Collegiate The Voice Of Amateur Baseball

Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 55, No. 14 Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 $3.00 Amazing Show Of Stamina Arizona’s 3 Starters Throw 5,675 Pitches,16 Complete Games Wildcat coaches Andy Lopez, Shaun Cole explain in detail the complete system Arizona uses that has allowed to stay injury free the last three seasons while gaining more velocity over time. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Editor/Collegiate Baseball

UCSON, Ariz. — In one of the most staggering achievements in the history of college baseball, Arizona’s three starting Tpitchers threw 5,675 combined pitches last season enroute to the Wildcats’ fourth national title. Arizona finished with 16 complete games, including eight over its final 19 contests. It was the most complete games in a single season at the school in the last 23 years. To put this in perspective, Arizona had the same amount of complete games as the entire made up of 12 teams. How did the Wildcats do it without sustaining serious arm injuries? This story answers the question that has been raised by hundreds of coaches throughout the nation since Arizona won the national title last June. All 16 complete games were accomplished by a trio of pitchers, including Kurt Heyer (7 CG), (6 CG) and James Farris (3 CG). In 36 games last season, this trio of pitchers worked into the seven at a minimum. Heyer threw 153 , which led the nation, and had a 13-2 record, 2.24 ERA and struck out 113 batters with 28 walks. He worked at least 7 1/3 innings over 13 consecutive starts. Wade threw 136 1/3 innings and posted an 11-3 record, 3.96 ERA while striking out 105 batters with 37 walks. Farris pitched in 106 2/3 innings with a 7-3 record, 3.97 ERA and fanned 73 batters with 20 walks. It is extremely rare to see three pitchers on the same college staff pitch over 100 innings in the same season. Heyer threw 2,212 total pitches in games while Wade threw 1,851 and Farris 1,612, according to numbers supplied by Arizona pitching Shaun Cole. In 10 regional, super regional and games last season, Arizona’s trio of starting pitchers averaged 8.48 innings per start — an incredibly rare achievement because so many starters experience dead arms late in the season. In an exclusive interview with Collegiate Baseball, Arizona Head Coach Andy Lopez and Cole explain the remarkable system that the Wildcats have devised to train their starting pitchers physically and mentally so they don’t break down late in the season. Instead, they get stronger and stronger. Over 50 years ago, it was common to see starting pitchers in pro and college baseball finish games or come close. That philosophy changed over the years. To prevent dead arms late in a college season, starters now routinely go six or seven innings followed by a setup man and then a who are both fresh. Pro baseball has followed that formula for decades. Then more pitchers are ready for the stretch run as starters still have plenty of gas in the tank to perform at playoff time. Out of necessity, Arizona was forced to lean heavily on its starting

See WILDCATS FOCUS ON 4 CRITICAL AREAS, Page 5 Kurt Heyer threw 2,212 pitches over 153 innings last season with 7 CGs.

Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com NCAA Div. I Recruiting Rundown Special Q&A With Mind Expert More On The Running Game Vanderbilt captures national title Geoff Miller explains how coaches, Al Figone explains his superb with tremendous class that features players can be helped by his sliding techniques that keep star-studded athletes/Page 28 valuable book Intangibles/Page 10 injuries to a minimum/Page 16 Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 Collegiate Baseball Page 5 Wildcats Focus On 4 Critical Areas With Pitchers Continued From Page 1 on the outside corner). back off slightly and throw 88 mph “I look at what my Pepperdine and be ahead in the count. We let pitchers last season since the relief ball club did when we won the 1992 them exhale a bit. Then they feel pitchers were inconsistent. Lopez College World Series, and we had like they don’t have to muscle has coached many teams over the an ERA of 1.00 at the CWS. up pitches to be effective in our years with lock down closers at “Our pitching staff at Arizona league. Pepperdine, Florida and Arizona. had an ERA of 1.12 during the “We want them to pitch within Because of the inconsistency College World Series last June. their limitations. We also want early in the season by his bullpen, “Both of those pitching staffs them to understand that the true he asked his three main starters to didn’t have pitchers who threw value of pitching is not velocity, go as far as they could in games and 94-95 mph. We might have had although I would love to have four try to finish them. one starter who touched 90 early or five guys who throw 95 mph. The And this tactic didn’t hurt the in games and the others were 87-88 reality is that we will probably have Wildcats one bit. mph pitchers. pitchers who throw 87, 88, 89 mph Few people realize Arizona was “Shaun (Cole) did a marvelous and probably touch 90 mph. So we 47-0 when leading or tied after eight job working with