FROM ALL ANGLERS

Compiled by Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, a central San Joaquin Valley native and local fishing expert

Key: 1=poor , 2=fair , 3=good , 4=excellent

ROGER’S COMMENTS: Falling water levels , high temps and lots of boat traffic are dominating the fishing scene right now. Fishing very early and late is the best tactic to maximize your window of opportunity and get in on a good bite.

VALLEY
New Melones Reservoir
Bass-3 Crappie-2 Catfish-4 Trout-3 Kokanee-4
The kokanee bite continues, although the fish are on the move into the northern portion of the lake. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing took Bill Karr, editor of Western Outdoor News out for limits of kokanee to 15-inches at depths from 75 to 90 feet from Shipwreck Island to the Coyote Creek Arm. He started in the south part of the lake, but after being unable to locate the schools, moved up to Shipwreck Island where they experienced numerous doubles. Smith advised using green lures in the deep water, and he has been pulling the Uncle Larry’s Mad Irishman, green Glitterbug hootchies or the Radical Glow Tube with a pink tail behind a Vance’s dodger or Sling Blade. He has been using garlic-scented corn, but he will be switching over to crawdad scents as the fish get closer to their attempt to spawn. Rainbows continue to hit rolled shad or shad-patterned spoons above the kokanee schools. Bank fishing is over for the remainder of the summer with shore fishermen advised to head up Highway 4 to Spicer or Lake Alpine. Bass continue to hit Zara Spooks, buzz baits or PopR’s early or late before switching to crawdad or shad-colored Carolina-rigged 6-inch plastics, ripbaits, spinnerbaits, Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or Senkos. Night fishing with a dark-colored Power Worm is an effective technique at this time. Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sporting Goods said catfishing is red hot with mackerel, chicken livers or night crawlers. Night fishing for crappie is fair to good at depths from 10 to 30 feet in Bear, Mormon or Carson Creeks with small minnows or minijigs. Glory Hole will be holding a seminar on August 2nd at 3:00 p.m. with Tom Dutil of Dutil Fishing Charters demonstrating night fishing under lights for summer trout and crappie. The lake dropped two feet to 973.22 feet in elevation and 51% of capacity. The Angels Cove Launch Ramp is closed with the Tuttletown on the low water ramp and Glory Hole at the mid-ramp.

San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Stripers-3 Catfish -3 Bass-2 Crappie-2
Ly Tu of Ly’s Fishing Goods in San Jose said there has been renewed interest in the big lake as the water has dropped, concentrating the schools of fish. Mooching anchovies or blood worms at depths from 40 to 60 feet in front of the Trash Racks have consistently produced striper limits to 5-pounds. The Forebay continues to be busy at night and over the weekends with anglers plugging live freshwater bullheads, the Rebel Jumbo Minnow in bone or white flukes for the occasional legal striper. The majority of fish are undersized. Blood and pile worms are also effective. Catfish have been biting mackerel, anchovies or clams at the back of the Forebay Dam and Check 12. The lake levels continue to drop due to water releases down the aqueduct and canals for irrigation and municipal uses in the south valley. Wind conditions: 800-805-4805.

Eastman Lake
Bass-2 Trout-1 Bluegill -2 Catfish-2 Crappie-2
Merritt Gilbert of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said a few large fish have been found on brown, black/red, and black/blue jigs, but overall action is slow. Catfish in the 3 to 4-pound range are taken on sardines, chicken livers or anchovies in the deeper depressions in the lake. The lake dropped three vertical feet to 481.31 feet in elevation and 13% of capacity.

Hensley Lake
Bas s-2 Trout-2 Crappie-2
Catfish are the main thing going with anchovies or chicken liver in the deeper water near the Dam and up the river area. The best bite is in the evening and throughout the night. The lake dropped two vertical feet to 481.28 feet in elevation and 24% of capacity.

McSwain Reservoir
Trout-3
A-1 Bait in Snelling reported a lake record rainbow trout at 19.5-pounds was landed by Debby Hiebert of Modesto on corn yellow Power Bait in shallow water near the Brush Pile. Hiebert is a regular angler from the banks at McSwain. Red Power Bait is also working for limits of planters at the Handicapped Docks. Trolling action is picking up a bit with chrome Ford Fenders trailed by a night crawler in the deepest portion of the lake from the Dam to the 2nd Fence Line. Call:(209) 378-2534

Delta Mendota Canal and Sloughs
Stripers-3 Catfish-2
Merritt Gilbert said fishermen have been tossing white flukes or bag anchovies in the evenings after work on the Delta/Mendota Canal for schoolie stripers in the 18 to 22-inch range. Catfish to 5-pounds are biting anchovies. Pete Cormier of Bob’s Bait Bucket said the water releases have led to increased striper action for fish to 7-pounds on white flukes or tube baits on a 3/4th to 1.5 oz. jig head. Large deep-diving crankbaits are working with a slow down on top water lures. The moss stuck to the sides is breaking up with the increased water diversions.

Millerton Lake
Bass-2 Stripers-2 Shad-2 Trout-3
Bob Scharton of Herb Bauer’s Sporting Goods said crankbaits or drop shotting n the back of coves off of rocky outcroppings is working for spotted bass. Merritt Gilbert said a 6.5-pound limit is an excellent weight with most fish in the 11/12-inch range as you average 6 of these smaller fish before hitting a fish over 13-inches. Buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, drop shotting, dart heading, split-shotting or Texas-rigged shad-colored plastics worked along steep banks in 15 to 35 feet in depth are all productive. Striper action has fallen along with the water, with very few reports from any upriver action. Boat pressure is intense after 8:00 a.m. throughout the lake. The lake dropped 6 vertical feet to 563.86 feet in elevation and 87% of capacity. Gilbert said trout plants on the San Joaquin continue to make bank anglers happy at Lost Lake and Broken Bridge with Super Dupers, Thomas Buoyants, night crawlers and Power Bait.The water levels are high, making lures more effective for a reaction strike.

