Month: May 2007

Davis, Webb, Roark, Roof get recognition from Big Ten

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!

NO BRAINER TO PROMOTE BRAUN

Ryan Braun I first saw and heard of Ryan Braun when I went to watch prospects in the Arizona Fall League. Then I saw him again in Spring Training. I’ll be the first to admit that I may be a “Johnny Come Lately” when it comes to noticing this kid, but I’m TOTALLY sold!!! Ryan … Continue reading “NO BRAINER TO PROMOTE BRAUN”

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Ryan Braun

I first saw and heard of Ryan Braun when I went to watch prospects in the Arizona Fall League. Then I saw him again in Spring Training. I’ll be the first to admit that I may be a “Johnny Come Lately” when it comes to noticing this kid, but I’m TOTALLY sold!!! Ryan can flat out MASH!!!

More sights and observations from the Big Ten Tournament

Thanks to Brian DeCaussin from Big Ten Hardball for taking this photo of me in front of the field at Ray Fisher stadium at the University of Michigan. The stadium is great and the staff here have been very friendly and helpful. Special thanks goes to the lady in the Big Ten Conference T-shirt booth who looked out for me and yelled for me when they finally got the XXL shirts in.

As you can see, the wind on Thursday was sometimes fierce. At times, it would play havoc with fly balls (I saw at least two “easy” fly balls misplayed because the wind took a hold of it). And a couple hits that I thought were goners were pushed back in flyouts.

While watching the Iowa-Penn State game, a couple Minnesota coaches came and sat near us. Brian DeCaussin, who knows everything about Big Ten baseball, told me they were a couple of the assistant coaches.

Remember guys, no spitting in the stands.

I did a double take when I saw a Wisconsin shirt at Ray Fisher stadium. Not that Wisconsin didn’t make the tournament, the Badgers don’t even have a baseball team. I think he was with the Illini crowd though. His son had an Illini cap.

It’s 11:00am and I just stepped outside the cafe (thank you, Artisan Bistro… my wireless crapped out at my hotel and you came through) and I felt a few drops.

Up till now, it’s been fantastic weather if you don’t mind the heat. The breeze does help though unless you’re an outfielder or power hitter (see above). Bit of Big Ten tournament trivia from my program. Minnesota was declared champion in 1993 with a 2-0 record when the last games were rained out. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen here.

Go Illini!

The Big Ten Tournament says goodbye to Iowa

Thursday, Penn State defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 5-3 kicking them out of the tournament.

Iowa had a 3-0 in the 4th inning. As I walked by Ray, an Iowa fan Brian DeCaussin introduced me to, I said something like, “Iowa’s doin’ all right.”. Without a beat, he said, “Just wait, I’ve seen too many Iowa games to get comfortable with this kind of lead.”

The Penn State rally scores three to tie in the 4th inning

Just two minutes later, Penn State had scored two runs on a Cory Wine triple. Two more minutes later, they scored another. Penn State scored two more in the 7th to take the lead for good.

Sorry, Ray.

Dusty Napoleon

By the way, Iowa’s firstbaseman is junior Dusty Napoleon. Central Illinois folks might recognize Napoleon because he played for the Danville Dans. An added bonus… he also plays catcher.

Photos I took of Penn State-Iowa game here

Illinois tagged by the Gophers

Thursday, Illinois entered the loser’s bracket at the Big Ten Tournament as they lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-3.

Starter Mike Stankiewicz

The Gophers got to starter Mike Stankiewicz early as they hit him for 5 runs in the first inning and four runs before he got his first out. Brian Long replaced Stanky in the second but didn’t fare much better as he gave up 5 runs in 4 innings.

Down 10-0, the Illini did manage to make it interesting by scoring 3 runs in the 7th prompting a Minnesota call to the bullpen. To make things more intriguing, the bases were loaded with Lars Davis up. But no one can expect even Lars Davis to be the hero in EVERY game. Davis hit a deep fly out to center.

Ben Reeser

On the positive side, relievers Ben Reeser and Kevin Manson did a fine job once the damage was done. Combined they allowed no runs and two hits in 3 innings. Brandon Wikoff and Mike Rohde both had two hits.

All in all though, it was not a fun game. Down by seven by the second inning makes it really difficult. I kept thinking back to last Sunday thinking anything could happen. Well, it didn’t.

Some frustrated Illini after the Minnesota game.

The good news is that the tournament is double elimination where you get a second chance. The Illini next play Friday night at It isn’t clear. Ohio State upset Michigan Thursday night 4-2. That means the Buckeyes continue on in the Winners’ bracket. Michigan will play Penn State this afternoon and right after that, the winner will play Illinois. Both of those games are elimination games.

It’s hard to believe that #1 seed Michigan is fighting for their lives already.

My photos of the Illinois-Minnesota game are here.

Go Illini!!

Followup: I just wanted to add this… should #1 seed Michigan defeat Penn State, the Illini will remember that they DID win 2 games against them during the regular season. So do I wish for a Michigan matchup??? umm… maybe not. But it’s something to think about.

