Sunday, June 29, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
The Rise and Fall of Auburn Baseball
BY Phillip Marshall
Auburn Undercover
19 June 2014
Auburn’s once-proud baseball program has fallen on hard times, harder than anyone could have imagined when Hal Baird retired after the 2000 season as the winningest baseball coach in school history.
How did it happen? Why did it happen? It started after a disappointing season in 2004.
As the baseball season ended, Auburn’s athletic program had hit on rocky times. SACS probation had cast a shadow over the entire university. Just five months earlier, university president William Walker had led a clandestine trip to talk to Louisville coach Bobby Petrino about replacing head football coach Tommy Tuberville.
The trip, on Thursday before Auburn played Alabama, had been exposed within a matter of days. What came to be known as Jetgate eventually cost Walker his job. Ed Richardson took over as interim president. Athletics director David Housel, who had been on the trip, announced he would retire and relinquished control of the department to Baird, who had answered when the school he loves called. The men’s basketball program was hit with NCAA scholarship reductions.
Richardson, with the unique presidential nickname of “Chainsaw” because of his penchant for firing people, told Baird he wanted baseball coach Steve Renfroe and basketball coach Cliff Ellis gone. Legendary women’s basketball coach Joe Ciampi retired.
SACS probation and Jetgate had given Auburn a major black eye nationally. Baird’s position as special assistant to the president was temporary, and the search for a new athletics director had not even begun.
Against that backdrop, with Richardson determined to be involved in every decision, Baird was charged with hiring coaches who would not even know who their boss would ultimately be. Mike Anderson, then at UAB, wanted the basketball job. Baird wanted him. Richardson didn’t. Eventually, Jeff Lebo was named head men’s basketball coach. Nell Fortner took over the women’s program.
The baseball team struggled to a 12-18 SEC record in Renfroe’s fourth season but played such a challenging nonconference schedule that it was still one of the last four off the board on regional selection day. It was just the second time in 12 years Auburn had failed to make an NCAA regional.
Renfroe, who had been Baird's long-time assistant, had led Auburn to regionals in his first three seasons. In 2003, the Tigers had been the No. 4 national seed.
Baird told Richardson he didn’t think one bad year was enough to cost Renfroe his job. He explained that circumstances would make it difficult to hire a proven coach. Richardson wouldn’t budge. Renfroe was fired.
Baird immediately set his sights on Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin and thought the deal was all but done. But when Corbin returned to Nashville from his Auburn interview, the Vanderbilt chancellor was waiting with what amounted to almost a lifetime contract and other concessions and incentives. Corbin stayed at Vanderbilt.
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner, Baird’s long-time friend and former assistant, was next on the list. Tanner seriously considered it but decided to stay put. Baird tried Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. He got nowhere. Finally, it was down to Mitch Gaspard, who was the coach at Northwestern (La.) State, and Tom Slater, a former Auburn assistant who was the head coach at VMI.
Richardson wanted Slater. Baird agreed, and Auburn baseball moved on. Bad times were coming.
In the 10 seasons since Renfroe was fired, Auburn has had just one winning SEC record. It has lost 20-plus SEC games three times.
Slater, who recruited the team that would win the West for John Pawlowski in 2010, was gone after four seasons. John Cohen, who had won an SEC championship at Kentucky, was highly interested in the job, but he wanted more money than Auburn was willing to pay. Pawlowski got the job and Cohen went to Mississippi State.
After last season, Pawlowski was fired and Sunny Golloway was hired for $650,000 a year. There was an immediate flood of harsh criticism of Golloway and the way he had run his program at Oklahoma. Golloway boldly predicted his first Auburn team would go to Omaha for the College World Series. Instead, a team he proclaimed had more talent than any he had at Oklahoma came crashing down, losing 20 SEC games and finishing 13th. When things went badly, Golloway publicly blamed his assistants and his players. If he ever blamed himself, I didn’t hear it.
The season ended in turmoil with accusations and recriminations. Auburn lost its last eight home games. After an investigation, Golloway kept his job.
What now for Auburn baseball?
Golloway, who rarely goes on the road recruiting, fired Scott Foxhall, his top recruiter, after the season. Recruiting is at a virtual standstill. Highly rated players, even those with Auburn ties, are showing little to no interest in Auburn.
There is some talent, starting with pitcher Keegan Thompson. Jordan Ebert, who played the outfield last season, was Auburn’s leading hitter the past two seasons and apparently will return. Golloway has apparently hired veteran pitching coach Tom Holliday. But is there enough talent to get back to playing in regionals?
