By Craig Morgan, thesundevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devils baseball coach Tracy Smith has a simple explanation for the about-face of junior pitcher Eli Lingos.
"A year older, a year wiser," Smith said. "You watch how guys improve. They just get older, they get more confidence, they get more secure in their own abilities. He's a perfect example of that."
Last season, Lingos struggled to find consistency, posting a 3-5 record with a 4.50 ERA while striking out 50 and walking 26 in 64 innings. This season, the left-hander has seized the role of ASU ace. Despite suffering his first loss of the season on Thursday against No. 2 Oregon State, Lingos posted his fourth quality start in five outings this season, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings with five strikeouts. He retired the final eight batters he faced.
In five starts this season, Lingos is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA, a staff-high 29 strikeouts, a staff-high 33.1 innings and just seven bases on balls.
"For me, it's just being more consistent, having trust in all my pitches and just going out there and attacking every time I step out there," Lingos said. "I've even heard some of our coaches and trainers tell me you can see a different attitude in me even when things aren't going right. You can't see a difference in me whether things are going right or going wrong. I'm staying even keel."
Last season was an uneven ride for Lingos in his first year as a regular starter. Confidence played a role, he said, but understanding the best approach was also important.
"At times it was really good; at times it was really bad so it was more about focusing on what I did when it was going good and trying to replicate that," he said. "For me, it meant simplifying all my mechanics and getting those cut down to where it was easier to repeat over and over again."
Lingos' relationship with Smith has helped. He originally committed to play for Smith at Indiana, but when Smith left the Hoosiers to take the ASU job in June 2014, Smith asked out of his commitment and shifted to ASU.
ASU is without a full-time pitching coach this season (Smith plans to hire one after the season) so Lingos has enjoyed the added bonus of working with Smith as his pitching coach.
"At the beginning of practice when we're doing abs and running, he's doing it with us the whole time," Lingos said, laughing. "That's obviously a different approach, but it helps hold everyone accountable. It's like if he's doing it, we should be doing it.
"When things are going well he lets the team run things and figure things out. He's exactly what you look for in a coach. All the players like playing for him and it seems like everyone trusts him."
The added interaction has had its benefits for Smith, too.
"Truth be told, I've liked it just from the standpoint of, I've gotten to get down and mix up with the players, which is why I started doing this job 20-some years ago," said Smith, who admits his job too often becomes one of a CEO. "You get away from it more and more but it's allowed me to get to know my players better and get an intimate day-to-day relationship with them in practice that I've quite frankly enjoyed."
Smith thought about hiring a pitching coach to replace Brandon Higelin, who is now at Arizona, but he thought better of it as he considered it more.
"There could have been potentially four different voices in the same kids' heads in four years if we had hired an interim coach and it didn't work and rushed a hire at the break," he said. "The thought process was, and I still believe it's the right thing, we'll keep the message relatively the same. Maybe the delivery is different but it's the same philosophy. Let's slow down. It's such an important hire. Let's slow down and take the time and do it right."
Lingos isn't complaining, but then, he rarely does. He may be the most low-key, superstition-free pitcher you'll ever meet in a sport notorious for superstitions.
"There's no specific routine for me," he said. "I don't want it to be a superstition thing where I feel if I don't do something I'm going to be messed up for the week. You don't want to lose a game before it started just because you feel like your preparation got messed up.
"Throughout the week, I like to get my bullpen on Tuesday to prepare me for Friday (or Thursday this week). When it comes to the day of game, I just like to get here a couple hours before, have time to eat and relax in the clubhouse, have a little talk with some of the guys. I like to get arm care in before I throw and then talk to my catcher a little. I've had like three different catchers, but it's not a problem. I just try to make sure they're relaxed."
Smith likes that approach, and he likes what Lingos in bringing to his team, even if there is always room for improvement.
"He changes speeds well in the zone and I think he's locating consistently down more which makes guys have to offer at the change-up," Smith said.
Lingos said he has confidence throwing any pitch in any situation. That has fueled his overall poise.
"My main focus is just be consistent to give myself the best chance to win every time I step on the mound," he said. "I want my team to have confidence in what they're going to get out of me; feel comfortable playing behind me. It's been going pretty well but no matter what my results are, if we're winning Friday night then something is working."