Illinois’ Lars Davis named Big Ten Player of the Year

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!

Things I see and people I meet at the Big Ten Tournament

Ray Fisher stadium, home of the University of Michigan baseball team, seems like a pretty decent facility. I (and at least one other person who I gave directions to) had a little problem finding the place partially because of all the construction going on and because I got some bad advice from a bus driver.

The construction is going on because they are renovating the Fisher stadium. Due date for completion is Winter of 2008. I like seeing money being thrown at this. It shows they are serious about the baseball (and softball) program. You can see the sign (and can actually read it) here.

There had to be at least 10-12 guys with pitching radar guns sitting behind homeplate. Like Pavlov’s dog, every time a pitcher go into his windup, uuuuppp go all of their radar guns in unison. I’m curious how many of them were legitimate baseball staff or scouts and how many were gadget freaks…

…not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I finally get to meet Brian DeCaussin from Big Ten Hardball. He and I have been in contact all season and he even did us an interview for Baseball Zealot Radio. I don’t think there is anyone who knows Big Ten baseball inside and out better than he does. We sat and watched the Illinois game in the “neutral” section. If any of you want some good info on Big Ten baseball,
check out Big Ten Hardball.

Finally, as I was talking to Mike Rohde, this gentleman comes up to me and says “Are you the Zealot? The guy posting all the pictures?” I told him I was. He told me he was Ryan Hastings’ father, Bryan and that he really appreciated seeing them. I asked if he had seen the nice one of Ryan signing autographs for the kids between games last weekend (it’s a good one). He said he hadn’t but he’ll get his wife to get online to check it out.

Well, Mrs. Hastings, I’ll make it easy for you, here it is…

…but to stay on topic how ’bout one of Ryan after scoring a run today?

Let’s get the Gophers tomorrow!

Iowa gets ‘Roarked’ by the Orange and Blue

Here we go, Illini, Here we go!

Here we go, Illini, here we go!

It sure is nice to be in the winners’ bracket.

No incredible comeback today at the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Nope, the Illinois had things pretty much under control from the very start against the Iowa Hawkeyes as they took them 12-3.

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Lars Davis and Tanner Roark

Starter Tanner Roark pitched great. He had a shutout going through seven innings. He gave up a three-spot in the eighth but settled down and pitched a zero for the last frame.

He had some help from the rest of the team, too. Illinois had five double plays, a conference tournament record. Not only that, they were in five consecutive innings.

By the way, the Hawkeyes weren’t taking too many chances with Lars Davis. They intentionally walked him twice him in the game.

Kyle Hudson was 3 for 5 with a triple and and three other Illini had 2 hits. In addition, Mike Rohde translated his single into 2 rbis plus an rbi on a groundout.

I talked to Mike after the game and asked about his shoulder. I asked only because they brought in Mike Giller to play first in the 9th. He says it still feels ok.

Tomorrow: The boys take on Minnesota at 2:35 (central).

Took lots of photos. Take a look.

Took a few at the Ohio State-Penn State game, too. The Buckeyes had State for lunch, 10-3.

Looking ahead to the Big Ten Tournament

I’m finally coming down a bit from Sunday’s incredible comeback by the Illini over Michigan State. It’s not often you see a team come back from a 7-0 deficit to win 8-7 in a must-win game. But I’m sure the Illini baseball team isn’t looking back… they’re looking forward. Forward to Wednesday at 11:05 (Central) … Continue reading “Looking ahead to the Big Ten Tournament”

I’m finally coming down a bit from Sunday’s incredible comeback by the Illini over Michigan State. It’s not often you see a team come back from a 7-0 deficit to win 8-7 in a must-win game.

But I’m sure the Illini baseball team isn’t looking back… they’re looking forward. Forward to Wednesday at 11:05 (Central) when they take on Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

For the record, Iowa is 17-13 (31-21 overall) good for fourth place in the Big Ten. Head to head, Iowa had the advantage winning three of four at Iowa City.

Word has it that the players left Champaign-Urbana Monday at noon. Hopefully they will get some rest before tomorrow’s practice day. They deserve it.

Here is the Big Ten Tournament web site.

Closing out the regular season

A couple of things are worthy of note before going on to the Big Ten Tournament:

First, congrats to closer Jake Toohey who won Big Ten pitcher of the week. He recorded a save and a win in Illinois’ series against Michigan State. The win, of course, was Toohey’s 4 1/3 inning appearance on Sunday where he allowed no runs and allowed the Illini to come back and win the game.

Somewhat lost in the shuffle this weekend was the fact that Shawn Roof has broken Andy Small’s career HBP record for Illini. Roof had two over the weekend giving him 45.

Finally, catcher Lars Davis finished out the regular season hitting .415, second in the Big Ten. The thing is, his batting average only tells part of the story. Without him, the team wouldn’t have made the Tournament. Nicely done, Crash.

Tomorrow is a travel day for me. I’ll be getting into Ann Arbor around 11:30pm.

Go Illini!!

