Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Conference Hokey-Pokey™

Its finally official: The Aggies have announced their intent to leave the Big 12

A&M to seek other athletic conference (aggieathletics.com)
Texas A&M University today officially notified the Big 12 Conference that the institution will submit an application to join another athletic conference. Should this application be accepted, Texas A&M will end its membership in the Big 12 Conference effective June 30, 2012.
Message to Tiger fans from Athletic Director Mike Alden (mutigers.com)
As you are likely aware, Texas A&M has informed the Big 12 Conference that they will be making application to another league for their future athletic conference affiliation. That announcement was made this morning in a letter to the Big 12 from President R. Bowen Loftin of Texas A&M.

With the impending departure of the Aggies, where does the Big 12 Conference stand on its future? Dan Beebe, as our Commissioner, is focused on maintaining the Big 12 as a strong and viable league in college athletics. Dan and his leadership team at the Conference Office are working to expand the schools in our league and they have taken an aggressive approach in this manner. As you might imagine, those workings by the league offices are highly confidential and require a great amount of research, coordination and focus.

Dr. Brady Deaton, who is our Chancellor at Mizzou, is the current Chair of the Board of Directors of the Big 12. I know that Dr. Deaton, myself and all of us at Mizzou are committed to working hard to keep the Big 12 a strong and successful conference. We look to Commissioner Beebe and the Big 12 staff to develop and implement the plans necessary for the future.

Monday, August 29, 2011

2012 Mizzou Recruit: Hunter Haynes, LHP

♦ Hunter Haynes, LHP
5'10", 148 lb, L/L
Mexico, MO

W/L: 5-0 IP: 47 K: 78 ERA: 0.89

Left-handed ace and area ERA champ won half of his team’s games, and he could have won more if not for low run support and bullpen blowups. He handed Boonville its only conference loss in the North Central Missouri and allowed no earned runs in another meeting with the Pirates. With only 10 walks on the season, Haynes struck out nearly eight batters for every walk allowed.
♦ Fastball range 81-86 (pgcrosschecker.com)

Hunter Haynes is a 2012 LHP/OF with a 5-10 148 lb. frame from Mexico, MO who attends Mexico HS. Young slender frame, good frame. Cross body delivery, compact arm, hides ball very well, easy release out front, 3/4's slot. Low 80's fastball topped out at 84 mph, curveball deep and sharp, nice pitch, flashed deceptive straight change, has pitchability and 3 solid pitches. Upright hitting stance, balanced base, quick loose hands, solid line drive stroke, patient looking for his pitch, solid contact, ball jumps off well, very sound hitting fundamentals, should improve with strength. Nice two-way talent. Very good student.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

2012 Mizzou Recruit, Alec Rash, RHP

Alec Rash, RHP
6'5, 195 lb, R/R
Adel DeSoto Minburn HS (Adel, IA)

♦ 2012 RHP Alec Rash (Adel, IA) showed a very fast arm sitting 90-92 mph at MW Top. #Missouri commit (@PerfectGameUSA on Twitter, 8/27/11)

♦ 2010 Iowa High School Baseball All-State Team, Class 3-A 1st Team


♦ Rash transferred to Pelham HS (Pelham, AL) from DeSoto-Minburn High School in Adel, Iowa, between the 2010 and 2011 seasons. After playing at Pelham during his junior year, he has returned to Adel, IA, for his senior year.

Rash back in Iowa, at Midwest Top (PefectGame.org, August 27, 2011)
Rash, whose fastball has approached the mid-90s, has been at nine Perfect Game events since 2009, including four seasons in the popular PG Spring and Fall Wood Bat Leagues. PG ranks Rash as the No. 2 top prospect in the state of Iowa in the class of 2012, trailing only Bloomfield right-hander Calvin Mathews, who is also here this weekend.
. . .
Rash has verbally committed to Missouri, where he will narrow his pursuits to simply baseball.

