Aggies begin practice on bitterly cold day at Olsen

COLLEGE STATION - The Aggies removed huge chunks of snow off of their brand new tarp, cranked up the all-new Major League-sized video board and kicked the tired on the 2014 season with a Friday afternoon practice in near-freezing temperatures.

I went out there to watch the start of practice and to talk with A&M head coach Rob Childress and seniors Jason Jester and Krey Bratsen.

Included in the above rotator are audio interviews with all three guys, plus a podcast of my "Talkin' Baseball" segment with A&M color analyst Scott Clendenin Thursday on TexAgs Radio.

Here are the quotes from Childress and players:

HEAD COACH ROB CHILDRESS

On starting practice in the cold weather…

"We're excited. We've got a great opportunity to be outside today and we were able to dodge the bad weather that we had yesterday and last night. We had the tarp down and we were able to get the ice off of the tarp, and the surface is great. It's not bad out there when the wind isn't blowing."

On the competition level entering pre-season workouts…

"It's been good. We had a really good fall … very competitive. I expect us to pick up right where we left off. We've been blessed with the weather that we've had the last 10 days to be outside in 75-degree weather. Even though it's just been skill instruction, we just feel fortunate that we can get outside today for the first time as a group."

On when he would hope to have a set group in the lineup and on the mound…

"We hope [the lineup] is set by the time we get to conference. We've got an awful lot of talent and a lot of experience back and we believe we're going to count on a couple of talented freshmen and some junior college guys as well that have been very consistent for us. We have a junior college sophomore on the mound in Hayden Howard that keeps getting better and better. We have a couple of [freshmen] in Mark Ecker and Ryan Hendrix, which had good falls and even better winters, and have picked up right where they left off."

On the return of left-handed sophomore fireballer A.J. Minter from a rib injury that forced him to miss fall ball…

"We've had two bullpens with him and he's 100-percent healthy. We don't feel like he's 100-percent game ready or being competitive. We're going to try to start him these three weeks before we open the season and extend his innings, and see how he responds. We couldn't do that with him last year and we're hoping to do it this year."

On the influx of junior college and freshman talent…

"We've moved G.R. Hinsley to the outfield and we're going to really take a long, hard look at him in left field. Hunter Melton and Logan Nottebrok are both at third base, and there will be a competition there. One of them will have a chance to DH, along with whoever is not catching. We have a couple of freshman hitters in Ryne Burk, Nick Banks and Nick Choruby all had good falls for us and have worked really hard, and are going to get some opportunities as well."

On the junior college bats providing extra pop in the middle of the A&M lineup…

"We feel like the guys that are back have got an awful lot of experience and at bats under their belt. They've handled failure extremely well and experienced some success late [last season]. But the older guys that we brought in - G.R. Hinsley and Logan Nottebrok - we're going to count on them in a big way. They may not hit 15 home runs, but we need them to turn the outfielders around and hit some doubles and drive runs in."

On the new video board beyond the left field wall…

"Magnificent is the only word that comes to mind. It's as great of a scoreboard as you could ask for. It's funny how it all came together. We got it because of the expansion of the Rec Center. If it's not the best at any collegiate facility in the country, it's really close and it's going to be for a long, long time. It speaks volumes as to the commitment of the athletic department to our baseball program."

On the benefit of having stars returning on the mound entering the season…

"I feel like they're established. Last year, we didn't have that established rotation. We feel like with Daniel Mengden and Parker Ray, those guys are established. We're established at the end of the game with Jason Jester. Grayson Long has worked really hard and pitched really well for us. Corey Ray just keeps getting better and better, and he'll find himself competing in the mix with Hayden Howard."

On cleaning off the snow-filled tarp on Friday morning…

"It was fun. It brought back some good memories with Coach Sawyers and Coach Seely. We knew how to get the ice off of the tarp and make sure that we didn't tear or mess up our brand new tarp, and really upset our grounds keeper, Nick McKenna. There is a certain way to go about [taking off the tarp in the snow]. You have to broom it off and make sure to keep all of the sharp objects away from it. Everybody chipped in and that's why we were able to practice today."

CLOSER JASON JESTER

On preparing for opening day with the poor weather conditions…

"We’ve had good weather all week but come opening day it’s going to be just like this. It’s good for us and everybody’s attitude is good right now. Just getting back on the field with the guys and suiting up, we’re looking forward to it."

On what it meant to come back as senior and help the team win…

"To me, I felt it was a win-win. I come back, get to graduate, get my Aggie Ring and be a part of that and [hopefully] get to sign a Major League contract and have a little money in my pocket. I try not to pressure myself too much [heading] into [the season]. I have a good family support and Coach Childress is always supportive. So I’m excited to be back and just to play baseball, get to graduate and all of that stuff, so I’m looking forward to it."

