Through the first 15 games of the Arizona baseball season, head coach Chip Hale said the Wildcats are on “a fact-finding mission.”
Arizona is 7-8 on the season, and despite a series victory over USC to open the program’s final Pac-12 slate last weekend, the Wildcats tripped up in their Los Angeles road trip, falling 9-2 to Loyola Marymount on Monday.
“It’s pretty disappointing in a way, because I told the team after we lost to Loyola Marymount — it was a tough game for us, and we did not play very well. We didn’t represent the ‘A’ like we’re supposed to,” Hale said. “Other than that, we’ve played very well, I thought. We played well even when we lost in Texas against really good competition.
“That was us stubbing our toe and not coming out to play like we can.”
For the first time in nearly a month, the Wildcats will play a baseball series at Hi Corbett Field, when they host rival Arizona State, which also has a sub-.500 record at 7-9, as both teams approach the bulk of their conference schedule. The first game of the three-game series is on Friday at 7 p.m.
“This weekend, there will be no shortage of energy in the stadium, no shortage of energy on the bench. The guys will be ready, but we have to win games,” Hale said. “We can’t just play well and then say, ‘Oh well, we’re doing a good job.’ Wins are going to get us into the tournament and that’s the goal. We’re trying to get back to Omaha (for the College World Series).”
Leading up to the rivalry series, Hale joined “Spears and Ali” on ESPN Tucson. Here’s what he said:
Diamondbacks relief pitcher Kevin Ginkel celebrates after the last out in the top of the eighth inning in Game 5 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers on Nov. 1, 2023, in Phoenix.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher and ex-Wildcat Kevin Ginkel is throwing out first pitch on Friday. How important is it to have former players, especially MLB standouts, return to Tucson?
A: “I think it’s great. We’ve really encouraged our alumni to get involved with the program again, to come back whenever they can to meet the team and talk to the team and just rub shoulders with them.
“Kevin, I saw him last year towards the end of the year when we got to throw first pitch at a Diamondback game. What he accomplished, how good he was last year through the playoffs and World Series run was really, really cool for all of us, the program and Wildcat fans across the country. It’ll be neat. Hopefully the weather holds up for us on Friday and he’s able to throw a strike and get us going.”
Terry Francona signs autographs for fans before the University of Arizona Wildcats baseball alumni game in 2018 at Hi Corbett Field.
Former Wildcat and longtime MLB manager Terry Francona has attended multiple games at Hi Corbett Field this season. How has it been having him around?
A: “It’s been great. He’s such a positive influence on our kids; he’s had a positive influence on me. He’s such a low-profile guy. He’s been at a bunch of games and we haven’t even known it. We almost have to get him to come into the clubhouse and be around the kids.
“I think he’s really enjoying his retirement right now. We’ll see how long that lasts because I foresee him coming back at some point. He’s such a good dude. You wouldn’t even know if it was Terry Francona if you didn’t know what he looked like.”
Arizona infielder Mason White (24) hits a single on opening night game against the Northeastern Huskies at Hi Corbett Field, 700 South Randolph Way, Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 15, 2024.
Tucson native Mason White leads the Pac-12 in RBIs (24) and home runs (7), one season after becoming a freshman All-American. What are noticeable improvements he’s made in the last year?
A: “He moved over to shortstop so it’s a tough position for him. I think he’s a good shortstop and he can play shortstop at the professional level. If not, he’s going to be a big-time second baseman in the pros. One thing you have to remember for him is that’s a big change, a lot of responsibility for him.
“He’s a natural-born hitter. He’s got tremendous hitting power for not being a very big guy. Everyone recognizes it, scouts recognize it. Unfortunately, other teams recognize it, so they pitch him tough.
“The home runs are great, he’s becoming more consistent and he had a really good week at USC. He was either hitting a home run or striking out, but now he’s putting the ball into play, hitting the ball like he can and he’s just getting better and better. We’re excited about where he’s at, and I know he’s excited about this weekend against the Sun Devils.”
Do you feel like Arizona is starting to forge its team identity?
A: "I really do. I think the pitching staff has vastly improved. Our starting pitching gives us a quality start every time out, and we have a veteran bullpen. So that's our strength right now. When we get hot as hitters, we're very impressive. We just need to be consistent, but that's very typical of a young, immature team. That's where we are on the offensive side, we just never know what you're going to get. We have to find ways to score. We're not getting a lot of hits. We're going to have to be better at the small-ball game — and that's partly on me. We're going to work on that and try to be more consistent. I think we can lean on our pitchers until we get to that point."
During your playing days, how were those battles against ASU when the Sun Devils had infamous MLB star Barry Bonds?
A: "It was good. Amazingly, he wasn't the best player on the field and, to me, he's the best slugger in the game at the professional level. Oddibe McDowell was his teammate and is probably the best college player I ever played against. Those were some very talented teams up here in Tempe that were amazing. Amazing group of guys that was amazing competition for us. My freshman year when Barry was doing well and Oddibe was a star, those were some tough teams to play against."
Safely from first base Arizona's Brandon Rogers (8) talks about his plate appearance and several bunt attempts with head coach Chip Hale in game two against Pima at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., October 14, 2023.
