Hey! Remember me?!

It's ok if you don't...I totally understand. Half the time, I don't even remember me at this point, but the quick and dirty of what has been going on in DL land is that work is taking me behind the woodshed, and I'm trying to get out and coach as much as I can, but the shitty nocal weather is not cooperating.

However, since blogging and computer activities are best performed indoors, I have put together a site for the SJND baseball program. The roster pages will get a little more elaborate as I have more content, and once I have someone to take pictures, we will have some of those too.

Join the party. Subscribe to the blog. Follow the Twitter. Go Pilots!

(Also, for those of you who are into the reasons behind everything ever, I changed the color scheme on this blog when Pilots baseball activities started.)

Brand Overhaul

Happy new year, readers!

If you read this, you know me. And if you know me, you know that 2010 was a year of major, life-altering changes. I left the comfort of a sizable office at DJA and the familiarity of coaching at Crespi to move north and become a cube monkey at EPR and join the staff of a new (to me) program at SJND. And just for shits and giggles, I decided that I would join the 7 p.m. Sunday mass choir at St. Joseph's just because when I went to mass, it appeared that they were lacking a guitarist.

As much as I squawk about how much I dislike NorCal (which I still do...let's not get carried away with this optimism stuff), half a year removed from this decision, I can look back and know 100 percent that it was the right call. That's right kids. If I had it to do over again, I would do exactly the same thing. In fact, I would have circulated my resume sooner. It's a moderately frightening thought, actually.

The weather up here still sucks. People still don't know how to drive. My apartment is still ghetto. I'm just getting to a point where none of that matters.

I'm operating under great people--at the office, on the field* and at the basilica. That alone makes it all worth it.

I came up here with friends few and far between but have been able to grow the numbers exponentially. My colleagues have been great, and both of the junior staffers I work with on accounts have been promoted (deservedly) from intern to AC in the time I've been here. The Pilots are a great group of kids with a solid amount of talent...cannot wait until March, because it's going to be game on. St. Joseph Spirit Ensemble is just flat out legit any way you slice it. Onus falls on me to do my part with all of them.

2011 is already trending in the right direction...time to be better manager, better coach, better musician and a better individual. With support from my growing network and renewed drive, I have everything I need to take it head on.

*Please note: Despite being the least tenured coach on staff, I consider only one coach my superior--the head guy. The JV coaches are cool...we collaborate, but we're kind of like church and state on game day. Same deal with the pitching coach. My qualifications are not questionable. The rest of the staff knows that.

Loving the game, working hard, getting better - the right way

The three basic tenets of the Navigators fall baseball program are:

• Love the game
• Work hard
• Get better

Loving the game is self-explanatory. If you don't love it, you don't want anything to do with it. It is a game that will kick your ass and render your love unrequited at times, but in the end, it's your love that keeps drawing you in. When you love the game and are around others who do as well, that's when your team and your program become special. Then (and ONLY then) do guys put their egos on the shelf and work hard to improve as a unit. Speaking of working hard...

Working hard is necessary--also because of the "failure" driven nature of this game. As in life, it's easy to show up at the yard and crank it up when things are going well. But when the most successful players in this game are unsuccessful seven out of 10 times, "going well" is an extremely relative phrase. No one is successful all the time. Anyone who thinks he is, is lying to himself, to his team and to the game that we love. The best among us simply have a plan and work toward executing it. Nothing goes smoothly all the time, but when you are continuously working toward that overarching common goal and going about your business the right way (more on that in a second), you never really fail. Only when you put yourself ahead of the team and that common goal are you a failure (and an epic one at that).

Getting better at this game is difficult. The only thing more difficult is being able to help others get better at it. All of us who coach played at some level and, for whatever reason, had to stop playing. We all have our own little pet causes, sets of neuroses and internal demons that were developed over the course of our respective careers. The biggest challenge we face is not to project all of those onto all of our players or let them impact the common goal.

In the case of the Navigators, our common goal is to get better before the spring season. Since baseball is a mental game, that means we need to teach our players to think through certain situations. In order to do that, we need to let them think. Otherwise, they are mindless drones who have no ability to find their way through the situations in which they find themselves during the games.

I realize that I may be a tad unorthodox on this particular point, but I invite my players to question everything (within reason). I demand that it's done correctly--my equivalent to the Navigators' three tenets was "In baseball, as in life, there are two ways to do things: the right way and the wrong way. We will do things the right way."--but I want them to think through everything they do. Their actions need to have a purpose, and the onus falls on me, the coach, to teach them that purpose. The only way to do that is to empower them to think on their own.

While I wasn't directly responsible for any of these fellas getting D1 scholarships, I was on a staff that has produced more than a dozen of them since I started coaching there, so I figure I've learned to do something right.

