BYU, Oregon St., Gonzaga and New Mexico.

Was able to attend the BYU-Oregon St game yesterday. My impressions:

1) BYU is going to need to manufacture runs this year. Not much pop in the bats. Good speed, however. Many of the new to the program players (freshman, transfers) struggled at the plate and had rough at bats. However, the players who have been in the program longer seemed to have better at bats, pushed the pitcher into deeper counts, and fought off pitches just on or off the corners. This bodes well and is a shout out to our hitting coach that the newer guys can become more patient. Started three freshmen yesterday including the DH plus one transfer.

2) Pitching is going to be the strength of this team for this year and for years to come. The deepest staff I've seen yet at BYU with like 8 freshman pitchers, most of whom will contribute. Allowed 9 earned runs in four games against high quality competition. I love Bradshaw as a pitching coach. So methodical.

3) Of all the returning players I was most surprised with Drew Zimmerman. In years past he has been mostly a closer that came in guns a blazing throwing in the low to mid 90's with an awesome bender. Yesterday, however, he came in for middle relief and looked like a pitcher. He threw a few fast balls but seemed like he was throwing more off speed stuff. Not sure if this is an intentional strategic shift for him as a pitcher but nothing hit the gun faster than 86 MPH. Kept Oregon State off balance.

4) Littlewood didn't shy away from going to the freshman out of the pen. McKeehan, Clawson, Robison and Johnson all showed well and didn't allow a run. When Johnson trotted out there with two on and two outs in the 9th I was standing next to an OSU fan. He couldn't believe BYU brought in a freshman in that situation. Johnson sat the guy down in four pitches. He hit 95 on the gun.

With this kind of pitching BYU should contend once again for a spot in the NCAA Tourney.