Texas Tech University Athletics
A Call To Arms
February 23, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2002
Baseball is a funny game. It is full of intricacies, superstitions and myths. In a game with so many traditions and so much history there are only a few constants.
Baseball has three main phases: hitting, defense and pitching. While good baseball is not possible without all three of these, arguably the most important one is pitching. Without a strong pitching staff a team is forced to out slug a team, a feat that rarely translates into winning baseball. The 2002 Texas Tech Red Raiders are lucky enough to be led into the season by a strong pitching staff that will anchor the team for another run at a Big 12 Championship.
The first pitcher to garner the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week title this season, senior Chris Phillips is looked upon to guide a staff of young pitchers into a competitive conference that boasts five teams in the Top 25. A return trip to the NCAA tournament will rest on the Texas Tech pitching corps and it is a task the guys are ready to take on.
"Everybody on this team is capable of going out there and shutting down anybody on any given day," says Phillips, who has quickly emerged as the staff's ace after throwing back-to-back complete games against New Mexico and TCU. "What it comes down to is their concentration and focus and whether they're competing against the other team and not themselves."
With several young, but talented arms, the Red Raiders will look to Phillips to set the tone and attitude that will propel Texas Tech into the post-season.
"It's fun to watch Phillips go out and pitch two games and complete them to show everybody how it's done," says sophomore righty Steve Gooch, in his first year at Tech after transferring from Howard College. "It's good to have someone good as Chris as an example to follow up. (Division I baseball) is a totally different game. It's shocking to come out and play in front of so many more people and the stakes are so much higher. There's a lot more riding on a game."
Phillips may lead by example on the hill but it's up to each individual pitcher to motivate himself before toeing the rubber. Baseball players, especially pitchers, have been known to be some of the most superstitious athletes and it's no different with Tech. Phillips, for example, will not shave on game days.
"Everyone has their own rituals and every player is different," says senior southpaw J.J. Newman. "I think it's bad luck to be superstitious, but everybody has them. There are no team rituals. We don't burn chickens or sacrifice goats."
While Newman may not have a particular pre-game ritual, coming out of the bullpen presents its own obstacles. Whereas Phillips knows the exact time and day he'll throw, Newman must be ready any game, any time.
"You might come in with nobody on and two outs. Or you might come in and start an inning," Newman says. "You might come in with the bases loaded with nobody out. I think it's difficult to prepare for all those different situations individually. I just come out everyday ready to pitch."
While the preparation for each hurler may differ, the desired outcome is the same. Any pitcher will attest that a win is a win, ugly or not. Baseball players, unlike other athletes, must learn to deal with failure. A successful hitter will fail seven times out of ten at the plate, while a pitcher must learn to rely on the other eight players on the field.
Newman bluntly says, "The pitching staff just has to be mentally tough enough to go out there and not be afraid to fail."
The fate of the 2002 Red Raider Baseball team lies, in most part, with its cast of arms. Their attitude and focus will dictate just how far this group can go. While superstitions and rituals may help ease the pressures of pitching in, arguably, the toughest conference in the nation, concentration and leadership will ultimately be the deciding factors.
Phillips sums it up best, "Compete on every pitch. Don't lose concentration. Don't lose focus."
