University of Pittsburgh Athletics
The Inside Pitch with Coach Jordano
12/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Give us a summary of the fall season.
“I feel that we made significant progress. My emphasis this fall was to keep things simple. With a high number of new, young players, I wanted our staff to implement a process that could be easily followed and measured. Ultimately, the process needs to translate between the lines. The group that we have returning and the new players in the program are a solid mix of talent. We focused on team concepts this fall and I feel comfortable with where we are at. As we move towards the end of the semester, we are stronger, better conditioned, smarter, and understand what we are trying to accomplish each day. I am looking forward to our preparation in January in advance of our spring season.”
How will the new players affect the lineup?
“I can tell you that there will potentially be three to four freshmen in the lineup and on the mound for us this spring. These guys will be coupled with some veterans that provide us a nice mix. But as you know, the key factor is how the freshmen step up when the umpire says “play ball.” I am confident they will be in great shape but that is certainly an unknown. The talent is there, the competitiveness is there, and the will is there. It will come down to simple execution. The one thing I speak a lot about is we cannot teach experience. Players have to live it. This fall our guys did a solid job and I anticipate that will be the case in the spring.”
How have you addressed losing numerous one and two-run games in recent years?
“If we win a third of those games, or the ones we had leads deep into the game, we probably make the ACC playoffs both seasons. It has been frustrating for all of us. The factors that enter into that equation are most definitely the lack of depth and experience and of course how the MLB draft really wreaked havoc on our pitching staff. Add a few key injuries and that adds up to being thin on the back end of games and having to stay longer with starters, innings guys and ultimately a closer. Consistency is also a factor. At the end of the day, I take full responsibility and we are working hard to make certain our younger guys, especially on the bump, are quick learners – we have no choice.”
If the season started tomorrow, how would things look?
“As I have said many times this fall, I like where we are at today. There is still much work to do and this is a long process. I have implemented a new strategic plan for the next few years and we are making positive strides towards our goals. I expect improvement this year and a goal is certainly to be in the ACC Tournament. There are no guarantees, but we are much better positioned today than we were a year ago by simply having the ability to protect our roster from the MLB draft. This is the first year in my 18 years at Pitt that we entered the fall even close to 11.7 scholarships. Believe me, we are much deeper at every position. We just lack some experience in some areas. That will come as the season unfolds.”
How do you like your newest recruiting class?
“Very talented class. Which coupled with this past year’s class has our roster in a very healthy place for the next few years. Two players who have committed to us that we will announce soon are also fantastic. Coach Oakes, Coach Peters and Coach Alvino have all done a great job both off and on campus to provide a clear and positive picture that prospective players can identify with moving forward. We pride ourselves in developing players. The very high majority of our players that have signed professional contracts were undrafted entering our program. As we continue to grow as a program, the opportunity to play as a freshman or early in your career is great. I love it. At times, you have to live with some freshman growing pains, but there is nothing like seeing that young man gain experience and grow into a productive player that has the opportunity to receive a world-class education and have a shot to play professional baseball. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
You mentioned a strategic plan. What did that entail?
“I have had some great conversations with [Athletic Director] Scott Barnes. There is no question that we want to position ourselves for sustained success in the future. I assembled a strategic plan that identifies some of the common variables present among our ACC opponents as well as factoring in what we are capable of doing here at Pitt. We have already moved forward on a major improvement to our stadium that will have a significant impact on our fan experience and have identified a few projects that will further improve the look for our facility. There are also many things that have already been done that the public cannot see but have impacted our program in a positive way. With the leadership of Chancellor Gallagher and our AD Mr. Barnes, the future is bright for all of us involved in Pitt Athletics. We are working hard every day to improve every aspect of the program. I am proud of what we have accomplished in the past and am anxious to accomplish even more in the future.”
