Horns Look To Advance To Championship Series -- Open Thread
by 40AS on Jun 19, 2009 4:28 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Baseball
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Print(Friday Evening Update): LSU beats Arkansas 14-5, Texas-ASU scheduled to begin roughly at 8:40 PM EST (7:40 PM CST)
A win tonight and Texas will advance to its fourth championship match/series this decade. Standing in their way is a really, really good Arizona State team that you may remember can pitch, hit and play defense. ASU could throw Mike Leake (remember him?) on 3 days rest, but we doubt it considering there was already talk that his arm was overworked. Josh Spence is almost certainly done unless ASU wins the next two. ASU Sunday starter Seth Blair (7-2, 3.39 ERA) will probably go but he was hit hard by the Horns on Tuesday. That leaves Jason Franzblau as the next most experienced ASU starter available (6 starts on the year, 3-2, 2.32 ERA), but he hasn't pitched since May 29th.
To counter, Texas has a string of talented pitchers who are about as rested as can be expected at this point. The offseason is littered with stories of teams who had "no doubt they would win it all" but failed. Still, this team's greatest strength at this point may be the simple fact that there are no situations they have faced and failed to emerge victorious.
Game starts at 6 PM on ESPN2.
(Friday Afternoon Update): It'll be Cole Green for the Horns -- as the home team -- going against Blair for ASU, as Leake might be done for the year. Finally, LSU-Arkansas was delayed, expect a first pitch of the Texas game around 8:30 - 9:00 PM, or 50 minutes after LSU wraps this up. Hope you don't have plans for your Friday night.
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"...not a situation they have not faced and emerged victorious..."
How can you not face a situation and still emerge victorious?
by pleaseplaykindle on Jun 19, 2009 4:59 PM CDT reply actions
It actually makes sense
There are no situations that the Longhorns have not faced and emerged victorious. It’s a tautology, but it’s still true.
Right, that's what I was getting at.
Also I’m done picking nits.
by pleaseplaykindle on Jun 19, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions
He can say whatever he wants about Texas baseball, but his name still will be Orel
“LSU has a bunch of pro prospects living up to their potential, while Texas is just small-ball. I can imagine LSU just running over these guys,”
Orel was my favorite player ever as a kid
This is liking finding out he did steroids.
I actually think UVA would have given LSU a run in the bracket finals
Too bad they couldn’t quite get over the hump.
I love the idea that Texas is "just small-ball"
As though any scrub team out there who just played small-ball could win a bunch of games in the college world series. Yet, being just small-ball means they can’t beat LSU. It makes no sense.
Shut up, Oral.
Check the CWS batting average, Orel
I believe the team is hitting about .330 so far …
Watch out, I bite.
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Jun 19, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Orel has demonstrated he knows zilch about college baseball
So his philosophizing neither surprises nor concerns me.
Cubs tie the game in the 9th!
Score 5 runs in the last two innings to tie it for the second game in a row
Damn, beat me
I can’t imagine a world in which Leake starts tonight, it’s insanely irresponsible and not very smart given his previous start and current arm troubles
ESPN reporting Leake vs. Green tonight
Are they onto something or just as ignorant with their probable starters as they’ve been with the rest of their coverage?
Was Murphy just blowing smoke up everyone's ass?
Or are they just hoping against hope that Leake still have something in the tank? What gives?
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jun 19, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Blowing smoke
Craig Way said this afternoon there were reports Murphy went back to the Arizona media and reported Leake was fine.
Not sure what to think
But 2 days rest? For a guy with arm troubles? I thought throwing him tomorrow was iffy, but tonight?
It would seem if they start Leake they are just looking for a couple good innings out of him.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jun 19, 2009 6:11 PM CDT reply actions
ESPN also said...
…Augie doesn’t think the team can score more than once in an inning.
Huh?
Please elaborate … I’m confused.
Watch out, I bite.
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Jun 19, 2009 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Wasn't paying attention to which announcer was talking,
but he said that that was why the team will give up an at bat for 90 feet. It was right after they were talking about Leake starting. A dubious analysis of the cause-and-effect of the Texas offense…of course, I wouldn’t expect anything else from ESPN.
Ya know
A good throw to home by the Yankees first baseman and Willie Mays Hayes would’ve been out….
Dinner and grabbing a six pack of Shiner, be back soon
With the game starting late
breaking balls will be easier to detect without the sun in play. I wonder how well Blair’s offspeed pitches are.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
LSU homer
13-2. Just adding insult to injury. Good swing off breaking ball now.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Yeah this is getting ugly, LSU can really rake.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jun 19, 2009 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Nonetheless
be prepared for a USC in 2005 type of build-up for the final series. ESPN will be relentless in their worship of LSU.
