rj ybarra Archives - Cronkite Sports

ASU Baseball: Providing protection and finding bench depth critical for Tracy Smith

by Jacob Garcia - March 10, 2015March 10, 2015

(Photo: Dominic Cotroneo/WCSN) If there’s one thing we’ve learned by now about Arizona State baseball coach Tracy Smith, it’s that he’s a perfectionist. His team is 9-5 and has beaten some high-caliber opponents, and yet he still echoes two constant displeasures in post-game press conferences. The first, “We’re thin right now,” Smith succinctly

ASU Baseball: Ybarra shoulders the load, 3-run blast gives Sun Devils a 7-6 win

by Kristina Vicario - February 21, 2015February 25, 2015

(Photo: Dominic Cotroneo/WCSN) On an afternoon in which ASU needed to squeak one out to even the series over the No.1 TCU Horned Frogs, pitcher Ryan Kellogg was able to settle down after a shaky start and get the 7-6 win. If one were to look at the stats, it would seem that

R.J. Ybarra yielding results for ASU baseball

by Jacob Garcia - February 26, 2014February 26, 2014

(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN) Much has been made about Tim Esmay’s approach to the 2014 Sun Devil baseball team, as the veteran coach has not stuck with one set lineup. Rather, he has chosen to play matchups, the hot bat, and has consistently kept the lineup evolving to avoid stagnancy and complacency.