May, 2008 | The Baseball Zealot

Michigan takes the Big Ten Tournament crown

The University of Michigan Wolverines have won the Big Ten Tournament championship. But first things first:

Dan Black knocked out 3 homers against Indiana today

This afternoon, Purdue and Indiana played each other for the right to take on Michigan. Purdue put runs on the board easily thanks to the efforts of Dan Black who blasted 3 homeruns for the day and added a sac fly for his fifth rbi. Brandon Haveman had four hits for the game.

Indiana did make an attempt at a rally, though. Down 10-3, they scored four in top of eighth to make it 10-7. That would be all their offense would produce and Purdue won 11-7.

Purdue-Indiana photos here

Purdue faced Michigan again for the second time this week. Michigan handed them their only loss. It looked like the result might be different this time when Purdue score two runs early. However, Michigan scored a run on a error in the fifth and another on a Ryan Lamarre solo shot.

Tied 2-2, Kevin Cislo hit his 2nd double of the day in the seventh inning. He was grounded ove to third then Purdue reliever Andy Loomis released a wild pitch that put the go-ahead run on the board.

Michael Powers pitched the last two innings for the save for Michigan.

Final Score Michigan 3 Purdue 2

I’d like to say I have photos for this game but I don’t. It’s a long story.

Saturday’s lineup at the Big Ten Tournament

Indiana catcher Josh Phegley

I’m still getting used to the fact that Indiana is still in the tournament. Obvious underdogs not just of the tourney but the Big Ten season in general, they’ve come a long way.

Coming in to the tournament as the #6 seed, they didn’t overwhelm in the first game when they lost 6-1 to Penn State. Since then, they have caught fire. Scoring 35 runs in the next three games behind the bats of Chris Hervey and Josh Phegley, they have won all three do-or-die matches. In those three games, Hervey is 8 for 12 and Phegley is 7 for 14 with 8 rbis.

Jordan Comadena and the rest of the Boilermakers will be ready for the Hoosiers

Today brings a matchup between Indiana and #2 seed Purdue at 3:30. The reward for a win is the task of taking on the Wolverines of Michigan. That game takes place tonight.

If Michigan wins tonight, they will be the 2008 Big Ten Tournament Champions. If not, there will be a re-match Sunday to determine the champion once again proving the benefit of being in the winner’s bracket.

2008 Big Ten Tournament Photos

Some sights at the 2008 Big Ten tournament

The Big Ten Network began broadcasting the games by the third round. This camera operator didn’t care for me taking her picture even though she was poking her camera into Illinois’ dugout a good part of the game.

This is a mid-game interview of Coach Hartleb of Illinois. This goes for MLB too but my feeling is let the manager do his job. There’s nothing he can say then that can’t wait till after the game. This is just a failed gimmick on TV sports media’s part.

On the left Steve Putnam and on the Brian DeCaussin from Big Ten Hardball. The three of us chatted Thursday.

Zach Putnam is Steve’s son and considering what Zach did to our Illini, I’d say some mean things but he’s a really nice guy and actually a Illinois alum so I won’t.

No team in the tourney gets in the game more than the Purdue Boilermakers. Whether it’s yelling encouragements to the pitcher or batter or riding the opposition, they’re doing it. There’s constant chatter. They’re always up on the railing making themselves the tenth player.

Something I noticed… when the Boilermaker pitcher makes the third out, four or five of them run out to meet him with high fives and ‘atta boy’s. In my opinion, that’s got to make a difference.

Quote of the Week:

“Ok, you’ve told the world you’re going to sacrifice. Now get the job done!”

-Indiana Coach Tracy Smith to an Indiana batter who fouled off a pitch while attempting a bunt.

my photos of the 2008 Big Ten Tournament this week (I’m closing in on 400 taken so far)

Zealot coverage of the 2008 Big Ten Tournament

Schedule, Boxscores and other info hosted by UM

Indiana, Michigan winners at Big 10 tourney today

Indiana defeated Penn State 11-8 and Michigan continues their winning ways by defeating Purdue 6-1. You can read my recap of the games at The College Baseball Blog.

