John Manuel
June 21, 2002

Moderator: John Manuel is in Omaha, awaiting the 2 p.m. contest between Clemson and South Carolina. He'll answer all your college baseball questions, especially those regarding the College World Series.

Q:	Snapper Bean from Greater Kensington asks: What's you best guess on Stanford RHP Darin Naatjes? Does he sign with the Phillies or does he follow Jeremy Guthrie's lead and go for the big bucks after returning for his senior year at Stanford?
A:	John Manuel: Thanks for everyone's patience, traffic sucked here in Omaha today.. I don't know about Naatjes. Word is the new Stanford football staff isn't as tight-end friendly, and Naatjes might stick to just baseball next year. Whether or not he would be allowed to hit again (he made the last out in the 2001 CWS) is doubtful, but he showed promise as a pitcher. I don't know that he'll get big bucks, but I do see him coming back to school.

Q:	Kansas Husker from Stuck in Wichita asks: Will Nebraska make it back to the CWS if Van Horn leaves?
A:	John Manuel: Van Horn has left the program in much better shape than he found it. Either of the two candidates I've heard most prominently named--pitching coach Rob Childress and Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson--could get Nebraska back to the CWS, but it's not what I would call an easy job.

Q:	Gene from Wichita, Kansas asks: What are the odds of Wichita State's head baseball coach leaving the program for another opportunity with a Big 12 or larger-conference school?
A:	John Manuel: It would take the right situation, but I could see coach Stephenson moving on in the right place. The problem might be his age, he's been in one place for 23 or 25 years, and must be in his early 50s (sorry, don't have a media guide handy). some schools may want to go with a younger hire, though Ron Polk's two-year stint at Georgia worked out well for the Bulldogs with a CWS trip last year.

Q:	Jack Kilbride from Tampa, FL asks: How has Robert Valiente, the freshman outfielder from Tampa, looked in the CWS? What do you see his future as, what tools does he possess, what does he need to improve on, etc.? Thanks for the great CWS coverage. CWS is my favorite 2 weeks of the year.
A:	John Manuel: Thanks, Jack. Roberto Valiente is an exciting freshman. He's a slasher right now, with good speed, above-average defensive ability and center field in his future. He's an aggressive hitter and might need to be a little more patient and selective at the plate, because he doesn't project as a power hitter at the next level. But he does have good hitting skills and will be counted on heavily by Clemson next year when Khalil Greene, Michael Johnson and Jeff Baker are gone.

Q:	Jake from Chicago asks: Did you get a sense of whether or not the Stanford non-senior draftees (Cooper, Naatjes, Cunningham) are planning on signing or returning to school? Any players from other teams who might suprise and return for their senior seasons? Thanx.
A:	John Manuel: Cooper is probably gone; the third round is a good round to be picked. I can't see Cunningham signing with the Braves unless he really wants to go now, or unless the Braves fail to sign Jeff Francouer and have extra money lying around.

