In the age of homeruns and strike outs, the Miami Hurricanes baseball team is doing things the old school way. This is the baseball your dad grew up loving.

The success we’ve seen this season has centered around two main things: pitching and timely hitting. The Canes rank in the top half of
the ACC in runs, hits, batting average and on-base %, but rank in the bottom half in home runs (49) and slugging %. Canes have been getting runs the old school way, stringing together hits and keeping rallies going with timely hits. (Would love to add stats for two-out hitting but can’t find any on google).

As great as the offense has been, the pitching has been nails. The staff as a whole boasts a 4.29 ERA (6th in ACC), has accumulated 448 strike outs (2nd in ACC), and a .229 batting average against (3rd in ACC). Anchored by the weekend rotation, the Canes hurlers have been able to be dominant at times and keep games close and shut the door late in games (Closer Andrew Walters has 12 saves with a 0.38 ERA with 47 strike outs in 23.2 IP).

This has been an exciting team to watch. They play a really fun brand of baseball are poised for a potential nice summer run!

Jaden Rashada is a silky smooth gunslinger from Pittsburg, California. Weighing in at 185 pounds and listed at 6’4″, Rashada has plenty of room to fill the frame. Rashada compiled impressive 21-22 season stats during his Junior campaign at Pittsburg High School. 2220 via the air, 27 touchdowns vs. only 5 interceptions.

Arm Strength: Plenty of arm strength to factor well in the vertical passing game. Very adept to hit the seam ball and get playmakers the ball in traffic. Mechanically he posses arm stroke repeatability and shows arm adaptability that factors well in the RPO game. Has touch to fit the ball over a defender and then can hit that extra gear while throwing with intent.

Arm Accuracy: Holds a career .574 accuracy rating which can be offset by vertical passing attack features of the offense. Very rhythmic passer who can deliver the ball on time when the parameters of the play are in sync. Shows an ability to be accurate when flushed from the pocket and on alt platform throws. Has the arm confidence to fit the ball in tight windows.

Mobility: Offensive coordinator is not shy about rolling him in the pocket. A pass first mindset however the recruit shows that he’s zone read capable and beyond in the run game. You can develop quarterback run plays with great efficacy and he can chunk up a defense if the play breaks down.

Pocket Game: Has good sense when to hold them and when to fold them. His pocket presence and escape-ability is one of the strongest traits he displays on film. Stands tough in the pocket and lets the play develop and conversely can elongate the play and make something happen on the fly. Can be very dangerous in the passing game when the play breaks down.

Rashada is obviously a quarterback one and shares the same quarterback coach as Tennessee commit Nico Iamaleava. Rashada is a pro. I love the way he commands the game and has this innate calmness about him. The game isn’t hectic or going too fast and his ability to process the field and own it is evident.

His HUDL Highlight clip of the night was watching a blitz come through, eluding a couple defenders, elongating the play horizontally and then placing a perfect touch pass over the top. That quantified the term “playmaker” perfectly. A 4.90 Orange Recruit. This is a take. A big one.

Wild wild west. That is what some pundits call it. The correct term is Name Image and Likeness. The face of of college football has been cosmetically altered with the infusion of big dollar deals. If you are a fan of college kids being compensated it is a chiseled masterpiece. If you think it ruins college football, it is a black eye.

Regardless of stance, the landscape has forever changed. A 2023 Miami targeted high school prospect Nico Iamaleava is an 18 year old five star recruit from Downey, California. Iamaleava made headlines recently when he committed to the Tennessee Volunteers. A portion of an Athletic report which could be read above the website’s paywall details Iamaleava signed with a “school’s NIL collective.” The article does not name the prospect or the affiliated collective.

From Stewart Mandel:On Friday, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023 signed an agreement with a school’s NIL collective that could pay him more than $8 million by the end of his junior year of college, The Athletic has learned. He’ll be paid $350,000 almost immediately, followed by monthly payouts escalating to more than $2 million per year once he begins his college career, in exchange for making public appearances and taking part in social media promotions and other NIL activities “on behalf of (the collective) or a third party.”

