The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball previews start of preseason practice
01.23.2015 | Baseball
Longhorns met with the media to talk about the start of the season
The Texas baseball team held media availability Friday afternoon in the clubhouse at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Head coach Augie Garrido, pitcher Parker French, outfielder Collin Shaw, shortstop C.J Hinojosa and catcher Tres Barrera previewed the upcoming season, which opens with a four-game series at No. 13 Rice on Friday, Feb. 13.
The Longhorns had been scheduled to have their first practice Friday afternoon but bad weather scrapped those plans. Instead, Saturday morning will serve as the first full-team practice.
Below are quotes from the availability.
Head Coach Augie Garrido
On what will carry onto the new roster after a trip to Omaha: I think the leadership of the players that were on last year's team where they developed the right attitude toward teamwork - we put a lot of time in on that. As we went through the season, we worked our way up on a pretty steady climb with not too much failing involved with it until we got into the sixth spot in the nation. Then we got into conference, and then we hit that bump in the road. It was a pretty big one, and we fell, not only in the ratings but in the conference, all the way down to fifth.
That experience coupled with the confidence that they had and the hard work that they did during the fall and the right attitude that they had taken on helped them realize that we hadn't reached our full potential. We needed to keep working. We had the will and the courage and the commitment and the mental toughness to fight back from those losses in the fall, and then we had a much better team as a result of it. That's what you want from your teams. You're going to have that happen. It's how they respond to it that really makes the difference, and they responded in the right way.
Looking back on it, we used the same lineup for the last five weeks of the season. We didn't have a pinch runner, we didn't have a pinch hitter, the only changes we made were with the pitching staff, and they were mentally tough enough to take it all the way through with the right attitude and the right level of competitiveness. Their skillsets got better with every game as we went through the championship series. With the players experience from that team, it brings back about 13 leaders that demonstrate leadership in the right way by doing what is right. Now, the incoming class has no idea that it's okay to do anything wrong. We didn't have anybody miss a class the entire fall semester. The grades were very, very good. No one was late. No one did anything disruptive. They're going in the right direction. We're hopeful that we've taken the right steps.
On what senior pitcher Parker French will provide: Parker French does provide the leadership. We're very fortunate to have someone like that on the pitching staff. He will be the leader of the pitching staff, and you can't replace that because it's a selfless commitment. He could've signed a professional contract and moved on, but he didn't. It's a strong statement about his commitment to the program and the kind of commitment everybody should be willing to make and sacrifice their own personal goals for the good of the program at The University of Texas. We're all here to serve. We're all here to serve The University of Texas, and the players have finally caught onto that and respect that. Collin Shaw is another one. Brooks Marlow is another one. They could've both signed if they had made the choice to sign, and they wanted to come back and be part of this team. It shows the maturity they have and the respect that they have for the university.
On how the returners have responded to the way last season ended: I think they have responded in a very positive way. I think they took the disappointments that went along with losing the game, especially the way we did. We hit the ball 365 feet, and he caught it, or else we would've had the run. They [Vanderbilt] hit the ball 32 feet and won. They have really put in their time in the weight room. They made 6 a.m. workouts, four days a week – no one ever missed, no one ever complained about it, and I think without last years' experience there would be more of that until we got the attitude right. I think they very definitely have reacted in the right way to their disappointments.
On Chad Hollingsworth and Morgan Cooper's injuries: Hollingsworth is fine. He's taking his bullpens and should be a part of the starting rotation in the first weekend of play. We may limit him to two innings or three innings or something like that, but at the same time he is ready to pitch. Cooper's not being around to pitch, but he will help us in kind of the paper work—you can learn more about pitching when you chart other hitters and teams—he'll be an active member of the pitching staff, just in a much different role. We're all disappointed to lose an ace, but is that going to sink the ship? No. I think we have some young pitchers that are very, very good and we have the best pitching coach in the country that could teach a mule how to throw a curveball.
