Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
The schedule for Illini’s Orange and Blue series has mostly been set. Sept 28 – 4pm Sept 29 – 10am Sept 30 – 10am Oct 5 – 4pm Oct 6 – TBA This split squad series is a good chance to see the Illinois team in action! In other Illini news, I had already reported … Continue reading “Illini Orange and Blue Series”
The schedule for Illini’s Orange and Blue series has mostly been set.
Sept 28 – 4pm
Sept 29 – 10am
Sept 30 – 10am
Oct 5 – 4pm
Oct 6 – TBA
This split squad series is a good chance to see the Illinois team in action!
In other Illini news, I had already reported on Joey Bonadonna’s Rawlings Silver Glove award in the Northwoods League. Also in the NWL, Brandon Wikoff was named the Number 24 professional prospect as he played for the Madison Mallards.
Congrats to both!
Congrats are in order for University of Illinois’ Joe Bonadonna. He was awarded the Rawlings Silver Glove for his play at second base while playing second base for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League. In addition to his fine work with the glove, Bonadonna broke the league record with an incredible 75 stolen bases. … Continue reading “Bonadonna wins Northwoods League Silver Glove”
Congrats are in order for University of Illinois’ Joe Bonadonna. He was awarded the Rawlings Silver Glove for his play at second base while playing second base for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League.
In addition to his fine work with the glove, Bonadonna broke the league record with an incredible 75 stolen bases.
Great work, Joe!
In their respective collegiate summer leagues, Illini players Ben Reeser and Nick Stockwell won post season awards before heading back to the University of Illinois for classes. Reeser was dubbed Coastal Plain League Defensive Player of the Year after winning a Fayetteville Swampdog team record 8 games with a 1.61 ERA. Stockwell ended the summer … Continue reading “Reeser, Stockwell win Summer Honors; Fall Practice Begins”
In their respective collegiate summer leagues, Illini players Ben Reeser and Nick Stockwell won post season awards before heading back to the University of Illinois for classes.
Reeser was dubbed Coastal Plain League Defensive Player of the Year after winning a Fayetteville Swampdog team record 8 games with a 1.61 ERA.
Stockwell ended the summer season well. His Lombard Orioles won the Chicago Suburban Baseball League World Series and he was the Most Valuable Player of the series.
Back to School
Well, classes have started at the U of I and that can only mean one thing… Fall practice for the baseball team. They will begin drills next week,
Also, the dates for the Orange and Blue series have been set. Mark your calendar for the week of September 24.
Davis at the Big Ten tournament
University of Illinois catcher Lars Davis will have to make some more room on his mantle. He’s got another award coming.
Davis was named to the Louisville Slugger All-American Second Team. For those wondering, Buster Posey from Florida St was the catcher on the First Team.
Though he his a junior and Illini fans would hate to lose him, it is only reasonable to assume that the Big Ten Player of the Year will be testing the draft waters on June 7-8.
From an article on Canada.com:
āIād love to start a pro ball career, but worst-case scenario, I have no objections about going back to Illinois for another year,ā said Davis, who threw out a conference-high 24 base-runners on 84 steal attempts and sported a .972 fielding percentage.
Sounds like Davis is ready to catch some pro ball to me.
Good Luck Lars!
Four University of Illinois players were named to All-Big Ten teams on Tuesday,
Lars Davis and Tanner Roark
Catcher Lars Davis was named first-team All Big Ten. That was a no-brainer given that he was also Big Ten Player of the Year. I wrote a little about his accomplishments a couple days ago. It does bear mentioning that catchers are a strength in the Big Ten which makes the choice all the more meaningful.
Starting pitcher Tanner Roark was chosen second-team All Big Ten. A sophomore, Roark really came through for the Illini, especially in the second half. He was 6-1 in conference competition, leading the Big Ten in wins. Overall he was 7-2 with 35 strikeouts (also leading the Big Ten).
It was nice to have Roark start off the weekend knowing we would most likely start off on the right foot.
Daniel Webb
Daniel Webb was awarded third team All Big Ten as Designated Hitter. He batted .333 with a .403 OBP and 34 rbis. He played in all but 2 games for the Illini.
Shawn Roof
Finally, Shawn Roof was chosen as the Illini’s Honoree for the Big Ten Sportsmanship award. The 10 recipients are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Congrats to everyone!
Sitting in my hotel room in Ypsilanti, I just had this come across the ticker. Lars Davis has become the second player to be awarded the Big Ten Player of the Year award in three years. Drew Davidson won it in 2005.
Davis certainly has the qualifications. He led the conference in homeruns (13), slugging (.673), and total bases (144) and was second in batting (.415), hits (89), and rbis (56).
What you don’t see on paper is that Davis is leader on the field, a good defensive catcher, agile behind the plate… ok, I could go on for a while.
