Jim Schlossnagle joins TexAgs Radio as Ags wait through another delay

The Fightin' Texas Aggies are expected to finally begin play in the SEC Tournament sometime on Thursday as the rain moves out of central Alabama. On Thursday morning, Jim Schlossnagle joined TexAgs Radio to discuss managing the weather delays and much more.

Key notes from Jim Schlossnagle interview

• The schedule is to sit around and wait. They're expecting another big round of rain this morning or early this afternoon. Once that is finished, we should be good for the rest of the weekend. We're just sitting around, waiting on a phone call right now.
   
• We need to play. Baseball is not a sport where you can shut down and expect to succeed after a week. Our choices would be to come home and have intrasquad scrimmages or to play here as long as we can. How much stress do you put your team under with trying to win vs. not putting yourself in a better situation for next weekend? I've been part of winning these things and moving on. Last year, Mississippi State was run-ruled in Hoover but won the national championship. We need to play, and I'd prefer to play. I'm going to try and win the thing without jeopardizing our chances in the NCAA Tournament.
   
• I know every coach was asked their opinion on the format. For a team like us who feels confident in playing next weekend, I understand going to single elimination. Others are opposed. If we can get most of the games played today, we should be OK. If not, then it seems likely to move to single elimination.
   
• I think the most important thing for our team is actually two things. One, Nathan Dettmer has to be sharp and ready next weekend. Part of that is being healthy, and another part of that is seeing him pitch. His foot has healed pretty well. You want the blister to toughen up so it can handle the stress of next weekend. The other half for us is finding out about Micah Dallas. We have to give him a chance to get out there and pitch. I still believe in Micah. We've all had players who go through these lulls and then shine the most when you need them the most. If we play today, Dallas is starting. If we play tomorrow, we'd have a decision to make because I don't want to use Dettmer on short rest in the regionals, but I also want to throw Dallas this week. I think that question will answer itself this today because I think we will play.
   
• Dallas had bad luck in his last start, and he was a victim of his own doing. He threw away a couple of comebackers. It was somewhat of a step in the right direction, but that was a couple of weeks ago. He hasn't pitched since. His last start was at least a step in the right direction.
   
• I think Dallas will be fine with the schedule changes. Baseball players are used to being pushed back like this. We had a 6:15 wake-up call. I was there at 6:45, and breakfast was at 7. But at 6:45, two-thirds of our team was already dressed and in there. Dallas was there, and he wants the baseball. If you can't deal with the weather, you should've been a basketball player. In baseball, you have to deal with things like this and move on.
   
• Joseph Menefee, Jacob Palisch and Will Johnston have been outstanding. Chris Cortez has been better than he has been, and he's showing signs of landing his breaking pitches. Robert Hogan has gotten us some key outs. I would like to lean on these guys from the sixth inning on rather than the fourth inning on. Our identity is what it is, but hopefully, we'll have someone to step up. Otherwise, we'll continue to swing the bats and try to get those 27 outs.