BASEBALL: Finally, Spring Break is over and the league races can heat up again ...

wow,
john wooden had 3 plays - he was a pretty good coach.

Its amazing to me how people love to rip Poly. The coach, the pitcher, the school. God forbid they have an outstanding year and get recognized for it. So sorry it can't always be Monrovia or TC. Yeah, the Prep isn't real competitive, but when they've played our area's top teams, they've either beaten them all or lost by one run. OUTTTTTT

ellis for coach of the year is crap. i think that poly has at most 4 signs, and one of them is take. i play baseball and I'm pretty sure that ive seen Ellis hit and run with 2 outs... i think some knowledge of baseball is required to be the coach of the year.

What are your thoughts on Maserajian from LC?

Of the three mentioned for mvp, they could all be worthy, but if they are equal, the tie breaker should be who the cutest one is and I go with Robbie.
Sincerely,
Michael

Who is De Pinto and why is everyone suddenly talking about him?

I agree, all three are very talented and will hopefully represent the area well at the next level and beyond.

Get off Depinto, Rob, Eddie and so on. These are great kids, great players and we are lucky to have them in our area - they should be celebrated not ripped.

In addition to Rasmussen - Poly has 8 other starters who are every bit as good on average as in another team in the area - it won't be that way next year but it is this year -

first i was adding to your comment sgvbaseball

also, colleges use scholarship money for pitchers, everyone knows this. there are 11.75 scholarhisps available for baseball teams and sc has around 35 players on their roster. even if 15 are position players, that leaves 20 pitchers that are eating up a lot of that scholarship money. it is rare for postition players to get anything. how are you honestly going to try to put down the kid? he is a tremendous ballplayer who plays the game the right way and is very humble for his achievements. he does not have a big head about his situation, when most kids easily would.

If SC thinks DePinto will be so good why didn't they offer him more than a parking scholarship?

If SC thinks DePinto will be so good why didn't they offer him more than a parking scholarship?

anonymous,

My response was to the question of how Joe would fair against Eddie or Robbie on the hill.

I am not sure how to take the comments. Are you adding to my statement or are in disagreement? I have known Joe for four years and think Depinto is great player and even a better person. When talking with the USC coaches they think Joe is going to compliment thier program very well.

When using the word "tools" there very few 5 tool guys in the country. There are two in California right now. Aaron Hicks(LB Wilson '08) and Issac Galloway(Los Osos '08) and been told that is it.

in regard to sgvbaseball.com's comment on de pinto,

i think he is a better all around player than those two making him the best in the area. he is a consistent contributor and produces every game. he has five tools, runs well, is incredible in the field, throws well, hits for average, and can hit for power when he needs to. he also has the intangibles, the things you cant teach, he hustles and always seems to come up with the big play. however, the best players make their teams better and right now st francis is not winning. i have heard that de pinto is a leader and is full of heart and that stuff but his team isnt winning. if they do pick things up than he should definately be among the top three contenders if not the frontrunner for mvp.

Regarding Poly's baseball team and Mr. Rasmussen in particular, I have witnessed some rather interesting statements from fellow bloggers (Rasmussen is a one man team, anybody can win with him on the mound, Rob is the only ball player they have etc. etc.) The last Poly game I watched there were 8 other players who took the field with Mr. Rasmussen. Rob has started six games for Poly. If one were to utilize the same faulty logic posted by some bloggers, wouldn't Poly's record be 6-9 Instead of 14-1. Just a thought.

Is there a real chance that SF doesn't make the playoffs?

Ellis is easy coach of the year he has won every game Rasmussen wasn't pitching too!!!!

Ellis for coach of the year??? Come on...Rasmussen does not get any avise or coaching from him. Rasmussen's outside pitching coach gives him all the coaching he needs. Ellis just hands him the ball and enjoys the ride. He's done that for four years...Poly better win it all this year beacuse next year Ellis will have to coach once again...then we'll see if he is worthy of "Coach of the year" status.

MVP is a tossup this year between two great players from la salle, Matt Mendoza and Kyle Kubon. Both show great leadership and determination in all that they do. Including getting water for the team,sitting in the bullpen, pulling weeds, and putting the equiptment away. I know it is hard between the two but yesterday Matt Mendoza put just the right amount of ice in the La Salle waterbottles so he actually has the edge. I'll keep you updated.

