Opening Statement...
J.D. Arteaga: it's a great win. Any win in the ACC is a great win on the tough way. You know, Stanford came in, I guess they're seeded number 12. They're one win away from being a seed and having a bye and all that stuff. So this league was so bunched together in the middle. I think everybody wants to get a bowl. So Rob did a great job coming out early and kind of set the tone. And, you know, at the top of the second inning, it could have gotten away from us. It got us a leadoff single, then a double, scored a run in the second, nobody out, and just does a great job of minimizing. Then we come in in the bottom half of the second and put up a three spot, so we made it up answer. But it was a great, you know, game all the way around. Played good defense, swung the bat at the time of the hitting, good pitching, and, you know, of course, Alvarez played out a great day with four hits and a couple home runs and a double. And we got a single on the mound, the freshmen, two freshmen on the plate. We got three freshmen in the lineup today, hitting 5, 6, 7, contributed some way or another. Just great signs of what our future looks like and what this team is coming together.
Reporter: I just wanted to kind of ask about what you were just talking about with the young talent. Obviously there's talent all around, but Alonzo, Dubovic, what does that say about the program and the future of the program for Miami?
J.D. Arteaga: I think it's been a reflection, and I spoke about our freshman class a lot this fall and early spring, and of course having such a veteran team coming back offensively, the question was where are they gonna play? How do we get them in the lineup and give them opportunities in that bat? So, you know, because of injuries, you know, a guy like Milano has had to step in at third base and done a great job for us. And Adrian Sosa's, you know, throwing arms to play first base, and Alvarez comes in and Dubovec's, you know, swung the bat really good early when Max Galvin was out with an injury. Once he came back, we're trying to find a place for him. So, we kind of set in there at the DH spot. So it's really good for us offensively and then just the freshman class in general.
On Alonzo Alvarez...
He's a great athlete, number one. He was taking ground balls at short yesterday at the practice. He looked pretty good, but don't get any ideas. Just a great athlete and works hard, always learning, and it's fun to just watch him. You know, he started every midweek game beginning late, but I guess it's maybe three weeks now. He's been starting every weekend and just watch him grow before our eyes. It's really something special, you know. And again, one of the guys that we knew he was going to be a big part of our program. We didn't expect it to have to be this year, but he's, fortunately, we have him here, and he's ready to go. And we lose one guy, but he stepped right in so far and been great.
Reporter: JD, can you expand more on Rob's performance, what he gave you, what was working well for him, and to give you seven innings, postseason starters to give you that many innings is always important. How do you feel about what he did in particular, in addition to what he already said?
J.D. Arteaga: Well, I think Stanford came in with a really good game plan. I think the plan was to take away his slider. And all the best swings they had, the hardest balls they hit were off his slider. And kudos to Laz, you know, recognizing it and making an adjustment, and Rob being able to do that, and really pitch off of his fastball, which is still his best pitch. But he located his fastball in and out, with a sinker going, got some quick outs. And yes, it's nice to get seven innings, but even nicer to get seven innings and 90 pitches. So, you know, we want to win this tournament. It's a goal of ours, but we're not going to overextend anybody, and really next week is the ultimate goal, right? So, he's got some extra rest. We're not going to overextend him anyway. But going 90 pitches to seven innings, that's as good as it gets.
Reporter: And then, JD, also, the lineup, all non-year guys had base hits. Just, what did you think of everybody today? What was going well for the group?
J.D. Arteaga: Well, we've got a long lineup. There aren't too many breaks there. And it's nice to see the bottom of the lineup starting to do some things that, not necessarily just the bunts and safety squeezes, and moving guys over and making productive outs. And those things are important. Those things are very important. And like I said, especially against good pitching, just swing your weight throughout the staff and score a ton of runs. You've got to be able to manufacture runs and produce runs in other ways. So, you know, guys are kind of clicking on all cylinders right now, and this is the right time of the year to be there.
