BASEBALL

USC Baseball Loses Key Player To Portal

Just when you fell in love with USC baseball, some depressing news.

Catcher Augie Lopez, who led the Trojans in home runs (19) and was second in RBI (57), has entered the transfer portal.

I guess this means USC is not prepared to be a player in NIL for baseball.

The nice thing about USC is it fielded a team of overchievers, so it looked like the team would basically be intact next season.

But Lopez’s departure would be a blow, unless Jen Cohen plans to let Andy Stankiewicz go after some high-profile transfers.

21 thoughts on “USC Baseball Loses Key Player To Portal”

  3. I doubt that Jen Cohen spends much NIL on baseball. The sport doesn’t generate revenue. That is likely why she let Riley destroy the baseball stadium to build an unnecessary football facility. She really doesn’t care about the sport.

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  4. –And yet the 3rd game between SC and North Carolina had a record 1.7 million viewers at the game’s peak, so baseball must generate some money

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      1. That’s easy:

        A selfish narcissist like Sybil would say Pitcher of Year.

        An unselfish team player like me would say College World Series.

        #PeopleLikeMeGoToHeaven……

        #…WhileSybilWillBurnForeverInHell

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  5. KAM: Is it worse to lose a star player in baseball or football?

    DON: –Another harmless but trick question, I’d say ‘baseball’ because they have fewer players than football

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    1. It’s all about the money now in college sports. USC is doing better with NIL especially in football and basketball, but we are still not in the top ten for total NIL. Texas A & M spends the most. Each of our sports needs well healed boosters in order to compete for the best players and hence for championships. It isn’t just about coaching and legacy any longer. Tradition with no money will not win championships. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  6. KAM: Who do you think is more important to a team, the players or the coach?

    DON: I understand that Coach John Wooden used to give sage advice to aka Lew Alcindor, ‘Lew, just go out there and do your thing’

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    1. Those great UCLA teams had players who knew their roles. “Throw the ball to Walton. If he is double teamed, throw it to Wilkes.”

      But, coaching obviously matters. I think Patrick Ewing with that tremendous Georgetown team only won a single championship. Same with North Carolina with James Worthy, Sam Perkins, and Michael Jordan. But Duke won multiple championships with Christian Laetner and Bobby Hurley. They beat a UNLV team with superior talent.

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    2. Sparrow — Helton tried the old “just go out there and do your thing” with Max Browne before the Alabama game.

      #ItMattersWhoYouSayItTo

      #[MaxTurnedOutToBeAFirstRatePodcaster,Though]!

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  7. DON:: I saw that in Mexico City the local team scored first, and some of the fans celebrated by throwing beer in the air

    KAM: Wouldn’t you like to be sitting next to him-

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  8. wolfman, word on the street is Lopez is coming to the Bruins….we don’t got no extra NIL cash but we promised him a shopping bag full of UCLA swag, hoodies, hats, pens, key chains, mouse pad, Bruin can Koozies, stickers and vouchers for Panda Express and Kerckoff Coffee Hoiuse!!

    #AndAbilityToStrollOffCampusWithoutArmedEscorts

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  9. KAM: When rooting for one of your favorite teams do you root harder for offense than defense?

    DON: Generally yes but it depends on how the game is unfolding. Offense results in points whereas defense just keeps the score the same

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