our pitchers to want them to relax and understand innings of games last season. locate their fastballs, change speeds what constitutes a fastball in our and have an off-speed pitch they program. Locating the fastball is How Arizona Did It Despite nearly 5,700 pitches could throw behind in the count. the answer. between the trio of starting Shaun also worked hard at having “When you initially ask pitchers pitchers last season, not one starter our pitchers develop an out pitch. who come into our program to experienced elbow or shoulder But the most important thing was change speeds, some will tell pain through the season. In fact, to locate that fastball.” me that they can throw harder. no on the staff has suffered Pitchers Become Stronger That is their mind set. Once they an elbow or shoulder injury the last With that being said, Lopez said understand the concept of backing three years at Arizona which shows strength takes its natural course over off the fastball a bit so they can their system is working. time throwing a high percentage of locate it, then we are going in the In fact, they all thrived on more fastballs in bullpens. right direction.” throwing as the season unfolded as “The more you throw a fastball, It also is important to point out they were at their best during the the better you get at precision that pitchers are not allowed to NCAA playoffs. throws, and you gradually get throw breaking pitches until they locate fastballs at an acceptable The reason can be traced to a Andy Lopez: Locating Fastballs Crucial stronger as well. I’ve lived it with 4-pronged system implemented by pitching staffs over the last 30 level. “The philosophy I have as a you need to change speeds. If you the Wildcats, including: years. Our pitching staff wasn’t “Many times pitchers come into coach at Arizona, and previously can’t change speeds, then you  A unique long toss, bullpen overpowering last season. But as the our program and want to show us at Florida, Pepperdine and Cal. must locate. If you can locate and and running program implemented season unfolded, they got stronger what great curves they have. But St. Dominguez Hills, is that the change speeds, then you will have a by Cole with guidance from and stronger and stronger.” we tell them that to be allowed to best pitch in baseball is the located complete game. We try to give them Lopez. The first week of practice in throw a breaking pitch, they must fastball. If you were to go through an easy plan to execute when they  Strength and conditioning the fall, Arizona pitchers normally locate fastballs first. our pitching charts, you would see go out to the mound. But the real program orchestrated by Neil throw 25-30 pitches in bullpens and “We call our off-speed pitches a great percentage of pitches are essence of what we talk about day Willey. Willey is one of the most increase the work load by 5 pitches ‘power pitches.’ I hate it when fastballs. in and day out is that the best pitch respected strength and conditioning each week as they ultimately finish our pitchers throw soft off-speed “, former Alabama in baseball is the located fastball. coaches in the nation who has with 45-50 pitches a week prior to pitches. The reason is that if a head coach and a dear friend of “We spend enough time to be worked with six national title teams throwing intersquad games. pitcher is throwing soft off-speed mine, came to the College World effective with our off-speed pitches. at Arizona in his 14 years with the Lopez was asked how adept new pitches, he has slowed his arm Series to watch several games last But we probably spend 70 percent Wildcats (2 softball, 1 baseball, 1 pitchers to Arizona’s program are at down, dropped his elbow and June. We usually talk every week of our time in bullpens on fastballs women’s golf, 1 men’s swimming having fastball command. guided the ball up to the plate. We on the phone. He told me that and fastball location. It is crucial to and 1 women’s swimming). “I always ask freshmen pitchers emphasize to young pitchers that after watching the regionals, super the success of our pitchers. From  Post-practice and game care who come in how hard they have to they must throw a power breaking regionals and College World Series the moment they get loose, we are of pitching shoulders and arms by throw to be effective in the Pac-12. pitch and emphasize the word that our pitching staff reminded him talking about hip to hip catch. athletic trainer Leanna Olivar. Is it 89-90 mph or 91 mph? They power, power, power. Then they of the St. Louis Cardinals during “We are talking about working  Mental conditioning program wait for the answer, and I tell them understand and have the proper arm the mid-1960s as our pitchers threw the U concept in the bullpen (high by Wildcat skipper Lopez. just hard enough to have location. speed which is close to a fastball. fastball after fastball after fastball. inside strike pitch, and gradually Cole said one of the greatest You don’t need to throw 91 mph And it makes it difficult for the “We really stress that our pitchers working down and then across the examples for throwing complete and throw the first two pitches for batter to react to pitches when this