I'm happy I could be of some help while you were out. It was fun getting to write about baseball for a change, just a shame I didn't get to see Cal win. But I'm glad you're back so I can return to the normal pitching form god intended us to use (the holy underhand fast pitch).
Well written article. Bottom line: Cal got beat 3 times by a team with lesser talent that small balled Cal to death, combined with Cal failing to hit with any consistency with runners on base. Two crucial throwing errors by Cal pitchers plus walking the lead off batter repeatedly and getting behind in counts gave BC just enough ammunition to win with their small balled tactics. These are correctable mental mistakes. Hopefully the team can turn it around!
There has been no real commitment at Cal to field a winning baseball team at the P4 level in forever. As evidenced by the fact that the Cal baseball HC position is pretty much a lifetime appointment even though the program has been moribund for decades with a few isolated exceptions. Several players who have transferred out of the program recently have said as much. The program needs a complete reset at every level starting with a new head coach and including involvement from the administration and the Cal baseball donors.
Cal has developed 4 1st round MLB draft picks in just the past 4-5 years, and numerous other draft picks. Just 2 years ago the team won 21 of its last 25 games in last year of PAC 12 but got hosed by the corrupted ncaa “selection committee”. Last year the team finished strong in 1st ACC year altho had hard time adjusting to travel (as did Stanford: a perennial power in D1 baseball). This year the team lost its ss, 2nd baseman and 1st basemen to the transfer portal/NIL all of whom are shining for Georgia Tech or Arizona State. But the program needs a newly rebuild/improved stadium (current stadium seating and facilities are mostly unchanged for last 100 years) to continue attracting top talent. Cal baseball alums continue to donate 800k each year to keep the program alive after the AD in 2011 unilaterally cut the program as part of her attempt to hide the financial ruin she left the entire athletic department in caused by football stadium rebuilding (a debt still sitting largely on the books). Ironically, that team she tried to cut was reinstated (at least temporarily) and fought its way to the College World Series. The softball team is getting a new field and is not required to raise any money from alums for operations. Beach volleyball (no where near the beach) is a new sport that’s already getting a new stadium (next to Edward’s). The University needs to step up and treat the baseball team equally and fairly (Title 9 comes to mind). Alums have developed architectural plans that illustrate how the baseball field could be turned into a kind of old Fenway Park West while dramatically improving the entire experience of entering campus from that direction and Haas Pavillion. Baseball is Cal’s second oldest sport with a storied past (we won the very 1st CWS and again 10 years later) and has put over 75 players into MLB: including the great golden boy Jackie Jensen. It’s not fair to say that Cal baseball has not been competitive or relevant for decades. It is however fair to say that dramatic new investments must be made by the University to upgrade the “moribund” facilities, while the alums continue to support baseball operations. Just a few years ago a Cal player (now in MLB) won the Golden Spikes Award given to the best player in college baseball. But NIL money for baseball is difficult when alums are already supporting the program at 800k per year. Something has to change. It starts will the Universty.
I don't disagree. Maybe Rich Lyons can step in and do something here like he did for football. Cal baseball could be amazing and a big draw, but without changes it will continue to be an also ran. I agree not making the CWS two years ago was a travesty. If they are going to continue to be run on a shoestring then maybe they should fall back to a lower division. At least they'd have a fighting chance to compete for conference instead of being perennial cannon fodder in the acc. The status quo of being largely mediocre for decades is no way to live.
Cal baseball may not be able to come up clutch, but Callie can. Thank you again for the great last minute coverage. Onto the next. Go bears.
I'm happy I could be of some help while you were out. It was fun getting to write about baseball for a change, just a shame I didn't get to see Cal win. But I'm glad you're back so I can return to the normal pitching form god intended us to use (the holy underhand fast pitch).
Well written article. Bottom line: Cal got beat 3 times by a team with lesser talent that small balled Cal to death, combined with Cal failing to hit with any consistency with runners on base. Two crucial throwing errors by Cal pitchers plus walking the lead off batter repeatedly and getting behind in counts gave BC just enough ammunition to win with their small balled tactics. These are correctable mental mistakes. Hopefully the team can turn it around!
How does CAL continue to go with a coach that can’t win a conference game. It’s embarrassing. Please, it’s time for a change!
There has been no real commitment at Cal to field a winning baseball team at the P4 level in forever. As evidenced by the fact that the Cal baseball HC position is pretty much a lifetime appointment even though the program has been moribund for decades with a few isolated exceptions. Several players who have transferred out of the program recently have said as much. The program needs a complete reset at every level starting with a new head coach and including involvement from the administration and the Cal baseball donors.
Cal has developed 4 1st round MLB draft picks in just the past 4-5 years, and numerous other draft picks. Just 2 years ago the team won 21 of its last 25 games in last year of PAC 12 but got hosed by the corrupted ncaa “selection committee”. Last year the team finished strong in 1st ACC year altho had hard time adjusting to travel (as did Stanford: a perennial power in D1 baseball). This year the team lost its ss, 2nd baseman and 1st basemen to the transfer portal/NIL all of whom are shining for Georgia Tech or Arizona State. But the program needs a newly rebuild/improved stadium (current stadium seating and facilities are mostly unchanged for last 100 years) to continue attracting top talent. Cal baseball alums continue to donate 800k each year to keep the program alive after the AD in 2011 unilaterally cut the program as part of her attempt to hide the financial ruin she left the entire athletic department in caused by football stadium rebuilding (a debt still sitting largely on the books). Ironically, that team she tried to cut was reinstated (at least temporarily) and fought its way to the College World Series. The softball team is getting a new field and is not required to raise any money from alums for operations. Beach volleyball (no where near the beach) is a new sport that’s already getting a new stadium (next to Edward’s). The University needs to step up and treat the baseball team equally and fairly (Title 9 comes to mind). Alums have developed architectural plans that illustrate how the baseball field could be turned into a kind of old Fenway Park West while dramatically improving the entire experience of entering campus from that direction and Haas Pavillion. Baseball is Cal’s second oldest sport with a storied past (we won the very 1st CWS and again 10 years later) and has put over 75 players into MLB: including the great golden boy Jackie Jensen. It’s not fair to say that Cal baseball has not been competitive or relevant for decades. It is however fair to say that dramatic new investments must be made by the University to upgrade the “moribund” facilities, while the alums continue to support baseball operations. Just a few years ago a Cal player (now in MLB) won the Golden Spikes Award given to the best player in college baseball. But NIL money for baseball is difficult when alums are already supporting the program at 800k per year. Something has to change. It starts will the Universty.
I don't disagree. Maybe Rich Lyons can step in and do something here like he did for football. Cal baseball could be amazing and a big draw, but without changes it will continue to be an also ran. I agree not making the CWS two years ago was a travesty. If they are going to continue to be run on a shoestring then maybe they should fall back to a lower division. At least they'd have a fighting chance to compete for conference instead of being perennial cannon fodder in the acc. The status quo of being largely mediocre for decades is no way to live.