Category: Minor Leagues

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.

 

Saturday night’s all right for ex-Illini Blomquist

Former University of Illinois starting pitcher Brian Blomquist is on a roll. He’s had four straight quality starts for the Southern Illinois Miners culminating in Saturday night’s outing. That night, he pitched a four-hit shutout against the River City Rascals. “It had been a year since I had thrown in a real game before the … Continue reading “Saturday night’s all right for ex-Illini Blomquist”

Former University of Illinois starting pitcher Brian Blomquist is on a roll. He’s had four straight quality starts for the Southern Illinois Miners culminating in Saturday night’s outing. That night, he pitched a four-hit shutout against the River City Rascals.

“It had been a year since I had thrown in a real game before the season started,” Blomquist said, “so I was still trying to get back into shape and get a feel for all of my pitches. Now, I finally think I have it.”

In a related note, I mentioned in a earlier post that Danny Almonte was a teammate of Blomquist’s on the Miners squad. Almonte became famous as a little league pitcher who brought his team to the World Series only to have us find out he was older than he reported.

Well. Almonte was cut from the Miners’ roster after posting a 5.28 ERA in six appearances. Deadspin has the details.

Os-Kee-Wow-wow hardball news

Turns out Ben Reeser and Aaron Martin aren’t the only Illini doing well this summer. Take a look at Joey Bonadonna who is spending his dog days playing for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League. Bonadonna has already broken the team single season record for stolen bases. He did it in style by stealing … Continue reading “Os-Kee-Wow-wow hardball news”

Turns out Ben Reeser and Aaron Martin aren’t the only Illini doing well this summer. Take a look at Joey Bonadonna who is spending his dog days playing for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League.

Bonadonna has already broken the team single season record for stolen bases. He did it in style by stealing nineteen bases in his first nineteen games. Primarily, a left fielder for the Illini in 2007, he is the starting second baseman for the Huskies. He currently has 21 thefts and leads the league.

Word from fightingillini.com is that Bonadonna will be featured on Northwoods Baseball Weekly show on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. (Central Time) on Thursday, June 28.

In Frontier League action, former University of Illinois pitcher Brian Blomquist got his first professional win Sunday. The Southern has the details. Blomquist pitched six strong innings as his Southern Illinois Miners won 13-3 over Slippery Rock.

Former Illini Blomquist gets his first pro start

Blomquist pitching for the Illini in 2006 Former University of Illinois hurler Brian Blomquist got his chance to pitch on the professional level last Saturday night. Blomquist, who had just signed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League didn’t have wait long to show what he’s made of. He got the call to … Continue reading “Former Illini Blomquist gets his first pro start”

Blomquist pitching for the Illini in 2006

Former University of Illinois hurler Brian Blomquist got his chance to pitch on the professional level last Saturday night. Blomquist, who had just signed with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League didn’t have wait long to show what he’s made of. He got the call to start against Evansville

All things considered, Blomquist didn’t do badly though he did get the loss. He allowed three runs on 5 1/3 innings with 4 strikeouts.

Box Score

Blomquist pitched for the Illini between 2002-2006. In 2005, he had a 10-3 record with a 3.53 ERA.

Good luck to Brian this season!

Hmm…put this in where are they now category: One of Blomquist’s teammates is none other than Danny Almonte.

No Minor Loss- Joe Bauman

Joe Bauman passed away today.  Fans will know that this name belongs to the minor league home run record holder who banged 72 dingers in 1954 for the Roswell Rockets of the Longhorn League.  He was 83. Bauman won the Triple Crown that year.  Along with his 72 homers, he batted .400 with 224 rbis.  … Continue reading “No Minor Loss- Joe Bauman”

Joe Bauman passed away today.  Fans will know that this name belongs to the minor league home run record holder who banged 72 dingers in 1954 for the Roswell Rockets of the Longhorn League.  He was 83.

Bauman won the Triple Crown that year.  Along with his 72 homers, he batted .400 with 224 rbis.  He also led the league with 150 walks. 

Here are some of his career stats:

Games 1019
Batting Average .337
Homeruns 337
RBIs 1057