Congrats, Lars!
Kudos go out to David Pinto. His website, Baseball Musings has been listed #1 in the Top Ten Baseball Blogs about Major League Baseball compiled by Associated Content. It’s nice to see an intelligent sports blog get some recognition for once as opposed to the tabloid driven ones. I’m not about to analyze the Top … Continue reading “Congrats to Baseball Musings”
Kudos go out to David Pinto. His website, Baseball Musings has been listed #1 in the Top Ten Baseball Blogs about Major League Baseball compiled by Associated Content. It’s nice to see an intelligent sports blog get some recognition for once as opposed to the tabloid driven ones.
I’m not about to analyze the Top Ten list but I will say this: I was disappointed that it included team specific blogs. Once you include them, there are soooo many good many out there that it’s hard to narrow it down to ten.
Anyway, nice going, David!
University of Illinois secondbaseman Ryan Hastings has been named Big Ten Player of the week. Lately, Hastings has had a hot bat (and by a “hot bat”. I mean that literally). Last week, he was 8 for 11 and had the game-winning hit against the Buckeyes in Game 1 of their double header on Sunday. … Continue reading “UI’s Hastings gets rewarded for his efforts”
University of Illinois secondbaseman Ryan Hastings has been named Big Ten Player of the week.
Lately, Hastings has had a hot bat (and by a “hot bat”. I mean that literally). Last week, he was 8 for 11 and had the game-winning hit against the Buckeyes in Game 1 of their double header on Sunday.
Hastings, a local boy from Mattoon, Illinois, now lists sixth among all Big Ten hitters with a .395 batting average.
A word about Lars Davis
The latest press release from the Illini website is entitled “Davis Puts It Together Behind, At Plate”. Of course, it goes on about Lars Davis’ hitting and defensive prowess; all which is true. But what they don’t mention is Davis’ baserunning skills. For a catcher, it seems to me that he’s “got the skillz”
Davis will take enormous leads and make the opposing pitcher very nervous. I’ve seen pitchers throw to first to keep Davis close. Has he been picked off? Just once. In addition, he’s 2-2 in steals.
I’m not saying he a speed demon or anything. Just that in addition to everything else, he’s a smart baserunner that will keep the defense on their toes.
The Illini are scheduled to play Northwestern at Evanston this weekend. Weather-permitting, that is.
Former Cubs owner P. K. Wrigley On March 2, the Veterans Committee will announce the results of their balloting for selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Most Cub fans (as well as many baseball fans in general) will be hoping Ron Santo will hear good news on that day. Lesser known is that former … Continue reading “Wrigley gets a shot at Hall”
Former Cubs owner P. K. Wrigley
On March 2, the Veterans Committee will announce the results of their balloting for selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Most Cub fans (as well as many baseball fans in general) will be hoping Ron Santo will hear good news on that day.
Lesser known is that former Cubs owner P. K. Wrigley is on the ballot as well. His credentials are maybe less worthy.
But what struck me about this MLB.com article, was this paragraph:
Wrigley also instituted a “college of coaches,” which eventually developed into the modern-day type of coaching staff. The specialization of coaches is somewhat taken for granted today, but Wrigley’s innovation abolished the traditional field management structure that had dominated the game for years.
I’m not from that era so maybe I’m off base but I’ve never heard that analogy drawn before. Can anyone out there confirm or deny that the College of Coaches led to or influenced the development of the modern-day coaching staff?
All I’ve heard was that the COC was a big disaster and was eventually discarded after a couple years of sub-par (i.e cellar dwelling) performances.
Back to Wrigley, does anyone out there want to make an argument for his induction? MLB.com’s article doesn’t tout him too well. I think even I could spin Wrigley better. The first I would do is NOT bring up the College of Coaches.
And bobbleheads?
Baseball Zealot Radio put together a special show in response to the Hall of Fame selection. Hosts Tom and Todd bring in baseball history buff Chuck Lucas as guest host. We, of course talk about Ripken and Gwynn. But we also discuss those who didn’t, why and what their chances are in coming years. When … Continue reading “HOF is the topic of BZR”
Baseball Zealot Radio put together a special show in response to the Hall of Fame selection. Hosts Tom and Todd bring in baseball history buff Chuck Lucas as guest host. We, of course talk about Ripken and Gwynn.
But we also discuss those who didn’t, why and what their chances are in coming years.
When it comes to the baseball past, Lucas is second to none. We had a lot of fun doing the show. I hope you have fun listening to it.
Off-topic here: I need to be careful about chatting with these guys after we’re done recording the show. I ended up making a trade with Todd in our APBA league. I traded him Ray Durham for his 3rd round pick (It’s a continuous ownership league based on last year’s stats). I’m still happy with the deal. I’m hoping to pick up a young outfielder in our rookie draft in March with that pick.