Couple of notes on this weekend's UT @ WVU Baseball series

[joeywa]

T9 cont; 1 out; Mathis on 1B

Tres (0-4)

1-0 dirt

6-4-3 DP ends the game

Final 9-5 WVU

 

[joeywa]

FINAL BOOK

TEXAS 5/9/3

WVU 9/10/3

WP: Dotson

LP: Johnston

 

[joeywa]

I've said it before sports fans, but I don't know what these boys are thinkin' about but it sure ain't baseball.

This has been a rough season to call. 

 

[joeywa]

....and Bear19, you're welcome.  Hope your lawn looks awesome and you caught your limit of bass today. 

 

[streettopeschel]

Back to back conference sweeps probably hasn't happened many times.

 

[CharcoalPuppy]

Back to back conference sweeps probably hasn't happened many times.

 Might be time for the old man to ride off into the sunset.

 

[joeywa]

Back to back conference sweeps probably hasn't happened many times.

Last time was vs Rice and Baylor in the SWC. 1957, I believe.

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

Like I said they have quit

 

[java]

Joey, thanks for calling the games. It feels like Augie has mailed it in.

 

[Gus McCrea]

Wow. Smdh. Thanks for the effort Joey.

 

[Bear19]

Joey

Thanks for your concern man but no need. I saw this coming a long time ago and haven't allowed myself to miss any bass fishing. It's been quite some time since my emotions hung on every pitch.

Early on it was obvious that no matter what beer I drank or how many, or when I "shifted" it wasn't going to make any difference with this squad.

 

[joeywa]

Joey

Thanks for your concern man but no need. I saw this coming a long time ago and haven't allowed myself to miss any bass fishing. It's been quite some time since my emotions hung on every pitch.

Early on it was obvious that no matter what beer I drank or how many, or when I "shifted" it wasn't going to make any difference with this squad.

Can't tell you how many caps I've either worn, retired, or pulled out of retirement only to swear I'll never wear again, this season.  There's no combination that has worked. 

 

[joeywa]

Thought I'd share a couple of posts I made on OB about the team.  While folks say the coaches have mailed it in, I don't think that's necessarily the case.  There's something else that's just not right.  Recurring theme of pitching breakdowns and defensive meltdowns on routine plays is happening so often lately that you can almost call when it's going to happen. 

*****************************************************

Lost by 9 w/Augie there
Lost by 7 w/o Augie there

Today: 8 hits, 2 errors, 9 LOB; 4/19 w/runners on; 2/13 RISP; 3/12 w/2 outs; 12 of 14 runs allowed were Earned
Yesterday: 5 hits, 2 errors, 6 LOB; 1/8 w/runners on; 1/7 RISP; 2/12 w/2 outs; 10 of 11 runs allowed were Earned

Tell me again what would have been the difference if Augie had been there today?

I have been saying for a long time that at some point the kids have to play the game the right way. You could put any coach in the dugout right now and it wouldn't make a difference. If it's not errors, it's not getting timely hits or it's not having clutch pitching.
The team is in a funk and can't seem to get out of their own way. Sure, it ultimately rests at the hands of the coach, but if you can't look at what this team is doing on the field and see that it's much deeper than coaching, I don't know what to tell you.

****************************************

Another poster said:

Living out of state I don't get much of a chance to see the Horns in person when it comes to Fall practice, therefore a lot of preseason expectations are based on Dustin's reporting. I know Dustin tends to be an Augie supporter, but I am having a hard time figuring out whether Dustin was drinking the usual Augie kool-aid or if he totally missed it regarding this year's team. Probably a little of both as this team has underperformed on so many levels, including the coaching staff.

My reply:

This team, coming into the season was loaded with talent. Preseason polls had Texas just outside of the Top 25, and that was based mainly on the youth at several positions. Most everyone felt that the team had the pieces in place to contend for the conference title, although they were by no means the favorite to finish in the top two spots.

The big question mark was hitting. Hitting has actually been somewhat of a bright spot.

Injuries to Sawyer on the mound, and to Rand, Baker and Mathis early on weren't helpful. All of the latter three started off pretty hot at the plate

Several of our pitchers that had experience have struggled mightily at various points during the season. Middle relief has been something of a crapshoot, and our closers have not panned out like projected.

