Matt Cotcher
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submitted Today, 05:48 PM in Featured By Matt Cotcher
Only six numbers have been retired at Disch Falk Field. Considering the program's history and the multitude of outstanding players that have graced the roster, being the impetus for preserving one of those six numbers is special.
There are thousands of minor league ball players, but there are only 30 Major League Baseball teams. Only one of those teams is crowned World Series champion at the end of the year.
You need an advanced mathematics degree from UT to figure out the statistical probability for either feat. To calculate the chance of doing both, you're going to need a PhD - or Greg Swindell.
Swindell's is one of the six Longhorn baseball retired numbers, and he also has a World Series championship ring. We didn't talk math, but there was plenty of hardball discussed when I caught up with the legend at Disch Falk over the weekend.
Q: Between playing with Arizona in 2001, coaching at UT in 2005, all the success you had in your collegiate career.....is there one constant associated with championship caliber baseball?
A: The main thing all championship teams have is cohesiveness. Unselfish players who understand their role on a ball team play for the team instead of themselves. That element of team cohesiveness is critical.
Q: Coach Garrido talks about how all three phases (offense, defense, pitching) feed off each other. In the late 80's, you were on some bad Cleveland Indian teams, but managed to have a lot of personal success. Would you have chosen team success/winning instead? From that experience, any comment on how all three phases need to function together to play championship baseball?
A: I agree that every phase does feed off of each other, but would add that pitching can make up for bad fielding and lack of hitting sometimes. And, yes, I would always trade personal stats for winning.
Q: Your name is all over the UT record books, but your best season (statistically) was in '85. Going back to the previous question and all three phases working in synch, were you at your best that season, or was that success because the '85 team was better as a whole?
A: (smiling) I’m not gonna lie, I was good that year! At the same time, that was one of the best offensive teams ever at UT, in my opinion. With that in mind, it was easy to pitch with the numbers they put up.
Q: LHN is providing unprecedented coverage of college/Texas baseball this season. Why do you think college baseball is a niche market in terms of TV coverage?
A: College baseball is exciting. Fans love to watch young players and their enthusiasm. With more exposure, like what LHN is providing, I think college baseball is poised to grow quickly. The CWS coverage has expanded every year and done well.
Q: How is it being back in Austin after 20-25 years? How is the city different from when you were in school?
A: I’ve actually lived in Austin for 10 years now. The size and population is the biggest difference to me. Austin is the same weird city as it was from 1984 – 1986. If anything, now that Austin is bigger, there’s just more “weirdnessâ€.
Q: In your MLB career you played in both leagues. Are you pro or anti DH?
A: I like both, but from different perspectives. Personally, I enjoy batting, so I liked playing in the NL. From a pitching standpoint, I really liked the challenge of the extra bat in an AL lineup.
Q: You are on almost every one of UT's all-time lists associated with pitching statistics - ERA, shutouts, strikeouts, victories, etc. Is there one mark in particular that stands out to you?
A: Absolutely – it’s shutouts. 14 shutouts is still an NCAA record for a career. A complete game shutout requires a total team effort, so that mark is special to me – it represents our collective effort.
Q: When UT won the CWS in 1983, did that influence your decision to play there?
A: I signed to play at Texas earlier in the year, before they won the College World Series. Actually, I was in Austin the night they won it in Omaha. The Drag (Guadalupe Street) was crazy that night!
Q: When you watch this year's team play, what is the one area that you feel like they can make the most improvement?
A: It’s early in the year, and this year’s team can still improve on all aspects of the game. In February and March, every team has room for improvement in all three phases – the ones that realize those improvements are the ones that advance in May and June.
Q: Anything else you’d like to mention…
A: April is Autism Awareness Month! My family has been touched by autism, and we try to raise awareness all year, but it’s especially important in April when national organizations are doing it too.
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