Cal reinstates three sports, but not baseball

California (the state, that is) has so much baseball talent kicking around that's not scooped up by the Pac-10, the Big West is one of the most competitive mid-majors out there. CS Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Irvine, Cal Poly and UC Davis can hold their own with Pac-10 schools.

 

Not only that, but you have four BCS conference schools in a population of 37 million. By comparison, Alabama has two in a population of 4.7 million and Mississippi has two in a population of just under 3 millions. That's neighboring states with a total population of just about 7.7 million and they have four BCS schools, the same number California has with a population of 37 million.

So yeah, there ought to be plenty of players left over once USC, UCLA and Stanford get their fill. And heck, with Cal dropping baseball, that's just three BCS-league programs for that huge state.

 

I bet men's frisbee golf would have made the cut.

 

Berkeley hippies are more the violent sort. They prefer things like breaking into the university's president's office with a machete.

 

When it comes to the sport of baseball, there's nothing remotely "small" about Fullerton. In the 36 years of playing Division I, the Titans have made 32 NCAA appearances, with 16 trips to the College World Series trips, and won four national championships. They don't take a back seat to any school in the PAC-10.

 

Here's an interesting thought: NCAA rules allow athletes at programs being shut down to transfer to another D-I school without having to sit out a year. How many Cal players will transfer to Stanford?

 

In baseball? Everyone playing at Cal was already rejected by Stanford.

 

Good one.

Should add to the mix of Cali schools playing baseball WAC members Fresno State (2008 CWS champs), San Jose State (2000 CWS qualifier) and associate member Sac State; not to forget San Diego State in the Mountain West, coached by Tony Gwynn. The WCC has fielded strong teams of late as well. Hawaii will join the Big West for baseball in a couple of years as well.

 

Please. At Cal you can get an equally good, if not superior, education at about 1/3 the price.

 

And play shitty baseball. Take everyone on the Cal roster right now and I guaranfuckingtee you they would have jumped at the chance to play at Stanford, because Stanford has the pick of the litter in baseball. I will be shocked beyond belief if even one player makes that move.

 

Cal made the NCAA tournament last season and is ranked No. 17 in Baseball America's preseason Top 25. Stanford is No. 13. So, sure, nobody from Cal could possibly be good enough to play for Stanford.

 

My point is when those players were coming out of high school, they went to Cal because they weren't getting sniffs or couldn't get admitted at Stanford. Also Stanford is notoriously unwilling to accept transfers. So, it's not like Stanford is going to throw three juniors off its team and take three juniors from Cal because they might have gotten better in the ensuing three years since recruitment.

As I said, I'll be shocked if even one player makes such a transfer. By all means, alert me to let me know I'm wrong.