October, 2007 | The Baseball Zealot

2008 schedule is out for Illini

The 2008 schedule for the University of Illinois baseball team has been finalized. As for the non-conference part, some of the usual suspects are on there. The Illini will be playing in the Al Ogletree Classic to begin the season February 22. Some of the new teams on the schedule include Central Connecticut and Northern … Continue reading “2008 schedule is out for Illini”

The 2008 schedule for the University of Illinois baseball team has been finalized.

As for the non-conference part, some of the usual suspects are on there. The Illini will be playing in the Al Ogletree Classic to begin the season February 22.

Some of the new teams on the schedule include Central Connecticut and Northern Iowa and Kansas.

Fighting Illini website has a wrap up. While you’re there, take some time to admire the renovation they’ve done on their web site. Nice job!

Here is link to the actual schedule.

Only four months to go!!

Long wait ends in disaster for Rox

The Rockies waited a long time to get here. They rested eight days since they swept the Snakes. For the record, that’s the second longest rest before a World Series Game 1. You would have to go all the way back to 1910 when the Philadelphia A’s waited ten days before their series with the Cubs… … Continue reading “Long wait ends in disaster for Rox”

The Rockies, however, got off on the wrong foot(hill). There’s not much to say other than Beckett was on and so was the Boston offense. The Sox broke the record for the largest difference in score in a game one of World Series. Eight doubles seemed like a lot but it’s not a postseason record.

A word on Manny Ramirez. I wonder what columnist Ken Rosenthal is thinking now. Rosenthal who last week, wrote a column for Fox Sports entitled Manny’s antics aren’t a laughing matter, must be eating his words. Or probably not. Regardless, Boston simply loves Manny’s “antics”.

With Game 1 in the books, I’m not writing off the Rockies quite yet. They were facing Boston’s best hurler in enemy territory after being dormant for eight days. They have an uphill row to hoe but it’s only one game.

One more note: I always like note when Matt Herges, a native of Champaign, Illinois, gets the job done. Despite the shellacking that the Rockies took. the Colorado reliever managed to pitch a perfect one and a third innings allowing only a walk.

Zealots face off in IAL All-Star Game

Teddy Ballgame (left) and I wishing each other good luck before the IAL All-Star Game Last weekend was the Illowa APBA League All-Star weekend. Zealot co-writer Teddy Ballgame and I faced off as managers of our respective divisions… … and the best team won. The West Division, behind the hitting of Game MVP Joe Mauer … Continue reading “Zealots face off in IAL All-Star Game”

Teddy Ballgame (left) and I wishing each other good luck before the IAL All-Star Game

Last weekend was the Illowa APBA League All-Star weekend. Zealot co-writer Teddy Ballgame and I faced off as managers of our respective divisions…

… and the best team won.

The West Division, behind the hitting of Game MVP Joe Mauer beat the East Division 6-3. Mauer hit a 5th inning two-run homerun to put the good guys ahead for good. Honorable mention goes to leadoff man Hanley Ramirez who went 2 for 4 with walk and two runs. For the East Division, Miguel Cabrera managed to clobber a two-run dinger in the ninth to make things interesting.

Along with the actual All-Star weekend, all ten of us managed to get 30 games played for our 2007 season (our 32nd year in existence). As for my Twin City Thunderchickens, well.. we didn’t fare so hot. In the five six-game series, we didn’t any. We managed a split in three of them and went 2-4 in the two others. A major factor was a power outage. Albert Pujols hit only 2 homeruns and 7 rbis in 26 games.

One highlight: For my Thunderchickens, John Lackey pitched a no-hitter through 11 innings. Unfortunately, he gave up a hit in the 12th but he got the win (and shutout) when we FINALLY scored a run in the 13th. Very frustrating game that our offense could not come through earlier.

But the best part of the weekend was the camaraderie with ten guys who love baseball. Discussions on the real value of Pete Rose vs Ty Cobb, whether Manny Ramirez is under-rated as a fielder, and of course, trade talk for the upcoming season.

For those wondering what APBA is or what the IAL is about see What is the Illowa APBA League?