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devils baseball coach Tracy Smith has a simple explanation for the about-face of junior pitcher Eli Lingos.
"A year older, a year wiser," Smith said. "You watch how guys improve. They just get older, they get more confidence, they get more secure in their own abilities. He's a perfect example of that."
Last season, Lingos struggled to find consistency, posting a 3-5 record with a 4.50 ERA while striking out 50 and walking 26 in 64 innings. This season, the left-hander has seized the role of ASU ace. Despite suffering his first loss of the season on Thursday against No. 2 Oregon State, Lingos posted his fourth quality start in five outings this season, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings with five strikeouts. He retired the final eight batters he faced.
In five starts this season, Lingos is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA, a staff-high 29 strikeouts, a staff-high 33.1 innings and just seven bases on balls.
"For me, it's just being more consistent, having trust in all my pitches and just going out there and attacking every time I step out there," Lingos said. "I've even heard some of our coaches and trainers tell me you can see a different attitude in me even when things aren't going right. You can't see a difference in me whether things are going right or going wrong. I'm staying even keel."
Last season was an uneven ride for Lingos in his first year as a regular starter. Confidence played a role, he said, but understanding the best approach was also important.
"At times it was really good; at times it was really bad so it was more about focusing on what I did when it was going good and trying to replicate that," he said. "For me, it meant simplifying all my mechanics and getting those cut down to where it was easier to repeat over and over again."
Lingos' relationship with Smith has helped. He originally committed to play for Smith at Indiana, but when Smith left the Hoosiers to take the ASU job in June 2014, Smith asked out of his commitment and shifted to ASU.
ASU is without a full-time pitching coach this season (Smith plans to hire one after the season) so Lingos has enjoyed the added bonus of working with Smith as his pitching coach.
"At the beginning of practice when we're doing abs and running, he's doing it with us the whole time," Lingos said, laughing. "That's obviously a different approach, but it helps hold everyone accountable. It's like if he's doing it, we should be doing it.
"When things are going well he lets the team run things and figure things out. He's exactly what you look for in a coach. All the players like playing for him and it seems like everyone trusts him."
The added interaction has had its benefits for Smith, too.
"Truth be told, I've liked it just from the standpoint of, I've gotten to get down and mix up with the players, which is why I started doing this job 20-some years ago," said Smith, who admits his job too often becomes one of a CEO. "You get away from it more and more but it's allowed me to get to know my players better and get an intimate day-to-day relationship with them in practice that I've quite frankly enjoyed."
Smith thought about hiring a pitching coach to replace Brandon Higelin, who is now at Arizona, but he thought better of it as he considered it more.
"There could have been potentially four different voices in the same kids' heads in four years if we had hired an interim coach and it didn't work and rushed a hire at the break," he said. "The thought process was, and I still believe it's the right thing, we'll keep the message relatively the same. Maybe the delivery is different but it's the same philosophy. Let's slow down. It's such an important hire. Let's slow down and take the time and do it right."
Lingos isn't complaining, but then, he rarely does. He may be the most low-key, superstition-free pitcher you'll ever meet in a sport notorious for superstitions.
"There's no specific routine for me," he said. "I don't want it to be a superstition thing where I feel if I don't do something I'm going to be messed up for the week. You don't want to lose a game before it started just because you feel like your preparation got messed up.
"Throughout the week, I like to get my bullpen on Tuesday to prepare me for Friday (or Thursday this week). When it comes to the day of game, I just like to get here a couple hours before, have time to eat and relax in the clubhouse, have a little talk with some of the guys. I like to get arm care in before I throw and then talk to my catcher a little. I've had like three different catchers, but it's not a problem. I just try to make sure they're relaxed."
Smith likes that approach, and he likes what Lingos in bringing to his team, even if there is always room for improvement.
"He changes speeds well in the zone and I think he's locating consistently down more which makes guys have to offer at the change-up," Smith said.
Lingos said he has confidence throwing any pitch in any situation. That has fueled his overall poise.
"My main focus is just be consistent to give myself the best chance to win every time I step on the mound," he said. "I want my team to have confidence in what they're going to get out of me; feel comfortable playing behind me. It's been going pretty well but no matter what my results are, if we're winning Friday night then something is working."