[batted balls]

May 2, 2007

San Diego--Just over a year ago, Mike Couchee was in spring training with the Southern California Trojans. A week before the season began, USC cut Couchee. He was signed by San Diego State two days later.

"It was a numbers game with USC," said Couchee. "I'n grateful for my opportunity with San Diego State."

The Aztecs are grateful as well. Couchee, 3-9 a season ago when San Diego State lost 118 games, was named All-American Baseball League West Pitcher of the Month for April.

"Sure, I'm surprised because there are so many other pitchers more deserving," said Couchee. "Then again, I've worked as hard as anyone."

Couchee is indeed a surprising choice. The 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander has no record in four starts. Yet, Couchee has yet to allow a single run. In 14 innings he has given up just nine hits and two walks. Couchee has struck out 11.

"Sure, he's not among the league leaders in wins or other stats," said San Diego State manager Charlie Smith. "But Mike has thrown as well as anyone."

A former high school quaterback, Couchee (shown below) likes what he sees from the Aztecs this season.

"We're so much better than we were a year ago," Couchee said. "(Former player-manager) Tony (Gwynn) will be the first to tell you that. Everybody is really digging what Charlie is saying and doing as manager. We're not the pushovers we were in 2006."

And opponents have yet to push a run across against Couchee yet this season either.


Player of the Week: Bob Horner, Arizona State

Player of the Month: Ernie Koy, Texas

Pitcher of the Month: Mike Couchee, San Diego State

Stat of the Week: Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner has been consistent with his West-leading 10 home runs. Horner has hit five on the road and five at home.


West Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Arizona State 19 10 .655 --
California 19 10 .655 --
Southern California 18 11 .621 1.0
UCLA 16 13 .552 3.0
Texas 15 14 .517 4.0
Cal State Fullerton 14 15 .483 5.0
Stanford 14 15 .483 5.0
Arizona 11 18 .379 8.0
San Diego State 10 19 .345 9.0
Oklahoma State 9 20 .310 10.0

