Honest thoughts on the 2026 season

13,371 Views | 143 Replies | Last: 8 days ago by Warsteiner
tjack16
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:15p, 1/17/26
AG
I just want us to make a super regional.

I think we host a regional as somewhere in the #11-14 seed area and go on the road for a super
Reply Quote
5
I Got Ranches
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to greg.w.h • 3:45p, 1/17/26
AG
Reply Quote
1 edit
I Got Ranches
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DaAggies • 3:46p, 1/17/26
AG
DaAggies said:
I also posted this which may give a better picture of pitching staff

Pros
Sdao looked really good before getting injured in late 2024
Moss is a proven badass when he doesn't have mono
Sims looked fantastic in fall
Freshcorn looked great to close out last season in SEC tourney
Stewart returns and brings plenty of experience
McCoy and Lyons had solid freshmen campaigns and could stand to improve
Darden brings plenty of experience from competitive league in ACC
Vargas and Bollinger were both solid, but at lower levels
Vincent and Hubert have made a name as freshmen so far

Cons
Outside of Moss, we have a combined 26.3 total IP in 2025 conference play returning
Sims is very unproven in game
Sdao, McCoy, and Stewart are all coming off injuries with long recovery time
Freshcorn was inconsistent and struggled most of 2025 season
Some decent additions, but no big names added in the portal

I feel really good about our starters and first few out of bullpen, but we will need some guys to step up. Overall I think the raw talent with our starters is better than last year, but it definitely has less experience




The correct take….

Also add to this the tremendous amount of self inflicted pressure both team and coach put on themselves. They had two or three preseason all Americans, pre season number 1 ranking, all this against the backdrop of losing their coach to our arch rivals one day after returning from the NC game at the CWS. They tried too hard to live up to expectations, let the pressure get to them,and in my opinion just forgot how to go out and play…they didn't handle it well and i think you'll see a big difference this year, go out and play, and have fun doing it…
Reply Quote
2
1 edit
DaAggies
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to tjack16 • 4:03p, 1/17/26
AG
tjack16 said:
I just want us to make a super regional.

I think we host a regional as somewhere in the #11-14 seed area and go on the road for a super

This is exactly where I stand as well. We don't need to blow the doors off of everyone, but it will show tangible improvement and give me confidence in Earley moving forward.
Reply Quote
3
JW1612
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:44p, 1/17/26
I will be really happy with 37 wins and 15-15 in conference. Mississippi State and Florida went 15-15 and were solid #2 seeds. If we could get to 16-14 then we might host which would be awesome
Reply Quote
2
The Marksman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to JW1612 • 8:48p, 1/17/26
AG
We have got to have higher expectations than this. A&M should be a perennial CWS team. If Earley can't have us in the top 8-10 teams in the country, he shouldn't be our coach.
Reply Quote
3
ReelAg6
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Marksman • 8:50p, 1/17/26
The Marksman said:
We have got to have higher expectations than this. A&M should be a perennial CWS team. If Earley can't have us in the top 8-10 teams in the country, he shouldn't be our coach.
If we aren't in a super this year, we have to move on.
Reply Quote
5
JW1612
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Marksman • 9:07p, 1/17/26
I that is a bit ambitious. We have made it 3 times in the last 10+ years. I think being a solid 2 seed would be a good step forward from last year and then we could go from there. Have to get the ship righted first
Reply Quote
6
DWren
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Marksman • 9:25p, 1/17/26
The Marksman said:
We have got to have higher expectations than this. A&M should be a perennial CWS team. If Earley can't have us in the top 8-10 teams in the country, he shouldn't be our coach.


I don't disagree but we have 6 CWS appearances in the last 60 years of Texas A&M baseball.
Schloss took us to 2 CWS in 3 years which is far and away the best in history of our program.

Tom Chandler had one appearance in 25 years
Mark Johnson took us to 2 CWS in 21 years.
Childress had 2 appearances in 16 years

And all 3 of those men have their jerseys painted on the outfield wall at Olsen Field

Texas A&M has never been a mainstay in Omaha. Hard to fire someone for setting the bar higher than we have ever achieved

Reply Quote
12
LB12Diamond
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DWren • 5:13a, 1/18/26
AG
Always love when average coaching is blamed on A&M.
Gig ‘Em Baby!
Reply Quote
ReelAg6
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DWren • 7:58a, 1/18/26
DWren said:
The Marksman said:
We have got to have higher expectations than this. A&M should be a perennial CWS team. If Earley can't have us in the top 8-10 teams in the country, he shouldn't be our coach.


