Month: July 2007

Baseball Zealot Radio talks to Bryan Alaspa from Chicago Minor League Review

I’ve said it before but one of the best things about blogging and podcasting is meeting, albeit virtually, a wide variety of neat people who are associated with the game of baseball in one way or another. 

Show 25 is no exception.  I interview Bryan Alaspa who has begun a blog that concentrates on minor leagues in the Chicago area.  Bryan seems very excited about the whole project and when he asked if he could talk for a few minutes on BZR, I gave him a whole show. 

So when you’re done listening to Show 25, go out and visit his site, the Chicago Minor League Review. 

Direct Link to Baseball Zealot Radio Show 25

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Happy Listening!!

Baseball Reference: Neutralized Stats

An automated email showed up in my inbox yesterday to remind me that my sponsorship fee for the University of the Illinois page of Baseball Reference web site was due.  Of course, Baseball Reference is free to use… the sponsorship is a small thing I can do help out a web site that I use pretty much on … Continue reading “Baseball Reference: Neutralized Stats”

An automated email showed up in my inbox yesterday to remind me that my sponsorship fee for the University of the Illinois page of Baseball Reference web site was due.  Of course, Baseball Reference is free to use… the sponsorship is a small thing I can do help out a web site that I use pretty much on a daily basis.  If you haven’t seen the site recently, I highly recommend you check it out.  Sean Forman is adding new features to it all the time. 

One thing I hadn’t noticed till recently is the Neutralized Stats.  This is a way to compare players’ stats across the board.   

We adjust all of a player’s seasons from the park and league context of the seasons they played in into either a “neutral” setting (which is 100 park factor with 162-game season, 90% of runs earned, and 715 runs/team), or into a setting selected by the user with a particular year, league (with its runs/game and earned runs percentage) and home team (with its park factor).

Neutralized Stats is described in detail here.  You can access Neutralized Stats from all player pages at Baseball Reference.com.

By the way, if you haven’t heard our interview with Sean Forman, the force behind Baseball Reference.com, take a listen.  It’s an interesting show. 

 

Griffith joins Big Ten Network Broadcast Team

The Big Ten network have announced their broadcast team for 2007.  In addition to Charles Davis and Thom Brennaman, former Illini fullback Howard Griffith will be part of the second on-air team.   

The Big Ten network have announced their broadcast team for 2007. 

In addition to Charles Davis and Thom Brennaman, former Illini fullback Howard Griffith will be part of the second on-air team. 

 

Illini Recruiters bring on Kansas Product

Daniel Parker It’s recruiting season and the University of Illinois baseball staff are busy.  They’ve just received a letter of intent from Daniel PArker.  Parker is a SS/OF from Lawrence, Kansas.  Assistant coach Eric Snider was the key recruiter on this project and is high on Parker.  “He’s an offensive type of player who could … Continue reading “Illini Recruiters bring on Kansas Product”

daniel parker

Daniel Parker

It’s recruiting season and the University of Illinois baseball staff are busy.  They’ve just received a letter of intent from Daniel PArker.  Parker is a SS/OF from Lawrence, Kansas. 

Assistant coach Eric Snider was the key recruiter on this project and is high on Parker. 

“He’s an offensive type of player who could see some time in any spot in the infield or in the outfield,” said Illinois assistant coach Eric Snider, who was the lead recruiter on Parker. “He should make a contribution as an incoming freshman because he can swing the bat.”

Parker was Kansas Association Baseball Coaches All-State second team and led his team to a third place finish in 2007. 

FightingIllini.com:  Illini Add Kansas Native to Class of 2007

Reviewing the Chicago minor leagues

Sports fans in the Chicago area have a new resource to check out.  Bryan from Chicago Minor League Review is covering all the minor league teams in the Chicagoland area.  Not limited to the baseball spectrum, CMLR plans to cover all sports.  From their about page: The Chicago minor league sports scene has been growing … Continue reading “Reviewing the Chicago minor leagues”

Sports fans in the Chicago area have a new resource to check out.  Bryan from Chicago Minor League Review is covering all the minor league teams in the Chicagoland area. 

Not limited to the baseball spectrum, CMLR plans to cover all sports.  From their about page:

The Chicago minor league sports scene has been growing by leaps and bounds since about 1991 when the Kane County Cougars baseball team came to town.  Since then they have been joined by the Windy City Thunderbolts, Schaumburg Flyers, Joliet Jackhammers, Rockford Riverhawks, and Gary Southshore Railcats.  More than that, the other sports joined in.  The city now has the Chicago Wolves, Rockford Icehogs for hockey fans.  There are the Kane County Eagles, Chicago Rush and Rock River Raptors for football fans.  Finally, there is even the Chicago Throwbacks ABA basketball team for the basketball fans.

The Chicago Minor League Review is the one place where you can follow your teams.  It is an online magazine dedicated to covering and promoting the Chicago Minor League scene.  It has game wrap ups, informative articles and whatever else comes across their minds that will help improve the coverage of the Chicago minor league teams.

Stop by Chicago Minor League Review and say hi.

 

Baseball Zealot Radio Banter

CLuke and I did a show last night.  Here are the show notes:

Hosts: Tom and Chuck

Summary:  We touch on a variety of issues including the All-Star Game, vintage baseball, Tom’s 1979 APBA replay, the upcoming APBA convention and the woes of the Chicago White Sox.

As we said during the show, sometime co-host Shawn Lee is busy with the vintage base ball team, Vermilion Voles.  For a couple years, he’s been the webmaster for them so check out their website. 

This year, he’s picking up the bat and playing on the team.  Shawn said he couldn’t make the show because the Voles had a game.  Later, he reported back and said the Voles split their double header.  Interestingly, the team they played are from my hometown, the Urbana Boneyards. 

