June 3, 2004
People ask him where he played baseball in college and Minnesota Twins' closer Joe Nathan has to explain where Stony Brook University is and where it belongs in the college baseball landscape.
Nathan's always been more famous than his alma mater. That's changing just a bit now that Stony Brook has made the NCAA Division I Tournament.
Nathan, 29, is Stony Brook's first and only big leaguer. He's become one of the top reliever's in the American League. Now, he's also proud to have graduated from a school that has made the tournament. Stony Brook plays East Carolina Friday night in Kinston, N.C.
`` I'm excited for coach [Matt] Senk and the program,'' Nathan said in a telephone interview from Minneapolis. ``I'm excited how quickly they had success at a higher level. Most guys don't know where it is, most guys never heard of it. I'd say, just wait, give it a couple of years, it will be on the map.''
Stony Brook was still in Division III when Nathan arrived from upstate Pine Bush High School as a scrawny shortstop in 1993. ``I went more for school than to play baseball,'' the 6-4, 204 pound righthander said. ``It was more for my personal enjoyment.'' Nathan was a slick fielder and had a career average of .378. He pitched less than two innings in college but when the Giants drafted him in the sixth round of the 1995 draft they quickly placed him on the mound. He was 24-10 with a 4.12 earned run average from 1999-2003 before being traded to the Twins over the winter.
Nathan might just make the all-star team and wouldn't it be something to see the Stony Brook grad face Barry Bonds, his former teammate with the Giants. Nathan would love to strike him out. ``That's something I hope I get a chance to prove,'' he said. ``I've faced him in our inter-league game, I think it would be a lot of fun to face him. People that don't see him probably think he's a jerk because of the way he acts, If you are a teammate and you see what he goes through every day and how he basicallynever gets a moment to himself, you kind of understand why he has to act the way he does.''
Nathan is making $440,000. Not bad for a kid who probably would not have made a Division I college team coming out of high school. ``Back then, I probably would have to come out and walk-on, especially how small I was,'' he said.
Nathan's no longer from the small time.
West Islip's Craig Ansman, who graduated four years ago, is another Stony Brook graduate and pro player keeping tabs on his former team. Ansman was the Pacific Coast League player of the week in mid May when he hit two grand slam home runs for the Tucson Sidewinders, the Triple A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
``It's so exciting,'' the catcher said of Stony Brook's appearance in the NCAA's. ``It's just going to make them a better school and will get them more money for scholarships so they get better and better players. It puts a good mark on the school and can be attributed to Matt Senk and the way he runs his program.''
Ansman is considered the Diamondbacks' top minor league catcher and could be called up any time. ``It's looking good right now,'' he said. ``I'm very confident. As long as you play your game they can't hold you back.''
