Get to know.... FSU's Director of Baseball

Operations, Chip Baker

by Drew

Mike (Martin) gives me the next year's schedule

in January and I run with it. I book hotels in the spring of the previous

year, we usually go back to the same hotels unless we have a bad experience.

I book airlines and buses in August, and rental cars 'online' at home watching

TV. I also provide the home schedule to our administrative staff, and the

home game organization starts in the fall. I work with our umpire schedulers

and work out their fees. We have such a great "game day staff" that I don't

have much to do on game days. Dane Smith, our clubhouse manager, takes care of

things in the clubhouse and on the field, but I do make appearances, but the

clubhouse staff usually has things under control.

"Putting out fires"... I go to work each day

with things on my mind to do, but sometimes other priorities come up. I

like the challenge! I like to bring people who can actually solve the problems

together.. a mediator!!

Team travel takes time, although actually on

trips (I have been doing this for over 20 years), I know what to do.. logistics,

etc.. But I have to put it all into motion. I spend time asking a lot of

questions before I actually do the "what, when and where". I actually used to

do most of what I do now when I was still coaching

Wow.. there have been a bunch of great teams.

I can go back to a 15 year run (1986-2000) of 11 trips to the College World

Series. The 1986 team has always been special, that was my first season

coaching third base. I still keep up with several of those players - Luis,

Bien, Loynd, Saxner. The 1999 team was special, especially how we got to

the CWS championship game by outlasting Stanford in 14 innings. But the 1997

team was one the most talented, with JD and Jeremy Morris, but we ran into a

buzz saw named Tim Hudson (Auburn).

Talented: JD Drew - Wow, no one will ever do

what he did in 1997!

Athlete: Deion, he amazed me everyday.

Smartest: Pedro Grifol...a coach on the field.

"Loved playing the game": Eduardo Perez, always happy.

"Got it done when we needed it done": Marshall McDougall, home runs, doubles,

defense.

Competitor: Marc Ronan, my Pup - our conversations at 3B were "legendary"!

Best Friend (player): Frenchie (Mike Futrell) - my little bro.

Best guy who could always "Push My Button": KJ - Karl Jernigan. He did a great

'Chip Baker'

With almost 40 games in Omaha, each game was a

great experience. I got to know a lot of people involved in actually putting on

the event - from the grounds crew personnel (a little more water at home plate

when a sinker ball pitcher was throwing, to the secretary of the head NCAA guy

(she always got me great seats for games we were not playing).

The Marshall McDougall 6 HR game at Maryland in

on 5/9/99. I tell campers each year I was "THE" hitting coach that day.

The comeback in 2000 vs Miami - being

down 9 runs and winning it in the 17th!

And of course a "Home Plate Wedding: in 1991!!!

I meet people all the time who either were at our wedding or saw it on TV. (it

was CNN's Play Of The Day)

Game Days - putting on that Seminole uniform,

knowing we were going to "beat" someone that day, and knowing the other team's

assistant coach would give his right arm to have my job!

If I said I didn't miss coaching, you would

know I was lying. Heck yeah I miss it. I miss the interaction with

the kids, I miss getting on a umpire (and no one knew I was doing other than me

and him!), I miss the pressure of putting the players in the right position

defensively, I miss "11" getting on me. He knew I liked it, and I

usually responded. I actually hated it when the game was over because I wanted

to keep on playing. My Grandfather always wanted to know when I was going

to get a real job. But I see a different side of coaching now, even being

away from the field, I see the game from a fan's approach and a "coach" as

well.

Now, I have the opportunity to watch Katie (10

yrs old) grow up a little more, her softball practices and games.

School stuff - trips, and the day to day things that coaching would not allow me

the opportunity to be there for her.

Steve Melewski is a true professional.

What a great job he does. I enjoy listening to him, and he has asked me to

sit in from time to time. I usually have a radio on in my office at home

games, and when we are on the road, he has offered me a seat in his broadcast

box (we do travel to Boston and Virginia Tech in March) and

talk "Seminole Baseball" We talk about and explain what could happen

and then what actually did. I usually look for foul balls, and then

I get to talk until the pitcher has the ball again! If I have the

opportunity to continue to sit in with Steve - Great!

Short jokes? Never heard them!!! They were

directed at me? I learned

a long time ago, if they are yelling at me - they are not yelling at my players.

I learned in 1986, my first year coaching 3B,

that I either "join the Animals" or get abused by them. I think over the

past 20+ years, our relationship has become a good one. I have been to a

lot of college baseball stadiums, and while I am biased - The Animals are

Florida State Baseball! And.. I never told anyone this - but our first

home game (vs UF) after the California bus incident.. when the Animals sang "He's

A Hero After All", I had tears running down my face.

1) Omaha: "We need to get back."

2) Mike Martin: "Loyal - he brings out the competitor in me."

3) Road trip: "Here we go again.. Florida State style!"

4) Katie Baker: "I can't wait until she wakes up each day!!!"

5) Steve Melewski: "A great announcer! Even better guy off the air."

If you have any suggestions for

questions/players for future interviews, please let me know.

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