Pine Flat Reservoir
Bass-2 Trout-2 King salmon-1 Crappie-2 Catfish-2
Merritt Gilbert reported a fair trout bite with most fish found around the Power Lines to the Dam at 5 to 7 colors with blue/silver Needlefish or Needlefish in Cop Car or Bikini. Experienced anglers are working hard for 3 to 4 fish per rod. Most trout fishermen continue to head up the hill. The bass bite continues to be very tough with live crawdads landing a few quality fish in the 2.5 to 3-pound range. The artificial bite has been very tough. Patrick Movey recommended night fishing in the backs of coves with top water lures. The lake has dropped 15 vertical feet to 820.92 feet in elevation to 39% of capacity. The lower Kings below the Dam will receive a plant this week, but the river continues to run high from the water releases.

Lake Kaweah
Bass-2 Crappie-2 Trout-1 Catfish-2
Larry Kerns of the Visalia Bass Club reported the lake is dropping quickly; and combined with the hot temperatures, it is necessary to get on and off the lake as early as possible. He recommended drop shotting shad-patterned or Aaron’s Magic Robo Worms at depths to 30 feet. The banks are lined with anglers, particularly on weekend evenings. It was difficult to get a boat out of the water after noon on the weekend with the 2nd Ramp crowded with launching boats. The reservoir dropped 12 vertical feet to 627.17 feet in elevation and 23% of capacity.

Lake Success
Bass-2 Trout-1 Catfish-2
Fishing has been slow with the hot temperatures and continual water releases. The lake dropped 11 vertical feet to 601.89 feet in elevation and 17% of capacity.

McClure Reservoir
Bass-3 Trout-2 Kokanee-2 Crappie-2 Ca tfish-3
Danny Layne of Fishn’ Dan’s Guide Service said there are a few kokanee to 17-inches taken on spinners or hootchies off of the A-Frame Cabin at depths of 70 feet. He added that king salmon to 16-inches and rainbows are in the same area, and he recommended rolling shad or small shad-patterned spoons. Diana Mello said catfish are on a hot bite in the shallows to 10 feet of depth at Barretts or McClure Point with live minnows or bag anchovies. On the bass front, live minnows or crawdads are consistent for bass over the slot limit. Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said the bass continue to be small, with PopR’s working on the surface early in the morning or at dusk. Brown jigs or shad-colored plastics are best during the daylight hours. Crappie fishing continues to be fair at best in the evening near the Houseboats in Barrett’s Cove with live minnows. The lake has dropped three vertical feet to 793.01 feet in elevation and 58% of capacity.

Lake Don Pedro
Bass-2 Trout-3 Kokanee-2 King salmon-3
Manny Basi of the Bait Barn in Waterford said bass fishing is exceedingly tough with only two limits weighed in out of 16 boats during the weekend’s WON Bass tournament which featured a winning weight at 6-pounds. Shad colored plastics on the drop shot, dart head or Brush Hogs at depths from 15 to 30 feet are working best with the bass spitting up shad. Basi advised searching for the shad balls to find the bass. Danny Layne reported an improved king salmon bite for fish to 3-pounds at depths of 70 feet in Woods Creek or in the Tuolumne River Canyon at 50 feet with rolled shad. Rainbow and brook trout at biting Kastmasters, ExCels, Cripplures or Apex in Cop Car or shad-patterns up the river arm. The lake has dropped three vertical feet to 798.43 and 81% of capacity.

HIGH SIERRA
Bass Lake
Bass-2 Trout-2 Kokanee-2
Todd Wittwer said kokanee fishing is still hit or miss. He said one day you can boat up to 5 kokanee, and the next day, the fish are not to be found. He boated 8 rainbows on Monday with his best action on the pink Radical Glow Tube behind a watermelon dodger or the blue RGT behind blue Hyperglo dodger. The pink Assassin spinner paired with a UV blade is also working. He has been tipping the lures with corn for both kokanee and rainbows. The rainbows are found from 20 to 30 feet with the kokanee holding from 35 to 40 feet in depth. Bass fishing has been slow with a few spots to 1.5-pounds taken from 6 to 9:00 p.m. on ripbaits, buzzbaits or cranks. There are fewer bass fishermen on the lake due to the motor fee until Labor Day. Boat traffic continues to be heavy, starting by mid-morning. The lake is at 75% of capacity. 642-3141, Todd Wittwer 288-8100, 642-3633, 642-3737; Mike Bieghy 642-3748.

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Kokanee-3 Trout-3 Smallmouth-4
Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods said the Huntington kokanee bite is showing signs of slowing down, but he was able to land fish to 17-inches with Apex lures, Vances’ bugs or Rocky Mountain Tackle hootchies at depths to 35 feet. He said weekend fishing can be difficult with sailboats having the right of way and making things difficult if the school of fish moves into the sailboat patterns. Paul Kalpakoff of Central Sierra Sport Fishing reported good kokanee action with orange Needlefish tipped with pink corn at 25 to 35 feet in depth in the middle of the lake directly off Dam 3. Bank fishing is hit or miss at Dam 1 with chartreuse or corn yellow Power Bait. Captain Jack Yandell said there have been kokanee to 18-inches taken in the past week at Shaver at depths from 50 to 60 feet on pink Super Hootchies, pink or orange Apex lures or green Fat Bugs. The action has taken place from the Dam to the Point and to Black Rock. Limits are possible, but you will have to work hard. Rainbow trout are found from the surface to 20 feet on blade/crawler combinations or Wedding Rings tipped with a crawler. Smallmouth are willingly biting live crickets or plastic grubs from the shorelines. Boat traffic is very heavy on the weekends. Huntington is still holding at 99% with Shaver starting to drop at 92%. Cal l: 841-2522, 841-2740, Dinkey Creek Inn 841-3435, Rancheria Marina 893-3234, Young’s Sporting Goods 841-8271.

