Sports Eugene. Portions of this show are recorded.
Strap in and be prepared. I love growing the
game. I can guarantee you, any other West Coast
team that's watching this, I'm sure USC is gnashing
their teeth right now saying, how come we couldn't
have thought of this first? Interesting guests.
Kelly Graves, Mike Parker, Coach Mark Waszkowski,
Melissa Lombardi, Max Torres, El Toro, joining
us. Sharp opinions. I think if you're a supporter
of the NBA, that you should at least have some
level of interest in the WNBA because the things
that interest you as a NBA fan should still interest
you as a WNBA fan. That's just my opinion. And
some smiles. Can you guess what position I played
in football? Left out? No, I did not. Yeah, exactly.
I did think about that for a second, but yes,
actually I did not play. I was not big enough.
Goose tried to kill me today on the golf course.
Advanced warning was given. It just apparently
was not heard. I will dispute that in a court
of law. It's Danny Havel. If you're driving and
you're trying to do this in your head, pull off
the side of the road. I don't need any accidents.
Justin Grossweiner. I love to hear Coach go,
we're going to focus on that bad four game stretch
the rest of the season. We will never do that
again. That may be a good point. I don't know.
Maybe you can do that. Maybe that's another strategy.
Danny and Justin starts now on Fox Sports Eugene
and Fox Sports Newport. Hello. Welcome hi top
the Delta Tri on the Crystal Palace the Bigfoot
Beverages Studios Fox Sports Eugene Fox Sports
Newport you are locked into the fastest 60 minutes
in sports the Danny and Justin little radio program
follow us on the socials Danny and Justin also
wherever you platform your podcasts or music
Danny and Justin or the fastest 60 minutes that's
the way you reach us thanks for lending us your
ears on a home day Wednesday good show for you
again The first time this week, we're not going
to have multiple guests, so we actually get to
breathe a little bit and postulate on the World
Cup. We'll do that in this first segment. We're
going to have the old stitch head, Eric Sorensen
from D1 Baseball is going to join us live from
Omaha, Nebraska, as he is covering for us and
the rest of the world, the College World Series,
which is going to be down to the final two. The
championship game will be set after tonight with
Georgia taking. On I got it right here. I'll
get it right. I'll get it right Oklahoma To see
who takes on North Carolina for the championship.
We've got some Oregon baseball news some good
news from our quaskowski squad a little men's
basketball news as well for the University of
Oregon an award for the Oregon men's and women's
track programs But we will start first with the
World Cup as we welcome in You to the program.
I'm doc over there is you know, we love them
Our tag -team partner Justin Grosswiner. We call
him baby J. What a boy. Well, you know me Yes,
you have known me over the last couple years
and you know that i'm a guy that i'm I'm not
like the most optimistic i'm not necessarily
like what you consider like the most joyful person
I have I think I think you have cautious optimism
nothing brings me more joy than watching Incredible
sports and watching lino messy yesterday just
filled me with actual like joy like watching
this happen and watching what he's doing it it's
so exciting to me like i love watching this so
much it like it means the world to me like no
pun intended to just see what's happening right
now and to be experiencing this moment in in
in football soccer history we call football it's
european game but it's here in the states and
the the rise of the world cup especially if the
northern hemisphere, northern America, can witness
it in real time instead of having to get up at
3 a .m. to watch matches, I think is advantageous
for the fandom here in the states. And so like
right now, you can watch World Cup, you can watch
some great action. It's England and Croatia right
now going at it, right? And it's tied at two
at halftime. We've got it on here in the studio.
And yeah, you were watching Messi, and I was
on the golf course at Lower Wood with General
and a few of our friends. And you're texting
me as we're playing. I just have to hold it up
to General. I go, look, and it's the one you
sent with Messi with his arms raised. So yeah,
I like that you have that kind of joy. And I
think it's shared throughout the country. I think
so. And I think the thing about it that I appreciate
the most is it The things that feel like finite,
the things that feel like we're not gonna see
this again, the things that lead up to these
moments are irreco - What's the word? Irreplicatable?
I don't even know if that's an actual word. Irreplaceable?
Not irreplaceable, but you can't replicate what
the circumstances are coming into this world.
Just trying to help you. I know, you did a good
job. But it's been fun. You saw yesterday that
he was messy had a big day. You had holland had
a big day killing and bop a had a big day So
those stars rose, but there have been already
some shockers I at cape verde is one and and
others and so my question would be and I can
postulate this is that is this going to even
out because it seems like the superior athletes
of the superior programs the ones with at least
one or two like we'll still see renaldo here
coming up one or two you played this morning
oh you did oh sorry no no goals by the way okay
one one tie okay so the That that the cream is
gonna rise here that those opening matches could
be a little rocky They've jumped up a lot of
time zones these players not necessarily used
to that by the way and they had adjustment and
then Playing in on a pitch that they've never
seen before a lot of these pitches are indoors
Which for a lot of these players as well, they're
playing out in uncirculated air and I'm not saying
those are factoring into these things But they're
you know the strategy you can catch a team for
the first match but then as we start diving into
this a little bit more, I think it's gonna even
out. I don't think we're gonna have as many of
these, I don't wanna say upsets, but these. Sometimes
a tie is an upset. These quizzical results that
we're getting. I think you're right. I think
that some of it. Looking no further than the
last World Cup when Saudi Arabia beat Messi and
Argentina in their first match Mm -hmm obviously
went on to win the rest of the matches in the
World Cup and win the World Cup did Argentina
But it happens right and even in the game yesterday
against Algeria There was an offside that was
called on a goal for Algeria and it looked like
Messi in the Argentine team would have a really
bad start and they reversed the call obviously,
but You never know. It's the thing about sports
is you just really never know. I think part of
what's happening, what you're picking up on,
though, too, is the fact that there's a lot of
groups in this particular World Cup. They expanded
the World Cup. And so I think there are more
matches between teams that are further apart.
