Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Baseball
Scheschuk: Aggies still set for greatness ... but they must take it
Howdy TexAgs,
I hope you are enjoying the series win over the University of Texas despite a Sunday loss denying a sweep that was well within reach. Hopefully you still have some unbroken furniture in your home or apartment and have jumped back on board, sipping the maroon Kool-Aid (you should try it, it tastes great). The good news: The Ags followed up a five-game losing streak with a nice week, going 3-1.
No team goes through a season without its ups and downs, but I have to admit I was right there with you last week thinking this team may be in trouble. However, in typical Rob Childress fashion, the team seems to have turned it around and could be peaking at the right time for a nice post season push. Don’t kid yourself ... the players on the team know and feed off the recent history of the program, where the Aggies have caught fire and have gone on to win championships in May and June.
While each year’s team has its own identity, history has a way of repeating itself — in both positive and negative ways. I hope recent history is a good indicator of where this team can go. First, I want to take a look at some of the growth areas for the club, and then I will follow up with some things this team does really well and, finally, forecast where these guys may end up.
TexAgs
In the postseason, which often sets the burden of success or failure on unsuspecting heroes, Pineda may be A&M's X-factor.
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This team has several areas that require growth: The bullpen, pop in the lineup, base-running (at times), and defense (at times). Depth on the pitching staff is obviously a big concern. The good news is that Michael Wacha and Ross Stripling continue to go deep into games, so the Ags haven’t had to rely too much on the bullpen during the Friday/Saturday starts.
Rafael Pineda has had a nice year and enjoyed a great outing against Texas, but I will be very interested to watch what happens in a regional or super regional game where the Aggies need a huge start from someone other than the top two horses in the rotation.
In ’99, we needed Khalid Balouli to step up for us in an elimination game against Long Beach State and he came through with a huge performance, leading us to a win and one more step toward a berth in the CWS. Chris Scarcella also did this for us in the Big XII tournament in ’98. You have to get clutch starts from guys deeper in the rotation if you want to advance in June. Will Pineda deliver a clutch win in the postseason? Who will be this year’s Balouli or Scarcella?
Additionally, the pop in the lineup has been a concern for me since day one. I know the bats have been restricted, but this team should be able to hit the ball out of the yard and drive the gaps more than it does. To demonstrate the importance of pop in the lineup, I’ll reach back in the vault to discuss the Stanford regional in ’97.
We faced Jeff Weaver in Game 1 and Chad Hutchison in Game 2 during the regional ... and we were back on the plane headed home before the tournament was even in full swing. Weaver struck out 21 against us in our first game of the tournament in the most dominant performance I witnessed during my collegiate career. Hutchison completely dominated us in our second game and the season was over just like that.
My point is you need somebody to step up and drive a ball in the gap or even hit a big homerun when you are facing arms like that. The Aggies needed that in the final game against UT and it did not happen. This team will face excellent pitchers in the playoffs and right now there is really not a deep ball threat in the Aggie line up. The silver lining is the Aggies have two pitchers in Wacha and Stripling who force the other team to get that same big hit or home run, so the equation has two sides.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Wacha (pictured) and Stripling give the Aggies the most dangerous thing any team can take into postseason play: Two front-line aces.
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The bottom line is someone is going to have to step up offensively, similar to my call for Pineda or another pitcher to step up on the mound if the Aggies are going to do anything in late May and June.
Now, let me also address some things this team does really well: Front-line starting pitching, athleticism, camaraderie, and expectations. It does not take a rocket scientist to notice that Wacha and Stripling are really good. No matter what happens for the rest of the season, these two guys are going to make Texas A&M a very difficult out in the postseason tournament(s).
Stripling is just a flat-out great pitcher. His command of three different pitches as well as the ability to locate those pitches on both sides of the plate (in any count) is impressive. Notice that his arm speed when he throws his changeup is consistent with his arm speed when he throws his fastball; this makes it increasingly difficult for the hitter to decipher the pitch coming at him. Additionally, he has great confidence on the mound — and believe me, SWAG is very important in athletics (and in everything else in life too!). Ross has it.
Wacha’s stature and raw ability are easy to see, and that is why he has a great shot to pitch at the major league level. That stated, he can be completely dominant every time he takes the ball for the Aggies and this is a huge advantage for the good guys.
The athleticism of this team is underrated, in my opinion. There is speed up and down the lineup and the ability to pressure the defense is VERY much a factor. Scott Arthur epitomizes this strength; he is fast, aggressive and athletic, as are Mikey Reynolds, Tyler Naquin, Krey Bratsen, etc. This team just has a bunch of good athletes, and that is a huge advantage come tournament time. All this is important is because in tournament play the fundamentals rule ... if you can bunt, run, and pressure defenses when the heat is turned up, you see teams unravel year after year with throwing errors and mental mistakes.
