By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Baseball Beat Reporter // Photo Via Titus Wilkinson
San Jose State’s high-stakes series with San Diego State was already wildly unorthodox and complex before it began on Friday:
Five games. Three days. Two different ballparks.
For Friday at Cal Berkeley, two make-up games, one continuation game from the fourth inning and one nine-inning affair, that were rained out when SJSU played SDSU in San Diego back in March. Then a seven-inning double header on Saturday at Stanford . Then back to Cal on Sunday for a nine-inning affair.
Brain scrambled? Thank a historic atmospheric river that’s washed through California for that.
And then on Friday, after the Spartans lost to the Aztecs 5-3, the backend of the doubleheader was postponed due to more inclement weather.
“It’s a weird weekend,” SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo described aptly. Here’s the updated slate:
All the while, SJSU is attempting to leapfrog SDSU for first place in the Mountain West and lock up the No. 1 seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament. They entered one game back, but now sit two games back after Friday’s loss.
“Wasn’t a very good effort on our part,” said Sanfilippo.
It was a continuation of a game that ended after the third inning back in March. SJSU was up 2-0.
But on Friday, SJSU’s Jonathan Clark allowed five runs in the fourth inning. Three of which came after SDSU’s Cade Martinez unloaded on a belt-high fastball to left field to clear the bases. Clark labored on, walking six hitters, but powered through command issues and finished the game without allowing another run .
However, SJSU’s offense only mustered up one run which came on a sacrifice groundout from Matt Spear with the bases loaded.
SDSU’s duo of Xavier Cardenas and Ricky Tibbett dazzled. They combined to allowed just one run over six innings and Tibbett sat the top of the order down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.
By that point, the light drizzle that began in the fifth inning developed into a moderate rain.
Sanfillippo, SDSU head coach Mark Martinez and the umpire crew discussed met behind home plate to discuss if they could squeeze the second game in. Lord knows they didn’t want another game rescheduled because of rain, but regular protocols couldn’t be administered.
If SJSU was playing at its home stadium, Excite Ballpark, they would’ve been able to put a substance called “quick dry” on certain spots around the field to soak up any puddles. Which lessens risk of injury and therefore heightens chances of playing through.
Plus, “We probably would’ve thrown the tarp on the field at some point there. As soon as the first game we would’ve thrown the tarp on and then waited,” said Sanfilippo.
But since SJSU is graciously renting out Cal’s Stu Gordon Stadium like its a power tool from a neighbor, they couldn’t follow normal protocol.
“Cal’s doing a huge favor for us to let us use this and Stanford’s doing a huge favor, too. But obviously without grounds crews and without the ability to put material on the field it sort of limits the things we can do,” said Sanfillipo.
You might be thinking, ‘Why are two teams not named Cal playing at Cal?
SJSU was thrusted into playing at Cal because the San Jose Giants – Excite Ballpark’s prime ambassador – is busy playing the Modesto Nuts right now. The Spartans are just tenants there. Which means the Giants get first priority.
So this weekend, in the biggest series of the year, SJSU is traveling up and down the Bay Area attempting to squeeze games in. The arrangement is non-ideal, complex and awkward, but they’re doing what they can to battle through circumstances that are unforeseen, unpredictable and out of their control.
“It’s a little bit of a unique situation playing at Cal,” said Sanfillipo.
It’s essential to also remember how this obscure arrangement effects what’s happening between the lines. Specifically when it comes navigating bullpen management.
Entering the matchup, pitching coach Mat Keplinger said on Thursday:
“I have a daughter who’s almost two,” he began, “She woke up at like 3:30 this morning. So when I’m rocking her back to sleep and just holding her in the rocking chair … I’m playing out all of these scenarios.”
Mind you, that was before he had to figure out how to attack thirty innings split between four games over two days. But thankfully for Keplinger and Sanfilippo, Clark was the only arm used on Friday and SJSU was the away team so one inning was eaten up.
As a result, Sanfilippo has a fresh set of bullpen arms that enter Saturday’s double-header with nearly a weeks worth of rest.
SJSU will likely start its ace Micky Thompson for Saturday’s nine-inning affair, but most decisions after that are still being worked out.
“You’re going to havre to move stuff around a little bit. Mix and match just based on the fact you’re playing seven inning games and you might be starting relievers and trying to get a few innings. It’s a weird weekend with that many games,” said Sanfilippo.
But with oddity comes opportunity.
Sanfillipo and Keplinger can dole out some new arms in a pressurized environment and gage where they fit into the mix for the rapidly approaching Mountain West Tournament.
“We know who can do what and now it’s just about putting them in the right spots,” said Sanfillippo.