I still remember crying...

There's not supposed to be any crying in baseball, but I admit it, I broke the rule. It's one of my very first memories, and I was reminded of it tonight after Fresno State out-pounded No. 3 Arizona State to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1991.

It came in the form of a text message from one of my best pals, and the only guy I know who follows the Diamond 'Dogs as closely as I do. I sent him a text message saying, "NO 'DOGS DOWN!!!" His reply was simple: "On the verge of tears over here."

That's what triggered one of my first-ever memories. I was 6 years old, months away from my seventh birthday, and spending a little time cleaning my room. While I thought it was cruel of my dad to make me clean, I have to thank him for making sure I had a radio handy. It was 1988, and the Diamond 'Dogs were the No. 2 seed in the College World Series, with a record of about 56-8 on the year.

I was a little kid, already believing I was Bulldog Born and already sold on my dad's words of wisdom saying that Fresno State might win a national title in baseball and football in my lifetime.

And then I cried. I sat on my bed in tears, as Fresno State dropped the CWS opener to Stanford. I don't want that this time. This team might be less talented, but that doesn't have to stop this dream season. It hasn't yet...not even against arguably the best lineup in the nation in Arizona State. Because this team has heart. And I hope they make me feel like crying again -- but this time I want it to be because of a win. A national championship.

IS THERE A 'DOG IN THE HOUSE!?

WOOF!!!

Fresno State Diamond 'Dogs = Regional champs!

2 wins over No. 6 San Diego.
1 Clayton Allison complete-game shutout.
1 win over host No. 11 Long Beach State.
2 dislocated Tommy Mendonca fingers.
1 right field wall body-checked by Steve Detwiler.
2 enormous RBIs by Gavin Hedstrom.
1 Regional championship.
No. 3 Arizona State is next...

Holden Sprague and Brandon Burke pitched like true Bulldogs. Allison and Justin Wilson made it all possible with their mound gems in the days prior. And now it's time to do it all over again.

A College World Series berth would go a long way in restoring fans' confidence in coach Mike Batesole after the team disappointed throughout the regular season. But now we see what the 'Dogs really are capable of, the bats are hot and the arms are firing. Let's hope for a great showing by the Red Wave in Tempe...

Big props to all the 'Dogs fans who traveled to Long Beach, especially on Monday night...and especially to that guy with the giant Fresno State flag and old-school '91 baseball jacket running around the stands!

Hooray Inman!!!

Fresno State could use more fans like Inman Perkins.

I'll let that one line stand alone. Because as a Fresno State baseball fan, he stands alone. It's a pleasure to know the Diamond 'Dogs honored the longtime most vocal of fans with his own jersey on Saturday. I'd go so far as to say his name belongs up on that outfield wall with the likes of Tom Goodwin, Bob Bennett, Bobby Jones, Pete Beiden and all the rest.

Inman's contributions have been of similar impact. 40 years. Cheering from the top of each dugout. Doing his "Go...'Dogs...Go" chants, the "F-R-E-S-N-O" spellout and the infamous leg kick during the chants. All while wearing Bulldog Red shoes. Almost every single game. All those years. What a guy.

Here's to you Inman Perkins!

What's the deal Sand Man?

So it was reported in The Bee today that SS Todd Sandell quit the baseball team -- not the best news considering he's a veteran and has shown a good bat in the past.

Now, I haven't heard from Sandell, but I've just gotta wonder what the deal is? Does Sandell expect to start over freshman Danny Muno just because he's been around longer? If so, I hate to say it, but that's how this whole Division I upper echelon of baseball works Sand Man...and it's only gonna get more competitive from here.

Muno is batting .337, Sandell is at .221. There is no argument that can overcome that disparity. Muno's got more RBIs, more doubles, more triples and a higher slugging percentage. Oh yeah, and Sandell has 28 strikeouts in 77 at-bats, while Muno has 21 in 92. And let us not forget Sandell's team-high 7 errors, compared with 3 by Muno.

So yeah, if there's a reason you deserve to start Sandy, I'd like to hear it. I think we all would. Here's to hoping you ask Coach Batesole for your roster spot back and just go about it the old fashioned way -- earning it.

Hooray Grizz fans showin' the 'Dogs love!

One small slice of the Grizzlies-Giants game last night in Fresno stood out to me. Not that multi-millionaire Barry Zito was done in by the Grizzlies, not that the Grizz signed a two-year development extension with the Giants and not that Barry Bonds' enormous head was not in left field for the first time in years.

Nope, it was the ol' applause-O-meter. OK, so Chukchansi Park wasn't really equipped with a tool to measure applauses, but my human ears detected that for Fresno City College and Fresno State pitcher Mark Gardner (also a former major leaguer and current Giants assistant) got by far the loudest ovation when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

I've gotta admit, it made me feel proud that the fans were knowledgeable enough to recognize Gardner for his great success story and his Fresno/Clovis roots. (It's just too bad for the Giants he didn't take the mound.)

I was sad to miss the Diamond 'Dogs 13-11 win over Cal Poly last night, but I couldn't pass up a chance to see a overflowing crowd in downtown Fresno. And while I don't plan to miss many more Fresno State baseball games for it, I do plan to make plenty more Grizz outings this year. With the new lateupdate.com promotion to win some free tickets, maybe I'll luck out and not have to shell out so much cash next time? (It was $20 a pop for the cheap seats.) But I guess I'll do what it takes...