Wishon/Courtright
Trout-3
Chuck Crane of Wishon RV Park reported limits are possible at Wishon, but anglers have to work very hard in order to put together a stringer of fish. The best bite is very early in the morning at depths from 3 to 5 colors with blade/crawler combinations, silver Thomas Buoyants or bikini Needlefish. The bite shuts down after 9:00 a.m. Shore fishing is fair at best with inflated night crawlers or Power Bait in Short Hair Creek or the Dam. Courtright remains strong for trollers pulling silver Thomas Buoyants or blade/crawler combinations on the surface early in the morning. Shore fishing is slow with a few fish taken near the Dam on salmon eggs or Power Bait. Dick Gomez reported recent plants at Dinkey Creek are keeping weekend anglers happy with good action on live crickets, salmon eggs or Panther Martins. Bob Scharton said South Fork of the Kings River is continuing to receive good reviews by fly fishermen working attractor patterns, stimulator or tubes. He thought this is a great area option. Trout plants are scheduled at Dinkey and local creeks this week.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Brown Trout-3 Trout-3
Dick Gomez of Young’s Sporting Goods said there is quite a bit of interest in the Kaiser Pass lakes with good action for rainbows and browns with blade/crawler combinations or Rapalas. Edison is still 2/3rds full with the ramp fully operational. Florence is at 65% with Mammoth Pool at 73%.

OCEAN
San Francisco Bay
Halibut-3 Stripers-3 Rockfish- 3 Leopard shark- 2 Sturgeon-2
Inside the bay, the minus tides slowed down the halibut and striper counts through the weekend with the central bay getting muddy with the tides and the winds. Party boats averaged from a fish to two per rod in the larger tides over the weekend, but Captain James Smith on the California Dawn took advantage to the diminishing tides to boat 41 halibut to 12-pounds with 6 bass on Monday. Prior to this, Jim Smith on the Happy Hooker put in 21 stripers to 8-pounds and 18 halibut to 17-pounds for 25 anglers on a recent trip with the bass found on the rockpiles and halibut in deep sandy places. Live sardines have been the best bait, but fishermen must be patient to allow the larger bait to be swallowed by the gamefish. The tides back off each day, and striper and halibut counts should climb around the windows where the water moves. Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle reported slow action on Saturday with only 7 halibut taken by 22 fishermen on the Morningstar, but action Sunday was much better with over a fish/rod with 18 fishermen taking a combined 25 bass/halibut. Paradise has been the hot spot for bass and halibut, and Fraser predicted, “It should be a banner week with the smaller tides”. The winds died down enough to allow the boats to run to the Farallon Island where rockfish limits are the rule. Three Emeryville Sport Fishing boats put in 93 limits of rockfish and 7-lings to 8-pounds. There have been no consistent accumulation of legal ling cod along the coast and the Farallon Islands.

Monterey
Rockfish-3 Stripers-3 Albacore-2
Sonny Arcaleo of Chris’s Landing in Monterey said today was the first decent day where the rockfish bit like they were supposed to at Point Sur. The water has turned cold from the wind, and the rockfish went off the bite for a couple of days. They have still been able to scratch out limits, but it has been tough. The stripers are still hanging around the beaches with some good action on surface lures and bait from New Brighton Beach down to the Monterey Beach Hotel. Ly Tu said stripers to 25-pounds have been taken from the Monterey Pier on Pencil Poppers or Kastmasters with a 48-pound striper landed at Sunset Beach. Tu is expecting a shipment of the extremely popular “Little Neck Poppers” this week. This lure has been the rage up and down the coast. Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz reported slower rockfish and halibut action with the large south swell on Saturday. The swell is diminishing, so things are looking better for Sunday with the possibility of tuna fishing on Monday or Tuesday as the winds have backed off. There have been ling cod landed in 120 feet of water near the Lighthouse with a few halibut in shallower water in the same area. The Velocity out of Santa Cruz will start running tuna trips on Friday, July 31st for 250.00/angler.
Chris’ Landing (831) 375-5951, Bayside Marine (831) 475-2173, usafishing.com

Delta/Stockton
Bass- 3 Stripers-2 Sturgeon-2
There are signs of life in the Delta with larger stripers starting their move back into the river system. Benicia Bait reported improvement in the striper front with fish taken along all of the shoreline spots from under the Bridge to 12th Street. There have been sturgeon landed at 1st Street, 9th Street with stripers at 12th Street on pile worms, grass shrimp or anchovies. Dockside Bait in Pittsburg reported lots of undersized stripers, but more and more of the 5 to 6-pound fish have been taken in the past week. Pile worms and grass shrimp have been the top baits. Three legal sturgeon were weighed in over the weekend with two of the fish being in the 48 to 50-inch range. Chain Island and Montezuma Slough have been the top areas for diamondbacks. Jay Sorensen of Jolly Jay’s Guide Service was at the mouth of Three-Mile Slough on the San Joaquin River in 15 feet of water with fresh shad for a bunch of undersized stripers and a legal fish at 24-inches. Chris Gulick, owner of Eddo’s Boat Harbor on the San Joaquin, anchored in the same area in slightly deeper water for three legal fish at 19, 16 and 5-pounds on fresh shad from H and R Bait in Stockton. Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, advised working top water lures early in the mornings for bass prior to switching to targeting deeper water with the Berkley Chigger Craw in crawdad-patterns or the Strike King #4 crankbait in red craw. He has been using the IMA prototype Big Stick or the Skimmer on the surface in the mornings as well as the Persuader Double Buzz Bait. Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Kevin Yost, Lucky Strike Fishing (707) 301-8050, Mark Wilson Sport Fishing (916) 682-1630, Fin Addict Sport Fishing (209) 367-4665, Jolly Jay’s Guide Service (209) 478-6645.

