This is the second in a series of eight articles previewing ASU's Pac-10 opponents. Up next: California.
A rough start has dropped the USC baseball team out of the rankings, but don't count the Trojans out yet, especially if their pitching comes around.
Plagued by injuries this season, USC (13-13, 1-2 Pac-10) has started six-different starting pitchers in an attempt to find a rotation that works. USC assistant coach Dave Lawn realizes the Trojans are not at their best in terms of pitching.
"We're beat up," he said. "It starts with the fact that we're not always in a situation where we can put our best pitchers out there."
Another problem lies in the loss of senior Anthony Reyes. The right-handed pitcher has been sidelined since February with tendonitis in his elbow after starting the season 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA. Reyes was absent part of last year with elbow problems, but still managed to earn All-Pac-10 honors with a 4-2 record.
In place of Reyes, the Trojans have relied on freshman ace Bobby Paschal to be their workhorse. The southpaw is 2-3 with a 2.98 ERA in six starts.
"He's done good in each start," Lawn said. "He's gone deep innings and exhibited great poise."
Lawn compares Paschal to ASU freshman left-hander Erik Averill, saying the two have similar styles in how they handle the pressure of being freshmen and pitching in crucial Pac-10 series.
Behind Paschal in the Trojan rotation is junior right-hander Brian Bannister. He carries a 3-3 record and a 4.34 ERA into Saturday's start against the Sun Devils, but according to Lawn, he has been a bit inconsistent, throwing "some spectacular games, but some ordinary games."
The third starter has been a mystery, but Lawn said the rotation shuffling will help the pitching staff down the road.
"What you are going to see this weekend is a group of kids who day in and day out are going to play the way they can," Lawn said. "They will go about their business with the idea of winning games."
On the offensive side, freshman-standout Jeff Clement has been exactly what he was chalked up to be, a power-hitting machine. Twenty-six games into the season Clement has already launched 14 home runs to lead the Pac-10, and is hitting at a .316 clip.
In high school, Clement broke the national home run record, a feat previously held by New York Yankee prospect Drew Henson. Lawn compares Clement's character and work ethic to that of Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, a former Trojan.
"He's a legitimate power hitter and one of the top guys I've seen," Lawn said. "But he'll have his hands full with the ASU pitching staff."
One of the anchors on the Trojans is senior shortstop Anthony Lunetta. A guy who's been to the College World Series twice, Lunetta gives the Trojans some much-needed leadership.
"He comes with a lot of experience and savvy," Lawn said. "Any good team you have has to have good seniors."
This weekend, the Trojans await the Sun Devils (32-5, 1-2) as part of each team's second Pac-10 series of the season. With a matchup between a pair of the highly touted conference teams, a lot will be on the line for both squads.
"(ASU) plays a hard-nosed style of baseball where no lead is safe, they're not going to give up," Lawn said. "It's a tribute to their coaching staff and the mentality of the kids."
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
