Head Coach Steve Owens Fall Q&A
Nov 13 | Baseball
Rutgers baseball opens 2020 season at Miami Feb. 14
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers baseball wrapped up the team portion of fall practice with an exhibition game against Rowan College of Gloucester County on Nov. 3 at Bainton Field. It was the second 14-inning game of the fall, with the other being at Mercer County Community College on Oct. 19. In addition to numerous intrasquads, the competition allowed head coach Steve Owens and his staff to evaluate, teach and make adjustments. RU will continues individual workouts during November before beginning full team practice in January to prepare for the season opener Feb. 14 at Miami.
ScarletKnights.com caught up with Owens to discuss the fall.
Q: What were the objectives coming into the fall?
"My main objectives were to get to know our players, to evaluate what our current level of talent is and to see what we have athletically and work ethic-wise. For us as coaches, in addition to observation, to start integrating how we want to play and our style of play. I think we've achieved those things. I think we have a good grasp of where we're at right now. There's been some clear separation amongst the players. With exception of some of the returning veteran pitchers, that are quality pitchers in our program that didn't pitch this fall, almost everyone has been able to get on the field and we've been able to see it."
Q: What would say are the strengths of the teams?
"Without seeing those pitchers, I think the potential strength of our team could be returning weekend starting pitching and a good core of back-end guys with experience. Also, the return of several position players who have played quite a bit, along with having Richie (Schiekofer) eligible and Danny (DiGeorgio) healthy. I think if I were going to pick strengths right now, weekend pitching, team defense and thirdly our ability to hit and score runs."
Q: What value did the team get out of intrasquads and the two games against outside competition?
"We got to compete against someone else in a different jersey, which always elevates everyone's game. It makes it more real, more competitive. We've faced some solid competition, some decent arms and some pretty good hitters. It's good to play that amount of innings. We were able to have an opportunity for guys who haven't pitched much in this program to pitch and for us to watch them. They were solid. It was also an opportunity for us to see where we were at with skill development and approach after working with the guys for two to three weeks. Then we were able to see where we were at and then give it another two to three weeks and see where we were at again.
"I think we made some progress in a lot of areas. We took care of baseball pretty well this fall as far as our fielding. We didn't walk a ton of guys. Some of the common themes that emerged were that we weren't that aggressive offensively, which is not the way we are going to roll. We didn't do a good job hitting with two strikes. We can swing the bats fine, we get hits, we get on base. However, we didn't do a good job of getting tough hits in big key spots and driving runs in. That's a glaring weakness that has to be addressed. We run pretty well and I think we can defend at a higher level than we did statistically last year."
Q: How there been any leaders emerge on the team?
"We're going to name captains at the end of our entire fall body of work. Harry Rutkowski is a leader with how he works and vocally. Other guys have shown good leadership ability through their actions. I don't think that one or two particular people have stepped up and said 'I want to be a captain of this team' yet. That's still a work in progress. We do expect that and want that to emerge on the team. I think having leadership from within and title and ownership of what happens every day is important to come from the team. It's much better if it comes from the team than from the coaches."
Q: How has the transition been with the players to the new coaching staff?
"I think there's been a lot of communication, it's also been a comfortable transition. The players have been very receptive to being coached. We've also been a little more laid back than how maybe how it's going to be moving forward, because we want to evaluate and watch a little bit more rather than just jump right in. Once you know what you have, then it is much easier to make corrections and do things. Much of our work so far is watching and seeing who does what.
"Our players are working hard. We're trying to get a lot of repetition and a lot of skill development in. Then, we will try to start gearing it toward, 'okay this is how we need to play the game, we don't need the repetition as much anymore, we need to learn how to play in a game.' We're going to try to use our individual period to try to get more prepared for game play than we did in the team period. We are kind of doing it backwards. Normally, we would get ready to play right away and then do our skill development, but we're doing it the other way."
Q: What is the focus heading into the winter?
"Right now, the focus is to make some corrections mechanically and otherwise. To get our pitchers on the correct cycle, keep them healthy, get them ready. Also for us to spend more time, individually, with guys who are in the mix to play. Everyone has been afforded an equal opportunity. Like I said, cream rises to the top, some guys have clearly separated themselves. Some of our groupings and practices will indicate it. Really good players want to be around really good players. We are trying to put guys who we think might play more together, so they can get comfortable. You know who is going to be feeding you the double play, you know who is playing right and left field next to you. There's still a lot more unanswered questions, but we have a lot more clarity than we did before."
Q: Thoughts on the upgrades at Bainton Field?
"The field is nice. It's great that there's zero maintenance. With respect to all the bullpens, the game mound, home plate and the entire field, they're always ready to play. It's wonderful, we're pleased with how it came out. It will become much safer and much more dressed up as soon as all the padding and the new logos and the new backstop netting comes in. It'll be similar looking to the last one, but it will be pristine and new. It'll be a good look for us. It shows good progress and shows commitment toward us continuing to improve our facilities, which is extremely important to recruiting and to us matching up with other teams in the conference."
Q: Final thoughts on the fall?
"I think time has gone by very fast. The guys have been practicing in the morning, because that's our block. That's a difficult thing to do. We've been lifting and practicing in the morning. I would say 95 percent of the time I've been happy with their engagement. They've been on time, they've been engaged and they've had effort and some energy as a group. We're excited that they've been able to hang in there. We've also gotten to know the players on a more personal level by being around them more. The process of teaching and communication with players continues to grow and develop as relationships mature.
