Big Ten conference play almost upon us

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The University of Illinois baseball season is underway.  All right, the season is over a month old but the Illini just had their home opener last night so I’m very excited. 

Illinois crushed Chicago State 18-2 for their first game at Illinois Field.  I have a wrap-up and photos of game over at Illinois Baseball Report.  Matt Milroy, who was chosen by the Red Sox in the 2009 MLB draft, got his first win for the Illini.

Interesting note:  Chicago State came in with a 13.57 ERA.  Illinois still managed to increase it significantly.

The one thing more fun than a home opener is the first Big Ten series at home.  Penn State comes to visit this weekend.  At IBR, I did an interview with Larry Fall who blogs about Penn State baseball at Happy Valley Hardball in anticipation of the big series. 

Go Illini!

Former Illini almost catches Derrek Lee’s homer

On Sunday night, the Chicago Cubs beat the Reds 5-2 thanks to some timely hitting by some part-timers, Koyie Hill. 

But Derrek Lee had a solo shot, too.  And for those Illini baseball fans who were paying attention, they might have noticed who attempted to catch the ball. 

None other than former Illini thirdbaseman, Dominic Altobelli.

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Alas, Lee’s homerun ball bounced off the wall out of Altobelli’s grasp and went back in to the outfield grass. 

Here’s the video of Lee’s homer and Dom just missing the catch.

Nice try, Dom!

Altobelli just finished his first season with the Casper Ghosts, the A affiliate for the Colorado Rockies.

Homerun first

Woo hoo!  Former Illini shortstop and friend of the Zealot, Shawn Roof has hit his first pro homerun.  It’s worth mentioning because the versatile infielder never hit one during his days as an Illini either. 

Don’t expect another one soon because the Roof waited till the last game of the Erie Seawolves’ regular season for his first dramatic first.

Congrats, Shawn!

Does Triple-A Cub catcher Robinson have a chance to make it to the bigs soon?

I’m trying to find a silver lining in the dark cloud that surrounds the catcher situation in the Cubs’ clubhouse.  Piniella’s quote, "We’re not scared of using Fox.", does not inspire confidence. 

If there is indeed a silver lining, it would be that perhaps it might give Triple-A Chris Robinson a shot at the majors. 

Robinson, who plays for the Iowa Cubs and hails from my alum, the University of Illinois, would certainly be qualified.  He just was named to the PCL All-Star team and is hitting the ball well (.317).  Robbie is known as a very good defensive catcher. 

I’ve seen Robinson play.  Yes, he can hit (not a lot of HR but plenty of gap power) but what I was impressed with in his college days was his leadership skills, how he took charge of a game and how he handled the pitchers. 

And the Cubs certainly could use a catcher like that at least in the interim while Soto is on the DL however long THAT will be.

Bleacher Nation has some thoughts on the Cubs’ catcher situation.  Their coming away with the idea that the Cubs are probably going to look elsewhere to solve their backstop problems in the meantime.

But Robinson was always noted as a defensive catcher, and he just happens to be hitting this year. Certainly the Cubs aren’t expecting a great deal of offense out of a backup catcher (see the current starter, Koyie Hill), so why the diss of Robinson? It’s really hard to figure.

Perhaps the answer is that the Cubs aren’t just looking for a temporary backup catcher. Maybe they’re hoping to land a temporary starting catcher who can become a backup when Soto returns. That would explain the looking around, though it, too, would be a bit strange given Hill’s excellent handling of the staff, if not excellent hitting.

Time will tell.  Most importantly, we’ll need to find just how bad Soto’s oblique strain really is and how long he’ll be out for.  No doubt, those who really need to know, probably already have a good idea. 

And more than likely, Robbie will get some more time to season in Triple-A before Chicago decides what to do with him.

MLB Draft: Illini get the call

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Altobelli: Ready for the Rocks

It was a good day for the Illini in today’s MLB draft.  Three were drafted.  Brandon Wikoff (5th round, Houston), Seth Schwindenhammer (5th round, Red Sox) and Dom Altobelli (16th round, Colorado) will soon be playing baseball and getting paid to do it. 

Altobelli was a senior.  Wikoff was a junior but any Illini fan paying attention knew he was on his way up.  Schwindenhammer was a 2008 recruit and never played for Coach Hartleb’s team. 

