 | | Head baseball coach Steve Smith will stop by for a live chat Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. CST. |
Steve Smith was named head coach of the Baylor University baseball program on July 29, 1994. Smith is the 18th head coach in Baylor history. He has posted a 372-234-1 record in 10 seasons at Baylor and was named the 2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to their first outright conference title in 77 years. Last month Smith was named head coach of the 2005 USA Baseball National Team and will guide Team USA this summer in its tour of the country and its trip overseas for series in Japan and Taiwan. In January 2001, Smith was named by Baseball America as one of ten rising stars on all levels of baseball. He was the only person associated with college baseball on the list. 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 all-conference pitcher in each of the last 13 years. In 1999, under Smith's tutelage, right-hander/designated hitter Jason Jennings won the Golden Spikes Award as the best player in college baseball and was the 16th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies. In Smith's 10 years as head coach, the Bears have produced 10 all-Americans, six CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year, 30 first-team all-conference performers, six freshman all-Americans and three conference players of the year. Baylor has also placed 41 players on the Big 12 Academic All-Conference first team in the past six seasons. Smith and the 10th-ranked Bears open the 2005 campaign against Houston at the Astros Minute Maid College Classic Friday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. |
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 |  | Head Coach Steve Smith: Good afternoon. Thanks in advance for your questions. I will try to get to as many as I can in the next hour. So let's get started.... |
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| Robert (McKinney) TX: Hey Coach, With basically the same talent as last year's team, with the exception of a year's experience, what is needed from this team that last year's squad didn't provide? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Robert, Last year we encountered a number of injuries either before or early in the season. We did not have Josh Ford for the entire year behind the plate and Chase Gerdes missed the first 6 weeks. If we can keep those guys as well as others healthy, I think our results this year will be much different. |
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| Jim (Waco): Coach - How many different guys are being considered for the third weekend starting spot? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Jim, The two strongest candidates are Sean Walker and Cory Van Allen. Ryan LaMotta is antoher possibility, but I would hate to take him out of the bullpen. |
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| Darryl (Fort Worth): Is it true, I heard you were trying to play Kyle Reynolds at 1B? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: That is correct. He played there much of the fall and gives us another outstanding athlete in the infield. He really was my only option considering his size. The rest of my infield is all under 6 feet. |
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| Scott (waco): Hey coach, how muh better is the team chemistry this year as opposed to last year, and has one individual stepped up to the leadership role? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I think our leadership was good last year and will be strong again this year. Michael Griffin and Josh Ford were selected as Captains by the team. Those are good choices. |
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| Pflugerville: Hi Coach. The Baylor Bookstore carries some official "sidelines" apparel in the form of baseball and football jersies but I'd like to see a selection of authentic fitted hats. Other schools, notably UT, sell the same hats that their team wears and I think others and I would like to wear what the Bears wear - especially that Gold mesh hat with the Green bill. I really like that one. btw, my hat size is an 8. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Contact Bill Chaves in our Athletic Marketing Dept. Try Bill_Chaves@Baylor.edu. |
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| Chris (Houston): Coach, thank you for all the excitement and pride with Baylor baseball. At the beginnning of the 2004 season did you think Baylor was ranked too high by the preseason polls and what do you think about the 2005 ranking (which I think is the same at #10)? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I don't remember what we were ranked at the beginning of last year. I do remember how it ended, though. Polls are obviously very subjective and there will always be some bias. Fortunately, we will decide our fate on the field, not by a poll. |
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| Rick, Houston: What is our worst weakness this year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: We nned to pitch and play defense well. I believe we will hit. We are playing veteran players, but many are playing at new positions. So there will probably be some unusual things happen along the way. |
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| Bear_Esq: Hi Coach, looking forward to a great season! I know I get a lot of my info on the team from baylorfans.com, and was wondering if you, the other coaches, and players ever read those postings, and if so, what are your thoughts on them. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: No. I do not visit any web chat sites. I also try to stay away from Radio Call In shows and the newspaper. Those outlets are for fans, not coaches. Other peoples opinions would only matter to me if I were running for office. However, as we are doing today, I don't mind sharing my thoughts to folks like yourself who ask good questions. |