Tournament Results

Don Pedro-Western Outdoor News– July 26th – 1st: Roger Lockhart/Scott Parsons.- 6.25-pounds; 2nd – Rod Cree/Matt Silveira – 6.12 (Big Fish – 1.79); 3rd –Robert Mansor/Angelo Alorro – 4.31.

Upcoming:

8/1 New Melones, Central Valley Anglers Kokanee Derby – Information (209) 369-0204.
Delta/Russo’s – Hook, Line and Sinker
Eastman – Family Bass
San Antonio – Jim’ s Pro Bass

8/8 Pine Flat – Fresno Bass – information – Mark Corrente 284-2768
Kaweah – Visalia Bass
Isabella – Western Outdoor News
Eastman – Mid-Valley Bass
San Antonio – Jim’s Pro Bass
Don Pedro – Cal-Bass Weekend
Success – Success Bass

8/15 Isabella – American Bass Association
Pine Flat – Sierra Bass/Kings River Bass
Kaweah – Wasco Bass
Delta/Russo’s – Future Pro Tour
Lopez – Tri Valley Bass Club

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RACING ‘ROUND THE VALLEY

By Dan Fleisher
VSP Racing Columnist

Tulare driver on the verge?

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman) competition is rugged, intense, keen, and demanding, so my question is, “How does a young upstart from the farming town of Tulare buck the likes of Ron Hornaday, who has won only (sic) 44 main events and amazed earnings of $4,965,076, and Mike Skinner who has 26 wins and earned a meager $3,707,192? The answer is he doesn’t yet, except in one area, MONEY. The ‘he’ is Matt Crafton.

Money wise, Crafton has earned a hefty $2,818,141 in nine short years but can’t match the winning ways of the two veterans. He still has however, 17 years left before reaching the half-century old mark like the two wily veterans.

Young Matt is 33 years old, being born June 11th 1976, so he’s obviously not in the teeny-bopper range like Joey Lagano, but he doesn’t have gray whiskers like old man Hornaday and Skinner. Hornaday the Palmdale, CA resident, just celebrated his 51st birthday in June, while Skinner celebrated his 52nd birthday, also in June. Coincidently, Skinner is also a California hot-shoe residing in Ontario, after being born and raised in Susanville. Hey, what’s up with the similarities of all three being born in California and all in the month of June?

As a youngster, Crafton raced under the tutelage of his father, Danny, also a driver, and it didn’t take him long to learn an important lesson, “We built our own cars, and we didn’t have much money or equipment,” he recalled. “So if we tore up our cars, we couldn’t race again until we rebuilt them.”
After winning the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series championship in 2000, he immediately joined the Truck series and garnered a top-10 finish and a check for $11,325 in his initial and only start. Not a bad payday considering the quote in the above paragraph.

He joined ThorSportRacing the following year (2001) and has now taken the green flag 209 times for owner Bud Haefele. In each of the last two seasons, he’s earned top-ten finishes in the championship standings and is determined to repeat or better the position this year. He currently sits third (1,922), having recorded five top-five finishes, along with 10 top-ten finishes, behind only, you guessed it, Hornaday (2,098) and Skinner (1,924).

Crafton was second in the standings until Skinner leapfrogged over him last Saturday at O’Reilly Raceway Park with an impressive second-place finish to Hornaday. Meanwhile Crafton settled for a disappointing 16th-place ending after starting a strong fifth on the grid. The good news, he sits 119 points ahead of fourth-place veteran Todd Bodine. The win was Hornaday’s fourth consecutive, the first time the feat has been accomplished in Truck series history.

Crafton has been close to victory on several occasions only to encounter bad luck or a “red-hot” driver like Hornaday, but he did reach the winners’ circle at North Carolina in May of 2008. Ever the competitor, Crafton wants to win races, of course, but says the key to success is consistency. “It’s about being there at the end of the race…being in the contention and leaving yourself a change to win each time out,” he said. “I’m focused on being consistent each week, and winning the war instead of the battle.” Overall, he’s recorded 27 top-five and 98 top-ten finishes in his career, or 60% of each event started. I’d say that’s consistent.

The next battle takes place this Saturday (August 1) at Nashville, a 1.333-mile oval. Can he buck the trend and reach the winners’ circle? Check your local sports listing Sunday.

This writer can be reached at: danfleisher1@yahoo.com

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THE EYES HAVE IT

The Grizzlies are using a new technique to sharpen their eyes at the plate.

By David Taub
VSP Senior Writer:

“The hardest thing to do in sport is to hit a baseball.”
-paraphrase of a famous Ted Williams quote

It’s a simple concept, really. A successful hitter hits the ball. Really successful hitters reach safely three of ten times at bat.

Teaching a batter how to hit has been a philosophical quagmire since the game itself.

The methods are as varied as they are long: live toss, pitching machines, tape study, altering swings. Teams are willing to try anything to get the edge on how to be more successful.

