UT Baseball

[JaneDoe]

Follow them off and on, when I can.  1-5 in their last 6 games.  Can anyone who follows them more closely sum up what's been going on lately?

[austro]

Follow them off and on, when I can.  1-5 in their last 6 games.  Can anyone who follows them more closely sum up what's been going on lately?

I haven't seen any recent games in person, but from what I can tell, they can't pitch, and they can't field. That's too simplistic, of course, because (for example) Ruffin had a fine start the other night. And I think the fielding is better than it was early in the year. But if they don't get blown out (the Missouri series was ridiculous), they play just poorly enough to lose a close one.

[JimR]

Poor defense all year
Inconsistent hitting
Pitching is ver ordinary

Despite very high expectations for this team, it has not been very good.

[juliogotay]

Poor defense all year
Inconsistent hitting
Pitching is ver ordinary

Despite very high expectations for this team, it has not been very good.

Jim, do you have an opinion on Augie as coach vs. Gus? Differences in approach for instance. As a student in the 70's I went to alot of games when Gus was in hi heyday but have completely lost touch.

[Mr. Happy]

Poor defense all year
Inconsistent hitting
Pitching is ver ordinary

Despite very high expectations for this team, it has not been very good.

LSU has been crappy as well.

[JimR]

Both are great coaches.

[CJM]

LSU has been crappy as well.

Looks like a sad final season for Alex Box Stadium

[Biggio4HOF]

I haven't seen any recent games in person, but from what I can tell, they can't pitch, and they can't field. That's too simplistic, of course, because (for example) Ruffin had a fine start the other night. And I think the fielding is better than it was early in the year. But if they don't get blown out (the Missouri series was ridiculous), they play just poorly enough to lose a close one.

Inconsistent hitting.  Bad pitching.  Can't get bunts down.  No situational hitting.  They play like something bad is about to happen.  No "clutch" players.  No leadership.  Poor fielding.  Seemingly low baseball IQ.  No fire.

I've seen all but 2 home games...unfortunately.

[Kent's Moustache]

Both are great coaches.

Jim, what's your opinion on pitching coach Skip Johnson?

His was a controversial hire when Augie tabbed him to make the jump from Navarro JC, and the pitching this season hasn't done anything to quiit his critics.

[JimR]

Jim, what's your opinion on pitching coach Skip Johnson?

His was a controversial hire when Augie tabbed him to make the jump from Navarro JC, and the pitching this season hasn't done anything to quiit his critics.

i have no knowledge about him and do not remember any controversy at all. in fact, he brought several good players with him. besides, what is a Div 1 pitching coach supposed to do? it seems to me that every once in awhile, players should be accountable for poor performance.

[Mr. Happy]

Looks like a sad final season for Alex Box Stadium

Oh, there's never really been a sad season at that yard, even back in 79 when we lost 34 games out of 46. We'll be back. We have some young pitchers. Mainieri needs to bolster the hitting a bit, but I have confidence that he'll do that. Going into the season, I knew, despite Mainieri's spin, that our Tigers were a year away. Jim Wells is going through the same thing this year at Alabama. Thank goodness Bianco is having a pretty good year at Ole Miss.

[Kent's Moustache]

i have no knowledge about him and do not remember any controversy at all. in fact, he brought several good players with him. besides, what is a Div 1 pitching coach supposed to do? it seems to me that every once in awhile, players should be accountable for poor performance.

I don't disagree about accountability, but I'm also hearing some devoted fans--not Internet idiots, but loyalists and long-time season ticket holders--calling for people like Ted Silva and Scott Forbes as potential replacements.

[JimR]

I don't disagree about accountability, but I'm also hearing some devoted fans--not Internet idiots, but loyalists and long-time season ticket holders--calling for people like Ted Silva and Scott Forbes as potential replacements.

it was not long ago that the same folks wanted Augie fired. maybe not on the internet, but idiots nonetheless.

[Duke]

it was not long ago that the same folks wanted Augie fired. maybe not on the internet, but idiots nonetheless.

It's truly amazing that you can have the success Augie has had and as soon as the team hits a tough stretch, you have to replace the coach.  Who would you get? 

[hillbillyken]

Any talk about replacment is idiotic!! The dude is a good baseball guy and a class act.

[JimR]

It's truly amazing that you can have the success Augie has had and as soon as the team hits a tough stretch, you have to replace the coach.  Who would you get? 

no one after him now; you misread my post. that was during his first few years. Johnson is the one on the hot seat now.

[At Ease]

I think Augie's a good coach, but doesn't he leave the handling of the pitching staff nearly entirely up to the pitching coach?  Given that the UT teams were so successful earlier this decade because of their great pitching, who really deserves the credit.. ?

Unsurprisingly, telling 12 bench players they were at fault for UT's recent struggles and wouldn't be allowed to suit up didn't seem to help the Longhorns this past weekend.

[Ron Brand]

I think Augie's a good coach, but doesn't he leave the handling of the pitching staff nearly entirely up to the pitching coach?  Given that the UT teams were so successful earlier this decade because of their great pitching, who really deserves the credit.. ?

Unsurprisingly, telling 12 bench players they were at fault for UT's recent struggles and wouldn't be allowed to suit up didn't seem to help the Longhorns this past weekend.

Augie rolled the dice and came up close but ended up losing ground.  The fire was definitely lit under the team but it may be that Okie St. was just too good for it to work this weekend and now, after three tough losses the team's confidence is probably in even worse shape.  Augie's point was made, and I don't know what else he has in his trick bag to play, but it just didn't work out.

Everybody's down on Johnson and he may well be gone at the end of the year, but he's not only turned out a lot of pitchers who went on to D-1 success but didn't he bring a few with him to Texas?  I've heard players praising him and others saying he didn't have a clue, which doesn't speak well of how the team is working together either.  The team is definitely a mess right now and doesn't seem to have any kind of leadership among the players.  I hope this doesn't completely unravel.  Maybe this weekend's series will give them something they can build on.

[JimR]

Austin paper hinted at dissention on the team as the reason for Augie's action. If so, good for him.

[Duke]

no one after him now; you misread my post. that was during his first few years. Johnson is the one on the hot seat now.

I didn't misread it, I was agreeing with you about the past criticism. 

[JimR]

I didn't misread it, I was agreeing with you about the past criticism. 

oh, ok.