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Who would you rather have now?
by The Truth (no login)
Here are the options
Hindy
Wine
Ford
Other
This may get interesting don't just give a name give a reason too.
Ford would be a close second. He had the outstanding people skills and the kids all respected him, unlike Hindy. I think Ford should have had a chance to get his shot, but Hindy intentionally screwed him out of the position.
Hindelang without question. Why wouldnt you choose a guy with a proven track record here at PSU? Use any criteria you want....games won, post season appearances, regionals, players drafted.....
Games won - well yes if you stick around forever.
Post season appearances - thanks to Coach Ditch
Regionals - see above
Players drafted - hell yes if you stick around forever.
Check Hindelang's winning percentage - very mediocre coach.
Never has any baseball coach been openly laughed at and mimicked by other teams, our own fans and players IN our own field. And some other memorable faux pas as well. We will never soon forget Hindy, that's for sure, but it'll be for his quirkiness before his coaching talent.
Ditch wasnt part of the Penn State scene for many of Hindelang's seasons. The Hindelang led teams were successful in many of the years that Ditch wasnt around. I think Ditch is a nice guy but am not quite sure of his baseball acumen. Why hasnt some major program scooped him up either as a head coach or as an assistant? He has bounced around since he left PSU...out in OHio someplace, then the volunteer at West Virginia, and now at a PSAC school. Oh well, I guess talent is in the eye of the beholder.
coach ditch made hindelang a coach. he also made ford a coach that was draftable in his hiring in the midwest. hindelang ****ed coach ford out of the head coaching position at psu. hindelang ended his career at psu by ****ing over a lot of people who supported him. for that hindelang will always be reviled and deservedly so. he made enemies and friends turned agaist him when they saw his true intentions. lets forget about this loser. i have reservations about coach wine but coach wine will never be a total self-supporting loser like hindelang. hindelang used everybody but wine has not. so lets cut wine a break. at least hes honorable and never used the baseball booster club to fund a party at his house. coach wine is at least honerable. you guys remember that.
You must be confused with someone else. He probably doesn't even know what honerable means. He's not smart enough to use booster money for a party. I guess it is more honerable to just let Gummo fund all his parties. But that's a whole different issue. At least Hindy had brains. 2-12 by the way!
Agreed. I know we've heard this before, but I think this year's team is going to do well overall and great in the B10! Lot's of pitching talent and the JC kids have added some consistency to the hitting. I'm not sure if they can win it, but I am sure they'll make the tourney and compete this year. Once in the B10 tourney, anyone can win it with good pitching! Also, I will be shocked if anyone has better pitching depth than PSU in the B10 this year. Remember you heard it from me first--they MAY win it all, but they WILL make the tourney and have a run at the title.
JT,
You may be right, but pitching can win some unwinnable games at times. PSU is going to be tough through the rotation. Wyner and Clark are tough to beat. The new kid, Stobart I hear is smart and can be very tough as well. With the addition of the Karr kid (state Championship 1 hitter)and Lorenston (lefty) from the pen or maybe as starters later in the season--they will be tough to beat.
I thought you meant what players in history put together now would field a dream team. If this thread develops like that, I'll be back with some input.
Bochna, Bump, Campo, and Fagan have to make the cut right? If this thread is actually going to go in that direction that is. I also can't speak for any PSU baseball history prior to 1994 or so, so my opinion is skewed.
3B - Fagan (he's done playing professionally?)
2B - Eric Spadt (great hands), Mike Delorenzo (and the guy is really smart)
Outfield - Campo (enough said), Bochna, D Beers (HR Hitter...beat Bochna's record), Chris Right,
Catcher - Ryder/Netwall/Sadlowski
Pitcher - Bump, The 1995 Team (Dalsey, Weimer, Emerich, Jazkowski, etc)
Clayton Hamilton are you joking? If any Hamilton belongs it's Scott Hamilton. That guy was the man! He hit that home run in the Regional that sealed the deal.
Wheeler has to be included in the all time great team. How can you start 184 consecutive games and say the guy sucks. He was one of the best infielders PSU has ever had. He has to be on the list.
Bochna could not hit his way out of a paper bag. Also, he had to throw the ball to Rentschler so he could throw it in. Bochna could not reach the infield before the ball stopped. He only played because PAterno told Hindelang if he didn't that he wanted him back for Spring Practice.........truth hurts.
Bochna was THE GUY who carried the team when he was there. The team relied on his HR capabilities. Total BS that Joe P. made demands. Joe never makes those kinds of demands. You are wrong and spreading horse**** in that capacity.
