OTF Premium Opening Weekend Takeaways from the Disch

[CJ Vogel]

Highlights from Opening Weekend of Texas Baseball

***

Texas took care of business with a three-game sweep over UC Davis to begin the season at home.

The Longhorns have a Tuesday game against Lamar, then will get back to action with a three game home series against Michigan State.

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Took Care of Business

Wins are wins, make no mistake about that. Wins of 12–2 and 9–1 will highlight the weekend, but a tight 6–4 contest as well at least provided some pressure situations deep into contests for the Horns. Consider me a fan of what Texas was able to deploy from the back end of the bullpen.

 

Anthony Pack

Probably my favorite part of the weekend was the breakout debut of freshman OF Anthony Pack. The freshman led the Longhorns with six base knocks on the weekend in 11 trips to the plate, two of which being doubles. I am not to say Pack should be immediately vaulted into the top of the lineup, but with the comfort he displayed at the plate this weekend, I could certainly provide that second leadoff from the bottom end of the lineup for the likes of Mendoza, Rodriguez and the heart of the order.

 

Heart of the Lineup

It was fantastic to see Seton Hall transfer OF Aidan Robbins go deep on Friday night, then the fresh-out-of-the-gym Ethan Mendoza followed up with two of his own this weekend as well. Those were the only three home runs on the weekend, in perhaps a surprise. 

Seven Longhorns drove in multiple runs on the weekend. Mendoza led the way with seven, then was followed by Robbins and Rodriguez with four each.

I wanted to share some words on C Carson Tinney as well. Only 1-6 at the plate, but the seven walks were very clearly a takeaway. Tinney added four strikeouts as well, so this takeaways is two-fold. First, Texas must make sure that Tinney is protected in the lineup. Whether it is Borba hitting fifth, or additional movement with Tinney, the idea that opposing teams can dance around Tinney in the order is at the very least something that has drawn my attention. Tinney also looked to be just a split-second behind on the offspeed this weekend, I am sure it is in large part because of new arms in a new location. But something to monitor.

Speaking of Casey Borba, if the foul line down the left field line was about five feet further left, he would have had multiple trips around the bases.

 

Volantis

How about seven innings of one hit ball in his first career start. I understand the opposition, but very little drop off was shown from the back end of last year. It is only a matter of time before Volantis is seen in the Friday night role, in my opinion. Volantis was efficient with his pitches and finds so many unique angles from the left side, he remains a nightmare for opposing hitters.

 

 

[CJ Vogel]

Game 3 highlights.

[CJ Vogel]

 

[CJ Vogel]

Also worth mentioning that Texas was 6-7 on stolen base attempts this weekend. 

[McCoy2Shipley]

I think keeping Volantis in the Sunday spot may not be a bad idea. Ruger is definitely capable of being a top-notch Friday guy in the SEC. I think the flu he got last year starting in May is not accounted for enough in his drop-off by some. With Volantis, having him in that Sunday role is going to be very difficult for teams to win a series, or sweep us if that scenario ever pops up. Just a thought, but don't think it's a bad idea to keep him at Sunday for that reason.

 

Tinney will be fine. Seems to be pressing a little with the amount of pitches he chased this weekend. The walks are good sign imo at least. 

 

Michigan St won on the road @Louisville for 2/3. Can't take them lightly this weekend.

[CJ Vogel]

3 minutes ago, McCoy2Shipley said:

I think keeping Volantis in the Sunday spot may not be a bad idea. Ruger is definitely capable of being a top-notch Friday guy in the SEC. I think the flu he got last year starting in May is not accounted for enough in his drop-off by some. With Volantis, having him in that Sunday role is going to be very difficult for teams to win a series, or sweep us if that scenario ever pops up. Just a thought, but don't think it's a bad idea to keep him at Sunday for that reason.

 

Tinney will be fine. Seems to be pressing a little with the amount of pitches he chased this weekend. The walks are good sign imo at least. 

 

Michigan St won on the road @Louisville for 2/3. Can't take them lightly this weekend.

I forgot to mention but you reminded me with the comments on Riojas – seeing him up to 96-97 mph was fantastic. You can tell he took the offseason seriously getting back to the shape he was in before the illness a year ago.

Regardless of the order, the 1-2-3 of the Texas rotation poses to be a major strength of the team this year.

[Texas fan in Georgia]

I see it coming down to Texas LSU and maybe Arkansas this season. They looked good over the weekend.