Here is the link to Tom’s 1979 APBA National League replay that we talked about during the show.  Much credit goes to my friend Brando who was responsible for the NL West.  As I said, we only got as far as July 26 but enjoy anyway. 

The APBA Convention is next weekend.  For those interested, here is the link to register (if it’s not too late).  Chuck mentioned the APBA Between the Lines Forum during the show.  I’d highly recommend it to any APBA player who wants to chat with others who play the game. 

Finally, one more promised link… Soxcast.com is a good podcast for White Sox fans.  George Heidcamp does a fine job covering the team. 

Thanks for listening!!

Direct Link to the Show

Baseball Zealot Radio website

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Joe Mercurio off to U of Maine: A case of bad timing?

News came out that last year’s backup catcher, Joe Mercurio has just signed with University of Maine. From Lower Hudson Online: For much of their childhood, Joe Mercurio and Myckie Lugbauer were the best catchers their age in Putnam County. Their skill eventually extended far beyond the county’s borders; as seniors they were two of … Continue reading “Joe Mercurio off to U of Maine: A case of bad timing?”

News came out that last year’s backup catcher, Joe Mercurio has just signed with University of Maine.

From Lower Hudson Online:

For much of their childhood, Joe Mercurio and Myckie Lugbauer were the best catchers their age in Putnam County. Their skill eventually extended far beyond the county’s borders; as seniors they were two of the best players in Section 1 period.

Back then Mercurio and Lugbauer were friendly rivals. Now they are teammates as Mercurio, a Kennedy graduate from Brewster, has signed with the University of Maine, completing a transfer from the University of Illinois.

 

I wonder about Mercurio’s timing. Long time backup catcher Aaron Ifft has graduated and of course, Big Ten Player of the Year and last year’s full-time catcher Lars Davis was snatched up in the First Year Player Draft. From my perspective, he would have had a shot at the #1 spot behind the plate. But Joe had his reasons:

Mercurio said he was promised playing time alongside junior catcher Lars Davis but the rotation never unfolded the way he hoped. Mercurio played in just 11 games (three starts) and Davis, an all-American, won the Big Ten player of the year and was drafted in the third round by Colorado.

“I wanted to go there and get better,” Mercurio said. “I felt I got worse when I got there.”

 

With the record season that Lars Davis was having, I don’t think Mercurio’s mother would have advocated a platoon situation.

Seriously, it’s too bad Joe will be gone. I enjoyed watching him play. In his rare starts, he always seemed to make a difference. I wish him the best at U of Maine.

Illini All-Stars

July is All-Star time not only for the Majors but also for the college leagues. University of Illinois is well represented on a few All-Star teams throughout the country. Scott Shaw and Joe Bonadonna faced off against each other last Wednesday in the Northwoods League All-Star Game. Shaw, who is 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA … Continue reading “Illini All-Stars”

July is All-Star time not only for the Majors but also for the college leagues. University of Illinois is well represented on a few All-Star teams throughout the country.

Scott Shaw and Joe Bonadonna faced off against each other last Wednesday in the Northwoods League All-Star Game. Shaw, who is 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA made the South Division team and Bonadonna with his 31 steals in 38 games, represented the North Division. The North Division won 3-2.

Meanwhile, infielder Dom Altobelli and pitchers Ben Reeser, and Aaron Martin have been selected to the American League All-Star team of the Coastal Plain League. All three play for the Fayetteville Swampdogs.

With similar stats, Reeser and Martin have been simply dominating this summer. Reeser is 5-0 with a 0.94 ERA. Martin, believe it or not, has him beat. He is also 5-0 with a 0.83 ERA. Altobelli is batting .297 with 33 hits and 33 rbis.

The Coastal Plain League All-Star Game is scheduled for July 17.

A Familiar Name

Bonadonna is on pace to break the Northwoods League for steals in a season. He needs 13 more to break the record of 44. Who holds that record??

Former Illini Ryan Rogowski

2007 APBA Convention one week away

APBA players note: The annual convention is one week away. This year, it will take place in Frazer, PA, not too far away from Lancaster, the home of APBA. It is scheduled for July 20-22. You can find out more details on the convention and how to register on APBA’s company web page. I won’t … Continue reading “2007 APBA Convention one week away”

APBAlogo

APBA players note: The annual convention is one week away. This year, it will take place in Frazer, PA, not too far away from Lancaster, the home of APBA. It is scheduled for July 20-22. You can find out more details on the convention and how to register on APBA’s company web page.

I won’t be attending this year but I would encourage any APBA fan who has the time to consider attending. They are a lot of fun. I’ve attended two APBA conventions in the past and had a blast both times.

A big part of the convention is the tournaments. I participated in the basic baseball game tourney both times. The first time (which I attended with DonS), I chose the Boston Red Sox of 1977. Lots of power, some pitching, and NO speed. Alas, Yaz, Rice, and Evans didn’t take me too far. I won the first round then was defeated.

The second time (the 50th anniversary convention which I attended with my friend Brando), I chose the Milwaukee Braves of 1965. Again, won the first round then fell flat. I did have the honor of losing to Eric Naftaly, former editor of the APBA Journal. Couldn’t have lost to a nicer guy.

As an aside, one guy used his 1953 original St Louis Cardinals cards in the tournament. It would have been a quite a scene if someone had spilled their soda on the cards (they are quite rare). Luckily, such an accident never happened.

Besides the tournaments, there are speakers, booths, and contests. But the best part of the whole thing is meeting folks from all over that play the silly dice game that you play and sharing stories.

For those attending, HAVE FUN!!