A Tip of the Cap 2011: And the Winner is . . .

Best Heckling

The 2011 edition of the Simmons Savages.

Made up largely of "redshirt" and RED (Retired-Extremely Dangerous) MU ballplayers (plus the brother of a former - and current - Tiger), this group of loud and creative fans sat in the first two rows of Section B, the hallowed historic hunting grounds of Johnny Hi hecklers. From that vantage point they were able to direct loud and distracting comments to the batter, the umpire and - their favorite target - the catcher. They were also able to be heard by the visitors' dugout (prompting one diminutive nepotistic batboy to heckle them in return). But perhaps the best feature of their chosen seats is the proximity to the visiting batters' on-deck circle, offering them the chance to make suggestions and comments to upcoming batters that could only be heard by those very close by.

Here's an enthusiastic tip of the rally cap to this latest incarnation of Simmons Savages. Long may they heckle.

The Ian Kinsler Base Cadet Award

This annual award has been given out every year since its first recipient, the now-famous Ian Kinsler, distinguished himself with his unique style of head-in-the-clouds base-running. Considering how far he has come since then, Missouri Tiger base-runners since then have pursued with eager abandon the honor of the title Base Cadet. Former Tigers and current professional ballplayers Brett Nicholas, Ryan Lollis and Brock Bond have all chased and stumbled onto this award.

But the competition for the award has gotten out of hand. So much so that for 2011 the Base Cadet can't be limited to a single player, but is being awarded to the entire team. And that includes both base runners and their coaches.

The photo above is Dane Opel in the 6th inning of the Sunday game against KU. He has been picked off first base and for a few long seconds he lay face down on the ground, spread-eagle.

Frustration.

Not just frustration at getting picked off at that moment in that inning of that game by THAT team, but frustration that yet another 2011 Tiger stumbled into yet another reckless base-running mistake.

At times during the long and painful part of the season, it seemed as though the players were so surprised to actually reach base that they forgot to focus on the next job at hand.

The coaches also sometimes seemed surprised to look up and see their players running toward them at third base. There's a reason Tim Jamieson installed himself as the third base coach, a task he hasn't done regularly for nearly a decade.

I took a certain young sports writer to task early in the season for being rather rude in his attack on the Tigers' base running and on Coach Jackson's performance of his duties at third base. I realize now that he was right (although he was a bit rude about it).

After the Tigers ignited a rally to score twice and pull within a run of LeMoyne, Eric Garcia laced a single into left field and Brannon Champagne, representing the tying run, took off for third. But that is where he stayed.

“I was scoring,” said Champagne. “In my mindset, I was going no matter what. And then obviously, they were playing a little in and he hit it hard so [third base] Coach [Kerrick] Jackson held me up.”

“I kind of was surprised [that Champagne did not advance], but at the same time, I don’t think they wanted to make two outs at the plate,” said LeMoyne centerfielder Brett Botsford, who threw out the potential tying run at the plate earlier in the inning. “I understand, but I was surprised because that’s the tying run and you never know what’s going to happen with the next at bat.”

(CollegeBaseballDaily.com, 3/12; Missouri: Play Smart and Aggesive?, by Fred Katz)

The Tigers were definitely trying to be more aggressive. They finished the season 3rd in the Big 12 in stolen bases. But hey were 7th in the conference in Stolen Base Percentage, at 69.6%. Sabermetricians will generally agree that the farther your stolen base success rate drops below 80%, the more you're actually just hurting yourself instead of increasing your run-scoring potential.

So, kudos to the team for trying. In the new world of BBCOR baseball, aggressive base-to-base run production is vital. But aggressive should not equal reckless.

Jay Bell Award

This award is given annually to the player who achieves the greatest success against the Kansas Jayhawks, named in honor a former Tiger pitcher who mowed down the KU batters during a mid-week game back in the 90s.

It's always hard to name the best performance against the Jayhawks in a year when KU beats MU 3 games to 1. But in that one win, there was a gutsy effort.

Matt Stites pitched 6-1/3 innings and gave up just a single earned run. In the fifth inning he was hit sharply on the leg by a batted ball, but stayed in the game. for another inning and a half until McCormick relieved him.

The Tiger offense struggled to produce hits and runs throughout the game, but in the 9th inning Champagne reached 1st on a hit, Garcia sacrificed him to 2nd with a bunt, and then Blake Brown singled to right field, driving in Champagne for the winning run.

