Texas Baseball Faces Baylor in Critical Series
by 40AS
on May 2, 2008 11:15 AM CDT
in Baseball
Long gone are the days of us discussing the Longhorns as a potential 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament or a #2 finish in the Big XII. What's sad (for us) is that our enthusiasm for this team's potential has not diminished all that much. The team has the pieces to be good, and there have been encouraging signs in the past few weeks to go with all the discouraging ones. This weekend Texas travels to Waco (Friday) before returning home for the final two games of the series against Baylor.
It seems like only yesterday that we were wondering what was wrong with Kyle Russell. Whatever it was, from what the baseball preview says we think he's figured things out:
After hitting just one home run in 22 games in February and March, KYLE RUSSELL showered the opponents with 12 home runs in 19 games in April. For the month, Russell hit .324 (24-of-74) with two doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 28 RBI. The month’s onslaught included nine home runs in 12 league games and four two-home games.
Freshman Chance Ruffin has established himself as the Friday starter, and two of Cole Green, Austin Wood, and Big Bird (fresh off his no-no) will round out the weekend rotation. There's no telling which Longhorn team will show up this weekend, but we'd be really happy if it was the good one.
A series win could do wonders for the team's psyche and give it some momentum for the final series against a really good Texas A&M squad.
May 2, 2008
Texas: RHP Chance Ruffin (5-3, 2.27 ERA)
Baylor: RHP Kendal Volz (3-4, 4.19 ERA)
May 3, 2008
Texas: RHP Cole Green (2-4, 4.34 ERA) or LHP Austin Wood (3-2, 5.30 ERA)
Baylor: RHP Shawn Tolleson (4-3, 5.15 ERA)
May 4, 2008
Texas: LHP Austin Wood (3-2, 5.30 ERA) or RHP Kenn Kasparek (3-3, 4.29 ERA)
Baylor: RHP Willie Kempf (6-2, 3.99 ERA)
0 recs |
6
comments
Read Related
EmailComments
Geez, not the Anteaters again!
Baseball America projects Texas as a 3-seed in the UCIrvine Regional. Maybe we can return the favor and upset them on their home field.
In related news, UT demolished the Bears last night 12-1 on the back of freshman phenom Chance Ruffin.
Ruffin (6-3) pitched his first complete game, fanning a career-high 11 batters to earn the win. The rookie northpaw allowed just one unearned run on seven hits and two walks. Putting in a yeoman’s effort, Ruffin threw 150 pitches, including 98 strikes.
Any “chance” this guy comes back for his sophomore season?
Life is an Occasion. Rise to it.
by patienthornsfan on May 3, 2008 2:18 AM CDT 0 recs
Sophomore season
Lord I hope so… The kid has been an absolute stopper and should be a great asset to the team in a tournament situation. He will probably get Texas to the winners’ bracket of a regional and (if they get there) win half of a super regional by himself. The issue will be for the rest of the rotation and bullpen to step their game up. They’d be in real good shape if everyone follows the example of Kenn Kasparek :)
My boy Sherrod says, "What's with all the Chiles love? Y'all forgettin' that it was #17 with the 70 yarder in the spring game..."
by Sweed4Heisman on
May 3, 2008 11:08 AM CDT
up
0 recs
Why wouldn't he be?
He can’t leave until after his junior season (in most cases), correct? Either way, this team may be stacked next season.
by 40AS on
May 3, 2008 11:54 AM CDT
up
0 recs
I hope you're right...
...I was just unclear on the rule. I thought they could leave whenever they wanted, but I’m glad I was wrong.
My boy Sherrod says, "What's with all the Chiles love? Y'all forgettin' that it was #17 with the 70 yarder in the spring game..."
by Sweed4Heisman on
May 3, 2008 1:20 PM CDT
up
0 recs
I believe...
That it’s either 3 years of college or 21 before a certain day. That’s why Kyle Russell could leave last year (he was 21) and Jordan Danks could not. Chance will certainly be here next year and unless he’s old for his grade then he’ll be here at least 2 years. Somebody that might know the exact rule can clear things up for certain though.
by 40AS on
May 3, 2008 2:26 PM CDT
up
0 recs
Bears Bubble Burst?
Heading into the weekend both Texas and Baylor were squarely on the bubble, which has to be just as disappointing for Bears fans as it’s been for us BON’ers. Texas and Baylor were ranked 16th and 15th in the preseason polls, but have not lived up to expectations. With a spanking in Waco last night, Texas may have just put themselves solidly into post-season contention – and knocked the Baptists out. A series win or sweep would likely make that a certainty.
Texas has struggled to get outs just as Baylor has—the Longhorns’ 4.97 ERA ranks seventh in the Big 12 and 88th in the nation. That’s unusual for an Augie Garrido-coached team, and it’s a big reason the ‘Horns are just 27-18 overall and 10-11 in Conference, good enough for fifth place.“It’s always about the pitching,” Garrido said. “Jim Leyland said it best at the beginning of the major league season: How well any team does finally becomes a reflection of the pitching. Everyone is capable of winning if the pitchers perform at a high enough level. That’s not to say I’m blaming the pitching for what has happened. We’ve had our share of shabby defensive play, and we have not handled the fundamentals of the game offensively or defensively in consistent detail.”
With a slightly higher RPI (34) and a few more quality wins on the resume (including single victories against Rice, Houston, Stanford, Missouri, Nebraska and Baylor), Texas’ regional hopes look brighter than Baylor’s. But Garrido said he believes his team is in the same boat as the Bears heading into this weekend’s series, which begins in Waco on Friday night before shifting to Austin for the final two games.
“I’m sure that Steve and the guys over there know that as well as we do,” Garrido said. “Our season’s been turned around in two weekends with Missouri and Oklahoma State back to back . . . Even though it isn’t a battle for first place and first place is not going to be decided in Waco or Austin this weekend, it is extremely important that both teams do as well as they can to advance to the regional championships.”
Life is an Occasion. Rise to it.
by patienthornsfan on May 3, 2008 2:26 AM CDT 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
New FanPost
