Posted on: Thursday, May 12, 2005

No dodging what's at stake here

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

When the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents voted to award an honorary degree to Tommy Lasorda recently a lot of people thought the timing couldn't have been more providential for the Rainbow baseball team.

Indeed, the plan was to present an honorary doctorate in humane letters to Lasorda on the pitcher's mound at Les Murakami Stadium during this week's series with Fresno State and, as long as the Hall of Fame manager was in the park, have him deliver a fiery pre-game oration to the 'Bows.

With the man who inspired the U.S. Olympic team to gold in 2000 at Sydney and led the Dodgers to two World Series titles, what could have been better for the final home series?

Unfortunately, a UH spokesman said, Lasorda's appearance on the mound, as well as his oratory, will have to come at a later, more mutually convenient, date.

Not that the Rainbows should lack for inspiration in the big three-game series that begins tonight. Not that UH, at this juncture, should really need to have its competitive fires stoked with references to "The Great Dodger in the Sky." Not here and not now.

Still in the Western Athletic Conference championship hunt, staring at their last shot at the postseason and precious little room for error, these Rainbows would seem to have plenty to play for. You'd think facing Fresno State, the only team to sweep a three-game series from them this season, should be inspiration enough.

They shouldn't need any pep talks or coach Mike Trapasso's tirades, especially with just nine games left and trailing first-place Rice by two games. Anybody who can't get up for this one should have his pulse checked.

But, then again, these are the Who Knows 'Bows, a team prone to such sudden and unpredictable ups and downs this year, you could get seasick looking at a graph of their season.

On one hand the 24-23 'Bows sweep Florida State and, then, turn around and blow a series against Louisiana Tech. They start the WAC 1-6 but when last seen April 30 heading into a week off and finals, were rolling along on a six-game win streak at 11-10 in the conference.

"This has been one of those years where you just don't know," Trapasso said. "Not only from one series to the next but from one day to the next. There's really no telling."

Which is one reason they could have really used Lasorda. "Last summer, with Team USA, we were in L.A. on the way to Taiwan and he spoke to our club," Trapasso said. "I mean, we were struggling and I credit him with really turning things around. We went out and won eight straight games after that."

This week, then, the 'Bows' future is firmly in their own hands to do with as they might. By Saturday night we'll know if that was such a good place.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.