Tweaking the ping

by mlcotcher on Feb 16, 2026 9:44 AM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Baseball

Baseball is here – the 2011 season gets started on Friday. New bats. Goodbye Nebraska. Competitive conference. Defend the crown. Another Garrido milestone. Yeah, storylines abound.

Yesterday, the Big 12 announced that Oklahoma was selected as the preseason favorite to win the conference. OU received six first place votes and the Horns received the other four. Interesting.

Don’t get me wrong, the Sooners will be good. Having said that, Texas won its sixth Big 12 title last season. The Horns ripped off 17 consecutive league victories and nearly played .900 ball in conference play (24-3).

It’s a new team and a new year, but picking against Texas in baseball is on par with trying not to stare at the cover of the SI swimsuit edition while checking out at HEB. It’s inevitable, so why fight it?

Still unconvinced? Still have visions of TCU dog-piling at The Disch? Forget 24-3.

If you think the Big 12 coaches were on the right track when they picked OU, slap yourself. The one thing you need to know about the 2011 college baseball season is BBCOR, or Ball-Bat Coefficient Of Restitution.

Rumors abound that Huckleberry masterminded the new rule changes.

I’ll spare you the acronyms and the details. What you need to know is that the NCAA has mandated a new rule that will change the game. Effective this year, the old-style aluminum bats are replaced by new models that are reportedly equivalent to a wood bat.

That’s right Horns fans, pitching and defense just got that much more critical. The two things that Augie Garrido puts faith in above all else are about to become major mainstays at the collegiate level.

Realistically, a Garrido-led Texas club will quietly embrace the new rule because it tilts the game in their favor. Garrido + Jungmann/Green + Loy/Etier = The big stack at the table. The Longhorns are going to play from a position of strength in 2011.

Texas Longhorns in 2010:

2.45 team ERA – 1^st nationally

.980 fielding percentage – 1^st nationally

6.8 rpg – 163^rd nationally

To be clear, I am not suggesting that the offense did not ultimately cost the club a shot at the CWS title last year. Other than exasperation, what you should take away from the above stat lines is that the Horns are very adept at playing the brand of ball that will become the new standard across the country.

Here are what I consider to be the three biggest keys to the season:

1. Pitching roles

Arguably when Chance Ruffin and Brandon Workman were selected in the 2010 MLB Draft, Texas lost it’s top two pitchers. That may be slighting Cole Green and Taylor Jungmann, but both guys had stellar seasons.

With Green and Jungmann returning and a staff full of the preponderance of available scholarship dollars, the Longhorns are in great shape in 2011. The question is not whether the pitching will be good, it’s whether the players and coaches are able to fill the needed roles.

Hoby Milner, Andrew McKirahan, Austin Dicharry, Josh Urban and plenty of others are all more than capable of performing at a high level. Can they fill the roles needed?

Quality arms and innings are plentiful on this team. Whether or not those players can excel in the position this team needs them is the difference between a competitive season and a trip to Omaha.

2. Timely hitting

"Good enough" is a frustrating plan for offense. It works, but clobbering a team 10-2 lends a satisfaction that Texas fans are not accustomed to seeing. The good news is that a 3-2 win counts the same as a 10-2 pounding does.

For all the attention that a .285’ish batting average garnered last year, the team still managed to finish with a respectable 427 runs scored. Seven different players hit at least 8 homeruns on the year.

There was no single player that the opposing dugout feared at the plate, but there was a game-by-game unpredictability to the Texas lineup that became troublesome for other coaches. Just when Sunny Golloway neutralized Keyes, Moldenhauer and Rupp, Cohl Walla went 3 for 5 and scored three runs, propelling the Horns to a 5-0 win.

With the new bats, coaches across the country are reporting that they are seeing entire batting practice sessions pass without a homerun. Small ball sends some carnival-goers into fits, but, if anything, expect more of it this year.

With runs at a premium, what the 2011 squad needs is a player that consistently drives in runs in clutch situations. I’m talking Bradley Suttle’s sophomore year – it’s been that long since there’s been a dependable RBI man in the lineup. When a runner’s on 2B, this team must score. A 2-run homer or a .310 team average aren’t realistic or needed.

3. Development at Catcher

Jacob Felts is a true freshman from Orange (Orangefield HS) that has already been tabbed "Next". He’d better be ready because this is a major void on the 2011 roster.

