Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Baseball Looks Ahead To The 2020 Season
January 27, 2020 | Cowboy Baseball
Oklahoma State head coach Josh Holliday and several Cowboy players met with the media today to discuss the upcoming 2020 season. Here is a sampling of what they said, with the full press conference available by clicking in the picture above.
Cowboy head coach Josh HollidayÂ
On what's most exciting about the opening of O'Brate Stadium
"I mean, what's not exciting? I think the most exciting thing is just the challenge of us getting ready to play. We get to play a few more games in Allie P. We get to dive into some really tough road games early in the season and then transitioning over into O'Brate will be healthy and exciting for us. In all the things I've ever been a part of, I've never been a part of something like this before so this will be fascinating to see how this turns out. Everything about it is a positive thing. It's all part of the excitement and growth of this season. I'm sure there will be awesome and exciting opportunities as the year goes on. O'Brate Stadium is a beautiful place and once you get inside it, you'll see what the excitement is all about."
Â
On the addition of Matt Holliday and Robin Ventura to the coaching staff
"They both have such a great life experience inside of the game at so many different levels. They've both played at very high levels and have tremendous credibility. I've heard so many cool conversations occurring already between (Holliday and Ventura) and the players and they'll just be sitting there on the bench and talking baseball, telling a funny story or just mentoring them through their own personal experiences. Matt and Robin look at these guys and see 18, 19, 20-year-old versions of themselves I'm sure. They can pass on a really good vibe to the kids. They are great men; they have a great vibe about them."
Â
On the pitching rotation going into the season
"I don't know exactly what it is as of yet, but we have guys right now that are getting in good shape, taking it slow. We don't want to rush into anything this time of year. It's natural to get kind of anxious and try to speed up a little bit. You have to be in it for the long run, in terms of getting your pitchers conditioned and stretched out. I don't think we're quite there yet to announce a rotation, but I definitely like the guys that went through the fall. We had a number of positives, especially with the scrimmages against Arkansas and Vanderbilt. A lot of kids got to the mound and showed pretty good poise, especially some of the younger guys.
"I think it starts with Parker Scott being healthy. He is a very skilled left-hander who I think is going to have a really good year for us. Brett Standlee comes back a very versatile pitcher who could start or come out of the bullpen. A lot of young arms also factor into the rotation as well. Ultimately, Coach (Rob) Walton will get those guys in the right spots, he always does. He does an incredible job, and he is totally locked into it right now. He is very much in tune with how the kids are feeling. Sometime within the next 20 some odd days, he'll kind of know how we want to start the season out. As we've seen in years past, we go into a season with one particular look, and over time, you adjust and figure out what that right formula is. Overall, I feel really good about our pitching."
Â
On the offensive strategy
"I think we can bunt in more spots in the lineup this year; we have more players that are skilled in that regard. We probably aren't as big in a couple spots, but we have more skill, faster runners, more bat handler types of guys. There could be more different ways to score than last year. Last year, we were a team that hit it off the fence or over the fence a lot.
"Looking back at times, it was tough. We struck out far more than any of us would've liked. I certainly would've liked us to put the ball in play more, but I know other teams that would've died to have traded spots with us on offense. I had a lot of coaches come up and tell me, 'We had a lot of major anxiety playing against your team. Those three days drove me crazy.' As much as the strikeouts might've bothered you at times, it made the other team real uncomfortable that one bad pitch was leaving the yard. You want a team that could win 2-1, 5-4, 13-11, however it's gotta happen. You need a team that is able to play the game that the elements or maybe the pitching dictates and try to win multiple ways. We have some guys that are a skilled group that works on some of those finer points — the slashes, bunts and some other things that we haven't done as much of as of late. There are some different gadgets up our sleeves this year."
Â
On the freshman classÂ
"This is a good group for sure. We have four or five pitchers in our freshman class that will get a lot of innings early in their career. This class reminds me of the Trey Cobb, Tyler Buffet, Thomas Hatch, Blake Battenfield group. To have that many guys come in together that will provide you with a pitching staff for years to come and for some position players to be the same way is pretty special. It's always interesting to see how these guys will handle the opportunities and how quickly they take them and run. We will have a lot of first-year players, whether they're transfers or freshmen, that will have a chance to contribute immediately. We're counting on those guys, and as I told them yesterday, 'There's no clock on when you're allowed to arrive. The invitation has been extended so feel free to step up and play good from day one.'"
