Larry Hays Chat Wrap!

May 30, 2002

Larry Hays: (2:51 PM ET ) Good afternoon. I am here and ready to go. Let's get started.

Marty: What are you expecting from the Washington team?

Larry Hays: (2:53 PM ET ) I expect a team that is a mirror of what our teams have been over the past 8-10 years. Where we were in the top of the league in home runs and stolen bases. Those are two very unique categories that we have been a leader in for awhile. Look at their stat sheet and they are a great running and power team. They have three guys with 11 or more home runs. They just remind me of the teams we have had up until this year.

Ralph: Do you think that a baseball player gets more out of playing college ball or getting some extra time in the minor leagues?

Larry Hays: (2:56 PM ET ) I think it depends on what type of player he is. But for one, he will have a lot more fun playing college ball with the crowds, the ballparks and the travel. It is just a good situation. Whereas in pro ball, it is like being in jail -- small crowds, long bus rides. etc. I just don't think there is any comparison especially the education.

If a player has a lot of talent but hasn't developed the potential, that is where the minor leagues are beneificial. But other than that, I think the college route is the way to go.

Brian(Tampa): Coach, congragulations on your season so far and I wish you good luck even though I'm a Miami fan. I wanted to know what you think will be the key to your success in the Baseball championships?

Larry Hays: (2:57 PM ET ) Pitching is always the key. That has never meant more to a team then this team. Our year was so-so until we started getting three quality pitching performances during a weekend. We aren't the best defensive team as in the past and that makes the pitching that much more important. We are very relient on our pitching.

Adam (Lubbock): How does Steve Gooch matches-up against the Washington line-up, how do you think that the Tech pitchers will do in the humidity of Houston?

Larry Hays: (2:59 PM ET ) I think the only way we match up with them is pitching. Their guy is 11-4 and had a great two years as a starter and before that as a closer. We have to match them on the mound to give us a chance.

I don't think the humidity will be a factor in tomorrow's game as it will be during the day games over the weekend. If you can't pitch down here, you can't pitch. Down here is a pitcher's dream if you can handle the heat.

Geoff (Argyle, TX): What will it take to reach the CWS?

Larry Hays: (3:00 PM ET ) For this team, I go back to what I said before - we need unbelieveable pitching. We have to really step it up defensively. Offensively we have a chance if our pitching keeps us close. We have to pitch extremly well- ahead in the count, get outs early in the count because with this staff, if a hitter gets to see 4-5 pitcher per at-bats, that puts us behind the eight ball defensively.

Jeff: What happened to the pitching in the Big 12 tournament?

Larry Hays: (3:02 PM ET ) Our pitching was poor most of the year until we had that four-five games stretch of good pitching where we got some early outs. But in the Big 12 tournament, Buck had back trouble (he's feeling better) and Fouts also had problems. That has been the story of our year. The encouraging thing is that they pitched really well for 4-5 weeks and last week was just a down period. If they don't pitch well, we're through. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that if they pitch like they did last week, it will be an early vacation.

Sam ,Richfield Wi.: Have you had to deal with Bobby Knight?

Larry Hays: (3:05 PM ET ) I GOT to deal with Bobby Knight, not that I HAVE to deal with him. I had heard everything about him but he has been a real joy. He has been huge for this school and for Lubbuck and West Texas. He loves baseball and is a great fan and is knowledgable about the game. I love having him at the park. Anyone that enjoys the game would love talking baseball with Bobby Knight. He knows a lot of baseball people.

We had a kickoff luncheon and Bobby had a lot of his friends contribute to our fund raiser. I am very excited to get to know him.

Arlington: My son is going to be a Senior at Arlington High School. What is the best way for him to be noticed by you and your staff--he has his heart set on playing ball at Tech. Thanks Carol

Larry Hays: (3:06 PM ET ) The best way is to have a great year and play well this summer and get us a summer schedule. If we are going to be interested in signing him early, We need to watch him. Now that we are out from under the scholarship restrictions, we are signing more high school kids. But the main thing is get us a schedule and have a great summer and fall.

Rat: With all this talk about major leaguers taking steroids, what do you think about the use of steroids at the college level? Does anybody take them, and if so, could they ever get away with it?

Larry Hays: (3:08 PM ET ) It might be a problem on the college level but an old guy like me probably wouldn't know how to detect it. We do have college-level testing so I can only hope that if it is going on, we find out about it and educate these kids where it will take them. In the eyes of some of us, those long term problems can come really quick. But the real problem is that it is against the rules. You hear a lot about it and I think we would be naive to think it is not going on. Let's just hope it is on a limited basis for everyone's sake.

Frankie: Who is the best player that you've ever coached? What about the best you've coached against?

Larry Hays: (3:10 PM ET ) I have had several of those. It would be a mistake to talk about all of them. John Harris, Joe Dillon, Keith Ginter (got called up today). But I could name 10-15 guys that have played in the bigs but I don't really have one guy I could pinpoint. Every player has his strengths and I have had so many great players I would get in trouble naming them all. I have been lucky.

Geoff (Argyle): Do you see as tough a road to the CWS as Tech's faced in past years?

Larry Hays: (3:13 PM ET ) We have made 8 regionals in a row and I am proud of that. But since '95 we haven't made one intact. We have lost key players to injuries, grades, etc. and we are right back there this year. We lost another infielder a few weeks ago so that has hurt us defensively and at this level you have to be strong at every position. Unfortunately we have been this way the past couple of years. So it will be just as tough as it has in the past. But if we keep working at it, it will get better. We have to get to the point where we can overcome those losses.

Fort Worth: What type of players do you look for to fit into your program?

Larry Hays: (3:14 PM ET ) Number one, we want a good person that is a great athlete. Someone that is good enough that will continue to improve and can do more than one thing -- hit, run and throw. It is just the same thing the major leagues are looking for --guys with all the tools and a good mental approach to the game and his education. That is when it becomes rewarding for everyone involved. So basically we are looking for well-rounded people on and off the field.

Mike: What advice do you have for young coaches interested in coaching baseball - either high school or college?

Larry Hays: (3:17 PM ET ) Be yourself and love the game. Try to serve your athletes from a standpoint of doing what is best for them. Play as good a schedule as you can and get the best equipment. Then go back to what I said -- be yourself. I have seen coaches that try to coach like someone else. I can't coach like Bobby Knight and would get in trouble if did. It is so important to be yourself and you have a chance to be consistent. If you want to be in this business, you have to love the kids and love the sport.

Larry Hays: (3:18 PM ET ) That is all the time I have for now. I appreciate the interest in the program, we have a lot of great fans. It is great to be a Red Raider.

Take care everyone.

Texas Tech University Athletics

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