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Cesar Ramos is one of 58 college baseball student-athletes on the 2005 Brooks Wallace Award watch list. The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation to the national college baseball player of the year. Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton was the winner of the inaugural 2004 Brooks Wallace Award. The only other Big West Conference player on the list is Ricky Romero (Cal. State Fullerton). Other players may be added later.

Click here to download the full watch list and press release [pdf].

The College Baseball Foundation is, according to this release, dedicated to preserving college baseball history and recognizing standout teams and individuals who have influenced the collegiate game. The College Baseball Foundation was formed in 2004, and plans to create the first true College Baseball Hall of Fame on the campus of Texas Tech University.

This Q&A is on MLB.com by beat writer Doug Miller:

What's up with our No. 1 draft pick, Jered Weaver, and the Angels? Have not heard much lately.
--John B., Los Angeles

John, I recently spoke with the Angels' scouting director, Eddie Bane, who told me, "There's no comment because there's nothing going on," as far as Weaver's concerned. Bane didn't seem panicked, though. He probably figures that Scott Boras, Weaver's agent, has bigger fish to fry with his huge big league clients, most notably free agents Carlos Beltran and Adrian Beltre. Look for the Angels to get something done with Weaver in January, because it'll be after most of the free agents get signed and it'll be before Spring Training.

This from Baseball America:

College Notebook

By Will Kimmey
November 22, 2004

NCAA changes plans on change-of-season plan

College baseball's change-of-season plan now looks at least two seasons away, but more likely three.

The NCAA Division I baseball issues committee unanimously approved a four-pronged plan in July, then the championships/competition cabinet did the same in September. But the management council, which was supposed to make its decision this November, has tabled that call until October 2005.

"The management council decided not to act at this time because it's neither non-controversial or emergency legislation," said Dave Keilitz, executive director of the American Baseball Coaches Association. "It will move into the 2005 legislative cycle, and won't be finalized until April of 2006."

That late date would leave little time for coaches to reconcile their 2007 schedules--which can be planned years in advance--with the proposed March 1 start date. So the plan--which would also move the College World Series back one week, establish a Feb. 1 start date for spring practice and provide a 45-day window for teams to execute fall practices--might be held off until the 2007-08 academic year.

"I made this aware to issues committee. They are looking at different options, and are surveying all the conference commissioners for their input on (the) implementation date on this. That will be decided by mid-December," said Keilitz, who sent a letter to all Division I coaches updating them on the situation.

"If this thing does pass--and we can't know until April 2006--what's the best implementation date? Most coaches feel it really would screw up the 2007 scheduling. So it's not likely to happen until the 2007-08 academic year. However, I told the coaches, if you want to go ahead and start scheduling, be aware that it could still take effect for 2007."

The proposal moved through the first two approval stages with unanimous consent, but could face more difficulties when it reaches the management council. A large number of programs cite the fiscal concerns of housing and feeding student-athletes after the school year ends if the season is pushed back.

This was one of the issues I discussed in my earlier criticism of this proposal.

Gauging from the current feelings on the change-of-season plan, it seems its chances of passing in its current form are no better than 50-50.

"There's a lot of issues involved, and the more issues you have with any proposal, the more difficult it is to pass," Keilitz said. "This is a four-part proposal, and with a multi-part proposal, it's hard for everybody to agree on all parts. It complicates it."

Few coaches have any problem with the changes for fall practice, as it allows them to spread out practice days over a longer period of time and helps navigate through weather problems.

But don't expect the least controversial part of the proposal to be broken off from the rest of the changes. At least not yet.

"The issues committee is determined to push this thing through as full package," Keilitz said. “They don't want to break off pieces. It will pass or fail as full package. If it fails, then you go back and say what issues can pass?"...

It's just 67 days until the season starts at Arizona State on January 28, 2005. To help you find the way, follow these directions (thanks to Yahoo! Maps):

This from OurSportsCentral:

November 22, 2004 - (GREENSBORO, NC0 Brandon Hyde returns for his third season in Greensboro taking on the new role of Manager for the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers followed by a field staff announced today by the team.

Also returning for his third season is Scott Mitchell as the Greensboro Grasshoppers' Pitching Coach. Florida Marlins newcomer, Bo Porter, will join the staff as Hitting Coach.

"We're excited to have Brandon and Scott return to Greensboro for the 2005 season," said President Donald Moore. "They both do a fine job on the field and enjoy working in Greensboro. Bo Porter will be a great addition to an already successful field staff."

