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Home opener marks debut of new coach Zahn at Ray Fisher Stadium

Geoff Zahn has sat in the home dugout of Ray Fisher Stadium before -- as a Michigan player.

But today Zahn will make his home debut as Michigan's head coach against Eastern Michigan (2-9) at 3 p.m. The Wolverines are 1-13 in his inagural season.

The new skipper spent the 1995 season as an assistant coach at Pepperdine. He helped guide the Waves to a 36-19-1 overall and 23-3-1 West Coast Conference record, grabbing the conference championship in the process.

Zahn was named Michigan's 17th head coach in September by Athletic Director Joe Roberson.

Roberson didn't stray far from the Michigan family with his pick.

The 48-year old native of Toledo, Ohio, was a starting pitcher for the Wolverines from 1966-67.

Zahn compiled 3-1 and 9-1 records in those two seasons and set the single season overall record for best earned-run average at that time with a 1.19 ERA.

The left-hander had a short tenure with the Wolverines because he was drafted four times before signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. Previously, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers.

Zahn spent 12 years in the majors with the Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs, the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels. His career record in the major leagues was 111-109 with a 3.74 ERA. His best season came in 1982 when he went 18-8 for the Angels and finished sixth in the Cy Young voting.

In his career, Zahn was at his best early in the season, going 25-6 in April.

As Michigan's coach, Zahn has gotten off to a rocky start and the Wolverines might not even get the chance to get their second win today. The game may not even be played.

The weather forecast calls for snow in the morning and afternoon. One to three inches are expected to accumulate by late morning with more possible. If the game is played, Zahn knows not to expect the long-ball in these cold-weather conditions. He is focusing more on the little things that are so crucial in the game of baseball.

"I've told the kids, 'You will know how to bunt, you will know how to hit and run, you will know how to slash,'" Zahn said. "Everything is dictated by the talent you have. We may bunt in the first inning. We'll hit and run to move runners.

"On this field, you can't stand around and wait for the three-run homer, because it is not going to happen. When you're playing in the very cold, inclement weather, you have to make it happen."

That's easy for him to say.

The Wolverines are coming off a weekend road trip in which they were swept by Oklahoma -- 14-2, 7-4, 13-8.

Michigan couldn't pitch or field well, committing eight errors in the series. And the Wolverines didn't start hitting until Sunday's game when they accounted for 14 hits in the loss.

Utility-fielder Mike Cervenak and second-baseman Kirk Beermann did put up some impressive statistics. Cervenak went 8-for-9 in the series and Beermann rapped out four hits Sunday.

Senior Mark Temple will start today and pitch limited innings because Zahn looks to give other pitchers some work.

Temple has a 0-3 record and 9.49 ERA in 12.3 innings pitched.

Pitching has been the main problem in the Wolverines' losses. No one hurler has an ERA below 4.70. In fact, Michigan's team ERA is a ghastly 8.58.

That's where Zahn fits into the picture. The skipper hopes that his pitching experience will benefit in his teaching of the pitching staff.

"I am not going to take my strength and turn it into a weakness," Zahn said. "Pitching is a big part of the game. I am hands-on with the pitchers."