In leadership, offense or defense guys like Cameron Rupp and Taylor Teagarden always found a way to contribute. Asking a true freshman to step in at catcher is akin to having a greenhorn Center on the OL in football - it can be done, but you’d rather not.

With runs at a premium: teams will be aggressive on the base paths; Texas pitchers need to confidently attack the strike zone; defensive errors and passed balls will hurt more than normal. Realistically, given the rule changes this year, there isn’t a more important position on the entire team….no pressure, Jacob.

In baseball, an excellent defensive team starts behind the plate. Some things like alignment and pitch selection can (and will) be handled from the dugout, but the little luxuries that stem from having a veteran behind the plate shouldn’t be minimized.

If there is a player equipped to handle the job, Felts is likely him. Even though Catcher is a premium position and MLB teams often reach in the draft for high school talent, Felts made it known early that he intended to attend UT.

First and foremost, he’s an above average defensive player. He’s a line drive hitter which plays well to The Disch and the new bats, but I expect Augie to take as much pressure off him as possible. That likely means that he’ll bat at the bottom of the order and be asked to focus his contributions on defense.

There are some other options at Catcher, but this team will be it’s best if Felts transitions to the college game without issue.

There’s only three days left before the Horns start the season against Maryland. My hope is do a piece on specific players, positions and lineups at the end of the week. What is your primary concern with this team?

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Comments

Nice analysis, Matt. As you state, catcher is so important. Pitchers must have confidence to throw the breaking ball in the dirt. Also, wish we had a proven closer.

by torre on Feb 16, 2026 9:52 AM CST reply actions

Why I love this blog: I can’t stand baseball, but I just read this whole thing. And feel like I understood it. And am actually looking forward to watching Texas baseball.

by Sasha is a Longhorn Dog on Feb 16, 2026 10:00 AM CST reply actions

I agree on the catching issue.

Finding a closer is No. 2 — but with the depth of pitching talent, I think this is more a case of picking from several good candidates than picking somebody and hope.

The other issue is strike-zone control by the hitters . . . meaning high pitch counts, decent walk totals, low strikeout totals, put the ball in play and make the defense make plays. I’m not a huge proponent of walk, steal, bunt; but given this team’s makeup and the bat changes you reference, I guess I’d better accept small ball.

by edsp on Feb 16, 2026 10:03 AM CST reply actions

Good stuff, Matt. I’m excited to see if Taylor Jungmann can be even better this year. Workman and Green got the W’s, but Jungmann’s stuff + peripherals blows both of them away. Obviously finding that reliable 3rd starter will be key. The closer by committee scares me a little. Not sure if Augie has someone in mind already or not.

Small ball is fun, but I’ll also be interested to see who replaces the power bats from Moldy and Keyes.

By the way, have you seen the pub Brandon Belt is getting? Possible ROY candidate with the Giants. Hopefully he’ll be fighting Freddie Freeman from my Braves for the honor!

by jc25 on Feb 16, 2026 10:13 AM CST reply actions

Sam Stafford’s gotta be the #3 guy right?

And I’ve heard Carillo will get the first crack at closer.

by nordberg on Feb 16, 2026 10:17 AM CST reply actions

FYI for guys that enjoy radio broadcasts - Keith Moreland just got the job as the new Cubs radio analyst, so Craig will have a new voice in the booth this year.

It’s a great gig for Moreland, but a big loss for us, IMO.

by Matt Cotcher on Feb 16, 2026 10:20 AM CST reply actions

Surely after a season or so, the strike zone will shrink considerably? They’ll want to keep fans in the seats, and fans have grown accustomed to runs.

Thanks for the write-up, Matt.

by parlin on Feb 16, 2026 10:26 AM CST reply actions

With these new bats, If Texas’ ERA is higher than .00087 I’ll be disappointed.

by Vasherized on Feb 16, 2026 10:42 AM CST reply actions

I really hope Bill Little isn’t the permanent replacement for Moreland in the broadcast booth. I am not down on him as much as others on this site, but let’s just say the broadcast leaves something to be desired when he has filled in the past few years. I’d like to think there’s another former Longhorn player out there that could step in and begin their broadcast career.

by TexasWright on Feb 16, 2026 11:20 AM CST reply actions

despite the cheesy editorials that Bill Little writes about football, I actually think he’s a pretty effing solid color guy in the booth. wouldn’t mind at all if he was a seasonal fill-in.

