College Baseball Daily continues our series of interviews as we preview the 2016 College Baseball season with Cal State Northridge head coach Greg Moore. He is entering his third season in charge of the Matadors program as they look to rise in the Big West. You can check out the interview below.
CBD: Cal State Northridge is coming off a 33-24 campaign while going a disappointing 8-16 in Big West play. What are your expectations for the 2016 season?
GM: I expect us practice like DORS. We will work to get better from now until we arrive in January, and from when we kick off again together to the end of the year. I expect the steady, healthy improvement that we’ve seen over the last two years. This group has grown in every measurable area, from wins, to batting average, ERA and GPA, as well as hours and impact in the community. That’s a symptom of the sharpened approach in these areas. I expect us to keep the goal in mind each day that we want to practice better than anyone in the country, be prepared to attack the game with or without another team there to play us. We’ll work to finish everything we start. On the field our staff and players expect to grow in areas of the game. Better pre-pitch prep and understanding. We want to finish home to first better, play better small ball and get our swing more often. I expect this group to wear down innings, thirds and games.
CBD: The Matadors return their top starting pitcher from last year in Rayne Raven but lost the other two top starters. Who do you see stepping into these two key roles this season?
GM: Our best statistical group is back on the mound. If they improve we will improve. Angel Rodriquez was one of the best relievers in the Big West last year. He will be back as steady senior. Joe Ryan, a freshman had a great freshman year. He will build on that. Drew Weston quietly put together an impressive freshman year as a sinker-baller. Connor O’Neil had one of the best year’s CSUN has seen in a long time, becoming our All-Time single season saves leader. The surprise of the fall has been redshirt Sophomore Kenny Rosenberg. He sat out last year with a back injury, but has shown flashes of being a 88-91 MPH LHP with late life and good off speed stuff.
Return 5 of 7 best ERA’s (over 30 Innings) Lost Keel and Copping
Ryan (SO) 1.48 ERA (30.1 IP, 32K’s)
O’Neil (JR) 1.89 ERA (62 IP, 64K’s, 12 Saves)
Raven (SR) 2.18 ERA (86IP, 73K’s)
Rodriquez (SR) 3.04 ERA (47 IP, 5 BB, 33K)
Weston (SO) 3.18 ERA (34 IP, 28K)
CBD: Northridge struggled through the 2016 campaign on offense with a team batting average of .257 and not a single .300 hitter. Who do you see making the biggest jump on the offensive side of the game since last campaign?
GM: Our experience will be our key. I expect us to take mature ABs. In the 7 spots that we have returners we average 170 ABs from 2015. Brandon Berry, a transfer from University of Washington will step in and help right away. The growth of some of our young hitters from the summer to the fall has also been impressive. Albee Weiss had one of the best power summers in the country. He led the Northwoods League in homeruns.
CBD: Have any of the incoming freshmen impressed you during Fall workouts? Do you expect any of them to break into the starting lineup/rotation this spring?
GM: The surprise of the fall on the offensive side was Michael Russo. He’s RS freshman who hits with power from the left side and should win the job in left field. If he continues with his calm approach and good balance, Michael may hit in the middle of our order. Carter Yankee, freshman LHP, showed signs of being a 3 pitch mix starter, with deception. He will most likely settle in to a relief role early in his time here at CSUN.
CBD: Coming into your 3rd season as the head coach of the Northridge program, what is the biggest difference you have made on the program?
GM: We’re proud that our players take the idea of begin an example very seriously. They back up the idea with how they communicate and carry themselves on this big and beautiful campus. I’m also proud that the alumni are in full force at alumni games, and that we’ve been able to honor some of the coaches and players that built the program’s history. We retired Coach Heigert’s number and named the golf tournament after him. He’s given so much. We wanted that small token of appreciation be part of CSUN Baseball forever. His contributions will be. We still want to engage more of the alums. There are a few others who have lost touch and haven’t visited in a while.
CBD: One of the stories in College Baseball has been the decrease in offense over the last ten years but it came back last season with the introduction of a new baseball. How do you feel that this ball has impacted your coaching and recruiting plans?
GM: We saw the numbers across the country, but didn’t feel the difference. There were post-game meetings where the coaches asked each other if a certain ball during the game carried differently because of the new baseball. It wasn’t a topic for us very often, and isn’t in our recruiting or coaching. We want the right minds in this program. They have to be able to play, of course. But pitchers and hitters who attack the game whether the wind is blowing straight out at 30 mph or it’s a calm, sunny LA day, those are DORS to us.
CBD: Who has been your biggest influence on your coaching philosophy or career?
GM: At the University of San Francisco, Coach Giarratano taught us every day to focus on the growth of the person and the culture of the team. The winning, GPA’s and other measurables take care of themselves. That’s easier said than done. He was a great example because he made it practical in his teaching. While he’s one of the most competitive people you will meet, he understood that wins and losses come when a group lives a lifestyle to be great. It’s more than just on the field. He taught us that it last much longer than baseball can. Coach G has impacted many people.