must locate the fastball. Our saying bottom of the strike zone and then games for his pitching staff was balls. I would rather see a pitcher here is if you can’t locate, then up the other side of the strike zone See UNIQUE LONG, Page 6 Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Bob Gibson who put up stunning numbers from 1959- 1975. Gibson threw 28 complete games during the 1968 season in 34 starts and also threw 28 complete games in 35 starts in 1969. He also recorded 20 complete games in five other seasons. Overall, Gibson had 255 complete games in 482 starts during his 17-year career. “Bob Gibson was absolutely ruthless when he pitched,” said Cole. “One of the greatest lines I read on him was that Gibson didn’t just dominate at his peak. He made hitters pray for a swift, easy death.” Another great example was Juan Marichal. At the height of his career in 1968, he went 26-9 over 328 innings and completed 30 games with nearly five strikeouts for every walk issued. He recorded 22 complete games four other seasons during his 16 year career. Possibly the most amazing example was Hall of Famer Cy Young who pitched from 1890-1911 and recorded 40 or more complete games nine different seasons. He owns the Major League record for most complete games with 749 in 815 starts over a 22-year career. Throwing Loads Of Fastballs Lopez said the core of what his pitchers learn from day one is locating fastballs throughout the strike zone which ultimately helps with strength and endurance over time. Page 6 Collegiate Baseball Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 Unique Long Toss Program Arizona’s Cole Puts Together Plan That Helps His Pitchers Thrive Continued From Page 5 He added that once pitchers are done throwing, they go to the happens. trainer’s room to perform a surgical “You can only trick an opponent tubing routine. And every pitcher so far with curves and off-speed must sign in to prove they were pitches. A great located fastball is there. In previous years, he gave so vital on our level. pitchers surgical tubing. But to “The located fastball is a pitch make sure pitchers got their post- you can throw in six different throwing tubing work in, he made locations effectively. You can’t them sign in last season which do that with a curve or changeup worked well. in six different locations. That is Strength and Conditioning why we stress the located fastball Neil Willey is the strength and so much.” conditioning coach for Arizona’s Lopez said he learned quite a baseball team. And as stated earlier, bit about pitching from the late Joe he has been a part of six national Hicks, former Head Coach at Long championship teams in the athletics Beach City College. department for baseball, softball, “I lived about four houses away swimming and golf. from him, and I had the pleasure He has put together a program that of coaching at Los Angeles Harbor specifically helps starting pitchers College against his teams earlier in build and retain their strength my career. I was always impressed during the fall and spring. with their pitching. As a young head Cole said he has seen coach at Cal. St. Dominguez Hills, the workouts, and they blend I was pulling my hair out trying to seamlessly with what he is trying figure out how to make the pitching to accomplish. staff stronger. “I have talked to Neil quite a bit “So I asked Coach Hicks if I on his concepts for strength and could sit down with him and talk conditioning,” said Cole. about pitching. He explained The “Neil’s mind set is based more Umbrella of Pitching. MONITORING WILDCAT PITCHERS — Shaun Cole (left), pitching coach at Arizona, keeps a on plyometrics, box jumps, 1- “He drew an umbrella on a piece close eye on all his pitchers. In this case, Cole watches All-American Kurt Heyer warm up prior legged squats and pushups, and of paper, and wrote along the top of to a game. The Wildcat pitching coach has utilized a system that has allowed Arizona pitchers to dumbbells to name a few. He does the umbrella location, movement, go three straight seasons without an injury. a superb job for us. location, velocity, location, spin, “Our pitchers work with light location, movement, location, game for any pitcher. is right for a pitcher in a given working, bought into what we “Frankly, I don’t know what the day. They must be honest with were doing, and they applied weights and a lot of repetitions. velocity, location spin, location, etc. Our pitchers also do a lot of cardio He asked me to count the number magic maximum number is for a themselves. If their arm is lagging themselves.” pitcher on the college level. I have a little bit, we don’t want them Cole said that each pitcher work with Neil. They do a lot of of ‘locations’ on the umbrella, and sprints and interval running. On there were 12. There were two tried to read everything I can on that to throw the full distance they goes out to a distance they are topic, but I really don’t know what normally do. Having this honest comfortable with and builds on top of that, I condition them when velocities and four spins. they come out to the baseball field. “He asked me if I got the point the number should be. When our working relationship with pitchers