I hope LSU gets 3 up, 3 down
This game is going on too long.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Some Lady Horn
should be pleasing Cole Green as we speak. Do her civic duty, he needs to be as relaxed as possible.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Okay, quick and easy game. Lots of three-up/three-downs and 7+ innings by Green, and just enough offense to have confidence heading into the championship series.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 6:48 PM CDT reply actions
Well Arky gets a 3 run HR
Too little to late however. At least it shows weakness on their closer.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
This is unbelievable
2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, they’re up 9 runs, and they’re changing pitchers?
Dang…guess that gives me time for a run.
Edit: nope, wifey’s digging out the ice cream. Make fat, not cardiovascular fitness.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions
run and then eat
Just to feel less guilty, hehe.
ESPN
just said LEake is starting tonite. Did I hear that correctly?
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Not a smart move by ASU
assuming he really has tendonitis. He could really damage his arm. But of course I’m sure ESPN wont try and burn their coach at the stake like they did Augie.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Even if he doesn't have tendonitis
What advantage does lying about him being done for the year bring? And given he threw 80 pitches and is pitching on 2 days rest, it’s just kinda shocking that they’d throw him tonight. It’s not like their Sunday starter is some scrub.
It seems like a Bush League move by Murphy to me.
Why say anything at all? What good does it really to do lie except make you look like a complete ass?
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jun 19, 2009 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
It’s not like Texas would prepare differently from facing Blair than Leake (a guy they lit up the last time). Either way ASU has to win a game with Blair starting, why not give him the start tonight and give the kid with a tired arm an extra day’s rest?
Don't know.
What I do know is that I no longer have any respect for Pat Murphy.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jun 19, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I believe that we can all agree on that
Its just not strategically sound for his ball club. We’re just going to have to light up the 2nd best pitcher (arguably) in NCAA for the second time. I’m fine with that.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
just a hypothetical question but,
At this stage in the game if Texas were to lose to asu would that end their season or is this still double elimination?
I even named my son Kolt. no kidding
by vivalonghorns05 on Jun 19, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions
thank you, Im still learning this whole baseball thing! .nt.
I even named my son Kolt. no kidding
by vivalonghorns05 on Jun 19, 2009 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Is Oral doing the game tonite?
Or does Robin take his place?
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
We have Robin Venture
I still think Nolan is gonna come out of nowhere and put him in another head lock and pummel his him
For Love Of The Game!
Just finished the movie…..Imagine if Augie was the coach for Kevin Costner instead of coaching the Yankees.. Imo, the story will be much compelling…
Starts out with a ball
Here we go!
"I don't ever miss free throws. I'm like 100-percent from the free throw line. I just don't think about missing and if you think about missing you're going to miss. I just take my time and know I'm going to make it and I do," McClellan said.
So wait, leake is starting for them?
"I don't ever miss free throws. I'm like 100-percent from the free throw line. I just don't think about missing and if you think about missing you're going to miss. I just take my time and know I'm going to make it and I do," McClellan said.
No shit?
I hear Leake is the 2nd best pitcher ever to play the game
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
what rudy's nephew plays baseball for asu?
hey did you know that lsu’s alex box stadium seats 9600
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions
You guys are smart
Where did you here all of this stuff?
"I don't ever miss free throws. I'm like 100-percent from the free throw line. I just don't think about missing and if you think about missing you're going to miss. I just take my time and know I'm going to make it and I do," McClellan said.
you didn't know that orel was the new wilkepedia
apparently all questions go straight to him now
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by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions
i guess even the fat ginger kid has to get lucky in life once and awhile
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i wonder if those shadows are going to give them
some more trouble. I really thought orel was full of crap about that, but it actually proved legit on tuesday night
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
anyone else watching on espn360?
I love the fact that the only commercial they show is the capital one visigoth state spot…
yeah they literally went away between the
top and bottom half of the inning
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by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
i am waitng for belt
to have a break out game it has been awhile since he has hit the long ball
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by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions
so a story off the baseball subject for you guys.....
the family and i are at the beach tonight and this big ass dead sea turtle washes up on shore. but it does not stay up, so yours truly goes in and pulls the thing out. it had to weight at least 60 freaking pounds.
