Rounding the Bases with Andrew Carraway

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Junior pitcher Andrew Carraway is enjoying success this year as a member of the starting weekend rotation. After preparing for the transition from the bullpen last summer while playing for the Newport Gulls, Carraway leads the ACC with a 7-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. He took some time to talk about his summer baseball experiences, how he is helping prepare some of his teammates for similar experiences and the comfort of being in the weekend rotation, among other topics.

Question: Andrew Carraway; Two-time ACC pitcher of the week. How does that sound to you?
Carraway: I don’t know. I never expected it. I mean, it hasn’t happened against Florida State, it hasn’t happened against Miami or North Carolina. We have all our big games coming up down the stretch, so it’s a huge honor for one thing but I know the big games are ahead so I can’t let it mean too much right now.

Question: With the toughest part of your schedule coming up, is the team doing anything different or turning up the intensity any?
Carraway: Maybe mentally we’ll have to turn it up a little, but in terms of preparation and what we’ve been doing we’re right on pace to win series with every one of those teams. What we did at Maryland, the way we played Florida State, we played the best we could and lost two games in 10 innings. Also, the way we played before against Virginia Tech by sweeping them and what we’ve been doing in ACC play is what we need to do to succeed in the future. There’s not really anything that we need to change, it’s just being our sharpest at the end of the game and we will have that. We’re ready for that challenge.

Question: You have started games before this year, but how does it feel to be in the weekend rotation and starting every week as opposed to being used out of the bullpen?
Carraway: I think there is a certain comfort level that helps you out, just knowing what you are going to be doing every day of the week if you’re set up to throw on Sunday, Friday, Saturday or whatever it is. You know what you are going to be doing every day of the week in terms of preparation and it definitely gives you a comfort level that you don’t really have coming out of the bullpen. It’s a lot of fun knowing that you will get a chance to throw if you throw well six, seven or eight innings a week to help your team win and you know that it’s there for you.

Question: You have only walked eight players all season and struck out 59. Is that something you emphasize when you go out there?
Carraway: Control is something in which I’ve always had a focus. I’m not going to be the hardest throwing guy on the mound or I might not have the best stuff one day, but since I was a kid I’ve focused on throwing strikes. One of my main attributes since as long as I can remember is being able to throw strikes and not walking guys. With pitching if you aren’t walking guys and giving guys free bases, then it sets you ahead of the pack and puts the odds in your favor.

Question: What do you miss most about home?
Carraway: It would probably have to be getting used to pitching in April and wearing sleeves. I’m used to the hot, humid Georgia springs and summers and being dripping wet when you’re out there. I got used to that while I lived there and loved it. I had to wear sleeves last weekend and it’s April 15, so I miss the really warm weather.

Question: Who is your favorite player and team?
Carraway: My favorite team is the Atlanta Braves and my favorite player is John Smoltz. He’s been the leader of that team for a long time. He had some arm trouble and came back in the closer role and does whatever it takes to win and he’s led that team through some of their rough spots.

Question: What major-league pitcher do you think you resemble the most?
Carraway: Although his stuff is obviously better than mine, I’d say Curt Schilling. Even if he has a bad day, he has to grind. I know there have been a lot of times that I’ve had to grind when I didn’t have the best stuff. He has great location too and works a lot at spotting his fastball, so the pace of his game and the way he works would resemble what I do.

Question: Talk a little about playing for Hyannis this summer (in the Cape Cod League)? Are you excited about getting to play with (current teammates) Ryan Smith and Tyler Wilson?
Carraway: I’m pumped about that. Ryan and Tyler are great guys, so it will be fun to be there with them. Last summer I was in Newport, R.I., with the Gulls and that was an awesome experience too, but I was the only one there from the team so it’s going to be real fun playing with some guys from Virginia. I’m sure it’s an awesome experience just to get to play there and against some of the best competition from around the country in college baseball.

Question: With three Clemson, one Miami, and one UNC player joining you and the two other UVa players, it sounds like an ACC All-Star team. What do you think it’s going to be like playing with all of them?
Carraway: It’s going to be a little weird for a couple of weeks, especially after the ACC tournament. There were a couple of guys from Maryland and Duke on my team last summer, so it’s something that you get used to as the years pass. It might be a little weird for the younger guys, but it will be a lot of fun to put on the same uniform as someone that you play against so competitively.

Question: What was it like playing for the Newport Gulls last summer? You look like you pitched well there with a 2.19 ERA a 3-1 record and a 7-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. Do you think that is carrying over any into this season?
Carraway: Yes, Newport was a great experience for me. They run a really great program and the owners are amazing. One of the main reasons that I went to play there was to get some experience as a starter in case I did switch over this year. I wasn’t sure if I would be used in the same kind of long relief role or starting. I was able to get a lot of experience last summer since I haven’t really started since high school, so that was a big thing for me and a valuable experience to be able to get back to it. Starting is a lot different. You have a different pace and you have to set the tone early, so I was able to get that back.

Question: Is that the main difference in your pitching this year, or is there something else you are doing differently?
Carraway: I don’t know, but that could be it. Coach Kuhn and I have talked about consistency, so that is one of my main goals. I started out a little rough this year in one of the games and had a bad start, so I’ve been trying to get on pace with that. Last year when I was coming out of the bullpen, when you throw that many times a week and you hit a rough patch sometimes it’s hard to escape. As you get older you learn what it takes to succeed at this level. The more ACC games you pitch in, the more you know what you need to do to succeed.

Question: If you could be on any reality or game show which one would it be?
Carraway: I would have to say Survivor and go a little old school with that one. I don’t know how many seasons there are, but I think they are on Survivor 12 now.

Question: What do you think is the best mascot for a team name?
Carraway: My roommate in Newport last summer was from Long Beach State, and they are nicknamed the “Dirtbags” and he’s got “Dirtbag For Life” on his cleats, so you can’t get enough of that.

Question: What one talent do you wish you had, or do you have any hidden talents?
Carraway: I mess around with the guitar a little bit, but I’ve kind of reached a wall with my level of playing. I’m not really getting any better and I would really love to be some sort of musician if I could play the guitar like Eric Clapton. If I had that I think I would be very happy.

Question: Cavaliers of Wahoos?
Carraway: Wahoos

Question: Orange or Blue?
Carraway: Blue, definitely blue.