Part I of the HornSports season preview for Texas baseball focused on positional starters and team defense. Returning players plus a pitching staff that is the envy of coaches nationwide combine to put the Longhorns in the Top 10 of all six major, preseason polls.
But Augie Garrido and the Horns aren’t content with a lofty preseason ranking. In what figures to be an extremely competitive Big 12, in the postseason, and in Omaha what can vault Texas from Top 10 status to ‘last team standing’ is the offense.
Much like seasons past, team defense and pitching will be consistent strengths in 2015. Where this ball club needs to continue to improve is at the plate.
Augie Garrido is still the head baseball coach, so “improvement†doesn’t mean the team needs to hit more homeruns – the Horns will still employ Garrido’s preferred style of offense that maximizes the pressure on the opposing team’s defense and pitching. In 2015, where Texas needs to make offensive improvement is in production.
No matter what happens in the batter’s box, Garrido still wants to win games with pitching and defense. Although the starting lineup in Part I reflects that priority, fans can reasonably expect the offense to continue to improve from the low point in 2013.
In 2014 the team batting average only improved to .263 (up from .260) – the key to last year’s offense was in production. Quality at bats, productive outs, and timely hitting all play a role in scoring more runs, and where that readily shows up in the stat book is on-base percentage.
In 2013, Texas only managed a .314 OBP, but raised that to .356 in 2014. Ultimately, the overall increase in production translated to 299 runs scored – or 4.5 runs per game (compared to 2013’s 3.8 runs per game).
While another .7 run per game increase is not realistic this season, if the Longhorns continue to improve at a rate anywhere near last season, they will be very tough to beat. With a deep and talented pitching staff and an exceptional defense (based on the middle infielders), if Texas averages more than 5.0 runs per game, the Horns will be a Top 3 national seed in the postseason.
Designated Hitter – Candidates to start the season include Patrick Mathis, Michael McCann, and Taylor Stell
Patrick Mathis (L)
A true freshman from Venus High School, Mathis will be the first substitute off bench if an outfield starter is injured. At the plate Mathis has plus offensive potential for both power and average (.493/4 HR/25 RBI as a senior – .561/11 HR/40 RBI as a junior).
Michael McCann ( R)
While waiting his turn at catcher, the true freshman from Round Rock (Cedar Ridge HS) will contribute earlier on offense. McCann uses his lower body well and brings excellent plate discipline for his age.
Taylor Stell ( R)
After missing 2014 due to injury (knee), the redshirt junior has experience to his advantage over Mathis and McCann. Stell has very good speed for being 6’4†– when he’s not in the DH spot, he’ll be active as a PH/PR.
Here is the batting order Garrido plans to use for the opening series against Rice:
CF – Zane Gurwitz – R
RF – Collin Shaw – L
SS – C.J Hinojosa – R
2B – Brooks Marlow – L/R
C – Tres Barrera – R
3B – Bret Boswell – L/R
LF – Ben Johnson – R
DH – Mathis/McCann/Stell
1B – Jones – R'”
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[*]The right/left alternation all the way through the order is a luxury Texas coaches have not had in the recent past.
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[*]A deeper bench, and options at DH mean more daily and in-game managerial decisions for Garrido.
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[*]Seeing a true freshman in the 9-hole is not surprising. Jones has the stick to bat higher, but the coaches will keep pressure low to start the season.
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[*]This lineup isn’t going to hit a lot of homeruns, but there is extra-base power up and down the card. I expect this team to square up a lot of balls.
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[*]Speed at the bottom of the order, and Marlow batting 4th is additional evidence that the coaches are prioritizing runs over homeruns.
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