Diamond Notes : Bama Kicks Off Season With Media Day

[Diamond Tide]

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Sunday, January 30, 2005


Coach Jim Wells and 2B Allen Rice

Opening Statement

“We’ve been practicing all week but then again we’ve been practicing all fall and winter so the advantage we have is that we have so many kids and that is so optimistic, and we have as many as seven starters back. For the first time in several years you can write out a lineup and feel good about it because it is all the same kids. We added a couple of guys to the mix. There names are Kody Valverde, a catcher, and a shortstop named Cale Iorg. Other than that it is some four year starters and fifth year seniors so we have an older team with a couple of guys like Valverde that certainly make us a better team being behind the plate.

“Pitching wise we have the same three guys that threw on the weekends last year. Carter is better, he’s back, and then you have LeBlanc and Belcher. In the bullpen is people such as David Robertson. We are finding a place for Trey Shields and T.J. Large. I feel good about the position players, which is nice because we struggled offensively last year. Pitching wise, we need about eight, certainly for the four game series (at Hawaii).

“It has been a pleasure to coach this group of guys since September. There is a lot of leadership out there and a lot of guys that know what they are doing. It’s a matter of putting it together and winning some games and getting this team back on the right track.”

First Five Questions

Q: “Certainly the first priority is getting some homerun production. How is that going?”

A: “Today if we put all the guys together that would start, Salem would lead off, Rice is in the two hole, Valverde is in the three hole, then Bush, Gabe Scott, Welch, McCallister, Grooms, and Iorg. They have hit homeruns at practice and at scrimmages which we certainly didn’t do much of last year or even in the fall. But they’ve improved and worked really hard at it. We have power there, it’s just doing it.”

Q: “Talk about having a true freshman in the bullpen and as your closer.”

A: “David Robertson, if we played today, would be the guy. He is pitching really well. Copeland is a two way guy. He will be good too, but Robertson is a little better.”

Q: “How do you use last season as motivation for getting back to the SEC Tournament?”

A: “It’s not mentioned a lot. I think I mentioned it yesterday, but other than that it hasn’t been mentioned a whole lot. I think the players understand because they have lived through it. I think that’s the best thing you want out of players, a little self motivation. The players are aware of it an guys that know what they are doing. It’s a matter of putting it together and winning some games and getting this team back on the right track.”

First Five Questions

Q: “Certainly the first priority is getting some homerun production. How is that going?”

A: “Today if we put all the guys together that would start, Salem would lead off, Rice is in the two hole, Valverde is in the three hole, then Bush, Gabe Scott, Welch, McCallister, Grooms, and Iorg. They have hit homeruns at practice and at scrimmages which we certainly didn’t do much of last year or even in the fall. But they’ve improved and worked really hard at it. We have power there, it’s just doing it.”

Q: “Talk about having a true freshman in the bullpen and as your closer.”

A: “David Robertson, if we played today, would be the guy. He is pitching really well. Copeland is a two way guy. He will be good too, but Robertson is a little better.”

Q: “How do you use last season as motivation for getting back to the SEC Tournament?”

A: “It’s not mentioned a lot. I think I mentioned it yesterday, but other than that it hasn’t been mentioned a whole lot. I think the players understand because they have lived through it. I think that’s the best thing you want out of players, a little self motivation. The players are aware of it and I think that is why we've had a good fall.There is a little motivation there when you come in 11th place.”

Q: “Talk about having to come back from a season like that when so many teams in the SEC are so good every year.”

A: “Just because we are better, the other teams are the same too. Any coach and any team can only deal with themselves. It is a rough road. If you are in another league and have everybody back, you’re going to win the championship. Here, it’s keeping your head above water, battling each time, and giving yourself a chance to win.”

Q: “Talk about last year and coming back to this year from a player’s standpoint.”

A: (Allen Rice) “From a player’s standpoint, last year was a disappointment for us, and we don’t like to bring that up, but one thing that we did do last year, especially in a lot of one run ball games, is that we found a way to lose games. What we do is learn from that. You learn from that and put it behind you. Then you continue to make strides forward and that is what this team is doing. Our ultimate goal is Omaha.”

RTR,

Diamond Tide