 | | Coach Steve Smith answers your questions on Thursday night. |
Steve Smith Chat Wrap If you missed the live chat with the Bears' baseball coach, here's what he had to say! Coach Smith is in his ninth season as head coach at Baylor in 2003; in that time, he has compiled a 298-180-1 record. Smith led the Bears to their first-ever 50 win season in 1999 and a Big 12 Championship in 2000, and has piloted the team to five straight NCAA appearances. Through the 2002 season, Smith ranked 39th among active coaches in winning percentage with a .623 mark. The 2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Smith came to Baylor from Mississippi State, where he was an assistant under Ron Polk for five seasons. Prior to that, he served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M. A former standout pitcher at Baylor in 1982-1983, Smith led the Southwest Conference with a 1.72 ERA as a junior, bettering league foes and future major leaguers Norm Charlton, Roger Clemens, Doug Drabek and Calvin Schiraldi. An accomplished pitching coach, Smith has tutored six pitchers in the last 11 years who were selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. He has also had at least one pitcher named to the all-conference first team in each of the last 11 years. In Smith's eight full seasons as head coach, the Bears have produced three first-round draft picks, nine all-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, one National Player of the Year, one GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-American of the Year, 22 first-team all-conference performers, seven freshman all-Americans, and three conference players of the year. Baylor has also placed 30 players on the Academic All-Big 12 first team in the past six seasons, a number that leads the Big 12. |
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 |  | Head Coach Steve Smith: Hello everybody; let's get started. Just got through with practice. Hope you're doing well. |
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| John (Sacramento, CA): Coach, do you think that the bat issue is resolved, and will there be a day when wood bats are used in the college game? |
 |  | Head Coach Steve Smith: Yes, I think that the changes in the bats that have been made in the last three years have certainly made a difference in the game. I do not think that we will ever see wood bats in college baseball. |
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| Jason (Houston): Looking forward to seeing you at the Astros College Classic. That tourney is loaded with great teams, what do you have to say about all of the great teams the state of Texas has. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Thank you. I think that is a credit to the quality of high school and juco baseball that is played in the state of Texas. It is also a credit to each of the institutions who have made such big commitments to their college baseball programs. |
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| Austin: Coach, How has Mark McCormick progressed this spring? What role can we expect to see from him? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: He is doing very well. He will pitch again tomorrow and I expect that before the season is over, he will have made a significant contribution to our team. Performance will dictate his role, for Mark as well as others. |
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| Austin: Coach, Is the infield set yet? Who will likely be starting in the corners? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I anticipate Paul Witt at third base, and probably Ross Bennett at first base. Depending upon how our left-handers are handling left-handed pitching, it may be that way all the time, or we could see Michael Griffin back at third with Jared Clements or Mark Saccomanno at first. |
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| Jonathan (Waco): Coach Smith, How is the pitching rotation shaping up as the first game fast approaches? More specifically, how do you plan to handle the pitching assignment for the SWT game? Do you go with your ace? Or save your ace for the Fri game? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: This early in the year, I'm not sure that we have an ace, but whoever starts on Tuesday will likely start on Sunday. I would like to throw as many pitchers as possible in the game on Tuesday. |
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| Aaron Zoeller (Waco): Are there any baseball-specific fan organizations that students can become a part of? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: For more information on our avid student supporters, contact Austin at the following: austin_anderson@iwon.com. |
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| Austin2: Coach, Will Bennett and Saccomano factor into the starting line-up this year as positional players? Who do you see starting on the mound during weekday games against top ten teams Houston and Rice? Thanks for your time. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I think Bennett will be in the lineup somewhere vs. right handed pitching, and I can certainly see Mark being used both at third and first base, particularly against left handed pitching. Regarding our own pitching, I think we have some quality candidates that will all have their opportunity, and roles will become more defined during the first 3-4 weeks of the season. I'm not at a point right now where I want to define those roles. |
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| Nathan (Waskom, TX): Coach Smith, your team humbled my alma mater last year with a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium. What will be the key matchups when the Bears and Trojans meet up in late February? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Baseball is a funny game. I think we caught your Trojans at less than full strength. I expect the series here to be extremely competitive. The key for us will be how well we can pitch and contain USC offensively. |
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| Pat, Kingwood: When the weather becomes warmer, why are the Saturday games not at night rather than the afternoon? Wouldn't the crowds be bigger? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I have tried both, and not seen an appreciable difference in attendance. It makes the Sunday game less taxing on the players when it follows an afternoon game on Saturday (as opposed to a night game). |
