UI Loses the Itch

Maybe others saw this coming but this came as a surprise. UI Baseball coach Richard “Itch” Jones has decided to retire after 15 years as Illinois coach and 39 years of college coaching. Then again, there’s something to be said for getting out while you’re on top. Itch led the Illini to a Big Ten … Continue reading “UI Loses the Itch”

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Maybe others saw this coming but this came as a surprise.
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UI Baseball coach Richard “Itch” Jones has decided to retire after 15 years as Illinois coach and 39 years of college coaching.

Then again, there’s something to be said for getting out while you’re on top. Itch led the Illini to a Big Ten title and he won the Big Ten Coach of the Year award in 2005.

Jones is 13th all-time among Division I coaches in wins with a 1,240-752-6 record. His other achievements:

Coaching Honors
2005 Big Ten Coach of the Year
1998 ABCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year
Big Ten Coach of the Year
1990 NCAA Division I Diamond Baseball Coach of the Year
1978 The Sporting News National Coach of the Year
1971 Adirondack National Coach of the Year

Team Accomplishments
2 Big Ten Regular Season Titles (1998, 2005)
1 Big Ten Tournament Title (2000)
8 Missouri Valley Conference Titles (1975, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’81, ’84, ’86, ’90)
3 College World Series appearances (1971, ’74, ’77)
12 NCAA Regional Appearances (1970, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’81, ’86, ’90, ’98, ’00)

Hall of Fame Inductions
American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Southern Illinois University Hall of Fame
MacMurray College Hall of Fame
Illinois High School Association Baseball Hall of Fame
Illinois High School Association Basketball Hall of Fame
Jacksonville High School Hall of Fame
Herrin High School Athletic Hall of Fame
(Source: fightingillini.collegesports.com)

He managed 40 players who went on to play professional baseball including 22 major leaguers.

I always had a good view of Coach Jones from where I stood at ball games since Jones was third base coach. I enjoyed hearing him yell back encouragements, suggestions or perhaps even comments on the umpiring back to the home dugout.

Thanks, Coach!

A Visit with Wild Bill

I got a chance to meet Wild Bill Holden. For those who missed my earlier post, Wild Bill is a Cub fan who is walking from Arizona to Wrigley Field and raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) along the way. He’s made it all the way to Illinois and through public events and donations over the web, he’s raised over $75,000.

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Wild Bill’s stop on Friday was at a Culver’s Frozen Custard and Butterburgers Restaurant in Morton, Illinois. My buddy Brando and I were traveling through town so we made plans to stop. We got there around 6:30 and the only signs that anything special was happening were 1) Culvers’ workers were wearing Cubs hats, 2) there was a table with some items for auction and most evident 3) there was a line of (mostly) guys in (mostly) Cubs hats and shirts waiting patiently in line to have a few minutes with man dressed in Cub blue sitting at a table enoying a double cheeseburger and fries.

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Here is Bill sitting with two reporters while trying to squeeze in a bite or two.

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Wild Bill granted an interview to a local TV new station. Before the interview started, he spotted me in my Chicago Cubs 1908 World Championship T-shirt. “Hey, nice shirt!”, he said.

In the background, they have the This Old Cub video playing. This Old Cub is the story of former Cub thirdbaseman Ron Santo. Wild Bill says he was inspired to do his walk by this video.

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Finally, I got a chance to spend a few minutes with Wild Bill. I found him to quite charming. He spoke of the Cub fans’ “ownership” of the team which he feels is unique to the team. He related a couple stories of Cub fans he has met throughout his journey.
I asked him how his knees were holding up. He said they were fine but I could tell by the way he moved that I bet he’s getting a bit sore.
At the end, he favored me with a photo which you see above.

Rumor has it that Wild Bill will be throwing out the ball at Wrigley Field on July 1 and will also be leading the crowd in Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Finally, if you have any dollars left in your budget, please consider donating or purchasing the This Old Cub video which helps the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

6/11 Linescore of the Day

Felipe Lopez, Cincinnati Reds 2 for 5, HR, 2 runs, 6 rbis Felipe Lopez, the leadoff man, nonetheless managed to drive in six runs in the 10-1 drubbbing of the Orioles. Up until 2005, Lopez has batted .235 and 22 homers in 4 seasons but somehow has found his stroke and is hitting .307 with … Continue reading “6/11 Linescore of the Day”

Felipe Lopez, Cincinnati Reds
2 for 5, HR, 2 runs, 6 rbis

Felipe Lopez, the leadoff man, nonetheless managed to drive in six runs in the 10-1 drubbbing of the Orioles.

Up until 2005, Lopez has batted .235 and 22 homers in 4 seasons but somehow has found his stroke and is hitting .307 with 10 homeruns.

Bensko Signed by Twins

In Sunday’s paper, I read that Illini firstbaseman Dusty Bensko, who was not picked in last week’s MLB draft, was signed by the Minnesota Twins. He joins Toby Gardenhire, who was drafted by the Twins organization. Congratulations, Dusty!

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In Sunday’s paper, I read that Illini firstbaseman Dusty Bensko, who was not picked in last week’s MLB draft, was signed by the Minnesota Twins.

