I don't think anything is definitively proven about the direction of the program one way or another. Would people agree that next year will be a lot better indicator? I'm worried that the loses on offense and the question marks around pitching recruiting and development are going to make it a much tougher year than this one. Expectations will(should be??) be higher to boot.

At one point do we shirk "he's a great guy and wants to be here" though? I'm an Aggie born and bred and respect loyalty as much as anyone, but I also like winning. I like doing well and being able to bring in top recruits because we win.

twk said:

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agsalaska said:

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Earley is a failure of a head coach at A&M in every definition of the word. But now we are stuck with him.

He should have been fired last year. But we were dumb and stuck with him. Now we are…..stuck with him. This year is our future.

We are now stuck with this crap for probably two more years.

Outside of a three week or so stretch this team wasn't much different than last year. In our future We will UIL whip our way into some wins and have some streaks and catch some luck. It this is it. This is what we can expect.

Thanks everyone who supported keeping Earley. You own this. Great programs would have fired him.



Edit to fix the spelling of his name. Autocorrect was being too aggressive

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Look, I was ready to drop Earley last year after that disaster, as I didn't like his chances of recovering from that. By all accounts, Alberts considered doing just that, but apparently couldn't land someone that he thought would have been worth the cost, so Earley got another chance. He went out and made a great hire in getting Cliff Pennington, and put together a lineup that was very productive until hitting a wall at the end of the season, partly due to injuries, and partly due to the pressure of trying to overcompensate for a woeful pitching staff.

We aren't going to pay a buyout to fire a coach in a non-revenue sport, absent unusual circumstances, so Earley will be back next year. Now, if he doesn't address the deficiencies on the mound (and, now that we have addressed the facilities issue, there will be no excuses) in 2027, with only one year left on his contract following the end of next season, he would be in a very precarious position.

My bet is that we do make some serious progress on the mound. We'd better, or else we might be making a change next year.

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Good post.

I agree with you on the buyout and inability to get rid of him now. 100%. We are stuck with him.

I will take that bet though on pitching next season. Bet you eleventy internet dollars that not much changes unless there is a coaching change which there very well may be. The pitching problems this year went beyond talent and injuries.

Quote:

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I will take that bet though on pitching next season. Bet you eleventy internet dollars that not much changes unless there is a coaching change which there very well may be.

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If we're talking internet dollars, I would take that bet. We could be significantly better on the mound, without a lot of great coaching, just from getting folks healthy.

I'll be curious to see if Earley makes any staff changes. Some of the things that Brauny says makes me think that might be happening. so that would void the bet anyway.

twk said:

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Quote:

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I will take that bet though on pitching next season. Bet you eleventy internet dollars that not much changes unless there is a coaching change which there very well may be.

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If we're talking internet dollars, I would take that bet. We could be significantly better on the mound, without a lot of great coaching, just from getting folks healthy.

I'll be curious to see if Earley makes any staff changes. Some of the things that Brauny says makes me think that might be happening. so that would void the bet anyway.

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Kelley has to go he's ****ing terrible

Well we bought into a cool Indy car team. Winning!

Okay that's kinda harsh but I had to get that one off my chest.

Here's to improving next year.

We are acting like we have more than 4 CWS appearances in the past 26 years btw… Yes, everyone is upset if we don't make it to Omaha but be realistic with yourselves and just look more into the process that's being put into place in and around the program. Things haven't gone our way, and that doesn't mean Earley has done no wrong. But my god, we are acting like we were some baseball powerhouse for 50 years.

AgRyan04 said:

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SpeedyNoilsGhost said:

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We are acting like we have more than 4 CWS appearances in the past 26 years btw… Yes, everyone is upset if we don't make it to Omaha but be realistic with yourselves and just look more into the process that's being put into place in and around the program. Things haven't gone our way, and that doesn't mean Earley has done no wrong. But my god, we are acting like we were some baseball powerhouse for 50 years.

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We should be.

And we won't be with a mindset like this.

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The mindset of understanding the process and understanding what they are doing to build the program up while being realistic?