And if you're playing your first match in World
Cup, I think it kind of evens things out. I think
as things go along, we'll see some of these really
big matches. We saw a couple already. But for
the most part it has been sort of imbalanced
and we've seen some positive results for some
teams like Germany with Curacao But then we've
also seen some press surprises like Spain and
Cape Verde, which is awesome So I do you know
where Cape Verde is? I had no idea. Isn't that
on the the bottom part of Africa? I'm mistaken.
No, I'm just telling you I don't know so you
could tell me anywhere and I go. Okay, sure So
I think what we're gonna do on Friday because
we're gonna so today again We have one guess
and and we love that we have stitch head on especially
with College World Series reaching its pinnacle.
Tomorrow we'll have Isaac Streeter live here
in the studio, which is gonna be a treat for
us. And then on Friday, we're gonna have Chris
Burkhardt to talk about the Blazers, talk about
Tom Dundon, talk about the off season and who's
gonna be the next coach? Could we have Mike Onori
named as the head coach by Friday? Good. I don't
know it's possible. It's very well possible So
all that for the rest of the week But I think
we should play a game on friday and maybe we
get goose involved in this if he can come in
a little early on friday And I pick like six
countries And i'm gonna make them fairly i'm
gonna give you a couple easy ones, but i'll make
them some obscure obscure And i'm gonna ask you
to name the capital of that country Okay, I think
I'd be like okay at it. I think but I'll give
you like I'll give you like a multiple choice
So I'll give you three Answers and one of them
is gonna be the correct one by the way Kate Verde
is west of it's an island off the west coast
of Senegal Now see those those African countries
who have been really good Really? I mean they've
been really good Morocco went to the World Cup
semi -final last year or last time I say keep
on saying last year. Let's do that Let's do name
the capital name the capital from a World Cup
country. I'm down. Okay, I'm down do that. Okay,
so We've got that by the way off the pitch and
I know you want to get more on the pitch because
actually you know What let's let's stay on the
pitch first Because one of the concerns that
came up, by the way, you're listening to the
Danny and Justin radio program, Eric Sorensen
from D1 baseball. We're going to fly out over
to Omaha and find out what's going on. We are
in the final stages of the College World Series.
We'll talk a little portal as well. with with
Eric and we always love his perspective because
he covers D1 baseball from top to bottom and
if you haven't been to the D1 baseball site it
is literally an encyclopedia and it should be
your Bible if you love college baseball so that's
what we're going to have coming up in about 10
minutes from now and then we've got some Oregon
news that we're going to flush on out at the
end of the program and get you all up to date
on what's going on with baseball basketball and
track as we've got news from every one of those
areas The World Cup stretches things out. So
this is literally going to be a month's worth
of competition. And I think you brought up a
very valid point, because in the US, good, bad,
or indifferent, we are an instant gratification
society. We want, man, if we want to consume
something and we're attached to it, we want it
hard, fast, and no stops. I'm not gonna I'm not
gonna pause. I just want to keep going man. That's
that. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go So now the
USA comes out has a 4 -1 win for one victory
in their first match a lot of buzz Although there
is some questions about one of the best players
on the US who was pulled off the pitch Midway
through the game. He didn't come on second half,
right? Okay. So yeah, so We'll see. Yeah, we'll
see you a pulse egg if he's gonna Start in this
next match, but the gap in between you were you
were just mentioning so I'd like you to expand
I think I think I was thinking about it more
the gap in between matches USA played Friday
Which was I think day three of the competition
I think so and now they're not playing again
until this coming Friday. So the whole week All
the momentum is gone of sitting there, but do
you really think those the momentum is gone?
