Barton Hills
1,000+ Posts
This 3 game set is gonna show me all I need to see about this '08 team. For the past few weeks I've been watching the guys improve/grow confidence ... we'll see where we stand by Sunday afternoon.
IMO, we have improved in all 3 areas since the OSU debacle, then you add in the Russell factor :
#1 - Ruffin has emerged as a bonafide ace. Kenn has knocked the rust off and is starting to resemble the pitcher that won as a freshman in Omaha.
#2 - We finally got the infield situated. Torres to DH, Clark is playing well at 3rd, Tucker to 2nd. And quietly, Hernandez has turned into a pretty solid SS over the past month or so.
#3 - We have begun doing the "Augie" things. Moving guys over ... getting timely 2 strike hits ... getting 2 out RBI's. Friday in Waco was a thing of beauty. Like 8 of our runs came with 2 outs.
#4 - Kyle is back to being a feared man in the middle of the line-up. No more hitting .220, with 1 HR.
It may be my blind optimism, but I get the sense that the puzzle pieces are getting aligned at just the right time. The talent on this team has never been disputed, but now they are actually using it.
I honestly think that the better we play this weekend, the better chance we have of being sent somewhere close for Regionals. It appears that the Houston Regional is once again a possibility.
Let's at least take care of things tonight, I want no part of A&M celebrating a Big XII title on our field.
IMO, we have improved in all 3 areas since the OSU debacle, then you add in the Russell factor :
#1 - Ruffin has emerged as a bonafide ace. Kenn has knocked the rust off and is starting to resemble the pitcher that won as a freshman in Omaha.
#2 - We finally got the infield situated. Torres to DH, Clark is playing well at 3rd, Tucker to 2nd. And quietly, Hernandez has turned into a pretty solid SS over the past month or so.
#3 - We have begun doing the "Augie" things. Moving guys over ... getting timely 2 strike hits ... getting 2 out RBI's. Friday in Waco was a thing of beauty. Like 8 of our runs came with 2 outs.
#4 - Kyle is back to being a feared man in the middle of the line-up. No more hitting .220, with 1 HR.
It may be my blind optimism, but I get the sense that the puzzle pieces are getting aligned at just the right time. The talent on this team has never been disputed, but now they are actually using it.
I honestly think that the better we play this weekend, the better chance we have of being sent somewhere close for Regionals. It appears that the Houston Regional is once again a possibility.
Let's at least take care of things tonight, I want no part of A&M celebrating a Big XII title on our field.
