• Mike Forman •
• Originally published January 13, 2009 at 12:50 a.m., updated January 13, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.

University of Houston-Victoria baseball coach Terry Puhl realizes critiquing Tony Rothman's hitting is like complaining about a super-model's inability to cook.

But Puhl has no doubt the Jaguars' most productive hitter last season could be even better this season.

"He can still be a much more disciplined hitter than he is," Puhl said. "One of his problems is, is he's so much of a maverick-type player and you can even see that with his defense. He's come a long ways in one year and I continually remind him of that. He's got a lot of natural ability and you've got to be careful there because as a coach if you start taking away that, then you've got less of a player. I have to give in to him a little bit even if he has a less-disciplined approach to hitting."

Puhl worked with Rothman and the other Jaguars on Monday as they began preparations for their second season, which gets under way with a doubleheader against Northwood University on Jan. 30 at Riverside Stadium.

"This week it's more or less just get them throwing, take it easy about half to three-quarters speed," said Puhl, who led UHV to a 29-5 record in its inaugural season. "That's all we'll work on is technique, technique. Then we'll go over plays like first to third. All the necessary fundamentals that we do."

Puhl has been anxious to work with Rothman since he hit a team-leading .469 with four home runs, two triples, nine doubles and 42 RBI.

Rothman, who came to UHV from Alvin Community College and played in high school at Needville, put up those numbers despite tearing a ligament in his wrist in the fall and hurting his ankle in the first game last spring.

"There's some things he can do with his technique," Puhl said. "He has a tendency to hold his hands in a starting position that is not the best starting position to be, so I have to remind him. I don't want to take away from him swinging at maybe balls a little out of the strike zone because he's capable of hitting those. If you start doing that change, you get much less of a hitter. I want him to be aggressive at the plate, but I want him to be more traditional."

Rothman welcomes Puhl's input and honesty.

"I like the way it's more of a professional environment with coach Puhl," Rothman said. "He treats you like a man. He doesn't baby you. He leaves everything up to you so you can get your work done. He just helps you along the way with a lot of new stuff."

Rothman was pleased with how well the Jaguars performed last season and he believes the team will be better this season.

"We meshed well together," Rothman said. "We kind of surprised everybody with how well we did. It was disappointing not being able to make it to the playoffs and this year they've done something about that so we know we have a chance of getting in the playoffs. We've just got to play well and continue what we started last year."

NOTES: Puhl said second baseman Jon McDonald will be sidelined for a few weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia...pitcher Brandon Castolenia is academically ineligible and will not return this season...Stroman graduate Doug Heinold has taken over as the pitching coach and Robert Tripson has returned as a volunteer coach.

• University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars

  Season opener:

  Jan. 30, 2 p.m., Riverside Stadium, doubleheader against Northwood University

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