Recovery can be sparked again. It feels like
it take a just it's all the tinder is there anticipation
of the next match I just like let's just get
it here. I think that after last match it was
sort of one of those like man I want to go again
one and then there's a little bit of a break
and you kind of You have to kind of just wait
it out But I think that one of the benefits of
having more teams and more spacing out of these
games is that there I mean, there's four matches
every single day and there's gonna be for a long
time and There's just so much happening and it's
all during the day. So us Americans we can watch
it, but I do think that Think they'll be fine
in terms of the actual team like they're prepared
for that I think that there's plenty of situations
or teams are playing once a week It's not like
an unprecedented thing, but I do think as a fan
and just as somebody that's watching I just oh
England has scored in the first minute of the
second half. That's unbelievable Three goals
in basically a little over half. That's pretty
that's pretty good. That's that's exciting That's
what the Americans want as well. We don't want
this one nil stuff or nil nil so Bellingham Yeah,
and there was another shot on goal there, too
But I think the interesting thing to me I was
talking my uncle and you tried to call me during
the middle of that conversation So luckily I
didn't I didn't answer your call, but so my uncle's
about your age. I'm 31 I think there's a big
difference between and my uncle's a really big
sports fan like baseball He is and but my point
is there he has no concept of like watching soccer
really because when he was growing up Didn't
exist really the the foundation of the game and
the interest of it grew I think during my lifetime
So I can always remember there's the 1992 world
cup and then there was the 2002 world cup where
the united states made a run and got to the quarterfinals
So in my lifetime, I can always remember interest
in the world cup, but I think there's a lot of
people out there It was a good reminder to me
that Just based on the history of the United
States and the how much it's grown recently that
there are still a lot of people out there that
They're just not tuned in and I think it's a
bit of a shame. So the the it was after a World
Cup where Pele was Like the best player in the
world and he was a an incredible ambassador For
the game in the United States, right and in the
United States as well So that is where the first
I think alliteration of an American soccer league
came about because Pele signed with the New York
Cosmos back in the day and he was you know and
it failed miserably because again it even goes
back to the you know 60s 70s when it started
70s is when it started is Americans want gratification
they want runs they want goals they want touchdowns
they don't want to sit there for 90 minutes and
watch teams pass it around and maybe take six
shots of the entire game. That's that I don't
get that and I think that there's you know The
criticism is that you see a lot of one one games
or a lot of one nil games And you're not gonna
see a lot of three two in the middle of the second
half But I think the more that the United States
became a bigger melting pot with people emigrating
to our country To this country not our country.
It's all of our country emigrating to this country
and bringing their culture and bringing their
love for the games and more of the games and
Again, we are in the United States, we're kind
of in a vacuum. People still need, and I think
they're smart enough now, I think we are smart
enough in this country, soccer worldwide is the
most watched sport by far. It's not even close.
There is like, you could put the whole of American
sports on the pin of a needle in comparison to
soccer worldwide. And the numbers are... in every
other country. And that's kind of where the Roger
Goodells and the Adam Silvers and the others
that are American based sports want to get into
the European market. That's why you're seeing
games for the NFL into Europe and into Mexico
and others because they know that there's an
opportunity to grab what could be a rabid fan
base that supports soccer the entire worldwide.
So again, Every time we have a World Cup, and
especially if the U .S. can be relevant and get
into this round of 16 and such, that is going
to keep increasing the fandom of it. Because,
I mean, I played soccer when I was young. It
was one of the sports you could play because
it was almost like I wasn't good enough to play
basketball, you know, collegiately or whatever.
But you did play tennis. I played tennis. OK,
but soccer, like at the local Y, everybody played
soccer. Right. Did you play it? Well, no, but
you ran around you got exhausted you had a go
-gurt and then you went home No, I think that
that is something that is so the game is so accessible
you can play it anywhere even when Before if
you know the international appeal was established.
I think that everybody just like played soccer,
right? I think that the lack of scoring though.
It kind of reminds me a little bit about baseball
and how People complain about that right then
the ball got juice now. They were flying home
runs out in steroid era and all that I don't
know what the solution for that would be in there
is no solution football soccer Yeah, all you
could do is call more files get more free kicks
and and that would slow the game down So it would
make a even though it is a running clock and
I think one of the things I could be convinced
like why can't they just do a timer that starts
and stops like I get it like they have their
own system But like you know, it's yeah, and
I'm not sure I'm not sure they haven't saw that
little fun ways to do this all that in a hundred
years I don't think they're gonna solve it in
a couple of days. All right last thing and by
the way Again, we've got Eric Sorenson coming
up the old state shed here in a couple of minutes
We're gonna talk college world series in Omaha.
So off the pitch And this is you know, you want
to talk about an economic boon for the states
With the World Cup being here, billions of dollars
are flowing into this country. The parent company
of Sam Adams, the beer, Boston Tap Room ran out
of the brand's flagship Boston lager over the
weekend because the Scotland soccer fans that
are in Boston for the World Cup drank four times
as much as the bar usually sells. They said,
this is fantastic. They said in a release from
Thursday to Sunday, the Tartan Army, Scottish
Tartan Army drank four times what the company
normally stocks during a typical four -day holiday
stretch like the 4th of July. This wasn't a holiday,
folks, except it was the World Cup. They have
had to schedule emergency deliveries over the
weekend and adding extra deliveries this week.
And he said they've never seen anything like
it. The White Bull Tavern. They ran out of beer.
They drank the place dry. All they had was Bud
Light left. They ran out of everything. So hilarious.
I mean, I think that settles some debates, right?