One of the latest methods is to train batters with their eyes. It is called iTrac, used by at least four Major League teams, including the Giants.

On a Saturday, two hours before the Giants Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies prepare to battle, Juan Ciriaco, Jake Wald, Kevin Frandsen and Buster Posey gather around the indoor batting cage.

Enclosed by a mesh net, a device whirls specially marked tennis balls upward of 120 miles per hour from the regulation distance of 60’ 6”. It looks like a pitching machine with a bazooka attachment. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner as each pitch is delivered.

Developed by a company out of Wheeling, Illinois, iTrac rockets tennis balls stamped with red and black numbers. The hitter tries to guess what he just saw as the ball whizzes on by.

“Naked chicks on them would even be better,” joked one of the Grizzlies around the cage.

The operator of the equipment on this particular day is a former player, whose baseball dreams never reached beyond small college ball.

Joe Niemie’s career didn’t last long because of injuries. But, his arm problems led to coaching, and eventually to his current job as MLB iTrac trainer for the Giants.

Niemie coordinates the iTrac batting sessions for all Giants home games. When the team is on the road, Niemie and his machine hit the road as well, taking his wares to the Giants’ two California minor league teams: the Grizzlies and the San Jose Giants.

Currently, the Giants, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and New York Mets contract out iTrac in hopes of getting the edge. Niemie hopes his company’s secret to improving hitting will be discovered by all 30 teams.

“Every time it gets easier,” Wald says after a session. “I kind of pretend I do (see the numbers on the ball). I kind of pick up shapes.”

Wald is unsure if this will actually help him, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his game.

The balls start fast, in the 80-90 MPH range, then can get up to 120. On this day, players barely get a piece of the ball, more often than make solid contact.

Then, the hitter will just hold the bat, in a bunt formation, with one hand. This, Niemie describes, is to help their eye follow the ball all the way through the plate.

One philosophy iTrac believes that is somewhat a break with tradition hitter’s education is to turn the head to focus on the ball, instead of just the eyes.

“You see everything better when you have both eyes [on the ball],” Niemie says. “It will really enhance what’s called your binocular vision, which will enhance your depth perception, allowing better contact.”

This is especially valuable for pitchers with late and trick movements, i.e. Mariano Rivera’s cutter or most Greg Maddux pitches.

The goal to moving the head with a ball at such high velocities is to keep the vision of the ball between the eyes.

By having the batter keep his focus on the printed number on the ball at high speeds, the hope is to identify spin of the hard ball. This in turn allows the hitter identify the pitch and increase chances for success.

“Anything that helps,” quips Grizzlies hitting instructor Hensley Meulens. “We are very glad the Giants are investing into this.”

The numbers will tell that the Giants are better offensively at home than they are on the road. Although this could be related to a number of factors, Niemie is willing to credit iTrac as one of them.

“No one works on the seeing. That’s where we come in,” Niemie says, touting his system.

Urban legend has it that one baseball superstar mandated in his contract that the iTrac system follows him to a new team. The technique has its believers, but ultimately, the numbers will tell the story.

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FATHER’S DAY

Former Bulldog Casey McGehee shares a special pregame moment with his son, then beats the Nationals.

By Adam McCalvy
mlb.com:

Casey McGehee’s son provided the proper start. Dad delivered the finish.

McGehee came off the Brewers’ bench and delivered a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning of a much-needed, 7-5 win over the Nationals on Wednesday at Miller Park. He went deep a few hours after two-year-old Mackail McGehee — “He would say he’s ‘two-point-five,’” dad says — threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Mackail has cerebral palsy (CP), a brain disorder that will be with him for the rest of his life. He was on hand to highlight an initiative by a group of Brewers wives that raised $50,000 for United Cerebral Palsy, an organization that, according to its Web site, serves more than 176,000 children and adults with disabilities every day.

“As a father, that’s going to me a moment I remember for a long time,” said the elder McGehee, fighting back tears. “He’s something special. To go through what he’s going through and to keep on plugging, no one even notices he has anything wrong with him most of the time.

“He’s been a big inspiration to me. The way some of the guys have taken to him is really special. If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would even be on a big league field, let alone be able to share it with my son in any way, shape or form, I was pretty lucky to have that happen.”

Mackail — Casey and Sarah McGehee usually call their son, “Mack” — suffered brain damage either in the womb or during childbirth, Casey said, but, “we’ve been really fortunate that there have been no signs of doing anything to his cognitive ability. As far as his speech and his understanding, he’s way ahead of the curve. He has a tough time walking around on his own, but he’s getting better.”

Mack’s good buddy Prince Fielder helped in that department. He walked young Mack onto the field while dad settled behind the plate to receive the first pitch. Two of the New Berlin, Wis., therapists who work with Mack each week were also on hand.

Mackail stayed at Miller Park for dad’s clutch hit, which helped the Brewers win for just the eighth time in 24 games this month and remain four games behind the National League Central-leading Cubs. He went home after the game but spoke with dad via telephone.

“Good hit, daddy!” Mack said.

“That was about as good a, ‘congratulations,’ as I could get,” Casey said. “You can’t help but smile when you see him. He makes the bad days a little easier and the good days that much better. You just can’t help smiling when you see how he reacts. As young as he is, he gets it a little bit.”

The Brewers plucked McGehee off waivers from the Cubs last October, so he and Sarah spent the winter meeting their new teammates. Among them were Jeff Suppan and his wife, Dana, who came up with the idea to use the Brewers Wives’ jersey raffle, plus a donation from principal owner Mark Attanasio and his wife, Debbie, as a fundraiser for CP.