“I wanted to play in the Big 12 and it’s close to home. I think I made the right choice,” Rash said. “I loved the coaching staff, I loved the pitching coach (Matt Hobbs) down there and they have a great campus.”
Perfect Game Scouting Report (2011)
Alec Rash is a 2012 RHP/ with a 6-4 180 lb. frame from Des Moines, IA who attends ADM.. Long loose body, very projectable. Standard leg raise delivery, stays tall, compact arm action, tight high 3/4's release point, quick arm circle, has shortened up over the last year, arm works well. Fastball to 92 mph, mostly straight with good downhill angle, maintains velo well from the stretch, throws fastball to spots. Varies break/shape on curveball, some big sweeping shape, others shorter downer break. Nice feel for change, good life, should throw more. Has all the pitches and should keep getting better.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

2012 Tentative Schedule

I've received a copy of a very-tentative 2012 MU Baseball schedule (from an anonymous source). It will almost certainly change between now and the time when the official schedule is released, but it's great to have a first look at how it's shaping up.

Some highlights:
  • The annual non-conference MU-KU game is schedule for Wednesday, April 18th, again at Kauffman Stadium, in KC

  • The schedule looks a little odd with only 8 Big 12 series

  • May is going to be a challenging month for the Tigers, starting with a 2-game midweek set against the Arkansas Razorbacks @ Fayetteville, followed immediately by a weekend series with the Longhorns. Then the month and the season closes out with Missouri State, Memphis (@ Simmons Field) and, finally, the Jayhawks @ Lawrence.

  • The last time Mu played Arkansas was in the 2003 NCAA Regional. The last regular season match-up was in 2002.
Here's the full schedule, tentative as it may be:

Fri Feb 17 @ Auburn Tigers 3pm
Sat Feb 18 @ Auburn 3pm
Sun Feb 19 @ Auburn 1pm

Fri Feb 24 @ San Francisco Dons
Sat Feb 25 @ San Francisco
Sun Feb 26 @ San Francisco

Fri March 2 Ball State Cardinals @ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat March 3 Ball State @ Simmons Field 1pm
Sun March 4 Ball State @ Simmons Field 1pm

Tue March 6 Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks @ Simmons Field 6pm

Fri March 9 UNC-Charlotte 49ers @ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat March 10 Charlotte Double-Header @ Simmons Field 1pm
Sun March 11 Charlotte @ Simmons Field 1pm

Tue March 13 North Dakota Fighting Sioux @ Simmons Field 6pm
Wed March 14 North Dakota @ Simmons Field 6pm

Fri March 16 High Point Panthers @ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat March 17 High Point @ Simmons Field 2pm
Sun March 18 High Point @ Simmons Field 1pm

Wed March 21 Indiana State Sycamores @ Simmons Field 3pm

Fri March 23 Oklahoma State Cowboys@ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat March 24 Oklahoma State @ Simmons Field 2pm
Sun March 25 Oklahoma State @ Simmons Field 1pm

Tue March 27 Central Arkansas Bears @ Simmons Field 6pm
Wed March 28 Central Arkansas @ Simmons Field 4pm

Fri March 30 @ Texas A&M Aggies 6:35pm
Sat March 31 @ Texas A&M 2:05pm
Sun April 1 @ Texas A&M 1pm

Thu April 5 Baylor Bears @ Simmons Field 6pm
Fri April 6 Baylor @ Simmons Field 2pm
Sat April 7 Baylor @ Simmons Field 1pm

Tue April 10 Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans 4pm

Fri April 13 @ Oklahoma Sooners 6:30pm
Sat April 14 @ Oklahoma 2pm
Sun April 15 @ Oklahoma 1pm

Wed April 18 Kansas Jayhawks @ Kauffman Stadium (KC) 7pm

Fri April 20 Kansas State Wildcats @ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat April 21 Kansas State @ Simmons Field 2pm
Sun April 22 Kansas State @ Simmons Field 1pm

Wed April 25 @ Missouri State Bears 6:30pm

Fri April 27 @ Texas Tech Red Raiders 6:30pm
Sat April 28 @ Texas Tech 5pm
Sun April 29 @ Texas Tech 1pm