I don't disagree but we have 6 CWS appearances in the last 60 years of Texas A&M baseball.
Schloss took us to 2 CWS in 3 years which is far and away the best in history of our program.

Tom Chandler had one appearance in 25 years
Mark Johnson took us to 2 CWS in 21 years.
Childress had 2 appearances in 16 years

And all 3 of those men have their jerseys painted on the outfield wall at Olsen Field

Texas A&M has never been a mainstay in Omaha. Hard to fire someone for setting the bar higher than we have ever achieved

Three letters changed everything. NIL. We have three first rounders on this team. No excuses. Just win. I think they will.
Reply Quote
7
DaAggies
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Marksman • 9:31a, 1/18/26
AG
The Marksman said:
We have got to have higher expectations than this. A&M should be a perennial CWS team. If Earley can't have us in the top 8-10 teams in the country, he shouldn't be our coach.

Nobody is perennial in the CWS. That's an unreasonable expectation. Even LSU who has the top program currently, has made it 3 times in the past 10 years.

To be a top program, in a 10 year span we should expect

- 10/10 we make the tournament barring extremely unlucky circumstances
- 7/10 we are a regional host
- 4/10 we are a national seed
- 6 or 7/10 times we make the supers
- 3 or 4/10 CWS appearance
- 1 or 2/10 deep runs in CWS (semis and up)
Reply Quote
20
AgRyan04
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:52a, 1/18/26
My expectations are that we should make a regional 14 times in 15 years
Should host a regional 3 out of 4 years
Should go to a Super Regional 3 out of 5 years
Should be in Omaha 2 out of 5 years

Which is pretty in line with DaAggie
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Reply Quote
6
1 edit
DWren
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to LB12Diamond • 10:06a, 1/18/26
LB12Diamond said:
Always love when average coaching is blamed on A&M.

So were suggesting that Tom Chandler and Mark Johnson were " average coaches"
Really?
well like I said both have their number retired and currently on the outfield wall at Olsen Field. Chandler has a street named after him in front of our stadium .
Both are members of Texas A&M Hall of Fame, as well as AABC National Hall of Fame and Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.
Both were Conference Coach of the Year award recipients several times over their career. Johnson is a member of the prestigious 1000 career win club

That's pretty impressive resume for " average coaches"


Reply Quote
10
tjack16
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DaAggies • 10:15a, 1/18/26
AG
DaAggies said:
The Marksman said:
We have got to have higher expectations than this. A&M should be a perennial CWS team. If Earley can't have us in the top 8-10 teams in the country, he shouldn't be our coach.

Nobody is perennial in the CWS. That's an unreasonable expectation. Even LSU who has the top program currently, has made it 3 times in the past 10 years.

To be a top program, in a 10 year span we should expect

- 10/10 we make the tournament barring extremely unlucky circumstances
- 7/10 we are a regional host
- 4/10 we are a national seed
- 6 or 7/10 times we make the supers
- 3 or 4/10 CWS appearance
- 1 or 2/10 deep runs in CWS (semis and up)


I think every player (3-4 year cycle) should experience Omaha once at the minimum. So year 3 in 10 years is the expectation and being close the other years.
Though I'd like to at least mirror Arkansas. They've been 4 times in the last 10 seasons (5 in 11 if you look one season further) and typically don't go 0-2. We have the facilities, money and recruiting ground to be at their consistent level or better.

Arkansas since 2016 (10 seasons)
- 9 regionals
- 5 super regionals
- 4 CWS appearances (only one 0-2 trip)
- 1 CWS finals appearance

To me that should be the expectation though I'd add a national title in that 10 year window
Reply Quote
9
1 edit
W
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
12:00p, 1/18/26
AG
what's interesting about 2026...

we have a prior aggie baseball season to compare it to ---> the 2007 season

Childress' first year in 2006 as a first year head coach was a disaster: 30-25-1 overall record and 6-20-1 in the Big 12...with many of the same problems the 2025 team had.

however Childress and Deggs got busy recruiting & developing in the offseason...

and the 2007 club went 48-19 with a super regional appearance (plus the Big 12 tournament title)

the 07 squad struggled at times in league play (13-13 record) but racked up the wins in the non-conference to grab the last host slot
Reply Quote
7
JW1612
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to tjack16 • 2:40p, 1/18/26
I think that sounds like a really reasonable goal. They do also have a legend coaching for them. I haven't looked but what were they like before Van Horn got there?
Reply Quote
1
tjack16
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to JW1612 • 2:50p, 1/18/26
AG
JW1612 said:
I think that sounds like a really reasonable goal. They do also have a legend coaching for them. I haven't looked but what were they like before Van Horn got there?


