Texas vs. UCLA Game 3

[FWHORN]

Tough to follow this team because just not a lot they do really well and a lot they do pretty poorly. But for a magical run in Tulsa last season to end year this is two straight years of really bad baseball.

 

[bmbb]

My first question is where is Josh Sawyer? He was a solid lefty veteran starting pitcher, for most of last season. He has pitched exactly two innings so far this year. This is a big concern.

Is he hurt or something else, something is going on here, or he would be pitching.

A team spokesperson said Sawyer has a sore arm after throwing two scoreless innings last Friday against UNLV.

http://www.hookem.com/story/texas-stanford-baseball-series-should-mark-joe-bakers-season-debut/

 

[car54]

Unfortunately....

 

[Brad Austin]

But for a magical run in Tulsa last season to end year this is two straight years of really bad baseball.

Exactly. And when we went on that last gasp run to make the postseason a part of me cringed knowing we had no chance at the CWS and it would only mask the true decline of our program.

As predicted, we've picked up where we left off playing the same faltered, second rate baseball. All that weekend in Tulsa did was delay our program from making the hard choice needed to move forward and compete at the top level again in the near future.

 

[rattfatt]

Exactly. and when we went on that last gasp run to make the postseason a part of me cringed knowing we had no chance at the CWS and it would only mask the true decline of our program.

As predicted, we've picked up where we left off playing the same faltered, second rate baseball. All that weekend in Tulsa did was delay our program from making the hard choice needed to move forward and compete at the top level again in the near future.

Yep, when the team and fans celebrate winning the conference tournament just to get into the Ncaa tournament you know it's time for Augie to go. Getting at least to the ncaa tournament should be a given at Texas. Respect what he did for the program but it's been time for him to go.

 

[56 Bells]

What do you think is going on with Skip's decision-making and pitching staff?

 

[bmbb]

What do you think is going on with Skip's decision-making and pitching staff?

Good point ! I have wondered the same.

Thought Shugart should have been pulled earlier in the Sunday meltdown against Cal. His body language did not show confidence. We have not had a bonafide closer since Knebel. Need to go to the juco ranks when necessary.


Mayes had thrown 81 pitches in 5 inn this past Sunday and had a 2-0 count on a lefty batter when pulled. Unless Huston Street is in the pen, not a fan of bringing in new pitcher (Malmin) with the pressure of 2-0 count especially on the road. Malmin has walked 8 batters in 8 innings. The UCLA batter had walked and lined out in his previous ab's.

In the Sat game, I thought Duke should have stayed in to pitch the 9th and to the lefty Peterson who homered to win the game. Peterson also had homered in the Friday game. Instead Wellman made his first appearance in a true road game.

We needed that UCLA series. Perhaps Mayes should have been considered for relief in game 2 to try to clinch the series.

Current team era is 3.61, very high for a Texas team. Skip seems to be mixing/matching to find the answer. The staff is not experienced and it shows. Hopefully, it is not a lack of talent.

 

[NBHorn7]

Who's pitching staff and decision making won that conference tounament, with a great performance.

By the way, the statement on that prediction thread, about the top teams not caring about winning that conference tournament is false.

Oklahoma State was one of only two good teams in the Big 12 last season. They were ranked #15 nationally and went on to host a regional. They went undefeated in their bracket. Then they lead 2-1 in the eighth inning, of the championship game against Texas. OSU made three errors in the eighth inning and five unearned Texas runs later, they lost that game 6-3. So Texas won the tournament.

There wouldn't be any discussion about this, the decision would have already been made. That pitching staff saved the other coaches jobs with this and getting Texas into the CWS before then.

This pitching staff is short handed of the talent it should have, that kind of influences the decision making. This has been pointed out about Cooper, Robinson, Hollingsworth, and now Sawyer too.

 

[NBHorn7]

Duke pitched three innings in Friday's game. You can't pitch him in extended outings every day.