What's wrong with the Diamond 'Dogs?

Remember the last time the Fresno State baseball team got off to a hot start? If you do, you'll agree it's been a while. If you don't, it's been a while. So most of the Diamond 'Dog fans likely expected it once again this season, or at least knew not to panic when it happened, again.

Those of you still waiting to panic, you can start now. Fresno State has eight wins, with the only one of significance coming against San Diego State, because they were ranked at the time. Now, we're into the WAC season now and getting complete-gamed shutout by a sub-.500 team. With one-third of the season gone and a win/loss S-curve that rivals the 1906 San Francisco earthquake on the Richter scale (sorry, I've been studying for a California Earth Science exam and it's fresh in the mind), there could not be a better time to put a lot of Ws on the board, unless we go back in time.

I don't like to focus on the negative, but there are so many people confused as to why this has happened, that I'm going to focus on it. So far this year, I've attended every home game and followed every road game via radio or gametracker:

• Tom Mendonca is striking out in nearly half of his at-bats, a number that is in the 30s. He's also batting under .200. Reason number one for this is that he has been a complete guess hitter all year, not good considering he's only been right 17 times in more than 70 at-bats. Couple that with him trying to be a leader by example on the field and feeling like he needs to carry the team out of the gutter, and poof, you get his current stat line. That's all there is to it on his end, but it's nothing that is easy to fix at this point.

• Mendonca hasn't been the only one struggling to make contact. The Bulldogs as a team have struck out more than twice the amount they have taken a walk this year. In college baseball, contact is a must. I don't think I need to get too deep into this, but you then have no chance for sac bunts, hit and runs, steals, a pitcher working out of the stretch, pitchers on the mound from mostly weak bullpens, it goes on and on. Last night against Hawaii: four hits and 10 strikeouts. They never had a chance.

• On-field leadership: Danny Grubb is your main leader on this club, but it's hard to have that role when the catching job is split three ways and when he himself is struggling terribly at the plate. Coach Batesole is a tough, hard-nosed guy, but at the same time, he trusts his players to take care of their business and get their work in, therefore keeping his distance at times. I will never say that this team doesn't go out and play hard, because I think they go all out on the field, but the demeanor of this team and apparent (apparent being the key word) lack of visual competitiveness (if that makes sense), is noticeably different from the Bob Bennett teams of the past. That goes for every Batesole team since he arrived.
  

• Lineup juggling: Even this deep into the season, there is no everyday lineup. You would think this is a small deal, but it's not, because each spot in the lineup has a different role. It has a bigger impact than you would think.
  

• Preseason expectations: This team made no secrets before the season that it was Omaha or bust. The slow start only adds to this pressure. For all we know, maybe our guys just don't handle that pressure too well. It's entirely possible.

These are just five reasons for the early struggles, and there are plenty more, maybe even ones that are more telling. There is no quick fix, although I know this team responds to personal challenges. When they are called out, they respond. Problem is, it shouldn't get to that point. Baseball should no doubt be fun for these guys, but they'll agree that it's never fun when you are losing.

Maybe it's time to bear down a little bit more and show some visible intensity and focus. That kind of emotion can change things in a hurry. Or maybe this team can't play that way.

But, for me at least, as long as they continue to play all out and represent Fresno State with pride, I'll be out there supporting them.

But I just get the feeling that they need to support themselves too.

Go DOGS!

This Tanner is no Bad News Bear...

Did you guys all catch this big story in Baseball America?

It's all about Fresno State pitcher Tanner Scheppers, who coach Mike Batesole says is right around that 100 mph mark (so beware guy who hit the comebacker into Scheppers' face in last year's Regionals).

For years, I've been thinking the 'Dogs just need to get another one of those dominant pitchers to get back to the College World Series and the top 10. And I didn't really see this coming last year, but maybe Scheppers is that guy? Jeff Weaver was almost unbeatable. Bobby Jones was unbeatable (and he didn't even have to throw more than 92 to earn college pitcher of the year honors). Steve Soderstrom, dominant. Seeing Dick Ruthven get his jersey number retired yesterday made me realize he was pretty unhitable (no-hitter and career 1.51 ERA...who does that in college)!?

Is Scheppers going to be another on that short list? Maybe it's time to book those plane tickets to Omaha...? This week's tournament in San Diego should tell us plenty.

Cruel and unusual punishment

This is just downright mean. And I don't even know what I'm being punished for...but I'm pretty sure this punishment is unconstitutional.

Apparently it's because my hometown (and yours if you too live in Fresno or the surrounding San Joaquin Valley) has better weather than most other areas of the country. So the NCAA decided the great college baseball teams of the West aren't allowed to start until late February this season (so they don't get a unfair advantage that schools back east and up north who have colder weather don't).

And now look what happens. After last weekend's warm, sunbathing bliss, Opening Day for the No. 18 Diamond 'Dogs is finally here and Fresno (one of the dry cities of America) is experiencing monsoon rains that threaten to cancel this special day and cause fans to wait even longer to see their 'Dogs.

Thanks a lot NCAA. You took our Alumni Game, and about four weeks of could-be baseball greatness. And I want it back!