Texas A&M has many great baseball players. Shane is one of my favorites.

"Shane Sdao: Fightin' Texas Aggie Baseball Legend"

Hullabaloo, Kaneck, Kaneck
Hullabaloo, Kaneck, Kaneck

Blue Bell Park is humming.
Olsen Field is groomed, green and tan.
The 12th Man is yelling Gig 'em Aggies,
Diamond Darlings are dancing and singing.

Earley and Pennington are comparing notes.
I'm day-dreaming of games of years long ago,
And an Aggie bat girl, Kim Tomes, Miss USA.

After the War Hymn is sung,
The ump says "play ball."
Shane Sdao takes the mound.
It's baseball time in Aggieland!

Thirty-eight, that's his number.
Sarah's in the stands,
Ready to yell, yell, yell,
So the game can begin.

Suh-day-o, Suh-day-o.
Strike 'em out, Strike 'em out.
Strike 'em all out, Sdao.
Do it agin' Sdao!

Come mister tally man, tally me an out.
Midnight come and the ags want to go home.
Come mister tally man, tally the last out.
Shane and the ags want to go home.

Half-foot, no-foot, it's a heater.
One-foot, two-foot, watch Shane's slider.
Two-foot, three-foot drop in his curve.
Knuckle down and win this game.
Keep the teasip on his back foot,
Make the teasip lose his nerve.

F-you, Schloss, he said.
That was his dinger.
Give ol' Schloss the finger.

****************
Indebted to Harry Belafonte's "Day-o,"
(the Banana Boat Song), faster tempo.

I've been thinking about Sdao's pitches. Considering he's had surgery, what about him spending time working on a change up and a knuckle ball. If he could learn to throw a good knuckle ball, I think that would add lots to his value and longevity. There seem to be some concerns about his slender build for MLB. I think having a good knuckle ball might solve that problem. I wish he would come back to A&M for another year and work on his knuckle ball. A knuckler can be a starting pitcher or long relief guy and two days later throw knuckle balls etc. for a few outs. Thoughts?

In the texags baseball book discussion, a book being discussed is Ball Four, by Jim Bouton, a knuckle baller. I've been reading that book and two other books about two other knuckle ballers. One book is by Phil Niekro and the other book contains letters between Phil and his brother, so I have knuckle ballers on my mind.

ADDED: after reading about how difficult it is to develop a knuckle ball, often taking years, my opinion is limited to saying that Shane might benefit from perfecting his change-up should he choose another year at A&M. I do think it would be great if Shane and Bryce could discuss their pitches etc.