DUST PLUS:  NOTES ON MY NAPKIN (PREVIOUSLY SCREENED BY THE NCAA AND THE TSA)

If you channel surf through the NCAA tourney next weekend, the most nervous spectators may not be players, coaches and big buck alums but Major League baseball scouts – aka trophy hunters. Ironically, this year was supposed to be a lot easier since the college bats were made less lethal, no longer promoting “the pinball-type atmosphere,” said Cardinals scout Matt Slater. Slater and his mates in the polo-shirted, sun-glassed, stop-watching army of guys like former Dirtbag skipper Dave Snow (Rockies national scout) traveled the country to college tournaments last week in preparation for the draft.

“The (new) bats have dramatically changed the landscape of college baseball, and it changes how we scout the college game,” Slater would say. “To have a game that is closer to the style in the minors and, at the major-league level, is more conducive to what we have to do to evaluate players.” Translated: “A more projectable style of play.” The  MLB draft is June 6 but the regional games begin this weekend.

The Big West got two in Fullerton and Irvine – sounds like a social security law firm. Fullerton earned the host favors since they have an impressive 30-7 record when playing on Nutwood. The guests, who still have to listen to the Titans’ homer-ific PA announcing, are Pac-10 at-large pick Stanford (32-20), Big 12 at-large selection Kansas State (36-23) and Big 10 Regular Season and Tournament Champion Illinois (28-25). This is the second straight year The Cardinal has been shipped to CSUF and generously is the second seed. The silver spoon Cards tee up against third-seed Kansas State in the first game while the Titans take on fourth-seeded Illinois is the second game of the day. Start time likely between 8:00-9:00pm, much to the distress of the Fullerton fandom, but so ordered by ESPN.

The Anteaters (39-16) are still shaken from losing their series to the Dirtbags on Senior weekend. UCI drew the third seed at UCLA where the tiny JR stadium will try to squeeze in an all-California (maybe Arnold throws out the first pitch) Regional hosted by Pac-10 Champion UCLA (33-22) for the second straight year. My dark horse pick–who will bring the red shirts in numbers, is Fresno State (40-14). The Dogs won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The last spot goes to West Coast Champ San Francisco (31-23) grabbing the fourth seed. The Bruins and Anteaters split a two-game series earlier this year, with each team winning their respective home contest.

Cal State Fullerton, owning an impressive 30-7 record when playing in front of its home crowd during regional competition, welcomes Pac-10 at-large pick Stanford (32-20), Big 12 at-large selection Kansas State (36-23) and Big 10 Regular Season and Tournament Champion Illinois (28-25). This is the second straight year The Cardinal visits southern California for regional play. Stanford received the second seed in the Fullerton Regional and will face third-seed Kansas State if the first day of the event. The Titans host fourth-seeded Illinois is the second game of the day.

The Titans did not play any of their regional opponents this season, but Cal State Fullerton and Stanford have a rich history with Stanford leading the all-time series with a 53-42 mark. The last time the two teams met on the diamond was during the 2010 regional with Cal State Fullerton downing Stanford 6-5.
 
The Anteaters (39-16) drew the third seed in the all-California Los Angeles Regional hosted by Pac-10 Champion UCLA (33-22) for the second straight year. They will be joined by second-seeded Fresno State (40-14), who won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, with the West Coast Champion San Francisco (31-23) grabbing the fourth seed. The Bruins and Anteaters split a two-game series earlier this year, with each team winning their respective home contest. The BWC is  30-31 vs PAC 10 but if they had shipped a getting hot LBSU up there instead of a cooling off Cal Irvine, well at least I can channel surf to a better game.

OFF THE DIAMOND DUSTING–Now most Big West folks don’t know if a football is grown, pumped or stuffed but when you realize that a genuine American icon Martha Stewart can do hard time you shouldn’t be surprised that the Sanctimonious James Tressel exiled himself (translated… found a buyout) at Ohio State.

The TV games are in the Florida Regional–Miami, Jacksonville, the Gators and Manhattan and the Fullerton deal which will be on ESPUN starting with Stanford (32-20) vs. Kansas St. (36-23) then Fullerton (40-15) vs. Big Ten survivor Illinois (28-25).

Extra numbers… The NCAA has seen a significant drop in offense and power through the conferences. At midseason, the NCAA reported that batting averages had dropped from .305 at the end of 2010 to .279 halfway through 2011. Runs per game had dropped from 6.98 to 5.63, and home runs had been almost halved, from 0.85 per game to 0.47. “Instead of those muscle guys who we would see be more successful in college and have to speculate what they would be like in the pros, now you’re seeing the more athletic type of player succeeding,” Slater said. “It’s a radical change. And it’s more the type of player that succeeds in pro ball.”

Speaking of muscle, if you are an AD who likes spring sports then the following schools have both their softball and baseball programs in the postseason. They are: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Bethune-Cookman, California, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Fresno State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville, New Mexico State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Sacred Heart, Stanford, Texas, Texas State, Texas A&M, and UCLA. Ah yes, I remember the day when LBSU was on that great double play list.

Two notes from the Irvine weekend, the first was a Sunday UCI broadcaster quip from Mark Roberts thinking aloud about the baseball post season–“We aren’t sure where the Anteaters will be sent but it won’t be Mars and it won’t be Fullerton.” So maybe the ‘Eaters can employ that west side rentals cheerleader clown—it will save on his bus fare…

Second in the UCI newsroom is the decision by 6-4, 6-5 or 6-foot-6, 240-pound Eric Wise (16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in the 2010-11) who is bolting for USC. He will have to sit out a season before being eligible to play for the Trojans in the 2012-13 season. “We are very excited to have a proven veteran player like Eric join our program,” USC coach Kevin O’Neill said in a statement. “His sit-out year will give him an opportunity to acclimate to our system and prepare him to have a good senior season.”

Also changing addresses is UCSB baseball coach Bob Brontsema who was not renewed. The 2011 season marked the 30th year of  work at his alma mater. With two years as a player, 10 as an assistant coach and 18 season at the helm, Bob has been involved in 886 Gaucho victories, far more than anyone in UCSB baseball history. In fact, he has participated in over 60 percent of all UCSB victories in school history. Sadly, the baseball culture never caught on in Goleta.

The draft is next up and likely Andrew Gagnon will sign and go but he will be remembered by fans for never “bagging on his team for not supporting him all year,” and he gave the ‘Niners a chance every Friday. Maybe he can sneak in as a 49er pitcher this Friday in the regional game against Arkansas. Oh yeah, that’s the North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers, so I make them my east coast Cinderella fellas.
 
Last add from one of my posse who had this review about the road trip to Irvine. “UCI jams you $10 to park. Other than that injustice everything else is good about the stadium – food, seats, they even serve modestly priced beer that I thought wasn’t allowed on campus.” Then he added a prediction for 2012, “Matt Duffy played short most of the series. He’s probably our shortstop next year and Juan Avilla’s defense in right seems to be improving.”