Pitcher for the super regional-Kevin Damaino
2 Best BP hitters in PSU history-Brian Bishop and Doug Rodio
Quickest Bat-Joe Puliafco
Best Looking-Zack Smithlin
Best Eater after the game-Matt Harter
Best Pre Game Motivator-Scott Hamilton
Best Hitter at finding the barrel-Mike Derenzo
Best Bullpen Catcher-Matt Lindert
Best Tarp Slider-Matt Debis
Best Fielder/Whiffle Ball Hitter-Kevin McHale
If the coaching staff can put together a team similiar to this I dont know if we can lose.
Why is there nothing promoting PS baseball? There is nothing anywhere except here at this pathetic site. So maybe this pathetic site is the only source of anything? Just wondering and if this is all there is, it is super bad. Nothing against this place but for goddam, PR should be better, don't you think?
I saw that they are taking requests for tix for PSU games. They will sell to suckers who don't know that if you don't buy and show up, you get free admission anyhow. Not like anybody will go anyhow.
Come on, if $2 or $5 is a problem I'm sure they'll let you in free. No big deal!! Suckers?? No, I think they're called supporters. I love PSU sports and a lousy $2 isn't going to kill me. And if it helps the program, GREAT!
(this string appeared to get lost in the mix....behind a lot of messages from December. Sorry if you're reading it for a 2nd time)
Taking 1 of 3 from UNC is pretty impressive....would have loved to see 2 of 3 or the sweep, but taking 1 in the manner that they did (bottom of the ninth homer to tie it) is definitely a confidence booster.
OK....so we need someone, hopefully more than one, to step up and start hitting some bombs. Yodice may be the answer, but lets get a bunch of the guys taking some big time hacks! A team back in the late 90's hit more than 90 HRs in one season....want to put people in the seats....start taking it deep! Despite how sweet that stadium is and don't begin to think that I wouldn't have loved to play there (we were told we'd have one before I graduated), it's still a ways away from campus so there's a need to get creative to get people to the games. Like Ohio State, Michigan and Minnesota, we need some fans to buy tickets right near the opposing team's dugout and get in their heads...tastefully done. It helps if these fans are knowledgeable about the game and the little nuances versus saying something like "hey 'so and so'..you suck". Rather...."so 'Johnny', looks like you've been struggling at the plate...tough seeing the pitches....good luck up there"....knowing full well that he's K'd the last 6 out of 8 times to the plate. OK, so maybe knowledgeable fans isn't the answer and some of you will say that having people like this at the game isn't neccesary or welcome (watch a game at Ohio State...it's definitely a home field advantage), but some other ideas to get people out to the game would be some 'BIG' posters in the HUB, at the local gyms, throw some up at the popular 'watering holes'...food/drink specials (most college kids don't have a ton of $)...establish some traditions (have some fraternity/social group, etc. grab the seats in right field...be sure to give them a 'fan ball' every once in a while. I know there are some guys that are capabale of putting them out there. After a win, Texas' team would get out on the field and acknowledge the fans w/ the Texas fight song...after a win, PSU could do something similar....maybe a nice WE ARE PENN STATE.
Add your thoughts on what could be done to get more support?
Lets get some wins over Spring Break and head into the Big-Ten w/ some confidence.
love your ideas for support. Joe Paterno could help the whole situation with few words--posted on another site, and I agree. How about attending one and letting it be known that he supports the boys!! Big help. Like your ideas of frats and sororoties etc. T-shirts for the right field bleacher bums for the first 100 students at the stadium on opening day? Keep the HR balls hit out as well as foul balls? do they now? Business students help marketing efforts as an internship--on another site and a great idea!! Give others....
Geez, I'm not hearing all the baseball bashers very loudly any more. Could it have something to do with BEATING THE #1 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY AT THEIR HOME FIELD that keeps those folks quiet?? (Should have won the rubber game!) I wonder?? Now, they may not win another game with their out of conference schedule as tough as it is, but THAT is a pretty nice win. Also, if they gain the confidence they should from this game, they should be a B10 contender and win a few more against some of these so-called unbeatable ranked clubs. I now look for them to be in the top 3 and potentially win the B10 THIS year!!!!
First of all, nobody said there are unbeatable ranked teams. The Yankees aren't unbeatable! That is bull! As for PSU beating UNC... Awesome! Clark probably just got himself drafted, or at least signed at the end of the year. Good for him!
This sort of thing happens all the time. How hard is it for a team that has nothing to lose to get up for a game against a top team that has nothing to win? Not very hard. UNC had nothing to win in this series. If you win, you were supposed to. If they lose or even play close with teams like Penn State, they will drop in the rankings. Way more pressure on UNC. Lose, Lose for the Tar Heels!