Golloway went to eight regionals and one College World Series in nine seasons at Oklahoma. Maybe he can eventually do the same at Auburn. But, for now, the powerhouse Baird built has become an SEC bottom-feeder.
Renfroe, the man Richardson said had to go, is the head coach at Briarwood Christian School near Birmingham. His three NCAA regionals in four seasons at Auburn are more than the three coaches who came after him have managed in 10 seasons.
That is the sad state of Auburn baseball.
Auburn Undercover
19 June 2014
Auburn’s once-proud baseball program has fallen on hard times, harder than anyone could have imagined when Hal Baird retired after the 2000 season as the winningest baseball coach in school history.
How did it happen? Why did it happen? It started after a disappointing season in 2004.
As the baseball season ended, Auburn’s athletic program had hit on rocky times. SACS probation had cast a shadow over the entire university. Just five months earlier, university president William Walker had led a clandestine trip to talk to Louisville coach Bobby Petrino about replacing head football coach Tommy Tuberville.
The trip, on Thursday before Auburn played Alabama, had been exposed within a matter of days. What came to be known as Jetgate eventually cost Walker his job. Ed Richardson took over as interim president. Athletics director David Housel, who had been on the trip, announced he would retire and relinquished control of the department to Baird, who had answered when the school he loves called. The men’s basketball program was hit with NCAA scholarship reductions.
Richardson, with the unique presidential nickname of “Chainsaw” because of his penchant for firing people, told Baird he wanted baseball coach Steve Renfroe and basketball coach Cliff Ellis gone. Legendary women’s basketball coach Joe Ciampi retired.
SACS probation and Jetgate had given Auburn a major black eye nationally. Baird’s position as special assistant to the president was temporary, and the search for a new athletics director had not even begun.
Against that backdrop, with Richardson determined to be involved in every decision, Baird was charged with hiring coaches who would not even know who their boss would ultimately be. Mike Anderson, then at UAB, wanted the basketball job. Baird wanted him. Richardson didn’t. Eventually, Jeff Lebo was named head men’s basketball coach. Nell Fortner took over the women’s program.
The baseball team struggled to a 12-18 SEC record in Renfroe’s fourth season but played such a challenging nonconference schedule that it was still one of the last four off the board on regional selection day. It was just the second time in 12 years Auburn had failed to make an NCAA regional.
Renfroe, who had been Baird's long-time assistant, had led Auburn to regionals in his first three seasons. In 2003, the Tigers had been the No. 4 national seed.
Baird told Richardson he didn’t think one bad year was enough to cost Renfroe his job. He explained that circumstances would make it difficult to hire a proven coach. Richardson wouldn’t budge. Renfroe was fired.
Baird immediately set his sights on Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin and thought the deal was all but done. But when Corbin returned to Nashville from his Auburn interview, the Vanderbilt chancellor was waiting with what amounted to almost a lifetime contract and other concessions and incentives. Corbin stayed at Vanderbilt.
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner, Baird’s long-time friend and former assistant, was next on the list. Tanner seriously considered it but decided to stay put. Baird tried Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. He got nowhere. Finally, it was down to Mitch Gaspard, who was the coach at Northwestern (La.) State, and Tom Slater, a former Auburn assistant who was the head coach at VMI.
Richardson wanted Slater. Baird agreed, and Auburn baseball moved on. Bad times were coming.
In the 10 seasons since Renfroe was fired, Auburn has had just one winning SEC record. It has lost 20-plus SEC games three times.
Slater, who recruited the team that would win the West for John Pawlowski in 2010, was gone after four seasons. John Cohen, who had won an SEC championship at Kentucky, was highly interested in the job, but he wanted more money than Auburn was willing to pay. Pawlowski got the job and Cohen went to Mississippi State.
After last season, Pawlowski was fired and Sunny Golloway was hired for $650,000 a year. There was an immediate flood of harsh criticism of Golloway and the way he had run his program at Oklahoma. Golloway boldly predicted his first Auburn team would go to Omaha for the College World Series. Instead, a team he proclaimed had more talent than any he had at Oklahoma came crashing down, losing 20 SEC games and finishing 13th. When things went badly, Golloway publicly blamed his assistants and his players. If he ever blamed himself, I didn’t hear it.
The season ended in turmoil with accusations and recriminations. Auburn lost its last eight home games. After an investigation, Golloway kept his job.
What now for Auburn baseball?
Golloway, who rarely goes on the road recruiting, fired Scott Foxhall, his top recruiter, after the season. Recruiting is at a virtual standstill. Highly rated players, even those with Auburn ties, are showing little to no interest in Auburn.
