2023 Position Projections

Discussion in 'Baseball' started by aUTfan, Jul 20, 2022.

  1. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    So that’s a relief. At a minimum, Zane Morehouse should hold down the mid week starter position—a spot we finally found a man for late in the season. He’s kind of like Southard a year ago—real good velocity, but working on his control. He sits in the mid 90s with his fastball and can hit the upper 90s. This is good news to me if he’s back. High ceiling guy.
     
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  2. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    And didn’t Cobb pitch as a mid week starter several years ago? His numbers—especially his WHIP—are good. The stats book says we should see more of him.
     
  3. aUTfan

    aUTfan 2,500+ Posts

    yeah, he pitched well in short bursts like several of them. By middle of the season next year I’m expecting things to look pretty good and we may be a lot deeper with woodys help than we thought we would be.
     
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  4. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    The problem last year for all Texas pitchers not named Hansen or Gordon was consistency. Several showed flashes in mid week starts or weekend appearances but no one stepped up. Looking back it is still amazing to me that Texas willed its way to Omaha with the pitching staff it had by the end of the year. with the big hitters lost after this season, the number one goal for fall is to find a consistent solid pitching staff because otherwise 2023 will be a long year.
     
  5. aUTfan

    aUTfan 2,500+ Posts

    agree whole heartedly on developing depth and I knew it was going to be long before THIS year even started. In fact I thought it was going to be so dismal that pierce may end up on the hot seat or even worse terminated over it. He’s fortunate to have received the transfers he did. Woody and Rodriguez are going to save his butt too. you’re spot on that we made it to Omaha by sheer will, the talent was there to make it easily though.

    for Texas, I’m pretty disappointed that we required the transfers in order to compete next year in his 7th year, I think that showed pretty poor leadership for a school of our resources to be in that position. I hope he learns from this situation and avoids this spot from now on. The incoming recruiting class looks pretty solid but the previous class wasn’t strong enough to step in and keep us competitive without the transfers. I think both Woody and Rodriguez will improve this.

    I’m way more optimistic for next year now in Woodys hands than I was with Allen. I think we will actually become pretty deep with pitching and it might be our strongest area.

    there are soooo many question marks every where. Woody definitely has his work cut out for him and when I pieced together a mock batting lineup it actually looks to have potential, obviously no where near this last year but looks like it may have the ability to present problems to almost any team.

    We will see though, will be fun to watch woody and Rodriguez and the defense work it’s way out to see which cream rises to the top.
     
  6. aUTfan

    aUTfan 2,500+ Posts

    Well chop and fwhorn….we lost our closer. Southard signed a pro contract with the angels.
    This hurts for sure.
     
  7. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Oh no! Best of luck to him. He’ll do well.
     
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    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    We need about 2-3 more reliever transfers. Maybe more.

    I’d like us to get Rao and Aoki from Notre Dame. Both are in the portal.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. STHAustin

    STHAustin 250+ Posts

    Did Skenes announce where he’s going?
     
  10. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Nothing on Skenes yet.

    He’d be a weekend starting pitcher here next year. And the DH.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. LonghornEE72

    LonghornEE72 25+ Posts

    • Funny Funny x 1
  12. tchill

    tchill 25+ Posts

    I thought all season that Ace had the best swing on the team.
     
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  13. aUTfan

    aUTfan 2,500+ Posts

    And according to his twitter. Eric Kennedy will return for his senior year. Lead off spot activated.
     
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  14. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Excellent. He'll be an all-conference level player.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  15. aUTfan

    aUTfan 2,500+ Posts

    Oh, and CF is covered.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. STHAustin

    STHAustin 250+ Posts

    I heard David Pierce on the radio this morning. He said Witt probably wouldn't be available until conference play, and they would be bringing him along very slowly. He said Morehouse and Duplantier were doing well in summer ball.
     
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  17. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Sounds good. Need Witt ready for the regionals.
     
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    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Sounds about right re: Witt. The most important thing is that he heal up fully. Don't rush it.

    That's good news on Morehouse and DuPlantier. Morehouse and DuPlantier can both bring it, although both suffered from inconsistency. Morehouse is just a few mph shy of Southard, but good hitters would sometimes light him up. DuPlantier has a mean wicked drop to his breaking stuff--right over the plate. If he works out his inconsistent control issues, he could be all-conference. Morehouse should be a mid-week starter--at a bare minimum. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start Sundays or even Saturdays, though DuPlantier and Hurley may have something to say about that. The pitching staff isn't where we want it to be yet, but it's not looking too awful. I'd still rather have our pitching staff than any other team's pitching staff in the Big 12.

    But..................I have been known to engage in wishful thinking, from time-to-time.........
     
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  19. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Another crazy idea:

    If our lineup has a really weak link, put Gordon in there to hit. Apparently, he was also a star batter in high school.