Yeah. Who can handle it? So by the way, Scotland,
it's the first time their soccer team has played
in a World Cup in 28 years. I didn't know that,
actually. But that's what happens when you expand
the field. I do think this is a really good opportunity
for a lot of Americans get into the World Cup
especially because Lino Messi's been in the United
States for the past yeah with Miami years with
Miami exactly I'm wearing a shirt right now and
You get to see a lot of the games the stars are
all here there. Everything is right here for
you Yeah, just go watch it. I promise you you'll
enjoy it. Just watch it So the Ivory Coast I'm
gonna mess up this name Ellie why he Was arrested
apparently a couple weeks before the World Cup
with League one spot fixing which you might ask
what that is What is that it's betting? And so
there was a large amount of unusual bets placed
on a yellow card being issued to him in particular
Like there's this issue not just in college football
But around the world with sports betting so I
just wanted to add that real quick. Okay. Oh
good on you All right, so we'll be keeping our
eye on everything. A wonderful save by the Croatian
keeper there as England's on the attack up 3
-2. They're in the second half in the opening
round pool play for World Cup. When we come back,
it's our good friend, our dear Stitchhead, Eric
Sorensen, talk a little College World Series
from Omaha, Nebraska, next on the Danny and Justin
radio program. The Danny adjusted radio program
rolls on here for a hump day Fox Sports gene
Fox Sports Newport Let's head on over to the
Oregon man clinics hotline at three four three
five six seven three He is one of our favorites.
He is Filled with beef and cheese in Omaha, Nebraska.
It's the great stitch at Eric Sorensen from D1
baseball as he's covering the college World Series
man You made it back to Mecca again. How's the
weather? Yeah, this this I tell you what guys
yeah, this has been the best weather of Since
I've been covering the college world series since
I've been working it Which has been since 2000
this has been the best weather that I've experienced
here Now today is the first day that it's supposed
to be a little warm a little see like like mid
80s Still not triple digit heat indexes. I'll
go although I'll wait and see but like the temperature
of the last few days It's been sunny and mid
70s uh, for the most part, um, for all the last
few days. So it's been very tolerable. Um, and
I asked you guys, as I probably told you guys
before, I'm a real heat wimp. It gets above 80
and I start getting horny. And I got to stand
in those photo wells for both games, me and my
wife both stand in the photo wells on opposite
sides. And those things are concrete boxes. They
get pretty hot sometimes when it, when the weather's
really hot, but it has not been that bad, uh,
this trip. So I wish I could bottle this weather.
every year for the college will choose at least
the first five days. It might again, it might
get a little steamy today, but it's supposed
to cool off again tomorrow. Well, you know what
we did now? We just jinxed it. It's okay, I don't
believe in Jesus, so I'm alright. That's right,
that's on the Twitter bio. I talk about no hitters
going into the 6th, 7th, and 8th inning all the
time. Attaboy, it's Eric Snorrenson, covers it
very well. We've had him on now for a couple
of years here on the Danny Justin radio program.
Go to D1 Baseball, follow the old Stitch head
at just like I said, Stitch underscore head on
the old Twitters. Yeah, thank you very much,
sir. So let's see how this College World Series
has played out. I mean, we had, you know, history
made. with Troy and West Virginia, others that
make it for the first time. And I think there's
some really good storylines here. But we started
with our final four today. And the first game
is kind of in the books. But we've got the second
one coming up with Oklahoma and Georgia tonight.
Has there been a surprise to you? Is Texas exiting
kind of a surprise with those arms and the power
that they had coming in? Yeah, a little bit.
Nothing really shocks you at the College World
Series. Texas exiting, they won a couple games.
It's not a big disgrace for them. They had a
great season. I think Troy coming in here playing
very competitive, winning a game, eliminating
Ole Miss is a real feather in their hat. And
I thought, you know, it's not like I expected
Troy to go 0 -2, but a lot of those teams like
the Murray State or Roberts... Stony Brooks over
the years a lot of those keys get to Oman. They
just kind of lay an egg. Troy did. Troy played
really well. I think the other thing that's kind
of been stunning is the fact that some of these
pitching performances have come out of nowhere.
Like Georgia, Joey Volchko. He's a Stanford guy
who went to Georgia. And he was kind of like
the nuclear luge of college baseball. When I've
seen him pitch at Stanford a couple times, he
would strike out 10, he would walk nine. He would
hit three or four guys. That's just how his nature
was. And then he comes here to the College World
Series, throws a complete game, 15th strikeout
performance in the opening round. And that was
just stunning to me. That's the best he's ever,
it was the game of his life. And then we also
saw Xander Mercurius of Oklahoma freshman goes
out there, throws seven innings of great ball.
Cade Naoki of Georgia also had a great outing
for them as well against Oklahoma. Mercurius
did that, by the way, did that against the Georgia
team that just, you know, they hit everything
out over the wall and he just was smooth operator.
So I think some of these pitching performances
that we've seen in Omaha really kind of go beyond
explanation. It's been kind of a joy to see some
of these guys step up biggest stage of their
life. And perform like they have reminds but
we're cub fans, of course So it reminds me of
2022 when kate horton all the sudden started
dominating hitters after he added a power slider
and cut fastball But it just seems like this
is that part of the excitement of of the college
world series and of these Players at this particular
time because they can make that sort of leap
Yeah, yeah, I mean and when you see it, it's
kind of a magical thing Last year was it last
year that Georgia player hit had the no hitter
in the college World Series. It's just weird
to see because a lot of most of the time you
see these guys coming to the college World Series
and you know they kind of freak out a little
bit and you know they the nerves get to them.
They're on the big stage and it's really cool
to see once in a while or I guess this year three
times three or four times. We've seen guys step
up to the rubber and just. just have the game
of their life. And it's really, it's really fun
to see. And if you don't really expect that you
kind of expect the nerves to take over and, and
you know, the ball supply out of the out of the
park. But that really hasn't happened this year.