Just cause you a good outing from a guy, doesn't mean you are going to win the Big 10. He(Clark) can pitch with anyone in college baseball depending on which Clark shows up that day. But he can't pitch and win 30 games. Every now and then we will get a good start from Wyner. But not everytime. Then who do we have? Gaffney? Sorry, that won't last. Let's face it. He's not very good on the mound. He has potential but that won't win ballgames and lets just pray he doesn't get hurt.
You still have 4 games on the weekend come big 10.
This sort of thing may happen all the time for others, but for PSU it hasn't happened in a long, long, long time!!! A very promising sign of confidence, which is what this team has needed for a while. And no, it was a figure of speech when I say "unbeatable", no one is unbeatable in anything--that's why we play the games. However, PSU has a very good pitching staff even behind Clark. Wyner was coming on very strong in the summer and the fall. I saw him pitch in the fall, wow, superb. Now he's hurt and that can hurt this team, however, Stobart is very solid and the freshman Carr can throw--maybe not in the B10 yet, but I think he'll be a keeper. Others like Lorenston need just a little more seasoning and they will do fine. Returners from last season can hold their own in the B10. The hitting needs to get better. If it does they can play with anyone, especially the B10!!! Wichita State is now ranked 12th, they'll be tough. Oral Roberts has dropped out of the rankings, but is a challenge anyway. Kansas will be tough as well. Now, lets just pull a few wins out of that group and there is no ceiling.
Anything that provides a confidence is good and PSU has not had such a game in awhile .Things looking up. Now if only Sports Info could get it together and give a little PR their way, it would help fill some seats at home.
But one story at the CDT after basketball. for the life of me, I can't understand why all the fuss over basketball. That's a team we totally need to be ashamed of.
There is a good chance (VERY GOOD) they won't win a single game. UNC, ORU, Wichita State, KU and Pitt. If they come away with 2 wins, I will be very shocked.
"They may only win 2 or 3 games before the home opener (brutal schedule), however they have three of 4 of there toughest opponents at home, Northwestern, Minnesota, and OSU. I would be very disappointed if they didn’t make the big ten tourney with the schedule they have. 30 wins this year."
This is what i posted on Jan 4th, Good Luck Guys Prove Us Wrong.
I read about the talent on this team and it sounds as though these guys should not only be competing for the BigTen title, but having their sites set even higher.....but I thought the same thing last year. New stadium, talent from all over the country, pitchers that go above 6'4"....Lets go! We need someone, hopefully more than one, to step up and start hitting some bombs. A team back in the late 90's hit more than 90 HRs in one season....want to put people in the seats....start taking it deep! Despite how sweet that stadium is and don't begin to think that I wouldn't have loved to play there (we were told we'd have one before I graduated), it's still a ways away from campus so there's a need to get creative to get people to the games. Like Ohio State, Michigan and Minnesota, we need some fans to buy tickets right near the opposing team's dugout and get in their heads...tastefully done. It helps if these fans are knowledgeable about the game and the little nuances versus saying something like "hey 'so and so'..you suck". Rather...."so 'Johnny', looks like you've been struggling at the plate...tough seeing the pitches....good luck up there"....knowing full well that he's K'd the last 6 out of 8 times to the plate. OK, so maybe knowledgeable fans isn't the answer and some of you will say that having people like this at the game isn't neccesary or welcome (watch a game at Ohio State...it's definitely a home field advantage), but some other ideas to get people out to the game would be some 'BIG' posters in the HUB, at the local gyms, throw some up at the popular 'watering holes'...food/drink specials (most college kids don't have a ton of $)...establish some traditions (have some fraternity/social group, etc. grab the seats in right field...be sure to give them a 'fan ball' every once in a while. I know there are some guys that are capabale of putting them out there. After a win, Texas' team would get out on the field and acknowledge the fans w/ the Texas fight song...after a win, PSU could do something similar....maybe a nice WE ARE PENN STATE.
Lets get it done this year....tough ones this weekend w/ UNC (#1 in the country). Head down their w/ a swagger and give those pretty boys in Chapel Hill a reason to hang their heads.
Best case senario is 23-33. That is giving them a split with most every team in the Big Ten. Look at the schedule! See what you think. I won't say what the worst (more realistic) senario is.
Okay, so they aren't sharp. Expected. But when the head guy starts making stupid moves the first game of the year, it just shows you what you've got to look forward to the rest of the season. I mean you knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but it's still a bummer.
