Dave Lubich is only 22 years old and is in a position to prosper.  He was awarded the Mahoning Valley Scrappers radio gig earlier this season and seems to be gaining valuable experience that will help him get to another level someday.  Lubich is still in college at Akron and will be done soon, but for now, realizes the opportunity in his home town of Niles, Ohio  is golden and is trying to work hard and take advantage of his unique situation.  I met with Lubich before a recent home game to discuss the past, present, and future.

Paneech:  You now have a major time commitment, as well as newfound traveling, that you must put in.  How are you adjusting?

Lubich:  At first, it all kind of caught me off guard.  I think I am starting to adjust and  I am getting used to the day-to-day routine.  I enjoy calling the games every day.  I have called football and basketball in the past but seem to like baseball more than everything else because it is slower paced and you have more time to talk.

Paneech:  What is your exact role with the team and what responsibilities are you handling?

Lubich:  It is important to have everything ready and making sure that Travis [Fryman] has updated stuff.  I am also responsible for putting together game notes before each game, handling all of the media to make sure they can get interviews, and writing press releases following the game and sending that out. 

Paneech:  What is the part of your job that you like the least? 

Lubich:  The cram time that you have when leaving to go on a roadtrip or leaving one opposing stadium to go to another is tough.  You want to call the game and be prepared and sometimes there is little time to get ready.  Everything else has time devoted to it.  How many people can say that they did what so many greats have done?  I’m not Vin Scully or Ernie Harwell, but it is enjoyable to do what they have done.

Paneech:  Is this a stepping stone to get to the next level?

Lubich:  It’s hard to say right now.  I enjoy the games.  Having done the faster paced basketball stuff, you don’t really get to enjoy the game like you can with baseball.  I have written and done television for all three major sports.  If it came down to me calling baseball for the next however many years, I would enjoy it.

Paneech:  Having seen this team play all of their road games too, who stands out as someone who may have a chance to make it to the majors?

Lubich:  There are a bunch of top picks that still have not signed.  Of those who are here, I think that Chase Burnette has a real chance to become a big-time power hitter.  He is a guy who has shown versatility on defense and has really swung the bat well.  Tyler Cannon, the twelfth round pick, has come in and hit the ball really well.  I also think Giovanny Urshela has a chance to be a great third basemen.  He is making highlight reel plays as well as the routine ones. 

Paneech:  What is the best baseball movie ever made?

Lubich:  I’m a Yankees fan, so I will have to say ’61’.  Billy Crystal did a great job depicting that season.  It was the last legitimate race for a home run crown.  One of the all-time great Yankees [Mickey Mantle] and the Yankee that everybody gave a hard time [Roger Maris].  It was a great team… Elston Howard, Bobby Richardson, Mosse Skowran, Clete Boyer, I can go on and on about that Yankee team.  I also like Major League and Field of Dreams.  I did not care for Fever Pitch.

Paneech:  So far, the bullpen seems a bit shaky to me.  Do we chalk it up to the early season excuse or are we just weak there.

Lubich:  Take Doran Dickerson for example.  Travis likes the fact that he is a deceptive pitcher and location is important for a guy like that.  I say he is deceptive because he throws from the side.  In the middle to late innings of a game, if you throw a whole new look at the opposing team like Dickerson, it can be a tough adjustment.  The plan has not worked perfectly because Dickerson is just not hitting the spots he needs to yet.  He has put himself in a lot of hitters counts at 3-1, or 2-1, it allows the opposing batter to look for a specific pitch.

Paneech:  Give me some of the personals, the food and drink preferences, what you watch on television…

Lubich:  I like to eat at Vernon’s Cafe, I could eat their calamari for breakfast.  I also like to eat at the Hot Dog Shoppe.  As far as soft drinks go, I drink water, a lot of water.  On television, Entourage might be the best show ever made, I really like watching it.

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