There is some talent, starting with pitcher Keegan Thompson. Jordan Ebert, who played the outfield last season, was Auburn’s leading hitter the past two seasons and apparently will return. Golloway has apparently hired veteran pitching coach Tom Holliday. But is there enough talent to get back to playing in regionals?
Golloway went to eight regionals and one College World Series in nine seasons at Oklahoma. Maybe he can eventually do the same at Auburn. But, for now, the powerhouse Baird built has become an SEC bottom-feeder.
Renfroe, the man Richardson said had to go, is the head coach at Briarwood Christian School near Birmingham. His three NCAA regionals in four seasons at Auburn are more than the three coaches who came after him have managed in 10 seasons.
That is the sad state of Auburn baseball.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn Dies
Incredible numbers. In 20 seasons, only 34 games with multiple strikeouts. He got a hit in 75.3% of his games and batted at least .300 in 19 seasons.
ESPN
16 June 2014
Tony Gwynn, who banged out 3,141 hits during a Hall of Fame career spanning 20 seasons with the San Diego Padres, has died of cancer at age 54, it was announced Monday.
The lefty-swinging Gwynn, nicknamed Mr. Padre, had a career .338 batting average, won eight National League batting titles and played in the franchise's only two World Series.
He died early Monday morning at Pomerado Hospital in Poway, California, while surrounded by his family, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced.
"Major League Baseball today mourns the tragic loss of Tony Gwynn," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement Monday. "The greatest Padre ever and one of the most accomplished hitters that our game has ever known, whose all-around excellence on the field was surpassed by his exuberant personality and genial disposition in life.
"... For more than 30 years, Tony Gwynn was a source of universal goodwill in the National Pastime, and he will be deeply missed by the many people he touched."
Survivors include his wife, Alicia, daughter, Anisha, and son, Tony Jr., who plays with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Gwynn had been signed to a one-year contract extension as the baseball coach at San Diego State on Wednesday. He had been on medical leave since late March while recovering from cancer treatment. He took over the program at his alma mater after the 2002 season.
He had two operations for cancer in his right cheek between August 2010 and February 2012. The second surgery was complicated, with surgeons removing a facial nerve because it was intertwined with a tumor inside his right cheek. They grafted a nerve from Gwynn's neck to help him eventually regain facial movement.
Gwynn had said that he believed the cancer was from chewing tobacco.
In a rarity in pro sports, Gwynn spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, choosing to stay rather than leaving for bigger paychecks elsewhere. His terrific hand-eye coordination made him one of the game's greatest contact hitters. He excelled at hitting singles the other way, through the "5.5 hole" between third base and shortstop.
He was a 15-time All-Star and reached the coveted 200-hit mark in a season five times, and his .338 career average was 18th-best all time.
Gwynn hit safely in 1,838 games -- which amount to 75.3 percent of those in which he played. In addition, Gwynn had 951 multihit games, reached hitting streaks of at least 10 games on 33 different occasions and had only 34 multistrikeout games. In fact, he had only one career game with three or more strikeouts.
"I'll remember the cackle to his laugh. He was always laughing, always talking, always happy," said San Francisco Giants third-base coach Tim Flannery, who was both a teammate and a coach of Gwynn. "The baseball world is going to miss one of the greats, and the world itself is going to miss one of the great men of mankind. He cared so much for other people. He had a work ethic unlike anybody else, and had a childlike demeanor of playing the game just because he loved it so much."
Gwynn batted .300 in each of his last 19 seasons, an MLB streak second only to Ty Cobb's.
Gwynn was inducted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2007. His No. 19 was retired by the Padres in 2004.
"Tony will be remembered in baseball circles for his hitting acumen, as evidenced by a lofty .338 lifetime batting average and an astonishing eight National League batting titles," Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. "But it was his infectious laugh, ever-present smile and humble disposition that made Mr. Padre a favorite in San Diego and an endearing figure to a nation of baseball fans who marveled at his career accolades and celebrated his 2007 induction into the Hall of Fame in record numbers."
Gwynn, who went into the Hall along with Cal Ripken Jr., was named on 532 of 545 votes cast (97.6 percent). He was also honored with the 1995 Branch Rickey Award, the 1998 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award and the 1999 Roberto Clemente Award.
"This is an extraordinarily sad day," Ripken Jr. said in a statement. "Tony was a Hall of Fame ballplayer but more importantly he was a wonderful man. Tony always had a big smile on his face and was one of the warmest and most genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Like all baseball fans I will miss him very much and my thoughts are with his family today."
Gwynn homered off the facade at Yankee Stadium off San Diego native David Wells in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series and scored the winning run in the 1994 All-Star Game. He was hitting .394 when a players' strike ended the 1994 season, denying him a shot at becoming the first player to hit .400 since San Diego native Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.
