September 16, 2008

Kendall Rogers
Rivals.com College Baseball Editor

Maybe the fourth time is a charm for Texas.

It wasn't too long ago the Longhorns were on top of the mountain. UT won the 2002 national title with Huston Street and others as the headliners, while Kyle McCulloch and others guided the 'Horns to their sixth national title in '05.

UT has failed to meet expectations since that point. But most disappointing, they haven't advanced past an NCAA Regional since that magical '05 campaign.

Though the last three seasons have been a blur for coach Augie Garrido, the 'Horns enter fall workouts with a wealth of talent and experience, hoping the fourth season removed from their last national title will bring the program's seventh national title.

As with most teams, the Longhorns have some questions to answer this fall. But overall, they're in great shape with the return of several talented offensive players and a pitching staff with much upside.

We take an inside look at Texas entering fall workouts.

When it comes to expectations in college baseball, Texas is like no other place. The Longhorns take pride in their six national titles and routinely expect to compete for the national title. It's an expectation that's certainly implied when you decide to put on a burnt orange and white uniform. Though the Longhorns enter fall workouts without talented outfielders Kyle Russell and Jordan Danks, they still welcome back several key players. The 'Horns welcome back a strong nucleus of pitchers, while the offense is in great shape with the return of Cameron Rupp, Michael Torres and others. The 'Horns aren't flawless, but have few holes to fill before the spring. Though it's early, expectations in Austin are still the same: It's the College World Series or bust.

The Longhorns have at least two areas that need to improve this fall. UT had one of the nation's best weekend starters, Chance Ruffin, last season, but the pitching staff actually struggled for much of the season. Ruffin finished the season with an impressive 1.96 ERA, while Kenn Kasparek, who is not back this fall, had a 3.76 ERA. Left-handed pitcher Austin Wood, who needs to have a strong fall, finished last season with a 7-3 record and a 4.43 ERA in 85 1/3 innings of work. Perhaps most important, the Longhorns must bring more clarity to the bullpen. If Texas can replace the power of Russell and Danks, and improve last season's 4.48 pitching staff ERA, they should be in great shape. This Texas team should be able to take care of the potential issues.

Barring a major surprise, the Longhorns should have a productive offense in the spring. The Longhorns must replace Russell and Danks, who accounted for 26 of the team's 60 homers last season. To put that in greater detail, the dynamic duo hit 43 percent of UT's homers in '08. Russell and Danks will be tough to replace, but the Longhorns have several offensive weapons. Infielder Michael Torres was a pleasant surprise last season and returns this fall. He hit .354 with four homers and 46 RBIs in '08. The 'Horns once again have high hopes for Brandon Belt, Cameron Rupp and Preston Clark. Belt and Rupp had productive '08 campaigns, while Clark could be a major contributor if he can stay healthy. Also keep an eye on Tant Shepherd and Kevin Keyes, who each showed signs of being special players last season. Texas is in good shape at the plate.

If there's an area of this team that needs to improve between the fall and spring, it's the pitching staff. Texas pitching coach Skip Johnson suffered the brunt of much criticism of last season, but has the ability to build an elite staff this fall. The 'Horns must replace tall right-handed pitcher Kenn Kasparek, but welcomes back ace pitcher Chance Ruffin and senior lefty Austin Wood. Ruffin hopes to equal last season's performance, while Wood hopes to build off the way he ended the '08 season. I'd also keep close tabs on sophomores Brandon Workman and Cole Green. Workman may be the most talented pitcher on the staff and will compete for a starting job this fall, while Green finished last season with a 5.28 ERA in 58 innings of work. The 'Horns obviously have some work to do on the mound, but certainly have a wealth of talent.

Not much has changed for the Longhorns the last three seasons. Texas entered each of those campaigns with high hopes, but failed to take care of business in the postseason. While this team is in great shape entering fall workouts, they'll be judged by how they perform in the spring, and most important, in the postseason. The 'Horns have learned several lessons the past few seasons and enter workouts with extra motivation. I really like UT's offense with Rupp, Belt, Torres and others leading the way, but still have some reservations about the pitching staff beyond staff ace Chance Ruffin. If Workman, Green and others rise to the occasion this fall and in the spring, UT is in outstanding shape. If not, the Longhorns could find themselves in the same predicament.

Kendall Rogers is the college baseball editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at rogersk@yahoo-inc.com.