Q:	John from Greenville, SC asks: Do you think that USC"s pitching can keep the Tiger's bats quiet again today?
A:	John Manuel: I would be surprised; obviously I picked the Tigers because of Matt Henrie. If South Carolina's starter, LHP Steven Bondurant, can hold them down for five or six innings, then you have to like South Carolina's chances with power-pitching John Wesley available in the bullpen. I would trust Wesley now more than Blake Taylor, who hasn't looked good in Omaha. Clemson's offense, though, is very, very tough to hold down twice in a row.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: You wrote a very good piece about national baseball coverage of college baseball a few weeks ago. As you ponder that subject in the game's mecca, what progress do you see (if any) and what changes can be made to enhance the college game's image?
A:	John Manuel: Bill, thanks for all the questions and the kind words. ESPN is trolling around for talent to help them escalate coverage next year. I think you'll see super-regional broadcasts next year, possibly with the S-R's staggered so you might have championship games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Then you will have the CWS format change, awaiting final approval, with a best 2-of-3 series at the end. Hopefully down the line there will be a college game-of-the-week.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: Any good recruiting scuttle going around Omaha? I'm wondering how next year's classes stack up right now given what's happened so far with the draft, etc.?
A:	John Manuel: The big thing to watch, Bill, is what happens in August. That's when you'll see a flood of signings. Clemson is the team that will get hit the hardest, with four first-round picks among its signees--Jeff Francouer, Matt Whitney, Jeremy Hermida and Zack Greinke.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: Can you give me the lowdown on all the Drover'swhiskey steak references? I consider myself something of an Omaha expert, but am lost on this one.
A:	John Manuel: The Drover's Whiskey Steak is their signature meal; it's a steakhouse just off 72nd street, between I-80 and Dodge. However, the Drover turned us away last night at 10:35 p.m., not a good sign for the future of the Drover.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: What's your favorite Zesto's shake flavor?
A:	John Manuel: Hot Fudge.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: This year's CWS field looks almost like a bowl lineup. With the arms race to enhance facilities escalating, do you see a shift of power toward norther football schools? How do you see the landscape of college baseball changing in the next five-10 years?
A:	John Manuel: All of college sports is going to have to change; it's untenable to keep escalating costs, and most programs will not be able to keep up, much like in MLB. More and more baseball programs will be cut if their administrators don't try to make their baseball program's somewhat self-sustaining. Virginia is a good example, it went from being almost cut to building a great new ballpark that every coach who has seen it raves about. Hopefully, the Cavaliers will be able to draw good crowds, use the facility enough to break even and maybe generate more money for baseball scholarships and bring up the quality of the program.

Q:	dustin from san jose asks: were you surprised by the quick elimination of san jose state at the stanford regional.do you think they were as good as everyone made them out to be or were they just very over rated. thanks for your time enjoy the game1
A:	John Manuel: A little. I do think SJSU was solid, not spectacular. It didn't have a lot of top draft talent, but instead was a veteran club, especially on the mound. Coach Sam Piraro has really elevated the program the last few years. Consider SJSU didn't make a regional appearance from 1971-2000, then got in in 2000 and made it to Omaha, and made another regional trip this year. The program is on the upswing.

Q:	Mark from Washington asks: Steve Stanley hit .400 last year, and led the Cape Cod and Great Lakes Leagues in batting in 2000 and 2001. At the beginning of this season your publication called him perhaps the best lead-off hitter in college ball. And yet he wasn't drafted until the 50th round last year, and didn't even crack your list of top 20 CF's (let alone outfielders) available for this year's draft. I expect lack of size and extra base power has hurt him in the eyes of scouts, but what's your take on the disconnect? Was he overdrafted this year? And how successful do you see him being as a pro?
A:	John Manuel: Steve Stanley was one of the most impressive players here. He knows he's 5-foot-7, scouts know it, and he's always going to have to overcome that. He's skilled enough that if David Eckstein can be an impact big leaguer (and I think he is), then Stanley can because he provides unique skills as a leadoff hitter and is solid if not above-average in CF. He's got a lot of similarities to Brett Butler.

Q:	Tim from New York asks: Love these chats, John Fast-forward two years and it's spring 2004 and the current batch of college freshmen are draft eligible juniors. Who, after Seminole Sensation Stephen Drew, would be the first five picked? Thanks.
A:	John Manuel: Drew tops the list for now, but don't forget about 2001 first-round picks Jeremy Sowers (Vanderbilt) and Alan Horne (Mississippi), who both had solid seasons in the tough SEC. Mark Jecmen of Stanford will be up there with his size, as will Baylor LHP Trey Taylor, Rice RHP Philip Humber, San Jose State RHP Matt Durkin and Old Dominion RHP Justin Verlander. This was a year with a lot of talented freshmen. I only scratched the surface.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: How does Saturday's pitching shape up for SC? Clemson?
A:	John Manuel: Part of that depends on today. South Carolina will have freshmen Aaron Rawl on 3 days' rest from his CG vs. Ga. Tech, and Matt Campbell on 2 days' rest from his 5.1 IP stint against Clemson on Wednesday. Those are their best options, and they hope to not have to use Blake Taylor or John Wesley too much. They also may have LHP David Marchbanks available. I think South Carolina is in better shape for Saturday than Clemson. The Tigers have Steve Reba, who has pitched poorly in Omaha, plus freshmen Jeff Hourigan and Tyler Lumsden. I suspect Matt Henrie and B.J. LaMura will be the Tigers' guys today, and they'd love to have LaMura available to start Saturday, but I think they trust B.J. out of the bullpen more than anyone else right now.

