[ RAINBOW BASEBALL ]
Hawaii senior Green
looking good
Josh Green is approaching his senior season with the Hawaii Rainbows much more relaxed than when he joined the program a year ago after transferring from Feather River Community College.
A first-team All-America JC player in 2002, the goal-oriented outfielder had high expectations for his first year at the NCAA Division I level. He got off to a solid start, was hitting .308 a month into the season, then saw his average drop to .234 with a nine-game, 2-for-29 slide at the plate. He finished at .250, definitely not one of his preseason goals.
Rainbow baseball
Who: Cal State Northridge at HawaiiWhen: Today and tomorrow, 6:35 p.m., Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Where: Murakami Stadium
TV: Friday and Sunday live on KFVE-TV (Ch. 5)
Radio: Friday and Sunday live on KKEA (1420-AM)
"I think my family being here is a big part of why I'm more relaxed," said Green. "It's a lot easier knowing my wife (Jennifer) and my little girl (9-month-old Madison) are here. Being a father is awesome. It puts things into perspective. It makes the little technical things on the field really easy because you understand the importance of things and see the bigger picture.
"Last year I set my sights in the wrong area. I was looking to have a better individual season and I wasn't worried as much about the execution part of the game. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to win every game last year. Now I see that execution and all the practice and work we put in creates success for you."
Green found a different philosophy at UH when it comes to hitting. His JC coach preached that what matters is what you do on every pitch. If Green had a bad at-bat, it was a downward spiral after that.
UH assistant coach Brian Green and Keith Komeiji have a different view.
"They say that average hitters can adjust from game to game, that good hitters can adjust from one at-bat to the next and that great hitters adjust pitch to pitch," said Green. "It takes a lot of understanding and I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way."
Green, who has worked diligently to perfect his swing, started the 2004 season by lining a 3-2 pitch over both right-field fences in his first at-bat against Texas last Friday. He had the best offensive series of any regular, going 6-for-13 with three runs batted in.
"Work ethic has never been a problem with Josh," said Brian Green. "When he came here his swing was pull-orientated. If he was going to drive the ball, the pitch had to be middle in. Today he has increased his patience and worked on that outside pitch. He has improved at keeping his head in there and staying within himself."
Josh Green set goals each fall. At the end of fall practice he goes through a checklist and marks each one with a yes or no depending on whether he attained a specific goal. Adjustments are made for the spring and he shows the list to coach Green to discuss if the goals are attainable.
"A good example is I hit .370 in fall practice and I put down my goal was to hit . 400. Coach Green suggested I go with .375 and then readjust as necessary," said Green, who had no offers from Division I schools after graduating from Galena High School in Reno, Nev. Eight Division I schools made offers following his JC career.
"I still wasn't convinced that schoolwork was that important to get into a D-I school and my GPA wasn't that great, so I'm glad Hawaii gave me a chance. And, I've turned things around academically. I had a 4.0 last spring," said Green, who was heavily recruited by Nevada and UNLV.
He made an official visit to the Manoa campus and says the coaching staff was a big influence in his decision to sign with UH.
"A person who also was a big influence was Brent Cook. You could just sense his passion and desire to win," said Green, who, at one point, was leaning toward signing with UNLV.
"I'm kind of a superstitious guy and I only had one good year wearing a jersey with the color red in it and UNLV has red in their jerseys. I hate that color. Beside, I like Easton bats (the choice at UH)."
The superstitions go further.
"I try to get a kiss out of my daughter before very game. Sunday, she didn't and I went 0-for-3," said Green.
He also makes sure the inside line (nearest the plate) of the batter's box is wiped out on his first at-bat and, since his freshman year in high school, has carried a good luck charm, Magilla Gorilla, in his back pocket for every game.
