Monthly Archives: January 2012

Coach (Record at school): Augie Garrido (666-301-2, 15 years).

Postseason History: 55 regional appearances (active streak: 13), 34 CWS appearances (active streak: 1), 6 national titles (last in 2005).

Hitting: 45. Though the Longhorns ranked 224th in batting (.269) in 2011, they led the nation in sacrifice bunts (111), a perfect manifestation of Augie Garrido’s small ball credo. Three of UT’s top four hitters are gone (Brandon Loy, Tant Shepherd, Paul Montalbano), but leading hitter Weiss returns to anchor the lineup with his patient, line-drive approach. Texas hopes for breakout years from the hard-nosed Payton and fellow talented sophomores Felts, Walsh and Summers, all of whom must prove they are capable of carrying significant offensive loads. Marlow, like Payton, is a scrappy, high-energy player with surprising strength in his compact frame. Walla and Lusson have to put disappointing 2011 seasons behind them. Silver has a nice righthanded stroke.

Power: 30. Texas hit just 17 homers last year, and leading home run hitter Shepherd (five) is gone. Walsh is strong enough to increase his power output, while Weiss, Lusson and Marlowe will run into a long ball now and then, but don’t expect Texas to finish inside the nation’s top 250 in homers—especially playing its home games at cavernous UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns rank ninth in triples and 29th in doubles last year, however, demonstrating respectable pop to the gaps.

Speed: 55. Though Walla is the lone true burner in the lineup, Texas has solid overall team speed. The Longhorns should run the bases well up and down the lineup.

Defense: 60. The ‘Horns excel defensively just about every year, but they’ll have their hands full replacing Loy at shortstop. They were hoping to land blue-chipper C.J. Hinojosa a semester early, but that plan fell through, leaving the talented but enigmatic Summers to handle the job. Marlowe should compete with the steady Jordan Etier—who was reinstated in January after being dismissed from the team in October for an arrest—at second, and the corners are strong. Felts has good catch-and-throw skills, and the outfielders cover a lot of ground.

Starting Pitching: 60. Taylor Jungmann and Cole Green—rotation mainstays for three years—are gone, but the cupboard is far from bare. Stafford has shown flashes of great promise in his career while battling bouts of wildness at others; at his best he pitches downhill with a low-90s fastball, a tight mid-70s downer curve and a decent 83-85 changeup. Milner’s calling card is his pinpoint command of an 86-92 fastball, solid changeup and curveball. Dicharry struggled through two lost seasons after his fantastic 2009 freshman year (8-2, 2.28), but he returned to form in the California Collegiate League last summer, working in the 90-92 range and showing a plus changeup and solid-average 11-to-5 curve. Electric Fr. RHP Ricky Jacquez flashes 97 mph heat and a hammer curve, while fellow Fr. RHP Parker French owns an 89-93 sinker and advanced changeup, giving Texas two more quality starter options.

Bullpen: 70. Knebel might be the nation’s premier closer thanks to an overpowering fastball that he commands exceptionally well and a mean streak. So. RHP Nathan Thornhill, who is similarly unflappable and has good command of a solid three-pitch mix, leads the supporting cast, along with Jr. RHPs Josh Urban and Kiefer Nuncio, who should be ready to shoulder bigger burdens in the middle innings. Fr. LHP Dillon Peters and Fr. RHP John Curtiss have front-line ability but are still refining their secondary stuff. Fr. LHP Toller Boardman gives this unit a key strike-throwing lefty.

Experience/Intangibles: 65. Six regulars and several key pitchers return from last year’s Omaha team. Garrido is a coaching legend who always seems to find ways to motivate his clubs and get them to buy into his effective style of play.

Baseball America OFP: 60. The lineup won’t scare anybody, and the defense doesn’t look quite as airtight as usual, but the arms and the system are capable of carrying Texas a long way.

Source: Baseball America