Indiana’s Celebration…

Penn State’s Disbelief

I will say that the PSU-IU game was one of the best games I’ve seen at the Big Ten Tournament. Never had I seen such rollercoaster of emotions as I was sitting behind some Penn State fans (including Joe Blackburn’s parents). The top of the ninth their team had come back from a 3-run deficit to take the lead.

The next half inning, a grand slam erases all of that. That’s a lot to take.

more photos of the Penn State-Indiana game and the Michigan-Purdue game.

Update: I saw Tyler Cox’ grand slam and the ensuing celebration on ESPN’s SportsCenter last night. Now, they’ll start paying a little attention to college ball, Brian from Big Ten Hardball told me.

Illini comeback attempt not enough in Big Ten tourney elimination round

Ryan Hastings: 3 for 4, 2 doubles

It was a valiant effort to be sure. But Illinois will not be playing any more games in the Big Ten Tournament and will be heading home. Indiana defeated them 14-7 earlier today in Day 3 of the Big Ten Tournament.

Despite the score, Illinois made it interesting. Down by 9-1, they rallied. Scoring three runs in the 7th and 8th innings, they came within two runs 9-7. But that was all they could muster and to add insult to injury, Indiana added five more in the bottom of the 8th.

Indiana hit the ball and and hit it hard. The tandem of Chris Hervey and Josh Phegley were a two-man wrecking crew. Between the two of them, they were a combined 7 for 8 with 8 rbis and 8 runs.

Altobelli coming home to score

Ryan Hastings and Dom Altobelli came through with 3 hits for the Illini. Casey McMurray, who was 2 for 3 with 2 rbis, keyed the 7th innng rally with a 2-run double. Hastings, Altobelli, and McMurray all got base hits in the 8th inning spurt of runs.

Credit John Schlichter for taking one for the team. He took two. Schlichter was hit by the pitch twice in the game and scored both times.

Indiana’s Tyler Tufts got the complete game win.

More photos from the game

Tournament info

More Zealot coverage of the Tournament

OZZIE PRESSES THE RIGHT BUTTONS

Rookie Cleveland lefthander Aaron Laffey was locked in a pitcher’s dual with Mark Buehrle last night. Toby Hall got his third hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the 8th. Then manager Ozzie Guillen took over by sending Brian Anderson in to run for Hall. Orlando Cabrera tried to bunt the runner up, but failed, striking out, this after dropping a throw on an attempted steal, didn’t endear me to OC. No matter, Guillen put up A.J. Pierzynski to bat for Alexei Ramirez, who’d had a pretty game with the stick, himself. A.J. Pie sent a long flyball to the track in center, Grady Sizemore’s throw to second was too late to get Anderson, who tagged up on the play. Minutes later Kenny Williams’ latest find, Carlos Quentin plated Brian with a single to left, taking 2nd on the throw home. Jermaine Dye knocked in Quentin with another hit. Bobby Jenks held the lead for Scott Linebrink. Linebrink got the win in relief of Buehrle. Buehrle battled all the way, without his normal pinpoint control, walking four through seven innings of work. Back-to-back Broom Series, I can get used to this.

Rather than watching this game in person, I caught it late night via TIVO using Slingbox over my laptop. I had to endure the Hawk & D.J., who aren’t quite as bad when we’re winning. I’m up in Waupaca this weekend, so no games in person till the next homestand. LET’S GO SOX!

Heartbreak in Ann Arbor

Scott Shaw

Let’s make one thing clear. Despite what those of you looking the boxscore might be thinking, Scott Shaw pitched the game of his career. I don’t know if we could have asked any more of him. Shaw held the potent Wolverine lineup to one run three hits for six innings.

Unfortunately, it was seventh that got away from us. A double, an intentional walk to Big Ten Player of the Year Nate Recknagel, another walk… well it just got ugly. Credit Michigan 3B Adam Abraham for coming through with the two-run single.

Three runs scored in the seventh and the Illini never recovered.

Michigan won 5-2.

Zach Putnam

Michigan starter (and DH) Zach Putnam was pitching just as effectively but we didn’t have the big inning on him as they did on us. He struck out nine in seven innings and allowed 2 earned runs.

I also give some credit to the fans. They came out in droves. Michigan or no, it’s good to see fans supporting their college baseball team.

More photos from the game here.

I’m keeping this short because it’s time to go to the ballpark. Illinois is playing Indiana in an elimination game.