Batting Leaders

# TOP 10 AVG AVG
1 A. Boone (SC) .369
2 B. Horner (AS) .342
3 E. Koy (TEX) .341
4 D. Thompson (OSU) .330
5 J. Hammonds (STA) .327
6 F. Lynn (SC) .316
7 M. Colbern (AS) .313
8 B. Kieschnick (TEX) .311
9 J. Bates (ARI) .309
10 K. Lofton (ARI) .307
# TOP 10 OBP OBP
1 B. Hamelin (UCL) .466
2 J. Bates (ARI) .458
3 G. Hatton (TEX) .437
4 F. Lynn (SC) .433
5 A. Boone (SC) .426
6 S. Chapman (CAL) .414
7 R. Roenicke (UCL) .393
8 M. Grace (SD) .391
9 B. Horner (AS) .389
10 T. Glaus (UCL) .387
# TOP 10 SLG SLG
1 B. Horner (AS) .632
2 B. Hamelin (UCL) .594
3 S. Chapman (CAL) .567
4 F. Lynn (SC) .561
5 M. Colbern (AS) .538
6 A. Boone (SC) .532
7 M. McGwire (SC) .528
8 E. Koy (TEX) .520
9 O. McDowell (AS) .500
10 T. Glaus (UCL) .495
# TOP 10 OPS OPS
1 B. Hamelin (UCL) 1.060
2 B. Horner (AS) 1.021
3 F. Lynn (SC) .995
4 S. Chapman (CAL) .981
5 A. Boone (SC) .958
6 J. Bates (ARI) .937
7 M. Colbern (AS) .920
8 G. Hatton (TEX) .902
9 E. Koy (TEX) .894
10 M. McGwire (SC) .886
# TOP 10 Runs Created RC
1 B. Hamelin (UCL) 30.0
2 S. Chapman (CAL) 25.8
3 B. Horner (AS) 25.4
4 A. Boone (SC) 24.9
5 F. Lynn (SC) 24.6
6 E. Koy (TEX) 23.0
7 G. Hatton (TEX) 22.1
8 J. Bates (ARI) 22.0
9 J. Hammonds (STA) 20.7
10 M. McGwire (SC) 20.6
# TOP 10 AB AB
1 J. Adair (OSU) 125
2 B. Wills (AS) 123
2 E. Koy (TEX) 123
4 P. Incaviglia (OSU) 121
5 B. Horner (AS) 117
5 S. Halter (TEX) 117
5 R. Ventura (OSU) 117
5 J. Giambi (CSF) 117
9 S. Hovley (STA) 115
10 E. Sprague (STA) 114
# TOP 10 PA PA
1 B. Wills (AS) 140
2 P. Incaviglia (OSU) 139
3 J. Adair (OSU) 137
4 R. Ventura (OSU) 135
5 B. Hamelin (UCL) 131
5 E. Koy (TEX) 131
7 J. Robinson (UCL) 128
7 S. Chapman (CAL) 128
9 S. Halter (TEX) 127
10 G. Hatton (TEX) 126
# TOP 10 Hits Hits
1 E. Koy (TEX) 42
2 A. Boone (SC) 41
3 B. Horner (AS) 40
4 J. Hammonds (STA) 37
4 D. Thompson (OSU) 37
6 R. Ventura (OSU) 34
7 S. Hovley (STA) 33
7 J. Adair (OSU) 33
7 D. Powell (CSF) 33
7 C. Richard (OSU) 33
# TOP 10 2B 2B
1 E. Koy (TEX) 10
2 J. Kent (CAL) 7
2 O. McDowell (AS) 7
2 A. Rowand (CSF) 7
5 J. Nettles (SD) 6
5 D. Lewis (CAL) 6
5 P. Incaviglia (OSU) 6
5 S. Mack (UCL) 6
5 R. Roenicke (UCL) 6
5 F. Lynn (SC) 6
# TOP 10 3B 3B
1 J. Burnitz (OSU) 2
1 D. Meier (STA) 2
1 T. Gwynn (SD) 2
1 J. Bates (ARI) 2
1 E. Byrnes (UCL) 2
1 G. Hatton (TEX) 2
7 M. Tettleton (OSU) 1
7 J. Mota (CSF) 1
7 M. Edwards (UCL) 1
7 D. Dyer (AS) 1
# TOP 10 HR HR
1 B. Horner (AS) 10
2 B. Hamelin (UCL) 9
3 S. Chapman (CAL) 8
3 M. McGwire (SC) 8
5 D. Kingman (SC) 7
5 T. Glaus (UCL) 7
7 F. Lynn (SC) 6
8 R. Jackson (AS) 5
8 J. Kent (CAL) 5
8 O. McDowell (AS) 5
# TOP 10 RBI RBI
1 O. McDowell (AS) 24
1 E. Koy (TEX) 24
3 B. Horner (AS) 23
3 T. Glaus (UCL) 23
5 S. Chapman (CAL) 21
5 D. Robinson (SD) 21
7 M. McGwire (SC) 20
7 J. Kent (CAL) 20
7 G. Hatton (TEX) 20
10 D. Kingman (SC) 19
# TOP 10 RUNS RUNS
1 B. Hamelin (UCL) 27
2 B. Horner (AS) 25
3 F. Lynn (SC) 21
3 S. Chapman (CAL) 21
5 J. Robinson (UCL) 19
5 G. Hatton (TEX) 19
7 D. Kingman (SC) 18
8 J. Snow (ARI) 17
9 R. Jackson (AS) 16
9 R. Roenicke (UCL) 16
# TOP 10 SB SB
1 J. Hammonds (STA) 9
2 R. Jackson (AS) 6
2 D. Kingman (SC) 6
4 D. Meyer (ARI) 5
5 P. Stanicek (STA) 4
6 E. Sprague (STA) 2
6 H. Brooks (AS) 2
8 E. Amelung (SD) 1
8 C. Moeller (SC) 1
8 J. Snow (ARI) 1
# TOP 10 BB BB
1 B. Hamelin (UCL) 30
2 J. Bates (ARI) 26
3 G. Hatton (TEX) 24
4 S. Chapman (CAL) 23
5 R. Roenicke (UCL) 22
6 F. Lynn (SC) 21
7 R. Jackson (AS) 20
7 T. Gwynn (SD) 20
7 J. Snow (ARI) 20
10 T. Glaus (UCL) 19
# TOP 10 EBH EBH
1 E. Koy (TEX) 14
1 B. Horner (AS) 14
3 J. Kent (CAL) 13
3 O. McDowell (AS) 13
5 F. Lynn (SC) 12
5 S. Chapman (CAL) 12
7 D. Kingman (SC) 11
7 M. McGwire (SC) 11
7 B. Hamelin (UCL) 11
10 J. Bates (ARI) 10
# TOP 10 TB TB
1 B. Horner (AS) 74
2 E. Koy (TEX) 64
3 B. Hamelin (UCL) 60
4 A. Boone (SC) 59
4 S. Chapman (CAL) 59
6 M. McGwire (SC) 57
7 F. Lynn (SC) 55
8 J. Hammonds (STA) 52
9 O. McDowell (AS) 50
9 J. Kent (CAL) 50

