St. John's University Athletics
10 Questions Part II: Coach Blankmeyer Checks In From Japan
8/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 3, 2010
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's baseball head coach Ed Blankmeyer is spending the summer serving as an assistant coach for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Blankmeyer and Team USA have a 15-2 record and are currently in Tokyo, Japan for the V FISU World University Baseball Championship. The squad went 3-0 in group play and just beat China to advance to the semifinals.
1. The pitching staff has continued to dominate and now has a 1.19 ERA to go with 176 strikeouts in 144.0 innings. In our first installment, you said that velocity is key in international play. Why is velocity so important and how is pitching different at the international level as compared to in the NCAA?
I guess the best way to describe it is NCAA power vs. International precision. The pitchers have great command and use arm angles and pitches that we don't see in the states. The hitters, though, seldom see velocity of 91+. It forces them to start the bat much earlier than they are used to and they have trouble catching up.
2. The squad opened its four-game exhibition set against Chinese-Taipei with two-straight losses, but rebounded to take the next two games. What adjustments were made by the team to even the series?
The first two games were our first in Taiwan and I believe it was a matter of getting used to the 12-hour time difference. We were a bit sluggish and had opportunities to score, but just did not get the job done. At the same time, however, Chinese-Taipei played well.
3. The squad encountered the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) tie-break rule in a win against Chinese-Taipei in the group stage of the V FISU World Championship. Beginning with the tenth inning, the rule places runners on first and second with no outs. What was the strategy used in this unique extra-inning scenario?
We were lucky in that we were the home team for that game. We had the luxury of knowing how many runs we needed and used that knowledge to help determine what we wanted to do in the situation.
4. What are some of the biggest differences that you've noticed between the styles of play at the international level and the NCAA level?
They play with wooden bats, so that alone changes the game. The pitchers throw more strikes and I think command is better. They also like to pitch backwards, throwing a lot of off-speed pitches. Our hitters have seen split finger pitches that they do not see in the states and there are a lot of low-angle pitchers as well. The importance of speed and defense is noticeable.
5. The squad is in Tokyo, Japan for the remainder of their summer tour of play. What are your impressions of the city of Tokyo?
Tokyo is a really neat place. We are staying at the Prince Hotel right next to the Tokyo Tower. The city is a lot like New York City in regards to size and yet it is so clean. The ballparks we have played in are those of the local professional teams. I hope to see more of the city as our trip continues.
6. The U.S. Collegiate National Team has taken the gold in each of the past three V FISU World Championships. Do you get the sense that the players feel pressure to win a fourth-straight?
The USA always expects to be in the chase for the gold medal and we are now in the semifinals. The other teams here are very good, though. Cuba has been really impressive offensively and Japan, the home team, is also very good. The semifinal games and the final are going to be well contested games.
7. Sonny Gray is just one example of a player that has been dominating throughout the summer. Gray had 14 strikeouts in a five-inning, run-rule victory against Sri Lanka in the group stage. The Vanderbilt pitcher is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances this summer and has 31 strikeouts in 17.0 innings, while allowing just a .091 average. With such a collection of collegiate all-stars on the roster, is it easy to catch yourself sometimes sitting back and enjoying the show?
The USA team has quite a collection of very talented players. Sonny Gray, Gerrit Cole and Matt Barnes have been our top three starters and are all potential first round draftees. In the field, we have the likes of Drew Maggi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Peter O'Brien, Ryan Wright and George Springer that all have bright futures ahead of them. Keep in mind that teams like Cuba and Japan have some very topflight players as well. You can't sit back, though. I'm here to help them improve as ball players and ensure that they are playing fundamentally sound baseball.
8. The 13th Annual Bullpen Golf Outing was a great success and featured a reunion of the 1960 squad that reached the College World Series. Can you talk about what the event means to the program and also the deep sense of the St. John's baseball family?
The golf outing is our main fundraising event. It was established shortly after I assumed the head coaching position and it has raised a significant amount of money to help us with travel expenses, equipment needs and capital improvements. Our alumni are very generous and always give back. They care about the program and truly understand what it takes to help improve the program and for that I am thankful.
9. Joe Panik started and batted clean up in the Cape Cod League All-Star game at Fenway Park. How do you think a summer in the Cape League will benefit Joe as he prepares for his junior season?
I have been following Joe and he has played very well in the Cape, one of the elite summer leagues. Playing against some of the best players in the country this summer will certainly prepare Joe for his junior season and help him take his game to the next level. He works hard and is a quality young man.
10. There has been an increasing amount of discussion lately about the NCAA implementing a mandatory pitch clock. What is your opinion on the pitch clock? I have mixed emotions on this issue, but it seems that the pitch clock will become a reality. Pace of play has been discussed over the past couple of years and the clock will help with this. I believe, however, that there are other ways to increase pace of play. Playing with wood bats is one and the strike zone is another. I am anxious to see what transpires. I also don't imagine that this will catch on in the majors.
