PitchingGuru
100+ Posts
Home > Bevo Beat > Archives > 2009 > January > 20 > Entry
As for on the field …
By Alan Trubow | Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 12:23 PM
While most people are focused on how the Texas baseball team will deal with the arrest and suspension of Longhorns coach Augie Garrido, the team will be scrimmaging over the next couple of weeks prior to practiced beginning.
Here are a couple of updates:
There have been rumors circulating about the possibility of sophomore Chance Ruffin heading to the bullpen to become the closer.
It’s not going to happen.
The team was considering moving last year’s ace into the bullpen, but Ruffin felt more comfortable in a starter’s role. So the Longhorns decided against moving him.
While nothing is set in stone, the name most associated with closing is left-hander Austin Wood. The Longhorns like his change up and think it could be very effective in late innings when Texas has a lead. …
The Longhorns are heading back to their roots when it comes to philosophy. They’re banking on fielding a team based on pitching and defense.
And the coaches are happy with the way the infield defense is looking.
“It’s light years ahead of where it was last year,” Garrido said last week before he was arrested.
If the first game was today, Texas would start an infield of Brandon Belt at first base, Travis Tucker at second base, David Hernandez at shortstop and freshman Brandon Loy at third base.
Third base is one of the positions where competition is heavy. Loy, the most complete freshman on the Longhorn roster, and freshman Kevin Lusson are both trying to earn the spot.
Garrido believes the new turf makes UFCU Disch-Falk Field an extremely defense-friendly place. The turf is slower. You’re not going to see as many triples, and missed fly balls aren’t going to be bouncing over outfielders’ heads.
“The best possible defense needs to be out there because it can do so much on this field,” Garrido said. …
Catcher Preston Clark is still rehabbing after offseason surgery. Between his shoulder and his knee, Clark has had a rough couple of years. But the Longhorns have to stick with him because, while it’s hard to remember that far back, he might be the best defensive catcher in the country.
Clark is throwing a little past the pitcher’s mound right now and will continue to lengthen the distance. Texas is hoping he’ll be ready by the time they begin the season in February. …
There were a couple of transfers in the offseason.
Infielder Bobby Buckner and pitcher Lee Johnson are no longer with the team. Buckner, who wasn’t going to receive much playing time, transferred to Navarro, pitching coach Skip Johnson’s old stomping grounds. …
The outfield suffered the most losses to the draft, and it’s going to look a lot different, with three new starters.
Tant Shepherd, perhaps the best pure hitter on the team, has been working hard this offseason on playing left field and has earned a chance to start.
The Longhorns struggled to find a place for him on the field last year. That won’t happen this season.
Center field is one of the biggest question marks as sophomore Connor Rowe and junior Kyle Lusson are competing for playing time.
Rowe has more athletic ability but Lusson has experience. Experience might win out early in the season.
Kevin Keyes has a chance to be the most improved player this season and he’ll take the place of Kyle Russell in right field.
Keyes has a big bat and really is Texas’ only pure power hitter. …
As for the starting pitchers, well, it’s not even close to being set, yet.
Each of the pitchers will be throwing 15 innings during February scrimmages. Every pitcher on the staff is expected to come into practice with the ability to complete five innings.
Texas knows it needs more pitchers and more depth to eat up innings than it’s had in the previous two years.
The favorites to earn starting roles are Ruffin, Cole Green, Taylor Jungmann, Austin Dicharry and Brandon Workman. Yes, they’re all right-handers.
One possible left-hander might not be ready to start the season as Riley Boening still hasn’t fully recovered from his 2006 shoulder surgery, the most difficult surgery for a pitcher to recover from
As for on the field …
By Alan Trubow | Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 12:23 PM
While most people are focused on how the Texas baseball team will deal with the arrest and suspension of Longhorns coach Augie Garrido, the team will be scrimmaging over the next couple of weeks prior to practiced beginning.
Here are a couple of updates:
There have been rumors circulating about the possibility of sophomore Chance Ruffin heading to the bullpen to become the closer.
It’s not going to happen.
The team was considering moving last year’s ace into the bullpen, but Ruffin felt more comfortable in a starter’s role. So the Longhorns decided against moving him.
While nothing is set in stone, the name most associated with closing is left-hander Austin Wood. The Longhorns like his change up and think it could be very effective in late innings when Texas has a lead. …
The Longhorns are heading back to their roots when it comes to philosophy. They’re banking on fielding a team based on pitching and defense.
And the coaches are happy with the way the infield defense is looking.
“It’s light years ahead of where it was last year,” Garrido said last week before he was arrested.
If the first game was today, Texas would start an infield of Brandon Belt at first base, Travis Tucker at second base, David Hernandez at shortstop and freshman Brandon Loy at third base.
Third base is one of the positions where competition is heavy. Loy, the most complete freshman on the Longhorn roster, and freshman Kevin Lusson are both trying to earn the spot.
Garrido believes the new turf makes UFCU Disch-Falk Field an extremely defense-friendly place. The turf is slower. You’re not going to see as many triples, and missed fly balls aren’t going to be bouncing over outfielders’ heads.
“The best possible defense needs to be out there because it can do so much on this field,” Garrido said. …
Catcher Preston Clark is still rehabbing after offseason surgery. Between his shoulder and his knee, Clark has had a rough couple of years. But the Longhorns have to stick with him because, while it’s hard to remember that far back, he might be the best defensive catcher in the country.
Clark is throwing a little past the pitcher’s mound right now and will continue to lengthen the distance. Texas is hoping he’ll be ready by the time they begin the season in February. …
There were a couple of transfers in the offseason.
Infielder Bobby Buckner and pitcher Lee Johnson are no longer with the team. Buckner, who wasn’t going to receive much playing time, transferred to Navarro, pitching coach Skip Johnson’s old stomping grounds. …
The outfield suffered the most losses to the draft, and it’s going to look a lot different, with three new starters.
Tant Shepherd, perhaps the best pure hitter on the team, has been working hard this offseason on playing left field and has earned a chance to start.
The Longhorns struggled to find a place for him on the field last year. That won’t happen this season.
Center field is one of the biggest question marks as sophomore Connor Rowe and junior Kyle Lusson are competing for playing time.
Rowe has more athletic ability but Lusson has experience. Experience might win out early in the season.
Kevin Keyes has a chance to be the most improved player this season and he’ll take the place of Kyle Russell in right field.
Keyes has a big bat and really is Texas’ only pure power hitter. …
As for the starting pitchers, well, it’s not even close to being set, yet.
Each of the pitchers will be throwing 15 innings during February scrimmages. Every pitcher on the staff is expected to come into practice with the ability to complete five innings.
Texas knows it needs more pitchers and more depth to eat up innings than it’s had in the previous two years.
The favorites to earn starting roles are Ruffin, Cole Green, Taylor Jungmann, Austin Dicharry and Brandon Workman. Yes, they’re all right-handers.
One possible left-hander might not be ready to start the season as Riley Boening still hasn’t fully recovered from his 2006 shoulder surgery, the most difficult surgery for a pitcher to recover from