[Red Five]

47 minutes ago, McCoy2Shipley said:

I think keeping Volantis in the Sunday spot may not be a bad idea. Ruger is definitely capable of being a top-notch Friday guy in the SEC. I think the flu he got last year starting in May is not accounted for enough in his drop-off by some. With Volantis, having him in that Sunday role is going to be very difficult for teams to win a series, or sweep us if that scenario ever pops up. Just a thought, but don't think it's a bad idea to keep him at Sunday for that reason.

 

One pro of keeping the rotation as is, is that a Friday night win would essentially guarantee you a series victory. 

[CJ Vogel]

21 minutes ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

I see it coming down to Texas LSU and maybe Arkansas this season. They looked good over the weekend.

Won’t discount anyone in the top half of the SEC, though those three seem to be at the top of every major conference discussion. 

Oklahoma was another team that looked great in the opening week. 

[HookedOnTF]

1 hour ago, CJ Vogel said:

. I am not to say Pack should be immediately vaulted into the top of the lineup, but with the comfort he displayed at the plate this weekend, I could certainly provide that second leadoff from the bottom end of the lineup for the likes of Mendoza, Rodriguez and the heart of the order.

What's the implication for Jonah? 

[Neil Leininger]

2 minutes ago, HookedOnTF said:

What's the implication for Jonah? 

He needs to pick a sport because staying healthy for both seems unlikely at this point.

[WRNC]

57 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

I forgot to mention but you reminded me with the comments on Riojas – seeing him up to 96-97 mph was fantastic. You can tell he took the offseason seriously getting back to the shape he was in before the illness a year ago.

Regardless of the order, the 1-2-3 of the Texas rotation poses to be a major strength of the team this year.

I think a move to put Dylan Volantis in the Friday "Ace" slot is a strong possibility later in the season.  Moving Ruger Riojas to Saturday would maintain a strong LHP-RHP-LHP sequence if Harrison moves to Sunday.

Schlossnagle said "players write the lineup".  The midweek group Jason Flores, Sam Cozart, and Brett Crossland are candidates to eventually break into the weekend rotation.

[CJ Vogel]

Flores is expected to start vs. Lamar 

[CJ Vogel]

Volantis was named the Co-Pitcher of the Week by the SEC.

Not too bad for the opening weekend.

[marathon]

3 hours ago, CJ Vogel said:

First, Texas must make sure that Tinney is protected in the lineup.

That’s what jumped out to me also. They pitched around Tinney the entire series.

The loss of the 2 portal signees to the MLB draft last year hurt (Kaleb Freeman, .350 ave, 28 doubles, 16 HR, 46 RBIs, 61 walks last year and Jack Moroknek (OF) .372 ave, 16 doubles, 18 HR, 57 RBIs last year). There is a reason Schloss wanted them. Those 2 would have added both flexibility and firepower. It’s only one weekend though and Borba was close to HR on a few balls he hit foul. 

Otherwise they will need to do something it would seem. Becerra hit over 300 at Stanford but doesn’t hit with power. Possibly move him up and hit 2nd and mi e Rodriguez behind Tinney. Opposing teams would try to pitch around Rodriguez but he is such a pure hitter it may still work.

Still have time for someone to step up and hit behind Tinney.

Edited 1 hour ago by marathon

[CJ Vogel]

1 minute ago, marathon said:

That’s what jumped out to me also. They pitched around Tinney the entire series.

The loss of the 2 portal signees to the MLB draft last year hurt (Kaleb Freeman, .350 ave, 28 doubles, 16 HR, 46 RBIs, 61 walks last year and Jack Moroknek (OF) .372 ave, 16 doubles, 18 HR, 57 RBIs last year). There is a reason Schloss wanted them. Those 2 would have added both flexibility and firepower. It’s only one weekend though and Borba was close to HR on a few balls he hit foul. 

Otherwise they will need to do something it would seem. Becerra hit over 300 at Stanford but doesn’t hit with power. Possibly move him up and Rodriguez behind Tinney. Opposing teams would try to pitch around Rodriguez but he is such a pure hitter it may still work.

Still have time for someone to step up and hit behind Tinney.

Freeman or Maroknek would have been huge for the power aspect in the lineup to reach about six deep.

[marathon]

7 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Freeman or Maroknek would have been huge for the power aspect in the lineup to reach about six deep.

Agree. I was sick when they both got drafted and signed.

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by marathon

[Realist Horn]

Not a fan of Peck in RF, made two really bad mistakes. I know he’s still learning the position, but he cost us a run on Sunday. 

[Califashorn75]

Our pitchers were locked in. I like our new catcher too. This team has depth. Barring injury we should be really good.