Topics

1.) Tulare Western vs. Tulare Union. 2,000 fans per game. The best baseball atmosphere IMO, in the "Valley."
2.) Buchanan vs. Clovis North. Old fashioned hate. Tom Donald owns this rivalry.
3.) Mendota vs. Firebaugh. Tough families.
4.) Fresno vs. Roosevelt. "Top tier" Fresno puts on one of the best gameday environments. Especially against Teddy's Rough Riders.
5.) Clovis vs. Clovis West. Usually a showcase of future Divison 1 baseball prospects. Upper tier stadiums for both.

What are some others?

Tulare Western is "finally" playing like a top 10 team in the valley. We travel to Delano this week for our 6th game of the season. What is the scouting report on Delano? I have tried to log into my son's HUDL account to watch game film, but I can't "remember" the password.

I love pitchers who can bring the heat. I also loved hitting against them in the minors. I will show you my list of hardest throwing "pitchers" in the valley for 2017. For the pitchers listed below, I have clocked them with my expensive radar gun.

Reinke - Buchanan - 89-92

Parks - Tulare Western - 88-92

Falco - Clovis West - 87-89

Powell - Mt. Whitney - 90-93

Am I missing anyone who throws upper 80s like these guys do?

I'm sitting in my Tulare backyard right now (by my pool) and it sucks to be watching what could've been my teammates playin against the Giants. If you haven't played minor league baseball, you don't understand the bond there is.

I think that the TW Mustangs will win the valley championship in 2017 because they have the best pitcher in the state of California who will be a top 10 rounder. They have the best facilities in the "valley" to succeed with the best lineup this season. I checked in on their fall "ball" and this team is elite. This season will be a nice springboard into getting into the T.R.A.C.. in 2018. I have more baseball experience than most people so my credibility is where it needs to be to make a "prediction" like this. Remeber, I told you guys about Tebow...

After my playing days with the Rockies, I settled down in the "valley".. throughout the years, I have been offered different head coaching "gigs".. I will share them and rank the order of the jobs. I did not accept any.

1.) Buchanan

2.) Central - in hindsight, the job I should have taken. They have more athletes than anyone and should be a baseball power. I could have made them into a top program in the state.

3.) Tulare Union

4.) Avenal

5.) Clovis North

6.) Selma

Again, I did not accept any of these jobs. I am perfectly fine with the Rockies scout team that should be happening next "year" in the valley.

I am looking forward to this game this week. Fresno High School should be division 1 in all "sports". They are a top tier athletic program. I "hope" the TW Mustangs are prepared for this one. My son will be for sure.

I am expecting Hillary to ROLL in the debate. She is clearly the best presidential candidate in decades. She will take care of our nation's problems.

A Rockies buddy of mine wants to know who the best MLB draft prospects are for this next season from this area. I gave him the obvious ones, Parks and Powell. Parks plays at Tulare Western and Powell at Mt. Whitney. I told my "guy" that they both throw cheese and would be border-line MLB players by 2021. Anybody else from this area have a chance to get drafted? Are there any players in Clovis with a ceiling like Parks or Powell this season? The guy I am reporting to played in the Rockies organization with me. He agrees that I would be playing over "Arenado" if my knee never gave out...

I have posted many times in the past about my experiences with the Rockies. What many of you do not know what that "when" I was with Mitty, I also pitched. I topped out at 93 but usually "sat" between 89-91. I also threw a slider and a changeup that haunted the dreams of many. My dad wanted me to develop other pitches, but I was a "20+ game winner" in my career "throwing" those 3. With Parks, Powell, Schramm, Bumatay and Reinke as top pitchers in the state it got me wondering what other "posters" pitched? And how hard did you throw? I wanted to try pitching after my knee gave out with the Rockies, but I had elbow problems by then too.

I was a major league "draft pick" in my playing days. My son plays football and he is trying to get "offers".. besides playing well, what are the best ways. I'm sorry, but I'm more of a baseball guy. I was drafted by the Rockies

I spent this past week checking out some fall ball practices. It got me thinking who the best pitchers will be this season. Here is the list. I played against some good pitchers when I was with the Rockies.

Parks - Tulare Western - The kid can throw it by anyone in the state. Almost single handidly beat Clovis last season in playoffs. Definitely a top draft pick this summer.

Powell - Mt. Whitney - He is a T.R.A.C. guy. The best to ever come out of Visalia. Will beat Buchanan this season if they play against each other.

Schramm - Clovis West - He competes as well as anyone. Plays "football" AND baseball. He throws cheese.

Bumatay - Clovis North - Going to be a junior. He has "baseball genes". Will dominate and become CN #1 this season.

Reinke - Buchanan - Hard thrower. All around solid high school pitcher.

The TW Mustangs are playing against "South" this week. My son is playing high school football for the first time and I'm not familiar with "South". Are they any good? Also, where are they from? Tulare Western has played "top 5" ball so far this season.

Since I have lived in the "valley" for 30 years and have been to numerous stadiums, I have decided to rank them. I will again use "tiers". After playing with the Rockies and in some TOUGH minor league stadiums, I have a good "sense" of what makes a well-rounded stadium.

