Has anyone heard anything about the intrasquads? Are any of the new players standing out so far?

Nobody in attendance this fall?

With intrasquads in the rearview, does anyone have any insights about the starting position battles? Who hit better than expected this fall?

I feel very comfortable with our arms. I'd expect Wiggins/Sanders at 1-2, and thought Thames could end up in the rotation but fall scrimmage usage has been back end of pen...

Maybe Ryland is #3 and the pen is Sharp/Sullivan followed by Thames? Would be awesome if Rivers Kurland made a difference too.

(11-05-2026 09:22 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  With intrasquads in the rearview, does anyone have any insights about the starting position battles? Who hit better than expected this fall?

I feel very comfortable with our arms. I'd expect Wiggins/Sanders at 1-2, and thought Thames could end up in the rotation but fall scrimmage usage has been back end of pen...

Maybe Ryland is #3 and the pen is Sharp/Sullivan followed by Thames? Would be awesome if Rivers Kurland made a difference too.

Thames was always going to be one of our closers out of the pen. Baker and Ethan Rivers also had strong Fall campaigns. And don't forget about Fernandez, Brackin and Eppley. If Fernandez is healthy, he's a starter. Brackin and Eppley are both co-closer material.

(11-05-2026 09:36 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:22 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  With intrasquads in the rearview, does anyone have any insights about the starting position battles? Who hit better than expected this fall?

I feel very comfortable with our arms. I'd expect Wiggins/Sanders at 1-2, and thought Thames could end up in the rotation but fall scrimmage usage has been back end of pen...

Maybe Ryland is #3 and the pen is Sharp/Sullivan followed by Thames? Would be awesome if Rivers Kurland made a difference too.

Thames was always going to be one of our closers out of the pen. Baker and Ethan Rivers also had strong Fall campaigns. And don't forget about Fernandez, Brackin and Eppley. If Fernandez is healthy, he's a starter. Brackin and Eppley are both co-closer material.

Honestly what makes Fernandez a starter if healthy? It'll be 22 months since he's been off the mound and our staff looks a lot different now than it did when he was last in the starting rotation. Nothing against Bobby Fernandez, but I don't think he's a shoe in even if healthy.

(11-05-2026 10:15 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:36 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:22 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  With intrasquads in the rearview, does anyone have any insights about the starting position battles? Who hit better than expected this fall?

I feel very comfortable with our arms. I'd expect Wiggins/Sanders at 1-2, and thought Thames could end up in the rotation but fall scrimmage usage has been back end of pen...

Maybe Ryland is #3 and the pen is Sharp/Sullivan followed by Thames? Would be awesome if Rivers Kurland made a difference too.

Thames was always going to be one of our closers out of the pen. Baker and Ethan Rivers also had strong Fall campaigns. And don't forget about Fernandez, Brackin and Eppley. If Fernandez is healthy, he's a starter. Brackin and Eppley are both co-closer material.

Honestly what makes Fernandez a starter if healthy? It'll be 22 months since he's been off the mound and our staff looks a lot different now than it did when he was last in the starting rotation. Nothing against Bobby Fernandez, but I don't think he's a shoe in even if healthy.

Baker was up to 101 in the Fall, and throwing a lot more strikes. Brackin Has been doing well. Thames, Baker, and Brackin will be the main shutdown inning guys. Sanders will be fighting for Friday night guy. Sharp will fight for a starting roll. Fernandez may get midweek innings. Fetchel seems to be doing good also. There are a lot of pitchers on the team that have done well this Fall. It will be a battle for innings.

Hitters - OF I think will be Daigre, Davilla, and Gingrich. I think Robson has lost his starting job for now, but if he comes back hot in the Spring he will earn it back quick. I lot can change over the break and the beginning of Spring with starters and pitchers. I think the team will be better than last year. Pitching will probably keep them in games. Hitting might be an issue.

Who knows, I could be way off and none of this is correct. Can't wait to watch them this Spring.

(11-05-2026 02:57 PM)OKSURE Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:15 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:36 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:22 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  With intrasquads in the rearview, does anyone have any insights about the starting position battles? Who hit better than expected this fall?

I feel very comfortable with our arms. I'd expect Wiggins/Sanders at 1-2, and thought Thames could end up in the rotation but fall scrimmage usage has been back end of pen...

Maybe Ryland is #3 and the pen is Sharp/Sullivan followed by Thames? Would be awesome if Rivers Kurland made a difference too.

Thames was always going to be one of our closers out of the pen. Baker and Ethan Rivers also had strong Fall campaigns. And don't forget about Fernandez, Brackin and Eppley. If Fernandez is healthy, he's a starter. Brackin and Eppley are both co-closer material.

Honestly what makes Fernandez a starter if healthy? It'll be 22 months since he's been off the mound and our staff looks a lot different now than it did when he was last in the starting rotation. Nothing against Bobby Fernandez, but I don't think he's a shoe in even if healthy.

Baker was up to 101 in the Fall, and throwing a lot more strikes. Brackin Has been doing well. Thames, Baker, and Brackin will be the main shutdown inning guys. Sanders will be fighting for Friday night guy. Sharp will fight for a starting roll. Fernandez may get midweek innings. Fetchel seems to be doing good also. There are a lot of pitchers on the team that have done well this Fall. It will be a battle for innings.

Hitters - OF I think will be Daigre, Davilla, and Gingrich. I think Robson has lost his starting job for now, but if he comes back hot in the Spring he will earn it back quick. I lot can change over the break and the beginning of Spring with starters and pitchers. I think the team will be better than last year. Pitching will probably keep them in games. Hitting might be an issue.

Who knows, I could be way off and none of this is correct. Can't wait to watch them this Spring.

