Long Beach State Dirtbag Baseball Thread 2006

[Hachiko]

Welp, given that I'm attending the Beach, I think it is important that I keep you up to date on my favorite collegiate baseball team, the Long Beach State Dirtbags (or, to be technically correct, 49ers).

This year, to start, the 'Bags are ranked 22nd by Baseball America, 20th by USA Today, and 12th by Collegiate Baseball.

With all due respect to the Trojan faithful, I am proud to say that my Dirtbags swept USC for the first time ever in the history of the program today. Game 1: Divine intervention, thy name is a marine layer. Game 2: Sean Boatright bails Long Beach State to a series win. Game 3: Freshman Danny Espinosa completes the sweep of the Trojans with a 2-run triple in the eighth.
Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc020306.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc020406.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc020506.htm)

[Hachiko]

So, some of you may be thinking, "What is a Dirtbag?" I'm sure the name "Dirtbag" might be the butt of many jokes. But it shouldn't be a joke regarding LBSU's consistency as a top baseball program in the West, namely, the Big West conference, matching up with the likes of Cal State Fullerton.

So, here's a little bit of mamen chishiki (Japanese for trivia) from the LBSU Athletics web site:


The unofficial nickname of Long Beach State 49er baseball team refers to the program’s style of play and success against higher profile programs. The moniker was first coined for Coach Snow’s first team in 1989 which was comprised of nearly all new players. Playing without a home field (LBCC, Cerritos JC and Blair Field), and practicing at a local all-dirt Pony Field, that team won its first 18 games and advanced to the 49ers first College World Series appearance. Then-infield coach Dave Malpass would take his infielders to the all-dirt field for their rigorous workout. The infielders would return to the regular practice field after their sessions covered in dirt. Thus the name “Dirtbags” was born. The name resurfaced again in 1993 when the 12-12 49ers rallied to win 34 of their next 41 games and finish three outs short of the National Championship game. The “Dirtbags” were once again a fan favorite at the 1998 College World Series as the country received a lesson in “Dirtbag” baseball.

"Being a Dirtbag is more about the attitude that you play with. You are required to give 110% all of the time."
-- Jeremy Ward, Triple A Pitcher, Diamondbacks

“Being a Dirtbag means giving 100 percent in everything you do...going all-out on every play, and always putting the team before yourself.”
-- Bobby Crosby, Athletics Shortstop

“It’s a badge of honor. It means you play hard all the time. I’ve always considered myself to be a Dirtbag.”
-- Steve Trachsel, Mets Starting Pitcher

“A Dirtbag is a style of playing the game of baseball. It is the type of player every team needs… Loves to play the game everyday… He maybe does not have all the skills of the greatest player, but his attitude and the way he commits himself to the game is what makes this Dirtbag great. Dealing with adversity is what completes being a Dirtbag. A team player at all times (hardnosed).”
-- Mike Gallo, Astros Pitcher

"Being a Dirtbag means you bring all you have to the table in every single game. It doesn't matter the conditions or who you're playing or where you're playing. You have to get down and get dirty and do what you have to do to win. It means giving up an at-bat to move the runner over, to hit the sac fly, giving it all until the moment you walk off the field."
-- Adam Heether, 11th Round Pick of Brewers in 2003

"To me the Dirtbags means a great time in my life. I enjoyed the camaraderie and excitement I had being part of the Dirtbags. I still go back for the alumni games and enjoy seeing my old friends. I guess you could say that you would have to experience it personally to really know what it means."
-- Rocky Biddle, Expos Closer

“We’re just a team that scrapes and gets the little things done to win. That’s what we are--Dirtbags. People that don’t understand that yet, don’t hafve a clue to what’s behind us.”
-- Chuck Lopez, Single-Season Record Holder for Hits

“Being a Dirtbag is great, it’s a great group of guys. We’re just players who like to get dirty and play hard. We’ll always battle every inning, every at bat – it’s just a hard-nosed way to play ball,”
-- Jeremy Reed, Double-A OF, White Sox

"A Dirtbag doesn’t have the greatest ability--on a scale from 1 to 10, you’re always a 5, but you always play hard and don’t care how pretty you look. You just get after it.”
-- Brian Whatley, Starting Catcher on 1993 CWS Team

