THE MORNING PAPER: Bone meets with Thames, plus football, track and baseball

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 10:13 AM PDT

Happy Easter! We normally do these kinds of features on gamedays with all the previews and such, but yesterday was a heavy news day in Coug land. So let's get to it.

First, Bud Withers at The Seattle Times is reporting Ken Bone and Ben Johnson flew to Sacramento to meet with Xavier Thames, and while details are light, it sounds at first blush as if things went well:

"It went really good," Thames said. "[Bone] was a really good guy, a funny guy, cracking jokes. I enjoyed myself."

Thames said he would decide within a few days whether to follow through on his letter of intent. "I just want to compete in the Pac-10," he said.

If by "compete" he meant "play," that would make this whole song and dance a little silly. I'm guessing he means compete for a championship, and if that's the case, I don't see how his chances are any worse with Bone than they were with Tony Bennett.

There also was the first scrimmage of spring football yesterday, and what a show it was for the runningbacks. Dwight Tardy, Logwone Mitz and James Montgomery all had sterling moments, flashing the depth the Cougs hope to use to execute a Stanford-like turnaround next season.

However, it's tough to say what this really means -- the first offense went against the second defense, and vice versa. Still, the biggest thing we were lacking last year was talent on the field, and it sounds like if our line can do even a serviceable job next year, we might be able to move the ball on the ground by consistently rotating in fresh legs who all have different strengths.

This next one is for you SW WA Coug. Following the theme of extended features on our new coach for Sunday papers, Times columnist Steve Kelley checks in with this excellent, excellent piece on Bone. He takes a little different tack than Grippi, putting the Seattle spin on it and talking extensively with former assistants. Definitely worth a read.

Jeshua Anderson is still fast. He wasn't kidding when he said he was still working himself into track shape, as he won his second consecutive race and lowered his season best time in the process, again blowing away the field in the 400-meter hurdles at the UCLA Jackie Joyner-Kersee track meet. The next closest runner was more than two seconds behind.

Baseball is getting a reality check in Tempe. While the start to the Pac-10 season was nice, the Sun Devils continue to show the Cougs who is boss, pounding WSU 11-1 yesterday.

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Comments

I may be wrong on this

But I thought thecassino and others have said that if we let Thames out of his committment he can’t sign this year with another team in the same conference. So the ONLY way he’ll get to “compete” in the Pac 10 is on our team.

by johnnycougar on Apr 12, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions

I'm not sure about if you let him out of his letter of intent

But I know that with transfers they usually stipulate that you can’t transfer to another school in your conference. I don’t know if they could enforce it in any way if they were to release him though.

http://www.spartyandfriends.com/

by thecassino on Apr 12, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

ADs can put stipulations on things

But there are no hard and fast rules for any of this. All you need to do is look at Memphis, where the recruits who signed actually had an addendum to their LOI stipulating that if Calipari left, they were released.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, where I'm not sure about it is the difference between a transfer and letting someone out of a LOI

With a transfer, you control that player and if he wants to go to a rival school, the AD can not release the scholly and force him to sit for 2 years. With a LOI, it seems to me that since they can’t be recruited (legally) while they’re signed, they’d have to be released first, and then they’re pretty much free to do whatever they want.
That’s how I would understand it, and it makes sense to me that way. But as we all know, the NCAA is far from logical.

http://www.spartyandfriends.com/

by thecassino on Apr 12, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I read the Times article....

by Steve Kelley. The more I read about Coach Bone the more I realize how special a man he is and how fortunate we’re the place he landed in the Pac-10.

I’m sure glad OSU decided to go with Craig Robinson. I was listening to him being interviewed on a local sports radio station out of Portland. He’s definately not at his final coaching gig while I strongly believe Ken Bone is.

There’s a down-to-earth quality to Ken Bone that’s hard to deny. I think WSU is way better off with him at the helm than we were with Tony. I think the days of us all worrying about our coach leaving for greener pastures is over. I also think Ken Bone is a better coach for the type of talent we have. I can’t imagine why a kid like Xavier Thames or Brock Motum would hesitate to stay with their commits to become Cougs.

It’s all good stuff, except for the baseball team getting schooled by ASU. Nice thing about baseball is that the next game is usually just around the corner.

by SW WA Coug on Apr 12, 2009 11:41 AM PDT reply actions

Speaking of baseball ...

How ‘bout those M’s? :-)

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm watching them right now....

They could easily be 6-0 right now, or 5-1 if Morrow didn’t have that meltdown against Minnesota.

I’m impressed so far. Can’t wait to see what impact Ichiro will have. I still don’t think Silva or Batista would be in MLB if it were not for their rediculous contracts. Washburn impressed me his first outing. I hope they have a great season.

Go M’s!!!

by SW WA Coug on Apr 12, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Defense matters.

Think about it this way: Baseball is roughly 50 percent run scoring (the innings you hit) and 50 percent run prevention (the innings you’re in the field). Of the 50 percent of run scoring, 100 percent is up to the batter at the plate. Of the 50 percent of run prevention, not all of it is up to the pitcher — his defense plays a role. (Just look at Jarrod Washburn.)

What you get is basically this: 50 percent offense, 35 percent pitching, 15 percent defense. Which leaves you thinking …

Is it any wonder why teams that are completely built around pitching staffs with bad defenses and bad offenses (as the M’s were the last two years) fail miserably? You’re seeing the effect simply upgrading defense can have on a team. I think they’ve played some weak teams and taken advantage of it, but this start is certainly preferable to the alternative.

