The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
03.12.2015 | Baseball
Texas preparing for series with West Virginia
Head coach Augie Garrido
On the rotation this weekend against West Virginia: It will be Parker French on Friday, Josh Sawyer on Saturday and then we'll go with [Chad] Hollingsworth on Sunday … We are probably going to start [Kacy Clemens] on Tuesday. He needs starts, he has only pitched in five games in the last year and a half. he touched 90 [miles-per-hour] last time he pitched, so that's a good sign. So, his arm strength is building up. We feel like his changeup has really made his fastball tougher to attack because he is able to control the change up and pitch backwards with it. When he adds his breaking ball, which is inconsistent still, he will be even more effective.
On his impressions of the team through the first 17 non-conference games: We've improved [offensively] in comparison to last year. For example, we're scoring more runs and we're extending innings better than we have. We're just getting better, and we still have three players in the lineup that aren't hitting on all cylinders. That's pretty typical. I think if we can ever get the nine working at the same time, we can be pretty awesome from top to bottom and very consistent offensively … we are sticking with the ones who are getting off to a difficult start rather than an awesome start. There's only two groups, nothing in the middle usually this time of year. You're either going really good because you have your confidence, or you're not because you haven't been able to get hits. We're wearing those hits a little bit until we get mentally tough enough to take that in stride and move forward … once we get to that point we will be a better team.
I think our pitching is getting better and more consistent with each game. Josh [Sawyer] has been a lot more consistent with his pitching. Ty Marlow [is back from injury] has a lot of experience, he is highly competitive and he has good stuff. He was hitting 90 [miles-per-hour] off the radar gun on Tuesday when he pitched. So, adding him gives us a balance of three right-handers and three left-handers than can come into the game and matchup. That's how we intend to use them, to match them up against the right-handed parts of their batting order and the left-handed parts of their batting order. So, it's coming along.
On the new baseball creating more offense this season: Yes, I think it's better for everyone. the pitchers like it because it's easier for them to control and get more velocity and spin on it because of the seams. They don't have to fight with it as much as they did the [old baseball from last season]. The hitters are enjoying it, because every once in a while, the ball actually goes out of the ballpark. You still have to hit it really good. In addition to that, I think the fans are more excited about it because you can see yourself with two runners on, three runs down in the bottom of the ninth and two outs, you can still have hope. [You can hope] somebody hits one over the fence. I think it is benefiting everybody.
On the state of the bullpen and the closer role currently: We have the most confidence in the following — the first guy would be Ty Culbreth. We like the fact that he is a three-pitch pitcher and he can pitch backwards with his breaking ball and his changeup, while still hitting the low 90s. He also holds runners well and fields his position well, which is a part of being that short reliever. Secondly, we think Kyle [Johnston] can be worked in, but [pitching coach] Skip [Johnson] and I are both concerned, when you get someone you are saving like Johnston, he doesn't get his work in. That's why we pitched him the other day not in a short relief role. It's best to get those players in the game when no one is one base, and let them be responsible for the inning themselves, because they have all been starting pitchers in high school for the most part … [The starting pitcher from Tuesday], [Tyler] Schimpf said he felt like he was back in high school, a familiar environment. That's what you want to do with [freshmen pitchers] as much as you can. Then it would be Ty Marlow. Those three have had the best success in the closer's role.
Senior RHP Parker French
On the team getting what they needed out of non-conference games: I think so. We just try to get better each and every day, and I think we did that. We took some lumps, but I think we played a really quality schedule. A lot of really good teams in there that prepared us for conference and a lot different situations. We played a lot of different games, a lot of different styles. I think it prepared us very well for the upcoming conference season.
On what he saw overall from the team during non-conference games: I think a lot of what we expected. We knew we were going to hit the ball pretty well. We knew we were going to have a pitching staff that threw strikes. We know we have a resilient bunch. We were able to come back in some games and fight until the last out. Obviously, I think the big thing was the pitching staff. We didn't really know where the pieces were going to be, and I think we're starting to see that as the season unfolds.
On being pleased with the pitching staff [regard to him being ace]: Yeah, I mean we've gotten better I think each and every weekend, which is good. Guys have looked more comfortable out there, especially the other starters who haven't gotten to start as much. Kacy [Clemens], Chad [Hollingsworth] and Josh [Sawyer] have looked more and more comfortable every time they take the mound, which is the most important thing. Just get starts underneath your belt. The bullpens have been I think really, really good so far. Those guys are starting to develop roles down there and get comfortable in them. That's the biggest thing, just getting comfortable with your role and doing your job.
On having a deep bullpen: I think that was something a lot of us talked about in the off-season. It just seemed like there's not maybe the power arm down there, but there's just a ton of guys that can come in on a weekend … and get you outs out of the bullpen. It's just huge to have, especially for match-ups sake. I think that's big, and that's kind of what we knew. We knew we were going to be a deep staff from the starters to the back end guys. Everyone is just kind of doing their job right now.
On getting to play baseball during spring break: I think [UFCU Disch-Falk Field] is a great place to be. We don't have school, so that's the best part. It's like we're playing summer ball or in the postseason already, because you don't have school and you just get to play baseball. You get to come to the field and hang out with these guys. We go to [Globe Life] Ballpark in Arlington [on Tuesday], so that's a cool spring break trip we get to take for a day. It's just fun to be able to come out and play baseball. Hopefully it is good weather and hopefully the fans come out and support us here.
