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April 15, 2008

Coming back from injury, what has it been like to get back to pitching?

With the injury, I didn't pitch very much last year. So, it has just been about getting back into the form of pitching and competing. As far as playing everyday, I just had to get back into game form. The injury is behind me and I try to improve everyday.

How do you go through a normal practice day with hitting and pitching?

Communication with the coaches. I will weigh the positives. Maybe a drill will help me more. Maybe hitting will help me more than PFP (pitchers' fielding practice), something like that. Doing the extra stuff that requires me to be a pitcher and balancing that out with my hitting is important.

Do you see yourself as as a position player or a pitcher at the next level?

Probably more of an everyday guy. But, I love pitching, so whatever is wanted of me I will do.

What is the biggest factor of this year's team having success that was not there a year ago?

Well, this team is a lot different than last year's team. There is a lot more fight in this team. Apart from a few bad innings the last couple of weeks, we are looking pretty good in the national scene. If we put it together for nine innings, we will be pretty darn dangerous because we have shown spurts of greatness, but we haven't really sustain it.

Do you have a leadership role on this team, and if so, how would you describe it?

Absolutely. I'm an upper classman who has been through Pac-10 seasons before. I know my way around a Pac-10 weekend. I'm just trying to help out the young guys by being a positive role model and a fiery leader.