Sept. 30, 2005

Notre Dame third-year pitching coach Terry Rooney has stopped by to provide his annual fall baseball update, in anticipation of next week’s Blue Gold intrasquad series on Oct. 4-6:

“This fall has been an extremely productive for our entire team. We have been able to put them into game situations and use that as a measuring stick as to where our strengths lie as a team. The combination of proven veterans and a talented incoming class has our sights set high for the upcoming season.

“The overall goal of the fall from a pitching standpoint is to evaluate our entire pitching staff, see the improvements our returnees have made and get a gauge as to where our freshmen fit into the mix. We also want to implement our pitching philosophies and see that process continue to develop as the fall progresses.

“Overall, I have been very pleased with the development of our staff. We have focused on the ‘competing’ aspect and putting them into simulated game situations, so as to evaluate their ability to make quality pitches and ‘pitch in the clutch.’

“It has been very positive because we have almost all of our pitchers throwing this fall and I can get a chance to see the improvements each pitcher has made over the summer months. Our philosophy is to focus on the things we can control and the fall is the time to implement that system along with our pitchers daily routine.

“Several veterans have returned in tremendous shape and the summer months have paid big dividends for them. The summer allowed them all to get the innings and confidence needed for a successful spring. All of the freshmen have shown great promise and we are starting to develop possible roles on our staff, as the fall nears end. It has been great to see the progress of all of them this fall, but the winter will play a big role in their progress.

“We want our staff to be an aggressive/offensive staff that focuses on advantage counts, early action, controlling the running game and pitching in the clutch. I feel this fall we have been able to improve upon those areas and look forward to a great ending.

“Going into the season we have three of our starters from the 2005 season returning – Jeff Manship, Tommy Thornton and Jeff Samardzija. We will look to them continue in their roles and have successful springs at the front of our rotation.

“Manship and Thornton have pitched this fall and looked extremely confident on the mound. Samardzija will begin his throwing routine at the completion of football. The remaining veterans are all coming off successful summers and have shown great progess.

“Wade Korpi has come back in great physical shape and with better command of the strike zone. Joey Williamson pitched well in the Valley League and we are looking at him to be a late-inning pitcher, with his competitive demeanor.

“David Gruener pitched a lot of innings in the Jayhawk League and has shown improvments in his off-speed pitches, which will lead to greater success. Tony Langford is still the ‘high-energy-fearless’ competitor he was last year and is continuing to learn to repeat his arm-slot/delivery. Jess Stewart is 100% after taking the summer off of pitching and is getting back to the form he had after his succesful freshman season.

“The freshman pitchers are having great falls. It is quite a transition from high school to college and they all are adapting well. David Phelps has shown an explosive fastball, along with a bulldog mentality. Kyle Weiland is a very projectable pitcher, who draws comparisons to Aaron Heilman. He has shown a great change-up along with a solid mound-presence.

“Sam Elam is a tall and hard-throwing lefthander from Texas. Sam has shown the ability to pitch in the clutch and with continued work on repeating his delivery will play a significant role on the staff. Jeremy Barnes is a two-way player who is a strike-thrower from the right-side. As expected with a 2-way player, he has a great feel for the game and understands the little things it takes to be successful.”