Baseball Articles
Texas Longhorns Baseball: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Posted by HenryJames on June 25th, 2009 under Baseball
Texas’ two biggest strengths coming into the College World Series were pitching and defense. They had carried a rather anemic offense throughout the year. If you had told me before the series started that Texas would hit fourteen homeruns, I would have told you that we would win it. I never would have guessed that our pitching and defense would let us down.
Texas had confidence in six pitchers going into the CWS. That’s usually enough to get you through at least the winner’s bracket. Unfortunately, two of them couldn’t get anybody out once they got there. So that left Texas with four reliable pitchers for six games.
Texas was in the position of either getting a dominant performance from their starters or outslugging the opponent. Difficult to manage a staff when you don’t have middle relief or a closer on which you can rely. Even more difficult when your defense commits twelve errors in six games. To Texas’ credit they only fell one game short.
Austin Wood has never been the same after his performance against Boston College in the regional. I know, correlation isn’t causation, but his stat line since isn’t pretty: 11 IP 16 hits 10 runs 3 walks 8 ks. And two hit batters.
You don’t know how a freshman is going to respond in the biggest games of their life. Huston Street and Taylor Jungmann looked like major leaguers. Austin Dicharry looked like a freshman. He had major control issues and couldn’t throw strikes. In 2 1/3 innings he gave up three hits and walked eight.
After Texas tied the game at 4-4 last night, Cole Green summed up the team’s faith in the bullpen. “We were talking in the dugout and we kind of knew it would be over if they responded in the next inning,” Green said. That’s rough. And you could tell by the players’ body language that they knew it was over once LSU did respond.
You can fault Augie Garrido for some bad moves regarding the staff, but it’s not easy to make good moves when you don’t have anybody in the pen that can get the other team out.
Texas exceeded expectations, and they return a great nucleus of players who now have CWS experience. Experience counts a lot. Don’t forget that this LSU team went 1-2 at last year’s CWS.
So I’m calling my shot now. Texas wins it all next year.
________________________
For an exhaustive take, check out GhostofBigRoy @ BON.
Share This
29 Responses
Leave a Reply
Related Articles
-
21
Texas Longhorns Baseball Preseason #1
By HenryJames on December 22nd, 2009 -
1
Texas Longhorns Baseball Opens Season with Sweep
By Huckleberry on February 25th, 2008 -
6
Baseball Geography Update
By Huckleberry on June 24th, 2009 -
2
College Baseball: Second look at the Texas Longhorns
By HenryJames on February 23rd, 2009 -
16
College Baseball: First look at the Texas Longhorns
By HenryJames on February 22nd, 2009
Activity
-
Trips Right commented on the blog post Big East Beast: The West Virginia Mountaineers 10 minutes ago
I think they’ll be a 2 because Duke won. I think WVU and Ohio State are better than Duke and may be better than Syracuse if Onuaku is dinged.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Bob in Houston commented on the blog post Texas Basketball is Dangerous 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
nordberg, I agree with you, but what’s he supposed to tell a guy with a nationally read blog?
-
James commented on the blog post Mike Leach with some VERY hot sports opinions 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
He’s right. Leach is the best thing that ever happened to Tech athletics. I wish Fran would of had even 10% of that piss and vinegar. Mediocrity blows ass.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Bob in Houston commented on the blog post Texas Basketball is Dangerous 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Just because you say it doesn’t mean you believe it.
Oh, thanks to random screening, I just wanted say, I was really impressed with Ekpe Udoh this week, and I bet he could leave if he felt like it.
-
Bob in Houston commented on the blog post Texas Basketball is Dangerous 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Just because you say it doesn’t mean you believe it.
-
HenryJames commented on the blog post Texas Basketball is Dangerous 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
-
Trips Right wrote a new blog post: Texas Basketball is Dangerous 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
Or that’s what they’re telling Andy Katz anyway.
Well that’s good to know. I’ll sleep better at night knowing that for some poor 7 or 8 seed armageddon is imminent when the mighty Longhorns come to town. Then after Texas dispatches of that unworthy mid-seeded patsy there’s a one seed primed to go
-
docnice wrote a new blog post: Miguel Paul is the face of this team: Redux 2 hours, 35 minutes ago
A while ago, I posted that this team belongs to Miguel Paul, and the more I watch them, the more I think that. It’s a team that show great athleticism and effort, but loses focus for crucial stretches, and makes questionable decisions sometimes. When I first posted this, Hiphopopotamus said that this was a
-
Hiphopopotamus wrote a new blog post: Two Down, One To Go 3 hours, 56 minutes ago
Goals one and two have officially been checked off the list. Now comes the biggie.