Q:	Bill Lamberty from Bozeman, MT asks: Could you comment on Rosenblatt Stadium, and on the long term future of the CWS in Omaha?
A:	John Manuel: The ballpark is fantastic, and Omaha is the perfect host. This championship should not leave or even consider it in the near future.

Q:	Alex from Baltimore, MD asks: John, based on his amazing CWS performance do you see Chris Carter as one of the premier freshman in the nation and what are his chances of being a 1st round pick in 2004 (I realize it's still early)?
A:	John Manuel: In the fall of 2000, Carter was considered a 1st-2nd round pick. His stock fell for the '01 draft with a poor spring and a commitment to Stanford. Obviously, he was the freshman making the biggest impact late, and if he can translate that over to next season, I suspect Carter will enter 2004 as one of the top college prospects. He can hit, he's added some strength at Stanford and now needs to show he can play a position (he's certainly athletic enough) and he can do it for an entire season.

Q:	Greg Smith from Detroit , MI asks: Being that U. Texas has just advanced in the CWS, how would you rate the chances of my Tigers signing 2nd round pick and prized U.T. recruit Brent Clevlen? How committed is he at this point to the University of Texas?
A:	John Manuel: You don't see a 2nd-round pick passing up pro money too often.

Q:	evan from iowa asks: why did clemson coach jack leggett wait so long to play freshman catcher collin mahoney. although he struggled a little against s.c., he is obviously a better option than steve pyzik or no?
A:	John Manuel: He went to Mahoney for his right-handed power, but I don't expect him to play today. Steve Pyzik is steadier defensively and handles pitchers better, and the Tigers need their pitchers to do well today.

Q:	Mike from Philadelphia asks: With the Game One i saw between Stanford and Notre Dame, do you think Jeremy Guthrie could have gone any higher in the draft the way he pitched in that game? He totally dominated the offense of the Irishmen, and controlled mostly the whole game until the last two innings. Fastball was at 90 the whole game. Slider was clean, sharp. Curveball the same. What do you think? --Thanks
A:	John Manuel: His agent was and is still Scott Boras, so no, I don't think one game would have moved him up so much. That's how Guthrie had pitched the last six weeks. He had a great season and a great two-year career at Stanford, the only Stanford pitcher to win 13 games in consecutive seasons. Amazing.

Q:	George from Texas asks: Do you think that Texas' 1B Jeff Ontiveros' performance in Omaha has finally gotten him the respect he deserves? Will any of the 30 major league teams realize their mistake in not drafting him for the third straight year and offer him a free agent contract?
A:	John Manuel: I just think you have to trust scouts on this one. Maybe someone will try Jeff at catcher, his HS position, but they've seen him more than me or you and don't consider him a pro prospect. He's a one-tool guy, and apparently they don't think he has enough of that one tool. He's a very solid college player, though.

Q:	Bryan from Las Vegas asks: What do you think of Micheal Johnson does he have the talent to become a star in the bigs?
A:	John Manuel: Johnson's got exciting power potential. His HR vs. South Carolina the other day was a great swing, he didn't need to get extended and stayed inside a pitch on the inner half, showing a quick bat and pulling the pitch with power. His LH power is hard to find, and the Padres are very excited aobut his future.

Q:	Bobby Hammond from Tallahassee Florida asks: What do you think happened to FSU. Do you think they were outmatched or did Mike Martin once again just blow it?
A:	John Manuel: They ran into a team with better pitching, plain and simple. Mike Martin had his two best hitters come up as the tying and winning run with the game on the line in the 8th, and Chris Niesel was better in that spot than Stephen Drew and Ryan Barthelemy. That is not Mike Martin's fault. My only criticism of Florida State's program would be a lack of power arms, and it was ND's power arms that ended FSU's terrific season. Mike Martin is a fantastic coach.

