Baseball Strives to be Good All Ways

As the holiday season and the winter break approaches, Tulane baseball has its sights set on the spring and the start of the 2018 season.

In his second year as Tulane head coach, Travis Jewett wants to build a system of aggressiveness, speed, pressure, and smart decision making, built around robust pitching and ball-securing defense. The Green Wave want to take on the mentality of thinking forward to the next pitch or the bases in front of them.

"I want to have a system of aggressiveness," Jewett said. "I want to create a take-the-parking-brake-off kind of mentality. Let's make smart, aggressive decisions. Let's try to force pressure on people, let's try to make them play faster than they're used to. What we call speed pressure."

The Wave aim to create runs, particularly in situations against tough pitching that can stifle an offense. That means, reading pitches in the dirt, running aggressively on the base paths, as well as executing hit-and-runs, bunts and their variant plays that can open up a game. Jewett wants the team to be able to win games in every different way, whether it is a slugfest or a pitcher's duel where Tulane must scratch a run across the plate.

"We have a saying that says, we want to be good always, all ways," Jewett said. "We want to make sure that we're capable of winning games in all different kind of ways. With the added pitching and what I sense to be a good ball-securing defense, that's a good combination. We can always be in games, and then I think we can find a way to win them at some point. Whether it's in the middle or late in the game, it doesn't matter. We'll have a way to get it done."

The core of the 2018 team may be in the defense. While Tulane must replace six position starters from a team that turned a school-record 65 double plays last year, Jewett believes the infield will be the strongest unit on the club. A crop of young and/or inexperienced hitters will develop through the spring. The pitching staff has the ability to be good, while pounding the strike zone and challenging hitters.

Throwing strikes on the mound often translates more into pitching to contact rather than racking up strikeouts. The defense will be key in fielding the balls put in play.

"I just think if the ball is hit on the ground, we're going to catch it," Jewett said. "Then, we have some arm strength and accuracy. Defense is all about the ability to move the ball from player to player with efficiency. We've shown a good ability to do that this fall. We have some things we have to figure out in the outfield, in terms of who is going to play where, but all-in-all, the catching has been solid, and the infield defense is good. Really good."

The 2018 season begins Feb. 16-18 against Wright State at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchase online at TulaneTix.com, by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283) or in person at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. Season ticket packages includes all 33 home games start as low as $100 for a single book and $300 for a family four-pack. Seats are available in locations throughout Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. Click here for season ticket holder benefits and a seating chart.

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