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Posted on Jun 1st, 11:32 PM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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Starting this thread to discuss offseason news about Spartan baseball, including transfers and players in summer league.
Two players have entered the transfer portal. On Friday, redshirt sophom*ore relief pitcher Casey Spencer announced his intent to transfer. He appeared in 23 games with three starts and 33 IP from 2022 to 2024 (redshirted 2023). I heard from a reliable source that fifth-year senior outfielder Kimo f*ckof*cka is also in the portal.
- Discussion
Posted on Jun 2nd, 1:18 AM, , User Since 271 months ago, User Post Count: 1540
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While SJS needs players from the portal to replace most of the roster, an equally important thing is to maintain stability among the coaches. Most importantly, I hope the pitching coach can get better pitching performance over the next several seasons. The team ERA over 6 is not good looking to me as a baseball old-timer.
Posted on Jun 2nd, 1:35 AM, , User Since 105 months ago, User Post Count: 3428
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Matt Spear also entered the portal.
Posted on Jun 2nd, 1:03 PM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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Matt Spear entering portal is crippling. He may get drafted. He is an outstanding catcher…. A one plane, power hitting left handed hitter. The others mean nothing.
The pitching coach situation has become farcical. A different guy every year. The guy they have now is young. Not sure if married and has children. That is a factor.
Posted on Jun 2nd, 1:31 PM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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bulldogseventy said... (original post) Matt Spear entering portal is crippling. He may get drafted. He is an outstanding catcher…. A one plane, power hitting left handed hitter. T...
The pitching coach's bio doesn't include any info about a family.
I did not know Spear had a fifth year of eligibility. As a true freshman he played only two games very late in the season, so that is probably why.
Posted on Jun 3rd, 11:04 PM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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Evansville is being called "America's Team" for making their first ever Super Regional, following a 6-5 upset win at East Carolina. They'll take on Tennessee next weekend in Knoxville.
UConn also got a steal of a win, 7-1 at Oklahoma. So that finalizes all 16 Super Regional qualifiers.
Posted on Jun 3rd, 11:40 PM, , User Since 105 months ago, User Post Count: 3428
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Nathan Cadena in the portal.
Posted on Jun 4th, 12:30 AM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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Santa Clara left fielder Jordan Lewis also entered the transfer portal. In 2024, he hit .259 with 21 RBI.
He has two years of eligibility remaining - and he's also the twin brother of SJSU DH Jared Lewis (who transferred from SCU for this season).
So Cadena entering the portal means that SJSU now has EIGHT spots in the starting nine to replace for 2025!
If Sanfilippo could pick up so many quality transfers right after that nightmare of a 2021 season (Brady, Cade, Ethan, Hunter for example), he's got to be able to pick up quality guys after three straight winning conference records AND so many roster openings.
Posted on Jun 4th, 8:53 AM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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Cadena could hit…. Very dangerous offensive threat…. This will be a brand new team in 2025….
Posted on Jun 4th, 11:01 AM, , User Since 105 months ago, User Post Count: 3428
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Robbie Hamchuck in the portal.
Posted on Jun 4th, 11:27 AM, , User Since 77 months ago, User Post Count: 2154
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i thought Hamchuck was a senior. He's listed as a redshirt senior - does that mean he has an extra year of eligibility? These guys who are seniors should look to get drafted by the pros. Once your past 22 or 23, you're considered "too old" by many pro scouts.
Posted on Jun 4th, 11:32 AM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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SpartansRule1986 said... (original post) i thought Hamchuck was a senior. He's listed as a redshirt senior - does that mean he has an extra year of eligibility? These guys wh...
Yes he was a fifth year senior in 2024.
A couple weeks back, I heard he might have a sixth year of eligibility. The likely reason is that he played only 13 games in the shortened 36-game season in 2021, so there were probably enough circ*mstances out of his control for the NCAA not to count 2021 as a full season.
Posted on Jun 4th, 11:39 AM, , User Since 271 months ago, User Post Count: 1540
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I thought Hamchuck exhausted his eligibility too, but if he and Cadena are both leaving, then that's a big blow to getting any experienced players back. Like Seventy said, it'll be a completely brand new set of starters next year.