Tue May 1 @ Arkansas Razorbacks 6:25pm
Wed May 2 @ Arkansas 3pm

Fri May 4 Texas Longhorns @ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat May 5 Texas @ Simmons Field 2pm
Sun May 6 Texas @ Simmons Field 1pm

Wed May 9 Missouri State Bears @ Simmons Field 6pm

Fri May 11 Memphis Tigers @ Simmons Field 6pm
Sat May 12 Memphis @ Simmons Field 2pm
Sun May 13 Memphis @ Simmons Field 1pm

Thu May 17 @ Kansas Jayhawks 6pm
Fri May 18 @ Kansas 6pm
Sat May 19 @ Kansas 16pm

May 23 to 27 Big 12 Tournament

MU Alums: Leblanc to Riverside

♦ Former Tiger Bryson Leblanc to coach and recruit at UC-Riverside (oursportscentral.com)

The Cowlitz Black Bears of the West Coast League today announced that Head Coach Bryson LeBlanc will not return for a third season with Cowlitz. Bryson has accepted a full time paid coaching position with UC Riverside. LeBlanc will be the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach for UC Riverside.


Leblanc had been an assistant with the Oregon Ducks last season.

Mizzou Baseball in the Minors: Lolli's Pop

♦ Hit 'em where they ain't: As Tommy La Stella and Evan Gattis rank one-two among SAL hitters in August, Augusta outfielder Ryan Lollis has played a key role in the GreenJackets' run for a playoff spot. Augusta is second in the Southern Division's second-half standings, two games behind Savannah, and Lollis is hitting .388 in 20 games this month, including 11 multi-hit outings. (milb.com)

Friday, August 26, 2011

2012 Schedule Update

♦ Another piece of the 2012 schedule puzzle fell into place when Texas A&M released their 2012 schedule today (LINK to full schedule). The Aggies host the Tigers in College Station on Fri/Sat/Sun, March 30 &31 and April 1. Of course, the real April Fool's joke could be that this might be the final season A&M and MU play each other in a Big 12 contest.

We're compiling a 2012 schedule from bits and pieces of information gleaned from various sources, including the published schedules of other teams. Our findings so far:

Feb 17,18,19 (Fri/Sat/Sun) - @ Auburn Tigers (Auburn, AL)
Feb 24, 25, 26 (Fri/Sat/Sun) - @ San Francisco Dons (San Francisco, CA)

March 21 (Wed) - Indiana State Sycamores (Simmons Field)

March 27, 28 (Tue,Wed) - Central Arkansas Bears (Simmons Field)

March 30,31, April 1 (Fri/Sat/Sun) - @ Texas A&M (College Station, TX)
If you hear some 2012 Schedule news, drop me a line at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

And if you're one of those people who at some point get an actual tentative copy that you're not supposed to share, you're welcome to send me an e-mail also. We have a generous Witness Protection Program here at SimmonsField.com.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Mizzou Baseball Hype !!!!

If you're as tired as I am of reading about every minor detail about each milli-second of MU Football preseason practice (mutigers.com today had an in-depth look at the football equipment room!!??!!), here's what you've been waiting for:
First Day of Mizzou Baseball Player Workouts Hype!!!
@CoachPietro began his day posting on Twitter:
Long sunrise run this morning, good weather so far, first day of player workouts... Gonna be a good one! #MIZ
♦ Freshman infielder Case Munson is celebrating Mizzou Baseball Christmas!!! (photo)

♦ Sophomore outfielder Brannon Champagne is enjoying the semi-celebrity life !!!
Had a photo shoot today with a make up lady and everything. Just #babysteps in achieving my dream which is to be an #actor (@BChampagne6 on Twitter)
@MUTigerBaseball (aka MU Baseball's SID Shawn Davis) is spiffing up the trophy case with some great memorabilia.