-God

What Bob Cunz was able to accomplish at San Marino High was far greater than anything McNamee ever did.

McNamee 5 CIF Titles, 500-600 wins, RHL titles, and winning with pretty little rich boys.

I would say DePinto would have a fair shot at Rob and Eddie. Joe played a little last summer with us in Connie Mack. Eddie was his team mate. Joe saw pitchers just at strong as those both and did just fine. He alo traveled to Georgia and the coach he went with with said he did great. At those events everyone has a few 90 + guys.

There are actually 1150 students going to San Marino.

McNamee was a terrible offensive coordinator/football coach and is way overated as a baseball coach.
He would never have lasted anywhere, but at San Marino.

There are some fine players in sgv but a few do stand out
DePinto-heart/talent, Mckiernan-Pitching/hitting/stable,
Rasmussen-Pitching/focused,
Emmons-Stud,
Mendoza-Hitting/hustle/can pitch,
Forgatch-Desire/Drive,
Quintero-a wall and arm

PasadenaPreps:

don't you think its harder to win at Poly than San Marino? Poly arguably would win the Rio Hondo League and only has 350 students compared to 1500 SM students (yes I'm aware of the disadvantage San Marino's demographic puts them at).

Because baseball success is so frequently based on the performance of individuals who work with outside coaches/teams, high school baseball is the hardest sport to choose coach of the year for.

Wayne Ellis for coach of the year? Let's be honest. Rasmussen and 8 decent Pony League players would run away with the Prep League. Just because Ellis is able to hand the ball to Rasmussen and say “go get em” doesn’t make him coach of the year.
If San Marino wins or even comes close to winning the RHL then it has to be Mickey McNamee. Winning in any sport at San Marino these days is difficult.

MVP: Rasmussen
Coach: Wayne Ellis
Largest wand: Eddie Mckernan

In three at at bats, would De Pinto get any hits against rasmussen or mckiernan?

They got us again yesterday and that makes it twice this year so I offer one from the upstart (and tied for first place) titans of San Marino:

Matt Forgatch, 2B

.474/.611/.763

He leads his team in runs, hits, doubles, batting average, OBP, & walks. They deserve someone...I nominate him.

There is no doubt that McKiernan and Rasmussen are the best pitchers/players around...and they deserve their awards; still, there are many good players all over this WSGV.

Why would Monrovia save Eddie this loss puts them in a three way tie for first.

San Marino 4, Monrovia 2. Cats saved McKiernan for the TC game on Friday.

I would go with McKiernen. He has done a job on the hill and at the plate. He is also a standout Shortstop. He is going to be a two way guy at UNLV.

DePinto has some serious baseball saavy and the skillsa to go with it. Not too far behind.

here is a good question for debate.

who is the best all around player?

... i dont think it can be a pitcher.

I am tossing out my possibilites. These guys I have seen or have told about.

MVP-McKiernen Monrovia(UNLV)
MVP Pitcher-Rasmussen(UCLA)

DePinto-St. Francis(USC)
Feess-Poly
Mendoza-Temple City
Viotti-Duarte
Heaton-Alhambra
Davila-Alhambra
Simonitsch-St. Francis
Sember-St. Francis
Cowell-Monrovia
Allen-Monrovia
Kim-Arcadia
Giambalvo-Alhambra
Moreno-Duarte
Ramirez-Alhambra
Dearth-Temple City
Collis-St.Francis
Izumida-Gabrielino

Pa..preps,

Relax, the post was in response to

"

Dear Star News:

Could you please ask Pasadena Poly to take the place of St. Francis in our next game. We are looking for competition to get us ready for the CIF playoffs.
Thanks,

Crespi Baseball

I give Poly much props on the season they are having. They should win thier division this year. St. Francis is having a decent year overall but the league they have faultered. The league is tough. I read people ragging on of various teams but it is hard to compare teams when they compete on different levels. I am talking about a season worth of games not one or a tournament. I believe in my comment I did not say a bad thing about Poly. Just it would be tough to be a playoff team in the Mission league.

Does anybody know when Blair last won a baseball game? they been 0-59 since 03-04?

Bballguy……St Francis is a Mission League team and it may not make the playoffs. Does that mean they should be moved to D6?

