Live blogging from Big East Tournament

CLEARWATER — I arrived here at Bright House Networks Field just in time to see the tail end of the WVU and St. John’s game and warm-ups for the Bulls. The Red Storm is up 5-3 over the Mountaineers following a grand slam, while Louisville pulled a close 9-8 game over Rutgers and Connecticut took care of Cincinnati 6-2.

First and foremost, this stadium is amazing. Forget any other park in Tampa minor league or the other piece of crap in downtown St. Pete. This park is, hands down, built to please the eye and the average fan. Beautifully trimmed and laid out, the seats are the individual, non-bench type that allow the fan to spread out. In the outfield, kids can run and throw balls to each other while waiting to catch dingers that come their way. This place is just simply amazing.

Honestly, now that I think about it, I don’t see how the Big East could have the tournament anywhere else but in Clearwater. Sure, it’s a little overcast today, but on any other day the weather, the nearby beaches and the venue can’t be beat.

All right, moving on. For Saturday’s championship game, Tampa’s, and I guess USF’s as well, very own Hall of Famer Wade Boggs is color analyst for ESPNU. Of course, Wade’s son, Brett, is a freshman for the Bulls, while Wade himself attended every home game at the Red. Makes you wonder if USF makes the championship, can Wade take off his green-and-gold glasses for a few hours? After all, he is a professional, with his hair transplant infomercials.

As the Bulls were on the practice field, I ran into coach Eddie Cardieri — in high spirits, no less — watching a little of the Mountaineers/Red Storm game. Nice little chat we had. He said Casey Hudspeth, making the start, is ready and loose, as the junior is going through warm-ups, with his 7-6, 4.52 ERA and league-leading 103 strikeouts.

Cardieri also called tonight’s matchup “just another game” against a “very well-balanced team.” Anyways, Cardieri also said he thought Notre Dame’s starter, left-hander Wade Korpi, with his 2.20 ERA and 83 strikeouts, is the best pitcher on the staff. Even better than wide reciever/starter Jeff Samardzija, with his 7-2 record, 4.30 ERA and 52 strikeouts. Cardieri said he thinks Korpi has the best location of not just a left-hander, but on the Fighting Irish as well.

Well, that’s it for pregame stuff. There will be some live blogs from myself and Asst. Sports Editor Kevin Smetana throughout the game. Look for coverage in Thurday’s Oracle, including the game story from the Bulls’ second game Wednesday.

One last thought before I go: Can anyone explain to me why the USF baseball game from Bright House Networks Field is not being broadcasted on Catch 47, the official sports channel from Bright House and of USF sports? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Mike Camunas