“It was a tremendous honor to be a Dirtbag. Being a Dirtbag means you’re a never-say-die player who puts it all on the line all the time.’’
-- Terrmel Sledge, Triple-A OF, Expos



We have some very good players on this year's side: including IF Evan Longoria, who spent some time in the Cape Cod League, OF Sean Boatright abnd 2B Chuck Sindlinger, and P Jared Hughes, whose sinkerball makes all the difference. We also have some talented newcomers, including freshmen Danny Espinosa and Kip Masuda, Santa Clara transfer Robert Perry, and P Andrew Carpenter. Our pitching staff has depth, too, with players such as closer Brett Andrade, sophomore Andrew Liebl, Hughes, sophomore Donnie Hume, and freshman Vance Worley, who needs a little bit more seasoning to flourish as a started, but will no doubt find his rhythm later this year.

The next seven games for us are not easy, a three-game weekend trip to Cal, followed by a road trip to Pepperdine the following Tuesday, then a trip to Oklahoma to take on Lamar, Rice, and the Sooners. I smell top 5 if we get past all of them without a hitch.

[HokieHi]

What's your opinion on Vance Worley? A bunch of my buddies played against him in HS baseball (He played for a team in our league) and he was very highly touted coming out.

[OCCoug]

I hope you guys lose every game this season. :)

[dc86]

What's your opinion on Vance Worley? A bunch of my buddies played against him in HS baseball (He played for a team in our league) and he was very highly touted coming out.

Hey Hokie are you from Sacramento? I remember hearing Worley was having arm troubles at the end of the year which probably prevented him from getting drafted higher. But I would guess that he's probably ok by now.

[joshuahuskers]

does each team really need it's own thread?

[GatorTD8to10]

No they dont..If we get some more people that follow Big West baseball, then Ill change this thread to the Big West thread.

[HokieHi]

Hey Hokie are you from Sacramento? I remember hearing Worley was having arm troubles at the end of the year which probably prevented him from getting drafted higher. But I would guess that he's probably ok by now.

Yup, Roseville actually. Yourself?

[dc86]

Yup, Roseville actually. Yourself?

That's funny, I went to Woodcreek.

[Kingssc]

Yup, Roseville actually. Yourself?
Whoa, I lived in Roseville 6-7 years ago

[Kingssc]

That's funny, I went to Woodcreek.
Whoa, I would have went to Woodcreek had I not moved, crazy

[HokieHi]

This is hilarous, I had a ton of friends who went to Woodcreek and Rocklin.

Kingssc: Go Kings, baby! Too bad I'm in VA and missing out on our season tickets. :(

[dc86]

Heh, small world.

[Kingssc]

This is hilarous, I had a ton of friends who went to Woodcreek and Rocklin.

Kingssc: Go Kings, baby! Too bad I'm in VA and missing out on our season tickets. :(
I moved from Roseville to VA [wow] , wow, but now in Ohio

[Hachiko]

What's your opinion on Vance Worley? A bunch of my buddies played against him in HS baseball (He played for a team in our league) and he was very highly touted coming out.

:o Worley's got some work to do throwing K's. He was grilled by the bats of SC in the third game, giving up five hits in less than 4 innings. He's gotta work on his confidence, and find a rhythm if he wants to stay on his game this year.

Course, Vance is a frosh, so that initial performance in my book is a bit forgivable...and mind you, he's just jumped to the next level, so once he gets used to the level of play here, he'll be fine. :)

[Hachiko]

Welp, I knew the Dirtbags were going to have a tough 7-game road stretch, as they lose a tough 3-game series to Cal up at Berkeley. The Bags won the first game 7-6, while the Bears won the next two, 3-2 coming back in the ninth, and 4-1, with the Beach leaving 8 on base.

Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc021006.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc021106.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc021206.htm)

Next up is a Tuesday game at Malibu to take on Pepperdine.

[Hachiko]

Long Beach State's road trip got even tougher, as they lost to Pepperdine 3-2. The wind has really been taken off our sails right now, and it won't get any easier with the weekend jaunt to Houston.