J.D. Arteaga: it's a great win. Any win in the ACC is a great win on the tough way. You know, Stanford came in, I guess they're seeded number 12. They're one win away from being a seed and having a bye and all that stuff. So this league was so bunched together in the middle. I think everybody wants to get a bowl. So Rob did a great job coming out early and kind of set the tone. And, you know, at the top of the second inning, it could have gotten away from us. It got us a leadoff single, then a double, scored a run in the second, nobody out, and just does a great job of minimizing. Then we come in in the bottom half of the second and put up a three spot, so we made it up answer. But it was a great, you know, game all the way around. Played good defense, swung the bat at the time of the hitting, good pitching, and, you know, of course, Alvarez played out a great day with four hits and a couple home runs and a double. And we got a single on the mound, the freshmen, two freshmen on the plate. We got three freshmen in the lineup today, hitting 5, 6, 7, contributed some way or another. Just great signs of what our future looks like and what this team is coming together.
Reporter: I just wanted to kind of ask about what you were just talking about with the young talent. Obviously there's talent all around, but Alonzo, Dubovic, what does that say about the program and the future of the program for Miami?
J.D. Arteaga: I think it's been a reflection, and I spoke about our freshman class a lot this fall and early spring, and of course having such a veteran team coming back offensively, the question was where are they gonna play? How do we get them in the lineup and give them opportunities in that bat? So, you know, because of injuries, you know, a guy like Milano has had to step in at third base and done a great job for us. And Adrian Sosa's, you know, throwing arms to play first base, and Alvarez comes in and Dubovec's, you know, swung the bat really good early when Max Galvin was out with an injury. Once he came back, we're trying to find a place for him. So, we kind of set in there at the DH spot. So it's really good for us offensively and then just the freshman class in general.
On Alonzo Alvarez...
He's a great athlete, number one. He was taking ground balls at short yesterday at the practice. He looked pretty good, but don't get any ideas. Just a great athlete and works hard, always learning, and it's fun to just watch him. You know, he started every midweek game beginning late, but I guess it's maybe three weeks now. He's been starting every weekend and just watch him grow before our eyes. It's really something special, you know. And again, one of the guys that we knew he was going to be a big part of our program. We didn't expect it to have to be this year, but he's, fortunately, we have him here, and he's ready to go. And we lose one guy, but he stepped right in so far and been great.
Reporter: JD, can you expand more on Rob's performance, what he gave you, what was working well for him, and to give you seven innings, postseason starters to give you that many innings is always important. How do you feel about what he did in particular, in addition to what he already said?
J.D. Arteaga: Well, I think Stanford came in with a really good game plan. I think the plan was to take away his slider. And all the best swings they had, the hardest balls they hit were off his slider. And kudos to Laz, you know, recognizing it and making an adjustment, and Rob being able to do that, and really pitch off of his fastball, which is still his best pitch. But he located his fastball in and out, with a sinker going, got some quick outs. And yes, it's nice to get seven innings, but even nicer to get seven innings and 90 pitches. So, you know, we want to win this tournament. It's a goal of ours, but we're not going to overextend anybody, and really next week is the ultimate goal, right? So, he's got some extra rest. We're not going to overextend him anyway. But going 90 pitches to seven innings, that's as good as it gets.
Reporter: And then, JD, also, the lineup, all non-year guys had base hits. Just, what did you think of everybody today? What was going well for the group?
J.D. Arteaga: Well, we've got a long lineup. There aren't too many breaks there. And it's nice to see the bottom of the lineup starting to do some things that, not necessarily just the bunts and safety squeezes, and moving guys over and making productive outs. And those things are important. Those things are very important. And like I said, especially against good pitching, just swing your weight throughout the staff and score a ton of runs. You've got to be able to manufacture runs and produce runs in other ways. So, you know, guys are kind of clicking on all cylinders right now, and this is the right time of the year to be there.