Pitching Leaders

# TOP 10 Games G
1 J. Brunette (SD) 24
1 R. Ring (SD) 24
3 J. Riggan (SD) 23
4 J. Campbell (SD) 21
5 M. Henneman (OSU) 19
6 D. Smith (SD) 18
7 T. Leary (UCL) 16
7 R. Lamb (SC) 16
9 D. Naulty (CSF) 15
9 L. Gura (AS) 15
# TOP 10 Games Started GS
1 F. Bannister (AS) 7
1 D. Schmidt (UCL) 7
1 A. Harang (SD) 7
1 J. Horlen (OSU) 7
1 M. Paul (ARI) 7
1 J. Lonborg (STA) 7
1 O. Overall (CAL) 7
1 A. Messersmith (CAL) 7
1 M. Prior (SC) 7
1 J. Robinson (CSF) 7
# TOP 10 Innings IP
1 O. Overall (CAL) 53.2
2 D. Schmidt (UCL) 52.2
3 B. Werle (CAL) 50.0
4 A. Messersmith (CAL) 49.2
5 J. Barr (SC) 48.1
6 R. Clemens (TEX) 47.2
6 J. Lonborg (STA) 47.2
6 F. Bannister (AS) 47.1
6 J. Horlen (OSU) 47.0
10 J. Robinson (CSF) 44.0
# TOP 10 Wins W
1 J. Barr (SC) 6
2 J. Brunette (SD) 5
3 D. Schmidt (UCL) 4
3 B. Werle (CAL) 4
3 O. Overall (CAL) 4
3 B. Ruffin (TEX) 4
3 F. Bannister (AS) 4
3 E. Bane (AS) 4
3 B. Bonham (UCL) 4
10 R. Clemens (TEX) 3
# TOP 10 Losses L
1 D. Murray (SD) 5
2 G. Mathews (CSF) 4
2 M. Mussina (STA) 4
2 B. Hooton (TEX) 4
2 A. Reynolds (OSU) 4
2 M. Paul (ARI) 4
7 M. Wise (CSF) 3
7 J. Robinson (CSF) 3
7 J. Lonborg (STA) 3
7 M. Cather (CAL) 3
# TOP 10 Saved SV
1 R. Lamb (SC) 8
2 T. Hoffman (ARI) 7
2 J. York (UCL) 7
4 M. Cather (CAL) 6
4 M. Schooler (CSF) 6
6 S. Chitren (STA) 4
7 R. Wright (TEX) 3
7 E. Vande Berg (AS) 3
7 H. Street (TEX) 3
7 R. Ring (SD) 3
# TOP 10 Complete Games CG
1 J. Barr (SC) 2
1 S. Erickson (ARI) 2
1 B. Werle (CAL) 2
4 M. Wise (CSF) 1
4 G. Gentry (AS) 1
4 T. Seaver (SC) 1
4 P. Moskau (AS) 1
4 D. Schmidt (UCL) 1
4 O. Overall (CAL) 1
4 T. Borland (OSU) 1
# TOP 10 Shutouts SHO
1 J. Barr (SC) 1
1 S. Erickson (ARI) 1
1 P. Moskau (AS) 1
1 D. Schmidt (UCL) 1
1 O. Overall (CAL) 1
1 T. Borland (OSU) 1
1 G. Swindell (TEX) 1
1 C. Swan (AS) 1
9 M. Wise (CSF) 0
9 T. Seaver (SC) 0
# TOP 10 Quality Starts QS
1 D. Schmidt (UCL) 7
1 F. Bannister (AS) 7
3 A. Messersmith (CAL) 6
3 B. Werle (CAL) 6
3 O. Overall (CAL) 6
6 K. Saarloos (CSF) 5
