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Rainbows The puzzle of why the Hawaii baseball team practices so well but has difficulty transferring that performance into game situations has Rainbow coach Mike Trapasso searching for solutions.
work on attitude
Trapasso wants UH to play
looser as it heads into a stretch
of 9 games in 10 daysBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comHis approach and philosophy remain the same as when Trapasso was an assistant at Georgia Tech and South Florida, programs that enjoyed success.
"It's really a simple matter of us not performing in games at the same level we do in practice. Tuesday (UH's first practice after losing four consecutive games to Hawaii-Hilo last week), we had the same type of practice, but we raised the bar a little when it came to intensity and fervor," Trapasso said.
"I think we need to approach things a little different on the mental side. Baseball is an individual thing, and I think we are thinking too much. I'm not sure you can say we're too uptight."
Trapasso has noticed the different way his players approach games. Against Florida State, UCLA and Rice, teams the players felt were better, the Rainbows were loose and elevated their effort and intensity to play those teams tough and win some games.
But, they didn't continue that approach against Sacramento State, Brigham Young, UC Irvine and certainly last weekend. And, when adversity strikes, the 'Bows struggle to overcome whatever misfortune has interrupted their focus.
Trapasso says there are no physical problems, that the coaches are always working on fine-tuning mechanics and no one has any glaring mechanical problems.
"My job is to change things and get us out of this spiral. We're a long way from being dead. Don't close the coffin yet," Trapasso said. "It was a disappointing weekend in Hilo and shocking for everyone. Maybe that's what you have to go through to make that mental adjustment and change your way of thinking as a team.
"We can't think of the negative and forget the positive. We've got good kids who try so hard, but they haven't become accustomed to winning. Maybe some of where we want this program to go is still a little pie in the sky for these kids."
The coaching staff won't take anything for granted, such as leaving it up to the players to enter a game or series with the necessary level of intensity and fearlessness Trapasso thinks they need to be successful.
The Rainbows have nine games over the next 10 days to change. The first three, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, are important Western Athletic Conference games against a solid San Jose State (17-8, 3-3) team. Then comes the week-long Ohana Hotels & Resorts Rainbow Easter Tournament. This is just the kind of run Trapasso likes.
"I've said all along the biggest obstacle we face is when we play well for a weekend, then we have to take four or five days off before the next game," said Trapasso. "Our guys need to keep playing. So, the next 10 days is good. We need to get into a psychology of winning."
The starting rotation has been juggled again.
Bryan Lee, who has started every series opener this season, is not scheduled to start against the Spartans.
Junior right-hander Chris George gets that honor tomorrow. Will Quaglieri is scheduled to start Saturday, but Trapasso wouldn't promise he won't use the sophomore right-hander in relief tomorrow if needed. Jason Piepmeier, a freshman right-hander who pitched well in Hilo, gets the start Sunday.
"It wouldn't surprise me to see Bryan right back in the weekend rotation. He needs to work on some things, to get him to focus on the things we work on daily," said Trapasso.
"He has to get out front to be effective. His change-up is the pitch that makes him go and he hasn't had that the past few weeks. I've made it a point to micromanage him this week. He threw well Tuesday. It might have been a wake-up call."
San Jose State lost two of three games at Fresno State to open WAC play, then won two of three from visiting Louisiana Tech last weekend.
UH Athletics