And back to defense for two seconds: How sick is it going to be with Chavez, Gutierrez and Ichiro in the same outfield? Nothing — and I mean nothing — is going to drop in that outfield. Everybody is going to think guys like Washburn are much better, but mostly it’s going to be the guys chasing down the balls.

OK, off topic thread over. I love baseball season.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

You make a really good point about defense....

I guess it was something I never really analyzed as in-depth as you have put it. But it is a totally logical thought process. I don’t think a few of the guys can continue on hitting as anemic as they have the first week. It’s early, those things even out in the long run.

My biggest gripe has probably more to do with off-the-field stuff, like keeping Armstrong and Lincoln around, not holding them as accountable as the GM’s and managers they keep around. Pisses me off that those two guys don’t get canned too for running the franchise into the ground.

I was fed up a few years ago when it was so obvious to me they were in over their head. I think they may have struck oil with JZ and DW this time around but it’s way too early to tell about that just yet. I really care about pro baseball in Seattle. It’s a shame what Mariner management has put their loyal fans through over the years.

by SW WA Coug on Apr 12, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

They made a terrible hire with Bavasi

But to their credit, they hired the right people this time and seem to be keeping out of it for the time being. It doesn’t undo the damage they did — we’ll be suffering the effects of Bedard, Washburn, Silva and Batista for years — but it’s better to get it right now than never. I at least have hope at this point.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope you're right....

Bavasi turned out to be one of the worst hires in the history of modern MLB. We won’t be rid of the effects of his signings for quite some time. Every time you think of the names you mentioned, Bavasi automatically comes to mind (and Sexson too).

I will give Lincoln and Armstrong a chance, although I still don’t think they deserve their positions. It is what it is.

Go M’s!!!

by SW WA Coug on Apr 13, 2009 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Actually, I think the ratio is more 90% mental

The other half is physical

by GoCougs on Apr 12, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow. Bone's been here less than a week. It's way to early to make statements about him settling in Pullman for his last gig. We all thought Tony would stay a little longer as well.

by cfred on Apr 12, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I was going to write a post to that effect

Seems a little overboard. That said, it wouldn’t shock me if it did happen. Of course, this assumes Bone’s teams are good …

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions

It's a gut feeling only....

Very premature probably to say something like that but I honestly think he will be in Pullman for many years to come. Thirteen sounds like a good number to me.

by SW WA Coug on Apr 12, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

BTW....

I’m still a Tony Bennett fan and hope he has tons of success at Virginia. I really like the guy.

The Cavaliers can worry every season if their beloved coach is going to bolt to another, higher profile program. If he has a ton of success there, it will be an issue every year.

Jim Moore said it best when he commented that somewhere down the road, Tony will realize what he had at WSU.

by SW WA Coug on Apr 12, 2009 11:47 AM PDT reply actions

Maybe so about Tony (realizing how special he had it at WSU)...

but I think that the fit for him is better culturally than it was at WSU…and I also think he’ll be very successful there.

Will he bolt for another school? I don’t know, but he’s still young and it wouldn’t surprise me to see that he’d want a change of scenery at some point. I think he’ll be there at least seven years though.

by westsidecougar1 on Apr 12, 2009 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow. He's been there less than a month. It's way to early to make predictions on how long he'll stay. People thought he'd be more loyal to WSU as well.

by cfred on Apr 12, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

ha

by johnnycougar on Apr 12, 2009 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions

But if we didn't make baseless predictions

What would we have to talk about on April 12?

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 12, 2009 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Ok you convinced me

Both Bone and Tony will remain at their current posistions for more than a decade.

Bone is a WA guy, he has the chance to compete at the highest level a WA guy can. LoRo isn’t going anywhere, and I don’t see Bone wanting the job now anyway. If it opened up first, he would have jumped, but it didn’t.
Tony, has always said he wants a chance to make it to the dance. He has that at UVA, none of us know what his professional dreams are. But he has a program with cash, a big time conf, and seems to like the small town setting. This could be all he ever wanted and it wouldn’t suprise me one bit.

and when it’s all said and done, both programs are happy with their hires.

and I’ll add Bone makes it to the dance first.

by woolybugger on Apr 12, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions

I guess it would be better to say I HOPE.....

Coach Bone is very successful at Wazzu and sticks around for a whole bunch of years.

Go Cougs!!! Hope everyone had a nice Easter.

by SW WA Coug on Apr 12, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions

Do you ever hear a coach at hist first press conference say:

“I like it here in Pullman, I don’t know if I want to be here for the rest of my career, though. You never know what schools may want my services.”???

Of course not! They all say they love it and this is where they want to be. I agree Bennett and Bone seem like they are the type to stay in their respective positions for longer than the average coach. However ‘seems like’ does not equal reality.

by peaty411s on Apr 12, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

I never thought Tony Bennett was in it for the long run....

I thought he was going to try to make a name for himself with some of the kids he brought in before he’d leave. Shows you how much I know.

Mike Price was the one that surprised me the most when he bolted. I hear what your saying.

I guess I won’t get my hopes up too much this time. After I towel off this bucket of ice water I’ll try to take a more realistic look at things in the future. I guess for every over-optimistic fan like myself there are others more grounded in logic and can see things for what they truly are.

by SW WA Coug on Apr 13, 2009 7:32 AM PDT reply actions