Â
On watching the senior class grow and mature over the years
"It is amazing. Our senior class has guys that have been here three, four and even five years. I think what you realize, is how close you grow to those kids when they're with you that much. Three, four and five years of experience with guys you really get to know them. Their bodies change, they get bigger and stronger, the way they grow in school. You watch guys come in as freshmen and fight to get through the fall, now they're in their last semester, getting ready to graduate with a degree in Business. They're taking all these tough classes and they aren't even blinking. They change their habits: they start eating healthier, they start walking around focused. You just watch them grow up and it's a lot of fun. It's really hard to say goodbye to them because you grow so used to being with them. You grow accustomed to the mood, the way they make you feel and you don't realize how much you enjoy your time with them. When they leave, it's hard. You just have to replace them with other great kids to share that with. When you're lucky enough to coach guys for three, four, five years, they were obviously great guys because they stuck around and saw this thing through. They leave a big mark on your program, because year after year after year they pass down the things that you value as a group that you want others to learn and many of those kids end up being great performers. All that stuff means a lot to us."
Â
Cowboy senior outfielder Cade CabbinessÂ
On O'Brate Stadium
"It's going to be hard to say goodbye to Allie P., but I am really excited to see what the new baseball stadium does for our community. It's going to bring in a lot of new fans and going to be awesome. "
On Matt Holliday and Robin Ventura
"It's been fun. They have both been and done great at the highest level. They know so much and have so much to share. As the season goes on, it will be fun to see how they can give us adjustments we can carry with us versus right now where they can break us down and help with our swings. It is going to be fun to see."
Â
On hittingÂ
"I've had a lot of people help here and there. That's what has been great about Matt (Holliday) and Robin (Ventura) coming in is helping me simplify it. I was able to go out against Vanderbilt and end the fall strong and carry that into this season. I like where I am at right now."
Â
Cowboy sophomore infielder Hueston MorrillÂ
On O'Brate Stadium
"It's going to be awesome. Josh told me the first day I stepped on campus about the new stadium. It was exciting and a heart rush that makes your feelings go through the roof."
Â
On playing in the Cape Cod League last summer
"I took freedom and responsibility away from the experience. I learned I have to take my own time to work on my game. You don't have anybody telling you to do this or that, you have to follow your own plan work hard."Â
On playing shortstop
"It is normal. I played shortstop in high school. I worked there when I first stepped on campus and then slid over to second. I feel like I've been a shortstop my whole life, and I'm excited to see where it takes me."
Â
On the Cowboys' freshmen
"I see the same thing in them. They come in and are timid, but then they shine. Each one of them has an opportunity just like I did to break through and earn a spot. I see myself in a lot of them. The whole freshman class is nothing but hard workers."
Â
Cowboy senior first baseman Alix GarciaÂ
On how he feels about the season
"I feel like I still have to come in here and earn my spot. Last year, I was unsure, and I felt more comfortable this year. It's nice being one of the guys. It's nice to have a little reassurance and knowing I can come in and play."
Â
On when he started feeling comfortable in the lineup
"Around the start of Big 12 play I started finding my role with the team and didn't want to be pulled out of the lineup after that because I got so used to playing."
Cowboy senior outfielder Carson McCusker
On holes to fill
"I think we have the guys to do that. Kaden Polcovich is unbelievable. Noah Sifrit had a really good fall as well as Jake Thompson. We're excited."
Â
On the differences in the new stadiumÂ
"I'm excited to go check it out. The new stadium is facing the same way so the sun, wind and things like that should be the same."
Â
On power hitting
"Our offensive approach will be a little different this year because we don't have one through nine guys that can leave the yard at any time. We are going to compete; we will still have power, but we might have to play some small ball, steal bags and things like that."
Â
Cowboy sophomore pitcher Brett Standlee
On his roleÂ
"I'm making sure my arms is in shape, and I'm prepared ready for anything. Whether I'm coming out of the bullpen or starting, I have to do my part to help the team win."
Â
On the young guysÂ
"Every guy with experience has a purpose to help these young guys, guide them and give them some things to work on. We have to make sure their confident in themselves and make sure they can do it."
Â
Cowboy senior pitcher Ben Leeper
On the freshmen
"They're freshmen and so they are young. When they came in the fall, they made an immediate impact. There is a lot of talent. The arms and pitches are there, and it's really exciting to see young guys who can make an impact."
Â
On Rob WaltonÂ
"I remember my freshman year he was constantly working with you. I reminisce a little bit because it changed who I was as a pitcher and a person. If he is not developing us as pitchers, it's as people."
