Who do you want in the starting lineup?

Now that Fresno State's "UnderDOGS to WonderDOGS Part 2" came to an abrupt end after two straight losses to open the NCAA regionals in Irvine, this much we know:

• Tommy Mendonca and Holden Sprague are true 'Dogs at heart. Both were choked up and nearly moved to tears knowing their Bulldogs careers were coming to an end (Mendonca as an early-round draft pick and the school's all-time home run king).
• Dusty Robinson is good, as in Freshman All-America good. The left fielder bashed 15 taters and his batting average skyrocketed the last month of the season.
• Derek Benny is gonna be good, as in Matt Garza/Tanner Scheppers good. Maybe even Jeff Weaver/Bobby Jones good. Benny is a power pitcher, like Garza and Scheppers, but had far more control of his stuff than either of those two did as freshmen.
• There are five really, and I stress really, annoying kids who are UC Irvine fans. I know because they sat right behind us at the regionals and mocked every traditional Diamond 'Dogs chant. And the three adults with 'em just encouraged the foolishness.

What we don't know, however, is what next year's starting lineup will look like. There's a lot of turnover, a nice group of signees and lots of returning talent. So sound off. Who do you want in the 2010 Fresno State baseball starting lineup? Here's my take:

1. Danny Muno, 2B
2. Nick Hom, 3B
3. Dusty Robinson, LF
4. Jake Johnson, DH
5. Steve Detwiler, RF
6. Clay Cederquist, 1B
7. Brennan Gowens, CF
8. Garrett Weber, SS
9. Trent Garrison, C

Pitching Rotation
Derek Benny
Jake Floethe
Josh Poytress
Matt Morse

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)!