Miami is in the game. The Hurricanes were very proactive in recognizing the benefits of a major metropolitan city with diverse business opportunities and the abundance of them. What the University of Miami might lack in alumni base, it far more makes up in the NIL market with its collective ingenuity and keen business sense.

John Ruiz is on the forefront. Ruiz is an attorney who’s net worth is valued in the billions. The revenue forecasts laid out in SEC forms project that MSP Recovery, his special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), will earn $3.1 billion in revenue by 2023 and $23.8 billion by 2026. If those projections hit, MSP Recovery will rake in more money annually than the world’s largest law firm by gross revenue.

The Ruiz team is a very active social media force and the endeavor is absolutely intentional. Rivals have taken notice. Envy is a root in the human soul that blooms the beautiful petals of jealousy. Personally what I think is missed in translation by most is the simplistic nature of the actual conversation.

The more you talk about it, the more you mention NIL, the more you realize the social media envy is an actual fuel source that provides tangible real value. The business savvy side of John Ruiz cannot be undersold. His consumer product Life Wallet, a medical information records data base platform which allows accessibility to first responders, is reaping the benefits of exponential exposure.

The Miami Hurricane athlete benefits, the consumer product that is attached to them benefits. It is a win win for all parties involved. The messaging is what naysayers are balking at. But let’s get this straight, apparently some don’t like bravado infused confidence with the in your face nature of a couple tweets announcing NIL partnerships. They didn’t like Michael Irvin dancing down the sideline either.

As April comes to a close , Canes baseball is heading into the later end of conference play in good shape. Sitting at 29-8 ( 14-4 ACC) the Canes have had a few pleasant surprises contribute to this start.

First player that stands out is Carson Palmquist. The left hander has transitioned from closer to Friday night starter as best as could’ve been expected. He’s 6-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 9 starts and has held batters to a .236 BAA in 45.2 IP.

The Second player that has had a good season so far is SS Dominic Pitelli. Always known for his defense, the sophomore really has come on
from the offensive side. He is hitting .308 with 6 home runs and 36 runs batted in along with a .833 OPS. As the Canes move toward conference tournament play, the continued production from their SS is going to be key.

The final player who I think has had a major impact, is closer Andrew Walters. The Sophomore was tasked with replacing Palmquist in the closer role and hasn’t missed a beat. Through 16 appearances , he has 12 saves and a 0.00 ERA while limiting opponents to a .071 BAA . He also has 41 K’s in 21 and 2/3 Innings. If Walters can continue to slam the door shut in the 9th, Miami a chance to make a deep run come June.

Thank you for reading. ( maybe plug Max’s minute here , if applicable)

In the past, losing four significant players from your lineup due to attrition would mean you are in a rebuilding phase. In 2022 it just means you hit the transfer portal and get the experience you need. That’s exactly what Katie Meier did when she secured the Cavinder Twins to join the basketball team for the 2022 season. After spending the last three seasons at Fresno State, the sisters and social media stars will be spending their senior seasons in Coral Gables. Haley and Hanna are both 5 foot 6 guards who combined to average 34 points per game over their careers.

In addition to quality guard play, the two sisters also bring a huge social media presence to the program with close to five million followers across Instagram and TikTok. The Cavinders instantly became stars of the NIL era as soon as it became real. Boost Mobile signed them immediately and they were followed by Champs Sports, Eastbay and apparel company PSD. Some estimates have said that their deals are already worth in excess of $1 million a year. Coming to Miami should help raise that number nicely.

Back on the court, Haley is the more accomplished of the twins as she was named Mountain West Player of the Year as a sophomore and was All-Conference as a freshman and junior. Hanna was All-Conference as a freshman and has at least 100 assists and 50 steals in each of her three seasons.

The Cavinders are from Arizona, but the sisters’ father, Tom Cavinder, has a SFL connection as he played at Nova Southeastern University from 1992 through 1994.

The University of Miami and post season baseball have long been synanomus. However the past 6 years have been a drought in terms of making a trip to Omaha, the promise land of college baseball. Here are the keys to a return to post season glory .