    The staff ace Texas Longhorn pitcher below says HELLO!!!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2022
  20. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    [​IMG][​IMG]

    Good for Zane Morehouse. He recently threw 4.2 scoreless innings for the Brewster Whitecaps. Hopefully he's getting to enjoy the Cape some on his down time--beaches, fishing, cycling, sailing, lobsta rolls, drinking, clam digging, whatever floats his sloop.
     
  21. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Andre Duplantier - West Coast League

    DuPlantier is tearing it up out West this Summer with the Victoria HarborCats. He was named Pitcher of the Week.

    "Duplantier pitched 11.2 innings last week, while striking out 10 in two games. Sunday, the rising sophomore earned the win while surrendering just one run in 7.2 innings in front of a big crowd in Edmonton. Overall this summer, Duplantier is 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 5 games for the HarbourCats."

    DuPlantier has pitched for wins over the:

    Kamloops NorthPaws
    Nanaimo Night Owls
    Edmonton River Hawks

    And he dropped a game vs the Port Angeles Lefties.

    [​IMG]
     
  22. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    By the way...

    Sam Walbridge is DuPlantier's teammate, and is 2-0 for the HarborCats thus far.

    Walbridge won a pitchers' duel as a reliever in a 2-1 victory over the North Paws.

    Sam Walbridge - Baseball - University of Texas Athletics
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2022
  23. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    DuPlantier is shaping up to be a weekend starter, I think. We'll see how he does. Could be a boom or bust situation. It seems some folks are penciling in Hurley as a weekend starter. If he and DuPlantier come through, we could have a good rotation after all. Zane Morehouse should also factor in as either a mid-week, or a weekend, starter.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2022
  24. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Walbridge may find himself on the mound frequently next year as a reliever.
     
  25. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Sam Walbridge - West Coast League - player

    Sam Walbridge, Summer 2022, Victoria Harbor Cats:
    [​IMG]

    1.52 ERA
    20 Strikeouts
    9 Walks
    1.13 WHIP
    Opponents' batting avg against him: 0.193

    in 10 appearances in relief already this Summer
    :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

    Yep, he's gonna play a lot next year.
     
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  26. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Texas baseball’s roster begins taking shape following 2022 departures

    The Daily Texas weighs in.

    "Pitcher Charlie Hurley

    Right-handed pitcher Charlie Hurley from Sacramento, California also made a move to Texas from USC. Hurley is a 6-foot-8, 218-pound junior who was a bullpen pitcher in 2021 but moved into the starting rotation in 2022. Last season, he allowed a 4.19 ERA and started in 13 games. He has been projected as a possible Sunday starter but could quickly move to the Saturday role.


    Pitcher Heston Tole

    Heston Tole, a junior from Arkansas, was the next to commit to Texas. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound right-handed pitcher from Wichita Falls had a 3.77 ERA in 14.1 innings last season for the Razorbacks. Tole will help fill some of Texas’ pitching needs and will likely contend for a starting role."

    I'd be surprised if Tole starts. He looks like a middle reliever or setup man. Hurley may be pretty good.
     
  27. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Chris Stuart
    [​IMG]

    LHP
    from the Netherlands (with some sort of apparent Waco connection)
    6'2"
    215 lbs
    3.10 ERA
    1.24 WHIP

    at Houston area JC powerhouse San Jac

    Fastball up to 94mph, with some movement.
    Good looking Slider
    Curve

    Chris Stuart | San Jacinto College

    https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/NH/Texas-NM-JUCO-All-Star-Game-Scouting-Reports-2963781054
    "Chris Stuart, a southpaw from the Netherlands, has a heater up to 94 with late life and a tight sharp diving slider."

    "San Jacinto left-hander Chris Stuart, from Amsterdam, touched 94 MPH with some crossfire in his delivery that could be a tough look for lefties with his low three-quarters slot. Stuart struck out three batters in a scoreless frame, including a couple defensive swings from a lefty against his slider (79-82mph)."


    "Based on the limiting viewing of a two-pitch mix, it looked like Stuart might profile more as an impact reliever, especially against lefties, than starter. But he’s a strong 6-0, 215 pounds with a simple delivery."


    This is interesting, here's San Jac pitcher, Chris Stuart, pitching against the Longhorns at the Disch (Fall ball):
    (he's got some tricky movement on his fastball)
    He likes to throw up high in the zone.
    Comes up high with the fastball, followed by a low sinking slider or curve. Works the inside of the zone some. Displays some "pitching intelligence."


    Chris Stuart | #17 | LHP | San Jacinto College-North - Region 14 Athletics
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2022
  28. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Probably a frequently-used reliever next year. But could start if DuPlantier, Morehouse, and/or Cobb don't step up. (I'm penciling in Gordon and Hurley as 2 of our starters)
    However, nothing is iron-clad or written in stone--other than Gordon will be one of our weekend starters.
     
  29. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Nice!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  30. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Nice indeed!

    Chris Stuart "flew under my radar" when his transfer was first announced, but this is precisely the sort of player we need a lot of.

    :bevo::bevo::bevo::bevo::bevo::bevo::bevo::bevo::bevo:
     

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