The Creighton Bluejays baseball team wraps up its spring break schedule with — shock! — playable home games in mid-March. With the temps well above freezing and no snow in the forecast, Ed Servais and his team welcome the South Dakota State Jackrabbits to the CU Sports Complex for three weekend games (Friday @ 3 p.m., Saturday @ 2 p.m., Sunday @ 1 p.m.).
The Jays are back home after a rainy week in Arkansas. After taking two games against Arkansas State to start the spring break road trip, the Jays lost the rubber match to ASU and then dropped their only game against Central Arkansas.
WBR caught up with Servais ahead of the team’s home opener.
White and Blue Review: When we last spoke, you mentioned that the road trip over spring break is usually a pretty good indicator of how the team is coming together. How was the team chemistry during the trip to Arkansas?
Ed Servais: I think the chemistry has been good all year, and the guys did pretty well over the trip. The only time I noticed there was a little frustration was on Wednesday, but I attribute that to being cooped up in a hotel room. Also, when you are on a road trip and not playing as much baseball as you were hoping to play, you tend to get a little down.
WBR: With the number of rain delays you faced over the past 10 days, how did that affect your approach to the game in terms of the lineup and rotation decisions?
ES: We actually stuck with the guys that we were planning on throwing, and I do think it hurt a little. These guys are used to throwing every 6-7 days and they were stretched out a bit with the delays and ended up having to wait 8-9 days. Some of the guys were not as sharp as they probably would have been with normal schedules.
WBR: Do you use these types of delays and setback this early in the season as teaching opportunities for later in the year?
ES: We will defiantly use this later on. We need to find ways to stay sharp during these periods and it is often tough, especially in the south, where they don’t have a lot of indoor facilities on campus to practice in. Sometimes it is just getting the guys out of the hotel and moving around so we are not lethargic. I think we saw a little of that over the last week.
WBR: You guys will be opening your home schedule this weekend; how excited are you and the team to be at home?
ES: I am excited that the weather will cooperate. Sometimes we open the season with 30-degree weather and that can be tough. It will be nice to have a game at home and we really need to win our home games. Last season, we were a better team on the road, which is strange, and we have had success early on the road this year. We really need to reach the point where we are dominating at home and continue to play well on the road.
WBR: Can you tell us a little bit about South Dakota State?
ES: They won 39 games last season, but like everyone else, they are still trying to figure some things out this season. They are a very aggressive team on offense, and we will need to pitch very well. If they get ahead late, it will be tough because they have one of the best closers in baseball. It should be a good series.