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| Brad(Arlington): Coach, rumors out of Austin have the Longhorns saying that Baylor's pitching squad is going to be the best in the Big 12 and possibly the country. What do you think? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Rumors in November had Tommy Bowden coming to Waco as our football coach, too. I like our pitching staff, but it will have to prove itself on the field, like everyone else's. |
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| Don Haney, Richmond TX: Who will be your starting pitchers for the Arizona series? How is Jason Prichard coming along as a pitcher? Sic 'em! |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I haven't set the rotation yet. I would expect Steven White, Trey Taylor and Jared Theodorakos to throw, not necessarily in that order. As for Jason, he is not with the baseball program. I have encouraged him to try and stay in shape and see if one of the professional teams would give him an opportunity. |
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| Jim (Waco): Which of your sophomores do you expect do have the most improvement over last year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: To this point, I think Josh Ford has made some big improvements as a hitter. His continued improvement could obviously have a major impact on our offensive production as a team. Michael Griffin, Paul Witt, Sean Walker and Trey Taylor have all made strides and improved as well. |
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| Josh (Waco): I noticed you don't play a game at Houston this year. Did you get sick of playing down there? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: No; it's just the way the schedule worked out this year. I believe we will play down there twice in 2004. |
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| Austin: Coach, As a general, college baseball coaching strategy how do you feel about redshirting pitchers? it seems that it is a tricky situation and I was wondering how you handled it. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I ask two questions when considering the issue of redshirting: 1) Is there a chance that the player will actually be here for five years? If the answer to that question is no, then there's no point in considering redshirting. That obviously applies to guys that you would expect to be drafted and would sign before completing five years of school. However, if there is a chance that the player would be here for five years, you ask, 2) Is it more likely that the player would make a bigger contribution in his fifth year than you think he will make in his first year? If the answers to both of your questions are yes, then the player is a legitimate candidate to be redshirted. |
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| RO [Tyler]: Congrats on the past success. Can you enunciate the piece of the puzzle that has been missing for an Omaha trip? Does this team have something different then past teams which may be that missing piece of the puzzle, and if so what is it? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: The first key is obviously being a talented team. The second key is for that talented team to play well at the end of the year in a regional and super regional. I think that the ability to pitch and play defense in those games is what wins them for you. That is the area of this team that we hope will be our strength. |
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| Bear in the Woods: I really enjoyed your weekly e-mail reports to season ticket holders last year. Do you plan on doing that again this year? Is so when will we start receiving them? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Thank you. I intend to get something out prior to our opener, and then on a weekly basis following that. |
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| Chuck - Waco, Tx.: Coach Smith...if you were a fan and could attend only one road series this year, which one would you choose. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I'd go to Nebraska. The snow will have melted by May, and they have some of the finest fans that have ever pulled against us. |
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| Super Dave (Sugar Land): How many players are going to Tucson, and what is the weather supposed to be like? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Hey Super Dave - we are taking 28-29 players. I'm not a weatherman, but it's supposed to be in upper 50s here on Tuesday. How come that's great weather for football fans? |
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| David (Sugar Land): Did I read the pocket schedule correctly? UH coming to Waco twice this season? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Gee Dave - very good. |
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| Dave (Sugar Land): Who has been the biggest surprise this fall and spring, and will we see Ross Bennett against LHP this year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Dave, you've reached your three-question limit. I think I'm most surprised by how competitive some of our younger players are, particularly Blake Womble. I don't know about Bennett vs. LHP yet. |
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| Peter: What about left field the apparent only position in the outfield at this time open |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Michael Griffin has been playing in left field, and playing it very well. |
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| Bear in the Woods: Heckling seems to be a big part of college baseball. Does it ever go to far? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Yes. Cursing and spitting on players or coaches is probably a bit excessive. It seems that alcohol is a major contributor in those cases. |
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| Jim (Crawford): Coach: Did you watch the State of the Union speech Tuesday night? What did you think? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Yes. Sounds like we're getting ready to play a game of hardball. |
