Twas The Day Before Opening Day And All Through Hornfans

Ok enough of that, let's talk some Texas baseball, it's been too long already.

Let's talk about the known first, with this graphic.


So what's new, the pitching is still the constant that will make this team successful. The hitting is still the "great unknown," at this point.

The Lost Arms.

Parker French, Chad Hollingsworth, Kirby Bellow, and Ty Marlow. That's a lot of innings and talent to replace. Your ace pitcher in French, that was the anchor of the staff. Hollingsworth who gained legendary status in 2014 on the mound in a run to Omaha, Bellow was a solid lefty, who could start. and Marlow was also a key reliever and even a set up man, when healthy, could hit and play a position if needed.

The Starting Rotation:

This is of course subject to change. Kyle Johnston has probably the best "stuff" on the staff. He has a major league fast ball and sharp breaking curve, he has been working on a change also. It's all about control with Kyle, if he has it, he's a Friday night starter.

Ty Culbreth has the experience, as one of the two seniors on the staff and I'm sure Skip wants a lefty in the rotation. He is that crafty lefty that mixes pitches well, and usually has control of his arsenal.

Connor Mayes has that bulldog mentality to go along with talent. He spot started last year and the role of a long relief man. He showed the mentality of an upperclassman as a freshman. He should only get better with time.

There are others such as Josh Sawyer and later Morgan Cooper, who may also work themselves in as starters. Nothing will be set in stone till probably the start of conference play.

The Relievers and a possible Closer:

Lets talk about Morgan Cooper, yes he has very good stuff too and showed coolness on the mound and control of his pitches, as a freshman. He is also coming off Tommy John surgery though. This is certainly not as serious as it used to be, but total recovery is never certain and even then it takes usually more than a year, for that to happen.

Remember John Curtis, same great talent as Cooper, had become a reliable starter, then he's out injured and it's also neccessary for TJ surgery. He comes back next season and has nowhere near the velocity he had before and loses his starter slot. He still has his control and because of need, he is put in the closer role with mixed results. Then late in the season his velocity returns and he becomes the type of closer the team needs.

This could be Morgan Cooper, nobody knows how he is going be coming back, except maybe Skip. He will be eased back into pitching in some role as a reliever. The staff really needs Morgan back to his former self, but this is going to take time, if it happens.

Josh Sawyer is another lefty that can start or be used in just about any situation as a reliever. He's another pretty crafty lefty that set up hitters with the curve and then just blows a fastball by them. He will figure into the pitching equation in a big way, one way or the other. He was in the starting rotation last season, for awhile. Then made a midweek starter and then went to the bullpen, because we needed another lefty there.

Kacy Clemens, will he even be used as a pitcher this year? Probably at some point if needed. He will most likely be starting at first base, because of his outstanding defense. He started to hit a little better toward the end of last season. The bat will probably determine his role for Texas this season, if he hits he starts at first, with maybe a little pitching included, when needed.

Travis Duke is another experienced lefty. The senior is not going to blow away many hitters, he doesn't have great velocity. What he does have is usually great control and a crossfire delivery that make that average fast ball look "sudden" as we used to say as hitters. He can break off a good curve too. He will most likely be used in middle relief or in situation pitching against lefty hitters. He's another versatile cog in the staff.

Jon Malmin, another lefty that as a sophomore got some big innings last season. He can also be a versatile arm, a spot starter, if needed. Then he can also be used in middle relief, but was mainly used in situational spots against lefty hitters. He could be in the starting rotation for many teams.

Jake McKenzie, another freshman that stepped up in a big way last season as a pitcher and even as an infielder, when injuries required it and had some big hits. Will he continue as a pitcher or as a position player? Most likey both and this makes him very valuable, when the innings pile up, like extra inning games and those post season tournaments.

Tyler Schimpf, a freshman righty that logged some good innings last season. He got lost in the sea of arms Texas has, an easy thing to do. Have to see if he breaks out of the pack this year.

Parker Joe Robinson is a big righty that the Horns expected to make a real contribution last season, even as a freshman. He was the star of the recruited pitchers, then once again like Morgan Cooper, he required Tommy John surgery and redshirted last year.

The sky is still the limit for this guy, if and when he recovers totally, he has the electric stuff. He will be eased along too, as the season progresses.

Nolan Kingham is a tall lean freshman that can hit the 90's with his fastball, then feature a good curve and change. He looks to be a possible key figure in the bullpen, as a short reliever, possibly a set up man, and maybe if he looks good enough, a closer. That closer role should be up for grabs for a while, depending on what Jonston and Cooper do.

Chase Shugart, another righty that can hit 90 with a fast ball, like Clemens and McKenzie, he can play a position with skill too. That would be first base, he showed a good bat in the fall. He could pitch or even be an option to DH or play first . All these type players remind me of the days that good pitchers could really hit and play positions for the Horns, such as Jerry Don Gleaton, Keith Walker, Dennis Cook, Kirk Killingsworth, and Brooks Kieschnic.

There are many more young arms on the roster vying for their place on the very deep Longhorn staff. A few will most likely do just that. I'm not as familiar with them, as those mentioned above. They are the ones I look for to be favored to contribute as the season begins, subject to injury and recovering from injury.

This page is getting longer than one of those extra inning games in Nebraska last year. So I need to go do some things. I will be back and try to tackle the puzzle of a starting line-up, hopefully one that can hit a little.

 

Well done sir.

