James Burns: Aviators a fantasy dream come true

Fantasy baseball managers can empathize with Richard Ruiz.

His symptoms are consistent of a fantasy geek in too deep.

The countless hours of research, burning up the telephone lines and ethernet cables, rifling through rosters, personal bios and statistics.

Player updates. Forecasting future transactions. Studying trends and streaks. And breaking down opposing teams' rosters.

The double life. The nervous sweats. Broken thoughts. Desktop full of tire-iron-tough pizza crust and coffee stains. And the giddy excitement.

When you're invested -- when you're all-in like Ruiz -- it comes with the territory. All of it. It's all part of being a successful fantasy baseball owner.

Except for Ruiz, a San Jose native, this is real.

The owner and general manager of the Atwater Aviators is preparing for his second season in the Pacific West Baseball League, a wooden bat summer stint for collegiate players across the country.

And though Opening Day is still three months away -- June 4 vs. the Merced Volunteers -- there's plenty to be nervous about.

FYI: For the too-far-gone fantasy owner, there's no such thing as an offseason.

Case in point: Ruiz's current jar of pickles:

Will the Aviators build on the fanbase it created last summer?

Can a new set of faces find instant success like last year's group did?

Can the Atwater and Merced communities afford to house and feed the out-of-towners?

"Other than playing during the season, this is the hardest part," Ruiz said. "It's fun but hard, plugging in all the pieces."

The Aviators soared above expectation in their inaugural season, capturing the PWBL crown with a roster sewn together by local junior college talent.

This season, the stakes are even greater.

The veil of secrecy and apprehension is gone, and in just one season, the Aviators have become something of a magnetic force on the summer league circuit.

Players want to play.

And teams want a piece of the PWBL champs.

The Aviators' success has sparked interest around the country, attracting more and more players from four-year universities to this tiny mapdot in the middle of the Central Valley.

You won't see a heavy influence of Merced College or Fresno City players like you did in 2009. Sure, there will be a few -- five total, so far -- but the 30-man roster will look more like college baseball's Who's Who.

There are three players apiece from Willamette University and Southern Cal. Four from Japan, including the newest addition: pitcher/outfielder Ryo Miyahara.

New Mexico State free-swingers Ryan Laing and Phil Mannelly are expected to provide the pop, while Oakland University will supply much-needed pitching depth with two right-handers on loan.

The Aviators have filled 25 of 30 roster spots.

"Our first go-around was about everyone getting to know us," Ruiz said. "We developed a really good reputation. I had to turn some teams away because I couldn't fit them in the schedule.

"As time goes, with our reputation, you'll see bigger schools send their starters over here. That's what we're going for. You're seeing it this year. We got more out-of-towners and less junior college kids."

And with that Ruiz dives deeper into his club, this fantasy-turned-real-life organization he runs.

The team should test the fences at Memorial Ballpark more this season.

The pitching staff shouldn't sag down the stretch like it did in 2009.

And a core of returning players, including 2009 MVPs Laing and David Rohm, should ease the transition for the newbies.

Oh, and watch out for this kid T.C. Lee, an outfielder from Willamette.

"He can hit," Ruiz promised.

How does a father of three, youth leader and a 50-hour-a-week employee for an electrical contractor maintain?

Ruiz sleeps less, breaths caffeine and sends all correspondence after 9 o'clock at night.

Standard stuff in the world of fantasy sports.

"To be honest," Ruiz started, "I haven't had time to play fantasy baseball."

No, he's been too busy doing the real thing.

James Burns is managing editor/sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at jburns@mercedsun-star.com.