Miami Batters Rutgers In Season Opener

Starting pitcher Chris Hernandez (seen here) was simply spectacular. 

New comers Scott Lawson and Harold Martinez were absolutely outstanding in their first game as Hurricanes. 

Lawson was on fire at the plate and had two doubles, a single and two RBI. 

Martinez, who has been watching the Canes baseball team since he was six years old and is living a dream come true to wear The U, told Miami Herald reporter Manny Navarro after the game that he had goose bumps during his first at bat.  

And then late in the game UM catcher Yasmani Grandal knocked it right out of the brand new ball park to seal the deal.

Yes, opening night at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field turned out to be a huge success!  When it was over, your Miami Hurricanes had beaten the Scarlett Knights by the score of 6-1. 

The first game victory sends the Canes off on another long journey to get back to the College World Series once again in 2009.  For this team, as with any UM squad, nothing short of competing for a National Championship will do. 

Every year the familiar chant of: "On to Omaha" rings loud and clear.  This year, in spite of a huge loss of major league talent, the samne rule still applies. 

After winning the ACC championship in 2008 in Jacksonville the Canes have high expectations to achieve lofty goals in 2009.  But with the loss of several first-round draft picks to MLB teams, the Canes will have their work cut out for them.  Experienced UM Head Coach Jim Morris know what lies ahead. A long hard road is between the Canes and their next ACC title. 

The Canes will close out a four game series with Rutgers with two games on Saturday and one on Sunday.  Bring out  your brooms!

Comments

[busy_cane]

First!

[busy_cane]

Second, third and fourth for that matter!

Congratulations to the Baseball team on winning the opener.

-cheers

[86Cane]

Busy knocks it outta da park!

[VaCanesFan]

These early season baseball games drive me nuts. I EXPECT us to be top 20 in baseball, and Rutgers is not exactly a powerhouse. Any win is good of course, but it doesn't portend the season. That is why football is different. If you lose to FAMU, or Charleston Southern, in football, it is dang near impossible to win a national championsip. You lose 1 of 3 to Rutgers, and its an embarassment and all, but it won't prevent you from going to Omaha.

Our true test in baseball is always Florida and Florida State. We sweep one or the other, and we got a good chance for Omaha. And recent history shows we do that more than not. So I know we need to play Rutgers but it is not NCAA time if we win. Now if we sweep FIU, FAU and either Florida or FSU, we in.

[HawaiiCane]

I'm making a statement... I want nothing else to do with Witchita, KS then we already have!

I like Arthur Brown, and hopes he becomes a great 'Cane.

The other Brown (dare not mention his name) doesn't really matter anymore. In my opinion, more trouble than worth.

Now, we're talking about a QB for next year. First question, is he tied to this Butler guy?

WHY WITCHITA? What do these players know about being a 'Cane? If we're saving money on flying to Tampa and Orlando, save the money on flying to Witchita and head over to Miami Central to pick up a QB! That city is rediculous.

[canesteeler]

UM pissed me off with the lack of seating last night at Mark Light. Site lines in the bleachers in left field are nonexistant because a big ass tree and right field line had no bleachers at all!

[canezilla]

fiu or fau??????????those sweeps wont get us in to anything

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Hawaii, FWIW, Steve Walsh was from some boondock city in Minnesota. Can't judge a QB by his location.

Go Canes hard-ballers!! This is just tune-up time. We're supposed to sweep Runtgers.

[canechic]

Hopefully the Basketball team wins today but I am not holding out much hope for the tourney!

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/um/story/914488.html

[pb(CSROH09)]

Anyone going to Spring Practice?

[canechic]

Cav I thought Gino was from Minnesota?

[DZ8]

Jim Kelly from Pennsylvania
Bernie Kosar from Ohio
Ken Dorsey from California
Steve Walsh from Minnesota

great track record for going outside the state

Guys the media can twist a lot of things around. If Shannon is fine with Bryce we should be as well.

[DZ8]

Torreta was born in Cali...

[DZ8]

Blake Bell, QB recruit from Kansas, has a lot of good things going for him. Would love to see us get him. The ones who love to compete will make it... those that don't won't.

My prediction on Bryces' career at The U is that it will parallel Jarret Paytons, except, when Bryce gets his chance ina couple or three years. He will have the break away speed to explode and impress. We'll see.

[canechic]

oh yeah I think he was drafted to Minnesota, sorry my old brain fails me now and again!

Go Canes!

[DZ8]

Six

The first thing I said when I heard Gruden was fired was, "great, now I have to put up with him on the NFL Network."

Anybody see him rudely interrupt Mike Singletary yesterday?

The one thing I still hold against Ricky Williams is that if he would've "retired" before the draft back when... Miami could've picked Steven Jackson. It would've been great to see Jackson in a Miami Dolphins uniform sporting #39. ala Larry Csonka.

Then again Miami had the genius duo of Spielman and Wanstead and would've never taken him. (They traded a fourth round pick to move up one spot, ONE SPOT!, and took Vernon Carey with that pick.)

