TCU Baseball Preview

The tilted cap of doom

With the 2011 TCU baseball season beginning tonight against Kansas, I wish to offer my slightly belated preview of this year's TCU Baseball team.

Fresh off of yet another conference championship and a solid run in their first ever CWS appearance, the Frogs are ranked #1 in two polls and #2 in others. With Sophomore pitching phenom, Matt Purke, at the helm, the 2011 season seems as if it will have similar results.

There's no telling what will happen come tournament time, but that's a discussion for another blog. All I can say is that, as things look now, TCU has a very realistic opportunity at its first ever Baseball National Championship. 

Here are some notables heading into the season...

• TCU is returning 7 starting defenders and all 3 starting pitchers. The biggest lose from last season is Catcher, Bryan Holaday, who was a clear leader of the team and clutch performer. It will be interesting to see how and if the next in line can fill his shoes.
• Pitchers Matt Purke, Kyle Winkler, and Steven Maxwell and OF Jason Coats have all been tabbed pre-season All-Americans.
• Returning hitters combined for a .330 batting average last year. Taylor Featherston alone hit an insane .465 at home (look out KU). Returning pitchers combined for a 3.08 ERA with 404 strikeouts. 
• As mentioned before, all of the starting pitchers return. With another year of experience, this group should continue to assert its dominance. Their combined record in 2010 was 39-5. The sky is the limit for these three. 
• Freshman pitcher Tony Rizzotti was the only newcomer to be drafted. He will be the new guy to watch when he makes it onto the mound.
• Coach Jim Schlossnagle is 18 wins away from 400 career victories. 305 of those wins have come while at TCU (he's been here since 2003). He places 2nd all-time for wins in TCU history

Expect the Frogs to motor through conference play, as has become the norm, en route to another conference title.

This is sure to be a very exciting and magical year. There never has been a better time to be a Horned Frog! 

GO FROGS! BEAT THE JAYHAWKS!