 |
|
 |
Coach Murphy's Responses
This Week's Winner of the ASU Baseball Cap: Pat Waer (Dinuba, CA)
Dennis (New York, NY)Hi Coach Murphy, with ASU's reputation in baseball, it should allow for you to go after just about anyone in the country, as you did in this past class. After seeing their rankings in Baseball America, I see that you have many high potential draft picks in your class. How many do you expect to make it to school next year?
Coach Murphy: You can never tell - there are too many variables: will they turn down 250,000 or 1 million? Who picks them? High team or low team? Where do they pick them? It is somewhat of a guessing game.
Also when it comes to recruiting, do you go out with an expectation that all your signees will make it to school? Or do you take a chance of signing a couple of highly rated guys, hoping that they will come to school? Thanks
We realize about 60% will come to school. We do take a few educated chances. The draft has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The pros are putting together great packages for the players.
Pat Waer (Dinuba, CA)
Coach Murphy, I played for Coach Bobo Brayton at Washington State University in the
early 90's. I am currently the baseball coach at Dinuba High School. My
question to you involves the elements of the short game. When I was in
college we worked tirelessly on executing and defending the short game.
With the surge in offensive output due in part to the technology of bats
in the mid to late 90's I felt that I saw a departure from teams trying
to "manufacture runs" at the collegiate level. It seemed most teams were
playing for the big inning, especially when 2nd baseman hitting in the
lower third of the order were putting up huge offensive numbers. Do you
think that because of the new bat regulations instituted in 99 we will
see a return to more traditional numbers from the bottom part of the line
up. Will we see teams at the collegiate level return to developing the
short game as part of their offensive game plan. Or am I totally off base
and these offensive numbers from traditionally defensive players due to
better, stronger athletes. Thank you.
Coach Murphy: You are not off-base at all. You will see the offensive numbers slowly go down and more teams playing the game the way it was intended. We were laughed at in '98 at the College World Series for our "little" game, but it got us to the championship game.
Also, Bobo Brayton was one of the greatest coaches in the game. You must have learned a lot from him. Good luck at Dinuba HS.
Jeff Kubiak (Tempe, AZ)
Coach, I am very excited about this season. It looks like we have talented and
aggressive players who are eager to win. My question is about the health
of Paul French and Mike Esposito. I remember from last year that French
had similar credentials to Eposito and recently read that he had
successful Tommy John surgery. How long until we see them again?
Coach Murphy: Paul French was a highly touted project out of high school who hadn't pitched much. He had high velocity but came into ASU not really in shape and potentially injured. He only pitched two innings before we had him evaluated by one of our doctors. He had surgery and has been recovering and rehabilitating. He has a great attitude and is now in great condition. He will pitch for ASU next year.
Mike Esposito begins throwing next Monday after six weeks of rest. We're keeping our fingers crossed on his return.
Darrin Thomas (Snowflake, AZ)
I was in attendance at your coaches' chat session and I appreciate your
willingness to share and help out the high schools here. What types of
things do you do to promote team unity? What types of things do you do
before the season and/or pregame?
Coach Murphy: First, we are extremely intense and focused on discipline and work ethic. Going through it together is the best way to reach team unity. Players (juniors and seniors) are responsible for conditioning, stretching and post-practice duties. We show a video clip before each game that is picked by players and presented by them. We also have open sessions to discuss baseball and team roles.
Matthew Poling (Lake Orion, MI)
When is student allowed to visit a prospective college choice without
committing or eliminating their opportunity with other school
possibilities?
Coach Murphy: I recommend visiting many campuses before your senior year to get a feel. You can visit at your own expense anytime (with few exceptions). The only time you may not visit is during the "dead period". You can contact the school to find out when this period is. You may only come once paid by the school after your senior year classes start.
Thanks again for all of your great questions. I look forward to answering them each week.