that distance over the course of guy’s velocity starts going down, is vital to their arm and shoulder the year. So they are doing a lot of running about how vital location was. I in our program.” also was fortunate to talk to Ron and his pitches start creeping up in health. We want our pitchers to “Then as they come back to their the zone, starts dropping his lower get stronger and stronger as the partner, they enter the pull down Players lift three days a week Perranoski (pitching coach for the during the morning and then run in 14 years) as half and his arm drops down, we season goes and don’t want them phase. Throws from 150 feet in need to get a fresh arm in there. to suffer a needless arm injury just are thrown on a line. As they keep the afternoon. well and Mike Mayne (former head “We run the pitchers, as well as coach at Orange Coast College). “So is that 90 pitches into the because they didn’t communicate progressing inward (120 feet and game because he had an intense few with us.” then 90 feet), throws are aimed position players, much more than Special Program innings because he was behind in at their partner’s hip or knees, they have ever run in their lives,” Through research by Cole, Precision Long Toss said Willey. the count or put runners in scoring Cole feels that Arizona’s long focusing to make sure to pull Arizona initiated a unique long toss position? down on the seams of the baseball “But they don’t run mile after program that took bits and pieces toss program correlated to more mile because I don’t believe in “To me, it is common sense complete games last season for the at release point and compressing of Alan Jaeger’s well known long to watch the telltale signs that I their longest throw of the day into marathon running for pitchers. We toss program and concepts from the Wildcats. have them perform a lot of sprint mentioned. So we might have to “Last year was the first season these throws during the pull down Texas Rangers’ program. pull a pitcher with many fewer phase.” and shuttle work over 30 yards. The “All of our pitchers really bought where we really pushed the envelope reason for the short, high intensity pitches than 130. There have been on long toss. And I honestly believe Cole said that a cool down into the importance of long toss and times with Kurt Heyer when he was session takes place with flat ground running is that we want the pitchers the concepts that Alan Jaeger and it was one of the key reasons for all to be explosive and powerful.” at 120 pitches, and he looked fresh. of our complete games and why our work next from 60 feet away with I discussed at length. Their arms There was no reason to pull him a partner as pitchers work on Willey said that the running and shoulders felt terrific as they pitchers weren’t tired at the end of program is utilized not just during other than he had reached this pitch the year.” weaknesses and sharpen strengths. extended their long toss out further count, and I was scratching my All pitches are thrown from the the fall but during the season as and further. Farris was throwing Cole said his pitchers perform well. head wondering why I was taking long toss in a precise manner. stretch position as they simulate a deep into the left centerfield gap him out of the game. His velocity base runner on 1B, 2B, and 3B. “Our guys were complaining from the right field foul line easily. “The first thing we have them about all the running we were doing was good, arm angle good, was do is run and then stretch. Then “We really emphasize throwing Heyer would sometimes long toss competitive and felt great. low during this drill. We have a last season when we hit mid-season. the day after he pitched. All of our they have the option of doing a But we kept them going on our “Learning about what the Texas surgical tubing routine prior to string they must throw under. Every starters liked it and said their arms Rangers do with their pitchers has pitch above that is an additional running program up to post-season, felt better as they threw from foul throwing long toss or after. Some and then we backed off.” been a revelation to us. Nobody is prefer doing tubing exercises after sprint they must run. It is hammered line to foul line (beyond 250 feet). in the business of blowing arms over and over again to pitch down As far as weight training, “When they started to long toss, throwing. Others do it before Willey said that as the baseball up. But are we helping pitchers by throwing. And some utilize tubing in the zone.” they all were a little reluctant at babying them or trying to get them Cole said that his pitchers also season progresses, they do higher first. But as the season went on, exercises before and after throwing. repetitions with lighter weights. to be as strong as possible for a We give them that flexibility. focus on mastering the U which was they were long tossing more and long season? adapted from Vanderbilt pitching But during the fall, he pushes more on their own. “At the point they are ready for heavier weights to condition his “The key thing we have learned to start throwing, no talking is coach Derek Johnson. “Alan works with the Texas from the Rangers is to throw a “Derek’s