Trapasso answers readers' questions in live chat
This is a transcript from a live chat with UH baseball coach Mike Trapasso. The chat was 7-8 p.m. today.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Welcome to our live chat with UH baseball coach Mike Trapasso. My name is Stacy Kaneshiro. Please whisper your questions to me. Our guest will now make an opening statement.
Advertiser library photo • June 6, 2001
Mike Trapasso: It's great to be here tonight. I look forward to answering your questions.
Mike Trapasso answered questions for more than an hour tonight.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Sulley09 asks:Just wanted to know...how many years do you predict it will take for UH to be able to contend for a conference championship?
Mike Trapasso: That seems to be the important question. I would like to think that a team that is full of our recruits would put us in line to give it a shot. That obviously means about 3 years or so.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Sulley09 asks:Just wanted to know...how many years do you predict it will take for UH to be able to contend for a conference championship, a
Stacy Kaneshiro: Sulley09 asks:Where in the nation, do you feel that the power of NCAA baseball is...East, South, West?
Mike Trapasso: The past 10 years have belonged to the SEC. With LSU winning 5 National Championships.
Stacy Kaneshiro: How do you feel about baseball in the WAC?
Mike Trapasso: Although I haven't been through a year in the WAC yet, I am very familiar with teams like Rice and Fresno. Baseball in the WAC is very solid. In fact, the WAC has produced 3 College World Series teams in the 90's, so I'd say it is very competitve.
Stacy Kaneshiro: How many NCAA berths do you feel the WAC might get this season?
Mike Trapasso: Great question. I could talk about that for a whole evening. The problem with our league is we only have 6 teams. And even worse, the NCAA Baseball Committee has only 1 representative from the west coast. So 2 is probably the best we could expect, although we will probably deserve 3
Stacy Kaneshiro: Sulley09 asks:Will LSU be as strong with its coach retiring and its BLAST system?
Mike Trapasso: It's hard to predict. Skip Bertman, their longtime coach, was the most successfull coach of the modern era. He's the best motivator college baseball has ever seen. The players are still there and Smoke Laval, the new coach is very good.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks:Do you handle the scheduling and,if so, who would you like to play in the future?
Mike Trapasso: I do handle the scheduling. In 2003 we have games with Tennessee, Wichita St., Arkansas, UCLA and Cal Northridge. In '04 we have tentatively scheduled Texas, Florida, Florida International and I am currently talking to Stanford
Stacy Kaneshiro: Sulley09 asks: Any new names this year that we should be watching in the UH lineup?
Mike Trapasso: Yes. Brent Cook at 3B. Freshman RHP Ricky Bauer and Jason Piepmeier.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: What type of repairs are needed for the stadium and how much will they cost?
Mike Trapasso: Freshman 2B Danny Mocny and hopefully, JC transfer RHP Chris George
Mike Trapasso: I do think we need a number of stadium items tweaked. The seating has to be addressed. And the underneath areas (weight room and coaches offices ) need attention.
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: How did you get your pitching philosophy of having your pitchers induce the batter to hit within the first three pitches?
Mike Trapasso: Over the years it's been something I has learned to believe in. Kevin Brown first introduced it to me. As for our pitchers: it's easier said than done, but they are trying to focus on forcing contact early in counts, and keeping the ball down at all cost.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: What's your assessment of football player Jeff Rhode as a baseball player?
Mike Trapasso: Very exciting. We were able to see him on the mound for the first time last night and I think he's going to be a very good college pitcher. He also hits from the left side and competes. I think he's raw, but will be a two way threat in the next year or
Stacy Kaneshiro: Glasscandle asks: How much technical instruction do you, as pitching coach, give to the pitchers. (as far as arm angle delivery, etc.)
Mike Trapasso: I think that early in every pitchers career, technical/mechanics are what you spend the most time on. And they always remain important.
Mike Trapasso: After that, philosophy plays a more vital role
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: UH has had a history of pitchers with arm injuries. What do you do differently?
Mike Trapasso: I don't know what we do differently, since I don't know what they did in the past. But it is imperitive to me that we develope the arm with strengthening routines, make sure they have proper mechanics, and then monitor pitch counts.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: What are your plans for the booster club?
Mike Trapasso: The Kini Popo club had to dispand in an effort to move all booster clubs under the UH Athletics umbrella. We do have plans to start a new booster club, with the same name or only slightly different, in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned.
Mike Trapasso: It appears we're having some technical difficulties at the Advertiser. Please stay tuned.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Champadoo asks: What's your prediction for the season?
Mike Trapasso: I think that in this first year, we can only predict that we will play hard and attempted to play sound, fundamental defense. If we do those things, the talent will then dictate the rest. I do think this is a great group of young men and they have the ability to over-achieve.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: Is this job a stepping stone, or do you envision spending a long career here?
Mike Trapasso: I don't think UH is a stepping stone job in any of our sports. The key is having the things available to win. Those things are available here, I think. So my plans are to be here a while. Unless I'm asked to leave!!
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: Do you prefer the name Rainbows or Warriors?
Mike Trapasso: Well — Coach Les liked Rainbows. And before we changed the name of the stadium to Les
Stacy Kaneshiro: Baseball14: How do you feel about recruiting calls from former players of the UH team?
Mike Trapasso: Murakami Stadium, it was Rainbow Stadium. So for now, we'll stay the 'bows
Mike Trapasso: I think recruiting calls from anywhere have to be followed up on. But when they come from a former 'Bow, they should be taken very seriously. The former players know what it takes to win here, so we need to listen.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jaskcon asks: Aside from Hawaii, which area do you have the strongest recruiting ties?
Mike Trapasso: I spent the last 10 years recruiting the entire mainland, but focused primarily on the East Coast. However, we'll focus mainly on the west coast when it comes to recruiting the mainland.
