Schlossnagle recaps midweek win, previews weekend set with Gamecocks

During Thursday morning's edition of TexAgs Radio, Texas A&M baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle joined to look back on the midweek over UT-Arlington and preview this weekend's series with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Key notes from Jim Schlossnagle interview

• Winning in different ways reflects how competitive our guys are. That’s what we asked for before the LSU series: Competitive grit. We’ve been solid offensively all year. Defense has been good, considering the injuries. I hope we can get better in the starting pitching department. That will be key if we’re going to make a postseason run. That’s what we need.
   
• It’s easy for anyone to get complacent, but one of our strengths is the experience of the transfers on this team that has been there and done that. Jacob Palisch, Troy Claunch and Jack Moss come to mind. We’re actually in the playoffs right now, if you think about it. Every single game has so much value when it comes to where you end up playing and who you play against come June.
   
• With Micah Dallas, we have to remember how tough this game is when we get frustrated. No one wants it more than Micah. He’s the man in the arena. No one wants it more than him. Micah has a track record, and that’s something you can depend on. He’s just got to keep working at it. The way I’m looking at it, he’s due for a great outing. He started great to the first two batters against Vanderbilt, then kind of went downhill. We’re going to keep running him out there and seeing what he can do. He’s a massive part of what we’re trying to do, no matter the role. It all comes down to fastball command.
   
• I threw out the possibility of pushing Dallas to Sunday because it’s been on my mind. I spent a lot of time in the car yesterday. I would say it would most likely be Micah on Saturday. The other starting option would be a guy like Brad Rudis. Maybe even Joseph Menefee, who said the 93 pitches he threw against Vanderbilt were the most he’s thrown since his junior year of high school. We’ll dig into the South Carolina tape today and see what the best matchups will be and go from there.
   
• Dylan Rock is just consistent. A young hitter doesn't understand this as much, but we tell guys all the time to not get bored with a boring batting practice. All Dylan does in the cage during BP goes out there and prepares to be a great hitter. He’s not out there trying to put on a show. He works the field. He’s selective with his pitches, and he prepares so well. Ryan Targac is learning to do the same thing, and I think you’re seeing the results of that with his absolute bombs on Saturday in Nashville.
   
• South Carolina is playing really well right now. The results of the last two weeks don't match up with the statistics and how well they’ve played. They swept Alabama last weekend, then got a midweek win last night. Their Saturday starter is projected eventual first-rounder on the mound. It’s just another really good SEC baseball team fighting for their lives. I’m sure it’ll be another dog fight.