Texas Tech University Athletics
2007 Baseball Preview: Part One - Pitching Staff
January 26, 2007 | Baseball
Jan. 26, 2007
By Trey Shipman, Texas Tech Media Relations
With snow and ice still lingering in some areas from the winter storms which made their way through West Texas the last few weeks, Lubbockites can only assume one thing ¬- must be baseball season.
Longtime Texas Tech baseball coach Larry Hays and crew have become accustomed to the not-so-ideal weather conditions that seem to hit the Hub City on cue every year when his squad begins its spring workouts in mid-January. This season has proven to be no different and once again Hays has his team rolling with the punches and doing what it takes to be prepared for the grind of the season. With 17 returning letter-winners including 6 starters and the core of its pitching staff still intact, Tech has reason to be optimistic about 2007.
This is the first in a three-part series previewing the Red Raiders infield, outfield and pitching staff, giving Tech followers a better idea of just what to expect when the gates of Dan Law Field open for business in 2007. The sunflower seeds are flying and the grass (and turf) shone a bright green, dust off the bleachers ladies and gentlemen - it's baseball season in Raiderland.
Pitching Staff
The strategy for piecing together a pitching staff is similar to that of playing a good game of Twister - you can never have too many arms. Hays and pitching coach Lance Brown should have plenty of options when it comes time to solidify the rotation. Returning from last season is staff ace Miles Morgan, Colt Hynes and A.J. Ramos, the three of which got the bulk of the starts for the Red Raiders in 2006. The trio combined for 13 wins and over 226 innings pitched, giving the coaches an experienced core to anchor the staff.
Hays did admit that the inclement weather has had the greatest impact on the preparation of his pitchers and that consistent performance from his returning veterans will certainly be key.
"The one thing the weather has killed us on is our pitching. We don't have lined up who's going to do what, this that and the other," he said. "We need Morgan, Ramos and Hynes and the other guys to pitch like they've been here a year and got that experience."
While the overall returning talent level is promising, the Red Raiders also have the luxury of the 2006 Big 12 Freshman Pitcher of the Year in Morgan at their disposal. The Big 12 Coaches voted to award the Coronado High graduate with the honor after he flashed signs of brilliance throughout the season including a 15 strikeout, complete game gem, en route to a win over the Texas Longhorns on March 18th.
Morgan said the first step to building on last season, as is often the key in baseball, is having a short memory.
"(I've) just got to forget about it, it was last year," he said. "A week from Friday we've got a fresh start and you're only as good as you're next start; hopefully it'll be a lot better season."
Morgan also expressed a confidence in his teammates, something that seems to be a common theme throughout the clubhouse for 2007.
"I think we've got a lot of guys that can throw strikes and really compete and have a lot more confidence out on the mound. We have a lot of new guys that I think will be able to really contribute for us when conference comes."
Two of the new teammates Morgan referred to likely include junior college transfers Josh Scofield and Trey Schurr. The duo of lefties both have enjoyed success before making the leap to Division-I and are likely to push the returning Tech hurlers for a spot in the rotation as the skipper himself admitted.
"Scofield and Schurr have really put themselves in the mix," Hays said. But (because of the weather) we're just not where we want to be right now. We'll just see how it goes."
Others likely to figure in the mix are senior Aaron Odom and sophomores Brian Cloud and Cory Large, all of which saw limited action last season but have the potential to make an impact for the Red Raiders in the near future.
Regardless of how things shake out, according to Hynes, whoever takes the hill for Tech this season, their mind will be in the right place.
"We want to go to regionals, super regionals and then Omaha but you've got to take it one step at a time. Right now we're just trying to prepare everybody to succeed in conference then go from there," he said. "We've got a lot of guys that could start at any other program but they're here and working together and everyone knows their role and is ready to do what it takes to win."
