Defense Intensifies, Pitchers Get Work

I think Friday’s practice went pretty well defensively. We weren’t doing the same team situations but the infielders got a lot of work on grounders in different ways. The middle infield was turning double plays, the third basemen were working on charging bunts or softly-hit grounders, and the first basemen were working on making different plays. As catchers, we got more work on blocking the ball. We realize that it is expected that the catchers block everything they’re capable of getting to, so we get all the work in we can. Lateral movement for catchers is huge in helping a pitcher because if they feel they can throw any pitch they want with a man on base and not worry about him advancing on a ball in the dirt, it adds to the pitcher’s confidence tremendously.

Everyone has been getting more and more swings in the cage against a pitching machine. It may seem tedious to be taking swings off the tee or soft toss, but working on top hand and bottom hand swings makes the transition to live pitching that much easier. It’s easier to correct the small mistakes in a swing there than facing live pitching or the machine. Pitchers will start throwing to catchers on Saturday and begin throwing their bullpen sessions and to hitters on Monday. Everyone’s excited to finally see some real situations off actual pitching. I think it’s crucial that everyone continues to work on the little things before getting ahead of ourselves in the next couple of weeks. If we can internalize the mental aspects of offense and defense, the physical parts will come easy.

#17 = Matt Burns

Team Completes Thursday's Workout

We got to add live defensive drills to the mix on Thursday, with base runners in every type of situation. It was the first time everyone was in the middle of a real situation and there was definitely a little rust. I think everyone was disappointed with the execution and we all realize that building on the efficiency is needed. As a player, you try to remind yourself that the physical errors will happen from time to time. These first few days you just want to make sure you’re in the right position and not making mental mistakes to cost the team. With repetition will come execution, and there will definitely be many more repetitions. We prided ourselves on being the best defensive team in the SUNYAC last year, and we expect nothing less than to do the same this year. There is no doubt we have all the tools at each position to do so and the coaches have been doing a good job focusing on defense the majority of the time so far.

That is not to say we haven’t been hitting however, as we got more work off the tee and from the pitching machine today. In past years, we have not done a lot of video work. This year, however, everyone has been getting camera shots of swings and defense. It really helps to not only hear what you need to correct, but to see it as well when it is played back to you. I personally feel I benefit better from seeing what I’m doing wrong as well, rather than just hearing it. It’s been a good first week so far and we’re hoping to continue that into the weekend.

#17 = Matt Burns

Cardinals Start Work on Defense

We began to hit a little more at Wednesday’s practice. Some of it off the pitching machine and the rest as batting practice, but either way it was good for everyone to get some swings in. The catchers continued to get blocking and framing work in today, and the infielders got more ground balls. For the first time since being back this semester, however, we worked on team defensive drills and situational defense. A main focus, like with every team, comes during first and third situations along with the times during the game that a team is probable to bunt.

During the drills, but especially during games, you like to have a player in the infield who can control the situation and understand every possible outcome, and I think Tory Bouyea (pictured) is that type of player.

Tory took over the starting shortstop role early in the season last year and immediately took our defense and offense to a new level. I personally believe he was far and above the best complete shortstop in the conference last season. He understands his role on offense, rarely has a bad at-bat, great in the field, and has well above the average understanding of the game. It puts my mind and the minds of others on the field at ease knowing he’ll rarely be out of position or not be doing something to help the team in any aspect. He constantly pushes himself and others to work harder and I can tell you every player, I especially, appreciate that.

#17 = Matt Burns

(Tuesday’s) practice was even better than yesterday’s. I think that’s what everyone wants to see; the things we work on from day to day need to improve in efficiency with the more repetitions we take. Position players again worked off the tee and soft toss while the pitchers worked through their early stages of mechanics. More and more is being asked of our pitchers as far as conditioning and only time will tell if it pays off but it should help tremendously with our starters being able to throw deeper in games. When you can get a starter into the seventh inning, it takes a lot of pressure off of the bullpen and lessens the work they need to do in high pressure situations. To see those guys doing more sprints, long distance, swimming, and lifting, it really makes you think they’ll be able to hold up throughout the grind of the entire season.

I try to tell all of our players that every drill we do is with a purpose, and if we don’t always have that purpose in mind, the drill becomes less productive. Whether it is catchers working on blocking and framing the ball, outfielders working on accuracy of throws home, or infielders taking ground balls, every drill needs to be at 100% and everyone needs to push the next guy to do just that. The coaches have been doing a great job explaining certain things to players, especially demonstrating fundamentals. I think it’s necessary to something to model after and understand why it is we do everything in these drills.

