Dream Weaver returns to Blue Crew

After a 2008 season with the Mariners that made Fresno State fans (also known as Jeff Weaver fans) cringe, Weaver is back in Dodger blue. He debuted with four scoreless innings of relief last week, and is now being pushed into the starting rotation for the team with the best record in the Majors.

Weaver has taken his share of criticism during his career, putting up inconsistent numbers since a promising start with the Tigers, to see-saw showings with the Yankees, to great success with the Dodgers and a World Series win with the Cardinals, and then the disappointment with the Angels and Mariners. Though his ERA has only been below 4.00 once, Weaver was tops in the National League in quality starts during his time with the Dodgers.

That's why heading back to the Dodgers was the best decision the former Fresno State walk-on turned college All-American could make.

On a side note, when Weaver threw four innings of shutout ball this past Thursday, one couldn't help but notice the oversight of ESPN's SportsCenter crew. They showed the Weaver highlights immediately following their coverage of Matt Garza's near perfect game for the Rays in a shutout of the Red Sox. Yet not one mention that both are former Diamond 'Dogs.

A 'Dogs-filled day

You may have noticed the game previews have been missing for a few weeks...and they will return once Fresno State returns to playing Bulldog Football. We wouldn't even mind seeing a nice little blowout over Utah State today (that '06 games still tastes disgusting).

And after the 'Dogs noon kickoff with the Aggies, we can all tune in to see former 'Dog Matt Garza take the mound for the Rays in Game 3 of the World Series against the evil Phillies.

Side Note: So much for San Jose State being that cat's meow -- apparently beating three lower-tier WAC teams doesn't bode all that well for the Spartans after all. It's just like in '06, when San Jo beat bad teams and built up confidence -- they started to believe they were really good even though they weren't. Sorry Sparty (see ya Nov. 21)!

Heart and Soul

We've heard a lot about heart and soul this week in the college baseball world.

For me, it started during the Tony D. show on 1550 AM when guest interview Augie Garrido (the current Texas coach and former CS Fullerton coach) was talking about his life documentary that aired tonight on ESPN2. Garrido, who was a player on Fresno State's 1959 College World Series team, and whose number is retired on the Beiden Field wall, told Tony D. his heart is in Texas but his soul is in Fresno.

Then we heard Diamond 'Dogs coach Mike Batesole talk about Game 1 starter Justin Wilson being all heart on the mound. That heart helped him limit No. 6 Rice to two runs in seven innings in the 'Dogs 17-5 CWS win.

Shoot, the ESPN announcers and all the other media have been talking all week about how these 'Dogs aren't supposed to be here. They're the first No. 4 Regional seed to ever make it this far, their lineup has the lowest team average of any CWS squad, they score the least runs per game and blah blah blah. But they have big hearts everyone keeps saying.

Everyone on planet Earth, meet Fresno State. That's what we've been trying to tell you for years -- decades even. Pat Hill talks about it. The football team talks about. It's what the Red Wave and Fresno State athletics is built upon and generated by. Heart and soul is what puts the chip on our collective shoulder. We know we're capable of beating anyone. We don't take moral victories. We come to win the game.

Our players play harder than yours, our yellers in the stands yell louder in the stands than yours and our coaches coach better than yours. If you try to argue that with us, we'll argue better than you too.

Tell us we're not good enough and it's like putting a baby Gremlin in a pool of water. It makes our heart grow more motivated and our soul more attached to Fresno State. Keep telling us we shouldn't be here, we strike out too much, we don't field clean enough or throw fast enough or run quick enough or hit far enough or have enough players batting .400. Keep talking about your paper advantages. Go ahead. Just be ready to prove it on the field.