The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Previews Season At 2009 ASWA Baseball Media Day
2/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 12, 2009
HOOVER, Ala. -- UAB baseball coach Brian Shoop, along with senior outfielders Brint Hardy and Austin Taylor, represented the Blazers on Thursday at the third-annual Alabama Sportswriters Association Baseball Media Day.
The event, which includes college baseball teams from around the state, was held Thursday morning at Hoover's Regions Park, the home of the Double-A Birmingham Barons.
The Blazers spoke with the media about the upcoming season and also talked about a 2008 campaign that saw them defeat five NCAA Regional teams and make a deep run in the Conference USA tournament.
UAB opens the 2009 season Friday, Feb. 20, with the first game of a three-game series against Radford at Young Memorial Field.
Media Day Quotes
Head Coach Brian Shoop
On his expectations after the loss of 16th-round draft pick Ryan Keedy
"We don't have a Ryan Keedy this year. He was runner-up for player of the year in our league. We may not have a player of the year candidate this year, but what has been fun is that we have veterans for the first time. So if you watch our practices, they are better. Our kids know what they're doing. When the Mariners lost Ken Griffey Jr., they got better. When they lost A-Rod, they got better because they got better collectively. We don't have a Ryan Keedy, but I still think we've improved because I think we'll be competitive one through nine."
On the improvement in the Blazers' pitching staff
"Our pitching is better. For two years on the weekend, we've announced TBA as a starting pitcher. We'd get through a game and see who was left. For the first time in three years, we'll announce a complete weekend rotation. Kyle Roberson will start Friday. Shay Crawford is back off a medical hardship will start Saturday. And Mitch Kloskowski will start Sunday. We've got a competitive rotation, and our frontline guys will match up well."
On closing the 2008 season on a positive note
"We've been focused on process more than results. We tell our team results will eventually come. We beat five regional teams last year, so its not like we're light years away. We just have to take another step in the right direction. It would be great for this team if we could get off to a good start. We have not done that our first two years here. I think it would help the psyche a lot if we could get out of the blocks better. But nobody's an easy opponent, and you've got to play well to do that."
Senior OF Brint Hardy
On the Blazers' offense without Ryan Keedy
"Ryan Keedy is a great hitter. He's a great player, a great guy, and he's a big loss. But I think as a whole lineup, top-to-bottom, we're better, we're closer, and we're a stronger group of guys, and I think we'll have a good year. We're looking forward to it."
On the strength of the Blazers' lineup
"Offensively, I think our strength is that we can do a lot of different things. If we have a bad day hitting, we can come in and lay a couple bunts down, score a couple runs and look to our pitching staff to maybe win a game 3-1 or something. I just think the versatility of our lineup will be a big plus for us."
On the UAB starting rotation
"We know our weekend rotation is going to be strong. I think they're going to have a good year on the mound. Kyle Roberson is going to have a great year. Mitch will also have a good senior season. I think our pitching will be improved."
On whether the team finds motivation in preseason polls
"Coach Shoop has never really used that as motivation, but it's a spot we like to be in. It's nice to have something to prove to people, and it's nice to have something to work up from."
On a change in mindset created by the late-season success of 2008
"I think the tournament was a big turning point for us as a team and as a program. To know that we can beat good teams and we can beat good arms, I think that was a big turning point for our team."