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| James Landry (Austin): Coach, last season it took about 20 games to get the hitters warmed up. Please discuss the players mentality and eagerness to wind up the hitting earlier this season. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: James, Part of the issue last year was the fact that so many hitters were playing on an everyday basis for the first time in their career. On top of that we faced a bunch of outstanding pitching early in the season. I knew all this going into the season, but thought the fact that we returned a veteran pitching staff and were playing more home games than ever would be mitigating factors. What transpired is our losing many low scoring 1-run games. This group of hitters this year is in a much different situation. |
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| Port Washington, New York: Coach, How do you feel the new players from San Jacinto will help the team this year? Could you tell me what strengths they have? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Kevin Russo is the only new player from San Jac this year and he will start at 3B. He is an outstanding player. |
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| Austin: How's the infield going to be this year? Seems like Griffin at 2nd is a risky proposition... |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Reynolds at 1B, Griffin at 2B, Witt at SS, Russo at 3B. There will be some growing pains, I'm sure. But I think this is as athletic a group as we have ever had. |
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| Kay Whitley (Axtell): I enjoyed visiting with you at Damon's and hearing the update on the team. You mentioned Josh Ford and I wondered how his arm is doing and has the surgery affected his catching at all. It didn't seem to bother his hitting. Good luck this weekend. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Kay, Josh's arm is fully recovered. He continues to do daily maintenance type exercises, but he is as good as new. |
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| Steve Wright (Beaumont): Coach - going to Houston for Friday's game. What do you see in Houston as the biggest obstacle in this game? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: We will just need to get over the first game jitters, etc. The guys are ready to play. |
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| Jay (Comstock Park, MI): Hey Coach, Can't wait to get things going. As high as the level of expectation is for this team already, are there any individuals who haven't contributed in the past who could exceed expectations? Miss everyone there, and hope everything is going well. I'll be listening this weekend. -Jay- PS: Go get Rice. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Hello Jay, Larry said you looked very good! I expect that we will see significant improvement from a number of players. The key will be how well we will pitch. The ability is there but many will have to deal with the ongoing scrutiny of professional baseball. Take care. Lauren says hello. |
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| Jeff (Dallas): It is a pleasure to have Baylor Baseball waiting to cap off each year on a high note for us Baylor fans. You have done a great job building the program. What needs to be done to further strengthen and solidify the program by the coaching staff, the administration, and by alumni? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Jeff, Thanks so much for your question. So much has been accomplished over the past 10 years, it is humbling. The support of Dr. Sloan and the Regents has been wonderful. My hope is that our fan base here in Waco will continue to grow and that the community will embrace our program fully. |
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| Rufus Watkins-Class 1987: Coach, Congrats on being Coach of the National team. How is the mindset of the players for this season? Is there a Boston Red Sox type season for Baylor? Keep up the Good Work! |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Hello Rufus, It is always good to hear from you. I believe this team is ready to go and with the schedule we are playing, they better be pretty tough between the ears. Take care. |
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| Zane (Dallas): Coach, Congrats on being selected to coach Team USA, that is quite an honor and a wonderful experience that I still savor. What young players at Baylor do you see having a shot at making the team? Also what changes will you make in your coaching philosophy with the team that is virtually all returning and is very talented? I was also wondering what the fad diet of the year you are going with? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Rodney, So good to hear from you. I think Randall Linebaugh will help us on the mound this year. Drew Bias could also see the field defensively. But as you know, the veterans will lead the way. Regarding my philosophy, I am going to look to the players to lead and not always me. No new diet. Just alot of Diet Coke. Good luck with the rehab. |
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| Cody (Searcy,AR): Who will you look for to make a big impact out of the bullpen this year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: LaMotta, Pape, Woody, Mandel, Bullock, et. al. |