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| Brian (Dallas): Who are some of the younger players that are pushing for playing time? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Kyle Reynolds, Tyler Bullock, Blake Womble, Russell Reichenbach, Ryan LaMotta and Mark McCormick. Redshirt freshmen include Zach Dillon and Abe Woody, as well. |
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| Chuck (Waco): Are you pleased with the crowd support your teams have received in years past...do you expect similar crowds this season? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I thought our student support last year was the best it had ever been. I am always hopeful that our support will grow and be more consistent throughout the year. We have received a lot of recognition in our program for our facility, as well as the play of our team. It would seem that recognition for exceptional fan support should not be far behind. |
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| Brian: Coach, Do you think playing the toughest schedule in the country will put BU over the top this year? Also, do you think a fan will get you tossed again this year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I think playing the schedule is going to be exciting for the players and the fans, and should make us as good a team as we can be. Hopefully, there will be so many fans at our games this year that the umpire won't be able to pick out just one voice. |
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| Tom (Houston): Which part of your schedule, if any, are you more concered with... non-conference (Arizona, USC, & Long Beach) or Big XII (UT, Nebraska, OU, etc.)? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Without trying to dodge your question, I'm really only concerned about next Tueaday. Fortunately, we don't have to play all those teams you mentioned all at once; we just have to play them one at a time, and like all successful teams, we have to do a great job of not letting the outcome of previous games (win or lose) impact the next game. |
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| Don, Richmond: If we received your e-mails last season, we do not have to send in the form again, do we? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Correct, as long as your e-mail address is the same. |
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| Baytown: Coach, how is Ryan Bennett's shoulder rehab going? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Ryan had Tommy John surgery on his elbow and is currently on an interval throwing program. The whole process usually requires 12-14 months, so we are hopeful Ryan will be full speed by next fall. |
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| | Head Coach Steve Smith: We're out of questions... I'll hang around a few more minutes if there are any additional questions. |
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| David (Sugar Land): I would ask another, but I was informed I reached my limit. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Sorry Dave; did I hurt your feelings? |
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| Brian: How is Ross Bennett's shoulder coming along after his injury in the Fall? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: He does not appear to be having any problems. |
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| Houston: Will you announce a pitching rotation sometime prior to Tuesday, or just leave it as a surprise? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: No, I'll announce our starter for Tuesday after this last round of intrasquad games is over. Then I'll set our rotation for the weekend after the Tuesday game. |
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| David (Sugar Land): On your pitching staff, who, thus far, is the best thrower, and who is the best pitcher? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: The hardest thrower has been Mark McCormick, but Zane Carlson has been throwing very well, velocity-wise. Zane has probably been our most consistent pitcher so far this spring. |
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| razorback: Coach smith are you going to play arkansas in near future |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Hopefully. I have reminded Coach Van Horn that they still owe us a trip since we played out there against Coach Debryin in 1998. Maybe you could call him for me. |
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| Don (Richmond): You have 3 caps, 5 jerseys, and 3 pants. Other than gold jerseys on Sunday and grey on the raod, how do you decide what you will wear? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Normally, I consult with both the captains and the starting pitcher. Weather also is a factor, since some of the five jerseys breathe better than others. The real question is - do you own each of our caps? If not, call the Baylor Bookstore at 254-710-2161. |
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| David (Sugar Land): What's your opinion of the new football coach? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: My opinion is that he's a football coach. A well-paid football coach, I might add. |
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| Ross Bennett- formerly of Cape Girardeau: Coach- Weights went great tonight. I did squats, tricep extensions, should press, and RDL's. My finely tuned body will be ready for practice tomorrow. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Ross - I am only replying to your comment so that all of our posters can see what a man you are. |
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| Don, Waco: Will you apply for a medical redshirt for Ryan Bennett? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Yes. He will receive that without problem. |
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| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Enjoyed the visit. Hope to see you all with 3500 of your friends Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark. We need you. |
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