Hyde and Mitchell help to guide the Greensboro Bats to a sixth place, second half finish in the South Atlantic League Southern Division with a 30-39 second half record in 2004. Hyde played with the Chicago White Sox from 1997-2001.

Hyde originally signed with the White Sox in 1997 as a Free Agent out of Long Beach State University.

"It's exciting to be taking over the Manager duties of the Greensboro Grasshoppers. I'm looking forward to opening and playing in a new ballpark and consider myself lucky to have been picked for the job," said Manager Brandon Hyde.

Every year, Boyd Nation publishes his list of the series he is looking forward to. As he puts it, "...it's evolved into a handy listing of the major non-conference schedule for the coming year." While it's only his opinion, he's a pretty astute guy. If you haven't checked out his website, Boyd's World, it's well worth a look. Through the season, he publishes his Iterative Strength Ratings (ISR), which are highly regarded in Division I baseball for doing a fairly good job of correcting for bias in the NCAA's Ratings Power Index (RPI) against western (and other) schools due to limited inter-regional games.

This year, the Long Beach State Dirtbags, who always schedule aggressive non-conference match-ups, are included eight times in Boyd's list (a total of 18 games):

1/28-1/30	Arizona State (away)

2/11-2/13	U.S.C. (away/home/away)

3/1	 	Pepperdine (home)

3/4-3/6	        Baylor (away)

3/11-3/13	Houston (home)

3/18-3/20	Wichita State (away)

4/5	 	UCLA (home)

4/12	 	Pepperdine (away)

This from the Los Angeles Times (free registration is required):

Jered Weaver said he remained confident that he would sign with the Angels even though more than five months have passed since the organization made the right-hander out of Long Beach State its top pick in the amateur draft.

"I'm not really worried about it," Weaver, the 12th overall selection, said this week. "It's going to get done, it's just a matter of time."

Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman would not comment specifically on negotiations with Scott Boras, Weaver's agent, saying the Angels would "move ahead and do what we have to do to get our club ready" for 2005. Boras could not be reached for comment.

Weaver is believed to be seeking a package similar to the $10.5-million deal Chicago Cub pitcher Mark Prior received out of USC. Prior won 18 games in 2003, his first full season with the Cubs.

But this article in the Orange County Register (free registration required) either indicates that there may be trouble ahead, or is simply part of negociations through the press:

ANAHEIM - It has been nearly six months since the Angels took Long Beach State right-hander Jered Weaver with their first draft pick, and they still haven't begun serious negotiations. But Weaver insists he will be an Angel by spring training.

"It's going to get done," Weaver said Thursday.

Yet if Weaver's agent, Scott Boras, doesn't call Angels general manager Bill Stoneman soon, he might find the team's coffers have dwindled. The team is in the middle of trying to sign Cuban defector Kendry Morales, a switch-hitting young slugger who is widely considered the best player to flee Cuba since pitcher Jose Contreras two years ago.

Morales, listed as 20, fled Cuba in June and is living in the Dominican Republic, where he has worked out for the Angels more than once this fall. His agent, David Valdes, reportedly is seeking a deal similar to that of the Texas Rangers' star young first baseman, Mark Teixeira: four years and $9.5 million.

That dollar amount is roughly what Boras is reportedly seeking for Weaver.

"There's only a finite amount of money," Angels scouting director Eddie Bane said.

Valdes confirmed the Angels have been in on negotiations to land Morales. Five teams have expressed interest in the infielder, but the Florida Marlins and Cleveland Indians reportedly have balked at Valdes' asking price. Valdes said Morales will play Dominican winter ball if no team will pay what they're seeking.

"We'll have to make a big decision in a couple of days," Valdes said.

Morales batted .391 for the Cuban team Industriales in 2003, and he hit a grand slam for the Cuban national team that beat Taiwan in the final of the 2003 baseball World Cub in Havana.

Boras, who has a reputation for taking negotiations to the brink, did not return a phone call Thursday. He might not have as much leverage with Weaver as he has with other high-profile draft picks. Weaver said he doesn't want to play independent ball if a deal isn't worked out with the Angels by June. That came as good news to the Angels.

"It's just time to get going," Bane said. "I don't sense any urgency on their part at all. We've just been like, 'OK, we'll see what happens.' But (Boras) ran into a very patient man in Stoneman. He knows what he wants to do. We're not going to bid against ourselves."

