Northwestern University Athletics
The 2000 Northwestern Baseball Outlook
2/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 3, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern baseball coach Paul Stevens has never been one to put much stock in previews -- as he says, "once you throw the first pitch in the spring, you can basically toss all of those previews out. It doesn't matter what people say you can do, what matters is what you do between the lines."
Already the winningest coach in Northwestern history, Stevens is looking forward to his 13th season. And though baseball players tend to be a superstitious lot, don't for a second think Stevens views 13 as unlucky. After all, one of his coaches -- Ron Klein -- wears the number on the bench.
The reason for Stevens' optimism? Well, a quick look at his lineup card reveals one clue: he has nearly his entire offense back from a year ago, though he envisions some freshmen stepping in and taking the places of veterans.
More importantly, though, is the fact that Stevens is coming out ahead in the arms race. Suddenly, he has a stockpile.
"We have six legitimate starters, and maybe a seventh," he said "We have some good positional players, but I honestly think our strength will be on the hill."
Leading the parade of pitchers is junior J.J. Standring, whom Stevens calls "a legitimate go-to-guy." Last year, Standring boasted a 7-3 record and was the only 'Cat to garner a winning mark in the Big Ten (3-2). A pair of sophomores, Zach Shara and Gabe Ribas, showed promise last year and will be counted on to step up. Schara no-hit Penn State and finished 4-5, while Ribas went 4-6 in 13 starts.
"Those two were hard-luck losers a few times last year," said Stevens. "But one thing I was pleased with was their consistency. I only expect more of that this year."
Stevens is also expecting big things from his senior duo of Dan Padgett and Ben Dodd. Last year, Padgett started just two times but appeared in 18 contests and put together a 4-4 record. The fireballer also struck out 56 batters in 57.1 innings pitched. Dodd, meanwhile, appeared in 13 games and constructed a 2-2 mark.
"Ben has come along nicely, and Dan could be the real sleeper in this group," said Stevens. "I think they are going to be huge surprises to people."
Two newcomers will attempt to find a spot in the starting rotation -- Michael Nall, a transfer from Triton Junior College who hails from nearby Schaumburg, and freshman Chris Spiering. They were impressive in their fall outings, and will battle for starts this spring.
"We are as deep, pitching-wise, as I can remember," said Stevens. "They are a focused, competitive group, and every time one of those guys goes to the mound he views it as an opportunity to win. Beyond that, they all know they will get their chances -- if one person has a bad outing, we'll roll another guy out. It's a nice situation to be in as a coach."
Another nice situation on the mound is the man who comes out of the bullpen. Ryan Bos, who earned Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball, made 22 appearances in 1999 and saved eight wins while compiling a 3.81 ERA and holding opponents to a .248 batting average. Stevens is also counting on junior Jake Briskman, who should play an important role as the setup man in middle relief.
Stevens knows that the success of a baseball team revolves heavily around the pitching staff. He also knows that the success of a staff can be aided mightily when they are throwing to a trustworthy catcher. With standout junior Joe Hietpas behind the plate, there is even more reason for Stevens to feel assured about his battery situation. In addition to his defensive prowess, Hietpas also swung a big stick with a .342 average and team-high totals of 11 HR and 44 RBI.
"Joe has done nothing but improve, to the point where he is one of the best catchers around," said Stevens. "He has a big-time arm and a big-time bat, and I'm confident he will do some damage again this spring."
The only concern Stevens had with Hietpas last year was wearing him down -- a legitimate one, considering he started all but two games behind the plate. This spring, Hietpas will be spelled by freshman Ken Padgett, Dan's younger brother, while junior Aaron Steinke will also look to gain innings.
The projected infield boasts four returning starters, although some shuffling will take place and some freshmen will be thrown in the mix. Senior Bob Dainton started in center field last year but will likely move to first base. Another offensive stalwart, he finished second on the team with a .345 average and 36 RBI. Another candidate at first is Wes Robinson, a junior who started 18 contests last year and played in seven others.
"Both Bob and Wes give us flexibility, and I'm looking for them to help us out with big years," said Stevens. "Bob is athletic and has a ton of potential, while Wes is a veteran who has the defensive skills needed at first."