So if you had to handicap, would you say that
the Oklahoma Georgia winner has got the inside
track? Or? I think the two teams started two
and oh, Oklahoma and especially North Carolina.
Just I think I think they always have the inside
track for getting the because you start out to
know you get in in North Carolina's case, you
get three days rest before they play. You know
tonight against against West Virginia and to
be honest, North Carolina is is they could go
back. They could go back and start Jason Decaro
their Friday. Their starter back on Friday. They
could actually bring him back today if they want
tonight. If they want to, we'll see who they
end up throwing, but. Yeah, their whole team
is well rested, and I just think you go 2 -0
and you get those extra days. And even if you
lose that first game, you still have another
game in your pocket that you can bounce back
and head to the championship series. So yeah,
advantage to North Carolina. North Carolina is
probably the one team I thought of the last four
probably had the best advantage just because
of so much rest. and the way they played and
the pitching just lines up so perfectly for them
and they've got a deep staff so it's like win
-win situation for the Tar Heels. Eric Sorensen,
the old stitch head drops the bull Durham references
on occasion here on the Danny and Justin radio
program. He's got a six eight wingspan. Do not
let him fool him. He is a massive human being.
So Eric, let's let's move to the portal because
D1 baseball covers it really well. And they got
the tracker. And you know, you got double duty.
You're covering, you know, the the greatest show
on dirt in Omaha. And then you also got to keep
your your eye on the portal and the moves. I
want to start obviously with Oregon because they
took some hits. I mean, two out of the three
freshmen thus far, we don't know what's going
to go on with Braden Jackson, but Luaki goes,
Laya goes to the portal. Both guys that, you
know, if you put all their numbers together,
you know, it's 30 plus home runs. It's, you know,
a lot of RBIs and slugging percentage and excitement
as a freshman. And Colin Clark enters his name
into the portal, but the Ducks get a couple of...
signees. So let's start there. I mean, is it
devastating for a team like Oregon to lose such
talent after just one year? Can it be? Well,
I didn't know you guys were going to depress
me on this phone call. We're not trying to. We
can't control. Dude, we're living it. Okay, you're
1600 miles away. Yeah, this kind of sucks. Yeah,
I just I'm baseball college baseball just Looking
at it from 30 ,000 feet, college baseball's never
been better. It's at its best point right now
as far as popularity, getting out there, coverage,
just excitement, the crowds, the atmospheres
that we saw at the Super Regional, like at Troy,
7 ,000 fans at a tiny, tiny stadium in Troy,
Alabama. So it's as healthy as it's been except,
I think, when it comes to this thing with the
transfers. You transfer like you're changing
underwear. And yeah, I got real depressed when
Matt Garland, who's up there in your neck of
the woods, Matt Garland is here in Omaha, and
he's the one that told me that both Maya and
Lachey were going to the transfer portal. And
you're right, that's two of the three super freshmen
they had this year that were freshmen all -American
guys that... you know, you gotta embrace it for
a year, I guess, and let them go, but, God, the
way this thing's going, it's just like, God,
it's changing. There really should be some kind
of restraint of some sort, because they just,
you know, there's guys that have changed schools
four times that are playing here in the College
World Series. I can't remember, there's a player,
I can't remember who he is. One of them has transferred
literally four times. But yeah, that's... That's
the bummer part of the sport. That's the crap
part of the sport to me, and college sports in
general, really. That really bums me out. And
I don't know, it's mixed emotions. You want these
guys to stay, because it could very well be the
right move just to stay, but you don't know.
They see something shiny on the other side of
the room. They're like, oh, something shiny.
I'm going to go over there and see how that is.
And and sometimes it works out and sometimes
it doesn't. But yeah, these guys are going to
work out no matter where they go. And I'm really
sad to see them go. It just kind of bumps me
out for for the Oregon fans and for coach Mark
Wojtkowski, who, you know, I'm sure loves these
guys and and doesn't want to lose them. And but
you can't, you know, you flash enough money in
front of them that they're going to take it.
And that's the bad. That's the bummer part of
this sport. It's not it's not necessarily NIL.
It's not like they can, to me, I always thought
if a player goes out and signs autographs at
a car dealership, yeah, he should get paid for
that. Sure, sure. If he's got a jersey with his
name on the back, yeah, he should get paid for
that. But the way college sports is now, it's
just the teams with the most money, they throw
money at the player to go there, not to have
his name, image, or likeness being used. They're
throwing money at him to recruit them. The teams
with the most money are going to get the best
players. That's just the sad part of it all.
Well, Stitch Head, and it's not, and I'm glad
you brought up the money piece of it because
that's exactly where it goes to. And again, we're
not going to begrudge a young man, especially
who is possibly thinking about how he can take
care of his family, a lot of those extended family
type situations. Waz told us that there are players
getting offers that are five times his salary,
basically. Yeah. It's insane. Right. So, but
my point being is that this is not about It can't
be, and maybe this is where we kind of put some
salve over the wound if you're an Oregon fan
especially, it's not about player development.
Do you want to be a big leaguer? Because Waz's
staff, and I think he brought this up and then
I went back and researched it, they have built
through their program the most players that have
gone on to Major League Baseball to the pros
than any other existing program right now in
NCAA Division I Baseball. So it's not about that.