definition is much more pitchers to get through nine innings Rangers, and he sent us information allowed, and I am very strict about in a game. lot.” that. I want them totally focused in depth than what I use. I have about what they were doing with Said Cole: “They (Rangers) scaled it down here. But he defined “Our strength program is based their pitchers.” on throwing and their craft. Then I on having the players grow stronger don’t believe in babying their put a stop watch on them as well. this as a fastball under the hands, Lopez has had a long relationship pitchers and have them throw a a fastball at the knees, changeup and also being explosive. We also with Rangers’ team physician If I don’t, they will easily go 25-30 have our pitchers move weight lot more than they previously did. minutes with long toss which is middle down, and then back to the Dr. Keith Meister going back to There were certain days last season other side at the knees and up to during the season.” when he was the head coach at the unproductive. Willey said he also has pitchers when I told our pitchers to air it “I want them to go 12-15 minutes the top of the outside strike. So our . out in practice with long toss. I pitchers are all working the U from throw medicine balls over their “I asked Keith what the Rangers with long toss, maximum. That head to stabilize the shoulder. encouraged them to do this. I want includes their warmup throws, long the windup and from the stretch were doing now with their pitching our bullpens to be intense, and it has every day. Then we give them some He said that the team trainer, staff because I had read an article toss, flat ground work, everything. Leanna Olivar, is also important in always been that way at Arizona Now they know they have 12-15 freedom to get their work in. about Nolan Ryan becoming active under Coach Lopez. “We work more out of the stretch the process. with the Rangers’ organization minutes to get their work in, and “Leanna does a shoulder workout “Throwing a lot is especially they don’t screw around. There than from the full windup, especially and stressing the importance of important for starters so they are with the young guys who come into right after pitchers are done not being so concerned with pitch isn’t a wasted minute. throwing, and the workouts are able to do go deep into games “At a point last year, I didn’t even our program. Usually new pitchers counts and having all the pitchers without suffering injuries.” are far more comfortable from the different for starters and relievers. become stronger and complete have to put a stop watch on them. The next day, starting pitchers come Cole was asked how he defines They were so well conditioned windup than from the stretch.” more games. Shaun and I talked throwing a lot. Cole said the long toss program in, and we start them out on a bike about having more complete games to the stop watch, that everything or treadmill so that we can get the “That would be throwing every became automatic. We had a great is utilized during the fall and also by our pitching staffs and put the day and going the distance that during the spring season. ‘magic’ limit of 130 pitches per group of pitchers who were hard See ‘DANGEROUS,’ Page 8 Page 8 Collegiate Baseball Friday, Oct. 5, 2012 ‘Dangerous’ Bullpens Most Are Vacation Spots, But Not At Arizona With Mental Hurdles Continued From Page 6 was in front of them. And they were the newspaper that morning about a forced to be mentally tough. girl being kidnapped and rant about lactic acid flushed out. Then we will “One day I showed up and found it at the time. do some light lifting but nothing that all our home plates had been “I get really close to the pitcher heavy to flush the system out. stolen. The school is in Carson, and scream different things as “Even on the road, we have a Calif. which is near Compton, I float around the bullpen area. program pitchers can utilize at the Calif, one of the roughest areas Everybody in the yard can hear hotel they are staying at. Usually of Los Angeles. This area has me yell. I might leave the bullpen there is a room at a hotel which has a tremendous amount of gang and yell at the rightfielder about a bike, treadmill and some weights. activity with the Bloods, Crips and how poor this guy’s bullpen is at So that works very well. all the rest. the top of my lungs. I might say “The recovery phase is extremely “Another time, I showed up, and something like, ‘Can you believe important for starting pitchers. some gang members were smoking I am seriously thinking about “Our starting pitchers have marijuana in right field and lit the throwing this guy?’ stayed healthy not because of one wind screen on the outfield fence on “As crazy as this sounds, I had or two things. It is the entire process fire. We didn’t have a hose that was a method to my madness. It really they go through. We try to keep long enough to put out the fire. So toughens our pitchers up to focus. their shoulders healthy as well as we watched our entire wind screen What I learned at Dominguez areas prone to injury and strive for go up in smoke. This was my life Hills has stayed with me my entire good flexibility. On top of that, we