Gwynn befriended Williams, and the two loved to talk about hitting. Gwynn steadied Williams when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the 1999 All-Star Game at Boston's Fenway Park.
Several of baseball's former and current stars took to Twitter on Monday to post their thoughts on Gwynn, including Mike Piazza and Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper.
Sad day in baseball..We lost one of the greatest hitters that ever played! Tony Gwynn you will be missed by many! Prayers out to his family!
- Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) June 16, 2014
Gwynn was a two-sport star at San Diego State in the late 1970s-early 1980s, playing point guard for the basketball team -- he still holds the school's game, season and career record for assists -- and outfielder for the baseball team.
Gwynn wanted to play in the NBA until realizing during his final year at San Diego State that baseball would be his ticket to the pros.
"I had no idea that all the things in my career were going to happen," he said shortly before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. "I sure didn't see it. I just know the good Lord blessed me with ability, blessed me with good eyesight and a good pair of hands, and then I worked at the rest."
He was a third-round draft pick of the Padres in 1981.
After spending parts of just two seasons in the minor leagues, he made his big league debut on July 19, 1982. Gwynn had two hits that night, including a double, against the Phillies. After doubling, Pete Rose, who had been trailing the play, said to Gwynn: "Hey, kid, what are you trying to do, catch me in one night?"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ESPN
16 June 2014
Tony Gwynn, who banged out 3,141 hits during a Hall of Fame career spanning 20 seasons with the San Diego Padres, has died of cancer at age 54, it was announced Monday.
The lefty-swinging Gwynn, nicknamed Mr. Padre, had a career .338 batting average, won eight National League batting titles and played in the franchise's only two World Series.
He died early Monday morning at Pomerado Hospital in Poway, California, while surrounded by his family, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced.
"Major League Baseball today mourns the tragic loss of Tony Gwynn," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement Monday. "The greatest Padre ever and one of the most accomplished hitters that our game has ever known, whose all-around excellence on the field was surpassed by his exuberant personality and genial disposition in life.
"... For more than 30 years, Tony Gwynn was a source of universal goodwill in the National Pastime, and he will be deeply missed by the many people he touched."
Survivors include his wife, Alicia, daughter, Anisha, and son, Tony Jr., who plays with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Gwynn had been signed to a one-year contract extension as the baseball coach at San Diego State on Wednesday. He had been on medical leave since late March while recovering from cancer treatment. He took over the program at his alma mater after the 2002 season.
He had two operations for cancer in his right cheek between August 2010 and February 2012. The second surgery was complicated, with surgeons removing a facial nerve because it was intertwined with a tumor inside his right cheek. They grafted a nerve from Gwynn's neck to help him eventually regain facial movement.
Gwynn had said that he believed the cancer was from chewing tobacco.
In a rarity in pro sports, Gwynn spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, choosing to stay rather than leaving for bigger paychecks elsewhere. His terrific hand-eye coordination made him one of the game's greatest contact hitters. He excelled at hitting singles the other way, through the "5.5 hole" between third base and shortstop.
He was a 15-time All-Star and reached the coveted 200-hit mark in a season five times, and his .338 career average was 18th-best all time.
Gwynn hit safely in 1,838 games -- which amount to 75.3 percent of those in which he played. In addition, Gwynn had 951 multihit games, reached hitting streaks of at least 10 games on 33 different occasions and had only 34 multistrikeout games. In fact, he had only one career game with three or more strikeouts.
"I'll remember the cackle to his laugh. He was always laughing, always talking, always happy," said San Francisco Giants third-base coach Tim Flannery, who was both a teammate and a coach of Gwynn. "The baseball world is going to miss one of the greats, and the world itself is going to miss one of the great men of mankind. He cared so much for other people. He had a work ethic unlike anybody else, and had a childlike demeanor of playing the game just because he loved it so much."
Gwynn batted .300 in each of his last 19 seasons, an MLB streak second only to Ty Cobb's.
Gwynn was inducted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2007. His No. 19 was retired by the Padres in 2004.
"Tony will be remembered in baseball circles for his hitting acumen, as evidenced by a lofty .338 lifetime batting average and an astonishing eight National League batting titles," Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. "But it was his infectious laugh, ever-present smile and humble disposition that made Mr. Padre a favorite in San Diego and an endearing figure to a nation of baseball fans who marveled at his career accolades and celebrated his 2007 induction into the Hall of Fame in record numbers."
Gwynn, who went into the Hall along with Cal Ripken Jr., was named on 532 of 545 votes cast (97.6 percent). He was also honored with the 1995 Branch Rickey Award, the 1998 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award and the 1999 Roberto Clemente Award.