That’s three stern tests from our in-state rival Wildcats, and three tests passed with flying colors. Each had a different atmosphere. Each had its own unique style. But each eventually played out the same way. And
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Damion…prepare for glory 4 hours, 40 minutes ago
Kevy, I corrected it for you.
Two disarray equal = totally fucked up which is a good description of Texas at this point in time.
Florida State D would make Mason cry and Travolcity would refuse to step on the court .
The Cuse would still eat your shorts for breakfast after spending the night -
Trips Right commented on the blog post Damion…prepare for glory 4 hours, 57 minutes ago
Kevin doesn’t have edit functions, so I fixed it for him. Dude can’t spell for shit.
-
Bob in Houston commented on the blog post Damion…prepare for glory 5 hours, 3 minutes ago
Florida State plays D like Texas used to play D. Texas might bust 40.
-
skymonkeyhorn commented on the blog post Big East Beast: The West Virginia Mountaineers 5 hours, 24 minutes ago
Kevy , That was a great game and Huggybear did his thing which is to manage a very good team that plays “old school” defense. I have always liked huggy because he always put out a defense that would have you talking to yourself when it was over and you lost by 10.
Great write up
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Farmer Ted wrote a new blog post: Castille Day 5 hours, 58 minutes ago
If you’re looking for something to do today, how about submitting your name for the NFL’s supplemental draft? Evidently anyone can do it, even Quentin Castille.
Pelini unceremoniously booted the once promising running back on August 22 for the usual mysterious undisclosed violation of team rules, ending Castille’s shot at the riches and fame of pro football.
Or so
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Another game vs. Kansas, another loss 9 hours, 17 minutes ago
honga. Forget it. It’s Chinatown. Fuck it, let’s go bowling.
Kansas is going to win it all. They have their shit toegther.
Great columns.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Big East Beast: The West Virginia Mountaineers 9 hours, 55 minutes ago
Oh, and most importantly, fuck bandwagon Spike Lee. When does 30: Reggie Miller vs. NY Knicks come out?
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Big East Beast: The West Virginia Mountaineers 9 hours, 56 minutes ago
Kevin – That’s a great article and a great game.
I felt like the refs let a lot go. Love to see your Tourney officiating Primer. Who it helps and who it hurts in terms of teams and leagues.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Metoyer Commits to OU and a Brief Commentary on Life 10 hours, 13 minutes ago
Baby Heupel. Fantastic. No more excuses about your writing output!
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
admin commented on the blog post Masoli out for ’10–Did Kelly make the strongest play? 10 hours, 18 minutes ago
I know what Stoops DID do…
Are you alluding to the Burlington thing or something else?
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Masoli out for ’10–Did Kelly make the strongest play? 10 hours, 18 minutes ago
I know what Stoops DID do…
Is this the Burlington thing or something else?
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
admin commented on the blog post Masoli out for ’10–Did Kelly make the strongest play? 10 hours, 18 minutes ago
I know what Stoops DID do…
Are you alluding to the Burlington thing or something else?
And what’s with these Oregon fuck sticks? Dudes, Uncle Phil will take care of you. Just pick up the Duck Phone.
Masoli had a bad history here in the Bay Area. Shaking kids down at Serra, I think.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
admin commented on the blog post Masoli out for ’10–Did Kelly make the strongest play? 10 hours, 18 minutes ago
I know what Stoops DID do…
Are you alluding to the Burlington thing or something else?
And what’s with these Oregon fuck sticks? Dudes, Uncle Phil will take care of you. Just pick up the Duck Phone.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Trey Metoyer to OU 10 hours, 21 minutes ago
Jesus. Echoes of combinology. He plays college. First. He doesn’t need to be Usain Bolt. Or even Teddy Lehman. Kid’s a player.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post The FanTake network guest lecture series 10 hours, 30 minutes ago
If the bloggers aren’t smart enough to figure it out, only Dez knows.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Damion…prepare for glory 11 hours, 26 minutes ago
Are you correcting yourself when you properly spell words with properly spelled words?