Yeah, that great some great points and I'll go
on sorry Yeah, no, it's just yeah, you're right,
but finish your point. I mean yeah, it is about
the money, but go ahead Well, I mean, so it's
it's it's like that when when they're getting
advice when these young men are getting advice
It's not about okay. Do you want like you you
hear? players in football, for example, or even
basketball. I'm going to go to a program because
that coach or that program is going to get me
to a point where I'm going to be able to play
professionally and earn a paycheck professionally.
I'm not hearing that when it comes to this. It's
all about, I'm going to get my money now because
I can go to the MLB draft whenever. You know,
Ryan Cooney, Maddox Maloney are getting invited.
I think Cal Scaleri is going to tryouts before
the MLB draft. So it's not about that. It's about
getting the check right now. Yeah. Yeah. Immediate
satisfaction is certainly the thing because yeah,
you're right. And if that's the case, if what
you're saying is true, that's an impressive number
for Coach Wazkowski. And, you know, if I'm him,
I'm going to go to Phil Knight and say, hey,
Phil, you know... We got a pretty good thing
going here in Oregon. How about opening up a
little bit of the pocketbook for us? You're an
Oregon grad, right? You're proud of our program,
right? But yes, that's a really interesting part
that it's not about the development, it's just
about the immediate satisfaction. Here's the
thing I always look at, guys. I always look at
the players that have been, and Joey Volsko of
Georgia is a good example, him and Matt Scott,
both transferred from Stanford to Georgia. Now,
if you stay at Stanford, you're gonna be able
to make a million dollars plus with whatever
you end up going, whatever you end up endeavoring
into the real world. What if your arm blows out
in a year in the minors? You have that Stanford
education to fall back on. Georgia and Mississippi
State, these aren't exactly highbrow institutions
like Stanford is. So those things always kind
of get to me is that why do you throw away a
Stanford education or a good education? Now,
Oregon's a different thing. I'm not sure what
their academic standards are. I'm sure they're
very good. But yeah, if it's a proven track record
that you can develop professional players like
Coach Wise does, Why would you go someplace else
just for immediate satisfaction? I guess that's
your answer right there. That's immediate satisfaction
But that's how young people are we were young
and dumb at one time too, right? Absolutely.
Well still a little bit. So that's okay I hope
I'm young So the thing interesting to me about
this Oregon team and maybe the thing that's probably
the most frustrating to fans is this was the
type of team that it was pretty young there were
a lot of guys on this team that you felt like
hey like this is a team that could develop over
a couple years and of course What you said earlier
I think is very true and something I thought
of yesterday is that you're not going to get
a junior Angel Laia anymore. You're going to
get him for his freshman year and he's going
to take off if there's better money out there
for him. So I guess what this comes down to for
me is unless there's more funding from a Phil
Knight like you're saying or somebody else. Did
Oregon reach their ceiling or is there an is
there a possibility that they can thread the
needle and they can get a one year team at the
right time to make it to the College World Series?
Because it's been a long time since they've been
there. Yeah, well here's yeah. The thing about
with Oregon it is they've been to the to the
Super Regionals three in the typing three of
the last four years. Three last five years when
let's do. So it's proven that they can get there.
Coach was and his staff have proven they can
get there. Yeah, they're going to take this hit.
And they're going, I think they'll recover. I
mean, they've got a lot to offer for really good
baseball players. They've got a lot to offer
at the University of Oregon. So I'm not worried
about them not being competitive. It's just depressing
that you have these great players for one year
and then they move on. You know, those things
happen. So yeah, I'm not going to say that they're
never, you know, it's not like they can't compete.
with the big boys of college baseball, because
they've proven they can. But yeah, I'd love to
see them make that one little next step. I was
kind of hoping for that the last few years. But
yeah, I think it's just one of those things that'll
happen. It'll just take a while. And yeah, these
roster turnovers, that's the way we are in college
baseball. That's where we are in college baseball
now. The coaches just kind of have to adjust.
Well again, I brought it I bring up the word
depressing it really is kind of it really is
kind of a drag that we're not to see some of
these guys wearing the the green and gold next
year. Well, let's try and turn it around Stitchad.
We'll pull you out of your depression after we
have our little hug it out session and let's
let's talk about something that is a bit more
positive. The revival of Pac -12 baseball next
year as Mitch Canham squad who's had their own
hits and Rich Dorman moves from Oregon State's
pitching coach to Florida. He took Trey Morris
with him. That was announced yesterday and that's
going to be a little bit of a hit but Let's talk
about the excitement of bringing more West Coast
baseball back and the Pac -12. This is going
to be a really competitive conference. I know
you've looked at it a little bit. Sure, sure.
Yeah, and I'm well versed with Dan Hefner at
Dallas Baptist. I think that's going to be great
to have him play some games out West and Texas
State. Coach Trout has done a great job with
them and they've been. in the NCAA tournament
a couple times the last few years. I know that's
kind of far -flung coming from Texas to be playing
in the Pac -12, but I'm excited about it. And,
you know, I'm glad for, like Coach showed up
at Washington State. They've got a better conference
to play in. Now it's not quite the old Pac -12,
but it's going to be better. And, you know, you've
got teams like, what is it, like Fresno State
and San Diego State. They've got a lot of potential,
obviously. And Gonzaga is part of it too, right?
