Texas Tech University Athletics
Q & A with Head Baseball Coach Dan Spencer
August 23, 2011 | Baseball
Dan Spencer enters his fourth year as head coach of the Red Raiders in 2012
Aug. 23, 2011
LUBBOCK, Texas - As the summer baseball season has come to an end, Texas Tech fall baseball is right around the corner. Fourth-year Tech head coach Dan Spencer took time to reflect on the MLB signing deadline, construction at Dan Law Field and his squad for this coming year which has several All-Big 12 performers returning with a group of seven players who have been selected in the MLB Draft.
The Red Raiders will begin individual workouts on Thursday, Sept. 1 while fall team practices will get underway on Thursday, Sept. 15. All players will officially report on Thursday.
Athletics Communications: Now with the MLB signing deadline behind us, how relieving is it to know your program didn't lose any incoming or returning players just before school starts?
Dan Spencer: "I think that is huge, and we didn't expect to with where our guys were (drafted). Last year we lost a couple of guys late and that obviously puts you in scramble mode. This year we were fortunate and didn't have players sign late. We feel very good about the class we have coming in and about the guys we have returning."
AC: Would you like to see the signing deadline moved up into sometime in July?
DS: "I would love to see it moved forward. I don't understand why we have that date right now. I'd like to see it July 1 or July 15, at the latest. Because the same guys are going to sign that are signing now. It would force everyone's hand at moving a little quicker. It would give us, all of those in college baseball, a chance to replace players that we happen to lose."
AC: You have a lot of returning players, and a number of them who have earned all-conference and are proven starters and you will also start the fall with seven players who have been drafted at some point in their career. Is this the best team you have had in your time at Texas Tech?
DS: "It is the most talented team. There is no doubt about that. Whether it becomes the best, it surely could be. On paper it is. I know that's not worth a lot, but it is a place to start. I do think we have a combination of talented players with game experience and a very talented class of newcomers to add to that. I do believe this could be our best team."
AC: Since recruiting is basically a year-round process, how has it been over the summer since the groundbreaking on your new stadium took place and since August 1, when a lot of construction started?
DS: "I think it has been good. It has been positive, not only in recruiting, but with our returning guys as well. They have seen the action and have seen the work being done and understand that was built on their backs and on what they have done and on the excitement they have created since they have been here. I think it will be huge for us on recruiting as we get it built and moving forward."
AC: As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of returning players this year, who in your eyes are expecting to see leadership from and how many of those took leadership roles even last year?
DS: "The two guys that jump out to me the most are Reid Redman and Brennan Stewart. Reid did a good job of leading our position players last year. I see Reid as one of those leaders. I also see Brennan Stewart as the guy who helps our pitching staff. There are some potential leaders in the bullpen that could jump to the front, but those are the two guys who stand out to me right now."