[DZ8]

Never apologize canechic

[Canez1]

Spring practice schedule

Only 2 practices open to fans - March 12, 6:30 p.m. at Traz Powell and March 28 Spring Game at Lockhart Stadium

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Canez1]

I have a question for all you Marlin "fans"

Obviously you did not grow up a Marlin fan. Question is what did you do to the team you grew up rooting for? Did you just jump ship for a team closer to you? Thats str8 garbage if you ask me.

A team can build a stadium in my fukkin backyard tomorrow and I would never ever drop my Canez for them. Would I watch a game here and there, probably.

Not hating, just curious how this all works out. I just don't get it.

Same goes for any recent expansion team.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[USAFCane]

I saw some post on moving M.Robinson to LB. Why he going to be an absolute stud at DE, first round talent. He'll be plain scary on 2010.

I look at who we have and I see a D that will potentially dominate.

[DZ8]

I agree USAFCane

A little worried about depth at LB, CB.
We are unproven at safety but the sky is the limit at all three levels.

[MaryLouAlumni]

Best of luck today to the Canes BB team. Maybe they will win, since I'm not going to be home to listen to it. (wedding shower to go to). GO CANES

[shwarma]

Anyone have any good insight from any of the Canesport articles been posted?

[Six]

DZ8 - well, at least the Fins got Carey .. the Bucs got a guy who had one good year and has had less than mediocre ever since then.

Clayton looks good in a uniform and that's about it. He can throw some blocks downfield, but, the guy was a 1st Round pick - he ABSOLUTELY has to do more than something a 4th or 5th Rounder can do. Maybe the new offense under Jagodzinski will help him out, but it's up to Luke McCown who will be the starter in Tampa ... the Bucs gave him a $2.5 Mill signing and $2.5 Mill base.

And ya, I sat and watched while shaking my head when Chucky Freckles stepped on others during the broadcast. Maybe that's his style, I dunno, every on-air talent is different .. but then again, everyone should know manners when speaking in a forum like that. When people just start talking over each other, it sounds like a damn hen house of noise with everyone just clucking away .. kinda like on that show, "The View". 4 or 5 windbagged chickens just clucking away, making nothing but irritating noise, all at once.

[canechic]

canez 1, it was pretty exciting when the Marlins came to town. I jumped right on but I did not grow up liking baseball and did not have a team I rooted for or against. My Dad hated baseball and golf so our family really never watched. In fact I do not believe I watched a World Series before the Marlins. I did however always like college and high school baseball! Always liked going to the games!

Let me tell you one thing if Manny Diaz uses stimulus money for that stadium, I will get my picket sign out of the closet and spend some days in front of the construction. I will send letters to the White House, Charlie Crist, Bill Nelson, Mel Martinez and anyone else who will listen!!!! WASTE OF MONEY! I do not care if the Marlins want to spend their money to build a staduim but not the taxpayers money! No one is even going to the games and the long term jobs associated with a stadium are garbage. Remember the MIAMI ARENA, had to have that and now it has been torn down, shameful waste!

[canechic]

canez 1, it was pretty exciting when the Marlins came to town. I jumped right on but I did not grow up liking baseball and did not have a team I rooted for or against. My Dad hated baseball and golf so our family really never watched. In fact I do not believe I watched a World Series before the Marlins. I did however always like college and high school baseball! Always liked going to the games!

Let me tell you one thing if Manny Diaz uses stimulus money for that stadium, I will get my picket sign out of the closet and spend some days in front of the construction. I will send letters to the White House, Charlie Crist, Bill Nelson, Mel Martinez and anyone else who will listen!!!! WASTE OF MONEY! I do not care if the Marlins want to spend their money to build a staduim but not the taxpayers money! No one is even going to the games and the long term jobs associated with a stadium are garbage. Remember the MIAMI ARENA, had to have that and now it has been torn down, shameful waste!

[Six]

CONGRATS to Xavier Shannon, Brandon Harris and Laron Byrd - making the 2008 All-ACC Academic Football Team.

Here's the breakdown:

Maryland - 8 players
Clemson - 5 players
Boston College - 4 players
Georgia Tech - 4 players
Florida State - 4 players (is that with cheating on computer exams?)
Miami - 3 players
Virginia Tech - 3 players
Duke - 3 players
Wake Forest - 2 players
NC State - 2 players
North Carolina - 1 player
Virginia - 1 player

"Yeah! Crabcakes and Football. That's what Maryland does!"

- Wedding Crashers

Hate to say it but ...

Welcome to the NIT, Miami Canes basketball.

[canechic]

Sorry for the double post typepad, ugh!!

[DZ8]

I remember Clayton at LSU and thought he was going to make a much better pro than he has.

[DZ8]

Apologizing again canechic?

