Texas Tech Football
Spring Wrap-Up
ESPN Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin (also for every Big 12 team) wraps up Texas Tech in a post-spring fashion. I think I'm still seeing things way too optomistically right now, but the three questions going into the fall (pass rush, inexperienced safeties, and kicking game) I'm really only worried about the pass rush, especially with questions concerning Brandon Sesay's grades during the spring (he sat out a number of practices) although I think that the addition of Rajon Henley to the defensive end position on a full-time basis is something that you'll see to beef up that rotation.
Regarding the special teams, I think the addition of special teams coach Eric Russell during the offseason, the kicking game, whether it be punting, extra points, or field goals, is in much better hands this year. I think a combination of Matt Williams, Donnie Carona, preferred walk-on Brad Hicks. There are probably other options that I just can't remember now, but there are options.
And the safety position is going to be fine. Cody Davis and Franklin Mitchem are going to be better than advertised and the feshmen coming in are special athletes (more on them later in the summer). Also, don't sleep on Brett Dewhurst or Jared Flannel.
Texas Tech Baseball
Red Raiders and Wildcats
| Date | Start Time | Texas Tech Starting Pitcher |
Oklahoma State Starting Pitcher |
Result |
| 5/15/2009 | 6:30 p.m. | Nate Karns (4-5, 5.44) | Andrew Oliver (5-6, 4.83) | - |
| 5/16/2009 | 1:00 p.m. | Louis Head (1-3, 4.60) | Tyler Lyons (5-5, 3.79) | - |
| 5/17/2009 | 1:00 p.m. | TBA | Tyler Blandford (7-3, 4.52) | - |
Outfield:
LF - Michael Reed (Jr.); CF - Taylor Ashby (Jr.); RF - Garrett Totten (Fr.)
Infield:
SS - Joey Kenworthy (Jr.) 2ND - Willie Rueda (Sr.);
3RD - Justin Berry (Fr.) 1ST - Chris Richburg (Sr.)
C - Jeremy Mayo (Fr.)
DH - Scott LeJeune (Fr.)
*Click on the score for boxscore. Texas Tech series preview (pdf).
Texas Tech Hosts Oklahoma State
First and foremost. Go to the games. This is a huge series for your Red Raiders and I think they've more than earned your support this season.
LAJ's George Watson writes about the numerous freshmen making big impacts to Texas Tech's baseball team. Just look at the daily lineup blockquoted above: Justin Berry, Scott LeJeune, and Garrett Totten. Those guys have started almost the entire season and Watson talks about those three guys:
LeJeune has had the biggest offensive impact this season. Going into this weekend’s series against Oklahoma State, the Austin native ranks third in Big 12 play with a .386 average and is hitting .339 overall with a pair of home runs and 34 RBIs. He’s started in 41 of the 48 games he has played and has missed just one conference game while solidifying the middle of Tech’s batting order.Defensively, the biggest story has been Justin Berry, another Austin native, at third base. Injuries at the beginning of spring practices forced Tech coaches to shuffle players on the left side of the infield, and Berry stuck. Despite playing with a torn labrum in his right hip — the same injury from which the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez just returned — Berry has started in 49 of Tech’s 50 games this year and 23 of 24 games in the Big 12, hitting .304 with four home runs and 26 RBIs.
Garrett Totten, a Washington native, has come along in the second half of the season after spending much of the first half recovering from a broken hand suffered on the first day of spring drills. Totten, who was penciled in as the starting shortstop, has also had to switch positions, playing mostly in right field but spending an occasional game at second base as Willie Rueda recovered twice from a hamstring injury. Totten is hitting .225 with a home run and 15 RBIs in 39 games, 34 of which he started.
Lots of good stuff, and make sure and check out Watson's notes for the series with Oklahoma State.