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| Donnie Marbut |
Chat With Baseball Head Coach Donnie Marbut
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| Moderator: Hello Cougar baseball fans and welcome to this evening's online chat with WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut. In just four days, the Cougars open the season at home against Creighton, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. Friday's match-up opens a three-game series between the two teams.
Donnie, thank you for joining us and let's begin by, first of all, wishing you a Happy Birthday! |
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Donnie Marbut: Thanks for having me and the birthday wishes. More importantly, thanks for talking about Cougar Baseball! |
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| Moderator: You bet. Okay, let's get to some questions. |
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| Jeff L (Monarch Beach, CA): Do you now have the weapons, and specifically the pitching to break into the upper echelon of the PAC-10? How far away are we from making a run at the PAC-10 Championship or a run at the NCAA playoffs? Am I dreaming too big? |
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Donnie Marbut: I'd like to think that our weapons are better than they were. Our goal is to compete in the upper echelon and I think if we stay healthy and play to our ability and above we have a chance to be an NCAA type team. So I think it's a good dream. |
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| John From Renton: Do you think your approach to coaching has changed in the time you have been at WSU? |
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Donnie Marbut: Absolutely. |
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| Dalton (Prosser): When was the last time a true freshman opened the season batting leadoff in the Pac-10 |
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Donnie Marbut: I'm not sure of that, but maybe you will see this spring. |
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| Charlie (Boston): Where do you see the strengths and weaknesses of the pitching staff for the 2008 season? Are some of the young guns going to contribute? |
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Donnie Marbut: I definitely think our strength is our bullpen. I'm not sure if the starting pitching is a weakness, it just has some question marks. I definitely think some young guys will have to contribute for us to be successful. |
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| Pullman: What is the nature of Jeremy Johnson's injury? Will the Cougs be able to increase their power numbers this year? |
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Donnie Marbut: Jeremy is doing some light rehab and we should see him back in a couple of weeks. I would classify it as some tendonitis. In regards to the power numbers, yes I do. |
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| Mark Lebon Aberdeen Wa.: Donnie congrats on a good last season we went over and watched a couple games.keep up the good work and keep tabs on the Bobcats we should make a good run.. |
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Donnie Marbut: It's always great to hear from a Bobcat. I'm always keeping track of the Blue and Gold. |
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| Michael -- Spokane: How does our pitching staff compare to the rest of the Pac-10 going forward? |
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Donnie Marbut: I like our staff a lot but I'm not sure about the other clubs because it's a new year. But I do know most, if not all, clubs pitching will be better in '08. |
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| Gene: Do you have your starting lineup set? Particularly the outfield and on the corners. thanks Good luck Go Cougs |
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Donnie Marbut: Gene, we don't, but we are getting close. |
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| Tom (Bothell): Talk if you could about some of the key returning players you have this season.
And also too, how much of a factor do you think experience really can play on a team? |
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Donnie Marbut: In talking about returing players, Tom, I think you need to start with our captains: Jimmy Murphy, Steve Kost, and Simi Reynolds. In addition, you need to mention all seniors that have consistently been in the lineup and are poised to have a big senior year. Some other returners to look for are Scott Suttmeier, Jason Miller, Greg Lagreid, Travis Coulter and Jared Prince to name a few. Yes, I think experience can never hurt you, it can only help you. |
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| Corey(Richland): Coach best of luck this year! My question is how healthy is the team heading into the season? |
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Donnie Marbut: Corey, thanks for the wishes and for the most part we are pretty healthy, just nursing some injuries from last year. |
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| Greg (Prosser): Coach if you had to pick one player that is going to have a breakout season, who are you thinking may be this player? Go Cougs!!!! |
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Donnie Marbut: Greg, I hate to jinx a kid but if you had to put me on the spot I would say Greg Lagried. |
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| Karen, Hayden, ID: How is Coeur d'Alene's finest, Shea Vucinich doing? What sort of role do you see for Shea this year? |
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Donnie Marbut: Shea, is doing GREAT! What a great kid. We are really blessed to have him in a Cougar uniform. I see Shea in a role to help the Cougars win games. |
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| nccoug: What will be the strength of this year's club. |
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Donnie Marbut: I think the strength of this year's club is experience. We finally have players returning that have been successful and survived the wars in the Pac-10. |
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| Geoff (seattle): Is there something about your program that is special that the average Coug wouldn't know much about? |
