Trapasso has
big plans for
Base’Bows
The UH head baseball coach
wants to send his players to the
pros to attract future talent
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com
MIKE TRAPASSO feels pretty good about what has been accomplished with the University of Hawaii baseball program since he was named head coach two months ago.
His first priority was putting a staff together. That is done. The second priority was recruiting for the coming season, and also getting a solid start on recruiting for the 2003 season.
"We had some definite needs we had to address," Trapasso said.
"I think we're fortunate to be able to sign six guys so far. I was adamant about not signing guys just to sign someone. I wanted guys who were the type of players we're going to be recruiting in the long term."
The needs are behind the plate, where only Brian Bock returns, in the infield and pitching, something every team constantly requires.
The incoming recruits include infielders Jason Carlson, Danny Mocny and Derek Snell, pitchers Ricky Bauer and Jason Piepmeier, and catcher Grady Symonds, the lone junior college transfer.
Trapasso will recruit a JC player who can add experience, fill a hole and contribute right away, but will emphasize recruiting high school players.
"This class will add depth," said Trapasso, who still has to watch a lot of video tape of the returning players before practice starts in September, because everyone starts with a clean slate.
"We want players who can get us get back to where we want to be, can help us win a (Western Athletic Conference) championship, help us get to the postseason and, in time, help us get to the College World Series.
"Our plan is to bring freshmen in, have them play for us for three years and sign after their junior year because that's when they have the most bargaining power. We want to bring guys in who were drafted late or not drafted and develop those guys into (pro) prospects."
Once things get going the way he wants, Trapasso expects the Rainbows will be a team with very few seniors.
Fall practice will be broken into three parts. Next month will be devoted to individual workouts. The NCAA limits coaches to working with no more than four players at a time. With practice times varying for the players due to different class schedules, this amounts to one-on-one instruction.
The full-team practice is scheduled for two or three weeks in October. Individual workouts continue after that until it's time to prepare for final exams.
"The fall is the time when the intensity in instruction is real high," Trapasso said. "I want the University of Hawaii to be a teaching program. I want the word to get out in the future that, if you come here, you're going to be developed.
"Our goal is to have our kids leave here and sign professional contracts, and when they do that, not have them go into pro ball the first couple of years and have their swing or delivery totally changed, which happens at a lot of places. If the pros have to change his game, that means we didn't do a very good job."
Trapasso has a wish list that includes renovating the coaches office so his assistants have larger work areas, enclosing the Rainbow Stadium weight room so it's a first-class facility and redoing the batting cage area.
He also is concerned about some of the deferred maintenance at Rainbow Stadium.
"The stadium is 17 years old and it's still a crown jewel, but we have to make sure some areas don't fall into disrepair," Trapasso said. "I want to make sure every seat works. Glenn (Nakaya, Rainbow Stadium manager) has been doing a great job with a number of things. His crew has really been getting after it, helping us.
"I've been told we're going to get a new scoreboard, which is a big plus. I want to make sure we maintain the best facility in college baseball. The commitment is there from (athletic director) Hugh Yoshida and (associate athletic director) Jim Donovan. The kids deserve it. That's why we're here."
Trapasso attended the WAC baseball coaches meeting this past weekend, where the main topic of discussion was the national perception of the level of baseball in the conference.
"We need the perception in the NCAA to equal the reality of what the WAC is," Trapasso said. "You are in a dangerous situation when your league is much more competitive than it's perceived to be by the NCAA, by the guys who do the RPI and all these things.
"I know the quality in this league and when you play a double round, six times against each team, that makes it doubly difficult. When our teams get to postseason, they do well. But, if you finish a couple games over .500 in league, getting an at-large bid is difficult because the league is not perceived to be difficult.
"We need to continue to publicize our league and a lot of that will come with success outside of conference. Teams in our league will always have to play one of the more difficult non-conference schedules."
Trapasso also wants to explore holding the Easter Tournament during a week that coincides with the spring break of the majority of mainland schools to facilitate filling the field. Hawaii always plays the night game, so that wouldn't intrude on the Rainbows' class schedules.
Right now he has just one team for the 2003 tournament, although he has completed the persuasion schedule.
Otherwise, Trapasso has settled into his office, is ready to meet the Rainbows in a couple of weeks and is set for more round trips to the mainland for home visits with potential recruits prior to the November signing period.
"Maybe the only surprise has been the level of support and how people have been to me. I really mean that," Trapasso said. "I'm a guy coming in here from the East Coast, an assistant coach, not a proven head coach and the people have been wonderful.
"Sure, I haven't lost a game yet. That must be a big part of it, but I can't tell you how wonderful it's been. My wife (Catherine) has only been here two weeks and she told me the other night she doesn't think she'll ever want to leave."
