Baylor 20 Illinois 6 Ouch!

That was my first reaction when seeing the final score of tonight’s game.  The lights-out pitching from last weekend just saw their ERA skyrocket.  Scott Shaw only lasted for 2 1/3 innings giving up 12 runs.  Only 5 of those runs were earned due to an error with two out. Obviously, the Baylor offense wasn’t done yet. 

Scoring three more in the third and the fifth, Baylor had an run spurt in the sixth when seven more Bears crossed the plate against Illinois relievers Billy Barrett and Mike Sterk making it 20-3.

Trying to find some highlights, RF Nick Stockwell was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 runs.  Kyle Hudson drove in 2 runs. 

Lee Zerrusen came in to pitch an almost-perfect eight (only giving up a walk).  Of course, it “didn’t matter” but it was good work for the freshman.  

Hopefully, the Illini can shake this off and move on to the next game.  They play Stephen F. Austin. 

 

Next Game:

Game #5

Sat Mar 1, 2 pm CST

Record: 2-2

vs Stephen F Austin

at Waco, Tx

 

 

Opponent: Stephen F Austin
Nickname: Lumberjacks
Conference: Big 12
Head Coach: Donnie Watson (3rd year)
Location: Nacogdoches, TX
Current Record: 3-3
Baseball Program website: Link
Players to watch: Matt Whatley who was hitting .467 entering the tournament.  Also, Zach Gardner who had four games with multiple hits until today. 
Team Fact: The University of Illinois-Chicago win against the ‘Jacks today was their first of year.

 

Go get ’em, Illini!

CHAD STYPMANN IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Chad Stypmann Stepping into Knology Field in Dunedin, FL, finding my seat behind home plate, I looked up to see the smiling face of a good friend. “IF YOU CAN’T CATCH A BALL, CATCH A BUZZ”, is the booming refrain of beer vendor Chad Stypmann. Everybody seems more inclined to reconnect with big Chad than even seeing the ballplayers on the field. Whether you buy a beer from the outgoing Stypmann seems to be secondary compared with him taking your hand in his, in a warm handshake, as he looks into your eyes, and is genuinely glad to see you again. Big Chad asks, “Who’s thirsty for a beer?”, then picks up a frosty LaBatts-Weiser, and drinks it down in one gulp, to the delight of the crowd. He smiles as he offers up his genuine LaBatts in a Budweiser bottle. Then Chad stands on top of the Blue Jays dugout and leads the fans in the singing of, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, during the 7th inning stretch. This is like the Hokey Pokey, what it’s all about!

Of course there was a game too. The pitching matchup featured aces Justin Verlander for the Tigers versus Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Halladay was on my Illowa APBA League Chicago Champions team, but I dropped him when he fell on hard times, not one of my brightest hours. Verlander’s fastball was really popping the leather of his catcher’s mitt. I saw Curtis Granderson’s first big league game a couple of years ago in Detroit, still he wasn’t good enough to make the IAL. Curtis took Doc Hallady over the rightfield wall, showing off the power aspect of his well rounded game. Other highlights for me were when Blue Jay reliever Brian Wolfe struck out all three batters he faced in the one inning he threw and 20 year old Travis Snider, a Matt Stairs’ clone at 5’10” 245, pinch hitting for DH Frank Thomas, worked an 0-2 count for a leadoff 8th inning base on balls. But alas the rally and Toronto’s hopes died when Chip Cannon’s line drive to first was turned into an inning ending DP, 3-1 Detroit.

No tags for this post.

Some Big Ten baseball links

First, thanks to Brian Foley from The College Baseball Blog for reminding me to update everyone on the Michigan-Mets game.  It looks like Michigan gave the big boys a run for the money.  The game ended in a 4-4 tie complete with a David Wright homer.  The Wolverines were out away from a 4-2 victory until Michael Abreu hit a two-run homer.

And something you don’t see every day, the game was umpired by a crew of four women.  One of the umpires was named, appropriately enough, Theresa Fairlady. 

Also, it’s a long time coming but I’ve added three blogs to the blogroll.  These three blogs are all websites that cover Big Ten baseball teams.  The Buckeye Nine is covering the Ohio State team and already has good contact with the team.  Read their Q&A of Buckeye pitcher Dan DeLucia

Happy Valley Hardball is a new blog covering Penn State baseball.  Happy Valley is working overtime spitting out stats, RPI figures, you name it not just for Penn State for other Big Ten teams as a whole, too. 

Finally, The National Anthem Before A Cubs Game is a multi-sport blog but they do cover a lot of Minnesota Gopher baseball.  They’re not new (they’ve been around for years) but they’re new to me. 

