2010: A Texas Tech Baseball Odyssey: Part 3

Infield

Returning: SS Joey Kenworthy, Sr., C Jeremy Mayo, Jr., 3B Justin Berry, So., 2B Garrett Totten, So., C Kevin Whitehead, So.

Newcomers: 1B Stephen Hagen, Jr., 3B Nick Popescu, Jr., 2B Jamodrick McGruder, Fr., C Bo Altobelli, Fr.

Gone: 1B Chris Richburg (Graduation), 2B Willie Rueda (Graduation), 1B Logan Leslie (Left Team), C Mehdi Alavi (Left Team)

Injured: 1B Duke Von Schamann, Fr.

2010: A Texas Tech Baseball Odyssey: Part 2

Bullpen

Returning: LHP Ben Flora, So., RHP Brennen Stewart, So., RHP Kellen Monreal, Sr., RHP Jordan Stern, Jr., RHP Colton Farrar, So.

Newcomers: LHP Jay Johnson, Jr., RHP Brandon Petite, Fr., RHP Justin Cooper, Jr., RHP Joseph Burnett, Fr., LHP Scott Erzinger, So.

Gone: Brian Cloud (Graduation), Brandon Foster (Left Team), Lorenzo Douglas (Graduation), Cory Large (Graduation), Austin Quick (Left Team)

The 2010 bullpen will be much different from what we saw in 2009. Five bullpen guys have moved on, one is injured for the year, and two other have moved to the starting rotation. The bullpen also suffers from a lack of D1 experience, with only one player who has multiple years under his belt.

2010: A Texas Tech Baseball Odyssey: Part 1

Starting Pitching

Returning: RHP Chad Bettis, Jr., RHP Louis Head, So.

Newcomers: RHP Bobby Doran, Jr., RHP John Neely, So., RHP Brett Bruening, Jr.

Gone: RHP A.J. Ramos (Graduation), RHP Nathan Karns (MLB Draft), RHP Miles Morgan (Graduation), LHP Robert Kilcrease (Injured), LHP Zach Fowler (Injured)

Texas Tech Baseball Red & Black Series

Alright, Tech has three of five games down so far, and the Black team is up two games to one.

I have been able to make it to two of the three games, and put together some boxscores and stats thanks to my experiences this summer.

Game 1 Boxscore

Game 3 Boxscore

Rough Stats

Absolutely Obknoxious talks Heisman

So, I figure I need to write, and what better topic than the Heisman Trophy. Recently, this trophy has been a stalwart for the best player on the BCS runner-up. Basically, it’s either the Heisman or a BCS Championship. We are almost halfway into the 2009 season, so there isn’t a better time to start talking about the subject…

Absolutely Obknoxious Heisman Favorites…

1. QB Tim Tebow, Sr., Florida – One of two voting members still playing (along with 2008 winner Sam Bradford), Tebow is basically on top of every list. The undisputed leader of the defending BCS champions and current top ranked Florida Gators, Tebow will not wow anyone with his stats like he did in his previous Heisman-winning season of 2007. However, Tebow has accounted for 12 touchdowns in 5 games, including a win over then #4 LSU. His best statistic, besides the 5-0 mark, is his passing efficiency, which ranks 3rd in the NCAA behind Jimmy Clausen and Kellen Moore.

Notes from Tech Baseball Scrimmage 10/9/09

I made it to 5.5 innings of today’s scrimmage…

• Bobby Doran, Chad Bettis, Brett Bruening, Jordan Stern and Jay Johnson (I think) pitched.
• Doran was throwing fairly hard, as was Bettis (high 80′s), but Bruening had the best stuff, topping out at 94 in his 1st inning.
• One team consisted of: C- Whitehead, 1B- Von Schamann, 2B- Totten, 3B- Popescu, SS- Berry, LF- Mielnicki, CF- McGruder, LF – Barnes
• Other team: C/3B- Mayo, 1B- Hagen, 2B- McGruder (played for both teams), 3B/C- Altobelli, SS- Kenworthy, RF- Hough, CF- Ashby, LF- LeJeune

NCAA TV Schedule, Week 6

2009 Week 6

Don’t forget your power towel…

New Mexico game tidbits…

After rewatching the game, here are some notes…

• One of the problems with Potts is his throwing motion. I’m not even through three drives yet, and I’m already noticing that he throws the ball a lot like Vince Young does. Throwing a football side-armed takes away a lot of the power behind a throw since you can’t get your whole body behind it like you can with a 3/4 or overhand motion. Couple that with Taylor’s back foot problem, and his balls end up underthrown. The clearest example was his 1st interception. His ball was underthrown by a good 7 yards, where a better throw would’ve been a TD. The second clearest was his 2nd interception.

Once upon a time in Lubbock, a Texas Tech vs. New Mexico narrative…

I opened my eyes at 8:21 yesterday morning. I don’t get up this early or easily for school, yet the deep seated excitement for another day of tailgating and football was enough resistance to keep my eye lids from shutting again. A quick shower and the donning of my faithful red TEXAS TECH shirt was all I needed to accomplish before heading out.

I stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up the necessary items to cook breakfast for the diehards with enough chutzpah to brave the rain and cold for an early morning tailgate. Kid Rock’s Doppelganger provided entertainment for my trip to the highly diverse super store. I smiled a bit when I walked past the brand new beer aisle, knowing that the times in Lubbock, as Bob Dylan would say, were “a changing”.

NCAA TV Schedule, Week 5

A day late, sorry.

2009 Week 5

UPDATED: Texas Tech “Blackout” scheduled for Oklahoma game

Everyone remembers how successful last year’s blackout was, right? #1 Texas and their fans came to town on the 1st of November, and left with an intense hatred of all things Texas Tech. This year, the opponent and ranking has changed, but the intensity that was displayed by the sold out crowd shouldn’t.

The same group of students that organized the event in 2008 has rallied again to rebirth the infant tradition for the November 21st matchup against Oklahoma. It has been 6 years since the Sooners have tasted victory at The Jones, and with the help of the fanbase, we’re hoping to keep that streak alive.

NCAA TV Schedule, Week 4

Some juicy looking bets this week. Utah hasn’t covered this season, and Texas A&M/UAB is not going to be a defensive battle.

2009 Week 4

Tom Walker hates Texas Tech quarterbacks

I’m not always going to use this as an open forum to complain about the horrid Big 12 refs, but Tom Walker needs to go back to referee school. For the second time in 3 years, Walker fails to protect a Texas Tech quarterback from an illegal hit. It almost seems like he is either highly inept, or deliberately holding his flag.

Flash back to 2007. Graham Harrell drops back and throws am incomplete pass at the feet of his running back, ALMOST TWO SECONDS LATER, Texas A&M DE/LB Von Miller lays a vicious hit on Harrell as he stands unprotected. Tom Walker, who had the best seat in the house to watch the hit blatantly ignores the fact that Harrell might be injured to point at the ground. He turns on his microphone to inform the crowd of an incomplete pass, and fails to turn it off before asking Harrell, who is still down, if he is alright.

Absolutely Obknoxious’ Big 12 Power Rankings: Week 3

After 3 weeks, it seems that the rankings are finally settling down from week 1…

1. Texas Last week: 1 (Even)

Texas beat Texas Tech in Austin, but not the mud hole some Longhorn fans predicted. The 34-24 win kept Texas at the top of the poll, but the margin they held narrowed. Colt McCoy’s overall game play was closer to his sophomore year than his junior season, throwing a pair of interceptions that bounced off the outstretched hands of his receivers. Tre Newton emerged as a player who needs to get the ball as much as possible, while Sergio Kindle finally showed up in a game, with his helmet.

2. Oklahoma Last week: 5 (+3)

The Sooners made the biggest jump this week, and have recovered from the BYU loss. QB Landry Jones tied an Oklahoma record with 6 TD passes, easing the loss of Heisman-winner Sam Bradford. The defense held a good Tulsa offense scoreless, thanks to the stellar play of the linebackers. Ryan Reynolds and Travis Lewis combined for 3 of Oklahoma’s 6 sacks. With the 45-0 victory, Oklahoma has flexed their muscle and is gearing up for their week seven showdown with Texas.

Tech 1, Texas 0

Watching Gameday on ESPN. Not much cleverness out there in terms of signs. I see at least 3 people with “academic smack” at a football game. That’s the real big indicator of insecurity.

Very quiet crowd.

By and large, the signs I saw at Gameday last year in Lubbock destroy the ones I’m seeing this year in Austin.

Bad news for Tech, though. After last night’s news, the Red Raiders enter today’s game with ONE defensive end on the roster. You heard me right, ONE DEFENSIVE END. After Rajon Henley went down on the first drive against Rice, Ryan Haliburton suffered and injury in practice. Yesterday, Brandon Sharpe did not join the team on the flight to Austin, and was later reported to have been suspended by the University, not the coaching staff, but by Texas Tech. Still trying to figure out what he did, or didn’t do. That leaves Daniel Howard as the sole DE. Pearlie Graves may shift over to the end position if the staff burns his redshirt, or Bront Bird or another linebacker may drop down to the line. Regardless, this puts more pressure on Taylor Potts and the offense to score as many points as possible.

Why so serious, Texas? Friday rant corner

I’ve been avoiding writing anything about this game all week. I don’t know if it is because I don’t want to jinx anything, or because every year I lose more and more respect for the Texas fanbase and wish that this week didn’t exist. Either way, I’ve finally reached a “boiling point” on this subject.

Every person out of Austin, whether a student or a t-shirt fan, has been talking about REVENGE on Texas Tech. They say Mack wants to run up the score if possible, and run the Red Raiders out of town. I understand their anger, but don’t see any justification for the reason.

NCAA TV Schedule, Week 3

Good docket of games this weekend

2009 Week 3

Banking 101 with Mike Leach

This series of banking advice is played during each home game at Texas Tech. Mike Leach provides all in attendance with a little helpful information on matters related to money and banking…

Rice game spot…

and the North Dakota game…

Tuesday Rant Corner

Last night I remembered why I’m not an NFL fan: the league is too scared of players getting hurt. I’m sick and tired of the NFL limiting the ways in which a defender can hit or tackle an opposing player. It seems like the path the rules committee is on is only leading to a future in flag football or playing two-below.