On if he knows who the number three starter is: I would rather you ask [associate head coach] Skip [Johnson] about that, please. I can take my guesses at it and we've talked about it a little bit, but he could change his mind over the bullpens we are going to take between now and then. Scrimmages are going to start tomorrow and if the performances don't match up with what he thinks is the right kind of performance or someone out performs someone else. We have to keep it competitive and we will. Skip is going to be at the lead of that and we will know a lot more when everyone on this team has pitched.
On if they will be able to situational hit more now: We will be able to substitute more now because we have a Division I player at every position—that hasn't always been the case, but we have a legitimate Division I player at every position and some of them are in the dugout so they can make contributions. If [Michael] Cantu is not starting, he's definitely a pinch-hitting possibility where you get a left handed pitcher, a left-handed pitcher comes up and it's one at bat with the game on the line, are you going to put Cantu in for Collin Shaw? That's a call we have to make. That's just one of example of many examples we can give. The short answer is yes.
On the strength of the defense up the middle: Well, you've got Marlow at second, who has really matured academically and athletically, who was the Golden Glove winner for college baseball—that's as good as we can get. The shortstop is a Division I player, C.J. Then Gurwitz isn't the fastest guy, but he reminds me of a pretty good center field that played a long time in the big leagues, Mark Kotsay. The reason I say that is they run about a seven flat. When Kotsay went into center field, I was complaining to my assistant coaches that we are replacing a guy that ran 6.4 in the 60 with a guy that runs a seven flat or a 7.1 and Mark Kotsay caught more balls than the other guy did. It's about getting a good jump, taking the right angles and being heads up all the time. It's like [Mark] Payton. Payton doesn't run better than that either. Gurwitz as you know is a battler and a gamer, he's inspirational and he motivates his teammates by what he does and how he plays. It allows Ben Johnson to stay in left where he is comfortable and can stay more focused on the offensive side of it. It also allows Collin Shaw to go into right field and right field in this ball park is the hardest field to play and tougher than most fields because of the wind and the sun and all the elements that go into it. But remember, we have [Patrick] Mathis who is a good outfielder and a good hitter. [Taylor] Stell is back and healthy for the first time in the last couple of years and he has worked hard. So we're okay. We're okay. I think we have the components of a real team, now it's about attitude. Now it's about work ethic. Now it's about teamwork. Until we see who gets to play, who doesn't get to play and how they respond to it, how they respond to their wins and losses, we don't know if we are going to have a team. Because one bad apple spoils a barrel. We've had a little of experience with this, we can see bad apples and get rid of them.
On how important it is to get off to a good start: I don't know. What I do know is that it is important to respond to whatever start we get off to. I brought a team that was 15-1, we played three games here so we were 15-4, we went from here to…oh what's that school? A&M and we played two games there, now we're 15-6. Sometimes when you win a lot you stop working. The key to this whole this is getting better every day. You've heard every coach say that. Now can we get that? Can we make sure that they work to get better every day? Losing is a part of that. In the losing, what appears to be a failure isn't a failure if you learn from it. But it's harder to do because people get emotional. They aren't mentally tough enough to take the losing, they see it as a failure, feel the embarrassment and don't want to go on and compete. Hopefully we don't have that kind of player. I think that Skip and Tommy have done a great job of bringing in ball players instead of prospects. The difference is the prospect looks good in a uniform, looks good on a computer, but he doesn't know how to compete. A ball player is too short, too slow, doesn't throw well enough, but he comes out of the game and his nose is all snotty and his knees are torn out of his uniform, his elbows are cut up because he's fought like crazy because he is so passionate about the game. That's the kind of player that our recruiters have brought to the table and I'm confident that you'll see that in these guys.
On if there is a chance Parker French becomes the team's closer: There is that chance. It won't happen in the first weekend, I can tell you that. He has asked to close. We need his leadership, we need someone to walk out on the mound on Friday night in a different ballpark against a really good team and throw it to the catcher's mitt.
Even last year, we went up to Cal [Berkeley] and we were really nervous in the first game and we lost the first game because we were so nervous. There are going to be some nerves involved, I hope not as many because we have more experience than we did before. [French closing] is a possibility.