“I think that’s part of the reason why this team is going to be good,” McGehee said. “Here I am, the newcomer, and from the first day of Spring Training, everybody made me feel welcome. Someone told me at the Winter Warm-Up, ‘Welcome to the family.’ For everyone to be so supporting of my family, it shows why this team may be a little down right now, but we’re definitely not done.”

Mack usually attends every Brewers home game. He’ll also be along when the Brewers travel to San Diego and Los Angeles beginning Friday. Casey McGehee is a Santa Cruz, Calif., native.

Perhaps dad will have a few more clutch hits in store.

“I play for him every time I walk out there,” McGehee said. “When it’s all said and done, I hope he can look back and be proud of the way his dad went about his business. I feel like I’m going out there setting an example for him every time I’m out there, whether he’s a weatherman, in baseball, or whatever it is that he does.”

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THIRD BEST?

Fresno State is picked to finish third in both the WAC Media and Coaches’ polls.

From gobulldogs.com:

The Bulldog football team reports to fall camp next Wednesday and before the players take part in a single two-a-day session, the WAC coaches and media members have made their predictions for the 2009 season.

The Fresno State Bulldogs were picked to finished third in both polls with defending league champion Boise State taking the No. 1 spot in both polls. The Bulldogs and Broncos will meet in the third week of the college football season for a Friday night ESPN2 clash at Bulldogs Stadium. That game has been designated as a “White Out” game.

With 17 starters returning, including eight on offense, the Bulldogs trailed the Broncos and Nevada in the media poll and tied with Louisiana Tech for third in the coaches’ poll.

Leading the way for the Dogs on offense will be the running back trio of Ryan Mathews, Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding and three stellar senior receivers Seyi Ajirotutu, Chastin West and Marlon Moore.

On defense, the Dogs return their top three tacklers in linebacker Ben Jacobs, end Chris Carter and safety Moses Harris.

Fresno States’ special teams units will be led by kicker Kevin Goessling, punter Robert Malone, NCAA leading kick return man A.J. Jefferson, plus three other Dogs who scored touchdowns on returns last season (West, Moore and Rashad Evans).

“Based on the talent we have returning, there’s no question we can contend for the WAC title,” said Hill. “Being picked third is a sign that coaches and media think we are a team that will be in the mix. Boise State has been the team to beat in the WAC and we are looking forward to getting them in Bulldog Stadium in game three. Nevada has talent and I have a lot of respect for Chris Ault and Colin Kaepernick as a quarterback.”

Hawaii was fifth in both polls, with San Jose State and Utah State holding the sixth and seventh spots, respectively.

Both polls were nearly identical in order, with the exception of the teams ranked in eighth and ninth place. The WAC media had Idaho in eighth place, while the coaches had New Mexico State ranked eighth.

The media also voted on preseason players of the year. Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick was voted the Offensive Player of the Year, while Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year.

Kaepernick, a junior from Turlock, Calif. (Pittman HS), became the fifth quarterback in NCAA FBS history to throw for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season. Kaepernick threw for 2,849 yards and 22 touchdowns last year and added 1,130 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He was named the 2008 WAC Offensive Player of the Year following his 2007 season where he was voted the WAC Freshman of the Year.

Wilson, a senior from Piscataway, N.J. (Piscataway HS), was a first-team all-WAC performer last year after leading the Broncos with five interceptions. He had a total of 15 passes defended and 35 tackles in 2008. As a punt returner, Wilson also was named second-team all-WAC after averaging 14.2 yards per return and scoring three touchdowns.

The Dogs are represented by head coach Pat Hill, safety Moses Harris and receiver Marlon Moore during the WAC Media Preview. All three will spend Wednesday meeting with nearly 70 media members at the Salt Lake City Airport Hilton Hotel.

The following is the complete 2009 WAC football media poll with first-place votes in parentheses:

Rank Team (1st place votes) Points
1. Boise State (55) 519
2. Nevada (3) 444
3. Fresno State 365
4. Louisiana Tech 360
5. Hawai`i 275
6. San Jose State 263
7. Utah State 170
8. Idaho 110
9. New Mexico State 104

The following is the complete 2009 WAC football coaches’ poll (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams):

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (8) 64
2. Nevada (1) 55
3. Fresno State 45
Louisiana Tech 45
5. Hawai`i 36
6. San Jose State 34
7. Utah State 21
8. New Mexico State 13
9. Idaho 11

There are a variety of excellent ticketing plans for the 2009 season, including:
Premium Seating (contact the Bulldog Foundation Office: (559) 244-5600 for details)
Public Season Tickets for as low as $160
Family Plans for $320 (includes four season tickets)
$89 Mini-plan (Boise State game and any two other home games)
$99 New Alumni Season Ticket Plan (available for Fresno State graduates from 2005-2009)

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DONE DEAL: BUCHANAN ALUM DONALD TRADED TO INDIANS

The Phillies prospect is headed to Cleveland in the Cliff Lee deal.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer:

It will be the weirdest couple of days in Jason Donald’s life.

The former Buchanan High star was traded to the Cleveland Indians organization today, along with three fellow Phillies farmhands in exchange for Cleveland ace Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco.

Donald, 24, is batting .236 with a homer, 15 doubles, one triple, 16 RBIs and a .629 OPS in 51 games for the Triple ‘A’ Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. He just recently returned to action after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

“I didn’t expect this,” said Donald, who was drafted in the third round by the Phillies in 2006. “Just because I didn’t know how serious the Phillies were about Cliff Lee and making this trade. I thought if anything they would make a deal for (Roy) Halladay and going to the Blue Jays, but this certainly is a blessing, and I really am looking forward to this opportunity to be in the Indians organization.”