Yes, absolutely. Yeah. And they've been really
good. Coach Macdolph has had them play in really
good baseball the last few years. So yeah, this
is kind of cool. I'm glad that it's happening.
I wish it was the old way. But of course, nothing
you can't put the toothpaste back in that tube.
But I think this is going to be a really good
conference with the potential. to be really good.
It's not just going to be good. I think it has
to be really good. We get Oregon State back into
a conference again, which, you know, they've
they've started to put it together really good
schedules last few years, but that's tough to
do. And now it'll be a little bit easier. So,
yeah, this is going to be good. I'm looking forward
to seeing how it turns out again. You know, a
little more air miles for some of these teams,
but. That's OK. That's going to bring good baseball
and more. Another good conference out to the
West Coast. I'm happy about it. It's a must have
in your inbox D1 baseball. Get it, subscribe
to it. They break down everything, including
there in Omaha, where Eric Sorensen and his wife
have been chewing on a steak for the last couple
of days. So Eric, we always appreciate your time,
your insight, your sense of humor, your ability
to put things down to a level that we can consume
it. So keep doing what you're doing. doing man
yeah thanks for sharing the airwaves guys always
good being on with you all right there he goes
the great stitch head following him on the socials
at stitch head it's eric sorenson danny justin
ray your program will wind up a hump day show
you know what i'm not i don't want to talk about
brendan sorosby anymore so we're gonna talk about
something else when we wind up the program here
fox sports eugene fox sports newport live for
the bigfoot beverages studios If you missed any
of the great stitch head Eric Sorenson from D1
baseball is back in Omaha covering the Calais
World Series go back to the podcast Danny and
Justin it's there wherever you're at if you're
Spotify I heart Amazon Apple pod verse YouTube
the audio version of it's up there as well. Thanks
to the over 400 subscribers that we have there
on the old YouTube channel I Think we're itching
for another video Coming up soon tomorrow the
program Isaac Streeter will be in studio well
last to talk about Beaver Athletics with Kevin
Griffin and the new athletic director what he
has to face Texas Tech still gonna rear its ugly
head because Oregon State's supposed to play
Texas Tech at home week two and if they want
to get rid of that game which there is serious
discussion about them not even though the whole
Brenton Soresby thing is kind of now put aside
there are still Conferences and schools that
are going to try and enforce this Righteous high
ground they try to get away with it by saying
we're not gonna schedule Texas Tech Yeah, like
Michigan's already canceled their volleyball
match with Texas Tech this upcoming see really
yeah Well, I guess my first question and I don't
know if anybody I mean we have sort of talked
about this but the Brennan Sworsby situation
Who's he being a quarterback now? So if there's
a kid last name Hammond look him up that he was
injured Indiana No, he's not from Indiana. Do
you have that song? I Have like an archive somewhere
absolutely forever. We'll have to bring that
up next time. So go look it up Yeah, there is
a kid who was injured and end of last year. He
said he's gonna be ready So they're like not
worried so they can plug any quarterback in there
and it'll be fine You know, they're still gonna
contend and they're still favorites in the big
12 network It's kind of Big 12 net will Hammond
wilham see i knew i had the hammon right so will
hammon not from indiana but you know what's interesting
is that there is another national network that's
basically funded by bett mgm That's making comments.
It's like, you know, this whole thing is you
know, just horrible with Brendan Sorsby and by
the way the odds Starting quarterback Let's get
back back to Eugene I know we didn't want to
talk about Brendan We kind of went around Brendan
Sorsby not the situation itself, but it's gonna
come up with Oregon State So, let's see if it
is gonna be an issue, but I want to talk more
about the Pac -12 Their commissioner has gotten
a new contract. So Teresa Gould is going to be
around for a while for the Pac -12, and we're
going to have Pac -12 football, basketball, baseball,
softball all next year. So it's going to be around.
It's going to be really exciting, honestly. It's
going to be a blast. I think it's going to be
really interesting to see how that all works
out. And geographically, obviously, the Pac -12
has expanded. They're deep in the heart of Texas
now. Oregon Men's Basketball program has added
former Texas A &M strength coach Brandon Kuhn
to its staff. and the higher may carry a little
bit, but this is from the press release, carry
more weight than they initially realized. Kuhn
comes to Oregon, two decades of collegiate experience.
Last year he was at Texas A &M, Aggies reached
the second round of the NCAA tournament. You
would think strength and conditioning more for
like football. Maybe even baseball. You wouldn't
think for basketball. You were like, what happened
to the football? I was like, what happened to
Wilson Love? And then I had to read a little
further. It's like, oh, it's the basketball program.
Well, this is a part of investment into the program,
isn't it? I mean, Goose was either support Dana
Altman. Now, this is kind of adjacent to that.
But it all comes into what a kid's going to need
to excel. So stops for Kuhn include Miami Saint
Johns, South Alabama, Manhattan Coppage, and
Coppin State, along with Texas Tech and Texas
A &M. So he's been around. He's one of the most
respected strength coaches in all of college
basketball. He was named in 2025 a Route 66 honoree.