Phil McCormick got the Win, but Matt Stites get the Jay Bell Award for a gutsy performance against the Jayhawks.

Black & Gold Glove

There were times during the low points of the season that it seemed the team was using not only new bats but new gloves: Stealth Gloves. Balls seemed to miss the gloves or bounce off an invisible force field, and throws seemed to take a course designed to elude both radar and the intended target.

But looking back at the stats, there were some noteworthy performances. Two regular starters accumulated just 3 errors, while another finished with only 2. No one heading into this season would have predicted the one who got only 2.

Jonah Schmidt has not been known for his defense during his career at MU. He always seemed the sort of player for whom the designated hitter role was created.

I'm not going o say he became an outfielder extraordinaire in 2011, but he did manage to lead all starters with only 2 errors. He deserves a tip of the cap for that feat, but his fielding percentage of .941 keeps me from giving him the Black & Gold Glove.

Blake Brown racked up a puny 3 errors for the season. He distinguished himself as being willing to put his body on the line in order to make the play. I've no doubt many fans remember the game where he end up laying on the grass in the outfield after one play. I know his mother does.

But our Black & Gold Glove Award goes to Catcher Ben Turner. Ben wrestled hold of the starting catcher's job early in the season and never let go. His numbers include just 3 errors, a .991 fielding percentage and only 5 passed balls. He gunned down 18 of 34 base stealers, limiting opponents to a .654 success rate (anything less than 80% us considered counter-productive as an offensive strategy). Ben Turner's leadership behind the plate was an integral part of this team's battle through the long season.

John McKee HBP award

Brannon Champagne earned this title, named after the single season HBP record holder at MU.

Conner Mach and Ryan Ampleman come in a very close second in HBPs, but Champagne not only has 1 more HBP than they do, but he showed his true toughness in a game against LeMoyne on March 11, taking 4 HBP in a single game.

Here's a tip of the cap to "Champ" for taking one - or four - for the team.

Mark Alexander Phoenix award

Last year's Phoenix award winner, Phil McCormick, still amazed fans this season with his continued success after nearly falling off the baseball map.

But Eric Anderson earned the Phoenix award for 2011, with his steady and determined comeback from injury and labrum surgery. Those who followed the 2011 Tigers from the beginning to the end watched his tentative turns as a hitter and first baseman, then his stints on the mound in relief opportunities. Each time he appeared in a game he seemed to be stronger than the previous outing. Then he was put on the mound to start mid-week games, with a careful pitch count and watchful eye from the coaches. Not only did he get stronger with each start, but he seemed to get stronger with each inning, often blowing batters away in the later innings more powerfully than he did at the game's beginning.

By season's end he was the Friday night starter and Ace of the staff.

Prospects for the 2012 season appear much brighter knowing that EA should be available to lead the staff starting with that first Friday in Auburn.

Stand By Your Son Award

Kenny and Wilma Fick have been faithfully attending baseball games at Taylor Stadium for the past four years, usually sitting above the home dugout, up on the walkway. They have been there even when they knew it was unlikely they would see Kelly get into a game. And there were long stretches when his name and number seemed to have fallen off the coaches' roster listing. But they were there.

Kenny could be seen before each game down by the picnic pavilion, leaning on the wall, watching practice. Kelly would always stop by and chat for a moment or two on the way from pre-game exercises to the dugout at game time. The bond between father and son was easy to see in their eyes and in the calm and easy way they spoke to one another. It's easy to see where Kelly learned his easy-going manner and his bulldog determination on the mound.

Most memorable performance of the year

While we're on the topic of Kelly Fick, his pitching performance in the 4th game of the Big 12 Tournament was without a doubt the highlight of the season for me. Knowing it was possibly his last outing as a Tiger, he pitched his longest and most effective outing of the season. And that #21 jersey hanging in the dugout (see below) gave his performance an almost surreal quality. And then there was this quote, from the Austin American-Statesman:

[Texas Head Coach Augie] Garrido was asked about the solid — and surprising — performance of Tigers starter Kelly Fick.

“Who is Kelly Fick? Their pitcher?” Garrido responded. “Very impressive.”

Your Name in Lights

The new razzle-dazzle scoreboard was in place last season, but this year they learned to use it to a bit more of its potential. Still waiting for the instant replay, but there were some notable new uses of the giant screen - some pretty good, and one pretty bad.

