Remember when the Fansmanship Podcast was three guys BS’ing about sports? One of those guys, Luke Johnson, stopped by this week to give us some insight into what he’s been up to. Among other sports randomness, Luke and Owen talk about who the toughest players are to officiate in the NBA.

The Dodgers added Darwin Barney in a trade this week. By By Johnmaxmena2 (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

In the midst of an enigmatic season and swirling trade rumors, the Dodgers finally made a trade yesterday, acquiring Darwin Barney from the Cubs for a player to be named later.

It’s a move that seems a little awkward at first glance. The Dodgers had second-base issues at the beginning of the season when Alex Guerrero wasn’t ready to play in the majors and Dee Gordon wasn’t an All-Star. Over halfway into the season, Gordon has been a 10 triple, 46 stolen base, All-Star revelation.

Aside from first base, the Dodgers have had some uncertainty at all the infield positions at some point this season. The starting infield of Adrian Gonzalez, Dee Gordon, Hanley Ramirez, and Juan Uribe haven’t been as intact as you’d like them to be. Carlos Triunfel and Miguel Rojas have played 51 games between the two of them. Justin Turner, the opening-day second baseman, has played better than I thought he would in 66 games, but he’s not exactly a key part of a world series contender.

So what is the takeaway from this deal? Perhaps it was a move that somehow primes the Dodgers to start making moves that really count — like trading away an outfielder to make room for Joc Pederson in center or trading for another starting pitcher. Jon Lester has been in the rumor mill if they aren’t willing to part ways with the young talent it would take to get David Price.

I say that there is no takeaway though. Barney is a player who’s barely above replacement level. He gives the team enough depth that perhaps they don’t have to dip into the Turner/Triunfel/Rojas well again at second base. Beyond that, I don’t really have any expectations for this move. After this post, I will promptly go back to occupying my mind with other things.

Fellow Fansmanship founder, Luke Johnson, and I play a game sometimes: come up with the most random name of a player from the past. We text each other at times just as random as the player with just that player’s name — doesn’t matter the sport. Usually guys with unusual names are ones that come up first. Guys like Olden Polynice, Pat Listach, and Jeff Blauser are a few of the names that sometimes can be used. Kal Daniels, Gary Disarcina, Jay Buhner, Mickey Tettleton, Sid Fernandez… well, you get the idea.

I only mention it becuase, in about 10 years, Darwin Barney will be a name I’ll throw out there. For the win.

The Angels have spent lots of money over the past few seasons, but their bullpen looks really shaky still. By Amin Eshaiker, via Wikimedia Commons

In this episode, Luke, Andy, and Owen talked about the dumpster fire that has been the Angels’ bullpen, whether Yasiel Puig has been judged unfairly, and how exciting it is to have the best college baseball team on the West Coast right here in San Luis Obispo.

I feel a little disenfranchised. And no, this is not a sob story.

I’m heading out to Arizona in a matter of weeks, to engage Spring Training and rounds and rounds of beer. I’ll be attempting this feat with good friends. Something I’m thankful for — this is my first time participating in the classic.

There are no bad seats at spring training, especially if you’re trying to get your tan on. By Owen Main

But as you can imagine, the majority of the nuts going are Dodgers fans. It’s something I don’t have a problem with. I just wish I didn’t feel so Khloe Kardashian about it. Let me explain.

I am a long standing Halos fan. I grew up glorifying at best, above average players, like they were perennial All-Stars. Gary DiSarcina, Dick Schofield, Dante Bichette, Chili Davis, and Devon White, were a few. Just say the name Wally Joyner and I shiver. That name alone invokes the thickest bond between brothers. That went a little too far…

But no, seriously, I’m heading to Arizona to watch a bunch of Dodgers games against crap opponents like the San Diego Padres. I’d rather watch lizard porn. Can you imagine the Padres putting up anything more than a run against the Dodgers pitching staff?

Yet despite this hard reality, I am looking forward to the experience more than I am the actual games themselves. It’s about brotherhood. And it’s about drinking. It’s not about the Halos of Orange County, hence the Khloe Kardashian comparison.

In case you’ve forgotten, this nation has a deep history in the art of intoxication. From Napa Valley to the Whisky Trail, America knows how to party.

I’m unsure whether I’ll remember much of the experience. So before I go just know this my darling reader: I am the beer pong champion. I am the Kim Kardashian of beer pong. And I am Wally Joyner’s brother.

Where does the line fall between supporting your team unconditionally and having high expectations? By Owen Main

I’m under the impression that sunny San Luis Obispo isn’t the most ravenous sport town. It’s guilded with gorgeous pacific waters, rocky cliff dwellings, winding Irish hills and a vibrant downtown life. Our own Cal Poly Mustangs fall in order behind such necessary beauties, but not for all of us. For some, we crave a wild atmosphere in Mott Gym more so than an August day in Avila Beach.

