Opening Day

Hello All,

The beginning of spring is upon us, as marked by opening weekend for the Miami Hurricanes baseball squad.

And as they say, hope springs eternal.

The last time I wrote about the Hurricanes, it was an open letter to Jim Morris demanding that this team get tougher and get back to playing the type of baseball that made this the most successful program of the last twenty years (I am sure he devoured it and took it to heart…and also possibly got confused why I was essentially writing the same exact letter to him I had just

written to Al Golden).

Well, this might just be the spring talking, but it looks like this is the type of Miami team we once upon a time grew accustomed to.

Since last season, Morris has added an old face at pitcher that should front the rotation at best and provide a steady veteran presence that has been to Omaha at worst (Eric Erickson) and a new face at catcher (Pete O’Brien) that should be the centerpiece of the everyday lineup and provide the threat to opposing pitchers that last year’s team lacked.

Perhaps more importantly, Morris brought back Gino Dimare, who was a terrible third base coach (think Boston-era Dale Sveum) but has always been one helluva recruiter and hitting coach. It is never this black and white, but the last time this team went to Omaha was the last season Dimare was on the coaching staff. He has his shortcomings, but he knows what it is like to be around championship baseball. That cannot be understated.

Miami lost some guys to the draft, as usual, but returns a team that seems built to Morris’ order. First and foremost is the pitching. Erickson will be the Friday night guy, but the important thing here is the depth.

The Miami staff might not have a first round presence in the rotation, or a staff full of them (UiF…cheaters, scoundrels and thieves), but it will have depth. Erickson’s presence allows last year’s ace, Eric Whaley, to become the Saturday night guy, making it highly unlikely for the ‘Canes to drop the first two games of any series. That means at worst most series will come down to Sunday, where Miami will roll out last season’s Friday night starter, Bryan Radziedfgjkhsdfghsjkdlgjkdfs. We will call him B-Rad. Anyway, he reminds me a lot of Erickson in style and is a third starter most programs would kill for. On top of that, Steven Ewing has come up big for this team in the past. He will start off as the mid-week guy, but he and Andy Suarez will push for inclusion in the weekend rotation by the end of the season. At worst, this team has 5 solid starters. Which is good news, considering the past two seasons have ended in Gainesville largely due to a lack of depth on the pitching staff.

Morris addressed other concerns as well.

He got rid of the Nike bats that were proven to weaken offenses and now players have their choice of any manufacturer.

Infield defense plagued the past two post season runs, and Morris increased competition at each infield spot. While the faces might look the same at the end of this season (particularly at shortstop, where the mercurial Stephen Perez is already a junior), you can bet it will only be because they fought off a hungry youngster or two to keep their job. Michael Broad figures to return to form at second this year, and the corners will be some combination of UiF transfer Tyler Palmer, Puerto Rican Esteban Tresgallo, Sophomores Brad Fieger and Scott Wiebel, and Senior Cade Kreuter. Also, don’t be surprised if you hear from freshmen Alex Fernandez and Jarred Mederos before the season is out.

The bullpen has a lot of talent and good names, but little proven talent after the departures of Travis Miller and Daniel Miranda. The closer will be E.J. Encinosa, who was a solid starter and has great stuff but, as Morris said, has never worked the 9^th. You have to be a little different to be a closer…we will see if Encinosa has what it takes.

Catcher was addressed with the addition of O’Brien as a transfer from Bethune Cookman. He is a borderline first round talent and will be relied on to be a star.

Finally, the outfield has to be more productive. Julian Santos, the feel good story of the fall after coming back from two different ACL tears, will be the opening day centerfielder and leadoff man. The ultra-athletic Dale Carey will man right field but needs to progress with the bat to hold off Chantz Mack. If those two improve as the season moves along it will give the ‘Canes one of the stronger outfield trios in the conference, as Rony Rodriguez will be the cleanup hitter and figures to have left field on lock. He reminds of Lale Esquivel.

Top to bottom, this is a stronger team than last season’s and should go further.

Time will tell if this team is the answer to our prayers. Teams change as seasons go, and pre season praise can often ring hollow. But Morris still knows how to manage, and this is they type of team that he has won with before, at least in theory. Keep the other team off the board, play good situational baseball and keep the damn ball in front of you. It is a simple sport made complicated too often.

And while we don’t know if this team will breakthrough and go to Omaha, there are some things that will never change.

The fan experience will be as good as ever. I truly regret that I will be unable to make opening night for the first time in 6 years, but the real world does beckon. Alas, I will be there in spirit and taking part in every “RAAAAGGGGAAAARRRMMMM” and “Baallllllll twwwwwooooo…WHOOOOOOOO!” chant that echoes throughout The Light.

More importantly, so will the curse of Stein and Scarpa, as we have once again decided to claim a guy as “ours”.

Esteban Tresgallos, the freshman from Puerto Rico, excites both of us. Not sure why. Maybe it is the name. Maybe it is the fact that he comes from a land afar. Maybe we just know he might actually be good and we are sick of “our guys” playing like cheese dicks (see last year’s post for a description of the curse of Stein and Scarpa but before you do just ask yourself if any of these names excite you: Freitas, Diego, Weislow, Blackman, Ratcliffe, Mack…the answer should be a resounding “NO”.)

Dust off your ballcaps and get out the sunflower seeds. Have a milkshake for me. It is time for ‘Canes baseball.

And while it ain’t football, it is just as good in a different way.

Let’s go ‘Canes.