Oklahoma State University Athletics
SPECIAL FEATURE: Cowboy Pitcher Enjoys Life Under The Radar
May 18, 2004 | Cowboy Baseball
At the beginning of the season, OSU coach Frank Anderson said one of the biggest problems for this team would be the pitching.
Anderson did not know Spencer Grogan would build an 11-1 record and sophomore pitcher Thomas Cowley would become the Friday night starter in conference play.
To begin the season, Cowley found himself filling the role he planned for. He was ready to spend his second season in black and orange, sitting in the bullpen.
On March 20, Cowley was given his first start of his career against Texas A&M-CC.
“We were kinda short on guys on a Saturday, and he (Anderson) gave me the start,” Cowley said. “I did OK. I went five innings and got the no decision. Then I kinda snuck my way into the starting rotation.”
During his freshman year, Cowley posted a 0-0 record in 11 appearances out of the bullpen. While he struck out 13 batters in 11.2 innings and opposing hitters batted .256 against him, he also had an ERA of 6.94.
“Last year, I think the problem is that I pitched scared,” Cowley said. “I kinda felt like that analogy of the small fish in a big pond. I'd look at the guys and think, ‘Wow, these guys are huge.'”
Even before he got the starting role, Cowley said he came into this season unafraid.
“The big thing is I'm not scared anymore,” Cowley said. “I'm real relaxed and I'm excited to be out there. I always have a little nerves kicking, but I think that's good for you.”
With Grogan pitching on Saturdays, Cowley said opposing teams may be focusing on the ace ahead of time, which allows him to attack unnoticed on Fridays.
“I don't like people knowing about me,” Cowley said. “It's kinda like when I do good, people are always like, ‘Wow. Where did this dude come from.' I kinda like that. I don't really enjoy being in the spotlight.”
With a handful of starts remaining this season, Cowley has a 4-2 record, while holding hitters to a .248 batting average. He is also second on the team with 55 strikeouts, but has the highest ERA of the starters at 5.25. Cowley said that while his ERA used to concern him, he now knows to forget about it.
“ERA is not something I'm worried about,” Cowley said. “I kinda caught myself thinking about it when I gave up those first two runs the other day, but I was like, ‘What are you pitching for today? Are you pitching to keep your ERA down or are you pithing to get the win?'
“As long as we win the ball game, I could care less about the ERA to be honest with you. If they score seven and we score eight, even if I don't get the win, that's fine as long as the team does.”
With the team contending for first place in the Big 12, Cowley said there are more important things to worry about than lowering numbers.
“We're going for the championship, so individual goals are kinda set aside for right now,” Cowley said.
While Cowley said he credits a lot of his success to not being scared, the sophomore also said he would not be doing as well without the guidance of Anderson.
“He makes it real comfortable for me out there,” Cowley said. “He doesn't make it hard on me. I like his philosophy. He goes out there and he's like, ‘Throw that thing in there and all throw all three pitches for strikes. If they hit it, so what. We've got eight other guys out there to help you get outs. Just make sure you throw strikes.'”
When it comes to the day that Cowley is supposed to pitch, he said he has tried different things to prepare, but has found the way that fits him the best.
“I try not to think about,” Cowley said. “When I first got the role of starter, I was really quiet and I couldn't keep my mind off of it. When you do that, the day takes forever. It just seems like seven never rolls around.
“Now, I pretty much just goof around and be myself,” Cowley said. “I talk to everybody else. I don't really have any rituals. Last night, I did wear my lucky T-shirt from high school. I've had it since like the fifth grade and it has a bunch of holes in it.”
When it comes to goofing around, everyone in the Cowboys' locker room has been given a nickname or two. Cowley said his was given to him his freshman year, and sometimes players still refer to him with it.
“They think I look like Doug Funny from a Nickelodeon TV show,” Cowley said. “If you wanna take a picture of me and put it up against his, you can be the judge. That was one they came up with for me last year, and sometimes they say it this year.”
The Cowboys are currently in second place in the Big 12, which is better than the fifth place finish the conference coaches selected OSU to finish before the season started.
Cowley said when fall practice began, he figured he would be spending his time in the pen watching the Cowboys perform better than expected.
“I didn't imagine I'd be a Friday night starter, but I thought in the fall and the spring that we'd always be a pretty good contender,” Cowley said.
“We're not overpowering in any aspect, but we're pretty much strong all the way through.”
“If you told me I was gonna be a Friday night starter, I probably would have laughed in your face,” Cowley said. “But, I'm enjoying every minute of it right now. I'm enjoying that we're in first place, I'm loving it and I'm not gonna sit back on it.”
As for goals, the 20-year-old pitcher said he would love to be pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, which is the team he has grown up rooting for – even before Mark McGwire put on the uniform.
“They are my favorite team,” Cowley said. “I don't get to keep up with them that much living out here. I don't get to catch many games, because we're usually playing when they are, so I just try to keep up with them on ESPN and stuff like that.”
If he got to pick, Cowley said he would be a Cardinal, but he said he would settle playing for anyone else – even the Cardinals' rival.
“I could definitely settle for someone else,” Cowley said. “I would honestly pitch for the Cubs. When they're not playing the Cardinals, I'm a Cubs fan. I like the way they play the game. I don't think I could sneak into the starting role for them.
“To step on a big league diamond would be a dream come true for me.” But, that is too far away. Cowley and the Cowboys still have a season to finish.
“It's been amazing,” Cowley said. “It's been a great season so far. Hopefully, we can keep on going.”