#17 = Matt Burns

First Day of Practice

We had our first practice today - and part of it was outside! Hard to believe, but we practiced baseball outside in Plattsburgh, NY on January 25! Good opening day workout.

The first day of practice went pretty well. It’s not often we’re able to get outside on the turf field for the first day. Usually the weather doesn’t let us get out there for at least a couple of weeks so it was good for the position players to get outside. The infielders took a lot of ground balls and outfielders worked on tracking fly balls in the gaps. The first few days don’t consist of a lot of throwing; rather we get back into things working on fundamentals first. Catchers worked on blocking, receiving, framing, and getting into positions to throw on a steal. All of the position players also got to work off of the tee throughout the practice. Pitchers were inside working on their mechanics without throwing bullpens.

It’s also to get conditioning in early in the practices indoors. That way we don’t have to worry about guys being in game shape when it’s time to travel south for the first games. Everyone was real anxious to get going for the first day and I think without doing a lot of hitting or throwing it was a good start. It’s real good to see from top to bottom every guys working hard and wanting to get better with everything we’re working on.

#17

Matt Burns introduction

As the introduction stated, my name is Matt Burns and I’ll be the one who’s writing all about not only our season, but what we go through over an entire year as a Plattsburgh State student-athlete. I graduated from Ellenville High School in 2006 and as any player could tell you, the four years (of College) go by faster than you would think. This season, however, I’m more excited about than any other year I’ve been here. With less than two weeks left before practices start, I see our team in a good position to do well. We have, in my opinion, the hardest working team since the program has been re-established at Plattsburgh (in 2002).

Graduation was tough on us last year. We lost a lot of talent and leadership, and it is always tough to find players to step in and fill those roles. I don’t think anyone has the mindset that we are trying to replace those guys, because every team has to establish themselves separately from previous seasons. Rather, we have both returners and newcomers who can take those spots and do more than hold their own. This is evident when you see the entire team doing more than what they’re asked in every way. We have more guys lifting and working out than ever before. There are a number of players helping out other guys do a little better in the classroom. It’s not about personal achievements or setting records, rather every guy on the team from top to bottom knows winning is the most important thing.

I think everyone knows that in order to get where you eventually want to be as a program, you must first take the smaller steps. Plattsburgh has been in the SUNYAC playoffs for seven years running now, and last year we got our first win in the tournament. Without a doubt, it was the best feeling I’ve had since being here. Now, it’s more than that. We expect to be in the playoffs again this year and this time, getting to the finals and do our work in those games. It’s not enough for our team to just be in the tournament. We focus on each game all season long, and never look to the next one, but we always have that goal in our minds.

Coach Doorey keeps us focused in every aspect. I think the fact that we’re playing for someone who started a program out of nothing, built a winning program while winning multiple (SUNYAC) Coach of the Year awards in such a short time span, it really makes everyone want to work a little harder on and off the field. We go out into the area and do a lot of community service. We work hard in the classroom because we know part of being a student-athlete is doing well in school as well as on the field. For any guys who might have trouble adjusting to a different workload or for newcomers and transfers who may not be accustomed to Plattsburgh, we set up hours in the library and learning center for those guys to have time to get work done there.

There is no doubt this year’s team has a great opportunity to do well. From top to bottom, everyone seems focused and driven to do well. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation for my last year here, and we’re all looking forward to the first practice.

#17

Welcome to Cardinals Baseball 2010!

Happy New Year! The 2010 baseball season is almost here and we are always willing to try something new to stir interest! This year we are going to have senior co-captain Matt Burns provide a diary of the season.

Matt will let you in on the daily doings of SUNY Plattsburgh baseball players and how they balance academics, athletics and community service.

Matt has been through it all in his first three seasons. As a freshman and sophomore Matt was a utility infielder. Trying to find a way for more playing time, he became a catcher and served as the Cards starting catcher in 2009. This season, Matt will see playing time as a catcher, infielder and designated hitter.

As a captain, Matt is one of the men responsible for the team working hard on the three-prong Cardinal baseball approach: Athletic Excellence, Academic Achievement, Community Service.

Our players worked very hard this off-season under the guidance of Matt and fellow co-captain Alex Read. Academically our team achieved a 2.9 grade-point average for the fall semester. And, our players performed over 500 hours of community service during the fall semester.