Van Horn got there in 2003. So nothing special but has a nice run from 79-89
Reply Quote
1 edit
magnolia tiger
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to tjack16 • 3:57p, 1/18/26
I'd want to pull my hair out if DVH was the coach of the team I was a fan of, at some point you gotta win some titles.
Reply Quote
1
jja79
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to magnolia tiger • 5:26p, 1/18/26
AG
We would paint over the other names on the outfield wall with his record.
Reply Quote
6
JW1612
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to W • 5:57p, 1/18/26
Great reference point
Reply Quote
Detective Jake Peralta
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to TMartin • 8:14p, 1/18/26
AG
Why are you just copy/pasting AI slop?

This is becoming a big problem on this site and it will only get worse if it keeps going unchecked.
Reply Quote
8
JW1612
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to jja79 • 8:24p, 1/18/26
Besides not winning a title that is a really nice program resume
Reply Quote
4
hogfan14
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to JW1612 • 12:58a, 1/19/26
JW1612 said:
I think that sounds like a really reasonable goal. They do also have a legend coaching for them. I haven't looked but what were they like before Van Horn got there?


Arkansas has only had two coaches in their program's history, DVH and Norm Debryin before him (who DVH played for). They were a solid program in the SWC but Van Horn has taken it to another level over the past decade even without winning a title yet.
Reply Quote
1
magnolia tiger
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to hogfan14 • 5:48a, 1/19/26
Definitely a solid coach, has to be incredibly frustrating as a hog fan. Ya'll better hope the timing works out for his retirement when Tony V comes back to college.
Reply Quote
1
AgRyan04
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to hogfan14 • 9:02a, 1/19/26
hogfan14 said:
JW1612 said:
I think that sounds like a really reasonable goal. They do also have a legend coaching for them. I haven't looked but what were they like before Van Horn got there?


Arkansas has only had two coaches in their program's history, DVH and Norm Debryin before him (who DVH played for). They were a solid program in the SWC but Van Horn has taken it to another level over the past decade even without winning a title yet.


I don't think that is accurate.

Edit: there were 9 coaches prior to DeBriyn per their media guide

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Reply Quote
1
1 edit
twk
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AgRyan04 • 9:23a, 1/19/26
AG
Arkansas didn't play SWC baseball for several decades before DeBriyn. I think that is what gets people confused. Once Norm got them going a bit, they resumed playing SWC baseball sometime in the 70s.
Reply Quote
2
LB12Diamond
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DWren • 9:46a, 1/19/26
AG
Oh

It appears you totally took my comment wrong. I was talking about the coaching last season.
Gig ‘Em Baby!
Reply Quote
hogfan14
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to magnolia tiger • 10:08a, 1/19/26
magnolia tiger said:
Definitely a solid coach, has to be incredibly frustrating as a hog fan. Ya'll better hope the timing works out for his retirement when Tony V comes back to college.


Matt Hobbs (current pitching coach) seems to be the heir apparent right now for whenever that time comes. Depending on how long from now it ends up being, Wes Johnson could be a strong candidate as well but he's getting up there in age too.
Reply Quote
magnolia tiger
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to hogfan14 • 10:33a, 1/19/26
You think the admin will push DVH out if he doesn't deliver a title in the next couple years?
Reply Quote
hogfan14
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to magnolia tiger • 12:20p, 1/19/26
magnolia tiger said:
You think the admin will push DVH out if he doesn't deliver a title in the next couple years?


No, I think he's pretty much earned the right to step away on his own terms unless it just falls off a cliff. Though with the new era of college athletics and NIL there have been some rumblings that he may consider it earlier than planned unless Arkansas gives him the revenue sharing allocation he needs to compete. Some say he's gotten into some disagreements with the AD over that and not being able to compete with what programs like LSU are doing financially (which is admittedly a very high bar). Teams like LSU and Mississippi State don't really care about basketball and can move some money over to baseball but Arkansas is pretty committed to giving Calipari what he needs so it's tough to spread it around to everything.
Reply Quote
2
1 edit
TarponChaser
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to magnolia tiger • 12:24p, 1/19/26
magnolia tiger said:
I'd want to pull my hair out if DVH was the coach of the team I was a fan of, at some point you gotta win some titles.