One, keep up with the timely hitting . In years past when the pressure has risen , the Canes have more often than not , collapsed under pressure. This year however they are clutch with two out hitting.

Two, the bridge to the closer. This year the hurricanes middle relief has been consistent in successfully getting the ball from the starters to the closer Andrew Walters. Come post season , good pitching can be the difference.

Three, getting hot at the right time. As cliche as it sounds , baseball is a game of what have you done for me lately. Getting off to a hot start means nothing , come June. If Canes can get hot in Charlotte , and secure hosting a regional bid, could go along way in setting the tone for the post-season and some Mark Light Magic.

Katie Meier signs contract extension through 2026-27

One of the most important aspects of running any successful business, is being able to keep the talent you already have on your team. The University of Miami did that today by extending the contract of Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Katie Meier, through the 2026 season. Meier has been with the Hurricanes since 2005 and in that time has led the program to it’s highest of highs. In fact, the Canes have only endured 3 losing season under Meier, the last of which came back in the 2008 season. Her 324 wins are the most in school history.

Some other notable stats/accolades for Coach Meier
25 – professional players
12 – postseason berths
10 – 20-win seasons
6 – All-America honorees
5 – WNBA draft picks
1 – AP National Coach of the Year (2011)

As a player Meier was a decorated standout at ACC foe Duke University. A four-year letter winner for the Blue Devils from 1986-90, Meier’s name is peppered throughout the Duke record books. She currently sits among the school’s all-time career leaders in scoring average (16.2 points per game) and steals (232). The Miami head lady is also listed among Duke’s leaders in career points (1,761), field goals made (653),assists (409) and rebounding average (6.1 rebounds per game). The woman could play. The woman can also coach.

Some turbulent weather however sought shelter and there was talk about Meier’s future during the offseason, and rightfully so. After 10
consecutive seasons of enjoying a post-season berth, the Lady Canes had been shut out of tournament play the last two years. Whether or not Coach Meier heard that chatter or not, she certainly had her team ready from the jump in 21-22. The Lady Canes completed a successful U-Turn under Meyer’s guidance who led them dancing to the round of 32 before ultimately falling short to South Carolina 49-33.

I look forward to seeing the Lady Canes progress over the next few years and hopefully snap up a Sweet Sixteen berth or more before Coach Meier hangs up her whistle!

I apologize. This was never my intention.

Here’s what happened. One day in 2017, an email was sent out companywide containing a new marching order. The command was simple. Everyone had to start a podcast! My response? Great, less PS4 time! (F**k) Right off the bat I made the educated guess that a total, in-depth ‘stoner’ pod wouldn’t be deemed acceptable to the local ‘executive team’ of the Brobdingnagian media company I worked for. So, I got to thinking…

A long time ago, during the start of 94.9 Zeta’s terminal illness, (RIP old friend) there was a recurring conversation I had with two buddies. Why don’t I go to management and see if they’ll let the three of us do a Saturday morning Canes pre-game show on their waste of space sports talk station. I mean, no one listened to the piped in satellite shows they aired. There was nothing local on it. Besides, we were going to do it for free, just to have some fun. Their response…nope! And you wonder why local radio is a deceased rotting corpse.

All these years later, why not reignite that flame? So, I called them…the three of us were in a studio within a few days and knocked out episode #1 from the Big 105.9 studio. The Canes were about to kickoff the season against LSU at Jerry’s World and we were very confident that LSU wasn’t very good. At that time, there were only a few Miami Hurricanes podcasts out there, as a result, #1 got some legs under it and, well, here we are today, launching a website that we have grand plans for. 

Excited? Of course. Terrified? Absolutely.

The OBB standard is greatness. Launching a website that has to meet that standard on a daily basis is a daunting task, but I know the three of us along with the amazing group of individuals we’ve assembled, are up to the task. To those already in this space, we thank you for your service. You’ve all had a nice run, but there’s a new 5-star in town that’s about to become a Legend.

Go Canes! #OBB #OBBLegend #OrangeBowlBoys

-toast

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