Shortstop Lee Ellis has made a solid impression, and gives Justin Haire creds for his being here. (Press Pros Photos)
On a rainy Tuesday…a baseball ‘Reader Speaks’ on last week’s column about fall workouts at Bill Davis Stadium under first-year coach Justin Haire. First impression…he has a lot to prove. Second impression…he really believes he can do it. Who’s to doubt?
Just one week following last Thursday’s column on fall baseball workouts at Bill Davis Stadium…we share some appreciation for those who took the time to read and pen some questions.
Of course, the leader in the clubhouse is 86-year Don Motz, who seems to live and die by the anticipation for this year, or next, being THE year. The most prolific correspondent of all, Motz’s interest is unique among the rest…because a family member actually preceded Marty Karow as head coach all the way back in the mid-40s, 78 years ago – a gentleman named Lowell Wrigley – whose record over two seasons was 18-21-1. As Casey Stengel would say, you could look it up.
First-year coach Justin Haire has been nothing but optimistic during fall workouts at Bill Davis Stadium.
Here’s Don’s latest: “Appreciate your report on fall practice. What’s your impression of the new coach, the new staff, how they’re different, and can they take the program to another level this year?”
Answer: With such a small sample size it’s really hard to gauge. However Justin Haire strikes me as an eternal optimist, looks to be detail-oriented, and patient for the process of developing talent. On the occasions we’ve talked, he speaks over and over about player development. That, and the pursuit of recruits who really want to be a part of Ohio State and the baseball build. Obviously he’s made some early impressions, as shared by shortstop transfer Lee Ellis.
Said Ellis: “He just gave me joy for baseball again. I liked what I heard about his philosophies of hitting and fielding, and I bought in.”
To answer your question further, I would compare Haire to the personality of former coach Greg Beals, who also had great patience for player development. And to prove that, Beals had former players Jacob Bosiokovic, Ryan Feltner, Jack Neely, Dillon Dingler, Dom Canzone, Zach Dezenzo…all in the big leagues this year…six players in his last seven years as coach. But it does take some time. Haire’s philosophies? That’s as unique as the hand you’re dealt, but just as there are 25 ways to score from third base, there’s probably a hundred different ways to win a baseball game. And Haire is no ‘newbie’. No doubt he’s seen them all.
From Mike, in Scioto County: “Last year’s team never seemed to get traction. What’s the first best thing they can do in 2025 to gain competitive confidence?”
Answer: Well, Casey Stengel also said, “Good pitching will beat good hitting every time, and vice versa.” And even Bill Mosiello said in his final post-game interview at the Big Ten Tournament that the priority for 2025 has to be pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Now that’s easier said than done, but little things do add up. For instance, this team walked the leadoff man way too many times in 2023 – too many free bases. And I don’t have the stats, but it seemed like those leadoff walks scored every time, and you simply can’t win that way.
Here’s another issue observed in 2023. If you’re a pitcher at this level of college baseball you didn’t get here by accident. You’ve got something that’s made you effective, so why not trust that and challenge the hitters? In baseball jargon it’s called trusting your stuff; and last year I saw too many of the young pitchers dominate in one inning, then nibble in the next. No, no. Just trust what you have and challenge the hitters until they make you adjust. Don’t assume that they’re all Hank Aaron.
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From Andy in Miami County: “Did the Buckeyes benefit enough from the portal…to offset the loss of players like Kaczmar and Beidelschies?”
Answer: You can’t determine that in fall workouts. You can get an idea in the scrimmages that start next week, but until you actually see the elephant you can only go on past stats and quality of competition. Lee Ellis was one of those mentioned last week, along with Greg Bussey, a transfer from Oakland University. And for the fact of pitching, you simply can’t know until you see them throw a pitch in anger to someone wearing a different uniform. One of the coaches mentioned last week that they have plenty of time to figure it out, and you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. And if it doesn’t work out, then you can doubt all you want. But realistically, it’s just four months until February, and four months and two weeks until opening day.
Reliever Blaine Wynk spent a development year at Findlay University before transferring to the Buckeyes last year. He led all relievers with 3.38 ERA and in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
From Tyler: “What’s the best way to get recruited by a school like Ohio State? And are they looking for high school players, because it seems they’re getting a lot from the portal and junior college?”
Answer: They are absolutely interested in high school talent, because if you’re good enough you can make an impact like Henry Kaczmar and Matt Graveline did as freshmen in 2022, or a freshman like Ike Cadena did last year. That’s an extra year of contribution for both player and team if you can play that early. That said, no two players mature and develop alike, and sometimes it’s to your benefit to go to a smaller school, or JUCO, and give yourself time to grow and figure out the game of college baseball. Case in point, bullpen ace Blaine Wynk spent his freshman year pitching for Division II Findlay University, then transferred to Ohio State last year. That year at Findlay was valuable to him, obviously, because it gave him time to refine and learn to trust his stuff. He led all true relievers last year with a 2-1 record (3.38 ERA) and opposing hitters hit less than .250 against him. He also struck out 38 in 40 innings, and walked just 9, the best strikeout-to-walk ratio on the team.
Notes: Fall inter-squad scrimmages begin in a matter of days and you might want to mark a date. Admission is free, times and dates are usually available on the www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com website, and with the beautiful fall weather it’s a great way to enjoy Buckeye baseball.
Or…read additional insights here on Press Pros….SF
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