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| JD (Waco): I notice Brad Ferguson on your 2005 roster. Is he completely healed from his shoulder surgery and what role do you see him playing in 2005? Before he was injured he seemed to be one of the best pitching prospects in Central Texas. Good luck this year. Go Bears. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Brad is still trying to recover from his surgery. He will not play this year. |
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| Brandon Avants (Atlanta, Ga): Any plans on coming to Georgia to play either GT or Georgia anytime soon? I know at least two bear fans that would love to see you out here. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Not in the next couple of years...unless we get sent to a Regional there. Both would be great opponents. We'll see what we can do down the road. |
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| Jack (Dallas): I've heard you mention the possibility of Sean Walker starting Sunday's game. Are you surprised that he was able to rehab from the off-season surgery in time to be ready for opening weekend. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Not really. He had the surgery on his knee which is alot different than had it been on his arm. He is still dealing with moving around in the brace, but he is fine. |
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| Kris (West): Congradulations on getting the USA National Team. Who on your team will be age eligible and have a legitimate shot at making the Team? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: The team will be primarily fresh. and soph. I think Van Allen and maybe someone like Gerdes could have a shot. |
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| Brad (Robinson): Coach, tell us about your opportunity to coach Team USA. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I am very honored to have been given the opportunity. I have great appreciation and respect for the USA Baseball staff and really enjoyed my experience as an assistant in 1998. I am also looking forward to working with some other head coaches who I admire....Dave Van Horn, Rob Walton, and John Cohen. The hardest part of any experience like this is being away from my own family and seeing my boys play. |
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| Zane (Axtell): Can we expect to see anything new at Baylor Ballpark this year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: I am putting some new artwork on the dugout tops. We need to get the scoreboard replaced and the outfield wall padded. |
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| JD (Waco): I've been hearing that Fortenberry has been tearing it up at the plate this spring. Any chance he'll be in the lineup on Friday, perhaps pushing an OF like Brees to DH? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Probably not on Friday. But you have heard correctly. He is doing very well. |
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| Robbie: two questions for you ADMIRAL. first, which uniforms are ya'll going to wear in OMAHA. second , is there any way you could get SHANIA TWAIN, to sing the national anthem at a home game this year? see you in houston. |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Hey Rebel, If we are the home team we will have to wear the White Mesh. If we are the visiting team, I think we will wear the new grey pinstripes. If I could get Shania to sing at the Ballpark, I should not be coaching baseball. Enjoy your poster. |
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| Mark (Waco): Coach Smith - I am so glad that you have stayed at BU and continue to coach here! It seems like defense was a big problem last year - how do we improve on it? Do we need to work harder like the athletes in the movie Miracle? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Mark, Thanks for your kind words. We have worked very hard on defense, particularly with so many guys playing new positions. So much of our game is confidence and learning to play relaxed. I don't think that was a theme in The Miracle. |
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| Mike (Waco): Have I heard correctly that Fortenberry and Reynolds are tearing it up at the plate? Who else is swinging a hot bat right now? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Josh Ford and Mike Pankratz have been impressive. |
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| Kay Whitley (Axtell): How big a role will senior leadership play this year? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Since we have so many seniors, I think it will be huge. |
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| Jeff (Dallas): What are your thoughts on alums in the DFW metroplex purchasing season tickets, even if they can only attend 1/4 of the games or so. Is that a benefit, or does it hurt the stadium atmosphere by having those seats empty? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Good question, Jeff. The weekend plan is designed for the out-of-towners who could only come on weekends. That would be best for those outside of Waco. In short, though, fans in the stands are what is needed most. |
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| Rick (Dallas): Coach, Good luck to you and your team this year. How is Mark this year coming off of the injury? |
| | Head Coach Steve Smith: He is fine. He pitched all summer and fall and looks good. |
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| | Head Coach Steve Smith: Thanks to you all for the great questions. I appreciate your support very much and hope you will get to see this team play often this year. Sic 'em Bears! |
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