Texas Tech University Athletics
Postgame Quotes
February 28, 2010 | Baseball
Feb. 28, 2010
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Head Coach Dan Spencer
On the team's performance today:
"Getting down early really hurt us. We didn't pitch well early and got ourselves in a hole. I thought we did a good job of fighting back and getting ourselves in a place where we had a chance to win. I think the daggar was (John) Neely pitches great and then (Jay) Johnson comes out in the seventh and walks two guys. You can't do that. He did give us a chance with a couple of zeros. (Scott) Erzinger did a good job out of the bullpen too. I think we're starting to sort of some things out in our pitching. But I was proud of the fact that our guys stayed with it and got back in the game and had an opportunity to win. At the end of the day, it stinks to get beat but if you fight and stick around, those things will help you stay on the road."
On the overall pitching depth:
"Personally, I think we're close. I will tell you I feel better about it today at the end of the day then I did pulling into the game today. We saw some flashes from (Scott) Erzinger, some from (John) Neely. Jay (Johnson) made a couple good pitches. He made a lot of good pitches. He gave up the chop groundball. I just feel better about it now. Now our bodies are still few. We have 13 arms. We're still trying to put them together. But we're closer. I think the only way you can find out what you have is to run them out there under fire and we've got some guys that are starting to show signs that they are going to respond and be competitive guys for us."
On his opinion of the weekend as a whole:
"You saw two good clubs with Bethune-Cookman and Washington State. Obviously, they are very different clubs. Washington State is a more seasoned team, especially on the mound. They have more pitching. Their commitment is to play defense and pitch. Bethune-Cookman's commitment is to hit and swing the bat. I think our schedule is there are no `gimmie' games, no midweeks. There is nowhere to experiment or think we are going to win this game automatically or to think we can just play poor. We have to play well at the plate to win the game. We have to play well to give ourselves a chance to win. Especially, with Dallas Baptist coming in here on Tuesday and then the weekend at Minute Maid (in Houston). We have a lot of teams that are post-season type clubs on our schedule. I'm excited about our season and I know the kids are too. I hope our fans are. We'll show up and go back to work on Tuesday."
On the pitching plan for Tuesday:
"I think we'll go with (Brandon) Petite on Tuesday."
On having Justin Berry back from injury as another infield option:
"I think Berry will give us another option at least. I like the way (Garrett) Totten has played second base. We need to find ways to get Jamodrick (McGruder) involved because he's such a good athlete. He's just young, learning how to play. It was a big step for him being able to line up in left field today and catch a fly ball. Those are things we are trying to do. We are just trying to get some stability. It just wasn't a great day. Unlike last night when (Stephen) Hagen got in the game, with the wind kicking to left and him being a fly ball hitter, it just wasn't conducive for today's game. So we tried to get faster by putting Jamodrick in. It's a crapshoot. We do feel like we have 12 to 13 offensive guys. Guys that are earning at-bats, we need to try and find them at-bats. It keeps guys honest and doing what we want them to do and how we want it done."
On the upcoming match-up against Dallas Baptist:
"They are always a veteran bunch. They've had a lot of success. They win 40 games every year and they play good people. They're used to good clubs and good environments. I would expect them to run their number one pitcher in the midweek and their 2, 3, 4 on the weekend. I don't know if they're doing that. I don't know who they're starting, but we'll prepare for a real guy and our guys will show up. We will be ready."
On the first inning with the bases loaded and only plating one run:
"I think it played a factor because obviously runs are important. We knew being where we were in our pitching, we were going to need to score some runs early. As the game kept going on, you felt like you weren't going to be able to hit nine times. I think it was a key and more of a situation because of where we were in our line-up, we were setup pretty good with Barrett (Barnes) and (Scott) LeJeune in line, guys who have been driving in runs for us. You just never know how many you are going to need, or how the game is going to shape out. I know both of those guys would like to have those runs back but that's not how it works."
Second Baseman Garrett Totten
On the first inning with the bases loaded and only plating one run:
"It was a slow-paced game which really slowed us down a lot. We are trying to keep it a fast-paced game but having the bases loaded the first part of the game, that's rough. It kind of got us on our heels a bit. I'm glad that we came back. I just wish we would have started out a little better."
On the offense picking up in the sixth inning:
"Halfway through the game, we started connecting with some balls and things started going our way a little bit. Then we realized, `hey we're still in this ballgame no matter what.' It kind of gave us a little fire. Then the pitching and the time limit, it just slowed us all down again. The pace was just slow throughout most of the game. That's what killed us I thought."
On his opinion of how the team looks two weeks into the 2010 season:
"I see us looking pretty good. I feel like we're getting better and better at the plate. We still need to work on defense a little bit. I think offensively we'll be fine, solid. Pitching wise, we're getting better and better. We're figuring it out and throwing strikes. I think we're going to be looking alright."
Designated Hitter Scott LeJeune
On the team's performance today:
"The weather was bad out there but that's just something we have to fight through. We did show a little life and grit at the end but ultimately, we didn't capitalize on the mistakes they had."
On the first inning with the bases loaded and only plating one run:
"We just have to relax. A lot of times, we get a little ancy. You have to try and not do too much as a hitter and I think that was the problem in the early innings."
On his opinion of how the team looks two weeks into the 2010 season:
"Last year, the problem for us was we were just a little too young. But then when we went to California, it kind of messed with our heads. I think this year we have a better chemistry. I think that, overall as a team, we'll be able to push through a loss, just like today, and be able to overcome our struggles a lot better."
On the offense having to carry more of the weight when the pitching is struggling:
"It's fine. That's going to happen from time to time. There's going to be times when we are struggling on offense and our pitching is going to pick us up. It's going to happen throughout the season and we're just going to have to push through it."