Weaver, who swept the college player of the year awards, has been working out with a personal trainer in Irvine in hopes of reporting to spring training ready to go. He said he is not concerned that Boras - who represents most of the high-profile major-league free agents on the market - will be distracted from completing a deal to make him an Angel.

"He's one of the best in the business. I'm sure he's sitting down and counting all of his chips before we get everything in order," Weaver said. "I've heard they're going to start talking soon."

Cesar Ramos, Troy Tulowitzki and Neil Jamison have been named Pre-Season All Americans by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association. Cesar and Troy are named to the first team, while Neil is named to the third team. A copy of the Association's release in pdf is here.

Here's excepts from the story at longbeachstate.com:

Trio Named Pre-Season All-Americans
Tulowitzki, Ramos, Jamison Named Amongst Best in the Nation

November 18, 2004

DALLAS, TX-- They put together back-to-back 40-win seasons, and have seen record crowds at Blair Field during the playoffs, now a trio of Dirtbags are All-Americans. Long Beach State's SS Troy Tulowitzki (Sunnyvale), LHP Cesar Ramos (Pico Rivera) and RHP closer Neil Jamison (San Diego) were named pre-season All-Americans by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association. Tulowitzki and Ramos, who were gold medal winning teammates on Team USA this past summer, were first teamers, while Jamison was a third team selection.

The sure-handed Tulowitzki, who according to Baseball America is the 10th overall pick in the publication's mock 2005 draft, batted .317 last year with 44 RBIs and a .491 slugging percentage, as the only Dirtbag to start all 61 games. Tulowitzki, a first team All-Big West selection in 2004, made just nine errors at short last year and has produced an impressive .962 fielding percentage in two seasons.

Ramos, who is slated to be the team's No. 1 starter this season, has gone 18-8 over two seasons, ranking amongst the nation's leaders last year by going 12-4 with a 2.29 ERA over 19 starts. In two years Ramos has a 2.51 ERA, fifth-best all-time, and a .234 opponent batting average.

Jamison, the team's closer last year after two years as the school's setup man, at one point led the nation in saves, finishing with 12 in 2004. With 77 career apperances and 15 career saves, Jamison already ranks third all-time in both categories. Jamison was drafted in the eighth round by the Mets but chose to return to LBSU for his senior season...

A story in the Long Beach Press-Telegram is here.

Others included from the Big West Conference were: First Team: Ricky Romero (Fullerton), Blair Erickson (Irvine); Third Team: Michael Paulk (Northridge), Justin Turner (Fullerton), and Danny Dorn (Fullerton).

Over at Dr. Dan's Diamond Dust, the good doctor tells us:

...Now some Dirtbag servings from the hot stove league. The SID folks have this starting lineup as of Fall ball but I expect some shuffling by Spring. On paper there are six starters returning with new guys needed for C, 1B, OF, and DH. Around the infield their list has Tito Cruz, behind the dish, he hit .271 last season. At first would be redshirt Brandon Godfrey, who made the Junior Olympic National Team, at second Chuck Sindlinger, a two-year starter hitting 257, at short Team USA's Troy Tulowitzki who carries both a gold glove and bat. (317, 7 HR, 44 RBIs last year) and Danny Mocny, .318, last year at third.

The outfield looks like Jamie Huizar in left, coming in from Sacramento CC where he hit .362, plus returnees speedy Steve Velazco back in center and slugging Sean Boatright in right. Boats hit .330 when healthy last season. The DH favorite is Evan Longoria out of Rio Hondo JC where he hit .435 plus 15 HRs. We'll do pitchers next week.

Former Long Beach State Dirtbag Bobby Crosby (drafted by the A's in the first round in 2001), just named American League Rookie of the Year, will be the keynote speaker at the LBSU Dirtbags Leadoff Dinner on January 20. For information, call the Athletic Association at (562) 985-4662.

Former Dirtbag Paul McAnulty sure is making his case for advancement. As reported on the San Diego Padres MLB website:

...Josh Barfield went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Ben Johnson and Paul McAnulty each hit a home run for the Javelinas and Brad Baker shut down the Saguaros in order in securing the win for R.D. Spiehs. Spiehs pitched one inning of no-hit ball.

It was McAnulty's fifth homer of the AFL campaign and raised his average to .350 through 22 games while Baker earned his third save. Baker remains impressive with a 1.64 ERA. Barfield kicked his average up to .329...

The linked story has a picture of McAnulty at bat.