Do away with the DH rule

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

Nevada released its 2008-09 basketball schedule late last week. It shows once again that Nevada can't get major conference schools to agree to home-and-home contracts. The home schedule does have Oregon State, Pacific, UNLV, Southern Illinois and North Carolina (on Dec. 31) on it, but the home schedule also includes Division II Sonoma State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Idaho State of the Big Sky Conference.

The month of December will be key for the Pack. Of its seven games, six are at home. I hate to see Nevada play a D-II school because when it comes time for the NCAA to look at at-large teams, that win won't count. Nevada also will host a BracketBuster game this season.

Hopefully this is a strong enough schedule that, if Nevada can win 21 or 22 games and doesn't win the Western Athletic Conference, it will be good enough to get the young Wolf Pack into the Big Dance.

The nonconference road schedule features San Diego, which reached the NCAA Tournament last season, Montana State, Portland, Colorado State and California. The Montana State game is part of a two-for-one agreement between the schools, while the Cal and CSU games are return games from last season.

- I don't remember which ESPN personality it was, but he said the American League and National League need to get on the same page when it comes to the designated hitter. I agree. I'm a purist. Ban the damn designated hitter. If a guy doesn't have all the skills to be an everyday player anymore, then maybe he shouldn't be playing anymore, or should be a pinch-hitter.

Baseball is about hitting, fielding, running and throwing. Guys like David Ortiz and Jim Thome need to show that they can play the field at least half the time. Both might be out of the game by now if they had to play 140 games in the field every season.

- And, while we're still on the subject of baseball, I am for instant replays on fair or foul homer calls. I'd never want it done for balls and strikes or safes and outs on the bases. Judgment calls are a part of every sport. They are ingrained in the fabric of the game. To tinker with that would be a horrible idea.

- Dayton's Matt Bowman has had a successful season thus far in the Cape Cod League. Bowman is batting a team-leading .310 after 16 games for the Orleans Cardinals, and he's played a lot of second base, which is probably his natural position. He also has been used as a designated hitter.

The Pack needs a third baseman and second baseman to replace Jason Rodriguez and David Ciarlo, respectively. One thing is certain, you know Bowman will be starting somewhere. His versatility could really help him if he gets drafted and/or signs after his senior season.

- Kudos to Daryl Smith, the former Wolf Pack women's assistant coach, who was hired as Division II Alaska-Fairbanks' new women's head coach. Smith was with Nevada for just one year. Smith said he's looking to win right away, and talked about a one-year plan and not a five-year plan. Smith has had head-coaching stints at Wichita State and Butler Community College.

- The National Softball Association Western World Series is less than a week away, and Carson City along with Gardnerville, Reno and Sparks will be hosting games. I urge our local community to get out to Centennial Park and Edmonds Sports Complex and watch some exciting softball.

- And lastly, the Reno Rodeo concluded another successful run last Saturday. Personally, I'd love to see the Reno Rodeo add another Family Day to its schedule. One thing I would encourage families to do, especially if they are on vacation, is to go out to the slack performances. They start at either 7 or 9 a.m., but it's in a laid-back setting and you can get right up close to the action.

- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com or (775) 881-1281