That's Roots 66. It's an award that recognized
most of the most impactful coaches, administrators,
and leaders in the industry. So good on him.
Let's we'll wind up with baseball because there's
some movement for Oregon baseball in a positive
way after all of the Stuff we talked about the
other day, baby. Jay, but Oregon and today. Yeah,
Oregon men and women the track and field teams
Have garnered one of the most prestigious awards
announced by a coaches association the this is
really long USTF CC a division one program of
the year The award started in 2008 2009 They've
won this award 18 times 12 of them by the women
6 by the men both the men and the women Win the
award this year and it's based on national finish
and the three championship meets during each
academic year Oregon outlasted Arkansas on the
men's side Oregon outlasted, Florida on the women's
side and a bunch of first teams We don't have
enough time to go through all of them We're gonna
see some of these athletes. I think possibly
at the pre so Good on them Fantastic. All right,
so you want to talk positive for Oregon? Yeah,
let's do well if there is some Jake books Who
I don't know if they was highly coveted, but
he is a strong player coming from Tampa He's
a graduate student and he signed on to mark waskowski's
team. He's an infielder He's got a year of eligibility
left, but he blasted eight home runs 58 RBI stole
six bases played some first base and batted 338
with a 545 slugging percentage also was at Coastal
Carolina and That conference pretty good pitching
so that could you know possibly be You know look
at Ryan Cooney is going to the MLB I guess you
would call it like the combine. It's the pre
-draft workouts for the MLB draft down in Arizona
along with Maddox Maloney so that your middle
infield is going down there to get looks to see
if they could possibly have enough stock to get
drafted by an MLB team. Right -handed pitcher
Cal Scaleri is also going down. So this kid,
Jake Books, Doesn't hit a ton of home runs But
he could be an answer up the middle for either
one of both those positions if Cooney and or
Maloney are gonna get drafted Do you know go
on no if they but by the way they both could
come back they could eat Cooney and Max Maloney
both could come back And I think I've said to
you I predict yes will come back. Yes, and Cooney
will leave okay I don't know where Cooney has
to prove to be honest with you at this point
unless he just really wants to be an Oregon baseball
player Well, just possible here's the thing Drew
Smith Came back again. It's true He also had
a better season than he did the previous year.
I don't know how much better Cooney can play.
I mean, he's just been good. He's been so good.
Except you want to say, you know what? I've been
to two super regionals and got the bad taste
on my mouth the last couple of times I was there.
I want to get to a College World Series. That
to me would be the only prize. It's kind of like
Dante Moore saying, you know what? Yeah, I could
have been a number one or two draft pick. But
I want to come back and do something with this
program and get to a national championship game
if not win the whole thing I guess he has to
weigh the option of well if I do come back What's
the the worst possible thing that could happen,
right? I mean, that's always you have to think
in mind. You can ensure you have a horrible season
He's not gonna have a horrible season Do you
by the way know where the University of Tampa
where conference they're in I would say I'm gonna
say it's either the Sun Belt or the AAC It is
the Sunshine State Conference. Okay. Yeah, whatever.
In Division 2. Oh, it's a D2 school. Yeah. Okay,
but I mean, again. But that's also the kind of
thing that I don't look into that too much. There's
a reason why they want them. Yeah, you got to
trust the process. How much time have we already
spent talking about trust the coaches, trust
the room? Actually, you can't read too much into
it. It's like I'm not there in practice. I'm
not breaking down the film I'm not evaluating
that something in him. I mean what? Waskowski's
the lead the leader in putting players to major
leagues now the right hello is gone right and
the manager of the Giants like they obviously
see something in this guy It's like whenever
Oregon football recruits a three -star. It's
like all right like what do they see in this
guy because the star sometimes doesn't really
matter Yeah, I agree with that. So and and this
process is just starting by the way There's still
what 14 more days 13 more days left in the portal
before it closes off So we don't know who's it
go in still I get like her fingers crossed on
who goes in But who Oregon can go pluck out there
and you know was when we had him on earlier this
week It was like I got a recruit on campus and
that's the other thing. They're also still recruiting
at the high school level And so they're not going
to know anything until after the draft in mid
-July, whether some of those players get drafted
and they decide they want to go to major leagues.
But even though they've already committed to
it, that's the tough thing. You can't sit there
and say, hey, there's going to be opportunity
for you, Mr. Freshman Recruit. And you just don't
know until after the draft. Right. So all right,
Mr. Dad Joke real quick. Oh, a joke. I got fired
from the bank today. A woman asked me to check
her balance, so I pushed her. Dad jokes. Why
are balloons so expensive? The balloon's so expensive,
Baby J. Ah, this is something like the price
ballooned or something like that. I don't know.
Well, you're kind of out of the track. Inflation.
Inflation. Yeah, see, I knew it. I knew it was
something like this. You were very close. There
was a glint in your eye that was like, I got
this one. No, I don't got it. I got it, I got
it, I got it. No, I don't got it. I never get
them. That's a goose and a Vegas thing. Yeah,
it is. or Dom, or Dom will come in and answer
it right away. Exactly. All right. Back on the
program tomorrow with Isaac Streeter. Put a smile
on your face. Someone else's. They deserve it.
So do you. God bless. Thanks for listening.