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: Did coach Murakami give you any advice?
Mike Trapasso: Yes. He said to be humble and be a man of my word. That was great advice, and fortunately for me, words I have always tried to live by.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: What will be your role during games? Third base coach? Pitching coach?
Mike Trapasso: I will coach 3rd base, and try to be involved in all other aspects as well. Josh Sorge will be our hitting coach. Chad Konishi our pitching coach. And Keith Komeiji our 1st base coach and outfielders.
Stacy Kaneshiro: On that note, who will got out to the mound when a pitcher is struggling and who will make the call to the bullpen - you or the pitching coach, Chad Konishi?
Mike Trapasso: I will make the changes. Myself and Chad will take trips for pitching advice when a change is not made.
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: Is your future goal with this team to stay in the WAC or if you gain success, would you like to move to the PAC-10?
Mike Trapasso: Well-- the PAC would be the ultimate goal. But for now we're in the WAC, so we'll try and focus on winning it first. Besides, any change in conference affiliation will be dictated by football, so I will defer to whatever Coach Jones thinks is best.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Who are pro prospects on this year's team?
Mike Trapasso: Gregg Omori will play at the next level. Brian Lee has the ability, though he may need another year as a starter. And Brian Bock could get a shot.
Stacy Kaneshiro: jon3348 asks: Who is the No. 1 starter and what is the expected rotation?
Mike Trapasso: Right now Lee will start the first game. Chris George could be a weekend rotation guy. Ricky Bauer will get plenty of innings. Sean Yamashita will be very important as a "trouble shooter" (starting and relief). Ryan Yamamoto has been throwing well.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Jackson asks: What will the uniforms look like?
Mike Trapasso: Also , in the pitching area, Jason Piepmeier has a chance to pitch alot.
Mike Trapasso: We have a new Rawlings contract this year and they have supplied us with 3 new sets. The first set will be our home whites. They resemble the Detroit Tigers home uniforms, but instead of the D of course, ours will have our H logo.
Mike Trapasso: The road greys resemble the Dodger greys with the Hawaii name across the chest in the Topa font. And we also have a black BP top that is mesh and has the H logo on the left chest.
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: Will the starting pitcher pitch the whole game, or will you have a starter, set-up man and closer?
Mike Trapasso: Pitch count will determine that. If we can go 9 innings and stay around 110-120 pitches we'll have a CG. Otherwise, the bullpen will have to answer the call.
Stacy Kaneshiro: sportseeker asks: Do feel the team is stronger defensively or offensively?
Mike Trapasso: Good question. We are trying to become a team that's identity is that of a strong defensive club. That's our #1 focus so I would hope that we will not give up extra outs and would be better defensively early on.
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: Are you superstitious? Do you do anything unusual on the field?
Mike Trapasso: I am. It's imperative not to step on the foul line. Other than that, the superstitions are based on performance. If we're winning in a certain uniform, we may just have to ride it untill it's luck runs out!!
Stacy Kaneshiro: Will you ever schedule your former employer, Georgia Tech?
Mike Trapasso: I would like to. Although I may have to wait 3 years or so. The last class I recruited there (the freshman class there now) is very talented. So I may have to wait until those guys graduate!
Stacy Kaneshiro: What do you think of Cal-Irvine, being this is its first year back in competition since '91?
Mike Trapasso: Don't be lured into thinking that they'll be weak because it's their first year. They have a tremendous coach in John Savage. They had a Great recruiting year the last 2 years, and they're located in an absolute hotbed for baseball talent at the high sc
Mike Trapasso: school level. They'll be very competitive right away.
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: Would hitting coach Josh Sorge have been your replacement at Georgia Tech if you didn't bring him along?
Mike Trapasso: Quite possibly. I was the pitching coach, but Danny Hall hired a new hitting coach also, and would have been very interested had I not grabbed him first.
Stacy Kaneshiro: We have time for one or two questions before we wrap up.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Did you apply for the Cal-Irvine job?
Mike Trapasso: no
Stacy Kaneshiro: dms asks: Somewhere down the line, would you consider a current high school coach like Dunn Muramaru or Dean Sato to become an assistant?
Mike Trapasso: I think it's wise to look everywhere for talented assistants. In fact, our volunteer coach right now is a former high school coach, Keith Komeiji. And Keith is a tremendous coaching talent who could coach anywhere.
Stacy Kaneshiro: sportseeker asks: What team are you most excited to play?
Mike Trapasso: I think Florida State. It's a program I'm familiar with. They're ranked 2 in the country. And Mike Martin is a coach I have more respect for than most any coach in the country. I would like us at UH to emulate that program more than any other in colleg
Stacy Kaneshiro: The coach loves this. He'll field a few more quesitons.
Stacy Kaneshiro: jackson asks: Do you attend other UH sporting events?
Mike Trapasso: I sure do. I went to the home football games -- go Warriors and the Wahine volleyball games. I've also been to most basketball games. What a great year for UH athletics. I only hope we can do our part to hold up the great season everyone else has had.
Stacy Kaneshiro: jackson asks: Will you schedule more road games?
Mike Trapasso: I would like to travel to the mainland for one series before conference opens. But sometimes that gets hard. Giving up the gate and a great, LOUD Murakami Stadium crowd is hard to pass up.
Stacy Kaneshiro: Well, that's about it. The coach will have a closing statement.
Mike Trapasso: Thanks to everyone for joining us tonight. Let's do it again soon. And don't forget to come out to "The Les" on Jan. 30 and beyond, to root for these kids. Take care, God bless, and good night everyone!!!!!
Stacy Kaneshiro: Thank you, coach Trapasso. A transcript of this live chat will posted on the site later this evening. Good night.