Before the season, someone gave each MU player a chance to standing front of the camera and be filmed for their brief moment in the spotlight for the pre-game reading of the roster. Some of the guys stood there looking unsure what to do, a few took swings. One notable did a little juggling, and a certain senior took the chance to show off his muscles. I'd be in favor of even more creative mugging for the camera next season, guys.

The worst use of the new scoreboard was the various video clips. A few were entertaining the first time we saw them, but lost their luster on the 10th or 12 viewing. And then there was the Japanese game show clip that was annoying (and annoyingly loud) the first time, the second time, and every time.

Here's a wild idea. Instead of using the same lame clips every other ballpark uses, put some of MU's film and media students to work producing some original spots for the usual baseball opportunities. After a strikeout, show MU Softball's Chelsea Thomas blowing the smoke off the end of a revolver. Get Chris Gervino or Coach McArtor or Frank Haith (he can use all the pub he can get) to record some sort of witty or deadpan comment. Maybe Phil Bradley would do a "There's no crying in baseball" clip. My ideas are all pretty lame, sure. But I know there's plenty of creative video makers on campus - just look at YouTube. Let's see some original material up there.

And while we're at it, there's a host of videos on YouTube of various artists from Harpo Marx to Jerry Lee Lewis performing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". Let's liven up that seventh inning stretch.

Least missed Coach (and team)

Big 12 baseball waved good-bye to Nebraska a little earlier than Mike Anderson would have preferred, since his Huskers didn't qualify for the Tournament. Apparently NU AD Tom Osborne didn't think Anderson was qualified to be a Big Ten head coach, giving him his walking papers after the final weekend.

There will be no more opportunities to see Big Mike wearing his sunglasses at night or screaming in the face of an umpire. We won't be able to make fun of his big butt as he walks to the mound.

Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey, Good-bye, Mike!

A year later, Big 12 is back from the brink (St. Louis Post Dispatch, 5/29)

As a year of transition comes to an end with this weekend's Big 12 baseball tournament that featured neither Colorado (doesn't play baseball) nor Nebraska (didn't qualify), the 10-team conference now is reworking its bylaws to fit the new membership.

We're all broken up about it.

Best Reasons to Watch Major League Baseball

A tip of the cap to the Mizzou alums in the Major Leagues.

■ Reason #5: Ian Kinsler has had a slow start to the 2011 season, but I have no doubt he'll get the momentum going soon. It was a treat to watch him in the World Series last Fall, and it would be great to see him there again.

■ Reason #37: Max Scherzer is having a great year for the Tigers - the Detroit Tigers. When I see him in interviews on TV, he's developed that Major League demeanor. But I can still see that goofy young guy in those eyes.

■ Reason #43: Aaron Crow, after a too-lengthy lay-off between college ball and pro ball, was an "overnight" phenom in Spring Training and has been wowing Royals fans ever since. I never thought I'd root for the Royals, having grown up as a Cardinal fan, but now I'm Root Root Rooting for the Royals and Crow.

■ Reason #1: My entire approach to the MLB had changed. Once a die-hard Cardinal fan and National League partisan, the only thing that really catches my attention any more is watching a major leaguer who I saw play or pitch at Simmons Field once upon a time. Doesn't really matter who they're playing for, it just adds something special to the experience to remember what that guy was like as a college player. Joba Chamberlain, Dan Haren, Ryan Howard, and the list goes on. Even a chump like Alex Gordon can at least make me chuckle when I see him playing for the Royals. I'll always think of the Holiday Inn when I see him.

I just hope and pray I never have to see a certain former Louisville player in the big leagues. Not sure I could stomach that.

Jersey of the Year

Regular followers of SimmonsField.com will know that I make a hobby out of collecting jersey numbers of MU players past and present. It's not surprising then that this story was a special one to me. Here's a tip of the cap to the people in Joplin who are rebuilding their city and their lives, and to all the people from around the state who are helping them pick up the pieces.

That's it for 2011, folks. I may post less often this summer, but we'll still cover the Draft next week and whatever info we get on Summer Ball, MU alums in the Minors and Majors, and this fall's crop of recruits (have they released that list yet?).

A Tip of the Cap to all of you who tell me you appreciate what I do. There's times I wonder if it's worth the work and time, but you always keep me coming back.

Be sure check out the entire 2011 Tip of the Hat series:

• Monday: The Long Season
• Tuesday: By the Numbers
• Wednesday: Quotes & Quibbles
• Thursday: And the Winner is . . .