Wednesday, February 9, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 9
Pitcher passed on pros for Jayhawks
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Jim Caine had the opportunity to live his childhood dream, but he turned it down — for the time being.
Caine, a freshman pitcher for the Kansas baseball team, was drafted in the 10th round by the Minnesota Twins, but he sacrificed the opportunity to play major league baseball to come play for Kansas. While the Twins drafted him, nearly every major league team contacted him throughout the draft process.
Caine, St. Charles, Ill. native, said the big leagues were something that he didn't think he was quite ready for vet.
"It was a real tough decision to make, but it would've been a big step."
Caine said. "I'm happy with the decision I made, and I have no regrets at all."
Caine's decision to attend college meant turning down a major league contract and salary. Unlike most high school athletes who are offered contracts and jump at the chance for a pay check, Caine choose to turn down the money, because it wasn't enough.
"If I was going to sign, I wanted it to be as easy as possible," Caine said. "I was either going to be drafted high
Caine: Money wasn'tenough
enough or get a real good offer, and it would just be obvious I should sign. If not, then I had a great opportunity coming here."
The money wasn't right for Caine, though, so he decided the it could wait altogether while he honed his skills at Kansas. Pitching coach Wilson Kilmer was happy to welcome him to the pitching staff.
"We're glad he decided to go ahead and come to school instead of signing a pro contract," Kilmer said. "He brings a level of talent that's outstanding. Above and beyond that, we feel he's a guy who has the attitude that wants to improve his skills."
Some skills Caine will try to improve while at Kansas are his arm strength, consistency and his breaking ball. Kilmer said Caine's velocity and fastball movement were exceptional.
In addition, Kilmer expects Caine to make an immediate impact on the mound for the Jayhawks.
"We're going to pitch the guys that pitch the best and give us the best chance to win, and we feel Jim's one of those guys that can do that." Kilmer said.
Caine will have at least three years to hone his skills at Kansas until the big leagues can come calling again.
Regulations prohibit college baseball players from turning professional until after their junior seasons. Caine is confident that he hasn't seen his last opportunity for the big leagues.
"It's my dream to play major league baseball, and I know it is the same for every guy here," Caine said. "I have to wait until after my junior year to be drafted again though, and, hopefully I will be."
Sports Columnist Derek Prater sports@kansan.com
...others just get bored
Ask your average American about soccer, and the response you're likely to receive may be punctured with a vawn.
It's boring — all they do is stand around and there's not enough action.
But you ask those same Americans about baseball, and they go on and on about Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and the great national pastime.
But both sports inspire undying loyalty from fans.
So what if the St. Louis Cardinals lose in a slow, three-plus hour game? As long as McGwire hits one home run and inches closer to a Babe Ruth record, St. Louis fans are happy.
The same is true for Brazilian soccer fans if Rinaldo saves a 1-1 tie with a courageous run past three defenders for a goal during injury time.
The history, nostalgia and personalities surrounding the games are what fill seats.
But without those aspects, baseball and soccer games are just plain boring.
Which is why college baseball, especially at the University of Kansas, is just plain boring.
Some schools, such as Wichita State, Miami and Louisiana State, have strong baseball traditions, but those traditions just don't translate to the type of nationally embraced legacies that exist in football programs like Nebraska or basketball programs like North Carolina
Pundits complain about basketball and football stars leaving college early for the pros, but in baseball star prospects are drafted out of high school.
These days does a college baseball star graduate to immediate stardom at the next level. The real prospects either eschew college for the true pro training grounds, the minor leagues, or are from Spanish-speaking islands south of Florida.
It is a challenge to name just one college baseball player with the type of name recognition that, for example, North Carolina point guard Ed Cota has throughout the nation.
At Kansas, that's some tough mustering.
With no stars to care about, college baseball has to rely on whatever tradition it can muster.
The baseball team has made it to the NCAA College World Series only once, in 1993. In fact, it's made it to NCAA regional play only twice.
Kansas has had just four first team All-Americans whose names are more memorable for the way they roll off the tongue than for their place in Kansas sports history — John Trombold, Matt Gundelfinger, Josh Kliner and Jeff Berblerking.
The most famous Kansas baseball player made his mark in a sport that the campus is actually excited about. That former player is Dean Smith.
No action + no stars + no tradition = no fun. There's no denying that it's admirable to get out and support all Kansas sports, no matter how good.
But if you're looking for excitement, you might as well check out a soccer match on ESPN.
Prater is an Lawrence graduate student in journalism.
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