Yeah, the World Series starts in about 3 hours, but join us here on the GPP until then to talk about your 2009 Golden Panthers baseball team as they take on the Ontario Blue Jays at University Park Stadium.
We'll get our first look at the No. 15 recruiting class in the nation compiled by TT. One of his pitchers from that class, Scott Rembisz (Florida JUCO Pitcher of the Year), starts tonight for FIU.
Starting lineups: FIU - Pablo Bermudez-CF, Greg Wadell-LF, Ryan Mollica-2b, Tyler Townsend-DH, Steven Stropp-DH, Tim Jobe-1b, Garrett Wittels-SS, Ty Main-RF, Raiko Alfonso-3b, Doug Joyce-DH, Casey Hanrahan-C, Scott Rembisz-P (Not a typo, since it's an exhibition game, FIU is using 2 extra DHs).
Ontario - Brodie Ross-RF, Tyler Hibbert-LF, Mike Reeves-DH, Tyler Patzalek-C, John Solazzo-3b, Jose Torralba-SS, Tyler Wheeler-1b, Jeff Kosta-2b, Darnell Duckett-CF, Kyle Willard-P
Let's play ball....
Will be stuck at work, Pete quick question, any possibility of them taking off the old logo (twice removed) from the baseball stadium (they might have already I haven't been by in a couple of months). This team has 3/4 solid hitters coming back and Polizano (always a mistery) but everything else is up in the air.
Posted by: FIUPantherFan | October 22, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Nobody cares about the World Series anymore with those two teams that are in it. Go watch the FIU game or follow PP's blogging. Looking forward to seeing how Turtle's recruiting class does and how far the team can go this year!
Posted by: Manny Being Manny | October 22, 2008 at 04:28 PM
FIUPantherFan: any possibility of them taking off the old logo (twice removed) from the baseball stadium
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they will get to erasing the Thundercats FIU logo and putting on the new one. But no timetable yet.
The season opener is still 4 months away.
FIU opens the season Feb. 20 at home vs. Jacksonville for a 3-game series.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Manny Being Manny, sorry to hear about the BoSox.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:12 PM
FIU right-hander Scott Rembisz (Fla. JUCO Pitcher of the Year) sets them down 1-2-3....strikes out the 1st batter looking on 3 pitches.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Bottom 1st: newcomer LF Greg Wadell gets a broken-bat double down the left field line.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Wadell, who is from Miami Dade College and Sunset High, moves to 3rd base on a passed ball.....Ryan Mollica drives him home with an RBI groundout to 2nd base.
1-0, FIU
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Pete, as you look through the new line-up are there any speedsters on the club. We were definately missing speed on the bases to generate runs against top notch pitching. Also, keep an eye out for those pesky errors that FIU seems to be known for.
Posted by: FIUPantherFan | October 22, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Tyler Townsend strikes out...end of 1st.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Nice to see Rembisz off to a fast start. Pete, I have not attended any of the fall workouts so help me out with this question: Do you know if Mike Martinez (pretty good player out of Killian) will be a regular bench player, or is he just giving way to someone else to get more playing time? Also, if I'm not mistaken, isn't Raiko the regular SS?
Posted by: Yandro | October 22, 2008 at 05:22 PM
A bunch of frehsmen figure to get a lot of playing time as well, correct Pete? Bermudez and Raiko were terrific in High School and other baseball teams....
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | October 22, 2008 at 05:29 PM
FIUPantherFan: Pete, as you look through the new line-up are there any speedsters on the club. We were definately missing speed on the bases to generate runs against top notch pitching. Also, keep an eye out for those pesky errors that FIU seems to be known for.
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Hard to tell about speed yet, nobody has attempted to steal. The Golden Panthers do look like a bigger bunch than last season.
And not Barry Bonds big.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Yandro: Pete, I have not attended any of the fall workouts so help me out with this question: Do you know if Mike Martinez (pretty good player out of Killian) will be a regular bench player, or is he just giving way to someone else to get more playing time? Also, if I'm not mistaken, isn't Raiko the regular SS?
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Too early to tell about MM yet, TT usually goes with the hot hand. But MM can play 3b/1b/P.
Both Raiko and Garrett Wittels can play SS.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:32 PM
FIU Fanatic: A bunch of frehsmen figure to get a lot of playing time as well, correct Pete? Bermudez and Raiko were terrific in High School and other baseball teams....
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Yes, a lot of frosh to play....TT is not afraid to play anyone as long as they produce.
I count only 5 DP players left on this roster.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Bottom of the 3rd...Rembisz has set down Ontario 9 up and 9 down. The right-hander has a nice breaking ball.
1-0 FIU, bottom of 3rd
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:35 PM
Exactly, that's why I was surprised to see Raiko at 3B instead of his usual SS position and MM not in the lineup, but you're right about the "hot hand" theory.
Posted by: Yandro | October 22, 2008 at 05:35 PM
FIU staffers visited the press box here at University Park Stadium and here's some FIU merchandise and fiusports.com news:
1) On-line store for new FIU football and all other sports gear opens on Nov. 20 at fiusports.com. T.Y. Hilton jerseys go on sale on the 20th.
There is a clearance sale going on right now until Nov. 15 on all the old FIU gear at 75% off.
Also 3 new FIU videos have been posted on fiusports.com. The Golden Dazzlers video is my personal favorite.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Quiet offensive game here, top of the 4th now: FIU 1-0.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:41 PM
New FIU pitcher on the mound: left-hander Justin Leith starts the 4th inning.