Matt Scioscia ('07) - Notre Dame

Carlos Lopez ('08) - Cal State Fullerton

Jeremy Rodriguez ('08) - Cal State Bakersfield

Sean Gilmartin ('08) - Florida State

Tyler Johnson ('08) - SUNY Stony Brook

Tony Goebel ('08) - SUNY Stony Brook

Ryan Hawthorne ('08) - Loyola Marymount

Sean McIntyre ('09) - Loyola Marymount

Zack Wiley ('09) - LeMoyne

Dylan Jones ('09) - Oregon

Austin Walker ('10) - UC Irvine

Kevin Williams ('10) - UCLA

Michael Hubbard ('10) - SUNY Stony Brook

Josh Mason ('10) - SUNY Stony Brook

Ryon Healy ('10) - Oregon

ADDENDUM:

There are a couple more guys who made D1 rosters:

John Kearns ('10) - Holy Cross

Ryan Brockett ('10) - St. Mary's

Yeah...I have coached at the high school level, and I've had some success doing it. I guess I know what I'm talking about.

It's a privilege to be able to be involved in this game--not a right. Ask the guys at Cal what it means to them. (That's another topic that pisses me off that I'll rant on another day.)

The Navs can achieve our goal of making the Pilots good, but some addition by subtraction is necessary first.

Haiku of the Day - Wed. Jan. 27

Canceled on for lunch
Valentine's alumni game
I'm going to suck

I don't hate the Yankees...

I hate people's excessive fawning over them when it's a product of them not knowing the game. Props to Keown for breaking it down simply by illustrating one example of good, smart baseball being packaged as something superhuman. Derek Jeter is an incredibly smart baseball player, but he's not the only one in this series (let alone the big leagues) who would have made that play. This is an indictment of the coverage of this series and, really, the sports media as a whole.

The people reporting on sports don't know the games on which they are reporting. A first baseman trailing a runner and calling for a backpick is not uncommon. I get on my freshmen if they DON'T do that. I could cite a million different examples of this, but the point is that commentary has actually gotten to the point of detracting from the game and making fans dumber. Stop it. Most fans are dumb enough already.

Debunking the Church of Jeter

By Tim Keown, espn.com

Here's one reason so many people love to hate the Yankees: The lovefest for Derek Jeter knows no bounds. It's natural to attempt to find fault with a guy who is constantly praised to the heavens and beyond, and that's why so many people get so excited in the effort.

And this isn't a criticism, just an observation: If I had watched Bobby Abreu's Game 3 baserunning mistake -- back-picked at second by Jeter and Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the 8th -- with the sound down on the television, I would have considered it a perfect example of the Yankees' ability to execute defensively. They're pros.

But since the sound was on, it's a different story. We were shown replays of the play and told over and over how brilliant Jeter is because he thought the play was at third but the play ended up being at second and there was nobody there to tell him.

Nobody there? Really? Even though Teixeira was right there to take the throw and apply the tag? I mean, let's get real: Jeter is a great player, but sometimes things happen on the field -- really cool things -- that don't center on him.

Teixeira followed the runner, just like every first baseman is supposed to do but not all do. He was right there. He made the play. Jeter would be the first to admit that.

Too Tired...

I wanted to write a post ripping Brett Favre and the way his whole multiple debacles have been covered by the fawning sports media, but I'm too tired. Go Aaron Rodgers! (Hopefully he fares better than his alma mater did yesterday.)

Regardless, the real main event at the dome doesn't happen until Tuesday. I don't care if you like baseball or not. Tune into at least a part of that game and hear how loud it is. Go Twinkies.

Article of the Day - 9 Ways to Celebrate 9/9/09

And though the date lacks the pizzazz of the lucky sevens (07/07/07), that isn't stopping marketers, mathematicians and the marriage-minded from dressing it to the nines.

Hotels are offering discounts, couples are wedding in droves and "9/9/09" was among the top 100 search terms on the search engine Google on Tuesday.

Lottery users will undoubtedly try their luck by playing 999 Wednesday, and a lucky mother might see herself profiled on the news should she give birth at just the right time: 9:09.

So why not get in on the act?

After all, you're unlikely to experience another single-digit date in your lifetime. The next one won't roll around for 92 years -- until 1/1/2101.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/09/999.date/index.html

...or you could not celebrate it because it's a stupid distinction. The choice is yours. Choose wisely. At least they got the baseball thing right.

Article of the Day - Stirrups in the WSJ

I would have posted this yesterday when it ran, but I didn't see it until today. There are so many elements of greatness to this.

First of all, there is an article about stirrups, which are part of a proper baseball uniform. You put on socks to do anything. You put on stirrups to play ball.

Secondly, this appears in The Wall Street Journal. Enough said.

Fantastic headline.

Paul Lukas is quoted, which means it will be great.

And, finally, this graphic appears.

Sultans of Sock: Stirrups Hang On in Minor Leagues

Baseball Players Wear Them Under Orders; Fashionable Pelicans

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Michael Broadway pulled up his blue baseball socks, the kind with no heel and no toe. He admired the way they looped under his instep, revealing the half-moons of the white socks he wears underneath them. (more)

Great Day...

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." (Rogers Hornsby)

Wait no longer...happy spring to everyone! As my good friend and colleague Paula informed me (via her noticing the day's Google graphic...such is the life in tech), today is the first day of spring.

