West Virginia’s head coach Steve Sabins spoke with the press after WVU’s recent sweep of Houston last weekend. WVSports.com offers a recap of the statements made.
Sabins stated that the only metrics that are important to him are victories and victories alone. He mentioned that capturing a team through mere statistics is challenging, but he focuses more on individual aspects, aiming to assemble the finest individuals. He examines runs produced on offense, identifying who reaches base and influences the game. He then utilizes a sense to attempt to combine various skill sets into lineups.
He mentioned that while you can delve deeply into the numbers on pitching, those who throw strikes tend to receive chances and they excel. Controlling baserunners, delivering strikes, and possessing swing-and-miss pitches is essential. Ultimately, it always hinges on trust, which is established through consistency.
Sabins credits WVU’s success at the plate to talent and depth, fostering competition and discouraging complacency. He stated that his team is exceptional and they are highly attuned to the players, possessing a relatable quality. He claims that anyone in the lineup has the potential to excel.
This weekend, Armani Guzman suffered an oblique injury, joining Logan Sauve and Sam White, who have both been nursing injuries all season.
Sabins expressed that he feels pride in WVU’s achievements on the road, and he believes both the institution and the state of West Virginia take pride in resilience and demonstrate pride in facing challenges without making excuses and being present no matter the circumstances. Accomplishing difficult tasks is the foundation of the program.
Sabins stated that the connection between WVU and Marshall is robust. He wants to arrange three-game series with the largest schools located two to three hours from this place. Finding quality opponents during midweeks is challenging due to the limited number of DI schools nearby. His approach would involve a neutral home-home setup with larger rivals for midweek matches, simplifying the scheduling process significantly. He states that if they can compete in the three-game sets against the top schools in his region, he would register for it, and Marshall is ready to participate.
He mentions that Marshall is part of a strong conference, possesses excellent facilities, will be a formidable rival, and it’s beneficial for the fans. He states that Marshall will have no stakes and thus will compete fiercely, which will benefit their RPI. He states it aids in getting them ready for the conference tournament and that Marshall is in a favorable position. The relationship has been excellent, and Sabins enjoys competing against those players because there’s fantastic energy as they pursue WVU.
Sabins mentioned that the strength of schedule relies on the performance of other schools, so it’s impractical to schedule them without knowing how they will do. This timetable was created 2-3 years back, and it has been the same approach WVU has applied for the past decade or so. Schools are considered strong if they defeat WVU, so if WVU loses those matches, their strength of schedule will decline since the metric favors victories against strong opponents.
Regarding pitching, Sabins mentioned they are still addressing issues, which was evident on Sunday when they allowed runs late due to walks. He claims they haven’t reached the level they require for pitching, which is reasonable given how much they have lost. He claims he’s proud of the work this team has done on the mound.
Kirn was a player who gained significant attention during summer ball after flying under the radar for pro scouts following the previous season. He stated that it was his professionalism over the phone and his eagerness to improve that convinced him to choose Kirn. He was seriously honing his skills off the field at a lower level, and Sabins believed he would flourish with the resources to improve, without having to manage it alone.
Sabins mentioned that many games are missed due to minor details such as bunts, outfielders missing balls, and failing to execute double plays, as these minor errors result in additional outs which strong teams capitalize on. He mentioned that it occurs frequently and his team focuses heavily on it in the fall, noting that it’s not some mysterious secret; it predominantly involves accountability. He states that the game is generally about not defeating yourself.
Sabins mentioned that the character of this team has enabled them to manage success effectively. He mentioned that if you find contentment in winning awards or how others perceive you, it can lead to complacency. He mentioned that this group of athletes has a bigger objective they aim to achieve, which can only be realized through faith and establishing a standard. He stated he doesn’t have the answer, yet his team has been dissatisfied due to the lack of disappointing performances.
Sabins mentioned that you should consistently adhere to the process regardless of winning or losing and strive to implement that process every day. He mentioned that he believes you consistently aim for victory, and he keeps that in mind. Every player and coach must strive to win the game. Preparation, confidence, and assertiveness have contributed significantly to this team’s success this season.
Sabins mentioned their desire to reinstate Estridge in the bullpen, as they lacked a reliable alternative by that time. He stated that Estridge performed better in the bullpen position than as a starter. He mentioned that visions of last year’s Super Regional arise when he thinks of Estridge.
Kartsonas underwent several operations this summer and returned to the mound for some simulated games this winter and early spring. He mentioned that arm health was extremely important to him and that velocity was quite inconsistent at the beginning of the spring. The goal was 60-70 pitches, yet Kartsonas threw 90. He stated that it couldn’t have turned out any better.
In general, when it comes to pitching and performing well in baseball, fear should not be a factor. Sabins mentioned that it can be tempting to remain unchanged when everything is going well, but there are aspects that aren’t sustainable in the long run, prompting the need for adjustments.
He mentioned that the decision to bring in Kartsonas this weekend stemmed from discussions with his staff, who suggested the name, and Sabins began to consider the idea before ultimately deciding to proceed with it.