Jitterbugs barnstormers

I found out today that a graduate student in my building plays on a barnstorming baseball team called the Jitterbugs. From the Jitterbugs web page: The Jitterbugs are a barnstorming baseball team, the brainchild of Murdock native Lucas Stock, composed of players from all across Nebraska. In its whirlwind season, the team is playing more … Continue reading “Jitterbugs barnstormers”

I found out today that a graduate student in my building plays on a barnstorming baseball team called the Jitterbugs.

From the Jitterbugs web page:

The Jitterbugs are a barnstorming baseball team, the brainchild of Murdock native Lucas Stock, composed of players from all across Nebraska. In its whirlwind season, the team is playing more than a dozen games against town and Legion teams in parks as far east as the Missouri and as far west as the Sandhills. Following in the footsteps of Lucas’s uncles, who traveled the state playing baseball over half a century ago, the Jitterbugs are dedicated to reviving the fun and community of small town baseball.

Check out their web page. Yes, it has photos and stats but the blog entries are well written.

Court says MLB Stats not copyrightable

In the case of CBC Distribution and Martketing v. MLB, a court of appeals upheld an earlier decision that MLB players’ names and stats are not copyrightable A correct decision in my opinion. I want to write more but I’m busy packing appropriately enough, for our APBA league All-Star weekend which also uses player’s names … Continue reading “Court says MLB Stats not copyrightable”

In the case of CBC Distribution and Martketing v. MLB, a court of appeals upheld an earlier decision that MLB players’ names and stats are not copyrightable A correct decision in my opinion.

I want to write more but I’m busy packing appropriately enough, for our APBA league All-Star weekend which also uses player’s names and stats to some extent.

In the meantime, read more about the decision at Ars Technica.

Veterans coming through in the ALCS

I got this email today from Teddy Ballgame: TEK & KENNY, was that all T*CHIX or what!!! Of course, he was referring to Jason Varitek and Kenny Lofton who hit homeruns for their respective teams in Game 3 of the ALCS. The T-Chix reference is for my Twin City Thunderchickens, my Illowa APBA League team. It’s … Continue reading “Veterans coming through in the ALCS”

I got this email today from Teddy Ballgame:

TEK & KENNY, was that all T*CHIX or what!!!

Of course, he was referring to Jason Varitek and Kenny Lofton who hit homeruns for their respective teams in Game 3 of the ALCS. The T-Chix reference is for my Twin City Thunderchickens, my Illowa APBA League team. It’s nice to get some positive reinforcement (even though playoff stats don’t count in APBA).

I drafted Kenny Lofton as a rookie in 1993 along with Moises Alou as part of my “These Chickens have Legs” campaign to increase the speed of my lineup. He was a solid leadoff man and centerfielder for several years but he didn’t stay on my forever. Ironically, Lofton in our league mirrored the real Lofton getting traded from team to team. But it was always my team that he was traded back to.

Regarding Lofton (the REAL Lofton), he’s going on ~~sixty-two~~ forty-two years old but I was talking to a friend of mine a couple weeks ago and I told him I thought he would be a valuable asset in the post season. I mean he does have eleven years and a whopping 91 games of post season experience. I didn’t think he’d do it with the long ball mind you but the kind of player Kenny is, he’ll help the team in many ways in October that just don’t show during the regular season.

Go Kenny!

Soto finishes up 07 with MiLB Offensive Player of the Year award

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto was good enough to make the September roster. Lou Piniella tabbed him to go to the playoffs. Now, Soto has another award to go with his PCL MVP. MiLB has honored him with the Offensive Player of the Year award. Check the PCL leaderboard and you’ll see why. His name litters … Continue reading “Soto finishes up 07 with MiLB Offensive Player of the Year award”

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto was good enough to make the September roster. Lou Piniella tabbed him to go to the playoffs.

Now, Soto has another award to go with his PCL MVP. MiLB has honored him with the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Check the PCL leaderboard and you’ll see why. His name litters the board. Soto, who played for the Iowa Cubs, is in top 5 in batting average, rbis, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and I’m sure I’m missing some.