Leith was a St. Louis Cardinals draft choice out of Naples Barron Collier High last year.
TT said he needed left-handed pitchers last year and now he has 5 on the roster.
Rembisz pitched 3 perfect innings.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Apparently, Rembisz did not throw enough pitches in his 3 innings of work, because he's down in the bullpen pitching some more.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Is the Canadian pitcher any good?...also I remember TT signed last year's Canadian's pitching star...but he ended up signing pro ball....any chance TT is establishing a pipeline type of deal here?
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | October 22, 2008 at 05:45 PM
FIU Fanatic: Is the Canadian pitcher any good?...also I remember TT signed last year's Canadian's pitching star...but he ended up signing pro ball....any chance TT is establishing a pipeline type of deal here?
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No stats available for Ontario players. He's a little lefty, who throws soft and has had the Golden Panthers off-balance.
Yes, TT signed Stosh Wawasarezk last season, but SW signed with the Milwaukee Brewers after getting drafted.
TT is a thorough recruiter so don't be surprised as to how many pipelines he has developed.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Both teams using wood bats...Leith sets down Ontario in the 4th after allowing a walk.
Bottom 4th, FIU 1-0.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:51 PM
With 2 outs in the 4th, Mollica gets FIU's 2nd hit -- a single to RCF.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Townsend hits a drive just short of the LF warning track...Ontario LF tracks it down for 3rd out.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 05:56 PM
another scoreless inning from Leith.
bottom 5th, 1-0 FIU. These wood bats likely have both offenses struggling.
Golden Panthers pitchers have a no-hitter going thru 5 and NO i did not just ruin it by mentioning it.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Must be a spring training game, in this case fall, because FIU starting pitcher Scott Rembisz is getting his running in along the warning track in the middle of the game.
End of 5 innings, FIU 1-0.
Another lefty in for FIU to start the 6th inning....R.J. Fondon - the former Broward County High School Pitcher of the Year.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Daniel Franceschetti singles up the middle for Ontario with 2 outs in the 6th for the Blue Jays first hit.
R.J. gets 3rd out...inning over, 1-0 FIU going to bottom of the 6th.
Ok, I did ruin the no-hitter.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Where the hell is baseball P.A. man Roman?....it's a circus in the press box.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Top of 7th, still FIU 1-0.
R.J. still on the mound.
3 hits combined from the two teams (FIU has 2).
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Did they bring in another pitcher...or the starting one still there?
Posted by: FIU Fanatic | October 22, 2008 at 06:30 PM
time to stretch, bottom of the 7th.
1-0 FIU.
Not much O tonight, but can say that the FIU infield defense looks better so far.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:31 PM
FIU Fanatic: Did they bring in another pitcher...or the starting one still there?
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Ontario is on its 3rd pitcher.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:32 PM
Top of the 8th, 1-0 FIU
New pitcher for FIU: right-hander Eric Berkowitz, played for MDC last year.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:37 PM
@PP: thanks for BoSox sympathy. You should know better than to mention the no-no while in the press box during the game. It's fall at least, just don't let it happen during the season.
Posted by: Manny Being Manny | October 22, 2008 at 06:39 PM
we'll be done here in record time.
bottom of the 8th now, still 1-0, FIU.
we've played almost 8 innings in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Don't worry Manny Being Manny, no mention of no-nos during the regular season.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:42 PM
That "no mentioning the no-no" jinx only applies when you're on the air. Or so I've heard. ;)
Posted by: Clawing Cancer | October 22, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Clawing Cancer,
isn't a blog technically being on the air?
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Going to the top of the 9th, FIU 1-0 and Garth Brooks's "Friends in Low Places" playing on the stadium speakers.....yee-haw
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Pete!! Now you do realize the final inning will last at least an hour now that you mentioned a fast moving game? I know you'll be more careful during the regular season though.
Posted by: Manny Being Manny | October 22, 2008 at 06:49 PM
FIU freshman right-hander Michael Vargas from New Jersey on to close out the game for the Golden Panthers.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:51 PM
MBM,
2 outs already...don't know if that applies to exhibition season.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Vargas strikes out final batter.
FIU pitchers combine to throw a 1-hitter for a 1-0 win.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:56 PM
You may have lucked out this time. Baseball gods were probably thrown off because the opponents are Canadian.
Posted by: Manny Being Manny | October 22, 2008 at 06:56 PM
MBM,
yeah the bb gods are the guys from South Park...."Blame Canada"
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Was at home with the family resting the voice
Posted by: Roman | October 22, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Pete,
Where did you get that info about FIU having the #15 recruiting class in the nation?
Posted by: Quijote | October 22, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Quijote: Pete,
Where did you get that info about FIU having the #15 recruiting class in the nation?
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According to perfectgame.com.
Of all the Florida schools, only the Gators were higher than FIU in this year's baseball recruiting.
Posted by: Pete Pelegrin | October 22, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Thanks for the baseball blog - when do you anticipate talking to TT and getting his thoughts on this year's team?
Posted by: fiufan751 | October 23, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Pete,
Only one mistake. Vargas did not finish out the game. He is not a pitcher. Berkowitz pitched the last two striking out 3. Glad you were able to be there. Looking forward to baseball season!!
Posted by: fiufan2 | October 23, 2008 at 06:57 PM