♦ Freshman RHP Brandon Platts took time out from trying on the new free UnderArmour gear to get in some throwing. Considering he has been rehabbing from an injury through the summer, it's good to see his tweet:
Throwing felt really good today (@BPlatts05)
♦ Another freshman RHP, Brett Graves, was also glad to get started today:
Rockin #7 in the black and gold. First day of training went well! Ready to actually start pitching (@BGsmooth5)
♦ Tiger student-athletes @salbelf22 and @LandonLucansky4 are dealing with the ups and downs of the back-to-the-books life

♦ I'll let the Tiger player who rote this ironic tweet remain anonymous:
If I miss a class in English I have to right a 2 page paper. #perfect
♦ And good news: Shawn Davis promises a feature on MUTigers.com later this week. Hopefully he's talking about a baseball feature, but most likely he's writing about volleyball this time of year (they open their season this weekend with the 2011 Tiger Invitational)

176 Days and Counting !!!!!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Mizzou in the Majors: Aaron Crow

Top 100: No. 16 Aaron Crow (Topeka Capitol Journal - Series on the top 100 athletes in Shawnee County history)
Early in his professional baseball career, Crow already has built an impressive resume. The Kansas City Royals pitcher is only the second Shawnee County product to be selected in the first round of the major league baseball draft and the second to be picked for a major league All-Star game.

In 2008, he joined David Proctor as the only Topekans to be drafted in the first round when he was taken No. 9 overall by the Washington Nationals. After deciding not to sign with the Nationals, Crow was a first-round pick again in 2009, this time No. 12 overall to the Kansas City Royals.

After one year ...

In time, two Junior Blues became real pros (cjonline.com)
The vast majority of selections to Shawnee County’s Top 100 Athletes excelled from an early age through natural talent and, of course, hard work. There were clear signs of stardom in their future.

For some, however, it took more time to reach their potential. Who would have guessed back in 2005 that Aaron Crow, an All-City pitcher for Washburn Rural’s baseball team despite a 2-4 record his senior season, would go on to be a two-time first-round Major League Draft choice and a rookie All-Star for the Kansas City Royals?

Another classic late bloomer was Trey Lewis ...


Mizzou in the Minors

Zagone leads Keys to win (Frederick News Post)
Something was wrong during Rick Zagone's start Monday in Myrtle Beach.
Without command of his fastball, the left-hander did not fare as well as he would have liked after allowing eight runs against the Pelicans.

Fast forward five days to Saturday night, when Zagone was going up against Winston-Salem, one of the most powerful teams in the Carolina League. The results were much different as Zagone shut out the Dash over six innings in leading the Keys to a 6-1 win.

"In my previous start, I was leaving the ball up," Zagone said. "Then I went to my offspeed and they started sitting fastball and it wasn't pretty. That's what I focused on today and I turned it around."

"(Zagone's) a hard worker and works to get better. It was encouraging to see him pitch well tonight against a good hitting team," Keys manager Orlando Gomez said.

Zagone (3-1) is in his second stint this year with the Keys, bouncing between Frederick and Class AA Bowie...

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Doubleplay

A few of you who have been around Mizzou baseball for awhile will remember my son, Cody. He used to come with me to the games and posted on SimmonsField.com from time to time as "Doubleplay".

He's no longer a little kid and he's chasing more than foul balls these days. To see what he's up to check out his new blog at http://midweststormchaser.tumblr.com

Friday, August 19, 2011

Moving On

Ryan Gebhart, who graduated from MU a the end of last season, has enrolled in the MBA program at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has accepted a scholarship to play baseball with FGCU as well. They compete in the Atlantic Sun conference.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Mizzou in the Minors

Gibson seeking second opinion (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Twins pitching prospect Kyle Gibson will fly to New York on Monday to seek a second opinion on his right elbow.

Gibson, who was shut down after a July 22 appearance for Class AAA Rochester, will be examined by Dr. David Altchek, the same doctor who operated on Twins closer Joe Nathan's elbow in March 2010.

Twins doctors have diagnosed Gibson with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. Their plan was . . .

