2008 Woodie Awards
Three pitchers vie for top spot in rotation
By: Dave Jones
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: Sports
Steve Jaksa had some thinking to do as he prepared for the 2008 season.
When the 2007 season ended in June, the baseball coach was left without the team's all-time leader in career home runs in Bryan Mitzel. The Chippewas also are without first baseman Ben Humphrey, who graduated and is playing A-ball in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization.
But a more pressing matter was the uncertainty surrounding CMU's No. 1 starting pitcher.
The team graduated right-hander Josh Collmenter after he led the Chippewas with nine wins and a 1.93 earned run average in 15 starts.
"We lost our No. 1," Jaksa said. "I don't like to make it more than that. Every year we look to replace our No. 1."
Collmenter now is pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks after being selected in the 15th round.
Jaksa said he is down to three candidates to fill the team's top pitcher void. He is closely looking at senior right-hander Eric Lawrence and junior left-handers Dan Taylor and Steve Teno, a junior college transfer from Olney Central Community College.
But Jaksa said he is not trying to turn this into a competition to replace Collmenter.
"We're not asking them to replace anyone," he said. "We're asking them to be the best No. 1 they can be. Josh had a fine career for us, but we're not asking to replace Josh."
Lawrence leads the starting pitcher through the first 15 games with a 1.06 ERA in two starts. But Teno's era is at 2.43 in four starts and he has two wins.
"I just need to keep working hard in practice and keep doing what I'm doing on the field," Teno said. "When we're in a game, I'll just do everything I can do to help us win."
Teno's striving to become the team's top pitcher, and said it is something every starting pitcher hopes for.
"If I get called on to pitch, I'll go out there and do my job," he said.
Jaksa reiterated he is not trying to duplicate Collmenter, but rather look for the pitcher who fits his vision of what a No. 1 should be.
"Biggest thing I'm looking for is consistency," he said.
He said he wants to know what he is going to get when he sends that pitcher out there, whomever it may be.
"Being consistent and throwing strikes," Jaksa said. "I want them to be aggressive in the strike zone, force contact and compete in games."
Jaksa doesn't want his pitchers looking back and trying to repeat last season. He wants them to go out on the mound, do the best they can and put the team into a position to win.
sports@cm-life.com
When the 2007 season ended in June, the baseball coach was left without the team's all-time leader in career home runs in Bryan Mitzel. The Chippewas also are without first baseman Ben Humphrey, who graduated and is playing A-ball in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization.
But a more pressing matter was the uncertainty surrounding CMU's No. 1 starting pitcher.
The team graduated right-hander Josh Collmenter after he led the Chippewas with nine wins and a 1.93 earned run average in 15 starts.
"We lost our No. 1," Jaksa said. "I don't like to make it more than that. Every year we look to replace our No. 1."
Collmenter now is pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks after being selected in the 15th round.
Jaksa said he is down to three candidates to fill the team's top pitcher void. He is closely looking at senior right-hander Eric Lawrence and junior left-handers Dan Taylor and Steve Teno, a junior college transfer from Olney Central Community College.
But Jaksa said he is not trying to turn this into a competition to replace Collmenter.
"We're not asking them to replace anyone," he said. "We're asking them to be the best No. 1 they can be. Josh had a fine career for us, but we're not asking to replace Josh."
Lawrence leads the starting pitcher through the first 15 games with a 1.06 ERA in two starts. But Teno's era is at 2.43 in four starts and he has two wins.
"I just need to keep working hard in practice and keep doing what I'm doing on the field," Teno said. "When we're in a game, I'll just do everything I can do to help us win."
Teno's striving to become the team's top pitcher, and said it is something every starting pitcher hopes for.
"If I get called on to pitch, I'll go out there and do my job," he said.
Jaksa reiterated he is not trying to duplicate Collmenter, but rather look for the pitcher who fits his vision of what a No. 1 should be.
"Biggest thing I'm looking for is consistency," he said.
He said he wants to know what he is going to get when he sends that pitcher out there, whomever it may be.
"Being consistent and throwing strikes," Jaksa said. "I want them to be aggressive in the strike zone, force contact and compete in games."
Jaksa doesn't want his pitchers looking back and trying to repeat last season. He wants them to go out on the mound, do the best they can and put the team into a position to win.
sports@cm-life.com
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