Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Diamond Diary by Kevin Cooney
4/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 24, 2002
MIAMI AND OTHER MATTERS:
Well, tonight we head down 95 until it turns into US 1. Then we follow the monorail till we get to Mark Light Stadium. This game used to be a really big deal to me. In the days when FAU was not in a conference, it was always the biggest game of the year. Now it comes in the midst of our drive for the A-Sun Championship. This poses some interesting scenarios. Do I downplay this game to our kids and try to keep their focus and energy on the weekend series with Jacksonville? Do we go all out and throw everything at Miami and Saturday be damned? Do we try to go somewhere in between?
I think our approach will be to try our best to win this game in Coral Gables. We will pitch Chris Pillsbury. We will not allow him to throw more than 50 or 60 pitches, regardless of the score. I hope we are in a position at that time to turn over a lead to our bullpen.
What enables us to do this is two things. First, the JU series is Sat. Sun. That enables Chris to have four days rest for tonight and three days rest for a seven inning game on Sunday. Second, the pitching of Danny Core lately. He has thrown real well. His game last Saturday was a great performance in a real big game. Danny Core pitching the first game of the JU series will be like having our number one pitcher out there.
Miami is a program that has set the standard in college baseball for years. We need to beat them any time we can. FAU is a school that is searching for a national identity. Our 99 team gave us the first national exposure and this team is capable of doing the same. If I felt that we were taking an undo risk with our conference chances, I probably wouldn't do this.
Have you seen the golf movie TIN CUP? We are not laying up. Tonight we try to hit a shot over the water!
Some real good news! Edwin Nelson is out of the hospital and back home with his wife Phyllis. He said yesterday that his next goal is to get out to a game. Thanks to all of you who prayed for him, and special thanks to our players who made the effort to go visit him in the hospital. Tom MacLane... your Mom should be proud of you. KC