Don’t look now, but that is exactly the kind of roster Coach Childress has assembled. Furthermore, don’t underestimate the athleticism of this team because it’s very good and poses a big problem for opponents in pressure situations. Now, if you can sprinkle the three run home run into the equation, then you have a VERY dangerous tournament team!
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
This team never doubts its ability to win or function as a team, due in large part to the solid leadership such as that provided by House (left), the coaches and other upperclassmen.
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The camaraderie of this team from the outside looking in is great. Jacob House seems to be a great leader and the guys genuinely seem to like each other. Whether on TV or in person, I see a lot of support and energy on the bench and it seems like the guys are selfless and have the will to win. I love watching guys who don’t play come off the bench in support of sacrifice bunts, hitting behind runners, etc., and this team has plenty of that going on! The cool thing is this behavior is not rehearsed; these guys really pull for one another and you can feel it.
Again, I’ll reflect on our ’98 and ’99 teams: we all liked each other and pulled for one another on and off the field and it showed. Don’t underestimate the camaraderie of this team and what that can do for it come playoff time!
Finally ... the expectations for this team are high. Yes, I know the Ags were swept by Baylor and lost a tough game to the Horns on Sunday, but this team returns a bunch of guys from last year and, as I said in a prior article, the expectation level of any team is very important. This team will not be happy just getting to Omaha; they want to do some damage in the tournament.
And, oh by the way, our ’99 team swept Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma State went on that year to the College World Series. As a matter of fact, OSU beat none other than Baylor in a super regional to earn the CWS berth. OSU fans would have predicted doom and gloom after we swept them, so don’t count the Aggies out this year as anything can happen!
So where does this thing end up? I have no idea, but I will say that I see no reason this team should not have its sights set on the College World Series. I know the coaching staff expects these guys to get to Omaha, and based on what I have seen and heard about the character and leadership in the clubhouse, I believe the players think this team will end up in Omaha too.
The question is, who is going to invite that pressure, stand in the batter’s box, stare down the pitcher, and clutch up when our team and our university need it?
Whoever it is better be ready to seize the moment, because it will come and go fast and a season will be extended or ended depending on the results. I look forward to watching those big moments unfold with you and, until then, gig ‘em Aggies!
I hope you are enjoying the series win over the University of Texas despite a Sunday loss denying a sweep that was well within reach. Hopefully you still have some unbroken furniture in your home or apartment and have jumped back on board, sipping the maroon Kool-Aid (you should try it, it tastes great). The good news: The Ags followed up a five-game losing streak with a nice week, going 3-1.
No team goes through a season without its ups and downs, but I have to admit I was right there with you last week thinking this team may be in trouble. However, in typical Rob Childress fashion, the team seems to have turned it around and could be peaking at the right time for a nice post season push. Don’t kid yourself ... the players on the team know and feed off the recent history of the program, where the Aggies have caught fire and have gone on to win championships in May and June.
While each year’s team has its own identity, history has a way of repeating itself — in both positive and negative ways. I hope recent history is a good indicator of where this team can go. First, I want to take a look at some of the growth areas for the club, and then I will follow up with some things this team does really well and, finally, forecast where these guys may end up.
TexAgs
In the postseason, which often sets the burden of success or failure on unsuspecting heroes, Pineda may be A&M's X-factor.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"In the postseason, which often sets the burden of success or failure on unsuspecting heroes, Pineda may be A&M\u0027s X-factor.","MediaItemID":15804}
Rafael Pineda has had a nice year and enjoyed a great outing against Texas, but I will be very interested to watch what happens in a regional or super regional game where the Aggies need a huge start from someone other than the top two horses in the rotation.
In ’99, we needed Khalid Balouli to step up for us in an elimination game against Long Beach State and he came through with a huge performance, leading us to a win and one more step toward a berth in the CWS. Chris Scarcella also did this for us in the Big XII tournament in ’98. You have to get clutch starts from guys deeper in the rotation if you want to advance in June. Will Pineda deliver a clutch win in the postseason? Who will be this year’s Balouli or Scarcella?
Additionally, the pop in the lineup has been a concern for me since day one. I know the bats have been restricted, but this team should be able to hit the ball out of the yard and drive the gaps more than it does. To demonstrate the importance of pop in the lineup, I’ll reach back in the vault to discuss the Stanford regional in ’97.
We faced Jeff Weaver in Game 1 and Chad Hutchison in Game 2 during the regional ... and we were back on the plane headed home before the tournament was even in full swing. Weaver struck out 21 against us in our first game of the tournament in the most dominant performance I witnessed during my collegiate career. Hutchison completely dominated us in our second game and the season was over just like that.
