Happy Opening Day, Kings and Queens
February 14, 2025
Well, it’s been a while! I had hoped to keep this rolling, but 2024 was tough.
Life update - I’m a Dad.
Because of this new development, I have a lot of “free” time between 1 and 5 a.m. I will do my best to make this a weekly thing again, mostly for my sanity.
When you’re on leave from work, you create little countdowns in your head towards things you’re looking forward to. I’ve realized that I’ve been counting down to Opening Day of College Baseball more than anything else. So today, February 14th is my Super Bowl.
I’m going to share what I’m watching, who I’m watching, and more. Again, this is for my sanity, so I thank you in advance for letting me vent.
Shall we scroll down? We shall
“People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”- Roger Hornsby
My Daughter Picked Her Favorite Team
She’s 3 weeks old, and already a bandwagon fan. I love it. We love championship contenders in this house.
In the hopes of a cool story 10-20 years from now, I placed a black-and-white (IYKYK) Top 25 graphic in front of her and waited for her 99th percentile wingspan to point to a team.
She picked Texas A&M.
I almost cried. We could win a bandwagon championship in her first year of life. She can be like every Taylor Swift fan turned Chiefs fan in 2024.
This is an Aggie household. I bought merch. She too hates Jim Schlossnagle.
A Couple of Players to Watch This Weekend
Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
My genius daughter used that wingspan of hers and picked Freshman All-American Gavin Grahovac to be her favorite player this year. Cannot make this up. Early favorite for SEC Player of the Year (according to a 3-week-old).
He’ll hit at or near the top of the scariest lineup in the country. With Gavin Kash, Wyatt Hensler, and future #1 overall pick Jace LaViolette hitting around him, there is a better chance than not that he can avoid a Sophomore slump.
A&M opens up against an Elon this weekend. Watch if you like offense.
Peyton Bonds, Rutgers
Yes, he’s related. Barry Bond’s nephew comes to Rutgers after leaving Campbell following their coaching change. At 6’5” 225lbs, he’ll roam Centerfield and hit in the middle of the order in a gritty Rutgers lineup.
We deserve a Bonds in baseball at all times. Imagine if Peyton becomes a household name. Get him in a Giants uniform, number 25.
Rutgers opens up against Kennesaw State. One of the better unranked match-ups of the weekend.
P.S. Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame. Do the right thing, Rob.
Rintaro Sasaki, Stanford
I have a lot of late nights in my future and West Coast baseball will fill my time. Lots of fun options - UCLA, USC, Oregon, Washington, Cal, etc. but Rintaro makes me watch Stanford over these teams 10 out of 10 times. The lore of the Japanese slugger is well documented and my friend, Daron Vaght’s, podcast series about Rintaro just wrapped up and it is incredible. Fun facts to get you as hooked as I am:
He is the first Japanese high school prospect to EVER forego the Japanese professional league and go to an American University.
He attended Stanford last Spring while simultaneously learning English.
His father was Shohei Ohtani’s high school coach.
He essentially swung a tree trunk of a bat (34.5in, 33oz) all summer (Shohei swings a 34.5in, 32oz bat)
Stanford opens up with Cal State Fullerton in a battle of historic California programs.
Eric Colaco, Denison(!)
For all who say there is no more “loyalty” to a University with the transfer portal and NIL, I present to you, Eric Colaco. Denison is a tremendous Division 3 program but please look at the stats below and tell me how Eric is still at a Division 3 school in Granville, Ohio. Being on the Golden Spikes Watch List (Baseball’s Heisman Trophy) as a Division 3 player probably makes Billy Wagner smile. #whyD3
Unfortunately, we have to wait until next week to watch Eric play via a one camera angle view likely through a net. So D3.