Defense has been abysmal. Error after error after error; which is atypical of Texas baseball teams.

All of that being said, Dustin was no more drinking the Kool Aid than anyone else was in the media. @DustinMcComas is one of the most knowledgeable baseball writers that I know. He has no reason to sugar coat anything. He understands the game and knows talent when he sees it. If he said we have some young, draftable talent on the team, (and he has) I would believe him.

 

[Bear19]

Practice and game day coaching are not our problem. Our problem is who we are coaching. We do not have the talent and that is the fault of our coaches.

No sense in beating a dead horse. I would rather shoot it.

 

[Johnstark23]

I love this game. I really do. I've made a life out of it. My first college baseball memory was the 1983 CWS I was 8 and I was hooked (no pun intended). In 1993 after getting my rear handed to me in a state final I walked into the locker room at Disch Falk only to run into Coach Gus as he had just came back into the office from Omaha. There was an aura that surrounded that iconic white cap with burnt orange bill and block letter T. There was a swagger that you felt when walking among them. I don't get that sense anymore. New coach yeah probably, but like both Bear and Joeywa have said players play. Coaches coach but players play. Bear your point that our talent isn't there is valid, Joeywa your point that the projected talent is there is also true. The problem that I see is this team doesn't have the fighter. The you're going to have to kill me to beat me guy. The David Maroul, the Huston Street, the Spike Owen. That can't be coached. That comes from with in. This team has no heart, this team has no BALLS.

 

[streettopeschel]

Last time was vs Rice and Baylor in the SWC. 1957, I believe.

oh, so it hasn't been THAT long.
Let's see, spring of '57. The Dodgers were in Brooklyn, Ike was in the White House and Longhorn fans were hoping a relatively unknown coach named Darrell Royal could return UT to football glory.

 

[streettopeschel]

I love this game. I really do. I've made a life out of it. My first college baseball memory was the 1983 CWS I was 8 and I was hooked (no pun intended). In 1993 after getting my rear handed to me in a state final I walked into the locker room at Disch Falk only to run into Coach Gus as he had just came back into the office from Omaha. There was an aura that surrounded that iconic white cap with burnt orange bill and block letter T. There was a swagger that you felt when walking among them. I don't get that sense anymore. New coach yeah probably, but like both Bear and Joeywa have said players play. Coaches coach but players play. Bear your point that our talent isn't there is valid, Joeywa your point that the projected talent is there is also true. The problem that I see is this team doesn't have the fighter. The you're going to have to kill me to beat me guy. The David Maroul, the Huston Street, the Spike Owen. That can't be coached. That comes from with in. This team has no heart, this team has no BALLS.

we missed the NCAAs in 2012. Again in 2013. We needed a miracle to make it in 2015 and went two-and-bbq. It'll take a greater miracle to make it this year. 2014 was fun. It was also the abbération in a 5-year stretch of unprecedented mediocrity at UT.
The constant has been Augie over the last 5 years. He has to go.

 

[Bear19]

we missed the NCAAs in 2012. Again in 2013. We needed a miracle to make it in 2015 and went two-and-bbq. It'll take a greater miracle to make it this year. 2014 was fun. It was also the abbération in a 5-year stretch of unprecedented mediocrity at UT.

The constant has been Augie over the last 5 years. He has to go.

What year did Skip get hired? I don't think he's helped things either.

Oh, and in spring 1957 I was just finishing the first grade.

 

[joeywa]

oh, so it hasn't been THAT long.

Let's see, spring of '57. The Dodgers were in Brooklyn, Ike was in the White House and Longhorn fans were hoping a relatively unknown coach named Darrell Royal could return UT to football glory.

Not only was I not a twinkle in my father's eye in '57, I don't think my dad even had twinkles in his eyes at that point.

 

[streettopeschel]

What year did Skip get hired? I don't think he's helped things either.

Oh, and in spring 1957 I was just finishing the first grade.

whenever I hear/read that Skip might get the job it drives me f-ing nuts. Nowhere in the real world does The manager of a failing organization get removed and his #2 get promoted. Need a full housecleaning .