Get some rest @NBHorn7 — if last year was any indication, you’re going to need it.

 

Now let's try to put together a starting line-up.

Key position players lost are Ben Johnson, C.J. Hinojosa, Brooks Marlow, Collin Shaw, Taylor Stell. That was quite the double play tandem for years in Hinojosa and Marlow, they threw out a lot of leather on the diamond for the Horns.

Speaking of defense, their probably wasn't a better right fielder in college baseball than Shaw. How many highlight did he have making the diving stabs and climbing fences and walls. He will be missed. Stell, if he could have only stayed healthy, was an excellent outfielder, with great speed. Johnson was your best arm and had great speed, he could have played anywhere in the outfield, but preferred playing left, for some reason. He and C.J. could hit and were two of the mainstays of what was already a poor hitting club.

This is what it is supposed to be the starting line-up according to Augie himself. This was realeased yesterday in a presser.

1. Zane Gurwitz-CF
2. Bret Boswell-2B
3. Patrick Mathis-RF
4. Tres Barrera-C
5. Michael Cantu-DH
6. Kacy Clemens-1B
7. Kody Clemens-3B
8. Jake McKenzie-2B
9. Tyler Rand-LF

Joe Baker would have started at second, but is out most likely out for the series with a leg injury.

Also the starting pitchers for each game is the same as the graphic shows above.

So let's break this down by each player.

Gurwitz is certainly no surprise to start in center or lead off. He doesn't have the power or speed that Johnson did, but he does have some pop and decent wheels. He can also be a very good hitter, like many Texas batters lately, he need to show patience at the plate. This will be especially true now as a leadoff man. Lay off the bad pitches and take the count deep and work some walks. Be a table setter, with a high on base percentage.

Bret Boswell can be a consistent hitter, that takes the ball to all fields and puts a lefty in the line-up. Has got hit the lefties better, that starts with better mechanics and pitch discipline. He has moved to short, this is his natural position, moving from third last season. Big shoes to fill, as C.J. could really pick it there.

Patrick Mathis has good speed and is expected to be a big time hitter. He was tried at DH last season, but just never got the job done. Will have to see if can be a good defensive outfielder. This is one of the positions that needs to produce, if the offense will be any better this season.

Tres Barrera should be one of the team leaders this year. He is a very gifted catcher and has a good bat, with tremendous power. The Horns need a total break out year from this talented Junior, in what will most likely be his last at Texas. One of many that could benefit from laying off the bad pitches and cutting down on the whiffs.

Michael Cantu will DH, but we all know he is an equally talented catcher as Barrera, with a very quick release for gunning down would be base stealers. He can hit for power, average, and has an excellent eye usually at the plate. He and Barrera can play first if necessary, I'm hoping it won't be.

Kacy Clemens, let's all say it together the kid is the best first baseman defensively, since maybe Jose Tolentino, but will he ever hit. The jury is still out on that and will determine if he stays on a full time basis. Another guy that has to be disciplined in the strike zone, so he can cut down on the strikeouts.

Kody Clemens, Kacy's little brother is being put at third, as a freshman for one reason, he can hit the baseball. Will he do it consistently in real competition and not scrimmages is the question? This team needs offense and this an attempt to get it.
Hopefully he can handle his position too, Boswell did a great job there.

Jake McKenzie, remember what I said about him in my first post is starting at second. He's already paying dividends with that versatility of his and filling a need, with Baker hurt.

Tyler Rand, another freshman will start in left. He is a very good athlete, with great speed and agility. He slaps the ball around to all field and uses that speed to get on, with infield hits and hopefully is a good bunter. He can field his position well, but certainly doesn't have the power at the plate that Ben had.

Joe Baker will start at second when deemed ready. We saw what he could do last season. When Hinojosa went down with injuries and a suspension, he stepped in and played well at short and had some huge games with the stick. He could also help the offense become respectable this season, that's all the pitching usually needs.

Others that could contribute are Travis Jones a big first baseman, who was thought to have a big stick, tried at DH also, another guy that just hasn't panned out so far.

Kaleb Denny, the son of David, who could really play, is also thought to be big time. He was redshirted due to injury last year. He might can break through and help out this team.

As mentioned in the prior post Chase Shugard can swing the bat and play first, he could be a DH at times, if needed.

Again maybe another newcomer can break out like Baker did last season. Texas needs all the help on offense it can get. I know we think this every year it seems lately, but maybe this is the year for the offense to hopefully get untracked.

It's all to be determined over the course of the season and that starts tomorrow at 6 pm against UNLV. I'm ready to find out and hopefully you are too. Let the games begin, it's college baseball time in Austin once more, for one the premier programs of all time. Play ball!

More information on this weekend's series.

Texas Longhorns Athletics - No. 23 Baseball preview: vs. UNLV [February 19-21]

 

Can't wait!

 

I love these old photos. I wonder which campus building they’re at.

 

Outstanding overview NBHorn7

I cannot wait for Horn Baseball to start today. We lost a lot of talent on the mound including our Ace, so after this weekend series we should have some idea what we got from 3 of our starting pitchers, Morgan Cooper as the top closer and perhaps some kind of gauge of what the hitting will be like.

 

There will be hitting?

I kid, sort of.

 

Favorite sports season of every year!

Looking forward to the @NBHorn7 inning-by-inning (Augie Garrido documentary pun intended) breakdowns of each game

 

Good question on the building, hmmmm 1898, let's see what Google says....not a current building that is for sure.