Here’s where it gets weird for Donald: Lehigh Valley is right in the middle of a four game series with the Columbus Clippers, the Triple ‘A’ affiliate of the Indians, in Lehigh Valley. So, all Donald has to do is switch dugouts in his now former home stadium.

“It’s strange,” Donald said. Certainly something I never expected in my playing career, but baseball’s a funny game. It’s kind of a neat experience… I’ll be playing in Lehigh for the next two days then I’ll move on to Columbus and that’s when it’ll feel like I’ve really been traded. But I think it’ll take a few days to get adjusted. It’s definitely going to be odd.”

Donald has two of his college teammates on the Clippers roster: outfielders Trevor Crowe and Jordan Brown. All three went to the University of Arizona.

Lee is 7-9 with a 3.14 earned run average this season with 107 strikeouts and just 33 walks in 152 innings of work. He went 22-3 and won the American League Cy Young Award last year.

TRADE BREAKDOWN

PHILLIES GET:
LHP Cliff Lee
OF Ben Francisco

INDIANS GET:
SS Jason Donald
RHP Carlos Carrasco
RHP Jason Knapp
C Lou Marson

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BOUNCING BACK IN DODGER BLUE

Former Diamond Dog Jeff Weaver has revived his career in Los Angeles.

By Megan Poindexter
VSP Senior Writer:

LOS ANGELES-A year ago, former Fresno State standout Jeff Weaver was playing Triple-A baseball, frustrated and not sure what his future in baseball held for him.

He fell from being the hero that clinched a World Series title for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 to just another face in a crowded sport seeking his chance to shine once again.

In his second stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers this year, he is proving now more than ever what a threat he is to batters, except this time around he is doing it as a relief pitcher rather than a starter.

“I think I accomplished all I could as a starter and now coming out of the bullpen there is a new adrenaline rush for me,” said Weaver.

At 5-3 on the season, it seems as though he is finally finding his rhythm atop the mound. Although the regular season is a little more than half-way over, he has been able to maintain a solid 3.86 earned run average, one of the lowest of his ten year big league career.

“I just had to start putting things behind me because we all have our peeks and valleys,” said Weaver. “I knew I needed to stay confident and come out ready to work each day.”

Nothing spectacular changed in his approach; it has simply been his own mentality and confidence level.

Whether he starts a game or finishes it does not change that fact that Weaver is simply looking to throw strikes, but closing a game does come with a greater amount of pressure.

“You have to be prepared each day because as a reliever you never know when you are going to be called in,” said Weaver. “Whereas when I was a starter, I worked on rotation.”

Possibly the best part of it all for the right-hander from Simi Valley is that his team has the best record in baseball and looks to be a serious contender to capture the franchises first World Series title since 1988.

Having won a title already and redeeming himself this year, Weaver is anxious to see what the rest of the season holds.

“I have already had a taste of winning a World Series and it becomes really addicting,” said Weaver. “It’s just in my blood to go out and compete each day.”

And while all the hype is exciting, Weaver has overcome so much as an individual player and been able to experience great things this year.

One of his most memorable outings this season came when he took on his younger brother Jered, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

“Before the game, things were really chaotic and it was funny how the odds stacked up for us to pitch against each other,” said Weaver. “We played together in Anaheim before and that was fun, but playing against each other was a historic day.”

Despite all the distractions of being a major league ballplayer, Weaver still found time to connect with his roots in Fresno in the last year as well.

Last season, when Fresno State won the College World Series, Weaver said the Bulldog games were always on in the clubhouse.

“I understood how much that team overcame in a season and it put a smile on my face,” said Weaver, “I really felt a part of their victory.”

Right now, Weaver has his own World Series to win. And, this time, with the team he grew up watching as a child.

“Not many major league players get to say they are playing for the team they grew up watching,” said Weaver with a big smile. “It’s just nice being home.”

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NO FALSE STARTS

If I were running for President, there would be two very important issues in my platform. First, I’d get rid of the BCS (but that’s another column for another time).

I’d also pass a law that all holidays must be celebrated during their appropriate season. That means Thanksgiving would be properly observed. No more Christmas decorations going up the day after Halloween. The first painted snowflake shouldn’t make an appearance until the fourth Friday in November.

You see, I’m still fully invested in baseball season while it seems the rest of the sports world has moved on to football. Everyone is doing backflips because large men in shorts and helmets are running sprints and hitting blocking sleds.

Really? I mean, with all apologies to Allen Iverson, we’re talking about practice.

Meanwhile, there are still more than two months left in what is shaping up to be a very interesting race to the finish in Major League Baseball.

Despite the Dodgers running of and hiding from the rest of the NL West, Ned Colletti and the Boys in Blue are still trying to find a way to load up the storeroom for a long stay into October.

But the more interesting story is thirty miles down the Golden State Freeway in Anaheim.

A slow start, a patchwork pitching staff and a lineup that right now wouldn’t scare Nervous Nellie after twelve cups of coffee and the Halos are on top with a bullet. Mike Scioscia has to be the frontrunner for Manager of the Year and needs to start being mentioned in the same breath with some of the all-time greats.

Call it National League style baseball. Call it aggressive baseball. Call it whatever you want, but the Angels are the most exciting team in the majors. Good team speed, smart base running, quality defense and just enough power to keep opposing pitchers honest.

Add to it that Tony Reagins is not afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal before the trading deadline (I’m looking at you, Brian Sabean). He’s the same guy who engineered the Mark Teixeira trade last season and no one would be surprised to see an equally big name taking up residence in Orange County before this year was done.