MU Tiger Crew online

♦ The MU Tiger Crew now has a Facebook page as well as a Twitter account (@mutigercrew). Like the Facebook page and follow them on Twitter to keep up with their activities and to show support for these girls who do so much to support Mizzou Baseball.

Simmons Field Photo: Tiger in the House

♦ Check out this photo of freshman Tiger Brandon Platts: http://twitpic.com/6848xp

2012 Mizzou Recruit: Griffin Goodrich, RHP/OF

Griffin Goodrich, RHP
6-4", 190 lb, R/R
Kirkwood HS, MO

♦ 2011 Pitching: 6-3; 2.10 ERA; 50 IP; 9 G, 8 GS; 19 R; 15 ER; 35 H; 2 2B; 2 HR; 69 K; 22 BB; .185 Opp BA' 12.14 WHIP; 2 WP; 2 HB

♦ 2011 Offense: .433 BA (29-for-67); 7 2B; 2 3B; 0 HR; 15 RBI; 15 R; .472 OBP; .597 Slug%; 3/3 SB; 2 HBP (He led Kirkwood in batting average, hits, RBIs, runs scored and OBP)

♦ Fastball has been clocked at 90-91 mph

2012 All Suburban South Conference as both a pitcher and outfielder

St. Louis Post Dispatch Athlete of the Week, April 12, 2011
The junior threw a three-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts in the Pioneers' 4-0 victory over Clayton. Goodrich threw first-pitch strikes to 24 of 27 hitters. Through five innings, he had thrown just 70 pitches and finished with 97


Kirkwood's Goodrich commits to Missouri (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
So when the 17-year-old right-handed pitcher was looking for the right school to continue his career, he had three primary factors in mind: he wanted a college with strong academics that was close to home and had successful sports teams.

"Going down the checklist, out of all my choices, Missouri felt like the only one that was a plus in all those categories," Goodrich said.

So on Tuesday the hard-throwing right-hander made a verbal commitment to the Tigers after also attracting interest from several schools.

Missouri's business school, proximity to Kirkwood . . .


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

2012 Schedule update

Indiana State has published their 2012 schedule now, which shows a game on Wednesday, March 21st (4PM) at Simmons Field.

We're compiling a 2012 schedule from bits and pieces of information gleaned from various sources, including the published schedules of other teams. Our findings so far:

  • Feb 17,18,19 - @ Auburn Tigers (Auburn, AL)

  • Feb 24, 25, 26 - @ San Francisco Dons (San Francisco, CA)

  • March 21 - Indiana State Sycamores (Simmons Field)

  • March 27, 29 - Central Arkansas Bears (Simmons Field)
If you hear some 2012 Schedule news, drop me a line at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

And if you're one of those people who at some point get an actual tentative copy that you're not supposed to share, you're welcome to send me an e-mail also. We have a generous Witness Protection Program here at SimmonsField.com.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Mizzou Baseball Fall Roster 2011

NOTE: This roster is almost certainly inaccurate and incomplete. It's merely our understanding at this point of who is back, who is gone, who is new. If you have more information about specific players who are coming or going, drop me a line at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

GONE

Departed seniors: Ryan Ampleman, Brad Buehler, Kelly Fick, Jesse Santo, Jeff Scardino, Jonah Schmidt, Andrew Thigpen

Drafted and signed: Zach Hardoin, Phil McCormick, Matt Stites

Transfers:
  • Confirmed: Ian Ekery is transferring to Central Arizona College

  • Confirmed: Brian Carr is transferring to William Woods University

  • Rumored: James Hudelson is transferring to a different Missouri school

  • Rumored: Matt Linderer is transferring to St. Louis Community College.

  • Rumored: Ryan Gebhart graduated from MU, but still has 1 year of eligibility remaining. Word is he may be continuing his education - and his baseball career - elsewhere.

