Ready to Roll: Texas A&M baseball opens 2016 practice

On Friday afternoon at Olsen Field, Texas A&M baseball started its much anticipated 2016 campaign with a scrimmage and practice.

Following a season in which the Aggies went 50-14, with a run to the Super Regionals, expectations for this team are at an all time high, but as head coach Rob Childress put it, nobody expects more than the Aggies themselves.

“We talk about it each and every year,” he said. “The preseason polls are great and they give fans something to talk about for that first month of the season, but at the end of the day, it is all about how you finish. Our guys understand that and that is why they choose to come to Texas A&M.”

While being a consensus top five team could put pressure on any squad, Childress feels like A&M has both the leadership and the experience to handle business the way they need to.

“I feel like we’ve got some great leadership (on this team). The older guys have done such a fantastic job throughout the fall, and these last couple of weeks, leading our players. We have as much experience as we’ve ever had during my time here coming back.”

A big part of that experience comes in the form of senior catcher Michael Barash.

A veteran behind the plate, Barash understands fans are excited for this season (as evidenced by the sellout of season tickets) but is also well aware of what his team needs to do in order to be successful.

“This team, we’re good enough where we’ve got our blinders on and are just getting after it each and every day. We understand that today is the only day that counts, so we’re focusing on today. All that noise is just out the window for us.”

A big part of that “noise” surrounding this team is due to their depth and talent on the mound, both in the bullpen and the starting rotation. While that took a hit with the dismissal of left-hander Tyler Stubblefield yesterday, Childress feels like the Aggies are ready and willing to bounce back from that.

“We’ve got an awful lot of guys that we hope to step up and an awful lot of talent. This is another opportunity for another guy,” He said. “The next three weeks are going to be really important for that, getting to see these guys in game situations now that we’re here in the spring.”

One of those guys who may be called upon to fill Stubblefield’s place is senior Andrew Vinson. The hard throwing righty echoed his coach’s sentiments when discussing the pitching situation.

“It obviously hurts because he was a great teammate and a great friend,” Said Vinson. “But, it is something we have to get through. As a team, we’re pretty strong and we’re going to keep our heads down and keep focusing on our goals.”

Part of that strength comes from going through another tough situation last year, in which A&M lost not one but two Friday starters.

“We base ourselves off being relentless,” Vinson said. “We’re never out of anything and we have so many talented guys who are able to get the job done that just haven't gotten their chance yet. So it’s just another opportunity for a young guy to step up or for a guy who has been here for a while to step up,

“It’s just another opportunity.”

In a season full of expectations and possibilities, the Aggies are ready to get things rolling.

With just over three weeks remaining before Hofstra comes to Olsen Field, that first opportunity is almost here.