Imagine you're a Florida State fan. Second highest wins in college baseball history, 24 CWS appearances, 61 times making a regional, 300+ draft picks, and over 100 All Americans. ZERO national championships.
Reply Quote
6
tjack16
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to TarponChaser • 12:38p, 1/19/26
AG
TarponChaser said:
magnolia tiger said:
I'd want to pull my hair out if DVH was the coach of the team I was a fan of, at some point you gotta win some titles.


Imagine you're a Florida State fan. Second highest wins in college baseball history, 24 CWS appearances, 61 times making a regional, 300+ draft picks, and over 100 All Americans. ZERO national championships.


And how often have they even made the finals? It's been a while

Edit: looked it up and they've made the finals twice. 1999 and 1986
Reply Quote
1
1 edit
magnolia tiger
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to hogfan14 • 12:38p, 1/19/26
That's fair. Surprisingly LSU baseball only gets 2.5% of the rev share, fortunately we have a couple very generous donors who basically give Jay a blank check to do what he needs to do. If I remember correctly basketball gets 5%, and they still suck. But your right, not many care about basketball there
Reply Quote
TarponChaser
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DaAggies • 12:44p, 1/19/26
DaAggies said:
I posted this on the premium board, but I will post it here as well.

I am not going to tell you that last year was acceptable because it wasn't. But here are some reasonable takeaways of why Earley got another chance and this year could play out different.

Injuries: This #1 team coming into the year had
  • Schott (proven SEC .300+ hitter) tear his meniscus and play hurt all season
  • Grahovac (SEC freshman of year and preseason All-American) go down for season in first few weeks
  • Sorrell (our best player when healthy) miss nearly half of year then be limited for another good bit with hamstring before a broken hamate bone in last SEC series
  • Stewart (projected closer) go down in first appearance
  • Kash (41 HRs in past 2 years) battle back and hamstring issues all year
  • Moss (best reliever) get mono in the middle of the year and struggled with consistency following that
  • Laviolette break his hand in a win or go home SEC tournament
Quality Wins:
  • Beat Arky (National semi finalist) 2 of 3 in Fayetteville
  • Beat Tennessee (super regional team) 2 of 3 in Knoxville
  • Beat LSU (National Champion) 2 of 3 in College Station including beating 3rd overall pick Kade Anderson
  • In SEC tournament beat MSU and Auburn (super regional team) before taking LSU to the wire where they pitched their Friday (Anderson) and Saturday (Eyanson) starters
Recruiting/Player Retention: I know people will hate this point, but its not for nothing
  • After a disappointing year, held on to all our star players including projected 1st rounders Grahovac and Sorrell
  • Managed to pull another projected 1st rounder in Hacopian
  • Freshman class now on campus is our best recruiting class of all time
  • 2026 signed class is right up there with some of our bests as well with 2027 looking even better
So why should this year be any different? Here are some reported changes.
  • Earley took back over the offense from Longley this fall to go back to what he does best (a la Elko and Bateman last year)
  • Longley's defection doesn't help, but should play a bigger factor on recruiting over on the field play
  • Cliff Pennington joining the staff. Pennington was a decorated assistant coach at DBU and will be taking over base running and infield defense which were some of our biggest struggles
  • The team is coming into the year healthy so far
  • Earley has been self aware and reported to make changes to his coaching style (If these changes will work is TBD)
  • Lowered expectations: this team has a chip on their shoulder now and doesn't have preseason #1 ranking over their heads
TL/DR:
Overall there are still some reasons to believe if you want to. I can't make promises that Earley is the guy, but he is trying to make changes.


Pretty well sums up my perspective on the season forecast.

I think last year ended up being a perfect negative storm that sunk the season.

Other than golf, no other sport is the same exercise in managing failure the way baseball is and you cannot mentally cope with it if you're pressing. Between the way that sch!t-bag over in Austin left, the expectations, and injuries everybody seemed too focused on being perfect instead of just playing the game and it showed.
Reply Quote
5
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.