  • Confirmed: Myles Smith is transferring to Miami Dade College, which competes in the NJCAA. The Sharks have a reputation as a successful baseball program

NEW INCOMING PLAYERS
  • Kyle Barbeck, LHP (JR)
  • Jake Busiek, LHP (FR)
  • Justin Byrd, C (JR)
  • Jeff Cline, RHP (JR)
  • Brett Graves, RHP (FR) - Drafted by Cardinals, did not sign
  • Blake Holovach, LHP (JR)
  • Tyler House, RHP (FR)
  • Jake Ivory, C/OF (FR)
  • Landon Lucansky, IF (FR)
  • Mike McGraw, SS/RHP (JR)
  • John Miles, RHP (FR)
  • Nick Moore, IF (FR)
  • Case Munson, IF (FR)
  • Brandon Platts, RHP (FR) - Drafted by Pirates, did not sign
  • Patrick Quintanilla, C (FR)
  • Gavin Stark, 1B (JR)
  • Brett Thomas, RHP/SS (FR)
RETURNING PLAYERS
  • Eric Anderson, RHP (JR)
  • Sal Belfonte, OF (SO)
  • Blake Brown, OF (JR)
  • Drew Carlile, C (SO)
  • Brannon Champagne, OF (JR)
  • Ryan Clubb, RHP (SR)
  • Jeff Emens, RHP (SR)
  • Dillon Everett, IF (SO)
  • Eric Garcia, IF (JR)
  • CJ Jarvis, IF (SO)
  • Conner Mach, OF/IF (SR) - Drafted by Yankees but did not sign
  • Dane Opel, OF (JR)
  • Andreas Plackis, C (JR)
  • Dusty Ross, RHP (SR)
  • Scott Sommerfeld, C/1B (JR)
  • Ben Turner, C (SR)
  • Ryan Yuengel, RHP (SO)
  • Rob Zastryzny, LHP (SO)

BY POSITION:

Pitching
  • Jake Busiek, LHP (FR)
  • Jeff Cline, RHP (JR)
  • Brett Graves, RHP (FR)
  • Blake Holovach, LHP (JR)
  • Tyler House, RHP (FR)
  • Landon Lucansky, IF
  • Mike McGraw, RHP (JR)
  • John Miles, RHP (FR)
  • Brandon Platts, RHP (FR)
  • Brett Thomas, RHP/SS (FR)
  • Rob Zastryzny, LHP (SO)
  • Eric Anderson, RHP (JR)
  • Kyle Barbeck, LHP (JR)
  • Ryan Clubb, RHP (SR)
  • Jeff Emens, RHP (SR)
  • Dusty Ross, RHP (SR)
Outfield
  • Jake Ivory, C/OF (FR)
  • Sal Belfonte, OF (SO)
  • Blake Brown, OF (JR)
  • Brannon Champagne, OF (JR)
  • Dane Opel, OF (JR)
  • Conner Mach, OF/IF (SR)
Infield
  • Landon Lucansky, IF (FR)
  • Mike McGraw, SS (JR)
  • Nick Moore, IF (FR)
  • Case Munson, IF (FR)
  • Brett Thomas, RHP/SS (FR)
  • Dillon Everett, IF (SO)
  • CJ Jarvis, IF (SO)
  • Eric Garcia, IF (JR)
  • Scott Sommerfeld, C/1B (JR)
  • Gavin Stark, IF (JR)
  • Conner Mach, OF/IF (SR)
Catchers
  • Jake Ivory, C/OF (FR)
  • Patrick Quintanilla, C (FR)
  • Drew Carlile, C (SO)
  • Andreas Plackis, C (JR)
  • Justin Byrd, C (JR)
  • Scott Sommerfeld, C/1B (JR)
  • Ben Turner, C (SR)

Draft Deadline: Platts to Mizzou

Tweet from Brandon Platts:
Headed to Missouri! #roadtoomaha #cws2012 • 8/15/11 11:10 PM

Monday, August 15, 2011

Draft Deadline: Graves & Mach to MU; Platts to . . . ?