Jungmann is a freaking horse.

had heard Felts might not be ready to rock? wonder if Walsh will see significant time behind the plate? hoping Walsh is swinging it to the extent that we have to find a spot for him in the lineup.

also heard Etier might be challenged @ 2b.

even w/out a bona fide closer, I feel pretty good about the arms in the pen.

been hearing good things about Payton.

by txsa on Feb 16, 2026 11:29 AM CST reply actions

Best Texas baseball writer out there. Thanks for the read, Matt. Looking forward to you being a big part of this season. I love me some Texas Baseball.

by Trips Right on Feb 16, 2026 11:59 AM CST reply actions

I’m looking forward to ducking out of work early on Friday to make it to the game.

Any word on how Austin Dicharry has looked thus far? Is it incorrect for me to assume that he or Milner will be the closer?

by texasengr on Feb 16, 2026 12:27 PM CST reply actions

Good stuff, Matt. Glad the baseball season is upon us. When you get a chance, would you mind posting a quick run down of your projected lineup, rotation, bullpen, etc?

by marqroid on Feb 16, 2026 1:17 PM CST reply actions

It’s not out of the question that Augie could make Green his closer given what he did with Ruffin last year. Of course, he’d have to have a lot of faith in Austin Dicharry to take Cole’s slot. Hoby Milner was very highly regarded out of HS and did pretty well last year in a limited role. He’s also a lefty and should make a run at a starting role. Dicharry has abslutely filthy stuff with velocity, but he hasn’t exhibited enough contol to be a closer, IMO. I hope he’s completely back. He looked really good as a Freshman and could be this year’s Brandon Workman.

After Lusson and Tant, we have no power in the line up at all. IMO, Walla has to have at least as good a year as last for us to win the Big 12. Also, as good as Jungmann is, our Friday starter has to almost have a superstar outing every game because our offense can’t do shit against most team’s best pitcher. That’s why Jungmann’s stats declined some last year even though he was a better pticher than in his Freshman year and why we were beaten by TCU in the Super.

by Frank The Plank on Feb 16, 2026 1:24 PM CST reply actions

It should be very interesting to track the collective SLG and HR totals of college baseball this year. In deep parks such as UT’s, several weeks might go by without seeing a home run. As you note, this rule change really plays to Garrido’s philosophical style.

As a related aside, never play in a wood bat softball league unless you like questioning your own manhood. You lose 70 feet of hitting power, minimum.

by Ojnab Bob on Feb 16, 2026 1:41 PM CST reply actions

“You lose 70 feet of hitting power, minimum.”

Then the cars in the parking lot behind home plate better get ready when I’m up to bat…

by CrazyJoeDavola on Feb 16, 2026 6:02 PM CST reply actions

We were not a very good small ball team last year so I don’t think you can automatically conclude that we’ll be benefited by the bat change. We struck out at an insane rate last year and our scoring was very sporadic (a lot or a little), which was our ultimate undoing.

by Mad Clapper on Feb 16, 2026 6:34 PM CST reply actions

I thought Milner had filthy stuff the few times I saw him pitch. Definitely would get a shot in the rotation if I was calling the shots.

My biggest concern is the same as it is every year. Can we get runs? When we face a team that can match our pitching, like TCU, we have a tendency to fold up like a lawn chair. I don’t know where the clutch hitting is going to come from with this team.

by jinx on Feb 17, 2026 7:54 AM CST reply actions

Thanks, Matt. Great stuff.

by Drew Dunlevie on Feb 19, 2026 10:39 AM CST reply actions

My ‘money’ is on Augie. This is really going to hurt many of the SEC and ACC teams that have relied heavily on gorilla ball. This change is going to require colleges to coach the skills that are valued by the League. Hitting the long ball off of a college pitcher and a major league pitcher are two different animals.

I, for one, find gorilla ball extremely boring. Great defense and pitching are much more interesting, and low scoring games keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

by java on Feb 19, 2026 12:11 PM CST reply actions

3 out of 4 to start the weekend. Great starts by Jungmann and Milner bookend the series, with an outstanding debut by Weiss. He and Payton appeared to be pretty impressive this weekend.

by marqroid on Feb 20, 2026 8:29 PM CST reply actions