at Dominguez Hills. coaching career to help pitchers want them to eat well with good “During the practice after our be tougher. Players ask me why nutrition and hydrate their body home plates were stolen, I was I do this. And I tell them that I which is especially important in quick on my feet and told our really don’t like yelling because Tucson.” pitchers that we didn’t need home my throat is always tired. I would Walks Not Acceptable plates anyway. I was upset at the prefer waltzing into practice and Cole said that another factor location of their pitches, and they calmly tell everyone to get ready for so many complete games by needed to learn how to throw to the for Pac-12 play. Arizona’s starters last season was — not over home plate. I “But the reality is that probably the urgency placed on not walking just made it up on the spot. isn’t going to happen.” batters. “Due to being a state school, we Lopez talked about the amazing “We had a heavy emphasis on couldn’t just pick up a few home saga of Brad Mills, a one day tryout not walking batters,” said Cole. plates the next day. We had to go lefthanded pitcher at Arizona who “If you walk into our locker through a bidding process, and ultimately made eight starts in the room, you will know where the ultimately we got new home plates Major Leagues with the Blue Jays pitchers’ lockers are. In bold letters, about three weeks later. At the end and Yankees. each locker (for pitchers) has a of three weeks, we were pitching “Brad tried out prior to the 2002 piece of paper taped to it which pretty well without home plates. season, and we didn’t have any says, ‘Walks Are NOT Acceptable!’ “I brought that concept here to lefthanded pitchers. So I decided in addition to ‘Pitch To Contact.’ Arizona where I have purposely to keep him. “They see it every day, and covered up home plate and told “One day during his junior year hopefully this gets engraved into the pitcher he must learn to throw with us, we were having bullpens their minds. Coach Lopez and I are to his catcher. I tell them to forget in the fall. His bullpen was really constantly after our pitchers to not about home plate and throw to the sporadic. While he was pitching, I MENTAL TOUGHNESS TRAINING — Another important part walk batters. body.” told him he would never pitch here of getting starting pitchers to finish games is their ability to push “I am fanatical about our pitchers Lopez said he ultimately came because he couldn’t throw enough through difficult times in games. Arizona Head Coach Andy getting ahead with a first pitch to the realization that he was not strikes. I told him he thought he Lopez utilizes a system in bullpens, which he learned early in his strike, and I chart that. I hammer going to out recruit the Division I could pitch at Arizona because he coaching career, which separates the men from the boys. our pitchers on first pitch strikes powers at the time. was a junior. I added that his mom because we need to get the lead game). He would warm up, prior to allowed at the time. “I knew I would only get the and dad believed this as well as his out. I am also adamant about our a game, and I would ask him what In addition, he faced a huge second and third tier guy. And this girlfriend. pitchers ending the inning quickly the goal would be for today, and he challenge in his NCAA Division II was the brutally tough schedule in “His last 20 pitches were with two outs.” would always say CG. So our other league which routinely sent teams front of us. So we had to figure out unbelievable. At the end of the Last season over 586 innings, two starters wanted to follow suit. to the Division II World Series and a way to become competitive. bullpen, I told him that it appeared Arizona pitchers only walked 168 He set the tone for these guys.” captured national titles. Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach he had figured it all out. And he batters. Cole said their three key starting “If I do anything well as a coach John Scolinos told me about a great said, ‘Yeah, I do now.’ The process “Not walking batters allowed pitchers last season all exhibited now, it is because I coached at Cal. book called Psycho Cybernetics by to make him mentally tough and be our starting pitchers to go deeper tremendous mental toughness. St. Dominguez Hills,” said Lopez. Maxwell Martz which I read over able to handle what I do in bullpens into games. The entire system we “A great example of how tough “At the time (from 1983-1988), several times so that I could utilize took about 2 ½ years. use emphasizes fastball location, our starting pitchers were was I was a head coach with not one the techniques to help my players “Ultimately, pitchers in our not walking batters and having a exemplified by Heyer. Against penny for assistant coaches. I had be more mentally tough. program must get past me before sound conditioning program really Washington last season, he took a to drag the infield dirt with my own “In regard to our pitchers, I went they are allowed to pitch in games. was a perfect storm last season. line drive off his knee in the third car. If I wasn’t there, the players to a bullpen session and said to And that can be a tremendous “We as a coaching staff were inning, and then he took a ball off had to prepare the field. In addition all of our guys, ‘This is the safest mental hurdle for some.” always hammering our pitchers his shoulder and head later and still to being the head baseball coach, I place in the world.’ I use to raise my Work Ethic Vital to attack, attack, attack. Coach went complete game. They could was teaching three lecture classes voice when I made that statement Both Lopez and Cole stressed Lopez brought in a great picture not knock him out of the game.” where I had to be in a coat and to them. that having pitchers with a proper that he hung up in the locker room He struggled against St. John’s tie. I also taught two other classes “I told them that in Los Angeles work ethic was a crucial component of a dog growling. That was the during the Super Regional which included tennis and a weight traffic, I could get killed. Because in allowing them to be so physically identity of the pitching staff. They in searing 105 degree weather lifting. we were at Dominguez Hills and fit so they can withstand the rigors always went out there and attacked. during an afternoon game dictated “During my six years there, the dangerous areas surrounding of a baseball season. We could see it when our pitchers by television. we played extensively against the school, I told them that I could “When I got to Arizona, John would get on their heels. Despite not having his best NCAA Division I teams during go to my car tonight after practice Meloan had a superb work ethic “Buck Showalter, of the stuff, the All-American threw 129 our first 15-20 games all on the and get shot. I could get killed on and taught it to Mark Melancon. He Orioles, was recently asked during pitches over 9 1/3 innings and gave road against such teams as USC, the 405 freeway. I could jog around passed this on to Preston Guilmet an interview what the difference up 17 hits. UCLA, Pepperdine, Arizona, Cal. campus and either be shot, mugged who passed this on to Brad Mills, is between his team this year and Heyer gave up five runs in the St. Fullerton, Long Beach St., or stabbed. and its been passed on by veterans last. He said his guys growl at the fourth inning and nothing else until U.C. Santa Barbara and other great “But the bullpen is the safest on the staff to young pitchers ever game now. I heard that comment the top of the 10th when he allowed programs. place alive. Everyone is relaxed, since.” and then looked at our growling a run as St. John’s took a 6-5 lead. “I had to recruit a bunch of and nobody is keeping track of the Cole said that Kurt Heyer off last dog picture, and I felt it was a great But Arizona rallied to win it in the guys who nobody really wanted count. You throw a breaking ball, year’s staff would come an hour way to put it.” bottom of the 10th with two runs as to be a part of my early teams at and the catcher says nice pitch, and a half early to practices so that the Wildcats won, 7-6. Dominguez Hills. You would look although he really doesn’t care Mental Toughness he could do dry work. Talk about your bulldog because he wants to hurry off to the Cole said that being mentally at that brutally tough schedule and “I think the work ethic that mentality. cage and hit. prepared to throw complete games wonder if you would be 1-25 to Heyer demonstrated carried over to “Every season, I will put sheets “So I determined in 1983 that is just as important as the physical start the season. our other pitchers. Then he would of paper in our player’s lockers that the bullpen would be the most side. “When you look at everything throw a complete game on Friday will hopefully guide them to be dangerous place they would ever “Our starting pitchers were able that was on my plate at the time, night, and our other starters wanted mentally tougher,” said Lopez experience until they went off to go deep into games and throw 16 nothing has ever been as difficult to do that as well.” Decades ago when Lopez was into real life. So when they started complete games last season because as those six years…nothing.” Lopez said that every day in a young head coach at NCAA pitching, I would yell and scream, of the mindset that they would go Bullpen Safest Place Alive practice Coach Josh Garcia would Division II Cal. St. Dominguez and 90 percent of the time it all the way,” said Cole. This was the genesis of how hit comebackers to Heyer at his Hills, he had the toughest job wouldn’t even be at them. I may “First, (Kurt) Heyer set the tone Lopez learned how to teach mental request. in the world trying to compete be directing my yelling at the for 3-game series as the Friday toughness to his players. “Kurt did this all on his own. against rugged NCAA Division I catcher or rightfielder. Or I would starter for our other two starters. “I constantly told our kids at the When you have people in a program competition in southern California write down on a 3 x 5 card some He would go deep. He had it in his time that they had to be mentally who have this type of work ethic, it early in the season which was interesting situation that I read in mind he would go CG (complete tough to survive the schedule that rubs off on others as well.”