6 E. Bane (AS) 5
6 R. Clemens (TEX) 5
9 M. Mussina (STA) 4
9 R. Helling (STA) 4
# TOP 10 Runs Allowed R
1 M. Mussina (STA) 28
2 J. McDowell (STA) 25
2 D. Lee (ARI) 25
4 J. Horlen (OSU) 24
4 T. Pugh (OSU) 24
4 J. Lonborg (STA) 24
7 M. Paul (ARI) 23
8 J. Magrane (ARI) 22
8 G. Mathews (CSF) 22
8 B. Hooton (TEX) 22
# TOP 10 Hits Allowed HA
1 M. Mussina (STA) 56
2 G. Mathews (CSF) 55
3 J. Lonborg (STA) 51
4 J. Horlen (OSU) 49
4 J. McDowell (STA) 49
6 R. Clemens (TEX) 48
7 J. Barr (SC) 46
8 K. Saarloos (CSF) 42
9 T. Seaver (SC) 41
9 B. Hooton (TEX) 41
# TOP 10 HR Allowed HR
1 B. Hooton (TEX) 7
1 K. Blankenship (ARI) 7
1 J. Horlen (OSU) 7
4 J. Brunette (SD) 6
4 D. Murray (SD) 6
4 M. Paul (ARI) 6
7 G. Mathews (CSF) 5
7 K. Saarloos (CSF) 5
7 M. Wise (CSF) 5
7 M. Davis (STA) 5
# TOP 10 Strikeouts K's
1 M. Prior (SC) 57
2 A. Reynolds (OSU) 49
3 F. Bannister (AS) 42
4 R. Clemens (TEX) 41
5 A. Messersmith (CAL) 37
6 A. Harang (SD) 34
7 B. Zito (SC) 33
7 J. Horlen (OSU) 33
9 M. Paul (ARI) 32
10 C. Swan (AS) 30
# TOP 10 Bases-On-Balls BB
1 A. Messersmith (CAL) 23
2 J. Brunette (SD) 21
2 M. Prior (SC) 21
2 B. Zito (SC) 21
5 A. Reynolds (OSU) 19
5 M. Harkey (CSF) 19
5 A. Harang (SD) 19
8 J. Parque (UCL) 18
8 M. Young (UCL) 18
8 J. Riggan (SD) 18
# TOP 10 Hit Batsmen HP
1 J. Barr (SC) 2
1 B. Latman (SC) 2
1 J. Lonborg (STA) 2
1 F. Bannister (AS) 2
1 J. Horlen (OSU) 2
1 M. Paul (ARI) 2
1 A. Johnson (CSF) 2
1 J. Adkins (OSU) 2
1 M. Young (UCL) 2
1 L. Gura (AS) 2
# TOP 10 ERA ERA
1 D. Schmidt (UCL) 0.68
2 B. Werle (CAL) 1.26
3 A. Messersmith (CAL) 1.45
4 J. Robinson (CSF) 1.84
5 O. Overall (CAL) 1.84
6 G. Gentry (AS) 1.86
7 F. Bannister (AS) 1.90
8 B. Bonham (UCL) 1.93
9 E. Bane (AS) 2.03
10 J. Barr (SC) 2.05
# TOP 10 K's/9 IP K/9
1 M. Prior (SC) 12.02
2 A. Reynolds (OSU) 10.42
3 B. Zito (SC) 8.82
4 M. Paul (ARI) 8.15
5 F. Bannister (AS) 7.99
6 R. Clemens (TEX) 7.74
7 A. Harang (SD) 7.46
8 R. Wortham (TEX) 7.45
9 A. Messersmith (CAL) 6.70
10 C. Swan (AS) 6.69