University of California Athletics

From Peter Economos in Orinda, CA: Who has hit the furthest HR at Evans Diamond and where did it go?

Dear Pete, Mark McGwire, 1984. I'm not sure how far it went but it hit the wonderful green colored building, the RSF, near the ladder that leads up to the top of the building. I'm guessing near 500 feet. Thanks Pete.

From T. Greene in La Jolla, CA: Why don't you play the San Diego schools in non-conference games? UCLA plays USD every year, and San Diego State has a fine new facility. You would be well supported and it might help recruiting down here. Selfishly, it allows me to avoid LA. Thanks and good luck.

You know exactly, Terry, why we don't play the San Diego schools. In 1981, there was a young man catching for Cal that got his nose shattered across his face by a forearm shiver by San Diego State and I vowed from that day that we would never go down and play them--San Diego State or San Diego. And, the University of San Diego, where John Cunningham is, is in a league that doesn't help our RPI (power rating).

From Troy Filice in Salinas, CA: Does freshman second baseman Xavier Nady measure up to what you thought he could be as a freshman or is he better than that?

He is probably one of the most gifted hitters that I have ever seen as a freshman. He has unbelievable power. As a defensive player, I think he is way better than I anticipated and he is going to be a bonafide big-time Pac-10 player. I assume the way he is hitting right now, .400, that he is going to be a Freshman All-American with a chance to be an All-American with all the older players. Thanks for the question.

From Steve in Hamilton, MA: Coach, how about changing our uniforms? Why don't we use the Cal script on the hats?

Why don't we see Cal used as a script on our hats? Because we are not football. The C that I like is an Old English C that goes with California. The Cal script on a baseball hat is too humbug for me. Baseball hats are usually just one letter, or a nice logo.

From Glynn in Pleasant Hill, CA: Bob, do you think you have been able to recruit comparable talent to the other schools in the Six-Pac? Do you think you have enough pitching this year?

Do we think we can recruit with the other Six-Pac schools? No, because the academic interests at the University of California are a little bit different than other schools. The only school comparable to us is Stanford, as far as the type of grades needed to get in. A lot of the schools proclaim you need a B average to get in, but their B average is a lot lower than Cal's. So, that is one reason we don't recruit the same type of talent is because we can't get certain kids into school. Do I think we have enough pitching this year to be successful? At the beginning of the year I did, but as we keep getting into this year I'm beginning to doubt that.

From Andre in Arizona: Coach Milano, how do you feel your team holds up with all the talent the Six-Pac possesses? Do you feel that this year's team has the potential to put up big numbers, such as runs and wins. Plus, how does Drese look for this season?

To Andre in Arizona, how do I feel the talent at Cal holds up with the rest of the Six-Pac? We are no different, we're the same. I think we are younger than everyone else in the conference except for UCLA. For the last two years we have been very young. I know that is an excuse, however, I still think we are pretty talented. I can remember UofA struggling over the years when they had all freshmen starting for them. Do I feel this year's team has the potential to put up big numbers as far as runs and wins? Yes, I do. I think this team has might have as much power as our 1992 team, which led the conference in power, as well as stolen bases. So, I think they are very capable. How does Ryan Drese look for this year? He's got the great velocity that he has had in the past. However, his numbers are not that good because as of this date he still doesn't have tremendous command.

From Jeff in Oakland, CA: In the game against UCLA on Sunday (Feb. 15), you had Dennis up in the bottom of the eighth with no out, runners on first and second, Cal down by two. (the runner on first was the tying, not the go-ahead run.) UCLA pitcher Jon Brandt was struggling and there was no one behind him warming up. At that point, six of eight hitters Brandt faced had reached base. The middle of the order--Oliver, Nady and Hill--was due up for Cal. So my question is: why did you make Dennis bunt, even when he failed in his first two attempts and the count was 0-2?

Why did I make Jason Dennis bunt in a situation with runners on first and second and no outs? Because he is the best double play hitter on our team. He can not run well, and if you could be at our practices you would be able to know that. He is an outstanding bunter and I believe if you are going to bunt you got to show me some class and if the count is 0-2, in my situation you are still going to bunt, if I believe you are the style of hitter who hits way too many ground balls for double plays. The scoreboard doesn't lie. When you're hitting below .200 and you're one of the best defensive players, I would imagine I would like him in in a close game to play defense. And since he was hitting .180, I think bunting seemed a pretty logical thing to do.

From Peter Richter in Sacramento, CA: Are you prepared to coach the kids of kids you coached? And will the third base bleachers be the same after the remodel?

Hey Pete Richter, just keep selling pizzas, okay. I'm I ready to coach kids of kids that I coached? Yea, I'm ready to do that. I guess I'm ready. Maybe what you're telling me is that I should be out selling pizzas with you and we would both be multi-millionaires. Will the bleachers be the same when there are done down the left field line? I think you need to ask Bill Manning that question, or send him a letter. Talk to you later Pete. Bye.