Aggies fans have to wait just a little longer for a day they hoped would come when Bill Byrne hired Rob Childress to helm the Texas A&M baseball program. The Aggies play the last game of the opening weekend of the 2011 College World Series, against defending national champion South Carolina no less. But after losing in the Super Regional round twice under Childress, game time and opponent don’t matter for A&M fans as they celebrate the school’s first CWS appearance since 1999.
To learn more about the only team to travel to Omaha after winning a Super Regional on the road, we turn to Mark Passwaters of AggieYell.com.
Photo by DallasNews.com
White & Blue Review: First, what was the mood around the team after losing 23-9 in game two of the Super Regional at Florida State, after winning game one? How did the Aggies bounce back to win that series and advance to the College World Series?
Mark Passwaters: They weren’t overly fazed by it, largely because they didn’t throw one of their quality starters or the guys they really rely on in the bullpen. They knew they had Michael Wacha, who has been lights out for the past month, going Monday against FSU’s third pitcher at best, so they had realization that that game was white-flagged early and that they were in a much better position to win Game 3.
WBR: Speaking of playing FSU, Texas A&M is the only team out of the CWS participants to advance after playing the Super Regional round away from home. What helped the Aggies overcome the tough Seminole crowd and the atmosphere at Dick Howser Stadium?
MP: A&M plays against a lot of hostile, if not as organized, crowds during their Big 12 Conference schedule. Playing ball at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor is no cakewalk, and it’s always vicious when the Aggies call at Disch-Falk Field in Austin. Couple in home and road dates with former Southwest Conference foes Rice and Houston and the Aggies play in front of a lot of crowds who, simply, hate their guts. Another smaller benefit is they play their home games in front of Olsen Field’s “Raggies”, about as tough and organized a student section as there is in the country — even if they’re aiming their ire at the other team, A&M’s more familiar with what can be expected when they go on the road.
WBR: Ross Stripling with start against South Carolina in the Aggies’ first game in Omaha. What kind of pitcher is he? What’s his stuff like?
MP: Stripling has been a revelation this year. He started the season as the team’s closer, but quickly became a weekend starter and an All-American. His fastball tops out in the low 90s, but he has a devastating 12-6 curveball. He’s also consistently around the strike zone; he’s not afraid to let guys put the ball in play and knows he won’t overpower everyone, which allows him to go deep into games. He can be expected to pound the zone, change speeds and look to put hitters away with that hook.
WBR: What about the rest of the pitching staff? For fans of the CWS who haven’t seen Michael Wacha pitch, what’s his stuff like?
MP: One of the sad stories about this team–one of the very few — is that John Stilson won’t be taking the hill. Had he not gotten hurt, A&M would have three elite starters ready to go. Wacha has stepped up and become the de facto ace in Stilson’s absence, winning the money games against Arizona in the Regional and FSU in the Super Regional. Wacha, simply, is nasty. His fastball has a little more hop to it than Stripling, as he can get it up to 92-93 when he’s on full rest. He’s also got a power slider that he throws for strikes and a change that is about 15 MPH slower than his fastball. Wacha’s command is also outstanding; he walked one guy in 21 innings in the three starts he had (Kansas State, Wright State and Arizona) before he shut the door on FSU Monday.
WBR: Wacha was a lifesaver after the Aggies lost ace John Stilson to a torn labrum in May. How has the team bounced back without Stilson on the mound?
MP: After Stilson walked off the mound in Oklahoma City before the start of the first game of the Big 12 Tournament, A&M had beaten Texas once in three tries to blow a chance at winning the regular season outright. Since then, they’ve swept the Big 12 Tourney, won 3 of 4 in regional play and took out FSU in three games. The biggest difference, since Stilson left, is that the bats have come to life. A team that was largely ineffective with the bats has been pounding the ball for the past three weeks, coming back from 5- and 6-run deficits in the Big 12 Tournament to win games going away. Against FSU’s staff, they hung 6, 9 and 11 runs, respectively, which would have been unheard of against anyone six weeks ago. For whatever reason, the whole lineup is white-hot going into the CWS.
WBR: Offensively, who are the catalysts for the Aggies? Who will opposing teams look to hold in check?
MP: The two guys at the top of the order make the offense run for A&M. Outfielders Tyler Naquin and Krey Bratsen hit 1-2 in the A&M order and have been the team’s most consistent hitters all year. Naquin hit .390 this year and is probably among the elite pure hitters in college baseball right now. Bratsen is a pest, hitting .331, bunting a lot and stealing 31 bases in 40 tries. The guys right behind them will probably be DH Matt Juengel (.309/7/50), 1B Jacob House (.307/3/51) and 3B Adam Smith (.244/6/26), all of whom on hot streaks, The goal will be to get Naquin and Bratsen on base, then have the next three guys drive them in. Senior C Kevin Gonzalez also has 5 homers, so he’s a potential power threat.
WBR: I’ll just put it out there: UT and A&M are on opposite sides of the bracket. What would an all-Longhorn State championship series be like among baseball fans in Texas?
MP: For one thing, let’s not call it the Longhorn State. A&M has beaten Texas in football this year and owns the Big 12 Tournament crown — and we wouldn’t give them that distinction anyway. This is the Lone Star state, and it’s pretty well split between Aggies and Horns. And if it comes down to those two teams for the whole shebang, it’ll be like Thanksgiving (when the football game is played) has come very early. The rivalry will be ratcheted up to unspeakable levels, and God help the loser.
WBR: That being said, what has to happen for Rob Childress to lead the Aggies to a national championship in A&M’s first trip to Omaha since 1999?
MP: Stripling and Wacha absolutely, positively cannot lose. If Stilson were around, A&M would have three starters that could match up with anyone; as it is, they’re going to have to ride the two horses they have left because the drop-off after them is pretty steep. Also, there can be no drop-off in the offensive production we’ve seen lately, which will be a tall task considering the competition.