Sheboygan A's Baseball

Q&A with Manager Shaun Wegner

Posted: September 13, 2011

SheboyganBaseball.org sits down with 1st year A’s
manager Shaun Wegner to get his reflections on the 2011
season.

Q:
Overall, do you feel that the season was a success?

A: I feel the season was a big success. We ended the regular
season on a 11-game winning streak and carried that into the first round
of the playoffs where we swept Menasha. We were better at the end of
the year than at the beginning. It is not always about wins and losses.
We became a team and found ways to win each and every game.

Q: What are some of the
positive things you took away from your first year as a head
coach?

A: I learned a lot about the game,
situations especially, this summer from my duties with the club. The
players helped me learn a lot about myself as well and my strengths and
weaknesses as a coach. The A’s organization is a tremendous
organization and one that a coach can learn a ton from. As a coach, I
judge and rate my coaching ability in helping the players become better
at the end of the year than they were at the beginning, and I felt most
individuals did so.

Q: What are some things you would have done
differently?

A: It is so hard giving everyone
playing time and I wish I could have given some more individuals more
at-bats, innings on the mound, etc. This is a high caliber league and we
were out to win ball games. I tried to get the best lineup on the field
each game that gave us the shot at winning the game.

Q: Who do you think
improved the most this summer?

A: Greg Rhude
was the most improved in regards to the mental part of the game. He
became a thinker of the game instead of relying solely on his natural
ability and skill. He did not possess the best baseball knowledge coming
into the season but left with a boatload to ponder and store in memory.
Physically, I believe Adam Wilson gained a lot of confidence throughout
the year and after tweaking some things here and there, he was able to
string some hits together and become a big part of the team.

Q: Did you adopt any
elements from coaches you’ve played for/coached with into your own
coaching philosophy?

A: I like to play the
game of baseball by playing small and pushing across runs when the
opportunity presents itself. By doing so, you give yourself a chance to
not “miss out” on those opportunities and be in a
position to win ball games at the end. I learned this type of strategy
from my high school head coach Rusty Tiedemann. He was a great mentor to
me during my playing days and I congratulate him on regaining the head
coaching position at Watertown High School. I know he can yet again do
great things there.

Q: Do you feel like your coaching strategy evolved as the
season progressed?

A: I do believe I evolved
in my strategy over the summer. When we were hot and swinging, I learned
to loosen the reigns a bit and let the hitters do their things, and
when it was necessary, to play small ball. Our pitching was solid all
year and this was my first ever experience dealing with pitch counts and
when to relinquish them of their outings. It was an experience that you
only gain the understanding of through action.

Q: What do you hope take
back with you as you return to the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks
for this upcoming school year?

A: Coming back
to Minnesota State University, I bring back a lot of knowledge from the
summer and understanding that I would not have been able to gain if I
had not been in the head coaching position for the A’s. I can
now make more informed suggestions and give better ideas on game
management and strategy as I have been through the ringer and immersed
myself with the good and the bad.

Q: What was your most memorable moment
from the season?

A: My most memorable moment
of the season was Charlie
Reschke’s big two run home run
against the Appleton Legneds
that gave us the 5-3 win against a very solid team . The energy at the
park was tremendous after the win and it kept our momentum rolling.

The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube.