I went out for interviews yesterday and here's what they had to say:
GRANT WITHERSPOON
What are your initial thoughts being back out on the diamond?
“It’s great to be back. Coach says treat it like another practice. We’re not really counting down at all, but everyone knows it’s getting close. It really feels good. I’m getting excited. A lot of people around here are really excited.”
Do you feel like you guys have your sea legs under you more this year compared to last year?
“Any time you have a new coach thrown into the mix like that quick, it’s going to be a tough adjustment. I feel like everyone this year is a lot more comfortable from both sides. Coach Jewett seems a little more comfortable and we’re definitely a lot more comfortable with everything.”
From a philosophy standpoint, what are you most comfortable with?
“I would say just for the guys who played last year, we know he wants to play fast, know he wants to be aggressive, wants to pitch and play defense and then clutch hitting.”
What are your thoughts on the non-conference schedule?
“It’s really good. That’s what we want. Good RPI teams, and that will be great for us. If we can have a good year against those teams, we are going to be set up pretty well. Postseason is the goal like in my freshman season, and playing those kind of teams is what is going to get us there.”
You had to introduce yourself to a lot of your teammates in the fall. How do you feel this team has jelled since then?
“I was kind of wondering how it would be with lots of new guys, but every new guy I’ve met is here for the right reasons. Everyone on our team is a good guy.”
You could not win with the inability of the pitchers to get the ball over the plate last year. Watching them, how much better do you think the control will be this season?
“It was impossible (to win with all the walks). I think it’s going to be night and day with this year’s staff compared to last year’s. Everyone just has a lot more confidence, even in the scrimmages. These guys can throw it, they can control the ball, we have some back end guys with good stuff and we’ve got a lot of guys who can start a game, which is nice.”
When you’re out on the field, how much more confidence does it give you when you trust the guys on the mound?
“I’ve been on the pitching side of it when everyone’s eyes are on you. When you’re having a good day it’s awesome and when you’re struggling, everyone’s a little bit down. It starts and ends with those guys.”
So you don’t expect to be called to pitch at all this year, right?S
“Coach asked, but I think my days are done there (laughing).”
What are your impressions of new hitting coach Eddie Smith?
“It’s good. Everything is going good, and Jarret DeHart has also helped out a lot, too, with everyone, making huge strides as far as mechanics wise and mentality wise. I’m really confident in the lineup we’re going to put together.”
There’s not as much pop in the lineup. How will you compensate?
“You don’t know that, but some new guys can hit some. We’re going to make up for it in other ways. We’re going to hit some home runs, too, though. We’ve got some power.”
ROSS MASSEY
What are your thoughts on the first day of practice?
“It’s a great feeling. We’re all excited, working hard. We’re transitioning from individuals to team practice and are just excited to get going here.”
What do you feel like you guys have coming back?
“We have a lot of new guys and a lot of returning guys, too. We started some junior college guys and then some new freshmen as well. The group’s coming together as a unit and we’re ready to go.”
What do you think about the challenging non-conference schedule?
“We’re looking forward to it. We are playing a great schedule, but coach Jewett always preaches just take it one game at a time, so we’ll get there whenever we see who we’ll play, but right now we’re just focusing on having a good practice today.”
How do you feel about playing Cal St. Fullerton and the other tough non-conference opponents?
“We want to play the best competition. That’s what we’re going to prepare for. That’s what we’re going to practice for, so I think we’ll be ready, but it starts today. We’re just looking forward to this practice and getting better out here today.”
How do you feel about being an upperclassman trying to help these freshmen along?
“This is my third year now, so I think I can help the younger guys and the junior college guys kind of get used to it and show them the ropes a little bit, but I think we have a lot of leaders. The junior college guys have played a lot of baseball. They are pretty good players, so we’ll have a lot of new, older guys as you’ll see throughout the season.”
You had a rough year last season. Where do you feel you are entering this season?
“I have a lot of confidence. I’ve been practicing hard and the team’s been practicing hard and we’re all just ready to get out there and show what we’ve been working on.”
When did you start getting your groove back in terms of control?
“Coming into the fall we all just wanted to get back in a groove together, and I think from that first practice forward we were just really focused and taking it day by day. Coming out here now, we’re trying to add all that up together and go into the season strong.”
Last year there were tremendous expectations, but this year you are picked near the bottom of the AAC. How different is it?
“We’re not too worried about all the outside noise. We’re just focused on our group. We’ll be ready to play each game as it comes to us. Right now we’re in a great position. All the focus is on this season. All the guys in our locker room, everybody is ready to go. I think it’s going to be a great 2018 year.”
Do things feel more calm entering your second season under coach Jewett?
“We all know what to expect out of coach Jewett. He’s a great coach with a lot of energy, and I think we’ve adapted well to that. We’re just ready to go with him as our leader.”
What do you think of the team’s overall pitching?
“Pitching’s everything. It starts with the pitching staff, and I think we’ve built a really good staff this year with a lot of new guys, a lot of freshmen. You’re going to see some new names emerge.”
