Bucknell’s senior co-captain, pitcher/DH
Jason Buursma finished first in the Patriot League with
a 1.65 ERA last season, the second lowest mark in league
history. He also ranked in the top ten in league in opponents'
batting average, finishing third at .217, as well as sixth
in the PL in slugging percentage at .455. Overall the mighty
righty from the birthplace of grunge, Starbucks and booty
aficionado Sir-Mix-a-Lot, ended the year at 4-1, with five
saves and 35 strikeouts over 43.2 innings; however that’s
the half the story. When not on the hill, Buursma was in
the batter’s box. 
He
hit .299 with 22 runs scored, 23 RBI and 14 extra base hits
while playing the field. Along the way he established a
new school record for saves, earning a spot amongst the
greatest to play hardball in Bucknell’s 120 year history,
putting himself in the same company as former Bison and
MLB and College Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson.
However Buursma would gladly trade his
personal accolades to end his career in Bucknell a winner.
Last season the Orange and Blue finished with a record of
16-24, 8-12 in the Patriot League. A respectable record,
but room to improve. The hungry Bison and Buursma will be
looking to bring the Patriot League title to Lewisburg.
While sitting out a rain delay last Friday
in Richmond, Kentucky at Eastern Kentucky's Early Bird Tournament,
the senior leader took some time to answer some questions
from Ping!:
PING!: Was
there any hesitation to returning back to campus after being
selected by your hometown Seattle Mariners in last year?s
MLB amateur draft?
Buursma: It was very tempting
to be able to concentrate solely on playing ball without
school, but I knew I wanted to finish school no matter what.
It helped my decision to go late in the draft, making the
incentives almost nonexistent. I also wanted another year
to get stronger and really try and focus on pitching. Besides,
no one wants to leave college without a championship ring
on their finger, right?
PING!: What
brought you across the country from Seattle, Washington
to Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania?
Buursma: I went to a prep
school in Seattle and a lot of kids went back east to go
to school so it was kind of the thing to do. I didn't really
want to go to school in California, and to be honest, there
aren't that many other schools out west that could offer
me what Bucknell does. I also have visited lots of places
on the west coast and playing ball on the east coast would
give me a great opportunity to see a lot of new places.
PING!: Are
there as many coffee shops in Seattle as people joke that
there are?
Buursma: There definitely
are. I could find a Starbucks, or any other coffee shop,
in about three minutes from almost any place in the city.
We need caffeine to keep us upbeat and happy with all the
clouds and rain.
PING!: Is
there anywhere in Lewisburg where you can order a, ?Decaf
grande half- soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot,
gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n?-Low
and one NutraSweet? like back at home?
Buursma: We have a 24-hour
coffee shop on campus that serves Starbucks and you can
get any drink they normally serve besides frappuccinos so
I feel pretty comfortable. I'd probably get some funny looks,
but I could probably get one of those drinks.
PING!: In
addition to putting up some brilliant pitching numbers,
earning four wins and five saves with a 1.65 ERA in 43.2
innings and a nearly three-to-one strikeout radio, you put
up some nice batting numbers at the plate as well (hit .299
with 14 extra base hits, .455 slugging percentage). If you
were to concentrate exclusively on pitching (or batting
for that matter), do you think your numbers would improve
much or does being a two-way player help you in developing
your game?
Buursma: It would be nice
to be able to focus on doing one thing since we have limited
practice time, and I do think that I could improve in one
area. However, being a two way player helps me to forget
the lows that I have from either pitching or hitting and
I can move past these moments easier. If Ii had a rough
day at the plate but came in to get a save to help our team
get a win, an otherwise personally frustrating day would
be much easier to deal with and move on. Playing both positions
also help me mentally with each one, since understanding
how hitters think can help me as a pitcher and vice versa.
PING!: Have
you always pitched with a submarine type delivery? What
are the origins of your unique delivery and how has it helped
you become the effective pitcher you are?
Buursma: I started throwing
submarine in high school. I was messing around with it one
day and my pitching coach turned out to be a submarine pitcher
in his career so he taught me the ropes. I used to alternate
pitches submarine and over the top until I got to college
where my over the top pitchers were very ordinary. I definitely
would not be the pitcher I am without my delivery. It always
helps to add a bunch of movement to your fastball from an
arm slot that many collegiate players rarely see.
PING!: You
spent the last two seasons as a closer, however with the
graduation of a couple of last years starters, you'll be
moving into the starting rotation this year. Will the change
in role and effect the way you pitch either physically or
mentally?
Buursma: I spent the summer
playing for the Seattle Studs where I was a starter so I
have some practice. It doesn't really change the way I pitch
physically, I still go all out and try and challenge hitters.
However, it will change my mentality as a pitcher. As a
closer I would get frustrated if I gave up a few hits or
a run. As a starter I'm going to have to force myself to
realize that I am going to give up hits and that I am going
to give up runs and try hard not to let that get to me.
PING!: How
do feel about this year's edition of the Bison being able
to compete for the Patriot League crown?
Buursma: Bucknell seems
to get bashed every year with preseason rankings but I really
like the mix of guys this year. We have had some really
good players come through our program since I have been
there but I think this years team has the most overall talent.
There is going to be a lot of competition for starting spots
since we have some younger guys that can hit. Most importantly,
our guys are tired of not getting respect. We are hungry
and often times that can lift a team over a superior opponent.
We want to make our mark in the Patriot League and we have
been working hard all off season in preparation for a run
at the crown.
PING!: Does
it chap you hide knowing that if you had got just one more
hit or had one less at bats you would have finished last
season with a batting average over .300?
Buursma: Not really. Would
we have made playoffs if I hit .315 instead of .299? probably
not. I want to win and I would gladly exchange a .150 batting
average for a Patriot :eague championship. Personal statistics
only matter to me if we accomplish something as a team,
otherwise, playing well personally is much less satisfying.
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