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Here are your links for today. We also have some post-season baseball chat coming up later today and some final baseball wrap-ups this week before we start to hit the football stuff hard in July. Stay tuned.
Big 12 predictions, Week 5: TCU's defense might be what it takes to drop Texas Tech: The Dallas Morning News forecasts the 2014 Big 12 season.
TCU got almost all it could out of 2014 baseball quest:
"The 2014 team should be remembered, Schlossnagle said, for getting “every ounce of potential out of their season.”
“That’s not to say they weren’t talented, because they certainly were, but I think they set a standard for perseverance and how to play in close games,” he said. “They set a standard for the fact that you can turn your season around if you truly buy into what the coaches want you to do.”
Alex Apple remembers Richard Durrett:
"I will always remember the first time I saw him work. It was during a Texas Rangers World Series game. After a throng of interviews, Richard was listening to his recorder, and he never stopped it once. He was able to type faster than anyone I had ever seen--keeping up with each word as the managers and players explained the ins and outs of the game that had just ended"
Phil Steele on TCU:
As the No.1 "Most Improved Team":
"The Horned Frogs' two seasons in the Big 12 have been a little disappointing, as they are 11-14 overall and 6-12 in Big 12 play. They might have been a much stronger team last year if not for losing two linebackers in the offseason, as well as 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Devonte Fieldsafter one game because of injury. While this team was just 4-8 last year, seven of the Frogs' losses saw a chance for them to win in the fourth quarter or overtime.
This year, they have 16 returning starters, get Fields back, plus add in Texas A&M transfer QB Matt Joeckel. The addition of Joeckel might allow them to move Trevone Boykin to wide receiver or running back, where he is a threat to score every play. With my No. 5 defensive line, No. 15 linebackers and No. 20 defensive backs, they have my No. 11 overall defense. They do play both Baylor and Texas on the road but beat both of them on the road in 2012. If you are looking for a team that has could have a turnaround similar to what Auburn or Missouri had last year, the Horned Frogs are that team."
As the No. 4 "Most Poised to Surprise Team":
"Four years ago, TCU finished 13-0 and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl to finish No. 2 in the country. Their two seasons in the Big 12 have been a bit rougher, as they are just 11-14 overall and 6-12 in Big 12 play. They might have been a much stronger team last season if not for the loss of two linebackers in the offseason, plus 2012 Big 12 defensive player of the year Devonte Fields to injury after one game. While this team was 4-8 in 2013, seven of its losses saw the Frogs with a chance to win in the fourth quarter or overtime.
This season they have 16 returning starters and get Fields back, plus add Texas A&M transfer quarterback Matt Joeckel. The addition of Joeckel may allow them to move Trevone Boykin to wide receiver or running back, at which he is a threat to score every play. With my No. 5 defensive line, No. 15 linebackers and No. 20 defensive backs, they have my No. 11 overall defense. They do play both Baylor and Texas on the road but beat both on the road in 2012. If you are looking for this season's version of Auburn, which is a team that had just three or four wins the previous season and ended up playing for the national title, you might have just found it."