DOUBLEHEADERS & A HANUKKAH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Buck called to say he had an extra ticket for Tuesday night’s game between the White Sox and the Yankees. I told him I’d take it, but thought better after checking the weather and seeing thunderstorms in the forecast. Sure enough the game was called at about 9:30 PM, without ever starting. The White Sox … Continue reading “DOUBLEHEADERS & A HANUKKAH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION”

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Buck called to say he had an extra ticket for Tuesday night’s game between the White Sox and the Yankees. I told him I’d take it, but thought better after checking the weather and seeing thunderstorms in the forecast. Sure enough the game was called at about 9:30 PM, without ever starting. The White Sox kept their fans in the ballpark watching the Bulls win a game over the Detroit Pistons on the scoreboard TV. Actually White Sox ballplayers left the park about 7:30, but fans weren’t told about the rainout for
a couple of more hours. There was plenty of time to buy overpriced beer. When it was time to shutdown the beer concessions, the game was called, the Bulls game was shutoff (even though there was over six minutes left in the game, although Chicago had it well in hand). The fans were told the game would be made up the next day as part of a day/nite doubleheader.

Wednesday looked much better, so I decided to head down to the Cell with Buck & his wife for game #1 of a split doubleheader. The Yankees hold over a 1,000 win advantage over Chicago in the alltime series between the two clubs. So it was time for a little payback. Rather than assuming my usual spot next to Nancy Faust (she was there, as it was a day game), we went out to the sunshine of the bleachers. It was a little chilly, so I wore a black sweatshirt, big mistake, I roasted in the sun, still much better
than freezing in the shade. Paul Konerko put the Sox up one with a 4th inning solo shot off Mike Mussina, the Yanks tied it in the 5th, the Sox took a one run lead in the bottom of the 5th, and the Yanks tied it in the 6th, but then Chicago posted three in the bottom of the 6th, and never looked back. As John Danks picked up his 2nd career win, Matt Thornton recorded the save, 5-3 final.

After the game we went over to Berucci’s on 24th, Buck & his wife went home after a fine Italian meal, but dropped me back at the Cell for the nightcap. I told the ticket guy I wanted the worst seat in the house, he looked at me a little strange, before charging me $25 for a seat way up in the leftfield upperdeck. It started cooling down, with nasty looking clouds rolling in, as I headed for my spot behind homeplate. It was good to see Tade there, although he looked cold from tailgating with friends between
games. Tade also said it was a bit nippy watching the first game in the shade. By sitting in the bleachers for the first game, I did miss out on seeing Al, Anthony, & Steve, not to mention NANCY! But I really did not miss freezing my butt off at a ballgame.

The night game was delayed one hour and all I could think of was deja vu all over again, but this time there was no Bulls game on the centerfield scoreboard. NickyV (my baseball traveling companion & big Yankee fan) was there with his buddy Ed. Nick & I would hang all the time, but that was pre-girlfriend (yikes, how things change, hadn’t seen NickyV since March). Also CLuke was in the house, with his main squeeze, but I ventured down to see him three times, before we finally hooked up, he gave me a ride
home, which was well appreciated.

A Wang fan from Taiwan was standing behind homeplate with me, rooting his hurler on to victory, in actuality, he didn’t need much help, although I’m sure he appreciated seeing his country’s flag in the hand of this fan. It was an old fashioned pitcher’s dual through six innings 2-1 Bombers. NY scored a couple of more in the 7th, before blowing it open with four in the 9th, final score 8-1 bad guys.

Thursday would be another doubleheader, but this time the Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons game would be the nightcap. The on-the-band-wagon/off-the-band-wagon Chicago sportswriters were big Bulls supporters once again. The Bulls got clobbered in games one & two in Detroit, then blew a big lead in Chicago, to go down three nothing. But with a win Mother’s Day in Chicago and a win Tuesday in Detroit, there was life, even though it was a 3-2 Piston series lead. I truly thought a win Thursday night would result
in a hard fought seven game series win for the Bulls, but I honestly didn’t think we were going to win game six.

But there was a daytime baseball game between the Yankees and the White Sox before basketball. Again it was a sunshiney/cool day, so I’d be watching much of this game from the bleachers. I took the Redline to the Cell, Buck was stuck in traffic, so I stood behind homeplate with Tade & Nancy, till Buck got there. Jon Garland was matched up against DeSalvo. When Buck got there, we headed out to the bleachers, Buck said, “Let’s watch Jermaine Dye’s homer”, the next pitch was GONE! Bobby Jenks was called on to
save the 4-1 win.

Buck dropped me off at Wishbone after the baseball game, where I met my Dad, for a bite, and it was time for Bulls playoff basketball. The Bulls came out strong and had a halftime lead, it looked like the Bulls might advance after all. But then reality set in, the Pistons won, and it was time to look to next year.

As for me, even though my guys would be headed for Wrigley, I was Waupaca bound for my niece’s Hanukkah birthday celebration (the celebration lasts for a week it seems). The highlight would be a trip to Build-A-Bear and Shrek 3 for my niece & all her friends.