Who do you think is the favorite for the Sunday role? I can't get a read on Ryland.

(11-06-2026 07:19 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 02:57 PM)OKSURE Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:15 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:36 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:22 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  With intrasquads in the rearview, does anyone have any insights about the starting position battles? Who hit better than expected this fall?

I feel very comfortable with our arms. I'd expect Wiggins/Sanders at 1-2, and thought Thames could end up in the rotation but fall scrimmage usage has been back end of pen...

Maybe Ryland is #3 and the pen is Sharp/Sullivan followed by Thames? Would be awesome if Rivers Kurland made a difference too.

Thames was always going to be one of our closers out of the pen. Baker and Ethan Rivers also had strong Fall campaigns. And don't forget about Fernandez, Brackin and Eppley. If Fernandez is healthy, he's a starter. Brackin and Eppley are both co-closer material.

Honestly what makes Fernandez a starter if healthy? It'll be 22 months since he's been off the mound and our staff looks a lot different now than it did when he was last in the starting rotation. Nothing against Bobby Fernandez, but I don't think he's a shoe in even if healthy.

Baker was up to 101 in the Fall, and throwing a lot more strikes. Brackin Has been doing well. Thames, Baker, and Brackin will be the main shutdown inning guys. Sanders will be fighting for Friday night guy. Sharp will fight for a starting roll. Fernandez may get midweek innings. Fetchel seems to be doing good also. There are a lot of pitchers on the team that have done well this Fall. It will be a battle for innings.

Hitters - OF I think will be Daigre, Davilla, and Gingrich. I think Robson has lost his starting job for now, but if he comes back hot in the Spring he will earn it back quick. I lot can change over the break and the beginning of Spring with starters and pitchers. I think the team will be better than last year. Pitching will probably keep them in games. Hitting might be an issue.

Who knows, I could be way off and none of this is correct. Can't wait to watch them this Spring.

Who do you think is the favorite for the Sunday role? I can't get a read on Ryland.

My honest opinion is the pitchers who are battling to start on the weekend are Sanders, Sharp, Wiggins, Urbanczyk, Diaz, Fetchel, Kurland.

Sanders has had the best Fall. Sharp will strike out the world, but also walk the world. Wiggins will get outs and can go 9 innings every game if they let him. He might give up 50 hits, but somehow gets out of it and never gets tired. Urbanczyk, honestly had luck on his side last Spring was always bailed out by other pitchers when he was in trouble. He had an ok Fall, but he is a RHP that tops 90 and sits 87-89. Rice has 7 more arms that are better, but less experienced. I think he will get his chance to keep the starting Sunday role, but it could be short lived. The other three probably deserve a chance to start. There are at least 10 -12 really good pitchers on the team, that will not get as many innings as they should because there are so many good pitchers. It will be a battle, and that is probably a good thing because the ones who get to pitch will not want to lose it. Again I could be way off, and we have terrible pitching and awesome hitters.

(11-06-2026 09:46 AM)OKSURE Wrote:  

(11-06-2026 07:19 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 02:57 PM)OKSURE Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 10:15 AM)austinbirds Wrote:  

(11-05-2026 09:36 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Thames was always going to be one of our closers out of the pen. Baker and Ethan Rivers also had strong Fall campaigns. And don't forget about Fernandez, Brackin and Eppley. If Fernandez is healthy, he's a starter. Brackin and Eppley are both co-closer material.

Honestly what makes Fernandez a starter if healthy? It'll be 22 months since he's been off the mound and our staff looks a lot different now than it did when he was last in the starting rotation. Nothing against Bobby Fernandez, but I don't think he's a shoe in even if healthy.

Baker was up to 101 in the Fall, and throwing a lot more strikes. Brackin Has been doing well. Thames, Baker, and Brackin will be the main shutdown inning guys. Sanders will be fighting for Friday night guy. Sharp will fight for a starting roll. Fernandez may get midweek innings. Fetchel seems to be doing good also. There are a lot of pitchers on the team that have done well this Fall. It will be a battle for innings.

Hitters - OF I think will be Daigre, Davilla, and Gingrich. I think Robson has lost his starting job for now, but if he comes back hot in the Spring he will earn it back quick. I lot can change over the break and the beginning of Spring with starters and pitchers. I think the team will be better than last year. Pitching will probably keep them in games. Hitting might be an issue.

Who knows, I could be way off and none of this is correct. Can't wait to watch them this Spring.

Who do you think is the favorite for the Sunday role? I can't get a read on Ryland.

My honest opinion is the pitchers who are battling to start on the weekend are Sanders, Sharp, Wiggins, Urbanczyk, Diaz, Fetchel, Kurland.

Sanders has had the best Fall. Sharp will strike out the world, but also walk the world. Wiggins will get outs and can go 9 innings every game if they let him. He might give up 50 hits, but somehow gets out of it and never gets tired. Urbanczyk, honestly had luck on his side last Spring was always bailed out by other pitchers when he was in trouble. He had an ok Fall, but he is a RHP that tops 90 and sits 87-89. Rice has 7 more arms that are better, but less experienced. I think he will get his chance to keep the starting Sunday role, but it could be short lived. The other three probably deserve a chance to start. There are at least 10 -12 really good pitchers on the team, that will not get as many innings as they should because there are so many good pitchers. It will be a battle, and that is probably a good thing because the ones who get to pitch will not want to lose it. Again I could be way off, and we have terrible pitching and awesome hitters.

Good insights; much appreciated. In my mind Sanders and Wiggins are locks. I think we have the best staff in the American. Curious if we end up in the top 3 of the coaches' poll.

That Kansas team can hit but arms are just ok - would be an incredible series to steal.