Dave Bush Chat Wrap

April 25, 2002

Jason (Berwyn, PA): Hey Dave, I'm a freshman at Wake, and I went to Conestoga HS too. I was wondering how much you would like to be drafted by your hometown Phillies (they could definitely use a closer).

Dave Bush: (1:35 PM ET ) Obviously it would be great to play for the hometown team. I grew up going to Philadelphia games as a kid. They haven't always been much to root for besides 1993 when they went to the World Series, but even so I think it would be great to play in my hometown.

Karin D'Antona: Congratulations on your fantastic season!! How do you remain so calm under the incredible pressure that you must face in game after game?

Dave Bush: (1:43 PM ET ) It is just one of those things I have gotten used to. I just take a deep breath and refocus on what I am trying to do. I enjoy being out there I think the pressure brings out the best of my abilities. Being a closer it is the kind of thing I live for.

Shawn, Winston-Salem: Dave - Great season so far. My question is, what extra baseball (like American Legion, AAU, etc.) did you play in between your high school seasons? And how did it improve your style of play? Thanks and best of luck with the rest of the season. GO DEACS!

Dave Bush: (1:44 PM ET ) I never played much on traveling teams. I always played American Legion and Babe Ruth. My goal was to play as many games as possible usually at least one a day if not two.

Jim (Huntington Beach, CA): Dave: How does this 2002 Deacon team compare in ability and chemistry from your last three years?

Dave Bush: (1:45 PM ET ) Last year we were obviously very good. I think the team my freshman year in 1999 was probably the best. The biggest thing that is helping us this year is the depth we have in the pitching staff. As far as team chemistry goes, this is by far the best we have ever had.

ERic: Dave:

How do you handle the mentality of being a closer compared to a starter? And, how often do you throw during the week leading up to possibly 3 save opps on weekends? Thanks and good luck!

Dave Bush: (1:47 PM ET ) The biggest thing for me during the game is to stay relaxed for the first six or seven innings. At that point if it looks like it is going to be a close game or a save situation, I get ready and focused on what I need to do to pitch. I long toss everyday during the week. That is the best way for me to keep my arm in shape and that is why I think I have stayed injury free and can pitch all the time.

Jack, Winston-Salem NC: Do you know whats going on with Nick Blue? Heard he might be hurt for series?

Dave Bush: (1:48 PM ET ) As far as I know he is going to be able to play. He dinged his arm up on Tuesday, but it shouldn't keep him out this weekend.

Drew, Baton Rouge, LA: What are your thoughts and what is the feeling of the team going into the series this weekend against #1 Clemson?

Dave Bush: (1:49 PM ET ) It is another chance to test our abilities and see how we stand up against the best team in the country. It is not very often that you get two teams ranked this high facing off for a weekend. So we are all very excited about it. It should be a great weekend for us, for Clemson and for college baseball.

Matt (Florida): Dave, I've never been fortunate enough to watch you pitch. What pitches do you utilize and what is your strategy when you take the mound?

Dave Bush: (1:50 PM ET ) My strategy is to go right after all the hitters. I feel that if I am going to get beat, I am going to get beat on my best pitch. So I stay mostly with a fastball and mix in a few sliders here and there.

Eric Vogel (Penn State): Bushy, You a star now or what? How's this weekend going to change your momentum for the rest of the season going into the ACC tourney? Remember who told you to go to Wake instead of Yale!! omaha this year

Dave Bush: (1:53 PM ET ) We have been playing well and been on a roll most of the year. This is just another chance to test ourselves and see how we are against another really good team. Whichever team wins this weekend has the inside track on the ACC regular season championship and whatever momentum goes with it.

Brinson Taylor (Winston Salem): how was the transition for you from high school catcher to the most feared closer in college baseball

Dave Bush: (1:55 PM ET ) It was tough the first couple of years because I was used to playing every day and getting to hit. But I quickly realized any kind of future I had in baseball was on the mound. Being a closer and pitching three or four times a week is as close to being an everyday player as I can get.

Otis from Winston-Salem: What will it take for the Deacons to overcome Clemson this weekend?

Dave Bush: (1:57 PM ET ) We are going to have to pitch well and get timely hitting and play solid defense. In a series when you have two good teams playing like this it is usually the team that doesn't make mistakes that is going to win. It is probably most important for us to go out and play our game.

Jacksonville: You have had a great career at Wake Forest and the fans are extremely happy that you decided to return for your senior season. As the team gets ready for the Clemson series can you describe how the preparation of the pitching staff under the new pitching coach compares to a big weekend series in prior seasons. Additionally, did the coaching change impact your decision at all to return to Wake Forest for your senior year.

Dave Bush: (2:00 PM ET ) I don't think preparation changes at all. We know what we have to do to get ready individually and as a team. As far as the coaching goes, I think it was a good move for everyone involved. Coach Moranda was ready to move on to a higher profile program. We were looking to get a fresh face in here, so I think it has worked out better for everyone.

Jim Storey - Clemson, SC: Dave, Clemson student here, but huge baseball fan, are you excited about coming down this weekend? I know the place will be packed, and there is nothing better than ACC baseball? Do you think this will be the biggest series of your career? good luck, cya this weekend

Dave Bush: (2:03 PM ET ) Clemson is always a fun place to play. They are going to bring in a lot of fans and I am sure it is going to be pretty rowdy. But you can't ask for much more when you have a big series in the ACC. Obviously this is the highest ranking series I have taken part of here at Wake and there are a lot of implications for the rest of the year riding on this weekend. So this is definitely one of the biggest series of my career.

Bill, Midwest: Seems as if you guys are on a mission - winning all the close ones, coming from behind in games , winning the conference series every weekend. What do you attribute this to, since your team is relatively still very young?

Dave Bush: (2:05 PM ET ) I think this has been the biggest surprise for all of us this year is our consistency. The thing that has changed for this year from year's past is that we have won all the games that we are supposed to win. We have also been helped out by having several junior college transfers who maybe first year players in the ACC, but already have two years of college ball under their belt.

Moderator: (2:09 PM ET ) That is all the time we have today. We thank Dave Bush for stopping by and wish him good luck this weekend at Clemson.

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