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Mozingo rips a triple to Tal's Hill in Minute Maid Park vs Texas A&M
Most teams in any sport that are successful have different combinations of players that make them unique in many ways. There are players who play hurt and those who can't, but realize they'll live to fight another day.
There's also at least one player on every team that a coach just can't keep out of the lineup because that player won't stay out of the coach's ear---even though that player might be taped up at every joint and leaning on crutches.
But, depending on the chemistry of a particular team, those combinations can either break a team to its lowest level or make a team into one of the best in its sport and elevate it to levels of greatness that only few realize.
During the 2009 college baseball season, that team was the Rice Owls coached by Wayne Graham. That one such player was Rice Owls outfielder, Chad Mozingo.
With a broken right hand, and two sprained ankles, Mozingo and his Owl teammates played their way past the NCAA Regionals into the NCAA Super Regionals versus LSU.
"Coming into the season, we thought we were going to be a great team---we knew we had a chance to be. At the beginning of the year, we just showed flashes of brilliance especially at Minute Maid (Park), sweeping through Minute Maid." The Owls defeated UCLA, Texas A&M, and Baylor at Minute Maid Park in the Houston College Classic.
"Our pitching was just outstanding at first. We knew we had a chance if our pitching could hold up. We knew our offense was good enough. But when our top two guys, (Berry & Ojala), went down, that was a blow, and somehow we managed to win quite a few games with them down."
Two words--- Wayne Graham! The Skipper and his Owls would win 43 games on the season to be exact and would accomplish the feat with savvy baseball, talented, gutsy, unselfish players, and people willing ignore their injuries and play hurt---like Mozingo.
Talk about bubble gum and tape, that's how this Rice Owl played most of the season. Look at Chad's list of injuries.
- Broken Right Hand --- injury sustained in mid-May during the Championship game vs Southern Miss at the Conference USA tournament in Hattiesburg. Played with the broken hand the remainder of the season. Current status---Last Thursday, June 11th, less than a week after the Super Regionals, underwent successful surgery to remove the hamate bone in that hand.
- Sprained Right Ankle --- injury sustained versus Lamar in Beaumont, April 8th, while attempting to slide into third base. Mozingo explains. "I slid too hard into third on turf and just jammed the ankle into the bag. My body went pass the bag. The ankle stayed back and twisted." Ouch! Mozingo would be out three weeks. Current status---An MRI was performed on that ankle Monday, June 15th, and there is some good news. According to Mozingo, Dr. Clanton has advised physical therapy over surgery.
- Sprained Left Ankle --- injury sustained during non-baseball related activity the later part of 2008. Had ankle examined before the season opener versus Cal Poly. However, declined to have surgery until the end of the season. That's wanting to play. Current status---preparing to have ankle surgery Thursday, June 25th, to repair damaged ligaments---similar to that of third baseman Anthony Rendon.
KEPT PRODUCING GOOD NUMBERS!
Regardless of the injuries, etc., Mozingo had a very productive season at the plate. He would start 54 of the 58 games he would play. Chad hit .319 in 216 at bats and score 47 runs. He was also a good run producer. Mozingo drove in 50 runs on 69 hits, 8 of those were homeruns.
It's extremely difficult to keep producing good numbers when playing hurt, especially for Mozingo. "It definitely made me tougher mentally. I've never really had any serious injuries that have kept me from playing before. I had one injury back in high school, (Klein/Spring), with my wrist and I just took a numbing agent and it went away."
So, sustaining injuries are new territory for him but he managed because he said he wanted to play. Mozingo would numb that injured right hand before every game. Pinch-hitting did not hurt his cause either. But, how did he compensate for the ankle injuries. Oddly enough, Mozingo said that he contributed the most to the team at the plate after being out of the lineup for 3 weeks. He credits his success to a few adjustments and a change of mindset.
"My bat speed was probably a little down. But, I had to change my approach. Like with my ankle---I couldn't really open up my front foot. I couldn't really turn as good. But, I just changed my approach, (and resorted), to hitting the ball over the shortstop's head---a little "middle-away" approach. It kind of helped my game because they, (opposing pitchers), like to pitch me away." "It just goes to show you in the big leagues---and I'm sure---those guys are older and they have nagging injuries all the time---you just gotta play through it."
MOZINGO WAS MOTIVATED!
Regardless of his injuries, Mozingo wanted to contribute in some way---especially after watching key players sustain injuries while healthy teammates would come in for the injured and play well. "Ryan Lewis, (QB), came over from football in midseason and got some big hits for us--- playing right field. Some of the pitchers stepped up. Mark Haynes had to start some games. Matt Reckling had to start some games. Craig Manuel hit the ball well. Daniel Gonzales-Luna had about a three-week span where he was hitting close to .500. We had guys to step in big roles at big times during the year."
In addition, this was an Owls team that truly seemed to like each other and they proved it on and off the field. That helps teams win games. "That's something that everyone noticed. It's something you don't really talk about. It's just something you just know when you have a special group---that there's no clicks that separate themselves from the team. Everyone hung out together and we were all in it together and pulling for each other and there were just a lot of good attitudes in the dugout."
REST AND GET READY!
Mozingo says he has big plans for the summer even though it will be about six weeks after ankle surgery before he can get back to being active. "I'm gonna work out when I can. My ankle is gonna limit me a little bit. But, my plans are to stay in shape best I can and get my body ready to really train for this upcoming season."
Speaking of the upcoming season, Mozingo says he's excited. "Absolutely! Yes! I think we have a chance to be just as good. I hear we're getting some real good players and we got a chance to get a couple of real good players back too---that might not sign up for the, (MLB), draft ."
All of the above are good reasons for Mozingo and the rest of the Owls to be excited---once they all get well!
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Mozingo---as his dad puts it "with the chipmunk face"
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Comments
Enjoyed your article about Mozingo. I was not aware of the extent of all his injuries. What is the latest on Rendon. I hope he will be fully recovered for next season. Like Chad, I too am very excited about next season. I feel with the new recruits, Rice will start the season in the top 5, and possibly a top 3 in the nation.
Nate, another informative and timely article about the baseball Owls. Thanks for stepping up.
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