Not convinced? He’s got quite a glove, too. Soto only had three errors and threw out 31% of potential basestealers.

Lou Piniella likes him too:

“You’ve got to like the young man,” Piniella said. “We’ve had other kids come up here from Triple-A with high averages, but this kid has a high average, a lot of RBIs and a lot of home runs. We liked him this spring. I see a kid here who could be the No. 1 catcher next spring.”

With the recent dearth of talent at catcher, Geovany is coming at the right time. I foresee a lot of playing time for him in the bigs in 2008.

Minnie Minoso honored with Robinson award

AP Photo Minnie Minoso was given the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Legacy award was sponsored by the Negro League Baseball Museum. I remember baseball historian Adrian Burgos singing Minoso’s praises while on our podcast. He mentioned a personal beef that many sportswriters hold that Ernie Banks was the first black baseball star in … Continue reading “Minnie Minoso honored with Robinson award”

Minnie Minoso

AP Photo

Minnie Minoso was given the Jackie Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Legacy award was sponsored by the Negro League Baseball Museum.

I remember baseball historian Adrian Burgos singing Minoso’s praises while on our podcast. He mentioned a personal beef that many sportswriters hold that Ernie Banks was the first black baseball star in Chicago. With all respects to Banks, he contends that Minoso has that honor.

Reds pick up Dusty Baker

AP Photo Don’t this beat all? Dusty Baker was signed for three years by the Cincinnati Reds. To be their manager. Really. I actually had high hopes when he came to the Cubs. To give credit where credit is due, we DID go to playoffs his first year with the Cubs (it’s hard to forget … Continue reading “Reds pick up Dusty Baker”

Dusty Baker

AP Photo

Don’t this beat all? Dusty Baker was signed for three years by the Cincinnati Reds. To be their manager. Really.

I actually had high hopes when he came to the Cubs. To give credit where credit is due, we DID go to playoffs his first year with the Cubs (it’s hard to forget that post season).

But the decline is easy to see. Under his leadership, the Cubs went from first, third, fourth, then last. THAT is not the direction I like to to go.

Baker is generally blamed for two things with the Cubs. Overusing his starting pitchers and over-reliance on veterans (to the detriment of younger players). That said, there have been studies that have possibly proven that his overuse of pitchers is a myth. Tell that to the fans and the media.

Baker is seen as a “player’s manager”. Perhaps to a fault.

Cubs fans are a picky bunch and personally I was one of the last to hitch a ride on the “Dump Baker” bandwagon. Facts are facts. Dusty has a winning record in the MLB (baaarely). He has three first place finishes and a NL championship.

Would I want want him back on the Cubs? Not on your life! It’s a moot question, anyway. The fans and media wouldn’t allow it.

I’d wish him well in Cincinnati but he’s in our division. Just be gentle with the pitchers.

Interesting stat fact about Dusty: His winningest season as a manager (103 wins in 1993 with San Francisco) didn’t even get him into the playoffs.

10/13/07 LCS Linescore of the Day: Jhonny Peralta

Jhonny Peralta: 3 for 5, 2B, HR, 3 runs, 4 rbis Jhonny P was the man with the bat (and the glove.. he was involved in 3 DPs) in Cleveland’s 10-6 win in Game 2 in the ALCS. The much heralded 1-2 punch of both the Red Sox and Indians have faltered with the possible … Continue reading “10/13/07 LCS Linescore of the Day: Jhonny Peralta”

Jhonny Peralta: 3 for 5, 2B, HR, 3 runs, 4 rbis

Jhonny P was the man with the bat (and the glove.. he was involved in 3 DPs) in Cleveland’s 10-6 win in Game 2 in the ALCS.

The much heralded 1-2 punch of both the Red Sox and Indians have faltered with the possible exception of Beckett. Josh pitched ok on Friday allowing two runs in six innings. The combined ERA of the starters in Games 1 and 2 is an even 9.00 (19 ER in 19 innings). That was not to be expected from three Cy Young candidates and a perennial post season pitcher.

It seems right now, that the ALCS will be won with the bat not the arm.