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Donnie Marbut: I think something really special about our program is our assistant coaches. Coach Jewett, Coach Swenson and Coach Boruff are truly amazing coaches who would do anything for their players and anything for the Cougars. It makes my job easier having guys like that as co-workers. |
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| Carolyn Seattle: How deep is the pitching staff? |
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Donnie Marbut: Carolyn, the staff is as deep as it's been since I've been here. |
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| Tim S.: What is the health status of Jared Prince? And will he be pitching this year as well as playing in the outfield? |
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Donnie Marbut: Jared is healthy and he'll be in the rotation on Sunday, and should be playing in the outfield in the near future. |
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| Tim S.: Right now what is your starting rotation? And who are your key relievers? |
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Donnie Marbut: The first weekend, Chad Arnold will pitch on Friday, Jason Miller on Saturday and Jared Prince on Sunday. I think, when you talk about our relievers, you have to start with Steve Kost and Ross Humes to name a few. |
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| MG- Issaquah: If you could instill one personal trait in your players what would it be? |
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Donnie Marbut: Great question MG. If I had to pick one I would have to say unselfishness. |
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| Scott (CDA): Do you think playing in mid-February in Pullman will give you an advantage over some of the warm weather schools coming in to town? |
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Donnie Marbut: Scott, I really hope so. |
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| Scott (CDA): Coach, is Pullman a tough sell to possible student-athlete recruits? |
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Donnie Marbut: Absolutely NOT! If you have ever been to Pullman you know this is a special place. It is a special place with special people. Once you get kids here, and their families, it's a slam dunk. |
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| Jim from bellevue: comment on your schedule, what do you like about it and what are your concerns |
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Donnie Marbut: I think our schedule is challenging, which I like, and also playing at home as much as we do is a bonus. |
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| brian from bellevue: if there was one thing you could improve on this years team, what would that be? |
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Donnie Marbut: Brian, it's probably too early to tell. Get back to me after the weekend. |
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| Jordan Osborn, East Wenatchee, Wa: Just wanted to stop in and say hi coach and wish you and the team the best of luck for this season! Hopefully I can come over and watch one or two of WSU's games this year in between my high school schedule! It will be good to hear back from you! |
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Donnie Marbut: Jordan, great to hear from you. We would love to see you in Pullman. Good luck to you and your club as well. |
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| North Idaho Coug: Would you say team chemistry is one of this team's strengths? |
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Donnie Marbut: I would hope so. You can never underestimate team chemistry. |
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| Todd (Moses Lake): How would you rate your starting pitching? Does any of them have any experince in the Pac 10? |
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Donnie Marbut: Todd, two out of our three starters have already started games in the Pac-10. I think both Price and Miller will build on what they have done in the past and Arnold is as talented as anyone that we've had. He just needs experience. |
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| Pullman Cougar: How has recruiting changed in result to the scholarship allocations modifications and reduced roster size? |
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Donnie Marbut: It hasn't changed too much for us. We just have to make sure the players that we sign have a sincere interest in becoming student-athletes instead of going professional. |
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| Michael (Wenatchee): Who are the early season favorites to win the league title and where do you see the Cougs finishing? |
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Donnie Marbut: I see UCLA and Arizona as the favorites, with Oregon State and Arizona State being very, very good. As to where we will finish, I hope near the top. |
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| Moderator: We have time for one more question. |
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| Todd (Moses Lake): Are there any players that will get drafted this year? |
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Donnie Marbut: I'm quite sure there will be. I hope so. |
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| Moderator: Okay, that's all the time we have. Thank you Donnie for taking the time out of your schedule to chat with us and good luck this weekend. |
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Donnie Marbut: Thanks for having me and we'll see you and all Cougar fans at Bailey-Brayton field this season. Go Cougs! |
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| Moderator: And a big thank you to everyone for your questions. Remember, for baseball ticket information please call the WSU Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-COUGS or go to wsucougars.com, the official website of Cougar Athletics. Please check back to wsucougars.com for future online chats. Good night and Go Cougs! |
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