Junior Sun Devil outfielder Johnny Sewald bunts, batting in a run, during Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage on Feb. 7, 2015, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. (J. Bauer-Leffler/ The State Press)No. 18 ASU baseball is focused on addressing previous concerns heading into its opening series against No. 12 Oklahoma State, a team that will be vying for position in a tough Big 12 Conference this season.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys (48-18 in 2014) have two returning players with 2014 Big 12 First Team honors, catcher Gage Green and shortstop Donnie Walton.
However, coach Tracy Smith said he is primarily focused on his team's mental preparation entering the Feb. 13 opener.
"I just try to get the guys in the mindset that if we do what we're supposed to, we'll be okay," he said. "I think sometimes focusing on the opposition and its strengths can take away from what our guys do well."
After the Feb. 7 intrasquad scrimmage, Smith raised concerns about the team's shaky pitching and defensive performance that day and its overall identity heading into the season.
He addressed those in practice this week to prepare the team for its opening series.
"We talked about playing for the guys that are standing next to you and if we get caught up in all of the fan expectations, you lose sight of what you are supposed to be doing," he said. "We talked about narrowing the focus, trusting each other, and all of the other good stuff will come."
He also noted the team is buying into what he is preaching, which he said is impressive considering the players were former ASU baseball coach Tim Esmay's recruits, not his.
"There hasn't been a lot of resistance to what we've been talking about and that's helped the learning curve because we haven't had to fight guys when making changes," Smith said.
Although he likes the group's confidence and character, Smith said the way the team carries itself during the season remains to be seen — he hopes the Sun Devils prove to be a selfless club.
"Intrasquad scrimmages are great because everyone plays, but the unknown is how we are going to act when we can only field eight position players and a pitcher out there," he said. "On the most special teams I've ever been a part of, no one cares who gets the credit as long as we win, and that's the stuff we won't see until we start competing for real."
Junior second baseman Jordan Aboites said the team responded to Smith's identity concern after it was addressed in practice this week.
"We want to be the team that does everything right," he said. "When people around the country think about a team that plays hard, we want them to think Sun Devils."
ASU's pitching is arguably the biggest factor in this series. Oklahoma State led the Big 12 and was eighth in the country with its 53 home runs last year — this year, its top returning home run hitter is designated hitter Conor Costello, who hit nine homers in 2014.
In addition, the Cowboys were 11-1 in games decided by one run and 11-3 in games decided by two runs last season.
Junior pitcher Ryan Burr said the wealth of options out of the bullpen is one of ASU's biggest advantages, noting the back of the game can be manipulated in multiple ways.
"Once we get that situated, we're going to be comfortable in saying that one we get to the sixth or seventh inning, it's game over," he said. "I'd be comfortable in saying we have one of the best, if not the best, pitching staffs in the country depth-wise."
Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or on Twitter @justintoscano3.
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