Texas has had John Curtis and Morgan Cooper since Knebel. Curtis was a top starting pitcher, as a freshman. Then had Tommy John surgery. He works his way back and became a good closer, in the run to Omaha, in 2014.

Morgan Cooper, exact same circumstances as Curtis. He is currently working his way back to form, he can start or be used as a closer.

Parker Joe Robinson, was supposed to be a big factor, as a freshman last season, lost to surgery for the year, still trying to work his way back.

Josh Sawyer, a veteran left handed starter, has pitched two innings, all season. He developed a sore arm. Sawyer could be used in relief or as a starter, which would allow one of the current starters to be used in relief, if needed. He will be back at some point.

Chad Hollingsworth, had to give up baseball this year, due to a chronically bad shoulder.

This pitching staff if it gets healthy, has the potential to do things like last season, in the conference tourney, or more like it did in 2014.

Nobody expected what they did in those seasons either. It would help if the defense tightens up some. If the hitting ever becomes consistent, then great, but it hasn't in a long time.

This season's schedule is front loaded with good teams, after the TCU series, it gets easier.

 

[BevoJoe]

Aggy likely bout to put it on us in baseball and basketball

Can't disagree....unfortunately.

 

[56 Bells]

Can't disagree....unfortunately.

You never know. Perhaps our offense will keep hitting, as we've done the last few games, and we won't have to depend on Skip making a decision about when he's going to the bullpen. Unfortunately, I bet he's already decided exactly how many innings and/or pitches Cooper is getting tonight. You never know....the baseball gods may like the aggy less than we do.

As for basketball, it's a horrible match-up for us. Aggy are a lot like Baylor as match-ups go...uggh. But there's always hope!
Hook'Em!

 

[UT Horn Fan]

You never know. Perhaps our offense will keep hitting, as we've done the last few games, and we won't have to depend on Skip making a decision about when he's going to the bullpen. Unfortunately, I bet he's already decided exactly how many innings and/or pitches Cooper is getting tonight. You never know....the baseball gods may like the aggy less than we do.

Cooper is (and should be) on a pitch count for a good part of the season. Don't want to push him too much after Tommy John surgery. I'd rather pin our hopes on Skip than the offense. Pitching has been the lone bright spot the last few years.

Speaking of Skip, I hope he is offered the HC job when Augie retires. He deserves it. Who knows, he might not want to be a head coach, but he should be given the opportunity. Hopefully he would be more successful at the top than Frank Anderson or Tom Holliday.

 

[bmbb]

Duke pitched three innings in Friday's game. You can't pitch him in extended outings every day.

Texas has had John Curtis and Morgan Cooper since Knebel.

Duke only threw 44 pitches on Friday. He was brought in to finish the 8th on Sat and only threw 3 pitches. Since he had already warmed-up, it certainly would have made sense at least to face Peterson (their lefty power hitter) in the 9th.

We have went "closer by committee" since Knebel. Curtis and Cooper volunteered, as did Parker French. Bonafide means someone who is designated from day 1 and it takes a special mindset to be a closer.

Skip Johnson is well-respected by all, including myself. But if you think he can do no wrong, there is not much I can say.

 

[NBHorn7]

What I said about being shorthanded right now is not wrong, nor that he saved the other coaches jobs.

It's always a closer by committee, to somebody does the job well and Curtis did that. Somebody has to win the job. He couldn't really start and throw a lot of innings anymore. It certainly made more since for him to get that role instead of French, who didn't like it. If you recall even as a starter, he could have tough first innings, not good for a closer. Curtis took the role and kept it, for the rest of season.

Hard for Cooper to be a closer or a weekend starter till he can get back to where he was. So he is being looked at in the midweek starting role, on a pitch count. Just like Curtis he was a top notch starter, till Tommy John surgery. Curtis was said to have the best stuff on the staff, till he went down.

Knebel began as a starting pitcher, then later moved to the closer role.