Sweet Jesus.
Been to the hot gates. F Ephialtes.
-
Ibas water bottle commented on the blog post The FanTake network guest lecture series 11 hours, 53 minutes ago
Whiskey as soon as I figure out what the flip cards are for you’ll be the first to know. Until then our opponents have to take an extra ten minutes trying to figure them out, Every minute they spend not working on stopping Kendal Hunter is a net gain for OSU.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
whiskey commented on the blog post The FanTake network guest lecture series 11 hours, 58 minutes ago
Good stuff Ibas. I think Gundy might be able to kick it up to the next level in short order if he plays his cards right. At some point you have to tell me what’s up with those crazy tic tac toe boards he uses to call offensive plays. I still have
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Trey Metoyer to OU 11 hours, 59 minutes ago
I’m not backing down from that comment. He doesn’t have the kind of top end speed you hope for, but his ball skills are insane. Watching his film, I don’t see him outrunning anyone. But no one is taking the ball from him.
He’s not actually “slow” per se, his speed
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Luke wrote a new blog post: Another game vs. Kansas, another loss 13 hours ago
I’m not going to sit here and say Kansas State would have won tonight if Jacob Pullen would have been his usual self, but it sure would have been nice to find out.
Instead, Pullen scored just 13 and shot 5-17 from the field, including just 1 of 8 on threes, a few of which were
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Trips Right commented on the blog post Basketball Bets 3/12 13 hours, 5 minutes ago
Dick, we’ll see, but I’m not encouraged by OSU’s path to get to this point.
Diego, that’s great, glad you made some money.
Anyone have anything for tomorrow? I’m looking at Duke over again, and the Ohio State over. Not sure if I’m going to play anything. I may just sweat my
Nordberg said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Think we move Workman into the closer’s role next year?
Nth Handle said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
For that to work Rupp needs to improve big time behind the dish. Too many pass balls, steals, overthrows etc. Not taking anything away from his offense because he came through big time in that area.
HenryJames said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Yeah, Rupp is not a great or even a very good defensive catcher. But he looks like George Kennedy in ‘Cool Hand Luke’ so I have a soft spot for him.
abc123 said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am
The thing about Wood that people miss is that he wasn’t pitching that great before throwing the 13 innings either. In the 6 innings he threw before the BC game he gave up:
11 hits
8 runs
4 walks
5 strikeouts
Not the terrible numbers of late, but still not great numbers for an ace closer.
uthookem said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Yep, good season that fell just a tad short. We won the first CWS in Rosenblatt, and I see no reason that we shouldn’t win the last next year.
Hook ‘em!
Texoz said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:34 am
You could almost say we were a curveball (Game 1) away from winning it.
Hope Wood can bounce back. It would be a shame to have his Hall of Fame performance be a career ender.
Put a little more muscle on Taylor Jungmann and he’s going to be scary next year.
I’ll definitely be attending more games next season. Should be a fun one.
Facebook User said:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:35 am
He’s a natural born world-shaker.
Mysterious Package said:
June 25th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Do we have any big bats coming in?
HenryJames said:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Colton Cain, Cohl Wallah and Jonathan Walsh can all hit.
PatronSaint said:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:10 am
They better be able to bunt.
Art Vandelay said:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Package,
If Colton Cain makes it to Austin versus signing a MLB contract you are going to love that kid.
The Clapper said:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Our pitching staff was vastly overrated, as you note. Wood was inconsistent all year. No other middle reliever or closer was reliable. Ott and Jones were better than any of ours.
LSU looked far more talented overall. I can’t believe we got this far.
How is Augie’s recruiting? i know he outsources most of it but he never seems to be at the top of the rankings.
Nordberg said:
June 25th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Yeah, hard to believe we were one out away from a national championship with our “vastly overrated” pitching staff.
The General said:
June 25th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Our pitching staff was vastly overrated, as you note. Wood was inconsistent all year. No other middle reliever or closer was reliable. Ott and Jones were better than any of ours.
LSU looked far more talented overall. I can’t believe we got this far.
How is Augie’s recruiting? i know he outsources most of it but he never seems to be at the top of the rankings.