[Cane Since 1982]

VEGAS:

Miami by 7

O/U 142 1/2

Got to win this one

[Cane Since 1982]

Sorry O/U is 146 1/2

[canechic]

Sorry DZ8, LOL!!! :)

[Canez1]

CC I think alot of people did the same thing you did.

I think they are more casual fans.

I have never been a baseball fan either.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[dj moonbat]

"A little worried about depth at LB, CB.
We are unproven at safety but the sky is the limit at all three levels."

There is only one--ONE--position where we have no worries. That is WR.

Presumably, RB will improve to that level. But JJ has to show that he can play more than three consecutive games, and Cooper has to run as fast as every announcer seems to think he is, instead of the same exact speed as JJ, but with less muscle. Or Chambers or one of the frosh needs to give us some explosiveness. Five yards and a cloud of dust, interspersed with getting caught behind the line o' scrimmage isn't cutting it.

Everywhere else, this team is still suspect.

The O-Line, well, just needs to be much better.

Jacory Harris has shown the "It" factor at times, but you can't win big games on fumbles and picks--and he's had them at some bad, bad times.

We don't even HAVE a tight end to speak of. Gordon? Yeah, whatever.

The D has got guys who we all think SHOULD be real ballers, but the only proven commodities on D are Forston and Spence. That's not going to cut it. Guys have to step up.

Brandon Harris is talented, but still looked raw out there. DVD got WORSE in his sophomore year.

Nobody even knows who are the starting safeties or the likely starting three linebackers.

Naturally, then, I'm optimistic. Can't help it.

[Cane Since 1982]

Tip off

[SOUP]

Big day for sports in Coral Gables.

Basketball: Um vs BC at noon.

Baseball: UM vs Rutgers double header at 4 PM and 7 PM.

GO CANES!!!

[Cane Since 1982]

5-0 Canes 18:00 James Dews hit the first 3

[SOUP]

1982...U GOT THIS?

[Cane Since 1982]

10-5 Canes 16:00 Dews with 2 threes

[Cane Since 1982]

Timeout: Miami has 10 points and none of them are from Jack McClinton (I didnt know that was possible). Miami is spreading the ball well and actualy passing the ball inside right now (its an amazing thing). BC has decent ball action on O as well but they are missing a decent amount of shots. All of their shots are being contested. Miamis zone D looks to be doing it again for the early part of this game.

[Cane Since 1982]

Well Jack said F that. I want a 3 too.

13-5 Canes 15:13

[Cane Since 1982]

and again from Jack

16-5

[Cane Since 1982]

Jack just became the ALL TIME 3 POINT LEADER at the U. and he took that 3 point shot from the U in the middle of the court.

[Cane Since 1982]

Asburry 3

19-5 Canes 13:20

[Six]

Canes baseball just needs to take care of business IN Conference. We expect them to win against the Mount St. Marys, St. Josephs, Pittsburghs, North Floridas, Florida Gulf Coasts, Bethune Cookmans, Rhode Islands .. and they better damn well beat Ohio State on March 24th.

Can you imagine losing to Ohio State in BASEBALL? That's beyond unacceptable.

The 3 games against UiF, up in their dump next weekend will be interesting. Kevin O'Sullivan did a great job last year, in his first year there, turning the Crocs around. The guy knows his stuff, coming to them from a lot of years spent at Clemson and also coaching in the Cape Cod League and with the Twins Rookie ball. He'll be dangerous up there in the years to come.

When the basically back-to-back series in Gables against GTech and Florida State happen in the last week of March/first week of April - we'll see a true test of Canes baseball for this year.

Can't wait for those piece of garbage Noles and their crybaby head coach with his douchelicking son ass-istant coach, come down to Gables. See if they cry once again about playing a Sunday game if it might be shortened due to the curfew rule, that BOTH COACHES agree to. At least down in Gables, the fans won't be throwing trash and other things at the Cane players while they go to the dugout, spitting on them and yelling at them to "Go back to Cuba" - among other things that weren't so nice.

I will never forget last year when Miami took 2 of 3, up in Tally, in a HUGE series. I will also never forget the Noles going home, once again, earlier than the Canes do during post-season play.

Canes have to play AT the Dirty Feets up in Chapel Hill for a 3 gamer in the middle of April. That will be a fist fight.

Tall order ahead, but this is Miami Canes baseball. Hopefully they stop trying to go yard on every damn pitch this year - can't just live or die with the long ball.

Win each pitch and you'll win the game. It's simple.

[Cane Since 1982]

22-8 Canes 12:11 Jacks making people look foolish.

[Cane Since 1982]

24-8 Canes 10:00 BC is looking bad. Miami not doing anything special but they are making them look bad.

[DZ8]

Proven players on defense IMO:

Forston, Robinson, Moncur, Bailey, Ojomo, Wesley, Joseph

McCarthy, Spence

Harris

Guys with potential who should step up this year:

Regis, Lewis

Brown, Futch, Buchanon

Telemaque, DVD

[Six]

Wait, you guys aren't watching the women's South Carolina Upstate at Campbell game?