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Cougar Chats presented by:

Chat with Washington State senior pitcher Matt Way on Wednesday, February 18th at 5:30 pm PT, followed by a chat with Head Baseball Coach Donnie Marbut at 6:00 pm PT.

Moderator: Good evening Cougar baseball fans and welcome to the latest edition of Cougar Chats. Tonight, we have a doubleheader for you. For the first half hour pitcher Matt Way will take your questions followed by head coach Donnie Marbut, who will take your questions for the final half hour. The Cougars begin the 2009 season at Arkansas this Friday (Feb. 20) for the first of a three-game series. WSU's home opener is Tuesday, Feb. 24 against Gonzaga.

Moderator: Matt, thank you for joining us tonight.

Matt Way: It's a privilege to be here and I'm looking forward to answering questions from the Cougar baseball fans.

Moderator: Okay, let's get right to some questions.

ckdad: Matt-what are your goals for this year?

Matt Way: One of our main goals for myself, as well as our team, is to make sure we bring great intensity and work ethic to practice. Our theme this year is EVERYDAY. This means not only bringing intensity, focus, and work ethic to every practice, but also weights, conditioning, bullpen work or individual practice. On a more personal note, my own goals this year is to be one of the toughest competitors in the country, as well as bringing a Pac-10 Championship to Pullman.

Michael (Spokane): Two questions for Matt. Matt why did you come back for your senior year instead of signing with the Giants? And second in Spokane this last month Coach Marbut said you have really turned into a great teammate as well as a great player. What are your goals for the team as well as yourself for this year?

Matt Way: Thank you for the questions Michael. First off, I decided not to sign with the Giants because I felt that another year with the Cougs, and the work I know I can get done here in Pullman, would only make me better and more prepared for professional baseball, which lies ahead. Secondly, I didn't feel ready to part with my team because I knew we would have a legitimate chance to make a postseason run this season. My first goal for the team would be to make the postseason and then set our goals a little higher to winning a regional, then a super regional, and hopefully Omaha. As for myself, my goal is to lead the pitching staff to become one of the most competitive pitching staffs in the Pac-10.

Aaron (Tacoma): This question is for Matt. Matt I played for Coach Marbut in Junior College and we were always amazed how much he worked. Is he still as passionate as he was three years ago when you were a freshman?

Matt Way: Yes, as much as I have seen of Coach Marbut in my four years now with the program, he hasn't lost a thing since my freshman year. Although, some of his coaching techniques may have changed over the years, he has never lost his passion for coaching the Cougs, or of pushing us to work for the ultimate goal of a national championship.

Gordon (Austin, TX): Matt, I have two questions. 1) How has the WSU experience helped you personally and as a pitcher, and 2) After you leave, how do you feel about the younger guys who will follow in your footsteps?

Matt Way: My experience at WSU has helped me mature as a person and a baseball player. It has really helped me notice why Washington State is so special in a way that only Cougs would understand. As a pitcher, my maturity and makeup on the mound has definitely benefited from my time and experiences that I have gained in Pullman. As for the younger players, there is no doubt in my mind that this program will improve because of the great coaching staff and the great job they do recruiting future Cougs. I have seen our coaching staff do tremendous things with the younger talent they bring in to our program and I would expect that to continue with the future Cougs to be.

Aggie & Fred, Port Townsend: Matt, How would you compare your experience in the Cape Cod Summer League on the East Coast, with your other West Coast Summer League experiences?

Matt Way: My experiences in Cape Cod were unlike any other. Obviously, Cape Cod has a certain level of prestige that none of the other summer leagues can match. The incredibly steep competition is what makes the Cape Cod league stand above every other league. Along with the best competition in the country, the experiences I had with the fans were something that I could only experience in the Cape. The atmosphere around all of the ballparks and towns added to the experience and the history that Cape Cod possesses, which is unlike any other place I have ever played. Some of the best times and memories I`ve had with baseball and my family I received in Cape Cod, and I will always have those for the rest of my life. I enjoyed my time there so much; I know at some point I will definitely make it back to the Cape.