Baseball is going at all levels (yes, I do count the Classic and spring training). Being out of the office today would be fantastic if the reason wasn't that I'm laid out sick, but it's all good. The weather is warm, and I get the Amazin' back today.

Froshies are scuffling with runners in scoring position and driving their coaches nuts accordingly, but they're hanging in there and battling. Need a big W against Loyola tomorrow. Update forthcoming soon.

Five Tools (DL Style)

Baseball season is close...kind of. Pitchers and catchers report soon, though, to the numerous spring training facilities across the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, so what better time to talk prospect evaluation? Ah, spring is here...love it...

Prospects are evaluated on a five tool system with a 20-80 scale. For the couple of you who read this who do not know the five tools, they are:

• hitting for average
• hitting for power
• foot speed
• glove
• arm strength.

As for the 20-80 scale a guy who has a crappy arm (Juan Pierre) is nearer 20, and a guy who has a hose (Vladimir Guerrero) is up toward the 80 range. There are also the intangibles (coachability, leadership, etc.) which all play into organizational decisions along the way.

These aren't the kinds of prospects I'm talking about, though.

This is about the five tools I look for in females. With equivalents drawn, they look something like this:

• hitting for average = face
• hitting for power = body
• foot speed = sense of humor
• glove = intelligence
• arm strength = general personality

Face and body and self-explanatory physical traits. Sense of humor is essentially whether she takes herself too seriously or she can relax and laugh at herself. Also she will be a gigantic failure in this category if she can't handle getting ragged a little. Don't get butt hurt. Just get even, and be savvy about it. I will.

Intelligence is also fairly self-explanatory, but I do believe in the concept of multiple intelligences and therefore, hers have to measure up at least somewhat favorably with mine. (If they don't, it doesn't necessarily mean she's stupid. It could just mean we're incompatible. Or...it could be that she's stupid...anywayyyyyyy....) General personality is the kind of catch-all last category.

First of all, the physical traits: face and body. Much like in baseball scouting, the first impression someone gets is the physical appearance test. Right, wrong or indifferent, this is the truth. With a female prospect, there has to be a baseline level of attractiveness, or the evaluation goes no further. Different guys see different things, but there has to be something in that first look. I'm big on face...gotta be a .300 hitter, which, in fairness, is not THAT difficult. Please note, that foot speed can help the average. If she has a sense of humor, she probably smiles a lot, which adds points.

Body-wise, I don't need a great deal, but I do need to see some power potential. I don't mean she has to show me 30+ bombs kind of power potential, but I have to know she can gap some doubles for me. Again, I do not feel this is unreasonable at all.

Now that we've taken care of the baseline analysis, it's time to start evaluating the differentiators.

The first is foot speed. Part of the sense of humor requirement I have is a quick wit. I need someone who is able to be a smartass to me. Plain and simple. I'm not brutal, cutting and evil with my ragging, but I'm the kind of person who will call others out on dumb things they do and expect them to do the same to me. I don't want or need to be coddled at all times. I will never (again) be involved with a girl who does.

Next is the glove. I liken intelligence to defense, because like my glove in my playing days, intelligence is probably my best tool and is certainly the one I lean on the most. Thus, it's easily paramount in my mind, but it's not always as readily obvious as the others. It does tie closely to foot speed, as part of it is being quick enough to cover ground (or witty enough fire back at me with a counterpoint). This is absolutely crucial. Once I'm to the point of looking critically at this, I have to see it quickly, or it's game over.

Rounding out the tools evaluation is arm strength, or catch-all category I called general personality. Obviously, this is another one that ties closely to defense. The kinds of characteristics I look for here are, primarily, the interpersonal skills. She doesn't have to be out running for office and chatting up anyone and everyone, but there has to be some extroversion. Additionally (and this should really go without saying), she has to care about herself and about others, while balancing the two. This category is really important, since it's about authenticity. I really don't believe this can be faked...at least not for an extended period of time.

There you have the tools evaluation with each of these on the 20-80 scale. (Why the scale is 20-80, I don't know, but it is.) Just when you thought the evaluation process was over, there are the more qualitative intangibles to consider. Basically, these are the little extra traits that separate great prospects from future franchise players.

For me, a big one is drive. This is the competitive nature that pushes people to be the best. I don't necessarily care what she's the best at, but there has to be some passion and some fire.

Another is adaptability. A lot of brilliant people plan down to the most minute details, but reality has demonstrated time and time again, that best made plans don't always go off without a hitch, and we all need to have the ability to call the audible and get through it.

Finally, (as with any scouting process in any sport/context) there is gut feeling, which starts at the first impression and builds as I go through this eval process. My own quick and dirty litmus test is whether or not I want to envision any kind of a future.

So there it is. The evaluation process. Right, wrong or indifferent, this is how I make determinations. Feedback welcome.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday, Vlad! Wish I could say, management has a present for you in the form of some protection in our lineup, but you're pretty much going to have to handle things yourself. Tough break, buddy.