I am not a Poly fan but why is it so difficult for some to give credit where it’s due? Rather than try and run down Poly with an analogy that will never happen, why not offer some of your expert analysis on why St Francis is tanking in league this year…or is that Poly’s fault because it is in D6?

If you were to Poly in the Mission league they would not be a playoff team. With Rasmussen on the hill, he would be thier only shot at winning a game. Let's be real about it. Poly is an outstanding team in thier division but if they were in D3 they would not have the same record Yes, Robbie gives them a chance to be on every game but you can't win with just him.

Crespi is 14-5 with quite a few D1 college recruits. To say they are not a very good team makes no sense.

Dear Star News:

Could you please ask Pasadena Poly to take the place of St. Francis in our next game. We are looking for competition to get us ready for the CIF playoffs.
Thanks,

Crespi Baseball

Hey anonymous from St. Francis, SHUT UP now. You are 3-4 in league. You guys have zero room to talk any trash. SCOREBOARD!

What difference does it make if Collis doesnt play baseball year round - he make be the best athlete in the area and he is one of the best Bas3ball players - where would SF be without him.

Rasmussen is starting in CF when not pitching. Batting .410, 18 RBI and SLG of .718

Rob and Eddie as co-mvp would be pretty cool.. they deserve it the most. and people saying a position player for mvp mckiernan is monrovia's shortstop and 3 batter. He is batting .500 and with some respect 17walks with 9 intentional

the power hitting 1B at sf is Carreon, when he isn't pitching. the utility hitting 1B sometimes DH is 'kiwi' (?)
For catcher also, what about Rasmussen's man, Wiley? every great pitcher has a great catcher.

Someone added on to my post! Maybe a web issue. For catcher, StF has two great ones. Senior Quintero and Junior Saltzman, a CV super-star who turned down Loyola. (I would. who needs 2 B a commuter when you're in high school.)

For utility infielder, I disagree with someone's choice of of Collis, who is football QB. Going to UNLV in football. Does not play baseball year-round.

I like the nomination of Saldana. Loves the game of baseball.

mvp: i dont like pitchers winning mvp because they dont contribute every game. still, rasmussen is having a hell of a season as is mckiernan. but i think it should be a position player and i think the two best are st. francis' ss joe depinto and cf evan simonitsch.

pitchers: rasmussen and collis or mckiernan. collis plays in a tougher league but mckiernan's numbers should be better at the end of the year.

catcher: matt quintero

infield: joe depinto, pasadena's ss, st francis' 2b, some power hitting 1b

outfield: monrovia's cf curtis, st francis cf evan simonitsch,

utility: collis?

For pitcher - Romiro Carreon, a Junior at St. Francis. Throws right, bats left, hit a home run at Atascadero (over 2 fences). Lives in Pasadena, but isn't getting the press. Needs more time on the mound so word can get around.

needs more time in the bullpen. he got shelled today at crespi giving up 6 runs in 3 or 4 innings.

sf lost 8-2 to not a very good crespi team. depinto and simonitsch were the only offense and this team is starting to show that it does not have much heart.

If they win league you have to consider someone from Gabrielino to be on that team

For pitcher - Romiro Carreon, a Junior at St. Francis. Throws right, bats left, hit a home run at Atascadero (over 2 fences). Lives in Pasadena, but isn't getting the press. Needs more time on the mound so word can get around.

Catcher= Andrew Saldana from La Salle. Some of the best work behind the plate I have seen in awhile. Also an outstanding LB and Goalkeeper

BleedOrange, No Co-MVPs anymore, this is an upper-management call...I've been in favor of a pitcher and player of the year, both in baseball and softball, but keep getting over-ruled.

-RasmussemMVP,Feese
-Ramirez, Davila
SF=DePinto, Collis, Sember, Simonitsch and like 5 others from SF
-McKiernan, Cowell
-Mendoza, Dearth
-Kohorst, Doeppel
-Corwin Kim

BleedOrange...good point. Both players are great and it's a tough call to say one is better than the other. If one or the other carries his team deep into or all the way through the CIF playoffs while the other player's team is eliminated early, you have to honor the one who got his team to the top.

Can you pick a co-MVP? These guys are too good to separate. I'm partial because I see Rob all the time, but we know Monrovia feels the same about Eddie. I hope we can talk about how great both these guys are without resorting to a political campaign, where people feel it necessary to tout one while running some sort of negative campaign on the other...