For a no-hitter to be thrown, you have to play great defense and make some great plays. |
Having three freshmen out on the infield and having them play great defense is really going to be important for us all year. |
He has been in a lot of big ball games before, and he has been through the experiences that a guy like [freshman] Jacob Thompson hasn't. There is comfort in having Mike out there in a series opener. He just needs to go out and pitch his game and he will be fine. |
He hasn't gotten many opportunities because there have been other guys in front of him during his career. When you work hard and you are patient, opportunities come up. He has waited his turn, and now he is taking advantage of his opportunities. |
He is a talented prospect. It's a challenge as a freshman to adapt; he will see some time as a closer and in other aspects of the game. |
He is an outstanding prospect. His development has been excellent and has given him the opportunity to start Saturday. |
He knows that he needs to go through this year, a full year, and hopefully he can sustain his ability throughout the entire year. Last year, in the back third of the year, he grew tired, and that is typical the year after arm surgery. |
He looks like he belongs, |
He ran out of gas last year because we used him too much. But he's more than capable of putting a game on his shoulders. |
He really had a good performance today. But I was hard on Pat today. I am still not completely satisfied with the way he threw. Believe it or not, even though he shut them out. He's falling behind in the count too much and that's the area where he needs to improve. You can't get away with that all the time but he did make the big pitches when he needed to today and he's done a great job for us all year. |
He threw the ball very well -- there is a reason why he is the number one starter and he showed it today. |
He wants the competition, he wants the best. He wants to play big-time football. He's maybe just a little too small, a little too slow. But I think he'll contribute, maybe on special teams as a freshman. If he makes it, he'll make it by out-working everybody. |
He's a tough kid, and he's grinding it out. |
His pitch count was really low and we felt he was still in command of the game. He has such poise that he can handle those situations. |
How you adjust to [being swept] and how you come back from it is the important thing. I think this team has a lot of character and will respond the right way. |