He joins Toby Gardenhire, who was drafted by the Twins organization.

Congratulations, Dusty!

6/10 Linescore of the Day

Zach Greinke, Kansas City Royals 4 1/3 IP, 15 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HR Greinke was one of the hottest rookie pitchers to come out of last season. So much so, a lot was expected from him this year. I know in our APBA league, he was the first … Continue reading “6/10 Linescore of the Day”

Zach Greinke, Kansas City Royals
4 1/3 IP, 15 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HR

Greinke was one of the hottest rookie pitchers to come out of last season. So much so, a lot was expected from him this year. I know in our APBA league, he was the first pick in our rookie draft.

Well, after this outing, his ERA is now at 6.01.

The ironic thing is that he did not get the loss as KC came back to force the game to go to extras.

Illini Dusty Bensko and the MLB draft

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TBZ commentor ylees wonders why Illini firstbaseman Dusty Bensko wasn’t drafted this week in the MLB draft. I have to say, that question crosses my mind, too.

He led the team in homers with 16 and hit .317.

I contacted the News-Gazette sports department for their take on it and they were kind enough to respond with an opinion. Jeff Huth, sportswriter, and resident baseball expert says:

“I’m puzzled about Bensko. All I can think of is that he did scuffle a bit toward the end of the season, although, given his stats, I suspect teams really tried to pitch around him. Wouldn’t be surprised if some team signs him as an undrafted free agent after it determines which drafted players it can and will sign.”

I hope for Dusty’s sake that he’s right.

Barmes Changes his Story

Well, it turns out Colorado shortstop Clint Barmes wasn’t carrying groceries when he tripped on the stairs and broke his collarbone as previously reported. It was a package of deer meat he got from buddy Todd Helton after they tooled around on ATVs all day according to today’s stories. But don’t even think that Barmes’ … Continue reading “Barmes Changes his Story”

Well, it turns out Colorado shortstop Clint Barmes wasn’t carrying groceries when he tripped on the stairs and broke his collarbone as previously reported.

It was a package of deer meat he got from buddy Todd Helton after they tooled around on ATVs all day according to today’s stories.

But don’t even think that Barmes’ injury had anything to do with his ATV riding. Not a bit. Because Todd Helton says so:

“I cannot say it strongly enough — he did not get hurt riding an ATV,” Helton told the newspaper.

Hmm… it’s one of those times when it wouldn’t have crossed my mind except for the fact that he’s so vehement about convincing us it isn’t true.

Barmes only has good intentions…

“I just didn’t think it was right to bring Todd Helton into something like this,” Barmes was quoted as saying.

Nicely kept secret, Clint.

Followup: I caught this on an article on ESPN’s site.

Helton said he, Barmes and rookie teammate Brad Hawpe were riding about 5 mph.

That made me chuckle… I envisioned Barmes, Hawpe, and Helton puttering about in their ATV’s going about 5 mph.

Good grief, Helton. If you’re going to tell a story, make it believable.

About

A little about me.  I live in Urbana, Illinois and am a husband and father of two children (5 and 8).  I work as a network administrator at the University of Illinois.  I have followed baseball for as long as I can remember.  One of my first baseball memories was seeing Ernie Banks hit a … Continue reading “About”

A little about me.  I live in Urbana, Illinois and am a husband and father of two children (5 and 8).  I work as a network administrator at the University of Illinois. 

I have followed baseball for as long as I can remember.  One of my first baseball memories was seeing Ernie Banks hit a grand slam at Wrigley Field when I was about 5 years old.  I’ve been a Cub fan since.

My baseball interests? 

Aside from following current baseball, I enjoy baseball history a great deal.  (By the way, read The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract if you get a chance.  You don’t have to agree with him to enjoy his stuff).  I’ve been to the Baseball Hall of Fame four times.  I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Ernie Banks, Bench, Yaz, Mathews inducted in the Hall.  If you are a baseball fan and have never been to Cooperstown, make plans now.  It’s well worth the trip.

I am a stat freak to a point.  I enjoy crunching baseball numbers but am still getting used to some the new stat categories being thrown about by SABR-types and quite frankly find some of them useless and confusing.

I am an avid player of APBA baseball, a baseball simulation game.  I am a manager of the Twin Cities Thunderchickens in the Illowa APBA League, a continuous ownership league which has been around for 30 years. 

So am I an expert in all things baseball?  I wouldn’t say that.  I have many friends who are probably more solid in their analysis.  I do have a good knack for finding information (and hopefully passing it on). 

The purpose of the Zealot is not necessarily to report on every single baseball news item out there.  The major news outlets do a good job of that already (well, usually).  The Zealot is here just draw attention to baseball goings-on that I might interesting, thought-provoking, maddening, or just strange.  I also like to throw-in a few obscure, off-the-wall stuff to make the site that much more interesting.  Finally, if there is a baseball resource out there on the web that not everyone may be aware of, I like to bring up front.  Keep in mind, the target audience of the The Baseball Zealot is not just the seasoned veteran of baseball blogs but also those baseball fans out there finding their way around the Internet. 

Enjoy the site,

Tom