Ten questions with Jason Stoffel

During his playing days with the Agoura High baseball team, Jason Stoffel was one of the Marmonte League's most feared pitchers, a hardthrowing right-hander with pinpoint control and a competitive streak that was second to none.

Photo courtesy of Arizona athletics FIREMAN- Jason Stoffel was 5-0 during his freshman season pitching at Arizona, where he worked as a reliever. These days, as a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Arizona, Stoffel has developed into a premier closer in the Pac10 Conference. During his freshman season with the Wildcats, Stoffel posted a 5-0 record with a 1.87 ERA and five saves.

Just last week, Baseball America ranked Arizona No. 2 in the nation in its preseason top 25 poll. Three other Pac10 schools- UCLA (No. 1), Oregon State (No. 7) and Arizona State (No. 9)- cracked Baseball America's top 10.

The Acorn recently tracked down Stoffel as he finished a morning breakfast at the Wildcats' sports compound. He agreed to answer 10 questions.

Q: What are your thoughts on the team's No. 2 ranking?

Stoffel: It's great. I'd rather be ranked up there than near the bottom. I think it's a pretty good indication of what we have coming back and the talent we have.

Q: With all those ranked teams, how tough is the Pac-10 going to be this year?

Stoffel: I think it's going to be the toughest conference in the country. The last two (NCAA) championships have both gone to Oregon State. Every team from top to bottom is really good.

Q: What's the biggest difference between being a starter and being a reliever?

Stoffel: It's really just the adrenaline. As a starter I'd get pumped up for the first couple of innings and then just get into a mode where I'd have to get through innings. The adrenaline would only usually pump for the first few innings and then again for the last few innings. Now, when I'm just in the game for an inning or two, it's just pure adrenaline the whole time.

Q: When you watch a major league game, do you find yourself studying the relievers, in particular the closers?

Stoffel: Not really. I've always kind of liked the closing role. It's always been a favorite of mine to watch the closers throw, even when I was a kid. Now I'm doing it, and it is fun.

Q: Do you have a theme song? It seems every reliever has one these days.

Stoffel: No. We don't do walk-out songs.

Q: How much contact do you have with your former Agoura teammates?

Stoffel: Not a ton. When I'm back in town I'll give some of them a call. I stay in touch with Nick Farinacci (UC Irvine) pretty regularly. But other than that, I don't have a whole lot of contact. A couple of them are still my best friends, though, and we talk every few weeks or so. But as a whole, there's not a ton of contact.

Q: What's the best thing about living in Arizona?

Stoffel: The heat, the warm weather. It's great on the arm.

Q: Going back to Agoura's 2006 CIF title game, how tough was it for you to watch that game from the bench with a broken ankle?

Stoffel: It was horrible. I've always been the type of guy who wants to go out there, put the game on my back and carry my team. Just having to sit there and watch us play well but not quite pull it out was very difficult.

Q: What kind of rivalry is there between Arizona and Arizona State fans? How much distaste is there?

Stoffel: I'd say a pretty good deal. I don't really talk about it because I don't have a ton of friends outside the athletic complex, but it seems pretty heated.

Q: The Super Bowl is in Arizona this year. Who are you taking and why?

Stoffel: The Patriots, you've got to. I want to see them go perfect.

As told to Stephen Dorman.