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
On Jekyll Island, Ga
there is a sea turtle rescue. They travel around the world and take in these injured/dying sea turtles and nurse them back to health. It was really cool to get to walk around and see all the turtle and hear about what was wrong with them and what they were doing for them.
it was sad
but the aquarium people think the turtle was old and died of natural causes
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by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Okay, props to ESPN for sticking to college baseball finally
but we just had 3 hours of LSU. Can we concentrate on the game at hand for a bit?
does he turn his hat around like lincoln hawk
to flip the switch
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all they do is talk about Leake
Cole Green Has 4 K’s in 2 innings and they say nothing. Leake doesn’t look that sharp
yeah but the longhorn hitters
are helping him out right now
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by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Yup he was all over the place
he needs to work on channeling his inner Stubbs
Stubbs was terrible at the CWS his two trips
If I recall correctly, at least in the championship series’
i wish rowe could hit
it seems like everytime they get something going and he comes up he just is an easy out
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
i wonder if we are going to get the pitchers
duel we thought was going to happen tuesday night
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Would be nice to get 2 outs here
Don’t want to face Calhoun with someone on base
whatever happened to wichita st.
it seemed like they use to always be here
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green i only got one thing to say to you
strike this motherfucker out
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he looked like his uncle
getting plowed by a notre dame offensive lineman
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no no no
strasburgesque
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:34 PM CDT up reply actions
one leake to rule them all
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions
may have not happened that way
if we can stop committing errors, i think the d has committed at least two every game of the cws
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
How about
we touch Leake for 6 in the 3rd this time instead of the 4th. Oh, but the hits he’s given up tonight are altogether different from the other night apparently.
In their defense
There is a presence about Leak. I wouldn’t mind having him on our team.
Who wouldn't want him?
But it’s the top of the 3rd inning. He’s been good, but not outstanding, and they are already polishing a Cy Young for him.
hey if leake were a lefty
he would be the greatest pitcher of all time. they would change it from cy young to the mike leake
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
hey what happened? did that ball leave the park?
i don’t know i didn’t see
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
no no no that would be three homeruns to the horns
get it right if you are gonna announce the game
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
oh wait i forgot he was out in the 4th inning in the first game
i just thought leake pitched all innings this year for asu because he is well mike leake
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
hey son when people hear the name leake
they are going to think of greatness
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
whoa leake is the headless horseman
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions
leake is commando, rocky, john mcclain wrapped up into one man
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions
i would rather take my chances than
to get leaked out in the middle of nowhere
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
Only 41 pitches for Leake
Wonder how much longer Murphy’s insane ass keeps him out there.
If he throws more than 6 I'll be pretty shocked
But I’m shocked enough to see him out there, so take that for what it’s worth
they have been hitting him good and hard
just gotta keep it away from the defense
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Murphy is rallying the troops
One homer off the newly crowned Demi-God by ESPN, and PAt has to rally the troops. Wow
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
not matt leake he is a golden god
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions
and apparently by not watching the game I'm missing some great commentary
'Til Gabriel blows his horn...
Haha
“If the pattern holds true …”
Since when did Pat Murphy become Augie?
Ok, I'm sick of hearing how Cole Green almost died
Mainly because it happens every start, but it’s also gruesome
i am surprised they did not say
that mike leake saved his life
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm gonna ask my boss
for a pep talk, then, if the pattern holds true, I will see more money, right?
Are you kidding me?
Is this the cubs game from earlier?
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
oh my god
we did arrive at omaha with one of the best d’s in the country right?
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
Not fun to watch. Score it as an error on the SS and LF, not a double.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 8:53 PM CDT reply actions
oh jeez i would like
to see a repeat of our 4th inning from tuesday
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
You would have to think they need to score more than 1 run
at a time because their bullpen is not that deep…
77 pitches for Cole through 4
Offense needs to make something happen here
I remember a story about something Satchel Paige used to do. If he felt like his fielders weren’t doing the job, he’d call the outfielders and infielders to the mound, then have them sit off to the side. He’d have them play cards or whatever. Then he’d just wreck the batters.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 8:56 PM CDT reply actions
no it was not satchel paige
it was mike leake that traveled through time in the time machine that he built.
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions
did he really just say it seems like lsu has barely played there
when have they stopped talking about them
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
If Tim Tebow were a pitcher, he’d be Mike Leake.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 8:59 PM CDT reply actions
Leake was circumsized by Tebow
Thats why his greatness is on a different level
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
he threw it to second base did you see that?
by karmaHorns on Jun 19, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions
if this was not the cws
it would be college football live talling about tebow and bradford in the same sentence
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
He’s like the Curt Schilling of baseball.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions
well it was a good start to the inning
but then leake leaked them out of the inning
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
53 pitches for Leake
Just when Keyes finally took him to a 7 pitch AB, the rest of our hitters swing at everything they see.
is used to be called tommy john surgery
but leake is the cure so now they call it mike leake surgery
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
alright i think i might have beaten this mike
leake thing to death
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
I’m glad Calhoun and Leake are on the same team. Lord knows what would happen if they were to face each other in an at-bat.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:09 PM CDT reply actions
If Leake was beer he would be
Shiner Bock Keystone Light
If I had a nickel for every time Leake’s wife told me that…
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions
He's thrown 91 pitches though
And he’s not Chance Ruffin who is used to throwing 110+.
WTF, do they not rehearse calling and zone?
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:16 PM CDT reply actions
95 pitches for Cole
We have to have some runs here. Or at the very least add significantly to the pitch count.
Wow. Leake is pitching through so MANY adversaries
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Score a run and you might have redeemed yourself, Rowe.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:20 PM CDT reply actions
Now let's see the top of the order do something
Another HR would be lovely, but I will settle for a good old fashioned base hit.
In all seriousness, I thought Leake might be pretty close to his normal stuff tonight, but that he’d get tired early. I hope it happens soon.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:22 PM CDT reply actions
surprise they are knocking small ball again
didn’t the horns score 10 runs with those 7 sac bunts
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
Squeeze…hmm, not likely, but who would put it past Augie?
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions
SAFE! SAFE DAMNIT! Tie goes to the runner.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:24 PM CDT reply actions
i am not going to get angry about that
because it was fing close
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
man does anybody else remember peterson pitching for stanford
god i am getting old
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
This guy’s full of crap. Leake doesn’t feel pain.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:27 PM CDT reply actions
Leake needs some excuses
maybe the horns can hit!
Leak is just warming up
He is available to pitch tomorrow as well.
hmm
That looked like a strike even if he didn’t swing.
14 or 15
so yeah. This isnt Oklahoma where thats legal
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
you have a teenage daughter don't you
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't have a teenage daughter, and I'm in my 20s, but I think it's gross.
There is a line, and 14 or 15 is definitely on the wrong side of that line.
his strike outs tonight
have come more from the horns not being patient
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
What the heck was that shot of the blonde?
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:30 PM CDT reply actions
Isn't this where we were the other night?
6-6 end of 5?
that is correct
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Green’s literally out-pitching Leake. I think things look good for UT right now.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions
75 pitches for Leake, but I still highly doubt he is done.
Murphy has a death wish.
I was letting the dogs in the house. What did I miss there?
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions
he was just saying that they had a classy program in chapel hill
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Probably his last outing of the season. I did the math earlier, and he averages 5.8 innings per appearance.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions
So you're right
Not sure why I thought they started Tuesday…he would certainly start wed if he’s not used in relief before that
i thought wed is the last possible game
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Guess so. But if UT wins tonight, I think it’s Ruffin and Jungmann in the first two games of the championship series.
by burntorangehorn on Jun 19, 2009 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I hate intentional walks
It just screams “please kick our asses.”
i thought all kentucky did was play basketball
and produce nfl draft busts
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you know what i want ventura
is for nolan ryan to walk into the booth and knock your ass out
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
+1
Every time he says something snarky, I close my eyes and visualize him in a headlock.
Watch out, I bite.
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Jun 19, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions
haha I have a baseball card that reads player gets 7 hits off of Nolan Ryan in one game
with a picture of Ventura in a headlock getting knocked out
i have the one where he took the shot from bo jackson
to his lip and has blood all over the jersey
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah but sometimes it is a little more fun that way.
at least this team will be battle tested compared to lsu
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Need a different word than battle tested to define this team
That implies that there are times when they aren’t in a dramatic game
i cannot come up with anything
i am not very articulate
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Keyes, Loy, Rupp
Why can’t we have someone on when Keyes comes up? This is the 3rd time tonight he’s led off.
Keyes knows Bo
Is it just me or does Keyes look like Bo Jackson?
Maybe Coach Brown should try him at RB.
he is about damn near as big
met bo jackson once doing a military. nice guy. no mike leake though
The next up and coming Longhorns QB!
by HornsRiverine on Jun 19, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Is there an online radio link....
I can’t take these ESPN guys any longer.
Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
No!!!!
That was tough
"I don't ever miss free throws. I'm like 100-percent from the free throw line. I just don't think about missing and if you think about missing you're going to miss. I just take my time and know I'm going to make it and I do," McClellan said.
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