Dust Plus: The Myth And Streakbusters Edition

According to the cosmic calendar of college sports, at the same time that the fandom is beginning to figure out post-season prospects in basketball and volleyball, pre-season preparations for baseball and softball are underway.
 
We will get to the ongoing activities in a minute, but the hot stove leaguers demand that we sprinkle some of our myth-busters magic on how the diamond lanes will be different in 2011. The biggest changes are in baseball where the 49ers, aka Dirtbags, have had rumor control on red alert since, well, since late May when skipper Mike Weathers stepped down and Troy Buckley (and some new friends) stepped up.
 
The last Weather report wasn’t too good (23-27, 7-17) and speculation began on what would be happening next.  The following is our effort to sort out (and occasionally bust) the myths and fact or fiction coming up this season. Remember that this effort is done on a closed course and only expert writers should try this at home.
 
MYTH—The Dirtbags never rebuild, they just reload. FICTION—There are a lot of new parts starting with three assistant coaches, and a ton of new players.  New guys with clipboards are assistant coaches Jesse Zepeda and Shawn Gilbert, volunteer assistant Scott Lemone and baseball operations director Justin Ramsey. The undergrad aide will again be the crooked cap kid Abe Alvarez.
 
MYTH—The schedule will again be great. FACT—It should be an excellent challenge (or opportunity) with 11 of the first 12 games played at Blair Field. The Dirtbags open on Friday, February 18th with a non-conference series against Cal State Fullerton and down the line will compete against USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Oregon, Arizona, Hawaii, San Diego State, Pepperdine and LMU. Oh yes, there is also the rest of the Big West to deal with. Final point: 29 games in all with 18 of the first 24 games against teams that played in the 2010 NCAA tourney.

MYTH—Through graduation and the MLB draft the cupboard is basically bare for the Beach. FICTION—Key returners for Long Beach State include Andrew Gagnon (second-team All-Big West and the Cape Cod All-Star starting pitcher), another starter Branden Pinder, and two superlative returning position players in outfielder Brennan Metzger and shortstop Kirk Singer. There are 24 newcomers so that great banquet ritual of guys introducing each other should be illuminating.

MYTH—After years of working out of the first base dugout and locker-room the Beach will change sides to the third base dugout and locker room. FACT—The nice wooden lockers have already been re-installed, the much bigger space will now allow for a private head coaches office and one for the assistants, a training room, players lounge and everything that used to be there except an umpires room. The umps will move this season into a motor home in the left field parking lot.

MYTH—Season ticket box holders are going nuts. FICTION—Some will shift from the right side to the left side, others will wait and see. Sei Furutani at (562) 985-5063 or Adam Wald at (562) 985-7441 report a few of those “Superbox” seats are available for 2011, guaranteeing seating in front of the concourse at Blair Field. Packages for season tickets start as low as $100 dollars for general admission for youth and seniors, and $120 dollars for adults, that includes admission into all 29 home games during the 2011 season.

MYTH—The 2011 team uniforms will revert to the old brown and gold color scheme.  FICTION—No plans top do that but expect a throw-back uni some time for a game or two. You can go back to the back at this weekend’s Alumni game where some of the really old timers usually bring out those striped bumble bee outfits given to LBSU by the Padres years ago.

MYTH—With the Dirtbags and most of their fans now heading to the left side of the diamond, the U has ordered a truckload of sunglasses for players, coaches, fans and bat boys. FICTION—The kids will wear sunglasses at least on their caps day and night but there are only six Sunday games where the afternoon sun will be an issue.

MYTH—Dirtbag baseball is all about the pitching. TRUTH*—With an asterik you note but Buck’s new operations guy Justin Ramsey is a former right-handed fireballer out of Sac City and Oral Roberts and the team does play in the biggest yard this side of Chicago. And how does Justin see his new management job?  “Fall is cake; ask me in a couple of months.” And the skipper says, “On offense we have a nice selection of left-handed hitters, and so far the team looks very athletic. As far as depth… we can move some guys around on defense and offense we have pitchers competing for a starting time that can also help us in the bullpen.”
 
MYTH—The lease is finally done and the construction crews will flood Blair with high end improvements. FACT—True, that is, if you believe in a slow flood. Redesign of he space underneath third is farther along thanks to the little items done by the pro tenants of the past (Armada/Breakers/Riptide/Slash). The big washer and dryer are over there and if a famous former player spreads some “longo green” remodeling to the press box, concessions, rest rooms, etc. could get going. The lease deal does require rent or improvements and everybody would prefer improvements.  There is a master plan floating about awaiting naming sponsors for this and that. The first noticeable change will likely be the demo of the old City Sports Office which would have fallen down in the next earthquake anyway. On that space would be a new practice infield.

MYTH—Baseball games are won up the middle. FACT—Buck and his bunch hope so since he has some talent there in catcher Kellen Hoime, shortstop Kirk Singer, second baseman Matt Duffy and center-fielder Brennan Metzger. Now the most putouts are always at first and insiders guess that storied Lakewood newcomer Jeff Yamaguchi, a solid hitter who also can pitch will beat out the smallish but powerful NorCal freshmen Ino Patron, a left-handed batter with a glitzy .425 average as a high school senior. If they both get hot, Jeff can also play third.

NUTTIN’ BUT NUMBERS—Men’s Basketball, just on the plus side  (11-10, 6-2 BWC), lost to Fullerton, 89-87 and UC Irvine, 86-76; Women’s Basketball (4-17, 2-6 BWC) lost to Fullerton, 77-65 but got some surfboard points beating UC Irvine, 80-79; Men’s Volleyball (4-3, 3-1 MPSF) is now in third in the MPSF after wins over #5 UC Santa Barbara, 3-0 and #3 UCLA, 3-2;  and in tennis Sarah Cantlay did win a three-set match against USC but it was still a 3-1 season opener loss.
 
This week, as noted above, the new kids on the calendar are baseballers who have their Leadoff Dinner Thursday night, fundraising golf tourney Friday at noon and then two games on Saturday, older alums at 11 and split squad-pro alums at 2 p.m. The games are free but the food and golf are not. You can work your deal at 562-985-4662.
 
Inside it will be Men’s Basketball at Pacific this Wednesday, 7:00pm and hosting Fullerton on Saturday, 7:30pm in front of the FS West TV cameras; Women’s Basketball riding that one in a row streak against host Pacific this Thursday 7:00pm then go to Fullerton on Saturday 3:00pm; Men’s Volleyball has a pair of home matches Pacific Friday, 7:00pm and Stanford on Saturday, at 1:00pm all in the Walter Pyramid.
 
STREAK BUSTING NOTE—The best streakers on campus are men’s volleyball who have two in a row, lady hoops with their one in a row and, well that’s it. My guess is that men’s basketball will still win the regular season and get at least the NIT bid but may not have the legs for a three game title run in the BWC tourney.
 
Depth is still a big issue for Dan and company, and after watching Wise and Wilder play so tough against LB Saturday night one wag said he wondered if TJ and Larry were the right recruits as opposed to the Anteater duo.
 
Last add to the softer side. Kim Sowder’s field has gotten some needed improvement, as those heavy chain link fences that could stop an ICBM missile have been replaced with easier to see through really strong but skinny nets. Some of the giant poles have been sent to recycling and as far as I know the pitchers are on the mend. The Beach actually opens at home this year hosting the LBSU Round Robin with Boise State and LMU in for morning and afternoon games February 12 and 13.