On expectations going into the SEC in year two…

"The biggest thing to me is that there’s no off weekend. Every weekend’s a grind, an absolute grind weekend to weekend. Just the competition week in and week out, there are no off days, and so I think as players, as coaches and everybody on the staff, you've got to just prepare yourself as much as you can in between those matches. So I wouldn’t expect anything less out of myself as I did last year. But I thought it was good to get our feet wet a little bit and kind of get that experience, and just looking forward to it. We've got a lot good guys and a lot of new faces that are going to do some good things for us."

On taking his individual game up a notch this year…

"Yea, absolutely, I feel like I can. I think I owe it to my teammates and I owe it to everybody else. This is my last year so I've got to lay it all on the table. This is the last time I’ll get to suit up in Aggie uniform, so there’s no looking back. I'm just going to put all of my eggs in one basket and do everything I can. I’m not going to hope for the best … I’m going to go out there and do it and prove it. So anything less than last year is going to be a let down for myself and for my team."

On the younger guys pushing for rotation spots alongside Daniel Mengden and Parker Ray…

"I thought Corey Ray and Grayson Long threw the ball great this fall. Rhey were outstanding and I think it’ll be good for us [to have them battling for spots in the rotation]. We were kind wishy-washy on the weekends last year, but I think having Parker Ray back and Daniel Mengden and the chance of A.J. Minter getting in there healthy to go with Grayson Long and Corey Ray throwing it really well, our options are looking great for us and I’m really excited."

On the increased diversity in the bullpen from both left and right side…

"I think we’re going to be pretty stacked. I don’t think there’s a guy on the staff that you could roll out there and have to be worried about. I think everybody’s got good stuff and good talent, and Coach Childress prepared us very well in the fall and got us ready for this. We have alot of big-time gamers. Tyler Stubblefield is going to be a good guy for us as a lefty out of the bullpen. And with [lefty] A.J. Minter healthy, we have just a lot of good things to look forward to."

On whether Florida or Arizona in pro ball sounds good after opening college practice in the snow…

"Yeah, I don’t know if I could argue with that, but like I said, we’re having fun out here. [Coach Childress] had us out here cracking ice on the tarp so there’s no telling what we’ll be doing today. We’re looking forward to it. I think everyone’s going to whine a little bit but come time to put the jersey on and step in between the lines, it’s all business and we’re excited."

On the good news of pitchers not giving up many runs on a day like today…

"I sure hope not. As long as I can keep feeling in my fingers, I think I’ll be all right."

CENTER FIELDER KREY BRATSEN

On the weather making it feel like the start of baseball season…

“Definitely, with the cold. I’m surprised it’s not raining. The first game of every year since I’ve been here, it has been misty and freezing cold, so I’m kind of used to it now.”

On getting his senior year started…

“I’m really excited. We have a bunch of young guys that are definitely looking to get a spot which is helping us older guys work harder to save our spot. Overall, everyone is pushing each other to have a good year.”

On the team’s new faces…

“There are a lot of new guys. We have new JUCO guys that are really good and new freshmen that are really playing well. Everyone can hit this year and I’m really excited to see these young guys play.”

On where the team is deeper than last year…

“Pitching and in the field [is where the depth has improved coming into this season.] We have a lot of young guys pitching and fielding, and they are all really good.”

On this team having more power at the plate than other years…

“We have a couple of new guys. Logan Nottebrok will be a big help offensively, and so will G.R. Hinsley. Those are two guys that are pretty big and will do some powerful things here.”

On the new scoreboard…

“We’re really excited. That thing is unreal. We are spoiled here at Texas A&M. With the stadium and the new scoreboard, it’s unreal. We’re just excited to have something like that and to be able to play with something like that.”

“Mainly hitting. Mostly off-speed and seeing [the ball]. I worked with Coach Sawyers a lot on bunting, too. Last year, I could have done more than I did. That’s a big part of my game with speed being my number one tool.”

On starting the year off right…

“Starting off on a good note is a big thing. You never want to start off on the bad side because you always feel like you’re getting pressed. You want to start off hot and feel yourself cruising through everything and keeping your momentum up.”

On where he thinks he will start in the batting lineup…

“That’s up to the coaches. I just play hard and whatever happens happens. I just try to play the best I can and help our pitchers get outs and give them run support.”

On the differences between playing in the Big 12 and the SEC…

“The pitching is a little different. I would say the pitching is tougher in the SEC, but overall, you have to practice like you’re facing any team. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Big 12, SEC, or the WAC, you’re going to face guys that are really good and you just have to do the best you can in the game. You can’t take anybody lightly.”

On if this was the first time he had to knock snow off the tarp at the first practice of the season…

“I definitely haven’t. This is a first time for me, and I’m excited about it. I know that when the first game comes, it’s going to be freezing cold like it is every year, and it’s probably going to be misting and raining like it has for the past three years.”

On if the Super Bowl will be colder or warmer than the current weather in College Station…

“I’m going to say it’s colder here. I’m going to go with that.”