The Morning Stake: July 5th

Texas Tech Baseball

Buy your very own Staking The Plains t-shirt at the Staking The Plains Threadless Shop. Click on that danged shirt (or the link).

Baseball America’s Teddy Cahill picks eight teams to get to Omaha next year and your guys in red and black make the list:

After not winning the Big 12 Conference for nearly 20 years, the Red Raiders have now won back-to-back titles. They fell short of their third trip to the CWS in four seasons, tripped up at home by Sam Houston State in regionals, but will have their sights set on Omaha again in 2018. Texas Tech returns its entire rotation of All-American lefthander Steven Gingery and righthanders Davis Martin and Ryan Shetter. Offensively, the Red Raiders will miss first baseman Hunter Hargrove, the co-Big 12 Conference player of the year, shortstop Orlando Garcia and center fielder Tanner Gardner. But the Red Raiders had a strong group of freshmen in the everyday lineup, led by All-Freshmen third baseman Josh Jung and outfielder Grant Little, who will be ready to take on even larger roles in the offense as sophomores. Classmate John McMillion showed his powerful potential on the mound and at the plate this spring, and will get better as he refines the rough edges of his game with more experience. Expectations will be high for Texas Tech, but coach Tim Tadlock will have the Red Raiders ready to handle them.

Texas Tech Football

Looks like a fun group.

Great time with the🐐 alumni of Texas tech🔴⚫️#wreckem #gunsup @_TheDreamIsHere @bamaowens_11 pic.twitter.com/yMzrDo8ypM

— MekhiGarner28‼️ (@juicedupp28) July 4, 2017

Get to know defensive end Quentin Yontz and his beard.

Our newcomers series rolls on with Quentin Yontz, a defensive line transfer from Corona, California!

🏈🎟➡️ https://t.co/IXVOTx5mxS #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/ygBMN2gOWW

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) July 3, 2017

It was a slow news day on Monday, but here goes. RotoWorld has their top 75 fantasy quarterbacks and Nic Shimonek is 11th overall, behind Baker Mayfield (3) and Mason Rudolph (6). That probably seems about right for me. I think statistically, Shimonek will be just fine. A couple of interesting notes: Quinton Flowers from USF is 2nd overall and Eric Dungy is 9th overall. Kenny Hill from TCU is 17 and Shane Buechele is 26th overall.