Butch Thompson speaks to the media before Auburn opens the season in Arlington, Texas against Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Kansas State...
** Excited to play against good opponents. Helped us prepare for the season and will give us a good look at our team. Want us to go out and compete.
** Half this team is new. Getting on road together will help us grow closer. This tournament will help us know exactly what we need to work on.
** Tommy Sheehan will start against Oklahoma. Will be careful with pitch count. Sunday's starter will be Trace Bright. Will wait on Saturday because not sure how long Sheehan can go. Jospeh Gonzalez and Hayden Mullins will figure in.
** Oklahoma and Texas will have big arms.
** Blake Burkhalter will be the closer. In 12 of 20 SEC losses last season, AU was tied or ahead in the 7th inning so continuing to develop the bullpen will be a focus of the earn part of the season.
** Auburn is bringing in the students tonight for practice to try and build a better homefield advantage. Will have a lot of activities tonight for students. We need them in a big way to move our needle like they have in other sports.
** Have a lot of depth in position players. May play three catchers in opening weekend. Ryan Dyal, Jake Wyandt and Nate LaRue could all play. LaRue could also pitch a couple of innings this weekend. DiChiara and Cam Hill will play 1B/DH. Brody Moore is the SS. Kason Howell is locked into CF. Cole Foster is playing a good 2B. Talented prospect, switch hitter. Blake Rambush has played well at 3B. He has competitive at-bats at top of order.
** Would like to return home with a successful weekend and being able to play a lot of guys.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
** Excited to play against good opponents. Helped us prepare for the season and will give us a good look at our team. Want us to go out and compete.
** Half this team is new. Getting on road together will help us grow closer. This tournament will help us know exactly what we need to work on.
** Tommy Sheehan will start against Oklahoma. Will be careful with pitch count. Sunday's starter will be Trace Bright. Will wait on Saturday because not sure how long Sheehan can go. Jospeh Gonzalez and Hayden Mullins will figure in.
** Oklahoma and Texas will have big arms.
** Blake Burkhalter will be the closer. In 12 of 20 SEC losses last season, AU was tied or ahead in the 7th inning so continuing to develop the bullpen will be a focus of the earn part of the season.
** Auburn is bringing in the students tonight for practice to try and build a better homefield advantage. Will have a lot of activities tonight for students. We need them in a big way to move our needle like they have in other sports.
** Have a lot of depth in position players. May play three catchers in opening weekend. Ryan Dyal, Jake Wyandt and Nate LaRue could all play. LaRue could also pitch a couple of innings this weekend. DiChiara and Cam Hill will play 1B/DH. Brody Moore is the SS. Kason Howell is locked into CF. Cole Foster is playing a good 2B. Talented prospect, switch hitter. Blake Rambush has played well at 3B. He has competitive at-bats at top of order.
** Would like to return home with a successful weekend and being able to play a lot of guys.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
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