Spoken like a dude that watched the CWS only.
Not Sold Yet said:
June 25th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I wouldn’t put Workman as the closer unless he gains a bit more command of his pitches. Nothing creates more wailing and gnashing of teeth than a closer who walks people.
I also think Cole needs to develop another pitch. He’s got a good mental approach and good stuff but I think he’s a bit too predictable.
If Cole does that, or another #3 surfaces, we’ll be in excellent shape.
Should be fine offensively, too.
I just don’t know what to make of the sudden propensity to lose our composure. We had three VERY ugly innings in three games in the CWS that seemed to snowball. We won two of those games, but we sure made it harder on ourselves than we had to.
Rupp, I guess, is just going to have some defensive lapses, but I was very surprised at some poor play by Rowe and Loy.
Mysterious Package said:
June 25th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Jungmann, then who are our other starters? Workman, Dicharry as closer? I say that because Workman has been a starter in the past and I think we need him in the rotation…
Not Sold Yet,
I agree that Cole Green needs a third pitch.
mr. horn said:
June 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I will say this on recruiting: We sure have a lot of guys from the Austin area. Maybe just a coincidence, but it doesn’t exactly point to a lot of hard work hitting the road to recruit.
Black Scholes said:
June 25th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I have a severe baseball hangover. Really bummed on this one. Our achilles in the past in Omaha has been running into a top-shelf pitcher who brings his A-game or a kid who throws the game of his life. This was ours to take, and we didn’t.
The Clapper said:
June 25th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Watched them all year. Was a tribute to Augie and gutsy play we got this far. Jungmann emerged later in the season, Ruffin is a competitive stud, Green is ok. Not much reliable behind them yet.
Bartoncreek said:
June 25th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I think Workman is our closer next year.
A rotation of 1) Jungmann 2) Ruffin 3) Green with Dicharry as setup and Workman as closer is by far the best staff in the country next year.
It isn’t even close people. If we have a freshman or two step up from the mound it won’t even be fair.
Moldy, Keyes and Rupp in 3-5 spots is a good starting point too. We could really use some speed at the top as that was a glaring difference between us and LSU. Damn, we were a slow ass team this year.
hopefulhorn said:
June 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Terrific season from a Texas team that was very easy to root for. Lots of good talent coming back so they should make a strong run next year.
Facebook User said:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Jungmann and Ruffin threw two games that were wins. Jungmann’s was recorded.
Rick Barnes said:
June 26th, 2009 at 8:21 am
What’s the take in the infield next year? Losing Torres and Tucker, right? I’m not that sad to see Torres’s bat go, but we were great defensively sans CWS.
Bornahorn said:
June 26th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I don’t know what Torres’ CWS average was but he hit a bunch of balls very squarely right at people. If larger guys had hit as squarely as he did, we would have had even more HRs. His bat was not as good as his defense but he was pretty good.
Mysterious Package said:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I would still like to see some more pop next year. I think we all do…And I think we need to get more players from around the country, not just centex
maninblack said:
June 27th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Here’s my swag at it:
C: Rupp
1B: Moldenhauer
2B: Etier
SS: Loy
3B: Kevin Lusson
LF: Shepard
CF: Rowe
RF: Keyes
DH: Cain (provided he doesn’t sign)
Fri P: Ruffin
Sat P: Green
Sun P: Jungmann
MR: Dicharry
Closer: Workman
Jonathon Walsh will also be in the mix somewhere and this also assumes Williams signs with the Padres.
Hill said:
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:54 am
Switch Cain and Moldenhauer and I like your lineup. Augie and Co. seem to like taller targets at 1B and Cain is a better fit than Moldy. Cole Walla and Jonathon Walsh will be two freshman that will see immediate playing time (maybe in LF), Walsh at 1B if Cain signs. Weymouth may also challenge Etier for the 2B job.
Barking Carnival — Blog — Texas baseball preseason #1 said:
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
[...] surprise. I picked them to win it all this year after last year’s CWS, and they’ll have the best pitching staff in college [...]
Barking Carnival — Blog — Texas Baseball: Team of the Decade said:
February 8th, 2010 at 10:01 am
[...] The new decade of voting looks promising for Texas as well. They’re ranked number one in all four preseason baseball polls and I’m on record here. [...]