With the Red Sox playing Kryptonite to the Angels’ Superman in the AL and the Phillies standing in the way in the NL, there’s no guarantee of a Freeway Series in October. But before we toss the season aside to chase pigskin, let’s see how this works out, okay?

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POSEY MAKES HOME DEBUT; GRIZZLIES WIN

After sitting out on Friday, Giants top prospect Buster Posey shines in his Chukchansi Park debut Saturday.

By Andrew Marden
VSP Senior Writer

FRESNO, Calif – Eight wins, zero losses. The Fresno Grizzlies have yet to lose with catcher Buster Posey in their starting lineup.

“I’m not the type to walk around with my chest poked out a whole lot,” says the 22-year-old former first-round draft pick (5th overall in 2008). “I’m just kind of keeping to myself, watching some of the older guys and just enjoying being around them.”

Saturday night, Posey got to play with them for the first time at Chukchansi Park. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in his Grizzlies home debut, a 9-2 win over Reno.

“My goals at this level are the same that they’d be at any other level…to win,” says Posey, who skipped ‘AA’ when he was promoted from ‘A’ (San Jose) to ‘AAA’ (Fresno) on July 14th.

“It’s easy to get caught up in personal statistics and whatnot but if you do take care of business by winning first, the personal stats will balance themselves out.”

Like they did in the California League earlier this season.

In 80 games with San Jose, Posey’s first full season in professional baseball, the Giants’ most-hyped prospect since pitcher Tim Lincecum batted .326 with 13 homeruns and 58 RBI.

“This kid is highly touted, there’s no doubt about it. But we have to remember he’s still a kid,” says Fresno Grizzlies manager Dan Rohn, whose first year in Fresno was 2007, the same year Lincecum went 4-0 with a 0.29 ERA in five starts for the Grizzlies.

“You guys have to remember (Posey’s) only 22 years old. He’s still learning the game, he’s gonna make mistakes just like the rest of us.”

Except he’s not like the rest of us.

He’s 22-years-old, and already in Triple-A.

He’s 22-years-old, and already has $6.2 million in the bank (the amount of his signing bonus).

In other words, he’s 22-years-old, and everyone’s already watching everything he does.

“That’s been the case since I signed last year, so I’ve had a year’s practice at it now,” joked Posey, whose real name is ‘Gerald’ but who has gone by the nickname ‘Buster’ his entire life.

“It’s a little bit more pressure, but it’s still baseball. I enjoy doing what I’m doing coming to the park each day so that makes it fun for me.”

With his performance Saturday night, Posey now has eight hits in the eight games he’s played so far for Fresno. Defensively, the Giants organization is letting its #2-rated prospect call his own pitches.

“He’s an intelligent young man, he picks it up pretty quick,” says Rohn. “He and the pitching coach (Pat Rice) and the pitcher that day go over the gameplan and they stick to it. And he makes adjustments as the game goes. He’s done a nice job.”

So much so that in Posey’s brief time with the Grizzlies, Rohn, a 15-year veteran of the game, said “He’s got a chance to catch 10-15 years in the big leagues if he stays healthy. He’s just that good.”

“I don’t want to be overly anxious,” said Posey, addressing the hype that he is projected to be the San Francisco Giants opening day catcher in 2010.

“I’d like to get there as fast as I could, but I’ll get there when the time is right.”

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MY TRIBUTE TO RICKEY

As a die-hard Oakland Athletics fan, it pains me to see the franchise get rid of their top talent year after year after year. From Jason Giambi to Mark Mulder to Tim Hudson, Miguel Tejada, Johnny Damon, Jason Isringhausen, Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Rich Harden and now Matt Holliday, you get used to Oakland GM Billy Beane’s itchy trigger finger.

Thankfully, the greatest player in franchise history, and my favorite player of all-time, Rickey Henderson, played 14 seasons in green and gold. Granted, he did it in four seperate stints with the team, but he’s going into the Hall as an Athletic on Sunday. And I can’t wait for his induction speech!

Henderson was truly one of a kind. You could make an argument that he was one of the top five players of ALL-TIME. The career steals leader. More leadoff homers than anyone else. More runs scored than anyone else. Second all-time in walks to Barry Bonds, but you can argue that Rickey is the all-time walks king, since Bonds was intentionally walked all the time. You don’t need to have a good eye for that. Over 3,000 hits, close to 300 home runs and steroid free. I can safely say that because I have seen pictures of him in high school. Built like a rock from day one.

Henderson is also terrific with the fans. He talked to everyone. Before the game. During the game. After the game. Always gracious with his time and always appreciative. I was lucky to experience that firsthand at a baseball card show in Oakhurst in 1991. Rickey was signing autographs and taking polaroid pictures with fans. I was nervous as all get out when I shook his hand but he calmed me down pretty quickly by just acting like a regular guy. In fact, the picture we took was washed out, so I was pretty nervous to ask for another one. But Rickey was cool about the whole thing. “Need to take it again big man? Come on up!”

Take two was picture perfect.

So was his career. Two world championships (one with Oakland, the other with Toronto), one American League MVP Award (1990) and an ALCS MVP Award (1989 against Toronto) are just a few more of his glorious accomplishments.

Rickey takes a lot of flack for his “Rickeyisms” and even admits that he and words don’t get along very well. But his induction into Cooperstown speaks for itself. And it’s a testament that playing the game the right way without taking any shortcuts pays off.

I unfortunately won’t be in Cooperstown for the ceremony, but I have my ticket to see his #24 jersey retired August 1st against, of all teams, the Blue Jays.

It could be the best baseball moment of my life.

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