Posted on Jun 4th, 11:57 AM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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Lol
This is amazing…. The draft has only 20 rounds. I thought at least 6 of these oldies but goodies would get some type of offer. Why would Hamchuk be in the portal? What’s his deal?
Andrew…. Why don’t you interview Sanfillipo and get some information.
Posted on Jun 4th, 12:11 PM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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bulldogseventy said... (original post) LolThis is amazing…. The draft has only 20 rounds. I thought at least 6 of these oldies but goodies would get some type of offer. Why would ...
I did speak with Hamchuk a couple weeks ago for the "Mr. San Jose" profile. During our conversation he did hint at having a sixth year of eligibility but did not mention the transfer portal.
From my observations, many athletes considering the pros also enter the portal at the same time.
At SJSU, many of the recent draft picks were early entrants who gave up remaining college eligibility - see Kellen Strahm, Ruben Ibarra, Brady Hill, and Charles McAdoo.
Posted on Jun 4th, 12:25 PM, , User Since 86 months ago, User Post Count: 2201
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bulldogseventy said... (original post) LolThis is amazing…. The draft has only 20 rounds. I thought at least 6 of these oldies but goodies would get some type of offer. Why would ...
The fact that San Jose State baseball dramatically underperformed this season I'm sure played a big role in his decision...I don't know seventy, If he can latch on to a top 50 team playing in a significantly better conference to enhance his standing his final season of eligibility then why not go for it??
Posted on Jun 4th, 12:28 PM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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78….. I guess nothing should surprise me anymore. It’s a circus.
Posted on Jun 4th, 5:40 PM, , User Since 212 months ago, User Post Count: 5853
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AndrewPang247 said... (original post) Evansville is being called "America's Team" for making their first ever Super Regional, following a 6-5 upset win at East Caro...
I’m hoping to be at the Knoxville Super Regional, but tickets are not open to non-season ticket holders yet. This was my view last weekend for the championship game.
Posted on Jun 5th, 3:17 PM, , User Since 271 months ago, User Post Count: 1540
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spartanmike15 said... (original post) I’m hoping to be at the Knoxville Super Regional, but tickets are not open to non-season ticket holders yet. This was my view last weekend fo...
Beautiful stadium and not suprising for any SEC school where they actually put money into the program off the success of football and other revenue generating sports. If SJS could ever get their baseball program to be a consistent top 30 team someday, I'd hope something like this could happen. Right now, just having a good practice field is a challenge.
Posted on Jun 5th, 8:49 PM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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Spartanbaseball….. Sjs botched up their opportunity for a “ decent” practice field…
. They literally tore down Blethen Field to build the Golf Facility. The program was told that a “ new” practice facility would be built at South Campus within 2-3 years.
. A donor ( whose son was on the team) raised over 3 million dollars to jumpstart the facility.
. The plan and execution of the plan was rushed and poorly implemented. The field failed to meet fundamental requirements to make the facility operational…. It was declared non functional after some practices….
. It is utilized right now to do some basic things … but certainly not up to standard.It is questionable whether or not the AD will try and do this again. I encourage any of our readers to by 10th and Humbolt and check it out.
Posted on Jun 6th, 12:04 AM, , User Since 160 months ago, User Post Count: 1810
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bulldogseventy said... (original post) Spartanbaseball….. Sjs botched up their opportunity for a “ decent” practice field… . They literally tore down Blethen Field to build the Go...
Bulldog you're spot on as to what happened. My question is, who told the baseball program that they would have a new practice facility within 2-3 years after Blethen Field was torn down? In the university master plan, there is a proposal to build a new baseball stadium at the practice field site but it would be a partnership with the San Jose Giants if the city decides not to renew their lease with them. I believe it runs until the end of the decade. The naming rights deal with Excite runs through 2031, with annual payments of up to $124 thousand. It's ridiculous how much Excite Ballpark charges San Jose State for playing baseball there, $195k a year. That's almost three times more than what the university pays San Jose City College to house our men's and women's track and field.