We finally get a couple of guys on, down 3-0, two out, Field coming up. KSU goes to the Pen. So he (Wine) pinch hits for Field. Okay. It's got to be Leitgeb, or Spinelli, or Nakada, or Piccone(is Lewis still around?). Of course not!!! Lets put in a pitcher who doesn't have a college AB! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
It's a good thing this is going to be his last year!
Lets blame this slow start on none other than Joe Hindelang. He has gotten blamed for seemingly every loss since he left so lets keep the tradition going.
Because the coaching staff has no clue, they just lost David Bumstead! This is a big loss for Nittany Lion Baseball. Anyone who has watched David pitch, knows that he is a great baseball talent who needed a little guidance. But you can't get that here.
This could be the best thing that could happen to him though. Let's keep an eye on him. He is a pro talent.
Good luck Dave. We will miss you in State College!
Maybe we should ask Robbie that question. My guess is that it's because he didn't pitch at all last weekend. It's probably a pretty big slap in the face to have someone who hasn't started since LL get a chance before you. I'm sure he didn't come up here from California to not pitch.
I agree with the idea that you don't pick a kid out of nowhere (Little league) and simply grant him an opportunity to START over kids who have worked their career at pitching. Not the right thing to do. I hope that they don't lose more kids due to this type of decision-making. If the pitching staff is so deep why start your starting SS on the bump? Other members on the pitching staff could take this the wrong way as well.
This kid averaged almost 3 base runners per inning last year and had the highest ERA on the team. Why does he deserve to pitch over someone else? He is also a Sophomore, if after one week of not pitching makes him want to quit…well maybe he should suck it up.
The only game we won was when our Short Stop did pitch maybe we should go around the infield to find our four starters.
That just goes to show you that the coaches did a piss poor job of recruiting. I bet you Cavagnaro could do what Gaffney did. Hey, it's worth a shot!!!
First post. I have watched several of the info posted on this site and others re PSU baseball. I had an opportunity to see several of the current players play, both in HS as well as for PSU. Gaffney, Ogrodnik, Lutz, and a few others thru the years. I have never seen the Karr kid throw in person, but I did see the news on his HS run and had an opportunity to see the State Championship game--impressive!! If he is gone--wow, what a loss!!! He's young and talented. Please say it ain't so. I may not post again if it's him, just for shear stupidity of the coaching staff.
P.S. I agree with the posts regarding Gaffney. Why are they chancing their starting SS as a starter?? If people (scouts) want to see him throw, let it be in relief or closing. Supposedly, they have been bragging how much depth their pitching staff has this year. If that's the case why chance getting your starting SS injured?? Makes no sense to me. If scouts want to see him throw, they'll have plenty of chances as a reliever. Several newcomers seem capable.
It's one thing to be bad leaders, but to screw with a players future! That is where you have to draw the line. Gaffney will play at the next level, one way or another. It might be in the field or it might be on the bump. One thing is for sure though. There isn't a baseball player in the country that can be your everyday shortstop and be your sunday starter without injury. I didn't say he couldn't close or possible spot start on a midweek game. Mark my words!!! He (Gaffney) will have arm problems as the year goes on if this continues. Maybe if they would have done their job recruiting, none of this would even be an issue.
Come on Wine! Get a clue. Grow a pair and take control of your team. We know your fat ass pitching coach only cares about what bar he's going to after the game, but don't let him screw up the kids future!!!
Take something from this weekend. You can't beat the worst team in the Big 12. Heck, you can't even beat teams that you are supposed crush. Is it worth the risk for a win over a team like Centenary, or is this kid's future more important? He needs to be a starter only, or a infielder who can close a game for you.
From what I have seen of Scott Gaffney since he started at Penn State, he appears to be a fine ballplayer, is big, and has improved the way he was expected to and developed into the type of player I'm sure everyone expected him to be when he was recruited. That said, for anyone who has followed college baseball in even the most casual sense knows that very very few players have been able to play in a dual role like that. Even to be a spot starter or a reliever and be the everyday shortstop is very difficult. In the realm of Division 1 baseball, Penn State is relatively small potatoes, but it is still D1 baseball, and regardless of how these guys fare on the national level, they are all still tremendous athletes and play at an extremely competitive level. So competitive in fact, that I find it hard to believe they need to have their starting shortstop be a weekend starter too. I don't think they are doing any favors to anyone, not the player and not the program. I'm sure they have other pitchers, or the capacity to be able to bring other pitchers on board, and do not need to have a guy making his first start since little league in a game between D1 programs.