On the new baseballs this season: They go further. The new baseball goes further than the old one, as predicted. If you hit it square on the barrel, you have a chance to get a home run. The other one, you hit it square on the barrel in this ballpark and it didn't matter, it was not going to be a home run. It is going to give the players a better chance to hit a home run to win the game and bring some of the excitement of that happening back to the game which is needed. At the College World Series [last year] there were three [home runs] … There were six total hit [at Disch-Falk Field].
The new balls go further. Maybe 10 feet, 15 feet, but it does go further. And the pitchers like it. They like it because they can make it move a little bit better, and they feel like they get a little more on it because the heavy seems aren't picking up resistance. It's easier on the fingers too, they don't get the blisters off this ball as much as they did off of the college ball.
On introducing Hank Aaron last night at LBJ Auditorium: The Hank Aaron experience was surreal for me. Having the opportunity to introduce him I was extremely nervous … I was deeply moved by having the honor to introduce him. If you saw him on stage, that's who he is. He was that way the whole night, he was very accommodating to everyone he came in contact with … It was a great experience for me.
On the freshmen who have stood out thus far: Travis Jones has stood out; his work ethic is impeccable. He is here before we are and he leaves last. It's nothing but work and he seems very focused. He is not moody, not emotional, that's why he is a first base right now. Michael Cantu is just as experienced and just as positive with the pitchers as Tres Barrera is. So, those two immediately [impressed me].
Every one of the recruits and all the pitchers are good. All of the recruits are going to play here at some point. Every one of them are good enough. Unlike last year, some of the real good players that are here are going to have to wait their turn. Last year if it was really a good division I recruit, they took the position. That won't happen this year. No one is going to beat [Brooks] Marlow out, no one is going to beat C.J [Hinojosa]. Unless thiry attitude gets bad and it's not going to. And, [Bret] Boswell is as good as either one of them, offensively and defensively. He is really good. There just aren't as many opportunities immediately, but when you really start to get good, that's the way it is, they have to wait their turn.
[At Cal State Fullerton] We redshirted Aaron Rowand, Reed Johnson and Jeremy Giambi. They had to wait their turn, and we sent two guys out mid-year because they didn't fit attitude wise. One went to Kansas and became the first-team All-American second baseman, the other went to Texas Tech and he became the first-team All-American center fielder. We won the National Championship with the best team of the history of the College World Series.
So, you can't get too good, but you have to keep the attitude. The game demands selflessness. You have to keep that competitive attitude and that work ethic.
Sophomore catcher Tres Barrera
On winning the college home run derby this past summer: It was a great experience, especially being with my dad and teammates. It was fun, but it was not real baseball. That was all fun and games, but hopefully, you never know hopefully that will carry over this year.
On the team's mindset heading into this season: Just to keep getting better every day. We have the pieces to the puzzle this year, and we had a lot of guys come in and create a lot of depth for us. I feel that if we continue to try and get better every day and keep striving to reach our potential we can be alright.
On the tradition of Texas baseball: The University of Texas has a big tradition. It has always been a winning program, and our main goal last year was to get it back to where it needs to be, and we did that. Yet, we didn't win it all, and that left a bitter taste in all of our mouths. We brought that mindset and that killer instinct into this offseason. We worked hard, and we want to win the championship.
On creating team unity this offseason through their workouts: Team unity goes a long way in this sport. People say that baseball might be an individual sport, but if you want to be a championship team, you have to gel together and play as a team. It really is a team sport when it comes down to it, especially in big games. That is the main thing we worked on. Being mentally tough, nothing fazes us and just know that each and every one of us got each others back.
On using last season's heartbreaking finish as motivation this year: It was a heartbreak, but it is just more fuel to add to what we want to accomplish here. It was great to be there, but just getting to the World Series is not enough now. You want to get there and you want to win it all, and we have the team to do it this year.