SAVERY SMOKED

I know it’s only spring training, and only the 2nd game at that, but it was disappointing to watch the Buccos tee off on former Rice Ace Joe Savery. The temperature was the same today as yesterday, 53 degrees, but today the sun was shining, and there was no gusting wind. Still my seat behind home plate was empty as I stationed myself down the leftfield line. Florida oranges floating in Blue Moon beer went down too easily. When the young lefty took the hill, I strolled behind the dish to get a better look. I almost had to turn away from what I was seeing. Savery fell behind Bucco hitters, trying to be too fine, then Josh Wilson lined a two run single up the middle, and then Nate McLouth knocked a three run blast over the rightfield wall, turning a 5-1 lead into a 6-5 deficit.

Before this collapse it was all good for the Phils. The Big Guy Ryan Howard almost reached the highway with his monster shot deep to right, still it wasn’t as far as his preseason drive over the hitting back drop in center last year. Pirate Adam LaRoche also went yard in the ballgame. Speaking of homers, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Michael Jack Schmidt was in the house for the second straight day, coaching firstbase, he’ll be a roving instructor this year for Philadelphia. I went to the souvenir stand to purchase a Schmidty tee shirt, but was told there were none for sale. Am I nuts or am I the only one who knows great player’s jerseys from all franchises would sell like hotcakes? A couple of years ago I was in Pittsburgh at PNC where I could purchase a Pokey Reese tee shirt, but could not buy a Clemente or Stargell, something wrong with this picture.

After watching baseball the last couple of days, while hearing of more snow in Chicago, I booked a last minute trip to watch some Cactus League baseball. I’d originally booked this trip way back when, cancelled, and then rebooked for about $600 more. Still I’m very much looking forward to hooking up with DonS to watch some pre-Easter baseball out west, but still have five more Florida games to see. Life is good.

Illini Leap back to Texas for the QTI Baylor Tournament

 

Next Game:

Game #4

Fri Feb 29, 6:30 pm

Record: 2-1

vs Baylor #24

at Waco, Tx

It’s back to Lone State for the Illini baseball team as they play in the Quala-T Imprints Baylor Classic tournament.  First up on Leap Day is the home team, Baylor:

 

Opponent: Baylor
Nickname: Bears
Conference: Big 12
Head Coach: Steve Smith (14th year)
Location: Waco, Texas
Current Record: 4-0
Baseball Program website: Link
Players to watch: Baylor probable starter Kendal Volz was the Big 12’s pitcher of the week.  He held Purdue scoreless through 8 innings. 
Team Fact: Despite Baylor’s 4-0 record and #24 ranking, Illinois did win the only time the only time these two teams faced. 

 

Right hander Scott Shaw is due to pitch for the Illini.  In game one against Sam Houston last week, Shaw was really on his game pitching five shutout innings until he ran into trouble in the sixth allowing 4 runs.  Illinois came back to win that game 6-4. 

Gametracker is of course available but if you are interested in a live audio/video feed, you should be able to get it from the Baylor Bears web site.

FightingIllini.com notes for the Baylor Tournament

Go Illini!!

Reason to celebrate

After last season’s horrific collapse, I’m glad to see the Mets and Jose Reyes decide that it’s time to tone down the silly handshaking and dancing in the dugout and on the field. This has been getting more and more out of control over the last few years, mostly credited to Sportscenter in my estimation. How much time do players spend choreographing and rehearsing these dances?  Too much, I’m sure.  I’m surprised that Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya would not be quicker to support Jose’s attempt to set a better example for Little Leaguers.  Baseball purists rejoice.

No tags for this post.

MVP JROLL SPRINGS INTO ACTION

Jimmy Rollins Even though there’s still snow on the ground throughout much of the USA, Spring officially sprung into action for me watching MVP JRoll & his Phillies take on the Cincinnati Reds in Clearwater, FL today. Although it was only 53 degrees, with wind screaming across the field from left to right, it was time to play some baseball. I grabbed a Yuengling, some cheese pizza, and settled into my primo seats behind home plate. But then the 30 MPH wind reminded me it wasn’t quite spring yet. So I gave up my seats and moved by the thirdbase line. There was enough shelter there to be able to enjoy the National Pastime.

I’m always amazed when I see little Jimmy Rollins playing shortstop, somehow my brain can’t quite grasp the reality that he is the 2007 NL MVP. I can still remember when I first saw Rollins a few years back when the players were working out, before the games began, I was behind the chainlink fence by home plate, and Jimmy was standing next to me, almost eye-to-eye. I stand at 5’2″ and the Phils “short”-stop is listed at 5’8″. It seems like almost yesterday when Tony Gwynn was brought in to get Rollins to shorten his stroke, and take advantage of his speed. Now he is MVP, hitting 30 home runs, Little Big Man, indeed.

