ASU junior outfielder Johnny Sewald claps during introductions at the ASU vs. Oklahoma baseball game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Feb. 18, 2015. Sewald had three hits and an RBI to help the Sun Devils would defeat the Sooners 7-4. (Daniel Kwon/The State Press)Beginning Friday, the No. 17 ASU baseball team will face off against No. 2 TCU, a perennial college baseball power with a veteran head coach and a deep roster.
To break down the series, baseball beat writer Patrick Jones of TCU's student newspaper, TCU 360, exchanged questions and answers with The State Press.
The State Press: There’s a significant amount of turnover on this season’s roster, with ace Brandon Finnegan among the most obvious of the departures. Yet, this TCU team (which led the country with a 2.22 team ERA and WHIP of 1.03 in 2014) is still stacked with returners like Preston Morrison and Tyler Alexander, and on paper looks poised for another Omaha run. Who among the newcomers have impressed thus far?
Patrick Jones: Evan Skoug, freshman catcher, doesn’t have a great average as of right now (it has only been one series, though) but has some pop to his bat, which is something that TCU doesn't have a lot of. Connor Wanhanen, freshman outfielder, has produced well in his first series of his college career.
He pinch hit in the first game of the season and had a couple of RBIs. I expect him to be a mainstay in this lineup switching between LF and DH throughout this season. Also, Dane Steinhagen and Nolan Brown, both junior outfielders, have hit well so far this season.
SP: Head coach Jim Schlossnagle seems to be focused on not letting the No. 2 ranking be a distraction for his players. That said, how do you think he’ll approach an early non-conference road series against a team like Arizona State, with a new coach in Tracy Smith that has aspirations of earning a reputation like the one Schlossnagle has acquired?
PJ: Coach Schloss is big on going game to game and not letting his players get big heads. The entire team really doesn't care too much about the rankings and they don't let it get to them. Being a hostile environment, Schloss will probably rely on veteran play throughout the series and maybe test some of the younger guys who are expected to step up this season. It will be a great early test for this group.
SP: With a pitching staff that was so dominant in 2014, has there been any feedback so far in regards to the new flat seams designed to boost offense?
PJ: Not too much feedback from our pitchers just yet because they haven't been really challenged as of yet. On the other side of things, the ball does seem to travel farther, two Frogs, Skoug and Keaton Jones (senior shortstop) both hit their first homers of their career.
SP: Among position players, is there a new starter or potential sleeper on the bench for this year’s squad that has a chance to make an impact?
Like I said before, Skoug has arguably the most pop on the team and Wanhanen can produce from what I've seen. Brown and Steinhagen (both juniors) are taking over for two of TCU's better hitters last season, Dylan Fitzgerald (graduated) and Boomer White (transferred to A&M), in the outfield. Alex Young (junior) is coming out of the bullpen and should be the Sunday starter throughout the year. Bullpen arms Mitchell Traver (redshirt sophomore) and Brian Howard (sophomore) are expected to compete for the Tuesday job.
SP: ASU has a pair of lefty aces in Brett Lilek and Ryan Kellogg at the top of its rotation, but the ethos of this team has been its ability to score runs, rather than shut teams out. Is this contrast a favorable matchup for TCU?
PJ: I would say it's a push. The fact that ASU has two lefty aces is going to be a challenge for TCU knowing that their lineup is predominantly left-handed. TCU has one of the best rotations and bullpens in the nation, but they aren't known for their hitting, even though they have hit well in their first three games. It should be a fun matchup to watch.
SP: And finally, your prediction for the series?
PJ: With all of that being said, I would say that TCU takes two out of the three. I would say they are going to be very close games, no blowouts. TCU's pitching, mainly Preston Morrison and Tyler Alexander, should perform well enough to give TCU's hitters a chance to score a couple of runs. ASU should get one at home. It might even come down to which third-day pitcher can get it done.
Reach the reporter at smodrich@asu.edu or on Twitter @StefanJModrich.
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