"This is an extraordinarily sad day," Ripken Jr. said in a statement. "Tony was a Hall of Fame ballplayer but more importantly he was a wonderful man. Tony always had a big smile on his face and was one of the warmest and most genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Like all baseball fans I will miss him very much and my thoughts are with his family today."
Gwynn homered off the facade at Yankee Stadium off San Diego native David Wells in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series and scored the winning run in the 1994 All-Star Game. He was hitting .394 when a players' strike ended the 1994 season, denying him a shot at becoming the first player to hit .400 since San Diego native Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.
Gwynn befriended Williams, and the two loved to talk about hitting. Gwynn steadied Williams when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the 1999 All-Star Game at Boston's Fenway Park.
Several of baseball's former and current stars took to Twitter on Monday to post their thoughts on Gwynn, including Mike Piazza and Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper.
Sad day in baseball..We lost one of the greatest hitters that ever played! Tony Gwynn you will be missed by many! Prayers out to his family!
- Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) June 16, 2014
Gwynn was a two-sport star at San Diego State in the late 1970s-early 1980s, playing point guard for the basketball team -- he still holds the school's game, season and career record for assists -- and outfielder for the baseball team.
Gwynn wanted to play in the NBA until realizing during his final year at San Diego State that baseball would be his ticket to the pros.
"I had no idea that all the things in my career were going to happen," he said shortly before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. "I sure didn't see it. I just know the good Lord blessed me with ability, blessed me with good eyesight and a good pair of hands, and then I worked at the rest."
He was a third-round draft pick of the Padres in 1981.
After spending parts of just two seasons in the minor leagues, he made his big league debut on July 19, 1982. Gwynn had two hits that night, including a double, against the Phillies. After doubling, Pete Rose, who had been trailing the play, said to Gwynn: "Hey, kid, what are you trying to do, catch me in one night?"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
The Sunny Golloway Saga
from Auburn Undercover
* A report by College Baseball Daily earlier Monday indicated that first-year
Auburn baseball coach Sunny Golloway is
under internal investigation. Sources indicate there are certainly pointed
questions being asked, but stopped short of calling it a full-blown
investigation. We do know that officials representing Auburn have talked with
several players regarding Golloway's actions and his handling of the team.
Sunny Golloway
* The report also stated that a lawsuit was filed against Auburn by former
coach Scott Foxhall whose contract was not renewed. AuburnUndercover has
independently confirmed that Foxhall is not suing Auburn. Kendall Rogers of
PerfectGame.org also reports Foxhall is not suing Auburn.
* Insiders tell us Golloway's behavior during his short tenure at Auburn has been erratic at best, if not borderline bizarre. They do not believe that this is a case of a new coaching staff culling a few bad apples. Instead, they see a coach with a flawed approach, one that is unlikely to work.
* Multiple sources tell us that the parents of several players approached Auburn administrators and expressed concerns about Golloway and his temperament and handling of the team. There are even rumors of taped conversations that show Golloway in a less than flattering light.
* Sources tell us at least one person kept detailed notes throughout the season on Galloway's antics.
* Golloway came from Oklahoma with a reputation for being difficult to work with. There were several flags, which most dismissed considering his past successes. Some now wonder if Auburn should have dug a little deeper before making him the second-highest paid baseball coach in the Southeastern Conference at $650,000 per season.
* Golloway's buyout is buyout is $1.25 million, but drops by $250,000 after June 30 per Section 19(b) of his employment agreement.
* At this point is seems unlikely Golloway could survive, although we've been cautioned no final decision has been made regarding his future.
Sunny Golloway* Insiders tell us Golloway's behavior during his short tenure at Auburn has been erratic at best, if not borderline bizarre. They do not believe that this is a case of a new coaching staff culling a few bad apples. Instead, they see a coach with a flawed approach, one that is unlikely to work.
* Multiple sources tell us that the parents of several players approached Auburn administrators and expressed concerns about Golloway and his temperament and handling of the team. There are even rumors of taped conversations that show Golloway in a less than flattering light.
* Sources tell us at least one person kept detailed notes throughout the season on Galloway's antics.
* Golloway came from Oklahoma with a reputation for being difficult to work with. There were several flags, which most dismissed considering his past successes. Some now wonder if Auburn should have dug a little deeper before making him the second-highest paid baseball coach in the Southeastern Conference at $650,000 per season.
* Golloway's buyout is buyout is $1.25 million, but drops by $250,000 after June 30 per Section 19(b) of his employment agreement.
* At this point is seems unlikely Golloway could survive, although we've been cautioned no final decision has been made regarding his future.
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