Yeah, horrible mindset to have. I'll start crying and complaining every year hoping our AD sees us telling him to fire a coach no matter what the buyout is. What a great way to spend money towards a program that saw progress in year 2.

It's interesting that many keep justifying their stance by throwing out low expectations as a primary point.

Ag13 said:

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SpeedyNoilsGhost said:

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We are acting like we have more than 4 CWS appearances in the past 26 years btw… Yes, everyone is upset if we don't make it to Omaha but be realistic with yourselves and just look more into the process that's being put into place in and around the program. Things haven't gone our way, and that doesn't mean Earley has done no wrong. But my god, we are acting like we were some baseball powerhouse for 50 years.

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Another expectation manager here to remind us all that apparently our lack of baseball history makes missing the tournament last year and losing a home regional this year totally ok. At least we are being realistic!

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It is entirely reasonable and defensible to disagree with that dude's "realistic expectations" take and also see what Earley and the team have done and still not believe he needs to be fired.

SpeedyNoilsGhost said:

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AgRyan04 said:

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SpeedyNoilsGhost said:

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We are acting like we have more than 4 CWS appearances in the past 26 years btw… Yes, everyone is upset if we don't make it to Omaha but be realistic with yourselves and just look more into the process that's being put into place in and around the program. Things haven't gone our way, and that doesn't mean Earley has done no wrong. But my god, we are acting like we were some baseball powerhouse for 50 years.

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We should be.

And we won't be with a mindset like this.

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The mindset of understanding the process and understanding what they are doing to build the program up while being realistic?

Yeah, horrible mindset to have. I'll start crying and complaining every year hoping our AD sees us telling him to fire a coach no matter what the buyout is. What a great way to spend money towards a program that saw progress in year 2.

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I'm not sure what the realistic process to build up the program is that you're talking about, other than just blind hope.

We hired a head coach with zero coaching experience - a coach that wasnt even on his own boss's radar until the players campaigned for him. We gave him a 4 year fully guaranteed contract. He was handed one of the most talented rosters in the history of the program which was tuned into one of the worst seasons in recent memory.

We had the money from Schloss's buyout to cut bait, buy out the contract and move on but we didn't.

Then they didn't go out and bolster the pitching staff, and instead put all their eggs on two good bullpen arms turning into our Friday & Saturday starters (one coming off of surgery).

The lowered expectations from that season have allowed the coach to show "big improvements" on paper - but the results have been spectacular nose dives in the final weeks of each season - in 2025 watching a post season birth slip through our fingers and in 2026 and watching a national seed slip through our fingers and then turning around to watch a Super Regional slip through our fingers.

Every assistant that he initially hired is gone after two years (none landing equal or better jobs).

He needs to hire a new pitching coach, recruit an ENTIRE pitching staff, and replace 3 All-Conference/1st round caliber bats.

What exactly is the process that they're doing to build up the program that I am not seeing?

AgRyan04 said:

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SpeedyNoilsGhost said:

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We are acting like we have more than 4 CWS appearances in the past 26 years btw… Yes, everyone is upset if we don't make it to Omaha but be realistic with yourselves and just look more into the process that's being put into place in and around the program. Things haven't gone our way, and that doesn't mean Earley has done no wrong. But my god, we are acting like we were some baseball powerhouse for 50 years.

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We should be.

And we won't be with a mindset like this.

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It has very little to do with our mindset (the fans). In fact, recently i've taken a step back and been impressed with our collective enthusiasm. We come back year after year and support our programs very well considering the relative lack of promised land moments.

We've been pretty resilient given some repeated cycles of woe. Of course not everyone sitting in the stands with high expectations are old farts like me. The new generation is optimistic and I certainly hope they don't have to wait decades to see us play big on the big stage.

I'm not going to get upset about any one year anymore or even a couple of disappointments strung together. For me, in my late 50's, it's the body of work over decades thing that leads me to ask the bigger question as to what is the underlying problem of falling short.

