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Washington State Head Baseball Coach Donnie Marbut

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Chat with Washington State baseball coach Donnie Marbut on Thursday, February 18 at noon.

Moderator: Good afternoon Cougar fans and thank you for visiting WSUCougars.com and spending your lunch hour with us and today's chat with WSU Head Baseball Coach Donnie Marbut. Before we begin, you will notice there is a "Baseball Ticket Information" link at the top of this page. For the 2010 season, a general admission season ticket is as low as $49! Please click on that link for 2010 season and individual ticket information. In addition, click HERE to check out the baseball spot on the WSU Athletics YouTube channel.

Moderator: Donnie, thank you for joining us today. We have a lot of questions so let's get right to it.

coug daddy: Despite being chilled out in the Pac10 Coach of the year-and-this years team being picked to finish sixth-what's the focus for this years team?

Donnie Marbut: Hey daddy, it's not about coach of the year awards and not about where you're picked. It's where you finish. Our focus is finishing higher than sixth.

Kitsap Coug: Best of luck to this years team-do you see this years team repeating to the regionals despite a strong Pac10 schedule?

Donnie Marbut: Kitsap Coug, we hope every year that we are a regional-type team. We always know the Pac-10 will be strong every year.

Daisy: How's the upgrade to the press box? Hopefully we can still see the internet feeds of the games.....

Donnie Marbut: Daisy, though the press box is not finished, it is looking great. We really appreciate the help from our donors to make these facility improvements happen.

Eric (Spokane): What is the importance and role of Spokane players in the recuirting process?

Donnie Marbut: Eric, we are always hopeful that Spokane will have some Pac-10 type players to recruit. If they do we usually have a good chance of landing them, considering Spokane is usually Cougar country.

Tom G. (Pullman): Hey Donnie, Congratulations first of all on making the NCAA Tourney this year. Hopefully this program can get to Omaha in the future just like Oregon State did twice in the last decade. I have two questions about the 2010 version of this team. 1. With Matt Way graduating, who do you see at this point as the innings eater(s) in the starting rotation? 2. With Jared Prince graduating as well, who do you see as the one(s) that have to step up a little more on offense.

Donnie Marbut: Tom, thank you and, yes, our vision is to also get to Omaha as well. I see a pitching staff by committee but if you look at the returners I see David Stilley and Chad Arnold eating up a lot of innings in the starting rotation. I see our offense being better and I see players like Derek Jones and Ryan Peterson, for example, to step up and fill Jared Prince's offensive production.

James (Walla Walla): Coach Marbut, every great program has somebody behind the scenes doing their part. I was wondering if you could give us some info on some of those guys we see working for you behind the scenes, and what they do to help this team compete at their best: Athletic Trainers, Managers, anybody that doesn't get much press time?

Donnie Marbut: James, our entire support staff is great but to name a few: Nate Weber out of the equipment room, Chris Lange in sports medicine, Craig Lawson in sports information, Cori Metzgar in physical development and Stephanie Dawkins in marketing, to name a few, are just outstanding and we couldn't do what we do without them.

Evan (Pullman): Has the incredible spring-like weather in Pullman allowed this team to be ahead of your previous teams in any way?

Donnie Marbut: YES! YES! YES!

John (Mill Creek): Coach Marbut Congrats on your season last year. You have done a great job of turning this program around. At the present time who will be your weekend starters, your closer and mid week starters on the mound?

Donnie Marbut: John, thank you so much. Right now I don't have all of those answers but I will tell you David Stilley and Chad Arnold are the weekend starters with Adam Conley as our closer. We hope to get the other roles figured out soon.

Jerry (Everett): Are you going to change your recruiting strategy as it seems that more baseball programs are offering players scholarship money early in their junior year?

Donnie Marbut: Jerry, I don't see us changing our recruiting strategy very much. We do offer scholarships to players during their junior year. We just like to be as right as possible in our evaluations.

Don (Marysville): Great job in getting the Cougar Baseball program into the national spotlight again. Are there any Freshmen on the roster that might see considerable playing time this year?

Donnie Marbut: Don, thank you so much. I hope we can keep it there. Right now I don't see a ton a freshman but I could see Brett Jacobs, Brady Steiger, and Travis Cook having solid roles during their freshmen campaign.

Nick (Snohomish): Where do you see freshman Travis Cook this season coach?

Donnie Marbut: Nick, if all goes well, I can see Travis pitching in the rotation.

Darren (Vancouver): With the success of Cougar Baseball the past couple years, how would you evaluate how that has helped in recruiting? Are you pleased with this years recruits?

Donnie Marbut: Darren, I think recruits want to play for winning teams so anytime you win games, I think you are more attractive to that recruit. I hope it continues to help us and, yes, I am pleased with this year's recruits. I'll just be more pleased in August when they all show up.

Boston, MA: Donnie, Would love to see you guys play out on the East Coast sometime. Any possibility of working out a non-conference series with an ACC or CAA opponent?

Donnie Marbut: I would love to come out to the east coast. Hopefully, something will work out. We had a weekend series set up with Virginia in the future but they had to cancel so hopefully we can work something else out soon.

Joe B (Spokane): Coach As a follow up to Eric's question above on Spokane players I see that you signed three guys out of Spokane this year and they will enter as Frosh next year. Do you see them coming and being able to contribute as Freshmen?

Donnie Marbut: Joe, the three Spokane players, Scott Simond, Nate Blackham and Mitch Peterson, are all great high school players who have the ability to have great collegiate careers. They are all different types of players but I think three players who are a perfect fit for the Cougs. I can't wait to get them down here.

Richland: Looking forward to a great Cougar Baseball season! Go Cougs!

Donnie Marbut: Thank you. Me too. See you at the park!

Moderator: Okay that's all the time we have. Donnie, thank you for joining us today.

Donnie Marbut: Thank you for having me and thank you to everyone for your questions. I'll see you at the ballpark soon. Go Cougs!

Moderator: Thank you to everyone for your questions. 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.