Cowboy head coach Josh HollidayÂ
On what's most exciting about the opening of O'Brate Stadium
"I mean, what's not exciting? I think the most exciting thing is just the challenge of us getting ready to play. We get to play a few more games in Allie P. We get to dive into some really tough road games early in the season and then transitioning over into O'Brate will be healthy and exciting for us. In all the things I've ever been a part of, I've never been a part of something like this before so this will be fascinating to see how this turns out. Everything about it is a positive thing. It's all part of the excitement and growth of this season. I'm sure there will be awesome and exciting opportunities as the year goes on. O'Brate Stadium is a beautiful place and once you get inside it, you'll see what the excitement is all about."
Â
On the addition of Matt Holliday and Robin Ventura to the coaching staff
"They both have such a great life experience inside of the game at so many different levels. They've both played at very high levels and have tremendous credibility. I've heard so many cool conversations occurring already between (Holliday and Ventura) and the players and they'll just be sitting there on the bench and talking baseball, telling a funny story or just mentoring them through their own personal experiences. Matt and Robin look at these guys and see 18, 19, 20-year-old versions of themselves I'm sure. They can pass on a really good vibe to the kids. They are great men; they have a great vibe about them."
Â
On the pitching rotation going into the season
"I don't know exactly what it is as of yet, but we have guys right now that are getting in good shape, taking it slow. We don't want to rush into anything this time of year. It's natural to get kind of anxious and try to speed up a little bit. You have to be in it for the long run, in terms of getting your pitchers conditioned and stretched out. I don't think we're quite there yet to announce a rotation, but I definitely like the guys that went through the fall. We had a number of positives, especially with the scrimmages against Arkansas and Vanderbilt. A lot of kids got to the mound and showed pretty good poise, especially some of the younger guys.
"I think it starts with Parker Scott being healthy. He is a very skilled left-hander who I think is going to have a really good year for us. Brett Standlee comes back a very versatile pitcher who could start or come out of the bullpen. A lot of young arms also factor into the rotation as well. Ultimately, Coach (Rob) Walton will get those guys in the right spots, he always does. He does an incredible job, and he is totally locked into it right now. He is very much in tune with how the kids are feeling. Sometime within the next 20 some odd days, he'll kind of know how we want to start the season out. As we've seen in years past, we go into a season with one particular look, and over time, you adjust and figure out what that right formula is. Overall, I feel really good about our pitching."
Â
On the offensive strategy
"I think we can bunt in more spots in the lineup this year; we have more players that are skilled in that regard. We probably aren't as big in a couple spots, but we have more skill, faster runners, more bat handler types of guys. There could be more different ways to score than last year. Last year, we were a team that hit it off the fence or over the fence a lot.
"Looking back at times, it was tough. We struck out far more than any of us would've liked. I certainly would've liked us to put the ball in play more, but I know other teams that would've died to have traded spots with us on offense. I had a lot of coaches come up and tell me, 'We had a lot of major anxiety playing against your team. Those three days drove me crazy.' As much as the strikeouts might've bothered you at times, it made the other team real uncomfortable that one bad pitch was leaving the yard. You want a team that could win 2-1, 5-4, 13-11, however it's gotta happen. You need a team that is able to play the game that the elements or maybe the pitching dictates and try to win multiple ways. We have some guys that are a skilled group that works on some of those finer points — the slashes, bunts and some other things that we haven't done as much of as of late. There are some different gadgets up our sleeves this year."
Â
On the freshman classÂ
"This is a good group for sure. We have four or five pitchers in our freshman class that will get a lot of innings early in their career. This class reminds me of the Trey Cobb, Tyler Buffet, Thomas Hatch, Blake Battenfield group. To have that many guys come in together that will provide you with a pitching staff for years to come and for some position players to be the same way is pretty special. It's always interesting to see how these guys will handle the opportunities and how quickly they take them and run. We will have a lot of first-year players, whether they're transfers or freshmen, that will have a chance to contribute immediately. We're counting on those guys, and as I told them yesterday, 'There's no clock on when you're allowed to arrive. The invitation has been extended so feel free to step up and play good from day one.'"