The Thompson brothers -- senior Pat and sophomore Matt -- will also see time at first. Pat played in every game last year, predominantly as a DH, and hit .293 with five homers and 34 RBI. He will likely assume that role again in 2000. Matt, meanwhile, saw time in 14 games and will look to earn more time this spring either at first base or in the outfield.
"Pat is one of the purest hitters we've seen in a long time here," said Stevens. "Matt also has a nice swing, and he will contend for a spot in the lineup."
The middle of the infield will be solid, as first-team All-Big Ten selection Jeremy Kurella started every game at shortstop last season and was complemented by senior J.P. Williamson at second base. Both players could also claim to lead the team in batting last year: Kurella, a junior, hit .348 overall to top the team, while Williamson's .376 average in the Big Ten was the Wildcats' best. Stevens expects more great things from this duo, especially Kurella who is a legitimate threat for Big Ten Player of the Year honors entering the 2000 campaign.
"I honestly think Jeremy is as good a shortstop as there is around," said Stevens. "He got some great experience this summer trying out for the U.S. team, and got a shot of confidence realizing he could play with the best. And J.P. is close to becoming a great infielder. I hope he crosses that line this spring."
Sophomore Todd Morgan played part of last year at third base, and hit .295. This year, freshman Eric Roeder should battle him for the starting nod. Another potential candidate at the hot corner is freshman Frank Favia, who could also step in at either second or shortstop.
"Todd is a legitimate hitter, he reminds me of Pete Rose at the plate with his tenacity," said Stevens. "Eric is a very good player who doesn't necessarily look pretty out there but makes the plays. And Frank can fill in anywhere through the infield with his range -- plus he has a surprisingly strong bat."
The outfield would be completely intact, except that Stevens plans on moving senior Bob Dainton into the infield. Still, he can rely on two other senior returnees to roam the Rocky Miller pasture. Jason Anderson will retain his spot in left field. Kris Musselman, meanwhile, will complete a circuitous route back to where he started -- after starting 27 games as the center fielder his freshman year, he is likely to move back to center as a senior. Last year, Anderson hit .261 while Musselman hit a hard-luck .264 but boasted a team-high .465 on-base percentage thanks to the fact that he drew 45 walks.
"Jason has made monumental strides during his career," said Stevens. "He is a nuts and bolts guys who finds a way to be successful out there. Kris, meanwhile, was a guy last year that I felt was on the verge of a breakout year offensively but couldn't catch a break."
The right-field slot is tentatively slotted for a freshman. Brandon Ackley brings an intimidating presence to the position, boasting a frame that measures 6-4 and weighs 215 pounds.
"Brandon has a great arm and is a very good hitter -- he is a legitimate power threat right away at the college level," said Stevens. "He is a freshman, so I'm expecting he'll have his ups and downs, but I think the positives will outweight the negatives. He will be a big help to us."
Other outfield candidates include Standring, when he is not on the mound, or freshman Travis Tharp, whom Stevens feels can help in left or at first base and has the potential to be a solid player at NU.
Finally, there are the Adams brothers. Mike, a senior, and Andy, a sophomore, are valuable in their flexibility and willingness to fill in at any spot on the field.
Overall, the ingredients seem to add up to a mix that will have Wildcat fans flocking to Rocky Miller Park. In true coaching fashion, though, Stevens tempers his enthusiasm with dose of caution.
"We are still relatively young," he warns. "The big thing is, how will we deal with adversity? We need to keep an even keel all spring. But the leadership I have seen from the upperclassmen has been superb -- I have seen a commitment from this group. They are taking pride in what they're doing."
Beyond that, Stevens has to be happy when he looks at the Big Ten schedule. Last year, Ohio State swept the Wildcats en route to the regular-season crown with a 25-3 record. At the Big Ten Tournament, though, the Buckeyes were upset and Michigan won the title. Neither of those teams show up on the Northwestern schedule in 2000.
"I think we are a legitimate darkhorse to make some noise in the Big Ten," said Stevens. "If our pitching can hold up like I think it will, I see good things happening this spring.
"The work ethic of the older guys has been contagious," he continued. "These guys want to be remembered for what they did on the field. I see lots of excitement -- these guys want to win, and they are doing the things it takes to win.
"This is a team on the right path."
