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Donnie Marbut

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Chat With Head Baseball Coach Donnie Marbut on Thursday, September 25 at 5:00 PM PT.

Moderator: Hello Cougar baseball fans and welcome to this evening's online chat with WSU Head Coach Donnie Marbut. Donnie thank you for joining us tonight as I'm sure you are busy preparing for your annual alumni weekend, which begins tomorrow.

Donnie Marbut: Thanks for having me. We're excited to get this alumni weekend going and see some of the former Cougs come back into Pullman.

Moderator: Okay, we have had a lot of questions submitted so let's get right to it.

CK Coug: Do you see the strength of this years team in the hitting, pitching or defense?

Donnie Marbut: CK, at first look I think you have to cite pitching with as many returning arms that we have. But we have shown this fall that our defense and our offense have a chance to be very good as well.

John from Mill Creek: Coach Marbut Are you planning on having Ross Humes start or pitch in relief this year? Also, is Jared Prince going to pitch this year. You are doing a great job of turning around the program. Good luck this year.

Donnie Marbut: John, we are not sure on that yet. Ross has proven to be so valuable in both roles that we plan on using him in whatever way helps the team the most. Jared is pitching as well, and he says he's more healthy now than he has ever been.

Cheetah (Tracyton): How many left handed pitchers do you plan on using for relief/bullpen duties this year?

Donnie Marbut: We don't have an exact number but I will tell you our left-handed pitchers have pitched really well this fall and Coach Swinson LOVES left-handers.

david armstrong Tacoma, WA: When will the 2009 season be posted? Will John Olerud work with all your left handed hitters this weekend? (In particular #27)

Donnie Marbut: The 2009 schedule will be posted very soon. If John shows up this weekend, I'm quite sure Coach Jewett would love the help from a guy like John.

Jeff (Houston): I saw your schedule on the insider and I was wondering why you would play such a tough schedule considering your Pac-10 season. Go Rice Owls

Donnie Marbut: Jeff, I think the only way to prepare for the Pac-10 season is to play a tough non-league schedule. We put together as tough a schedule as we could this year and I believe it might be the toughest schedule in the country.

Ryan (Vancouver): So what is it going to take to get you guys to win a Pac-10 Champinoship and to get to Omaha?

Donnie Marbut: GOOD WEATHER, GOOD LUCK, AND GOOD PLAYERS

Paris (Bellevue): I am interested to know which rookie pitchers and hitters do you think will make an impact this year?

Donnie Marbut: Paris, I think each incoming rookie pitcher and position player have a chance to make an impact this year. It's a very talented group.

CD (Montesano): Coach Marbut, from what I remember, you were the master of the hidden-ball in your youth. Is there any room for that in college baseball? Do you have the right personnel? Should we expect to see it this upcoming season? What is your greatest hidden-ball memory?

Donnie Marbut: CD, I believe the hidden ball belongs anywhere and everywhere. Watch out for any Cougar infielder. He will be equipped with the skills to pull it off.

Jim (Seattle): It seems that you were able to recruit some big name talent early on at WSU. Why is it that nobody wants to come to WSU, and with all the talent in the last 5 years what's the reason for no regional birth?

Donnie Marbut: Well Jim, I think you need to look at the roster. There are some players who want to come to WSU and we are glad to have them. Stay tuned on the regional berth!

Jerry (Moscow): Why doesn't your team still play in the banana belt tournament in Lewiston? WSU played in this tournament since I was a kid, and Gonzaga still plays in it.

Donnie Marbut: Jerry, we only play teams at the Division I level.

Edgar (Detroit): Good luck this season coach! my question is: you're opening up against Arkansas this season, who was 24-9 at home last season, what tactics, players are assets will you bring to beat them at Baum Stadium on opening weekend??

Donnie Marbut: Edgar, thank you. We just hope to bring our `A' game because we will need it against a great club like Arkansas in a great stadium like Baum Stadium.

Oliver (Waco): So I see you're going to be in my home state of Texas for the Rice University Tournament... what are you looking forward to this particular season?

Donnie Marbut: Oliver, we are looking forward to playing a great schedule, and playing great teams like Rice at their home tournament.

Tommy (Ridgefield): Can you please tell me about this year's recruiting class and the talent you brought in this year? Go Cougs!!!

Donnie Marbut: Tommy, it's a class of 11 recruits with 10 high school players and one junior college player. It's pitching heavy and is also filled with some good competitors and good student-athletes.

Bobby (Spokane): How good is Vucinich? What type of player do you see him being?

Donnie Marbut: Bobby, Shea Vucinich is a great player. He had a great freshman year and a great freshman summer. I think Shea can be as good as he wants to be and believe me, he wants to be great.

Lynette (Silverdale): Congratulations on having 4 gentlemen selected as Pac-10 All Academic Team... and several other honorable mentions!! That is quite an accomplishment. How are your APR numbers looking in regards to scholarships and your program? Also what resources do you offer your student-athletes to succeed academically?

Donnie Marbut: Lynette, thanks a lot for the nice wishes. Our APR numbers are outstanding and they are rising every year. I think our best resource is our academic support staff. They make sure that these student-athletes have all the resources to be really successful in the classroom.

Boise: After watching this 09 team so far ,what are they good at? and what do they have to work on to be a good team .

Donnie Marbut: Hey Boise. At this point, I think the strength of the '09 team is our numbers. Though we lost some fine players from '08 we have a nice nucleus returning. Boise, there are too many things to talk about in a short chat.

Bellevue: Hi Donnie! Nice job last year! How is my buddy Travis Coulter recovering.

Donnie Marbut: Bellevue, thanks a lot. TC is recovering nicely and doing a great job this fall.

Spokane: How are the cougs looking behind the dish ? What can you say about your top 3 guys

Donnie Marbut: Catching is probably our most experienced position on our club. Greg Lagried is a three-year starter and with the likes of Burg, Pomciano, Huwer, and Buchanan, there is a great competition going on back there.

lewiston: Who are your top guys on the bump? starters-releif-closers GO COUGS

Donnie Marbut: I think you got to start with Matt Way. He led the Pac-10 in ERA last year and he is back for his senior year. Ross Humes, Jared Prince, and Seth Harvey are also back to name a few.

CK Coug: Great job on the recruiting, how's the health of the staff?

Donnie Marbut: Thank you. Overall the staff is pretty healthy but we are still waiting for a couple guys to get completely healthy.

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

Donnie Marbut: Thank you for being a part of the chat and get out to Martin Stadium this Saturday and cheer the Cougs on!

Moderator: A big 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.