Senior RHP Parker French
On how they are making sure the complacency doesn't set back in after they made it to Omaha: I mean we have a lot of the same guys from last year, same kind of mindset and same kind of mental makeup. It's pretty easy, you just hold each other accountable and play the Texas way. And these guys love playing baseball games, that's what it comes down to—they aren't going to let anything get in the way of that. It's our job as seniors and upperclassmen to keep everyone in line and do things the right way.
On how he has stepped up as a leader: For me, this year it's more leading by example in the way I prepare and my work ethic, hopefully it rubs off on the other guys. Watching their bullpens, picking out little details here and there to try and help them out along the way. If they have any questions, just being open and available for them and to make them feel comfortable in making this transition.
On if he is happy he decided to come back: It's probably up there with one of the best decisions of my life. Getting to lead this team, getting to experience life again with these guys, getting to experience another season with these guys—I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm extremely happy to be back, ready to bring a national title back to this school, and give back everything that was given to me.
On if there is anything he has worked on to try to take his game a step up: A big thing that we had is a few weeks of progressions of balls getting me more in line with the target—I always notoriously stepped across my body. So we got myself in line and the fastball command came back from there, we tightened up the slider and really worked on the change up a lot more in this winter throwing session. You know Skip and me were trying to add a third pitch that we can keep people off balance with. Just being a better strike thrower and the addition of a better change up are two things that you'll see a little bit different.
On the process of his decision to come back for another year: How it ended last year was pretty disappointing. I've always been a life-long Longhorn fan watching those teams growing up winning national championships and I just felt like that was something that was laying on my heart that I really wanted to accomplish. That really drew me back to school and I'm very happy with my decision. I'm ecstatic to be back, lead these guys, and ready to get after it.
Junior SS C.J Hinojosa
On being one of the older players: It's crazy. Within the blink of an eye, I was in my junior year, but it's a lot of fun. I've cherished every moment of it, and I'm still looking forward to another great year. It's going to be fun.
On the offseason: This offseason has been about getting strong, bigger and faster and just staying where we were at from the previous year and moving forward with that for the guys that were here. The guys that are newcomers, we needed to get them on the same page as we are – get them just as strong, just as fast, have their mindset the same way.
On making individual improvements: Everything – my whole game. I thought at the end of the year I played really well, and I just have to correspond that with the whole season and not be a light switch that does it for me.
On personally carrying leadership into this season: Absolutely. Something finally clicked for me since my shoulder surgery, and that's something to carry into this year. I'll lead these guys as best as I can and have fun with it. That's the main thing I did at the end of the year last year, was have fun. I really realized that I am capable of doing all of the things that I used to be able to. Although I'm getting older, it's still a fun game and you've got to just treat it that way.
On if there is a difference going through offseason after a successful season prior: There is because we all know what we're capable of, and we want to push all of the guys that were here. We know we can do an extra rep, or we know we can do one more something because that's what it is going to take for us to win again. It's also fun because we have a bunch of young guys who are great. They're willing to learn, and they want to be included, also. We include them like little brothers, and they're going to have a big role to play for our team.
Senior OF Collin Shaw
On people saying they have the fastest outfield in the nation: It's a great compliment, but more so than straight speed we are going to be ready to play on every pitch, get great jumps and catch some balls in the air and have the attitude that it's our ball and help the team win.
On how the offseason was: It was about the same. We picked up right where we left off because there was still that bad taste in our mouth. Although we made it to Omaha and had a much better year, it was an unfinished feeling. So with Coach Garrido, he did a great job of setting our heads straight and getting us back to work right away.
On if this is the type of team to bring home a title this year: I think we definitely have talent, it's just going to be about taking it one day at a time, coming together as a team and just getting on a roll at the right time.
On how excited he is to get the season going: I'm extremely excited, especially after the way last year ended, just ready to get back on the grind of the season. I think we have a great group of guys that love playing with each other and it should be fun.
On if they want to remember how it stung last season: Yeah it's kind of an unfinished feeling in your gut doesn't really ever go away. I think once you start playing together it will still be there, but working on getting there and finishing it off will be the only way to heal the wounds.
