's view, the turning point for the Longhorns was establishing freshman Connor Mayes and junior Ty Culbreth into the rotation after injuries hit pitchers Kacy Clemens (elbow) and Chad Hollingsworth (shoulder). Also the emergence of freshman Kyle Johnston in pressure situations.

    "The performances of Connor, Ty and Kyle in Tulsa were huge, and that's an understatement," said French of complete-game victories by Mayes and Culbreth and six strong innings from Johnston vs Oklahoma State. "To have Connor and Kyle come through like that as freshmen, it was just fun to watch two guys who take a lot of pride go out and battle like that.

    Gurwitz said Garrido did a masterful job of holding the team together despite the expectations that seemed to decline with injuries to the pitching staff.

    "Coach (Garrido) talked to us about how expectations can be the demon," Gurwitz said. "We were trying to search for answers about why we weren't producing and weren't winning. And you can kind of start to lose trust. But after our pitching performances and hitting performances in the Big 12 Tournament, I like our chances."

    [Full article here]
     
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  2. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    This applies to everything. Brilliant.
     
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  3. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

    Skip changing Johnston's grip on the baseball, that improved his control, helped his mind immensely.
     
  4. Texanne

    Texanne 5,000+ Posts

    Ninety percent of this game is half-mental.
    -- Yogi Berra
     
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  5. orangeblack&gold

    orangeblack&gold 500+ Posts

    Thank you, Texanne.
     
  6. bevolover

    bevolover < 25 Posts

    Does anyone know if Duke is OK?And if his arm is available. A fellow longhorn fan told me he heard that but I think he is OK just didn't get used in the big 12 tournament. Hook Em
     
  7. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Interesting insight and in hindsight a good decision by Augie. After that strong performance to win the tournament, I am pleased the team got some extra days off to rest arms and legs. The Horns will have their hands more than full on Friday vs. the Beavs who will start one of the best pitchers in the country.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2015
  8. orangeblack&gold

    orangeblack&gold 500+ Posts

    Is Parker healthy for the start tomorrow? First game is critical considering our challenges with injuries to the staff.
     
  9. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    This first game is critical and the Beavs are very good. French will have had 4 days rest since Sunday and is our ace. I would think Augie would start him, but I thought I read where NBHorn7 or someone said French had some arm soreness after Sunday, so that will be a factor if true.
     
  10. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

    French was going to start the Big 12 Championship game. Then the coaches said he could only go an inning or two in the game. He did and looked very shaky and had to be pulled.

    This leads me to believe his arm was sore on Sunday morning. Then a poster on Regional thread said the Austin American Statesman said, he might not start the opening game of the Regional.

    Here it is Regional eve and I haven't seen one story about French or any other player, with injuries. I thought maybe Clemens might be able to pitch some, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Hollingsworth has been set down, because he is just not effective, with his still tender shoulder.

    I will keep looking, but they are really being close to the vest about these injuries, I know the laws are stricter on these matters, but you still usually hear something.

    There is usually a press conference before the start of the regional, maybe it will come out then.

     
  11. NBHorn7

    NBHorn7 Pimp Daddy

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