"Even with the losses, the 2006 group is a good one (certainly appearing much better overall than the 2007 crop). We'll just have to see from there. Maybe the Ags have some surprises in store..."
This is my first post, so I'm trying to get the hang of it.....
Waffle: As for the quote above as well as the one about the Chad Mozingo verbal to A & M as "Interesting",.. you obviously aren't up to speed on the local talent pool in Houston.
David Alleman is a top-notch outfielder who was a huge contributor to the Woodlands success, and Chad Mozingo chose A & M over the likes of Rice, LSU, Baylor, U of H, TCU and UNLV. He batted .389 for his Jr season in the tough 14 5a district (Woodlands, Klein Collins, Klein), was named to Texas Area Code, and is probably the only kid anywhere who can say he hit a grand slam off Kyle Drabek (in district play back in April). Barret Loux is a very good pitcher as well. So, to suggest that Ahrens and Nettune are the only legit kids, is simply not accurate in my opinion.
As for the coaching staff, I heard that a prominent pitcher who played for both Johnson (2 years) and Childress (1 yr) has endorsed the new staff with flying colors. He is moving on to the pros, but I can tell you that I heard that the only regret he has at A & M was that he didn't play for the new staff all three years. He said that these guys are very, very good, and predicts they will win big, and win soon.
Granted, it doesn't help that some great kids have changed their minds, or that Mitch Nelson (incoming Tomball pitcher) may miss his '07 season due to another injury...but point being...I have actually heard great things about thye future of A & M baseball.
Last thing...while the Aggies w/l record was not good last year, have a look at the number of 1-run losses. They didn't exactly get blown out...