My point is you need somebody to step up and drive a ball in the gap or even hit a big homerun when you are facing arms like that. The Aggies needed that in the final game against UT and it did not happen. This team will face excellent pitchers in the playoffs and right now there is really not a deep ball threat in the Aggie line up. The silver lining is the Aggies have two pitchers in Wacha and Stripling who force the other team to get that same big hit or home run, so the equation has two sides.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Wacha (pictured) and Stripling give the Aggies the most dangerous thing any team can take into postseason play: Two front-line aces.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Wacha (pictured) and Stripling give the Aggies the most dangerous thing any team can take into postseason play: Two front-line aces.","MediaItemID":15262}
Now, let me also address some things this team does really well: Front-line starting pitching, athleticism, camaraderie, and expectations. It does not take a rocket scientist to notice that Wacha and Stripling are really good. No matter what happens for the rest of the season, these two guys are going to make Texas A&M a very difficult out in the postseason tournament(s).
Stripling is just a flat-out great pitcher. His command of three different pitches as well as the ability to locate those pitches on both sides of the plate (in any count) is impressive. Notice that his arm speed when he throws his changeup is consistent with his arm speed when he throws his fastball; this makes it increasingly difficult for the hitter to decipher the pitch coming at him. Additionally, he has great confidence on the mound — and believe me, SWAG is very important in athletics (and in everything else in life too!). Ross has it.
Wacha’s stature and raw ability are easy to see, and that is why he has a great shot to pitch at the major league level. That stated, he can be completely dominant every time he takes the ball for the Aggies and this is a huge advantage for the good guys.
The athleticism of this team is underrated, in my opinion. There is speed up and down the lineup and the ability to pressure the defense is VERY much a factor. Scott Arthur epitomizes this strength; he is fast, aggressive and athletic, as are Mikey Reynolds, Tyler Naquin, Krey Bratsen, etc. This team just has a bunch of good athletes, and that is a huge advantage come tournament time. All this is important is because in tournament play the fundamentals rule ... if you can bunt, run, and pressure defenses when the heat is turned up, you see teams unravel year after year with throwing errors and mental mistakes.
Don’t look now, but that is exactly the kind of roster Coach Childress has assembled. Furthermore, don’t underestimate the athleticism of this team because it’s very good and poses a big problem for opponents in pressure situations. Now, if you can sprinkle the three run home run into the equation, then you have a VERY dangerous tournament team!
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
This team never doubts its ability to win or function as a team, due in large part to the solid leadership such as that provided by House (left), the coaches and other upperclassmen.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"This team never doubts its ability to win or function as a team, due in large part to the solid leadership such as that provided by House (left), the coaches and other upperclassmen.","MediaItemID":16195}
Again, I’ll reflect on our ’98 and ’99 teams: we all liked each other and pulled for one another on and off the field and it showed. Don’t underestimate the camaraderie of this team and what that can do for it come playoff time!
Finally ... the expectations for this team are high. Yes, I know the Ags were swept by Baylor and lost a tough game to the Horns on Sunday, but this team returns a bunch of guys from last year and, as I said in a prior article, the expectation level of any team is very important. This team will not be happy just getting to Omaha; they want to do some damage in the tournament.
And, oh by the way, our ’99 team swept Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma State went on that year to the College World Series. As a matter of fact, OSU beat none other than Baylor in a super regional to earn the CWS berth. OSU fans would have predicted doom and gloom after we swept them, so don’t count the Aggies out this year as anything can happen!
So where does this thing end up? I have no idea, but I will say that I see no reason this team should not have its sights set on the College World Series. I know the coaching staff expects these guys to get to Omaha, and based on what I have seen and heard about the character and leadership in the clubhouse, I believe the players think this team will end up in Omaha too.
Who is going to invite that pressure, stand in the batter’s box, stare down the pitcher and clutch up when our team and our University need it? Whoever it is better be ready to seize the moment ... a season will be extended or ended depending on the results.
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Belief is important, but ultimately it’s going to depend on getting that clutch hit or the key strikeout with the game on the line. That is how sports has always been and always will be. The coaching staff recruits great players, motivates those players and puts them into position to win games, but the players have to step up and make it happen. And I can tell you from firsthand experience that when guys step up and make big plays in big spots, it is something you remember for the rest of your life. The question is, who is going to invite that pressure, stand in the batter’s box, stare down the pitcher, and clutch up when our team and our university need it?
Whoever it is better be ready to seize the moment, because it will come and go fast and a season will be extended or ended depending on the results. I look forward to watching those big moments unfold with you and, until then, gig ‘em Aggies!
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