They’ll be more later.

Long day ahead at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament

Joe Bonadonna made his one hit count Wednesday

A quick post before I head out for the second day of the Big Ten Tournament.

What’s on for today?

First up at 12:05 is Loser’s round game where we find out who gets to go on in the tournament and who gets to get on the bus. #5 seed Ohio State faces #6 seed Indiana.

At 3:35, Penn State who defeated Indiana yesterday afternoon, will take on #2 seed Purdue. Purdue is a tough team who have a formidable offense as Illinois found out last weekend.

Finally, at 7:05, host Michigan will take on Illinois who are fresh off their first round win.

A busy day for the Big Ten tournament for sure.

Which announcer will we get?

I’m not a picky guy but I have to say the PA announcer for the Illinois-Ohio State left something to be desired. Between announcing the wrong defense at the beginning of the game and announcing players out of order it got a little nuts.

But when he referred to our team as the ‘Fighting Irish’, that was it. I think the crowd cheered a little extra louder when it was time for the stadium’s “Junior Announcer” promo when a lucky 10-year-old announced the players. He got the players right.

It didn’t go unnoticed when Penn State-Indiana played, they got a new announcer.

Congrats and Encouragement from an Alum

I just got an email from former Illinois SS Shawn Roof this morning. Roof is currently playing for the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Gulf Coast League. He’s enjoying the updates and photos. He passes on congrats and greetings to everyone.

Apparently his roommate at Lakeland is a Michigan grad so there’s some trash talking going on between the two.

All for now, I stepped outside and though it is a bit overcast, it did stop raining and forecast for the day looks good.

Go Illini!

Link to photos of Big Ten Baseball Tournament

JUST KEEP ROLLING ON

Indian rookie firstsacker Michael Aubrey hit his second career homer to put the Tribe up one-zip. Joe Crede hit a broken bat flyball over the leftfield wall, only to have David Delucci snatch it back for the second out in the fifth, preserving Paul Byrd’s no-hitter. The very next hitter Nick Swisher broke it up for real with a sharp single to right.

After being hit with a pitch his first time up, then walking in his second plate appearance, there was no place to put Jermaine Dye when he stepped to the dish in the 6th. The Good Guys were trailing two to nothing with runners on 1st & 3rd as Byrd fell behind Dye, had to come to him, and Jermaine made him pay with a towering three run bomb to left. Soon Byrd had flown the coop, without his 100th career win, replaced by Jorge Julio.

Joe Crede rocketed a line drive out of the reach of Delucci for an RBI two base hit, Nick Swisher walked to fill the bases, and then Alexei Ramirez was robbed by Ben Francisco of a bases clearing double, and had to settle for a sac-fly. And the White Sox had to “settle” for five runs in the 6th.

Jermaine Dye turned around a Julio fastball for his 2nd homer of the game, the overflow crowd chanted J.D. until he came out for a curtain call. Lefty reliever Craig Breslow was brought in to serve up a blast off the bat of Jim Thome, who seems to be getting hot.

Boone Logan was called upon to close out the 7-2 win, but was replaced by Scott Linebrink with two on and only one out in the 8th, Linebrink did his job. The Sox turned it over to Matt Thornton, who pitched a scoreless 9th.

There were chants of, “LET’S GO WHITE SOX!”, as I walked down the middle of 35th to the L. This will be my last time visiting the Cell in May, won’t be there again till June, as I’m going to Waupaca tomorrow for the Memorial Day weekend. 5/22 will be Welcome Back Carlton Fisk Night. Hopefully the winning streak will still be going on when I venture back down to U.S. Cellular Field.

Some assorted Big Ten Tournament photos

The newly renovated home of the Michigan Wolverine baseball team with the complicated name of “The Wilpon Baseball Complex home of Ray Fisher Stadium”. Too much like Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Anyway, it IS nice.

Joe Blackburn has once again gotten a mohawk like last year.

Speaking of hair and ballplayers, it looks like the Purdue team is making their own statement with their locks.

For my money, the Penn State fans are the loudest, most raucous fans in Big Ten baseball. Not in a drunk obnoxious way but in a sort of soccer mom way.

And it’s these women who lead the pack.

Big Ten Tournament photos