[Hachiko]

Long Beach State finishes their 7-game road trip 2-5. Ouch. At Houston, we defeated Lamar and upset Rice, but got nipped by dem Okies yesterday. Here's the game stories. Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc021706.htm) Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc021806.htm) Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc021906.htm)

[Hachiko]

Another weekend, another sweep. The Dirtbags swept Illinois-Chicago this past weekend, and Vance Worley, though still being a fly-ball pitcher, got his first win in the third game.
Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc022406.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc022506.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc022606.htm)

[Hachiko]

Tuesday games seem to be our weakness. We got blindsided by UCLA early, and got doubled up by the Bruins, 6-3.

Game Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc022806.htm)

[Hachiko]

Long Beach's baseball schedule is not named "One of the toughest in the country" for nothing...they drop a 3-game series to Baylor last weekend.

Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc030306.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc030406.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc030506.htm)

[Hachiko]

On their road trip to Loyola Marymount, the Bags fought back and forth, before winning 9-8.

Game Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc030706.htm)

The Bags now return to Texas to take on the Longhorns in a 3-game series. [wow]

[Hachiko]

I'm scratching my head as to how our season became that of a nightmare. Last weekend we get swept by Wichita State at the Blair. The way the Bags are failing to deliver, nearby Long Beach City College could pose problems for the Beach, too. And they're a JC! :(

Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc031706.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc031806.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc031906.htm)

[Hachiko]

I am stunned. Our losing streak has just increased to 7 games. This nightmare of a schedule we have keeps getting worse and worse by the minute. I was at the second game of our weekend series with Fullerton, and saw Coach Weathers get ejected from the game in the fifth. You simply will never win an argument with an umpire as a head coach.

Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc032406.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc032506.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc032606.htm)

I'm wondering why our season is heading south after the USC series. [evil]

[Hachiko]

The Beach gets back on their feet with a 3-game sweep of UC Irvine to open Big West play.

Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc033106.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc040106.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc040206.htm)

[Hachiko]

After a loss to San Diego State...

Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc040206.htm)

the Beach comes back with a win, a loss, and a tie against Northridge. Or is it?

Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc041306.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc041506.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc041506.htm) (to be continued May 10)

[Hachiko]

Here's the rest of the season so far.

On April 18, the Beach got swept by UCLA, thus showing their unnecessary inferiority to a school with a higher enrollment than them...
Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc041806.htm)

Afterwards, the Beach swept UC Davis...
Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc042106.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc042206.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc042306.htm)

After that, a blasting of San Diego State...
Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc042506.htm)

Followed by a sweep of Pacific...
Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc042806.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc042906.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc043006.htm)

Only to see the streak end against Pepperdine, the next team to sweep the Beach this year, thus showing how they can play like a podunk high school against spoiled turds from Malibu.
Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc050206.htm)

Just last weekend, we took the series from Cal Poly, and are currently riding a 2-game win streak.
Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc050506.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc050606.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc050706.htm)

This week, we have a Tuesday tilt with LMU, followed by the completion of a match with Cal State Northridge. Our next weekend series is home against UC Santa Barbara. Currently we are a rather mediocre 25-20-1, 9-2-1 in the Big West, second place behind our hated rivals from Fullerton. Some more consistency (okay, a LOT more consistency) is in order.

[Hachiko]

Just on a side note, we defeated UC Irvine in the annual Black and Blue Rivalry Series, 34-25. As you know, Irvine is our top rival in all sports, and we really laid it to them down the finish.
Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/local/BLACK-BLUE/06finalrelease.htm)

Now, on with the baseball. (Grrr, this underline is being stubborn... EDIT: Problem solved.)

This has been a tough week for us, but we're getting to the finish. We defeated LMU...
Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc050906.htm)

But we couldn't finish the job against Northridge.
Story (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc051006.htm)

And afterwards, we dropped a series to Santa Barbara, dropping 2 of 3 while winning the last one.
Game 1 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc051206.htm)
Game 2 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc051306.htm)
Game 3 (http://www.longbeachstate.com/bbo/bbc/REL06/gamebbc051406.htm)

We are now a laughable 27-23, 10-5 in the BWC. At this point, Long Beach City College could steal a series from the Dirtbags, given our team's inconsistency. This weekend, we're hitting the road to take on UC Riverside.