No Excuse - Indiana Baseball Remains Focused on ‘The Plan’
3/31/2020 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's baseball season was cut short by Covid-19.
Its drive to continue its Big Ten title winning ways was not.
Coach Jeff Mercer is very clear about that.
"If you want an excuse, there will be an excuse," he says. "If you want to take the easy way out or complain, you'll find a way to do that.
"But if you refuse to be held down, if you refuse to not be satisfied, you won't be."
The Hoosiers, who finished their virus-shortened season with a 9-6 record against rugged completion, understand the high expectations and required work ethic.
That led to last year's Big Ten title, which came in Mercer's first season as Indiana head coach.
"We are fortunate motivation isn't a concern," he says. "The players understand the expectations. That will drive them to do their roles.
"When I walk in the locker room door every day, it's not to give a Rocky speech and fire everybody up to be motivated to work today. I outline the plan, what we will do today to achieve the goal we have for ourselves and the team.
"I don't worry about those guys working. That's how they were raised. If you're going to play at Indiana, you walk in with that level of work ethic, even in less than ideal circumstances."
Technology helps Mercer and his staff find the ideal in any circumstance.
Coaches already use DriveLine, a phone app which creates player profiles for hitting and nutrition plans, videos and more. Mercer says the coaches upload players' hitting videos every week.
"They have an incredible amount of information and data at their fingertips," he says. "This will be an easy transition for us."
It's uncertain what Mercer and his staff will be allowed to do as far a remote coaching ("Can I work in real time with them?"), but whatever it is, he says, the Hoosiers will be ready.
"We'll give them all the necessary tools to continue their growth.
"Once we get our arms around what we're allowed to do, we'll put together a plan for each guy. They'll be given that plan with the expectation they'll execute it as if they were on campus."
If business as usual returns this summer, most Hoosiers will play summer ball. They'll play to improve more than win. Mercer will talk to every player to outline the goals and "the things we'd like them to focus on for the next couple of months."
"It will be individualized and on each player's own pace."
There also will be a team component.
"The big one is, we've got to improve our base running," Mercer says. "So I'll tell them, I want to see you lay down one drag bunt attempt a game. I want you to have one stolen base attempt for every two times you're on base.
"We'll track those and see how they're going. They will fail and make mistakes, but that's how they improve."
Mercer and his staff also will try to find the right summer ball team fit for each player.
"We'll find places that allow them to play the style we like to play. That will allow them to learn through that process.
"We might tell a pitcher, in the first half of the summer, I'd like to see you throw a changeup as your primary off-speed pitch. Then work in a curveball or slider the second half of the summer. That will be expected of all of our players."
The Big Ten has stopped all team activities, including recruiting, through May 4. Coaches are allowed to stay in contact with players who have committed.
"We are making sure we reassure and keep open the lines of communication with the players who have committed," Mercer says. "Make sure they understand where they stand with the program.
"We're in contact with young players and the guys we were recruiting. Then we're holding our ground to see what the new rules will be. We're not able to know what to do until we get the legislation. Once they give us the green light, we'll be organized and prepared."
#GoIU
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's baseball season was cut short by Covid-19.
Its drive to continue its Big Ten title winning ways was not.
Coach Jeff Mercer is very clear about that.
"If you want an excuse, there will be an excuse," he says. "If you want to take the easy way out or complain, you'll find a way to do that.
"But if you refuse to be held down, if you refuse to not be satisfied, you won't be."
The Hoosiers, who finished their virus-shortened season with a 9-6 record against rugged completion, understand the high expectations and required work ethic.
That led to last year's Big Ten title, which came in Mercer's first season as Indiana head coach.
"We are fortunate motivation isn't a concern," he says. "The players understand the expectations. That will drive them to do their roles.
"When I walk in the locker room door every day, it's not to give a Rocky speech and fire everybody up to be motivated to work today. I outline the plan, what we will do today to achieve the goal we have for ourselves and the team.
"I don't worry about those guys working. That's how they were raised. If you're going to play at Indiana, you walk in with that level of work ethic, even in less than ideal circumstances."
Technology helps Mercer and his staff find the ideal in any circumstance.
Coaches already use DriveLine, a phone app which creates player profiles for hitting and nutrition plans, videos and more. Mercer says the coaches upload players' hitting videos every week.
"They have an incredible amount of information and data at their fingertips," he says. "This will be an easy transition for us."
It's uncertain what Mercer and his staff will be allowed to do as far a remote coaching ("Can I work in real time with them?"), but whatever it is, he says, the Hoosiers will be ready.
"We'll give them all the necessary tools to continue their growth.
"Once we get our arms around what we're allowed to do, we'll put together a plan for each guy. They'll be given that plan with the expectation they'll execute it as if they were on campus."
If business as usual returns this summer, most Hoosiers will play summer ball. They'll play to improve more than win. Mercer will talk to every player to outline the goals and "the things we'd like them to focus on for the next couple of months."
"It will be individualized and on each player's own pace."
There also will be a team component.
"The big one is, we've got to improve our base running," Mercer says. "So I'll tell them, I want to see you lay down one drag bunt attempt a game. I want you to have one stolen base attempt for every two times you're on base.
"We'll track those and see how they're going. They will fail and make mistakes, but that's how they improve."
Mercer and his staff also will try to find the right summer ball team fit for each player.
"We'll find places that allow them to play the style we like to play. That will allow them to learn through that process.
"We might tell a pitcher, in the first half of the summer, I'd like to see you throw a changeup as your primary off-speed pitch. Then work in a curveball or slider the second half of the summer. That will be expected of all of our players."
The Big Ten has stopped all team activities, including recruiting, through May 4. Coaches are allowed to stay in contact with players who have committed.
"We are making sure we reassure and keep open the lines of communication with the players who have committed," Mercer says. "Make sure they understand where they stand with the program.
"We're in contact with young players and the guys we were recruiting. Then we're holding our ground to see what the new rules will be. We're not able to know what to do until we get the legislation. Once they give us the green light, we'll be organized and prepared."
#GoIU
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