When he’s not getting jobbed by the umps on balls and strikes calls, Southard is pretty good. 3 up 3 down for Southard 12-4 us on to the bottom of the 8th
Southard has been a special case this year. Many of the walks he’s given up this year have been on very questionable balls and strikes calls. It’s as if he enters the game and, before he throws his first pitch, he announces to the ump that he’s banging the umps wife or something…. I can’t recall any of our pitchers who has been routinely f@cked by the umps anywhere near as much as Southard. Folks will always gripe about balls and strikes calls, but it’s been noticeable with Southard this year.
I thought Southard was working the edges way more than he should have given the 8-run lead. Pound the damn strike zone! Our bullpen sucks not because they get shelled. No, its all the free passes they give up, often with a lead.
Thats been the biggest disappointment this year for me - Aaron Nixon. Man that guy was nails last year. He comes into the game, if ur the opposing coach, just start making out the lineup card for tomorrow. Not so much this year.
I say we get Maui to bring his near 0.400 batting average to UT next year as a grad transfer. He could take the place of Skylar Messinger at 3rd base (he’s got the arm), and follow in his footsteps from KU to UT. Beats the heck out of a year in the Minors, staying at Motel 6, eating cold hot dogs, and riding on a bus.
After a mound visit from Sean, Nixon pulls it together and gets it over with. 12-4 Horns. Still, Im not happy with our bullpen. Its not like we are playing OkSt or Tech this weekend.
Meanwhile, WVA took care of business vs K-State (15-4); OU leads Tech 13-4 in the top of the 9th; and Okie State and Baylor are knotted up 11-11 at the end of the 7th.
In recent weeks, Coach has given more chances to some of our relievers who have not performed up to expectations this year. Southard and Nixon have come through. Some others, well, maybe not… (being nice). Harrison has been pretty solid all year. LBJ has been mostly pretty good, but had one off night. Olivarez has been pretty good. Tristan is looking strong coming out of the pen. So who do we trust coming out of the pen? Harrison (might start) Tristan (might start) Nixon Olivarez Southard LBJ Not a huge pen full of guys that don’t give you heartburn when they come out of the pen. We can still make a run to Omaha with just the starters and these guys. But, They’ll have to go plenty of innings—as will the starters….
OU takes the first game over Tech (13-8), didn't see that one coming. OSU and Baylor still knotted at 11-11 in the top of the 9th, didn't expect a close one there, regardless of outcome.
Game one review: No. 22 Baseball blasts Kansas 12-4 - University of Texas Athletics Okie State is on a 5 game losing streak after last night. OU beating Tech is a surprise but hopefully Tech can win next two and help Texas out.
Gordon gives up two base hits in the 1st, and hits a batter on the foot, but gets out of it with no runs given up. Big help by Faltine with a double play. Same thing we always see from Gordon—painting the corners and tricking them with his changeups.