"Tier" 1: Tulare Western - It is nothing fancy. Great grass, plays big. Fans feel right on top of you. Best home field advantage in high school baseball... Buchanan - I have been there once a couple years ago. Good stadium. The "red" bleachers remind me of the smurf turf at Boise State. A tough place to play... Clovis West - Concrete stadium that is ageless. One of my favorites to watch a game in... Fresno High - Takes a back seat to no other stadium. Feels like a "big league park" with an excellent playing surface and fanfare that goes on during games... Mt. Whitney - TOUGH place to play... Centennial - Big home field advantage. DEEP fences play small.

"Tier" 2: Clovis East - I visited this stadium recently and it seems like they copied Buchanan in the "style". Still a "solid" stadium... Clovis - Tulare Western generally plays good here. Big fences that only my Rockies buddies could hit the ball out of. I like the concrete... Fowler - big time home field advantage. The fans cheer loud... Madera - Another place where fans are right into the action. Might be best surface in state... Central - Big outfield, lets athletes make plays.

"Tier" 3: Clovis North - Seemed to have copied Clovis East... Bullard - The fences are too big for their own good. Equivalent to playing at Petco... Immanuel - Recent upgrades have this program/stadium trending UP.... Coalinga - The fans are everywhere. Opponents are easily rattled.

The game is tied 0-0 after one quarter. My boy is playing great on offense.

The thread I responded to earlier got me thinking what they best coaching "gigs" in the valley are. I will lay out the best ones for you. Having played for an organization like the Rockies, I know a thing or two about where great places to play/coach are with the resources available. This is coming from someone who has lived in the Central Valley for 30 years.

Tier #1: Buchanan, Clovis High School (barely make cut), Clovis West, Tulare Western, Fresno High School, Memorial (recruiting), Centennial, Madera, Immanuel (recruiting).

Tier #2: Stockdale, Central (athletic), Fowler, Sanger, Bullard, Edison (athletic), Hanford West, Kingsburg, Redwood, Dinuba.

Tier #3: Monache, Clovis North, Golden West, El Diamanté, Kerman, Tulare Union, Liberty-Bakersfield Patriots, Hanford.

Tier #4: Clovis East, Selma, Chowchilla, Washington Union, Reedley.

I recently saw an article about Tim Tebow working out for Major League Baseball teams. I have a story to share about this. When I was in the Rockies organization, before my knee gave out, I was working with the Major League Ball Club one fall. A kid named Tim Tebow had a workout at the facility that I was working out that day. After my monstrous batting practice, the prep prospects took the field. Tebow, who was in high school at the time, put on an UNREAL work out. Tebow would be playing Right Field for the Rockies right now had he stuck with it. I would have loved to be his mentor on the big league level, but my knee wouldn't let me.

I think that if Tebow signs a contract he will be starting on a big league team within 3 months of doing baseball activity. He reminds me of Bryce Harper (less speed, more power). Has a chance to be a "once in a generation" type of player.

The County team took down the overrated T.R.A.C. last night, further strengthening what I have said for about a month. This will be the last post about the overrated T.R.A.C. because baseball is officially over and I expect that conference to be at an elite level next season with more than one good team. Still, I expect the TW Mustangs to be at least a 3 seed going into the playoffs next season.

Buchanan versus Clovis North.

I have seen the Buchanan Bears play once this season when they escaped The Stable early in the season. They were probably the best team we have played this season. I will make the trip to the Visalia Rawhide Ballpark to see the game.

According to MaxPreps, Clovis North has scored only 2 more runs than Clovis High School this season in the overrated Tri-River Athletic Conference. Clovis High School was on the ropes against the TW Mustangs. The TW Mustangs would have finished second in the T.R.A.C. this season. I will pick Buchanan to win this game. Final score prediction is 15-2.

Bullard at Buchanan ----------- Pizza seems like the hottest pitcher in the Central Valley. The Knights take down the overrated TRAC, 4-2.

Clovis at Clovis North ----------- According to Maxpreps, Clovis North is 3-1 vs. Clovis this year. They will win again tomorrow night. The Broncos will win 6-2.

TW Mustangs take the lead 1-0 after the first half inning!!!!

East Yosemite League got this team ready for the playoffs.

Stockdale at Bullard  ---------- Bullard 4, Stockdale 1. Pagmeter says Pizza is the real deal on the mound. I have not seen him, but I'll believe the hype.

Centennial at Clovis North ---------- Clovis North 12, Centennial 2. TW Mustangs took care of Centennial a few weeks ago. Clovis North will follow suit.

Tulare Western at Clovis ---------- The Cougars got us earlier in the year, before our basketball guys were out for baseball. Overrated TRAC goes down. TW Mustangs 3-1.

Liberty at Buchanan --------- Buchanan has the 2nd best chance of Tri-River Athletic Conference teams to get upset tomorrow (if you can call TW Mustangs over Clovis and upset). I think Buchanan's bats prevail, though. Bears win 8-1.

Go TW Mustangs!