I did a write up on Altobelli and of Wikoff over at Illinois Baseball Report including some of my favorite photos of each. 

Congrats to all three!!

Followup:  I read on the Trib that if Schwindenhammer ever makes it to the bigs, his 15-letter last name will be the longest in major league history.  I wonder who he would beat.  I thought of the pitcher VanLandingham but that’s only 13 letters. 

Update:  On the final day of the draft, Matt Milroy, another University of Illinois recruit, this one a pitcher, got drafted.  Milroy was picked in the 35th round by the Boston Red Sox.

But don’t let me forget Joe Bonadonna.  My daughter’s favorite Illini player (maybe it was the way he hustled on the field or maybe it was awesome name), Bonadonna was chosen in the 43rd round by the Texas Rangers.  I did a similar write up on him on Illinois Baseball Report with some cool photos (Joe was a great photo subject!). 

Congrats again!

Where to go to get info on the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament

From May 20-23, the Big Ten Baseball Tournament will be in full force at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.  For those interested in keeping up on the latest news, here are some good places to start:

Official 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament page

Complete with the tournament bracket, schedule, and I assume, eventually box scores and wrap-ups.

 

Big Ten Baseball Programs

Good places to get the official word on your favorite Big Ten team.

  • Illinois Baseball
  • Indiana Baseball
  • Michigan State Baseball
  • Minnesota Baseball
  • Ohio State Baseball
  • Purdue Baseball

     

    … then there are the blogs.

    Buckeye Nine Tourney Central

    Chris Webb has brought online a repository of information surrounding the Tourney.  Great articles, info, links, and reviews (including one of Illinois written by yours truly).  Great idea by the Ohio State blogging contingent. 

     

    The Buckeye Nine

    I’m sure Chris will also be updating his Buckeye-specific The Buckeye Nine for all you OSU fans. 

     

    Big Ten Hardball

    Brian DeCaussin will continue to cover Big Ten baseball in the excellent way we’ve been accustomed.  If I want to get past the hype, I go to BTH.

     

    Behind the Plate

     

    Inside Pitch 

    Two blogs covering University of Indiana baseball. 

     

    Illinois Baseball Report

    Of course!  I’ll be at the tournament (leaving early tomorrow) and will be updating the site daily on the goings on from an Illini perspective.  I’ll be snapping photos and uploading like crazy.

     

    So let’s have some fun and go Illini!!

  • Illinois-Ohio State matchup this weekend!

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    #27 Ohio State is coming to town this weekend (most likely, they’re already here) to face #25 University of Illinois Fighting Illini.  The biggest series of the season is almost upon us. 

    I did an interview of Drew Grigsby, die-hard fan Buckeye fan and he gives a rather in-depth look at our adversaries.  It’s posted at Illinois Baseball Report where you’ll also find the schedule for the weekend. 

    The weather reports promise that the rain will clear up this afternoon so I’m looking forward to a great weekend!

    If you’re in the area, come on out this weekend and support the Illini baseball team!

    IBR links cuz it’s a happenin’ place

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    I just posted a Q & A of star shortstop Brandon Wikoff (above) over at Illinois Baseball Report last night.  He’s good now and is definitely worth keeping your eye on.  Check out the interview over at IBR.

    Illinois, fresh off their sweep of Penn State last weekend (which put them in a tie for first place with Ohio St in the Big Ten), just defeated Southern Illinois Salukis in a mid-week non-conference.  I just came from the game and was able to get some photos.  Check out the write-up and some photos also at IBR

    Finally, for those who keep tabs on Willie Argo (and you really should), he took the Big Ten Player of the Week Award for his performance against PSU. 

    PS. he’s not stopping there.  He hit a grand slam tonight.

    Go Illini!

    IBR interviews UM blogger before upcoming Illini series

    In anticipation of Illinois’ series with Michigan this coming weekend up in Ann Arbor, I’ve done a Q&A interview with a blogger from Varsity Blue, a most excellent UM sports blog. 

    You can find the Q&A over at Illinois Baseball Report.

    Michigan is the defending Big Ten champs but VB will be the first to tell you that they’ve lost more than a few players over the off-season.  So far, they are 18-10 (3-3 in the Big Ten).  Yet, they are still Michigan and it doesn’t help that we are playing on their home turf. 

    Update: And yes, I did an interview with Varsity Blue where I give them the scoop on the Illini.

    Go Illinois!!