4/8/09: Linescore of the Day

gallardo1 Yovani Gallardo hit a three run homer off The Big Unit and as a result, outpitched him, allowing only two runs over six innings to pickup the victory. It was the first home run Randy Johnson has ever given up to the opposing pitcher in 506 at bats. Johnson tried to get Gallardo fishing on a two strike, two out, high heater, but he didn’t get it high enough, and this big fish was biting. Yovani got all of it & tattooed it out of the park. Gallardo was injured much of last year, but looks good to go!

Yovani Gallardo 1 for 2, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run scored, 1 SO

Yovani Gallardo (1-0) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

IBR interviews UM blogger before upcoming Illini series

In anticipation of Illinoisā€™ series with Michigan this coming weekend up in Ann Arbor, Iā€™ve done a Q&A interview with a blogger from Varsity Blue, a most excellent UM sports blog. 

You can find the Q&A over at Illinois Baseball Report.

Michigan is the defending Big Ten champs but VB will be the first to tell you that theyā€™ve lost more than a few players over the off-season.  So far, they are 18-10 (3-3 in the Big Ten).  Yet, they are still Michigan and it doesnā€™t help that we are playing on their home turf. 

Update: And yes, I did an interview with Varsity Blue where I give them the scoop on the Illini.

Go Illinois!!

Scientific American interviews UI professor on the physics of baseball

Just in time for the start of the baseball season, Scientific American has published an interview with University of Illinois physics professor Alan Nathan on his favorite topic:  The Physics of Baseball. 

Way back when at a time when we had the time to do a podcast, we interviewed Dr Nathan on Baseball Zealot Radio.  Iā€™m sure the physics of our sport havenā€™t changed too much so take a listen.

4/7/09: Linescore of the Day

Angels White Sox Baseball It was worth the wait, the White Sox home opener was postponed Monday because of snow. Then on Tuesday Gil Meche outpitched Mark Buehrle and KC was leading Chicago 2-1 going into the bottom of the 8th inning. But there was hope as Kyle Farnsworth, ex-Cub, was brought in the game replacing Meche to face the Good Guys in Black. Josh Fields got it going with a bunt single, he went to 3rd on Chris Getz’s hit & run single, things looked bleak when Carlos Quentin went fishing, striking out for the 2nd out of the inning, this was after Dewayne Wise failed to bunt Fields up, earlier in the inning. Designated hitter Jim Thome stepped in and took a 2-0 heater right down the pipe for strike one, Farnsworth must’ve thought Thome was overmatched as he tried to double up on Jim, not a good idea. Trying to get a fastball past Thome is kind of like trying to sneak the Sun past a rooster, it just ain’t gonna happen. Thome launched it up & out over the leftcenterfield fence for a three run bomb, Bobby Jenks retired the Royals in the top of the 9th, and just like that, we have a White Sox winner, the White Sox are in first place, and there are alot of happy humans on the Southside of Chicago.

Jim Thome, 3 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored

4/5/09 Linescore of the Day: Opening Day

Derek Lowe 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (Win)

There was only one game on the docket (not including the Dodgers and Giants who were still finishing up their Cactus League action) but Atlanta Brave starter Derek Lowe made the LSOTD pretty easy to select. 

Lowe shut out the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies for eight innings allowing only 2 hits and NO walks.  He struck out four batters. 

In three previous Opening Day starts, he was 0-3 with a 8.44 ERA so I guess he was due. 

The mercy rule… Kentucky-style

On April 1, the Kentucky State baseball team probably wishes it hadnā€™t gotten out of bed. 

According to AP, they allowed 22 runs to Eastern Kentucky, in the first inning.  After the first five innings, the score was an incredible 49-1.  At that point, the game was cancelled and so was the second game of the doubleheader. 

Donā€™t blame EKU Coach Jason Stein.  He did right by putting in second-string players after the first inning.  But the runs kept coming.

Since the game was cancelled, you wonā€™t find an official boxscore out there.  However, Jayson Langfels of EKU went 7 for 8 with 2 homers and 11 rbis.  It was also reported that Kentucky State committed 9 errors which in their coachā€™s eyes, ā€œwas generousā€.

Itā€™s quite a story.  Iā€™ve certainly heard of the mercy rule being invoked before.  But Iā€™ve never heard of it affecting future games (in this case, cancelling the second game of the doubleheader). 

Catching up with Illinois Baseball

 

sunmsu 094a

In case you havenā€™t been over to Illinois Baseball Report recently, Iā€™ve been quite busy covering Illini baseball as of late.   Illinois is doing wellā€¦ if you havenā€™t heard, theyā€™re ranked #26 in the nation.

Illinois swept Michigan State three games last weekend in probably the coldest games Iā€™ve ever attended.  You can find summaries and photos over at IBR. 

I did a Q&A with Indiana baseball blog Behind the Plate in anticipation of the upcoming Indiana-Illinois series this weekend.  Behind the Plate is a new blog done by a IU student.  If youā€™re a fan of Hoosier baseball, stop by BTP and give him some love. 

Behind the Plate returned the favor answering a few of my questions on IBR about the Indiana squad. 

For those who are in the C-U area, I encourage you to come out to a game or to this weekend.  I can promise you with certainty that the weather will be better than last weekend (no snow, no ice on the field). 

And stop on by Illinois Baseball Report and say hi!