This post was edited by cannonballrun6 23 days ago
Posted on Jun 6th, 4:25 AM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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Cannon….. many, many years ago , I attended a meeting with Coach Piraro, Scott Hertller ( assistant coach) to meet with Harry Steve ( San Jose Giants President) and general manager Mark Wilson. This meeting was a tense, at times emotional meeting between Sam and Harry. Piraro was trying to get practice time during the Fall season and play all of their Intra Squads and scrimmages. I just listened and took notes. Sam assured the Giants brass that the Spartan team would do all the field prep and cleanup. He loaned some Sjs equipment to help the crew at Muni to keep the landscape and maintenance of the park. We got the field for nothing!We paid an average of $500.00 per game in the Spring. Sam developed a relationship with the folks at Muni. At times , the relationship was challenged by the Giants group because of sunflower seeds left in the dugout…. Or a gate not being closed correctly.
All of these challenges got Piraro to work on building Blethen Field. Basically a refurbishment of the little league Spartan Field that the program practiced for decades. The Blethen Family donated over $650,000 to Sam and the program ( 1997). This eventuality led to the batting cages and pitching tunnels being donated by Jack Gifford and Keith Stephens. I actually attended a lunch with Stephens, Tom Bowen and Piraro when Stephens wanted to put lights at Blethen Field! Bowen told him he would have to put lights up for softball as well. That killed the deal. It was a title 9 issue at the time. So the Muni / Excite Park dilemma has gone on for decades. The San Francisco Giants did not want Sjs using the field at all in the Fall. It was a constant struggle and battle. Piraro was stubborn and would not give in. He fought his behind off for the baseball program. People have no idea how much time went into that relationship.
Today…. the Excite Park brass has basically saved the program by allowing the program to play and sometimes practice there. But…. The cost is immense. I have been out of the loop for almost 20 years …. But I know the rent isn’t cheap. It’s criminal that Sjs has not had their own ballpark . That’s what makes Coach Piraro’s tenure so remarkable. He found a way to consistently put a winning team on the field…. While fighting tooth and nail off the field.
Posted on Jun 6th, 9:19 AM, , User Since 86 months ago, User Post Count: 2201
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Muni has been both a blessing and a curse for San Jose State Baseball.... All that behind the scenes work Sam did to allow the Spartans to play there has also allowed the various athletic administrations to "ignore" baseballs needs and "kick the can" down the road and let some other future administration deal with the long term solution for Spartan Baseball..
Also, Bowen was an IDIOT to turn down the offer of putting lights at Blethen by telling Mr Stephen he had to put lights at the softball field too.... What an absolutely moronic thing for an AD to say to a donor and then blame Title IX for doing so. That kind of shortsightedness is why South Campus languished for decades!! Put a plan on the table.... ask for donations... could have done countless things to get lights added to the softball field too (thereby avoiding any Title IX complications) which was much smaller and therefore would have been cheaper to accomplish. AD malpractice to the enth degree!
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Posted on Jun 6th, 10:15 AM, , User Since 114 months ago, User Post Count: 8965
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There was an administrator named Kelly Elliot who was advising Bowen. I remember that name.
Posted on Jun 6th, 1:12 PM, , User Since 271 months ago, User Post Count: 1540
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bulldogseventy said... (original post) Spartanbaseball….. Sjs botched up their opportunity for a “ decent” practice field… . They literally tore down Blethen Field to build the Go...
Right, I think you pointed out these things earlier.
So, my question is does the current administration have the foresight and the effort to make a 100% working practice and game field? Because if they don't and have to rely entirely on private donations to make it happen *again*, then I don't see SJS baseball having the resources to even complete part of it anytime soon. If they had 3 million to make the current site workable, and then botched it big-time, I wouldn't want any of the admin to be the primary managers of the site again. Considering that baseball is one of a handful of sports that can win at a decent level every year in the MWC, this is a travesty.
Posted on Jun 6th, 1:28 PM, , User Since 150 months ago, User Post Count: 38192
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ramillies78 said... (original post) Muni has been both a blessing and a curse for San Jose State Baseball.... All that behind the scenes work Sam did to allow the Spartans to play ...
It's tragically humorous to see that an AD used Title IX as an excuse to block facility improvements over perceived equality issues, while his actions related to an even worse situation led to actual Title IX violations.
