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Baseball Preview: Will the Aggies have a turn around season in 2007? Contributed by: Scott Clendenin Aggiebaseball.net That's really a pretty simple question to answer once you begin to evaluate the massive amount of talent the Texas A&M coaches brought in to fix the primary problem of the last two seasons - offensive production. The brutal facts are that the Aggies have not produced at the plate since the 2004 season. That inability to score runs placed two better than average pitching staffs, and eventually the Aggies of 2005 and 2006, in peril, wearing them down and bringing about the unfortunate final results that followed. Those offensive issues were not limited to just a low team batting average and a poor slugging percentage, either. That was certainly a sign of weakness, but those two Aggie teams were not built to out-slug their opponents anyway. Just as troubling and perhaps more indicative of the real problem at hand were the final on-base percentage and hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP) numbers. Compare the results of the past three seasons - in '04, the Aggies hit .300, had a slugging percentage of .430, on-base percentage of .382 and hit .328 with RISP. Contrast that with '05 and '06, two years that saw the Aggies end the season out of Big 12 tournament play and the NCAA playoffs. In '05, the batting average was .273, slugging percentage .379, on-base percentage .346 and the average with RISP was .286. Last year the numbers slipped even further, the batting average was .252, slugging percentage .351, on-base percentage .332, and the average with RISP was .256. In addition to the offensive limitations at the plate, a lack of speed and an inability to manufacture runs has hindered A&M as well. With assistant coach Matt Deggs running the Aggie offense from the third base coaching box, players who are more aggressive on the base paths - i.e. turning a gap single into a double and going from first to third on a ball not hit right at the outfielder - are required and were targeted during recruiting. Successes in that critical department should allow the Aggies to be more capable of pressuring the defense and in forcing opponent mistakes. Players that can take advantage of those mental and/or physical errors by an opponent can help turn a loss into a win, something A&M needed desperately during the last two seasons. When looking at the steal numbers of the new Aggie recruits, it's easy to see the one thing they all have in common -- an ability to run. Now, it's understood that it's harder to steal bases at the Big 12 level than in junior college, but the coaches knew what kind of athletes they were recruiting and realized that those players could potentially help the Aggies better pressure the opponent. Only one JUCO recruit did not steal at least 10 bases. The Aggies have two new players that stole more than 30 bases in OF Ben Feltner (35) and INF Brian Ruggiano (31). There are four players who stole more than 20 bases in 2B Dane Carter (26), OF Joey Register (22), 1B Darby Brown (20) and SS Brandon Hicks (20). And rounding out the class are three more players that stole more than 10 bases in OF Daman Aaron (19), OF Kirkland Rivers (15) and OF Keith McInnerney (14). Those type players are a perfect fit for Deggs' offensive approach. The added speed to the lineup should not only help the Aggies in becoming a more productive offensive team, but could also change the outcome of several of the type games A&M found themselves losing last season. Even with the poor offensive showing of a season ago, the Aggies were in just about every game in '06, averaging 4.4 runs per game and allowing only 4.3 per game. In the 31 games that the Aggies lost or tied, 22 were decided by three runs or less, with one run deciding 13 of the 22. An amazing stat -- Of the 22 games lost by three runs or less, the Aggies still had a chance at winning in 20 of those during the last three innings. Twice the tying run was left stranded at first base, eight other times the tying run was in scoring position, and ten times the go ahead or winning run was left in scoring position. In Big 12 play, the Aggies had the tying, go ahead or winning run in scoring position in 14 of the 21 games they failed to win. That's a fine line between winning and losing, and the focus is on getting the job done with RISP. This team should not suffer the same fate. Five of the transfers hit over .400 in the '06 season and transfer Brandon Hicks looks like the most potent of the newcomer batters, registering a .315 batting average at San Jacinto JC last season. It also should be noted that these newcomers will not be carrying around the mental baggage of the unsuccessful 2005 and 2006 seasons. They expect to succeed at this level and showed in the fall that they are likely to do just that, compiling a cumulative .300 batting average against the Aggie pitching staff - quite an accomplishment considering the staff should once again be a team strength in '07. Only six position players return from last year's team and there is stiff competition between the returning players and newcomers for playing time. All of the veterans, however, should play significant roles and will be counted on in helping the Aggies return to post season play. Fifth-year senior infielder Parker Dalton, who was named the 2006 Big 12 Male Sportsperson of the Year and earned the NCAA Division-I Sportsmanship Award, may not be a starter but his defensive ability (.945 fielding percentage), base running skills (15-17 in stolen bases) and fierce determination should allow plenty of field time. Two spots in the outfield will likely be filled by junior outfielder Blake Stouffer and sophomore outfielder Kyle Colligan. Stouffer hit .259-3-15 and stole 17 bases while Colligan - playing in only 33 games, none before Big 12 play - produced a .292-3-23 season. Both were outstanding during fall practice and were able to fight off several other players for their starting jobs. After all-star summer performances, each should be ready to take their games to a new level in 2007. Stouffer is a versatile player and could move from the outfield back to third base if needed. The Aggies return the most experienced catching duo in the country in seniors Josh Stinson and Craig Stinson. Josh saw most of the action behind the plate last season, starting 39 games and hitting .241-2-21. Craig was hampered by injuries the last two seasons but is again healthy. He hit .188-0-10 while making 25 starts. Both players had a good fall camp, both offensively and behind the plate. Craig was second team All-Big 12 after his sophomore season and the early returns are that he's throwing like that again. Josh may not have Craig's arm strength, but he is very consistent and accurate with his throws to second. Both have the ability to shut down opponent run games. Spencer Jackson, .209-2-16, played the beginning of the season with a broken hand, had surgery to repair the problem and then returned a month and half later to help the team. He was batting .289 before the Florida series and hit only .146 (7-of-48) after the Florida series. He is now healthy, has the versatility to play outfield as well as first base, and possesses a powerful bat. "We like the guys we have back and think they will be great leaders of this team," head coach Rob Childress said. "The returning players have a sense of urgency to win now, and it has trickled down to the newcomers." The Aggie coaches recruited 16 new position players and nearly all of them have a chance to play this spring. Brown will compete at first base with Jackson and Luke Anders, who was used more as a pitcher in 2006. Brown has a powerful swing from the left side and could platoon with Jackson. He set a school record for career doubles at Howard JC and batted over .440 both seasons. Carter, a blazing fast runner with an outstanding knowledge of the strike zone, will probably force his way into the starting lineup and hit at the top or bottom of the order. He will compete with Dalton at second base and whoever wins the job will team with Brandon Hicks at shortstop. Hicks, the best player on the field during the Fall World Series, looks the part of a professional baseball player right now. With a gun for an arm, he should remind many of Steve Scarborough and Cliff Pennington, as he makes his share of outstanding defensive plays. After the coaches made a slight adjustment to his swing this fall, his natural power allowed him to drive the ball to all fields and he's likely a high pick in the 2007 draft and a legitimate candidate for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. At third base, Justin Walker will battle Josey Parker for the starting role. Walker was the most impressive freshman in the '06 recruiting class, leading all players in homeruns during the inter-squad scrimmages. Parker, battling injuries this fall, was the most powerful bat recruited last year. He hit .439-16-73 at Panola and was the Texas JUCO leagues most feared hitter. Whichever player doesn't start at third base is a prime candidate for the DH role. Ruggiano could be the wild card, able to play any position on the infield and showing enough athletic ability to help in the outfield. If any player struggles at their defensive position, Ruggiano could assume the spot. The outfield has too many good players for three positions, let alone the one that looks available. Feltner is the fastest player on the squad, a Jason Tyner type, who can turn a bunt single into a triple after stealing two bases. Aaron is a powerful left-handed hitter who may just club his way into the starting lineup. Register and McInnerney were slowed by injury during the fall, but both played hurt and that impressed the coaches looking for a tough-minded team. That would be plenty of players to man the outfield and that doesn't even mention "baseball player" Kirkland Rivers. He could be a closer or starter on the mound, played at first base for much of the fall, and was the defensive player of the year for the southwest region as a JUCO freshman while playing in the outfield. The talent upgrade may indeed keep good players on the bench, but it will also keep the starters on their toes. The lineup will probably not be set until conference play begins, if then, because the coaches will play the best players, veteran or newcomer, and that should help alleviate the batting woes of the past two seasons. Taking the pressure off the pitching staff with just two or three more runs a game would turn a better