Back to the day, Jamie Moyer toed the rubber for Philadelphia, and made leadoff man Ryan Freel look sick swinging at a slow breaking ball for strike three. Then Moyer showed it was no fluke, as he got Ryan in his 2nd AB with the exact same Uncle Charlie. The first hit by the Reds belonged to super-hype prospect rightfielder Jay Bruce. It was impressive to see the big lefthanded hitter go the other way against Jamie with a duck snort single to left.

Ryan Howard fought the wind and the wind won. Still Howard pulled up at second with a two base hit, he hit the ball on the screws. Pedro Feliz looked really good manning the hot corner for the Phils. It’s gotta be nice for this kid coming over from SF to Philadelphia, and a contender. Greg Dobbs mashed a threw run bomb off some meat nameless lefty to put the game on ice for the home team. It was good to see Chris Coste flash some digits, certainly no quitter there, long time minor leaguer, playing in the show.

Dallas Green was sitting ten rows behind home, watching the action. He is very personable, it’s amazing to see the interaction between the fans and the big guy. Green chatted with fans and signed a few autographs.

Shawn Roof in Spring Training

Former Illini and current member of the Detroit organization Shawn Roof shot me an email update tonight.  I always enjoy hearing from Shawn but now that he’s in his first spring training, I was anxious to see how things were shaking.  Not surprisingly, Roof was one of the first ones down there:

“I’m down here in Florida right now.  I’ve been down for about a week working out with some of the other guys that have gotten down here early.  I am having a blast.  The weather is beautiful and its nice to take ground balls on a real field again.  Anyways its almost like the circus came to town down here with all the excitement from the trades the Tigers made.  We pretty much have an All Star at every position.”

Baseball runs in Shawn’s family.  Brothers Eric and Jonathon both play for Michigan State.  Jonathon was drafted by Boston out of high school last year.  There’s seems to be a rivalry among the three that can only exist between brothers.

Illini SS Shawn Roof dogging baserunner Eric Roof from MSU during a 2007 Illinois-MSU game

Fortunately, Shawn was able to catch Eric and Jonathon in action when MSU played a tournament in Deland, Florida last weekend.

“I had a great opportunity to go and watch Michigan State play down here this past weekend.  I got a chance to see my little brothers play, and its hard to believe that they are all grown up and not the little turds I remember in the back yard.  Eric is strong as an ox now, and hit the ball very well this weekend, and he’s going to catch quite a bit as well.  He has really turned himself into a good player.  I also got a chance to see the little brother Jonathan, hit his first career home run, so now they have both one upped my career home run total of 0, but he looks like he has a chance to have a very good year, and a chance to be an unbelievable player down the road.  He made one fine catch up the middle that made me pretty jealous.  I know I’m bragging on them, but I’m pretty proud of how they have come along, not to mention the Spartans look like a decent team as well.”

“Little turds”… how affectionate. 

Roof said he expects good things from the Illini this year.  He and last year’s Big Ten Player of Year Lars Davis were both in town working out with the team before the season started.

Baseball Zealot Radio talks to Big Ten Hardball’s Brian DeCaussin

Brian DeCaussin probably knows more about Big Ten baseball than anyone I know.  If you’ve been to his blog, Big Ten Hardball, you might agree.

For our 40th episode, I interview Brian and we run through the Big Ten teams and discuss who’s hot (and who’s not).

Not only that, we have the advantage of having some real actual games to talk about since the college baseball season started last weekend.

Enjoy!

Time: 26:10

Date Recorded: 2/26/08

 

 

Download Episode 40 Listen to the show via iTunes!
Listen to other Baseball Zealot Radio episodes BZR Podcast Feed

Cub Shorts

cubs-shorts

After 2B Mark DeRosa experienced an issue with an irregular heartbeat, he declared it to be “not a big deal”.  Now, it seems that he is being sent back to Chicago for further tests with the possibility of outpatient surgery. 

Fortunately, it does seem treatable.  According to the Trib, “the Cubs second baseman could live with for his entire career with no ill effects.”

 

Cubs rival Milwaukee Brewers will be packing the stands this year.  They set a one-day record for ticket sales.  Their total of 98,000 tickets sold broke the record of 94,000 set in 2006.

 

Apparently, I was wrong the other day when I insinuated that Cub fans wanted to push Alfonso Soriano lower in the lineup.  Cubs blogger Joe Aiello from A View From the Bleachers makes his argument for keeping Soriano in the leadoff spot. 

 

Finally, there has been a legal battle brewing between the Chicago Cubs ballclub and Wrigley Rooftops, one of the businesses that charge admission to watch the ball games from the surrounding rooftops.  The conflict has to do with honoring a profit sharing agreement.  At least that’s the team’s side of the story. 

The Cubs are threatening to block the view of the field if the conflict isn’t resolved.  You can read the lawsuit here.