Wacha assuming Friday ace role with no hiccups

Michael Wacha stops by with Jordan K

Jordan Kirkland: You just got through this past weekend, opening up Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park and getting a huge win against Illinois-Chicago. What did that mean to you?

Michael Wacha: "Just the great experience of coming out and opening up Blue Bell Park and having the great support of the fans. It's just something I'll always remember, always being able to come back and be like, 'Hey, I threw the first pitch there.' It's really special. Glad to be part of this team."

JK: You only allowed one run in the six-and-a-half innings that you pitched. What was your goal going out in this first game and did you exceed your expectations?

Wacha: "I guess the main focus was trying not to be too nervous out there, this being Opening Day, and just going out and throwing strikes and competing and letting my defense work behind me. There were some great plays made behind me with Tyler Naquin's catch and Scott (Arthur)'s plays at second. I couldn't ask for better defense behind me."

JK: You got to play for the USA Olympic team over the break. What did that mean to you, to be able to play with all these incredible players all around you and you being one of the starting pitchers?

Wacha: "Yeah, it was a great experience. Myself and Tyler Naquin, we went out there and we played all up and down the East Coast — in Boston, in Fenway Park — and got to go to back to Omaha, which was a lot of fun. We had a five-game series against Japan. It was just crazy how much of a different kind of baseball they play. A lot of small-ball; they're all short, left-handed and fast. It was pretty cool. A great experience and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I'm glad I was able to be a part of that team."

JK: How different was it going back to Omaha after finishing the College World Series, playing in the red-white-and-blue jersey instead of the maroon-and-white one?

Wacha: "Yeah, it was a little bit different. Some other guys on the team that hadn't played there, they were all taking it all in. It was just like ... I was there a couple weeks before. But it was great to go back there and play again and actually try to win some games (laughs), but that's our goal for this season, to go back to Omaha and win that national championship."

JK: (Speaking of which,) you did get to go to the College World Series last year. Obviously it didn't work out like the team wanted it to, but coming into the season, the expectations are extremely high. What are the goals that Coach Childress has set and that the team has set for this coming season?

Wacha: "Our goal every year is to be the last team standing in Omaha, holding that national championship trophy. That's the same as this year. We have to win out in our non-conference games and go out and win an outright Big 12 championship, move on to the conference championship and win that and have a chance to host regionals and super-regionals. That'll give us the best chance to get back into Omaha and win the national championship."

JK: What do you see as one of the biggest differences between last year's team and the team you have on the roster this season?

Wacha: "One difference I've noticed is our hitting, it's a lot better this year — this weekend they put up close to 30 runs, I believe, and they were just smoking the ball. We just really hit the ball well, one through nine, and I look forward to having the run support up on the mound. It's just a lot easier to throw the ball then."

JK: You're the number one, Ross Stripling the number two, and that's one of the most touted 1-2 punches in the nation right now. How much does it mean to have Stripling and Rafael Pineda at your back the next day and the next day?

Wacha: "Yeah, it's great. Ross Stripling could easily be a number one on any other staff in the nation. He just goes out there and pounds the strike zone. He has three-plus pitches with the fastball, curveball and changeup. His curve is probably the best in the nation, just a straight 12-6. Hitters can't even touch it. And we're coming along with Rafael Pineda on Sundays. He did an outstanding job in his debut and he's been working real hard out here. I saw him out running this morning and he's always just working hard and pounding the strike zone, which Coach asks for. He's just doing everything right, right now."

JK: You probably don't think about it right now, but the 2012 draft might be in the back of your mind. Some people are saying you're a top-10 draft pick. What does that mean for you and for A&M as a whole?

Wacha: "I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it. But I just try to push it to the back of my mind for this season and win that national championship. It's just a token of appreciation for what Coach Childress does for this program ... what he did with Barrett Loux, the number six overall pick a couple years back, and John Stilson. It just shows how much work he actually puts into his players and how he just makes them better people and players."

JK: You're pitching this Friday against Holy Cross. Have you looked at them?

Wacha: "We have scouting reports down in the clubhouse right now. They look pretty decent. They're definitely going to come in here wanting to beat us. This might be their biggest game of the season. It's their opening weekend because they didn't play last weekend and they're going to want to make a big statement. I just want to go out there and try to throw more strikes than I did last weekend. My plan is to go out and attack those hitters."