Good Lord. Heartburn. Anxiety. Exhilaration.
It's late. I've got a Chillton in my hand, and I'm probably more proud of this year's TTU team than I've ever been. Just thinking back to the first go round in 2014 gives me goosebumps. Remembering that 2016 team bouncing back against the pirates of ECU, and following it up with the first CWS win in the history of the school..... joyous.
But there is something. Something I can't verbalize. Something I can't type into existence or comprehension. There's just something about this team, and it's journey this year, that's a shit ton of fun.
That something came today in the form of a Lubbock native, Michael Davis, in a mammoth home run that rocked Rip Griffin. This something also took the form of a downtrodden John McMillon. Who for 6 outs, looked eye to eye with the Duke Blue Devils, and said, "Not today." The same blue devils that lit up the TTU ace. None of them could catch up to McMillon, and they knew it was heaters coming.
I've been on record, and will happily admit to being wrong, about thinking there was just something missing on this team. There's nothing missing. Their particular journey just took a different route than the other CWS teams at TTU. And I'll tell you what, I think it makes it even more memorable.
How does this roller coaster ride begin?
The down....
It began during a 12-1 walloping of Maine on February 17th. Which, under any other circumstance, looks like another day at the office for Steven Gingery. Another Saturday? Another Red Raider victory. But nope, arguably the most consistent pitcher in the country walks off the mound pointing at his elbow, and Texas Tech never sees what could have been another historic season for its All-American.
The up...
Texas Tech doesn't skip a beat. Caleb Kilian is inserted as your #2 starting pitcher and picks up right where Gingery left off. They salvo off 14 straight wins and look to be able to outslug anyone in the country. They get contributions from young guys and veterans.
The down....
Texas Tech then, in my opinion, goes on the toughest road trip that anyone in the country would face. It plays 3 games against the Kentucky Wildcats, and their 14 draft picks, mostly without their own senior stud as Michael Davis sits out with a sore hamstring. 2 more games down the road against a foe, Louisville, that they would eventually host in Lubbock as part of the regional tournament. The cherry on top is TTU dropping 2 of 3 at Baylor. Which included being shutout on Friday night for the first time all season.
The up..
Texas Tech comes back home to the friendly confines of Dan Law field and immediately regains it's footing. They sweep Northeastern, who ended up a tournament team, in four games. They win Big 12 series against WVU, KU, KSU, and Oklahoma. Sandwiching in some disappointing losses to DBU. But still holding ground in the Big 12 race.
The down...
With some momentum behind the sails, TTU rolls into Ft. Worth to face a struggling TCU, and loses the series. They lose a series at home to UT. And once again we're looking for answers. Who can be trusted out of the pen? Who is going to be "the guy"?
You guys get the picture with the ups and downs right?
Can you remember a TTU team that you felt this poorly about this late in the season under Tadlock? I was on the fence, and I watch every pitch of every inning. Position changes, putting the same pitchers into the game and expecting different results, dumb mistakes. It just didn't seem like we could put it all together. Pair that with, yet again, another disappointing performance in OKC, and there just wasn't a ton of momentum on the side of the Red Raiders.
But do you also remember that Zach Rheams had about 20 AB's before conference play? The same Zach Rheams that has probably been the MVP of the post season. Do you remember that nobody in their right minds had any confidence in John McMillon, who hadn't pitched in two weeks?
But wait, verse three was yet to be written. Texas Tech garners a 9th overall seed in the national tournament and hosts three good ball clubs, all looking for a super regional birth. Three wins later, TTU is hosting a red hot ball club in Duke.
Make no mistake. Duke was the hottest ball club in the country IMO. They were on that honeymoon high when you first start dating a new girl. No-one could beat them. And they played like it. Tons of confidence, almost cockiness, was present in the Blue Devil dugout all weekend long. And, let's be honest, they punched Tech in the damn mouth last night.
But the song isn't over yet. The story still not finished. Tech refuses to die.
This is a movie worthy story. Enough drama to keep your girlfriend interested in the movie. Characters you start to root for. The unlikely hero. It's got it all.
Gabe Holt is playing out of position in the biggest game of his career, and looks to be the butt of the joke after taking a poor route on a line drive. Bottom of the 8th? Redemption with a humongous single. Storyline after storyline.
Texas Tech beat Duke today while Grant Little went 0-5. Texas Tech is in the CWS after getting a grand total of 2.1 innings out of Steven Gingery. Who writes this stuff?
Enjoy the shit out of this. Enjoy it the same way we did the first one, because they are all different. Us fans, we stay the same. Tadlock stays the same. But there are 25+ kids that went on a whole new journey, and they will enjoy Omaha no less than the first group did.
One last thing.
Y'all. Today was the last day that some of these guys will take infield at The Rip. The last time they will sing the school song with the fans.
Michael Davis. Dylan Dusek. Quezada. Happy trails boys. Also, a ton of other Red Raiders will make some really big decisions this summer.
Could not ask for more from them. On to Omaha.
