2009

N

Nolalonghorn16

250+ Posts
Anybody else pumped? If this team doesn't make it to Omaha, then it's time to start worrying about the direction of Texas baseball IMO.
 
I , for one, am not yet pumped because I don't see where the new leadership difference makers for next year is coming from.
I think we have a lot of talent, but we had a lot of talent the last three years but didn't have much leadership or clutch players who would step up when it mattered.
I am not from Missouri, but they are going to have to "show me " something before I start thinking about a top 8 type team.
 
Leaders will be Ruffin, Clark, Tucker. Our team will be VERY salty.

This year we started with horrible defense, and not even anything that resembled an "ace".

Next year we will start with the same starting infield, who improved 5X defensively, and possibly the nastiest "ace" in recent memory.

I'm done with excuses. Next year is Omaha, or bust.
 
In spite of all the bitching about pitching and defense, it was our failure to score runs that cost us in the regionals. And now we lose our best run producers in Danks and Russel. I think we'll have trouble making Omaha again next year.
 
Barton Hills, If our team leaders are hitting 250 and yet again can't stay healthy.... then I see no differences next year.
I agree with Old Belvins, timely hitting is a continuing problem for us.
I see NOTHING that has changed.
 
Anybody have team stats vs. this years contenders? I'd be curious to see how they compare. To adjust for the DFF effect, we'd also need to see the corresponding Texas and other contender stats for the 2002-2005 era (a/k/a "Augie's First Golden Era at Texas"). If I recall correctly, in 2002-2005, the Horns were always near the top in team ERA. That's obviously a good foundation for a championship run.

Is Ruffin a lock to stay as a starter, or might he move to closer? A strong bullpen would have made this a very different season. Imagine, for a moment, sweeping Okie Lite, or at least taking 2, instead of being swept. With a strong bullpen, that could easily have happened.
 
On the hitting side I think the team needs to focus on a better approach at the plate. Too often they attacked bad pitches early in the count and got behind. This team also lost quite a few games due to a poor bullpen, but also the offense would start hot working counts etc. but then become too aggressive the rest of the game. They would start swinging at first pitches and would get in 0-2 counts which ultimately led to the high amount of strikeouts.

This team needs to create a better approach at the plate working counts and always trying to get on base any way, even with a large lead creating favorable hitters counts and producing walks and good ABs.
 
For 2009, we need all the fundamentals, pitch, catch, hit, and run the bases.

We also need Ted Silva, UC Irvine's pitching coach, as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator and to be groomed as Augie's "heir." He is a bright, young coach with a great future who would go further than a 200 mile radius of Austin to get talent.

If these comments seem negative it is because watching these super regionals is like watching your ex-wife be successful and you are not there.
 
Ram - Torres and Hernandez actually came to us. They played summer ball with some of our guys and because they were not happy at USC and Fresno State, they contacted Augie.

We need a recruiting coordinator that can "break-in" to the Houston area and get those top recruits, especially pitchers,from OOS if needed.
 
The pitching recruiting has been tough, the great pitchers that we have signed have often gone straight to the pros, we gotta find signable guys with alot of potential (easier said than done).
 
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