With that passion, we build expectations, and why not? But where do we draw the line between unconditional fansmanship and expectation? Is there in fact a line? If so, why is the line drawn? Is there a shorter ceiling of expectation?

I’m aware that it isn’t the most realistic expectation to demand a National Championship or even a Big West Conference title each and every season from Coach Callero and his basketball team. I know we don’t sign the kind of athletes Kentucky, North Carolina or Duke does. We play in a small conference, are universally an academic school, lack national buzz and don’t have the amenities to draw a lot of big recruits. As a result, Callero is and should be, held accountable at a variable standard. So where then, is that standard?

That standard for me is simple. Win the Big West Tournament from time to time. Go to the NCAA Tournament as much as or more than other top Big West teams. Our greatest rivals are Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. These aren’t unbeatable programs. Use our coastal shores, beautiful women, elite yet affordable academic standing and interesting downtown life, to draw the kind of young men talented enough to out-duel the three teams above. Exhaust more heart. More hustle. Use hope. I don’t believe that is asking too much.

Therefore, the expectation is that local fans see their Mustangs in the Big Dance. From there, who knows? Maybe we begin rivaling the likes of George Mason, St. Mary’s, Utah State and VCU as an upset favorite.

I’m probably getting ahead of myself, but that then is the last piece in the evolution. Become an upset favorite.  Let me rephrase that: be respected, or more respected, on a national stage. That doesn’t mean when you get in you get anywhere other than the 1^st round. But make it interesting. Head into half time down a couple buckets, making the big dogs sweat a little. Playing the best teams in the country over the past few years is one way to make that possible. The win over UCLA last season was a huge step.

I want more.

Call me a dreamer or a real hard ass. I know some of you reading this think an expectation to make Cal Poly a consistent NCAA Tournament team is a little unfair and outlandish. This team has never even been to the NCAA tournament and I’m talking about a vision where they are consistently earning invitations to the Big Dance.

Others may be comfortable as a fourth- or fifth-place finisher in the Big West, but I don’t. I want to see San Luis Obispo exalted for more than its choice accolades from Oprah Winfrey. I’m a proud born and raised local. I love this town, this area. I love Mustang gold and green. Why not us?

Whose responsibility is it to make this happen regularly? By Owen Main

What is it that really motivates fans to show up and be loud in this town? What responsibility is on the fan-base to show up and be loud and have a good time no matter what the team’s record? What responsibility is on the team and its coaches to be consistently good? Where does the Cal Poly’s men’s basketball team (or any team in this county, for that matter) fall into this mix?

We discussed these topics and more on this episode of the podcast. The above circular argument from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure is the first thing Owen thought of when Andy and Luke started to tell him that fans will show up if the team is better.

If you substitute “Triumphant Video” for “filling Mott night after night,” and  “Eddie Van Halen” for “better players,” then it’s almost a spot-on analogy to the argument Owen hears from lots of San Luis Obispo County fans, including the two guys who sat across from him at this podcast.

You can also use “decent instruments” for “new facility” or something and now the Bill and Ted analogy works even better for Andy and Luke.

Where do you fall on the topic? Should fans show up all the time no matter what or should an atmosphere be completely dependent on how good the team is?

The question is, which of us is on the right?

Andy, Luke, and Owen get together to talk about Andy’s time at the NHL Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium and the one-sided outcome of the Super Bowl. Why is hockey a really cool (pun intended) sport? Find out by listening.

It was Cami’s last day at the CJ Silas Show. Photo by Leighton Giannini

On Wednesday night, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to guest-host the CJ Silas Show on ESPN Radio 1280 The Ticket.

CJ went on vacation and gave us the keys and we did our best not to wreck the car. We are pretty sure we got it back to her in one piece and are thankful for the opportunity.

We talked about why Mike Trout doesn’t get more attention, had JD Scroggin in to talk about Cal Poly football, and even argued about which young quarterback in the NFL will take a step forward or backward in their second season as a starter.

I wanted to also thank the CJ Silas Show Syndicate – Cami, Leighton, Bobby, and Alex – for helping make sure we got the show back to CJ in one piece.

Enjoy.

Alex from the SLO Late Show (left) and Bobby Goodsby (not shown) joined Andy, Luke, and Owen for the pod.

Through a lot of ridiculous technical malfunctions, we had quite a nice conversation this evening with Alex Clupper and Bobby Goodsby of the SLO Late Show on ESPN Radio. On tonight’s episode, Owen called Luke a Yasiel Puig wet blanket, we talked about how much more of a disappointment LeBron James would be, and discussed what having a team like the Kings means to a city like Sacramento. The Moon Man and Cloud Man even made appearances.

Bobby and Alex were great. We hope to have them on again sometime soon.

We talk about whether expectations have changed because of the team’s slow start, whether the Lakers are legitimate contenders or just an interesting story, and then we played a game of “who would you rather have” with six NBA forwards based in Los Angeles.

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