Status of Witt and Nixon....

I lost ability to keep up to date with Horns baseball for several weeks. What happened to Witt and Nixon?

 

Witt had Tommy John about...a month into the season? Nixon just has not been the same pitcher at all this year and lost his spot.

 

Witt hasnt pitched since the Bama series back in February and wont until next spring earliest depending on the tommy john rehab time. Nixon just fell apart late in the year and hasnt seen action since the Big XII tournament. I doubt we see him again until fall ball where they can spend real time getting his mind right. Hopefully, both will be key pieces next year.

 

FW, I agree as far as we know Nixon's issue is north of his shoulders, but getting over those types of issues generally requires removal from the atmosphere that contributed to the cause. Texas' issue is if he portals to a name program somewhere around here and returns to his previous form, the Texas staff will take a hit which will be reflected in pitching recruiting. However, if I am not mistaken, both coaches Gus and Augie were also accused of overworking their pitchers, and all of us would take their results.

 

Lots of folks want to point out that another coach over worked pitching, most of those folks were rivals that can’t figure out how to win and don’t want said coach to keep getting top pitching recruits so it’s easy to throw that out there since there isn’t any hard and fast rules on what that means exactly, it’s completely arbitrary. I have an idea but I’m no professional.

 

I am not concerned about what "someone" says about coaches. If Chandler could still recruit after the debacles with Rick Lueken and Randy Pryor, enough said. Chandler continued to get top pitching and other position projects and couldn't win ****.

BTW, for you youngsters, Chandler still hold the Disch Falk record for most time it took to get from the dugout to the mound. It was during his trips that we sent someone out to bring back sandwiches or Whataburger. They didn't miss anything.

 

I'd be shocked if either pitches for us again. Even though he's coming off TJ surgery, I expect Witt to test the MLB waters. Nixon needs a fresh start somewhere else. He can't find the strike zone and his Tx Tech (game 1) debacle is about the worst way we've ever lost a game.

 

I think Nixon will be back, and in his old form next year--if not in Omaha. He's just gotta work on fastball control, release points, etc. That, and some relaxation techniques. I'm also not opposed to some real flaky stuff to help the pitchers with their heads, like having a pitcher psychologist on staff, listening to some Enya on the headphones between innings, rubbing some of that "essential oils" stuff (snake oil) on the arm and shoulder, having the pitchers watch relaxing videos of gently flowing streams between innings, or whatever works for each guy...

Southard will hold down the closer spot until Nixon's back in full force.

Look at DuPlantier's struggles. He was getting creamed early in the year. Dude was a regular at Denny's for the Grand Slam breakfast... Now, he's pitching pretty darn well--and the best is yet to come. Our coaches don't throw people away; they work with them.

 

Quadzilla needs to lay off the squats.

 

it’s always a crap shoot with who stays and who goes. I really don’t think Witt will go the mlb route, don’t think anyone will draft him, he didn’t have enough starts at the major college level to ascertain his skill level BEFORE the injury so I think he comes back.

As for nixon, I recommend sacrificing a live chicken before next season, the baseball gods are angry with him for some reason.

I can see southard being a closer next year but may need him to start. Our pitching staff looks bleak next season. A lot of things will have to materialize in order for us to have a decent staff.

in other words, better get it done this year.

 

You bet on the get it done this year part.

For next year, Gordon will be back. Porchas is coming in—another smart and crafty total pitcher type from California. I don’t know if Witt will start or relieve. Good point re Southard (close or start???). In any event, he’ll be a key player for us next year.

Some of the young real-good-stuff guys may gain the experience and maturity to pitch well consistently (DuP, Stewart, etc ). Would like to keep Zane Morehouse as the mid-week starter for another year if possible, but he might get pressed into weekend starter duty as early as next year. Also, Grubbs is supposed to be real good—if he doesn’t sign with the pros. Lots of ?????s, but enough material to have some realistic hopes.

 

It's hard to speculate right now on what the pitching staff will look like next year. There's always been the "who will go with the draft" question and now there's the transfer portal, which can giveth but also taketh away. I really hope Witt can come back from the surgery and pick up where he left off. I sit a few rows up over the Texas dugout, and after the injury he was still engaged in the game and actively encouraging his teammates.

 

I'm certain there will be a few that step up at pitcher next year. The talent is there, I'm just not sure who it will be. The bats concern me a lot more with all we're losing. The talent level just won't be the same.

 

Well, given that statistically, the talent level never has been this good in the past, I think a regression to the norm is inevitable, though not necessarily overly concerning.

 

Wouldn't shock me if Witt tested the MLB waters but I think the smart money decision is another year of college ball to get his draft status up next year versus a team having to take a flier this year while he still is in rehab. Whether or not Nixon tests the portal is anyone's guess, I am hoping he sees his best chances to be successful as being in Austin and that he spends the fall getting back to his 2021 form. Either way the pipeline for pitching is pretty full just untested and next year will see a lot of kids who haven't played this much get their shot. I am way more worried about filling the holes in the lineup then I am about the pitching situation next year.