than average mound crew into a dominant force. Texas A&M ranked 25th in nation and third in the Big 12 with a 3.56 team ERA last season. No other team that ranked in the top 35 in team ERA had a losing record, a testament to the kind of season the Aggie pitching staff had. The team had an outstanding .967 fielding percentage, so pitching and defense should once again be a team strength this season. A key area for improvement, however, would be at the end of games. Coach Childress is looking for a closer, and if he finds a player or group of players that will shut the door on opponents, then he knows the season will likely end in a playoff run. The Aggies lost five games in the bottom of the ninth inning in 2006, including each game of the Oklahoma State series in Stillwater. Senior left-handed pitcher Jason Meyer, who enters the season fifth on the Aggies' all-time appearances list (64), ninth in innings pitched (260.2) and 10th all-time in strikeouts (218), returns after going 3-4 with a 2.90 ERA. He was a tough luck loser with two one-run losses and a two-run loss as well. Also returning on the mound are seniors Kyle Nicholson (4-5, 4.35 ERA), who began and ended the season as a weekend starter, and Matt Ueckert, who went 4-1 with a 3.98 ERA, mostly out of the bullpen in his first season in Aggieland. Junior Jordan Chambless, concentrating solely on baseball after splitting time with football before last fall, could answer the bullpen question. He tied for the team lead with three saves while going 1-4 with a 4.39 ERA. He has all the tools to earn a high draft position next season, and the time with Childress should pay immediate dividends. Sophomores Kyle Thebeau, inconsistent like many freshmen, went 3-6 with a 4.70 ERA. He was outstanding during the summer, and if he shows that form this spring, he could resume his role as a weekend starter. Evan Gerald, 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA, adds depth in the bullpen from the right side. Missing last year with an arm injury, Blake Rampy is once again healthy and his return would certainly help pitching depth. The top newcomer was actually on the team last year recovering from "Tommy John" surgery on his pitching elbow. LHP David Newmann lights up the radar guns and scouts' eyes with tremendous pitching ammunition. He will be a difference maker on the weekends this season. He has "Zach Jackson" type pitches and will be a high draft pick in the 2007 draft. Another redshirt to watch is RHP Travis Starling, who had an all-star summer in the Texas Collegiate League and is very tough on right handed hitters. Ten new pitchers are on the squad and several will be counted on to contribute this year. From the JUCO ranks, RHP Gary Campfield is a hard thrower that was an all-conference selection last year. RHP Zane Lynch is the perfect "Childress" pitcher, as all he does is throw strikes and work ahead in the count. RHP Keil Renfrow was as good as any JUCO pitcher in the nation two years ago, missing the 2006 season with injury, and he will be a big contributor the next two years in Aggieland as either a starter or a reliever. Even though several top high school pitchers were lost to the draft, this is a special recruiting class. RHP Kevin Cravey, another hard thrower, is a clone of Austin Creps and the best pitcher out of Klein Oak High since Creps. RHP Clayton Ehlert and LHP Michael Heard are talented young pitchers who can contribute in the outfield and provide important depth when the rosters are shortened during conference play. Just like most tall left-handed pitchers with velocity, LHP Jason Fuqua is a talented player that was drafted last season. RHPs Scott Migl and Shane Minks both have exciting futures for coach Childress. Migl has pinpoint accuracy and Minks a physical presence on the mound with tremendous velocity. LHP Mitch Nelson was one of the top pitchers in Houston as a junior, but last year he was set back by an injury and had surgery after arriving at Texas A&M. He will redshirt this year and rehab before pitching for the Aggies. The schedule will prepare the team for Big 12 play. The Aggies start in Houston in the Minute Maid Classic against three potential NCAA playoff teams in Arizona State, Houston and Rice. Those are the first of 29 games against 12 different teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament a year ago. There will be 36 home games, beginning with a 19-game home stand that lasts from mid-February to mid-March. The 2007 Domino's Pizza Aggie Baseball Classic will have the Aggies playing defending national champion Oregon State twice, along with St. Louis and New Mexico. The Florida Gators, who played in the NCAA championship series in 2005, will visit Olsen Field as will Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas in Big 12 play. The Aggies will play at Rice, TCU, Houston and at Dell Diamond against Texas State on Tuesday nights in non-conference play. "We feel like the best way to win games is to play at Olsen Field in front of the best crowd in college baseball," Childress said. "The Big 12 Conference schedule is always a grind and the quality of our non-conference opponents should help us prepare." Baseball Roster Baseball Coaches Baseball Schedule A&M Press Release: Spring Practice Begins Friday |