"We are all excited and looking forward to achieving the goals and expectations laid out for the upcoming season and beyond. We have a great history of tradition and success in this program and it's our jobs as players and coaches to get it back to that level. We believe our guys will step up to that challenge!"
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
ScarletKnights.com caught up with Owens to discuss the fall.
Q: What were the objectives coming into the fall?
"My main objectives were to get to know our players, to evaluate what our current level of talent is and to see what we have athletically and work ethic-wise. For us as coaches, in addition to observation, to start integrating how we want to play and our style of play. I think we've achieved those things. I think we have a good grasp of where we're at right now. There's been some clear separation amongst the players. With exception of some of the returning veteran pitchers, that are quality pitchers in our program that didn't pitch this fall, almost everyone has been able to get on the field and we've been able to see it."
Q: What would say are the strengths of the teams?
"Without seeing those pitchers, I think the potential strength of our team could be returning weekend starting pitching and a good core of back-end guys with experience. Also, the return of several position players who have played quite a bit, along with having Richie (Schiekofer) eligible and Danny (DiGeorgio) healthy. I think if I were going to pick strengths right now, weekend pitching, team defense and thirdly our ability to hit and score runs."
Q: What value did the team get out of intrasquads and the two games against outside competition?
"We got to compete against someone else in a different jersey, which always elevates everyone's game. It makes it more real, more competitive. We've faced some solid competition, some decent arms and some pretty good hitters. It's good to play that amount of innings. We were able to have an opportunity for guys who haven't pitched much in this program to pitch and for us to watch them. They were solid. It was also an opportunity for us to see where we were at with skill development and approach after working with the guys for two to three weeks. Then we were able to see where we were at and then give it another two to three weeks and see where we were at again.
"I think we made some progress in a lot of areas. We took care of baseball pretty well this fall as far as our fielding. We didn't walk a ton of guys. Some of the common themes that emerged were that we weren't that aggressive offensively, which is not the way we are going to roll. We didn't do a good job hitting with two strikes. We can swing the bats fine, we get hits, we get on base. However, we didn't do a good job of getting tough hits in big key spots and driving runs in. That's a glaring weakness that has to be addressed. We run pretty well and I think we can defend at a higher level than we did statistically last year."
Q: How there been any leaders emerge on the team?
"We're going to name captains at the end of our entire fall body of work. Harry Rutkowski is a leader with how he works and vocally. Other guys have shown good leadership ability through their actions. I don't think that one or two particular people have stepped up and said 'I want to be a captain of this team' yet. That's still a work in progress. We do expect that and want that to emerge on the team. I think having leadership from within and title and ownership of what happens every day is important to come from the team. It's much better if it comes from the team than from the coaches."
Q: How has the transition been with the players to the new coaching staff?
"I think there's been a lot of communication, it's also been a comfortable transition. The players have been very receptive to being coached. We've also been a little more laid back than how maybe how it's going to be moving forward, because we want to evaluate and watch a little bit more rather than just jump right in. Once you know what you have, then it is much easier to make corrections and do things. Much of our work so far is watching and seeing who does what.
"Our players are working hard. We're trying to get a lot of repetition and a lot of skill development in. Then, we will try to start gearing it toward, 'okay this is how we need to play the game, we don't need the repetition as much anymore, we need to learn how to play in a game.' We're going to try to use our individual period to try to get more prepared for game play than we did in the team period. We are kind of doing it backwards. Normally, we would get ready to play right away and then do our skill development, but we're doing it the other way."
Q: What is the focus heading into the winter?
"Right now, the focus is to make some corrections mechanically and otherwise. To get our pitchers on the correct cycle, keep them healthy, get them ready. Also for us to spend more time, individually, with guys who are in the mix to play. Everyone has been afforded an equal opportunity. Like I said, cream rises to the top, some guys have clearly separated themselves. Some of our groupings and practices will indicate it. Really good players want to be around really good players. We are trying to put guys who we think might play more together, so they can get comfortable. You know who is going to be feeding you the double play, you know who is playing right and left field next to you. There's still a lot more unanswered questions, but we have a lot more clarity than we did before."
Q: Thoughts on the upgrades at Bainton Field?
"The field is nice. It's great that there's zero maintenance. With respect to all the bullpens, the game mound, home plate and the entire field, they're always ready to play. It's wonderful, we're pleased with how it came out. It will become much safer and much more dressed up as soon as all the padding and the new logos and the new backstop netting comes in. It'll be similar looking to the last one, but it will be pristine and new. It'll be a good look for us. It shows good progress and shows commitment toward us continuing to improve our facilities, which is extremely important to recruiting and to us matching up with other teams in the conference."
Q: Final thoughts on the fall?
"I think time has gone by very fast. The guys have been practicing in the morning, because that's our block. That's a difficult thing to do. We've been lifting and practicing in the morning. I would say 95 percent of the time I've been happy with their engagement. They've been on time, they've been engaged and they've had effort and some energy as a group. We're excited that they've been able to hang in there. We've also gotten to know the players on a more personal level by being around them more. The process of teaching and communication with players continues to grow and develop as relationships mature.
"We are all excited and looking forward to achieving the goals and expectations laid out for the upcoming season and beyond. We have a great history of tradition and success in this program and it's our jobs as players and coaches to get it back to that level. We believe our guys will step up to that challenge!"
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball) and Facebook (/BaseballRU). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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