Â
On watching the senior class grow and mature over the years
"It is amazing. Our senior class has guys that have been here three, four and even five years. I think what you realize, is how close you grow to those kids when they're with you that much. Three, four and five years of experience with guys you really get to know them. Their bodies change, they get bigger and stronger, the way they grow in school. You watch guys come in as freshmen and fight to get through the fall, now they're in their last semester, getting ready to graduate with a degree in Business. They're taking all these tough classes and they aren't even blinking. They change their habits: they start eating healthier, they start walking around focused. You just watch them grow up and it's a lot of fun. It's really hard to say goodbye to them because you grow so used to being with them. You grow accustomed to the mood, the way they make you feel and you don't realize how much you enjoy your time with them. When they leave, it's hard. You just have to replace them with other great kids to share that with. When you're lucky enough to coach guys for three, four, five years, they were obviously great guys because they stuck around and saw this thing through. They leave a big mark on your program, because year after year after year they pass down the things that you value as a group that you want others to learn and many of those kids end up being great performers. All that stuff means a lot to us."
Â
Cowboy senior outfielder Cade CabbinessÂ
On O'Brate Stadium
"It's going to be hard to say goodbye to Allie P., but I am really excited to see what the new baseball stadium does for our community. It's going to bring in a lot of new fans and going to be awesome. "
On Matt Holliday and Robin Ventura
"It's been fun. They have both been and done great at the highest level. They know so much and have so much to share. As the season goes on, it will be fun to see how they can give us adjustments we can carry with us versus right now where they can break us down and help with our swings. It is going to be fun to see."
Â
On hittingÂ
"I've had a lot of people help here and there. That's what has been great about Matt (Holliday) and Robin (Ventura) coming in is helping me simplify it. I was able to go out against Vanderbilt and end the fall strong and carry that into this season. I like where I am at right now."
Â
Cowboy sophomore infielder Hueston MorrillÂ
On O'Brate Stadium
"It's going to be awesome. Josh told me the first day I stepped on campus about the new stadium. It was exciting and a heart rush that makes your feelings go through the roof."
Â
On playing in the Cape Cod League last summer
"I took freedom and responsibility away from the experience. I learned I have to take my own time to work on my game. You don't have anybody telling you to do this or that, you have to follow your own plan work hard."Â
On playing shortstop
"It is normal. I played shortstop in high school. I worked there when I first stepped on campus and then slid over to second. I feel like I've been a shortstop my whole life, and I'm excited to see where it takes me."
Â
On the Cowboys' freshmen
"I see the same thing in them. They come in and are timid, but then they shine. Each one of them has an opportunity just like I did to break through and earn a spot. I see myself in a lot of them. The whole freshman class is nothing but hard workers."
Â
Cowboy senior first baseman Alix GarciaÂ
On how he feels about the season
"I feel like I still have to come in here and earn my spot. Last year, I was unsure, and I felt more comfortable this year. It's nice being one of the guys. It's nice to have a little reassurance and knowing I can come in and play."
Â
On when he started feeling comfortable in the lineup
"Around the start of Big 12 play I started finding my role with the team and didn't want to be pulled out of the lineup after that because I got so used to playing."
Cowboy senior outfielder Carson McCusker
On holes to fill
"I think we have the guys to do that. Kaden Polcovich is unbelievable. Noah Sifrit had a really good fall as well as Jake Thompson. We're excited."
Â
On the differences in the new stadiumÂ
"I'm excited to go check it out. The new stadium is facing the same way so the sun, wind and things like that should be the same."
Â
On power hitting
"Our offensive approach will be a little different this year because we don't have one through nine guys that can leave the yard at any time. We are going to compete; we will still have power, but we might have to play some small ball, steal bags and things like that."
Â
Cowboy sophomore pitcher Brett Standlee
On his roleÂ
"I'm making sure my arms is in shape, and I'm prepared ready for anything. Whether I'm coming out of the bullpen or starting, I have to do my part to help the team win."
Â
On the young guysÂ
"Every guy with experience has a purpose to help these young guys, guide them and give them some things to work on. We have to make sure their confident in themselves and make sure they can do it."
Â
Cowboy senior pitcher Ben Leeper
On the freshmen
"They're freshmen and so they are young. When they came in the fall, they made an immediate impact. There is a lot of talent. The arms and pitches are there, and it's really exciting to see young guys who can make an impact."
Â
On Rob WaltonÂ
"I remember my freshman year he was constantly working with you. I reminisce a little bit because it changed who I was as a pitcher and a person. If he is not developing us as pitchers, it's as people."
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Cowboy Baseball
INF
/ Cowboy Baseball
RHP
/ Cowboy Baseball
OF
/ Cowboy Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Cowboy Baseball
INF
/ Cowboy Baseball
LHP
/ Cowboy Baseball
LHP/OF
/ Cowboy Baseball
RHP
/ Cowboy Baseball
INF
/ Cowboy BaseballFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
