 | | Randy Molina |
Stanford Seniors To Chat Live On Friday, April 18 At 12:30 PM, PT
Erik Davis, Brendan Domaracki, Randy Molina, Rex Petrill and David Stringer to take questions from fans Los Angeles, Calif. - The members of the 2008 Stanford Baseball senior class will participate in a live gostanford.com chat this Friday prior to the start of the team's three-game series at UCLA. The chat will take place at 12:30 pm, PT. First pitch for Friday night's series-opener is scheduled for 6 pm, PT. All five chat room participants have played a key role in Stanford's 2008 season. Stanford is currently ranked No. 10 in the country with an 19-11-2 overall record and is tied for first in the Pac-10 with a 6-3 conference mark. Davis co-leads the team in wins with a 5-1 record and has pitched complete games in each of his last three outings while winning four in a row. He also paces the club in strikeouts (43), innings pitched (47.1), complete games (3) and starts (7). In addition, he is Stanford's active career leader in victories (12), strikeouts (135), innings pitched (171.0), appearances (67) and complete games (3). Domaracki has contributed a .275 batting average, 12 RBI and a stolen base. Molina paces the squad with a .379 batting average, while adding two homers and 19 RBI. He also ranks second on the team in multiple-hit games (11). Stringer has no record but has pitched well with a 4.39 ERA and a pair of saves over his nine appearances. In his last two outings, he has combined to pitch a total of 12.1 frames. Petrill has not giving up a run and allowed only one hit in his 2.2 innings over five appearances. If you have questions for any of the players, please feel free to post them now and we will save them for their arrival on Friday. |
 |
| Moderator: We're here, and ready to start answering your questions. |
|
| Bob Kinder, Sunnyvale: To the senior pitchers: How has Jeff Austin as the pitching coach helped? |
| David Stringer: I think I can answer on behalf of the entire staff. Coach Kunis had a lot of success with us over the past three years, but he felt that it was time for him to be a head coach, and Coach Austin has stepped in and picked up right where he left off. Coach Austin's experience speaks for itself, he has an amazing amount of energy which he brings to the ballpark every day, and has really helped all of us mature both as pitchers and as people on and off the field. |
 |  | Rex Petrill: Coach Austin has helped bring a lot of young energy to the staff. He pushes us to work hard, and is very energetic. He brings a fast tempo to everything we do, and makes us better. |
|
|
| Jack Manhattan: Randy, even though your a senior do you think you still have a shot at going pro or being drafted considering you will get less money since your a senior. |
 | | Randy Molina: At this point in my career I just want the opportunity to continue my career in baseball, so money is never an issue. On top of that I'm finishing up my degree this year. |
|
|
| Aloisius (Hillsborough, CA): We have played a number of tough teams this year (Fullerton, ASU, Texas, Nebraska, OSU, Cal, etc.). Of those we have played, which do you think will be joining us in Omaha? GO CARDINAL! |
 | | Erik Davis: Let me just say that playing in Omaha is a goal of our team's, and if we are able to get there would be a testament to how well everyone on our team plays as well as our coaching staff. Of the teams we have played against so far, I would not be suprised to see any of them in Omaha. All are very good teams who would be a tough matchup for us or any other team. |
|
|
| Captain, Minerva: What did you all think of the fan participation at your recent series against ASU? |
| | Randy Molina: We have always had a great number of fans who support us through thick and thin, but at our recent home series against ASU, we redefined the term "home field advantage." It was great to see a larger than usual crowd at the Saturday and Sunday games, and I think the participation throughout the game helped us win the series. |
|
|
| Chuck Schick (Fremont): Davis, on the Sunday home games, you really seem to be an enthusiastic cheerleader. How do you enjoy this perk of being a starting pitcher? |
| | Erik Davis: I like to cheer on my team at all times, but particularly Sundays, the day after I start, I am able to put forth all of my energy to supporting the team, whether that means being running down to the bullpen to get pitchers all the way or getting our team fired up in general. |