Q:	matt from valrico, florida asks: what is your take on two other clemson freshman, jeff hourigan and collin mahoney? i have heard they both have power bats and hourigan can also light up the radar guns...along with valiente, can you see them developing into a greene, baker, johnson type combo?
A:	John Manuel: Both have big-time power. Hourigan looks like a better version of Jared Schmidt both on the mound (90-92, easier effort than Schmidt, better power slider) and at the plate. Finding him a position will be the challenge. MAhoney also has loud power. That development is a possibility, but consider how difficult it is to have three great players in a row like that. It's hard to imagine it happening twice at one program within three years.

Q:	Chris from Charlotte asks: Why does it seem that all year SC has been an "Okay" team but all of a sudden you look up and WOW....how did they get here? Nothing they do really jumps out at you but if they beat clemson today then they will have beaten a substantial amount of top 20 teams this year. How do you explain it?
A:	John Manuel: South Carolina has been better than OK all year. Preseason No. 14, lost two series on a weekend all year (both two games, to Clemson and at Arkansas), won the SEC regular season. That's way, way better than OK. I explain it with good defense up the middle in L. Powell, D. Meyer, J. Harris and J. Coutlangus; very good power, with huge seasons from Yaron Peters and Trey Dyson; excellent coaching, esp. with the handling of the pitching staff; and luck. All these teams have had some luck.

Q:	Chris from Williamsburg, VA asks: John, What do you think about either South Carolina or Clemson's chances against Texas? Texas looks pretty loaded from top to bottom, and either CU or USC will have to go with a pitcher on short rest, while the Texas staff is rested.
A:	John Manuel: I think Clemson and S.C. both would have to have the wind blowing out to beat Texas and hope for a slugfest. Both have good power and could jump on any pitcher, even from a staff as good as Texas. You have to get to the Longhorns early, though, because no one out here or in the Big 12 has figured out Huston Street.

Q:	Chris from Williamsburg, VA asks: What are your thoughts on the Keith LeClair situation? It is just a shame that something that a terrible disease could happen to a great, great man.
A:	John Manuel: This is truly a tragedy. Keith LeClair is a great guy and a fantastic coach, one who rebuilt the East Carolina program from a pretty low situation (I belive the year before he got there was one of ECU's three losing sesaons in Division I) to three straight No. 1 seeds prior to this year. Keith also has a legion of admirers and friends in the college coaching profession, and it pained many in the game to see him deteriorate during the season. My prayers go out to him and his family. ECU should now do the right thing and hire Kevin McMullan, who along with fellow assistant Tommy Eason held the team together and kept it competitive during a very difficult situation.

Q:	Ian from Tampa, FL asks: How will the Georgia Bulldogs stack up nextyear? Is there recruiting class looking good, or do you think they all will sign pro contracts?
A:	John Manuel: Georgia looks good with its returnees. Leadoff man Chaz Lytle will be back for his senior season, and scouts love Lee Mitchell at 3B. Dave Perno did a nice job in his first season, and that was a young team, so I expect the Bulldogs to do well next year.

Q:	Matt from Roanoke, Va asks: What kind of prospect do you see Clemson LHP Tyler Lumsden turning into during his career? He was a 5th round pick out of high school and pitched well as a starter down the strectch after struggling badly with his command earlier out of the bullpen? What does he throw now and do you think he can improve on that 5th round status in the future?
A:	John Manuel: Lumsden needs to improve his fastball command and refine his changeup, but you have to like his stuff. High 80s, low 90s FB with a power (though somewhat slurvy) breaking ball that really eats up LH hitters. He's one of the more talented freshmen in the country.

Q:	Mick from Chicago asks: The way the play by play and color guys rave about Drew Meyer and K. Greene defensively, I would be really disappointed if I were them knowing the probability of staying in that position at the pro level is not very good. Especially for Drew and his granade launching arm. Are there any other guys in the series like Menocal, Fahey, etc. who you think may play short in their organiation?
A:	John Manuel: The Padres like Greene as a shortstop, so he may not move. Meyer to me should be a shortstop; he's not pretty, but he gets the job done (7 errors this year? 8? It was less than 10). his arm allows him to make the play in the hole, and to me, he's not the 10th overall pick unless he's a shortstop. But Grady Fuson's track record is a lot better than mine. I need to go cover this game, but thanks for all the questions.