GRANT WITHERSPOON
What are your initial thoughts being back out on the diamond?
“It’s great to be back. Coach says treat it like another practice. We’re not really counting down at all, but everyone knows it’s getting close. It really feels good. I’m getting excited. A lot of people around here are really excited.”
Do you feel like you guys have your sea legs under you more this year compared to last year?
“Any time you have a new coach thrown into the mix like that quick, it’s going to be a tough adjustment. I feel like everyone this year is a lot more comfortable from both sides. Coach Jewett seems a little more comfortable and we’re definitely a lot more comfortable with everything.”
From a philosophy standpoint, what are you most comfortable with?
“I would say just for the guys who played last year, we know he wants to play fast, know he wants to be aggressive, wants to pitch and play defense and then clutch hitting.”
What are your thoughts on the non-conference schedule?
“It’s really good. That’s what we want. Good RPI teams, and that will be great for us. If we can have a good year against those teams, we are going to be set up pretty well. Postseason is the goal like in my freshman season, and playing those kind of teams is what is going to get us there.”
You had to introduce yourself to a lot of your teammates in the fall. How do you feel this team has jelled since then?
“I was kind of wondering how it would be with lots of new guys, but every new guy I’ve met is here for the right reasons. Everyone on our team is a good guy.”
You could not win with the inability of the pitchers to get the ball over the plate last year. Watching them, how much better do you think the control will be this season?
“It was impossible (to win with all the walks). I think it’s going to be night and day with this year’s staff compared to last year’s. Everyone just has a lot more confidence, even in the scrimmages. These guys can throw it, they can control the ball, we have some back end guys with good stuff and we’ve got a lot of guys who can start a game, which is nice.”
When you’re out on the field, how much more confidence does it give you when you trust the guys on the mound?
“I’ve been on the pitching side of it when everyone’s eyes are on you. When you’re having a good day it’s awesome and when you’re struggling, everyone’s a little bit down. It starts and ends with those guys.”
So you don’t expect to be called to pitch at all this year, right?S
“Coach asked, but I think my days are done there (laughing).”
What are your impressions of new hitting coach Eddie Smith?
“It’s good. Everything is going good, and Jarret DeHart has also helped out a lot, too, with everyone, making huge strides as far as mechanics wise and mentality wise. I’m really confident in the lineup we’re going to put together.”
There’s not as much pop in the lineup. How will you compensate?
“You don’t know that, but some new guys can hit some. We’re going to make up for it in other ways. We’re going to hit some home runs, too, though. We’ve got some power.”
ROSS MASSEY
What are your thoughts on the first day of practice?
“It’s a great feeling. We’re all excited, working hard. We’re transitioning from individuals to team practice and are just excited to get going here.”
What do you feel like you guys have coming back?
“We have a lot of new guys and a lot of returning guys, too. We started some junior college guys and then some new freshmen as well. The group’s coming together as a unit and we’re ready to go.”
What do you think about the challenging non-conference schedule?
“We’re looking forward to it. We are playing a great schedule, but coach Jewett always preaches just take it one game at a time, so we’ll get there whenever we see who we’ll play, but right now we’re just focusing on having a good practice today.”
How do you feel about playing Cal St. Fullerton and the other tough non-conference opponents?
“We want to play the best competition. That’s what we’re going to prepare for. That’s what we’re going to practice for, so I think we’ll be ready, but it starts today. We’re just looking forward to this practice and getting better out here today.”
How do you feel about being an upperclassman trying to help these freshmen along?
“This is my third year now, so I think I can help the younger guys and the junior college guys kind of get used to it and show them the ropes a little bit, but I think we have a lot of leaders. The junior college guys have played a lot of baseball. They are pretty good players, so we’ll have a lot of new, older guys as you’ll see throughout the season.”
You had a rough year last season. Where do you feel you are entering this season?
“I have a lot of confidence. I’ve been practicing hard and the team’s been practicing hard and we’re all just ready to get out there and show what we’ve been working on.”
When did you start getting your groove back in terms of control?
“Coming into the fall we all just wanted to get back in a groove together, and I think from that first practice forward we were just really focused and taking it day by day. Coming out here now, we’re trying to add all that up together and go into the season strong.”
Last year there were tremendous expectations, but this year you are picked near the bottom of the AAC. How different is it?
“We’re not too worried about all the outside noise. We’re just focused on our group. We’ll be ready to play each game as it comes to us. Right now we’re in a great position. All the focus is on this season. All the guys in our locker room, everybody is ready to go. I think it’s going to be a great 2018 year.”
Do things feel more calm entering your second season under coach Jewett?
“We all know what to expect out of coach Jewett. He’s a great coach with a lot of energy, and I think we’ve adapted well to that. We’re just ready to go with him as our leader.”
What do you think of the team’s overall pitching?
“Pitching’s everything. It starts with the pitching staff, and I think we’ve built a really good staff this year with a lot of new guys, a lot of freshmen. You’re going to see some new names emerge.”