OTF Premium What went wrong in Omaha and what's next for the Texas baseball program?

[TheNightKing]

9 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

Your take is why I thought it was huge whenever Pendergrass reached base. He's got the kind of speed that can really mess with pitchers in tight spots. The speed element is also why Jonah going down was a huge blow to what the offense could've been this season.

I also think its a tough ask when you get a guy on base and have someone like Casey Borba up who just ********doesn't******** bunt ever and expect him to be able to lay one down. It was not our identity all year so why change it in the 7th inning in an elimination game in Omaha with a guy that you know can come unglued with one swing? 

Sort of a lost art now. especially in our league. SEC baseball wants 10 homers from 1-9 with your 1-5 guys being 15 plus bombers. Maybe if we dont lose those few guys to the draft who signed out of the portal last year, we have that. 

I do think though when you have an opened position like 1B available, you have to think about Josh Livingston earlier. Im not sure if there was injury issues or what. But coming out cold in the 9th inning and absolutely hammering a baseball made some questions marks in my head come up. 

[Here for the Wins]

1 hour ago, TheNightKing said:

 

I do think though when you have an opened position like 1B available, you have to think about Josh Livingston earlier. Im not sure if there was injury issues or what. But coming out cold in the 9th inning and absolutely hammering a baseball made some questions marks in my head come up. 

When runs are at a premium, this should have done sooner.  Larsen wasn’t the OBP guy he was earlier in the season.

[PaulieD]

17 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

He's just a freshman. Not eligible for the draft.

Are Robbins and Tinney for sure going to MLB, or do they have any eligibility left.

[CMGROSS]

Oregon catcher what a cannon in the portal. Would be a nice get 

[Texansarebetter]

11 minutes ago, CMGROSS said:

Oregon catcher what a cannon in the portal. Would be a nice get 

He’s a draft eligible sophomore.. So you’d have to worry about him going pro. But he’s unbelievable behind the plate 

[DanielOnorato]

Interesting that the MLB is proposing changes to the MLB draft format. Their proposal essentially gets rid of highschool players being draft eligible and allows players to enter the draft after their sophomore year of college. 

[Texansarebetter]

42 minutes ago, PaulieD said:

Are Robbins and Tinney for sure going to MLB, or do they have any eligibility left.

They’ll both be gone. Both are projected top 3 round picks 

[Jeff Howe]

1 hour ago, PaulieD said:

Are Robbins and Tinney for sure going to MLB, or do they have any eligibility left.

They're gone. They'll both be early-round picks.

[Jeff Howe]

2 hours ago, NoDakHornsFan said:

@Jeff Howe If I recall, Cozart and Crossland are draft eligible as sophomore next year, is that accurate?

Yes. Both will turn 21 before Aug. 1, 2027.

[Texansarebetter]

43 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

Yes. Both will turn 21 before Aug. 1, 2027.

Ouch 

[Texansarebetter]

@Jeff Howe any updates on targets ? Thanks for all the great work you guys do!!🤘🏻

[TheNightKing]

3 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

Yes. Both will turn 21 before Aug. 1, 2027.

 

Edited 10 hours ago by TheNightKing

[HookedOnTF]

15 hours ago, TheNightKing said:

... schloss doesnt play augie ball. most teams in our league dont. could have benefitted us in omaha but, we hadnt played that style of ball all year really. difficult to start then. but in my career, (juco and D1 ball) when a guy is shoving a baseball down your throat, getting him moving and making plays off the mound gets him out of things. just not how we operate. 

 

12 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

...

The big thing about Charles Schwab Field is the configuration. Unlike Rosenblatt, where the wind coming from the south caused a lot of balls to leave the yard, the wind tends to blow in or you get a cross breeze. That can hurt teams that rely on the long ball, even though bat and ball technology have come a long way since the start of the BBCOR era.

@TheNightKing had a good post with some good takes. One of the reasons why Skip's OU teams have been good when they've made it to Omaha is that they really can play small when needed. OU typically steals a lot of bases and while they've got some guys who can thump, you'll always see Skip field a team with guys who can play small ball when the conditions aren't ripe for extra-base hits. OU is very versatile offensively.

I don't have access to comprehensive stats but I wonder how our LOB and K rates looks relative to top teams both in conference play and on Tuesdays. To be ready for the Omaha tourney format, the situational urgency to manufacture runs needs to be repped in season (which I know doesn't necessarily mean bunting). Without digging in, we may have just had some feast or famine games but I wonder if stats would reveal anything.

[AusMOJO]

You guys covering baseball did a fantastic job. I've had a blast learning the sport and watching the games, when I used to think baseball was boring af. 

Great season, disappointing end and here's to hoping we come back next year even stronger. 

[AusMOJO]

On 6/18/2026 at 6:51 AM, BornOrange said:

“…either make them stronger or get them out.”

WOW!!!

True leadership.