Hey folks,
Just got through writing up the preview for tomorrow's bout with Indiana State, and I thought I'd leave with you what I just culled from my interviews that didn't make it into the story. So here goes.
Defense: Coach Smith reiterated what he's been saying all year - that his defense needs to improve. He said he knows good defense is the key to success in any sport, and he said the Hoosiers' current problems are more mental than physical.
"Errors are gonna happen," Smith said. "We're trying to focus more on that mental preparation prior to the play happening."
I know Smith hasn't been happy with his team's defensive mentality most of the season, but that's hardly the start when IU is last defensively in the Big Ten. Smith told me after the Penn State series that he didn't think his defense is being aggressive enough. It will be interesting to see if that mentality starts turning around against ISU tomorrow.
Means: Andrew Means has had more than a few pro scouts out lately at Sembower (and I would assume on the road as well) taking a look at him ahead of the June draft. It's easy to imagine why Means is so attractive - he's got speed and a solid bat, and he's turned himself into a pretty good center fielder in his three years at IU.
When I asked Tracy about Means, he said he's not doing too much in the way of prepping him for any eventuality concerning the draft. He said he and the coaches are just trying to keep everyone on the team "playing with both feet in today." He said if Means does that, "all that other stuff takes care of itself."
Jarrud Sabourin: Talked to the San Diego native and freshman today for my preview. If you don't know his story, the first baseman originally committed to Arizona. He only spent one semester there before coming to IU looking for more opportunity to play, something he's gotten here as the everyday man at first.
Talked to Sabourin about his transition to Indiana, and here's some of what he had to say:
"Coming from Arizona, they didn't really give me a chance out there."
Sabourin said he even had to make his own time to get into the batting cages and work out.
"I tried to stay on top of it there, because I knew I'd get a chance to go somewhere and get a chance to play baseball," he said. "It's paid off for me right now."
Sabourin also said having experienced guys like Phegley, Means and Crawford ahead of him in the lineup has taught him how to handle college baseball. He said the older players "set the tone" for the team every day.
"They're all hard workers, and they set a good example for me and for all the younger guys on the team to follow"