Win. Raiders. Win.
It's late. I've got a Chillton in my hand, and I'm probably more proud of this year's TTU team than I've ever been. Just thinking back to the first go round in 2014 gives me goosebumps. Remembering that 2016 team bouncing back against the pirates of ECU, and following it up with the first CWS win in the history of the school..... joyous.
But there is something. Something I can't verbalize. Something I can't type into existence or comprehension. There's just something about this team, and it's journey this year, that's a shit ton of fun.
That something came today in the form of a Lubbock native, Michael Davis, in a mammoth home run that rocked Rip Griffin. This something also took the form of a downtrodden John McMillon. Who for 6 outs, looked eye to eye with the Duke Blue Devils, and said, "Not today." The same blue devils that lit up the TTU ace. None of them could catch up to McMillon, and they knew it was heaters coming.
I've been on record, and will happily admit to being wrong, about thinking there was just something missing on this team. There's nothing missing. Their particular journey just took a different route than the other CWS teams at TTU. And I'll tell you what, I think it makes it even more memorable.
How does this roller coaster ride begin?
The down....
It began during a 12-1 walloping of Maine on February 17th. Which, under any other circumstance, looks like another day at the office for Steven Gingery. Another Saturday? Another Red Raider victory. But nope, arguably the most consistent pitcher in the country walks off the mound pointing at his elbow, and Texas Tech never sees what could have been another historic season for its All-American.
The up...
Texas Tech doesn't skip a beat. Caleb Kilian is inserted as your #2 starting pitcher and picks up right where Gingery left off. They salvo off 14 straight wins and look to be able to outslug anyone in the country. They get contributions from young guys and veterans.
The down....
Texas Tech then, in my opinion, goes on the toughest road trip that anyone in the country would face. It plays 3 games against the Kentucky Wildcats, and their 14 draft picks, mostly without their own senior stud as Michael Davis sits out with a sore hamstring. 2 more games down the road against a foe, Louisville, that they would eventually host in Lubbock as part of the regional tournament. The cherry on top is TTU dropping 2 of 3 at Baylor. Which included being shutout on Friday night for the first time all season.
The up..
Texas Tech comes back home to the friendly confines of Dan Law field and immediately regains it's footing. They sweep Northeastern, who ended up a tournament team, in four games. They win Big 12 series against WVU, KU, KSU, and Oklahoma. Sandwiching in some disappointing losses to DBU. But still holding ground in the Big 12 race.
The down...
With some momentum behind the sails, TTU rolls into Ft. Worth to face a struggling TCU, and loses the series. They lose a series at home to UT. And once again we're looking for answers. Who can be trusted out of the pen? Who is going to be "the guy"?
You guys get the picture with the ups and downs right?
Can you remember a TTU team that you felt this poorly about this late in the season under Tadlock? I was on the fence, and I watch every pitch of every inning. Position changes, putting the same pitchers into the game and expecting different results, dumb mistakes. It just didn't seem like we could put it all together. Pair that with, yet again, another disappointing performance in OKC, and there just wasn't a ton of momentum on the side of the Red Raiders.
But do you also remember that Zach Rheams had about 20 AB's before conference play? The same Zach Rheams that has probably been the MVP of the post season. Do you remember that nobody in their right minds had any confidence in John McMillon, who hadn't pitched in two weeks?
But wait, verse three was yet to be written. Texas Tech garners a 9th overall seed in the national tournament and hosts three good ball clubs, all looking for a super regional birth. Three wins later, TTU is hosting a red hot ball club in Duke.
Make no mistake. Duke was the hottest ball club in the country IMO. They were on that honeymoon high when you first start dating a new girl. No-one could beat them. And they played like it. Tons of confidence, almost cockiness, was present in the Blue Devil dugout all weekend long. And, let's be honest, they punched Tech in the damn mouth last night.
But the song isn't over yet. The story still not finished. Tech refuses to die.
This is a movie worthy story. Enough drama to keep your girlfriend interested in the movie. Characters you start to root for. The unlikely hero. It's got it all.
Gabe Holt is playing out of position in the biggest game of his career, and looks to be the butt of the joke after taking a poor route on a line drive. Bottom of the 8th? Redemption with a humongous single. Storyline after storyline.
Texas Tech beat Duke today while Grant Little went 0-5. Texas Tech is in the CWS after getting a grand total of 2.1 innings out of Steven Gingery. Who writes this stuff?
Enjoy the shit out of this. Enjoy it the same way we did the first one, because they are all different. Us fans, we stay the same. Tadlock stays the same. But there are 25+ kids that went on a whole new journey, and they will enjoy Omaha no less than the first group did.
One last thing.
Y'all. Today was the last day that some of these guys will take infield at The Rip. The last time they will sing the school song with the fans.
Michael Davis. Dylan Dusek. Quezada. Happy trails boys. Also, a ton of other Red Raiders will make some really big decisions this summer.
Could not ask for more from them. On to Omaha.
Win. Raiders. Win.
