3 reasons why Jim Schlossnagle's Texas A&M Aggies will not win 2024 College World Series
Texas A&M isn't going to beat Tennessee. Now, full disclosure-- this column is being written while Game 1 between the Aggies and Vols is ongoing. If UT wins 20-2, then everyone will think, "Well, of course he said that now." But even if the Aggies win Game 1 (and they're ahead as I write), they're not going to win. Here are three reasons why.
Three reasons why Texas A&M won't win the College World Series
1.The loss of Braden Montgomery is too big.
A&M relied heavily on Braden Montgomery for offense, but his season-ending ankle injury removes a big bat from the Aggie lineup. How big? Well, Montgomery led the Aggies in OPS, OBP and RBIs. He was second in batting average and home runs.
Without Montgomery, A&M has only one hitter who hit better than .321 this year. Or only two hitters who hit more than 11 home runs. The Aggies weren't an offensive juggernaut anyway, and taking their best hitter out of the picture is a big loss.
2. The loss of Shane Sdao is too big.
A&M's issues aren't just at the plate. Yes, the Aggies have ace Ryan Prager and closer Evan Aschenbeck, two of the best in their respective roles in all of college baseball. But where's the depth? Sado was 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA before he suffered a season-ending injury in the Tournament.
Prager is throwing in game one, so he's probably done for the series. Aschenbeck is good, but somebody else has to get him the ball. A&M's other most common starters are Justin Lamkin (ERA of 5.00) and Tanner Jones (ERA of 6.33). That's a massive issue.
3. Tennessee's line-up is just too good.
The Vols aren't just good. The Vols-- at the plate-- are historically good. Without Braden Montgomery, A&M has one regular who hit better than .321, while Tennessee has four. Without Montgomery, A&M has two hitters who topped 11 homers. The Vols have six. A&M has one active regular with a 1.000 OPS, while UT has five.
Jace LaViolette, on a good day, might cancel out Christian Moore of the Vols. Maybe Gavin Grahovac can equal out UT's Dylan Dreiling. But even if that's so, UT still has Blake Burke, Billy Amick and Kavares Tears.
This Tennesee lineup is reminiscent of the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. It's just loaded with stars. You can't pitch around anybody, because the on-deck hitter is almost always as dangerous as the player you just tried to pitch around. Texas A&M is a very good team, one that could win the series in many years, just not quite this year.
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