Credit to women's Tennis, Track, and Volleyball. Even the 2011 women's basketball offer hope. Not meaning to diminish our kids in those sports. Very proud of them.

NC doesn't have a problem hitting USC. Their approach looks much better.

LB12MEEN said:

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I don't really care what took place in baseball prior to Schloss.

Now in the present day and age with the rules that are now present, those three years showed A&M baseball can win at a high level quickly with a top level coach.

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Well I/we always knew we could and should do it. I didn't need a top notch coach to prove it. But what i really didnt need to happen was that coach to come in and in a matter of 2 years, hell in the first trip alone, DOUBLE my personal Aggie lifetime enjoyment of wins in Omaha. Then for a reasons of blame to go around - mofo leave.

Rotten luck/poor timing.....bad extensions.....poor relationship skills, etc etc. Just a feeling of "why the F can't we figure this out?".

Give Elko a big contract extension - immediately scare the everliving **** balls out of Aggieland.

TMF said:

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NC doesn't have a problem hitting USC. Their approach looks much better.

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What exactly was our approach.

LB12MEEN said:

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Schloss left for the same reasons we got him. His personnel life is messed up and timing. It is what it is.

Does not mean we cannot find another high level coach.

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Logically I know this. I felt those decade long CWS dry spells along with the 2 and que's when we finally did get there. Hope sprung eternal for me. I'm just past it now. Didn't even watch the games against USC cause I correctly assumed how they would turn out.

It's just been my way of coping lately. I'll admit to being a pessimistic person by nature and I dont recommend it. But right or wrong this is my relationship with Aggie sports now. Thanks for letting me commiserate.

coupland boy said:

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LB12MEEN said:

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Schloss left for the same reasons we got him. His personnel life is messed up and timing. It is what it is.

Does not mean we cannot find another high level coach.

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Logically I know this. I felt those decade long CWS dry spells along with the 2 and que's when we finally did get there. Hope sprung eternal for me. I'm just past it now. Didn't even watch the games against USC cause I correctly assumed how they would turn out.

It's just been my way of coping lately. I'll admit to being a pessimistic person by nature and I dont recommend it. But right or wrong this is my relationship with Aggie sports now. Thanks for letting me commiserate.

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BAS is the epitome of "small dick energy"

TMF said:

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NC doesn't have a problem hitting USC. Their approach looks much better.

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Turns out that Johnson guy is pretty good.

It was just as absurd the first time you posted this

We have some mentally deficient fans that can't be happy unless they're miserable.

96ags said:

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bkfromtx19 said:

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At one point do we shirk "he's a great guy and wants to be here" though? I'm an Aggie born and bred and respect loyalty as much as anyone, but I also like winning. I like doing well and being able to bring in top recruits because we win.

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Earley doesn't have any loyalty to A&M, he left just like Schloss did.

But like you said, that doesn't matter. It is a zero sum game and winning is all that matters.

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Honestly, what would you do if you had a family to worry about.

annie88 said:

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It was just as absurd the first time you posted this

We have some mentally deficient fans that can't be happy unless they're miserable.

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I'm confused here. Why are you quoting me many days later?

Who?mikejones! said:

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annie88 said:

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It was just as absurd the first time you posted this

We have some mentally deficient fans that can't be happy unless they're miserable.

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I'm confused here. Why are you quoting me many days later?

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Because I'm not on this site as much as some of y'all and I just saw it. Or maybe I did and forgot. I just kind of jump on and off here and there. And half the time I forget to go back and read the threads I've posted on.

I do a lot of flybys.

TMF said:

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NC doesn't have a problem hitting USC. Their approach looks much better.

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You were saying?

annie88 said:

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Who?mikejones! said:

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annie88 said:

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It was just as absurd the first time you posted this

We have some mentally deficient fans that can't be happy unless they're miserable.

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I'm confused here. Why are you quoting me many days later?

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Because I'm not on this site as much as some of y'all and I just saw it. Or maybe I did and forgot. I just kind of jump on and off here and there. And half the time I forget to go back and read the threads I've posted on.

I do a lot of flybys.

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Very well