Moderator: Okay, that's all the time we have. Matt, thank you once again for joining us tonight.

Matt Way: Thank you for having me. I appreciate the attention received from Coug fans around the country. I'm looking forward to starting the season off right and bringing back some hardware this year!

Moderator: Coach Marbut will be joining us shortly.

Moderator: We welcome Coach Marbut to the chat room. Coach thanks for joining us tonight.

Donnie Marbut: Sorry, I'm late. Just got back from practice.

Moderator: No worries. Let's get to some questions.

ckdad: Coach-how about them Cougs... What early teams, that you will be playing, will be the barometer you are looking for?

Donnie Marbut: I think when you look at our schedule, any team that we play will be a barometer. We set the schedule up to be challenged day after day and game after game.

Jim (Pasco): Coach Marbut why would you play such a difficult schedule?

Donnie Marbut: Jim, we play such a difficult schedule because if we want to be one of the best teams in the country, we have to play the best teams in the country.

Ryan (Olympia): Coach Marbut you have attracted some pretty good talent to Pullman in your time. What attracts people to you and your program?

Donnie Marbut: The two `Ps'. People and Pullman.

Tom - Pullman: Coach - How is the health of Jeremy Johnson? How will you make up the rbi's lost with Gran and Murphy?

Donnie Marbut: Jeremy Johnson is completely healthy and ready to go. Tom, as for the second part of your question, I'm not sure how we are going to do that, but we will find a way.

Josh D. Hoquiam, WA: Marbut, tell the folks how I shut down the your Bobcats in our Jr. year in 91. And when are you going to play an exibition game at legendary Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam?

Donnie Marbut: Josh, I'm getting old, but I can't ever remember the Grizzlies beating Bobcats in anything. I think if I took my team on the wrong side of Myrtle Street, the faithful Bobcats might disown me.

Tom (Pullman): Hey Donnie, Great to see baseball is back!! My question to you to begin this season is this: Do you feel this team is better equipped to win more close games (1 to 3 run games) this year in the Pac-10 than last year? And if so, why?

Donnie Marbut: Tom, yes I do. I think the way to win close games is to have strength in your bullpen and play good defense. Those are two things that I think this team will be able to do.

Ted (Tri-Cities): Coach Marbut: How do you combat the number of baseball players who leave the State of Washington to play in places like Oregon or Nevada?? I understand players signing MLB contracts, but to lose to out to other programs in "cold weather" states is bothering to me. How can we keep our in state recruits?

Donnie Marbut: Ted, there are a lot of colleges across the country recruiting the Northwest, giving kids lots of different options. We are really excited with our in-state recruits as well as the recruits that we signed outside the state. It makes our job difficult, but I think it is great for our in-state kids to have options. Coach Jewett is doing such a great job as our recruiting coordinator. I wouldn't want him to change a thing.

Allen (Seattle): Coach Marbut! A buddy of mine told me that we are the fifth best team in the northwest? Please tell me he is wrong!

Donnie Marbut: Well Allen, it looks like your friend is not a Coug. There are some really fine teams in the Northwest and I think the season needs to play itself out.

Barry (Richland): Why is it that you aren't signing recruits from the Tri-Cities anymore???

Donnie Marbut: Barry, I'm not sure if you had a chance to see our signing class, but we signed a fantastic player out of Richland High School named Brett Jacobs. We love the players from the Tri-Cities. They come from a great baseball community with great high school and summer coaches.

Moderator: Okay that's all the time we have. Thank you once again for joining us tonight Donnie.

Donnie Marbut: Thanks for letting me be a part of the chat. I look forward to all of you watching us come out and play at Bailey-Brayton. Our first home game is Tuesday against Gonzaga and then we play nationally-ranked Oklahoma for a four-game series next weekend.

Moderator: Remember, to get all the information about WSU Athletics, go no further than wsucougars.com, the official website of Cougar Athletics. Please check back to wsucougars.com for future online chats.