|
|
| Wayne (Corevallis): Brendan, some of the Oregon state fans were really trying to wear you out in right field last week. As an outfielder, how do you respond to the fans when they heckle you so directly? |
 | | Brendan Domaracki: Well you've got to pick your battles. You can't respond too much or they know they can get in your head. For example, on Saturday they asked me how being 0-3 felt... I told them that I was in fact 0-4. They thought that was pretty funny. They also asked me why I was the only player on my team wearing my pants down, at which point I pointed out Joey August in Left Field, who indeed had his pants down. Anyway, they started being a little more friendly after that. They were good fans. |
|
|
| Frank H. (1047): How exciting is it that you are way exceeding preseason expectations? |
| David Stringer: While people outside of our program may not have had the same lofty expectations as with past Stanford teams, everyone within the team fully expected to do as well as we have been. We play very well together, and our coaches prepare us well every week. |
|
Ty Webb: Randy, Why do you never fold the bill of your cap?Is that something you've been doing since childhood? |
| | Randy Molina: Thats the style in Southern California and growing up there most of the baseball players I grew up with wore flat bills. Now I don't feel comfortable with a bent bill. |
|
|
| Torrence Mclain (Santa Rosa): Hey Randy, My kids love you and were thinking of making a sign. Do you have a nickname they could use? Has the team given you or any of the other seniors nicknames? My kids would love it! |
| | Randy Molina: There are tons of nicknames floating around the team. I have a few, but people usually just call me "Mo" or Randy Mo. Nothing very weird. Thanks for the support. |
|
|
| Chidibohn, Tucson: Rex - I read that you worked out this offseason with a former Cardinal great, Peter Duda. What did you work on in your time with Peter? |
| | Rex Petrill: Yeah, working with Pete was great. He made great strides in improving my mental approach, my attitude, and my wicked heater. Thanks a ton, Pete! |
|
|
| Danny Noonan: What's the biggest perk of being an athlete at Stanford? |
| | Erik Davis: Being an athlete at Stanford is an awesome experience. |
|
|
| Brian Sager (225): Rick Vaughn's fastball is clocked at 96 mph. Domer/Eric/Rex where do you see your heaters clocking in this season? Is that going to be competitive in the Major League? |
| David Stringer: Erik is the only one of us who can really get away with throwing a fastball when the hitter is expecting one. For the rest of us, it is necessary to find other methods to trick the hitter. |
|
| Craig (Palo Alto): Randy, how does it feel to be an integral part of this years' club after little playing time for the first three years of your career? |
| | Randy Molina: It feels great to be in the line-up this year and have the ability to help my team succeed. I just hope to continue my early success throughout the year. |
|
|
| Ben Dickens, Sunnyvale: I've noticed that several of your player seem to be blowing darts at each other, and subsequently freezing in place around the dugout. Care to explain? |
| | Brendan Domaracki: When Kellen Kiilsgaard arrived after football season, not only did he bring his powerful left-handed stroke but a new game - the blowdart game. If somebody calls your name and you look at that person without throwing up the magic googles, that person can shoot a blowdart at you and paralyze you. You remain paralyzed until somebody touches your ear. It gets pretty out of control. Congratulations on your PR last weekend, Dickens! Now lower house bill. |
|
|
The Source, Stanford: After you are finished hosting your regional and super regional, you are going to have a pretty large fan base following you to Omaha to give you a "home field advantage," that you received against ASU. I just lost the game. |
| | Erik Davis: First and foremost, I lost the Milley game. As for a possible traveling fan-base, I think that would lead to a lot of success, as it did against ASU. But like minor league career home run leader Crash Davis once said, "you take them one game at a time." |
|
| Moderator: Thanks for chatting with us, the Stanford seniors. Hope to see you all at the park. |
|
|
|
|
| Name (City): | | | | | Submit your question here: | | | | | |
|