♦ As we reported last week, Brett Graves, RHP, will be enrolling at Mizzou and joining the Tigers. Graves was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals organization as the 800th overall pick in the 26th round of the MLB Draft

♦ We learned this weekend that Conner Mach, OF/IF, will be returning to Mizzou for his senior year. He was drafted by the New York Yankees organization as the 1409th overall pick in the 46st round of the MLB Draft, but chose to return as an everyday starter for Mizzou rather than compete for playing time in the Yankees low minors, which are heavy laden with outfielders and infielders.

♦ The one remaining question-mark at this time (4 PM Monday)is Brandon Platts, RHP. Platts was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as the 392nd overall pick in the 13th round of the MLB Draft. He posted on Twitter Sunday evening that he was looking forward to today because it will "be great to finally know what I'm doing."

Most observers of the Pirates are saying that if they are unable to sign their top 2 picks, they will then have more money to offer some of their lower picks. Their 2nd round pick, Josh Bell, is said to be asking more than the Pirates may want to offer him. Bell may turn down their highest bid and head to the Texas Longhorns.

It's very likely that Platts will have to wait until the final hours before the midnight deadline to find out if Pittsburgh will offer him enough to lure him away from Mizzou.

Kendall Rogers of PerfectGame.com posted this on Twitter at around 3:30:
Also, was told just now that the #Pirates aren't expected to sign 13th-rdr Brandon Platts, a #Missouri signee. We shall see
We'll keep watching and waiting. And waiting. As someone said on Twitter, who's bright idea was it to make the deadline at midnight? (11:00 PM Central time)

Draft Deadline: Going all out

♦ Great photo intended to inspire a recruit on Draft Deadline day: http://lockerz.com/s/129887426

Draft deadline tonight @ midnight

"Tomorrow is the day. Will be great to finally know what I'm doing"
(Brandon Platts on Twitter last night)

Augie Garrido's "Life is Yours to Win"

Augie Garrido, the winningest coach in Division 1 college baseball, has written a book that is part biography and part treatise on the game of baseball.

I went into the task of reading this book forcing myself to have an open mind. Coach Garrido has not always done a lot to endear himself to Tiger fans, myself included. But I wanted to judge the book on its own merits, not as a partisan fan.

Just four pages into the book, Garrido states his intentions:
Baseball has been fairly beaten to death as a metaphor for life so I'll try not to add to the carnage. Still, I'll share a few lessons if you don't mind, most of them gleaned from my sport and my life in it.
Whereupon he devotes most of the first 100 pages to beating baseball to death as the key to the meaning of life. For example, the opening paragraph of chapter 4 (The Game of Failure):
When a pitcher releases the ball and sends it on a four one-hundredths of a second journey toward the batter's box, he simultaneously destroys the past and creates the future. In that moment when the batter sees the ball coming and reacts, that's life. That's everything. That's the moment of performance that teaches us how to live all the other moments of our lives.
I heartily agree with his point in regard to baseball - the game is all about each individual pitcher-batter confrontation, and the key to success to is to focus on that moment, not on what came before or what will happen after. But then, like he does repeatedly throughout the book, Augie slathers on a heaping does of psycho-babble self-help philosophy and almost makes us miss the point about the game.

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised, with a title like Life is Yours to Win.

During those first 100 pages or so, Augie rambles. A lot. And repeats himself. A lot. The beginning of the book would have been much better (and easier to read) if he had boiled down his philosophy of life into a single 20-page chapter toward the end of the book, and made a separate 15-page chapter about his experiences as an adviser and actor on the movie "For the Love of the Game" (an interesting 12-page digression in the middle of the ramblings).

Fortunately, though, starting in Chapter 4, Garrido begins to get his thoughts more organized and focuses more on the topic at hand: College Baseball. And from that point on, I found the book much easier to read, and at times fascinating.

Although I didn't always buy into everything he said, one thing comes through clearly in this book: Augie Garrido is a coach who is intimately familiar with the game of baseball. My respect for Garrido, which has always been a bit iffy, went up several notches as a result of reading this book. He has a great knowledge of and respect for The Game.
No matter who is on the mound or no matter what team you are playing, you are always playing the game of baseball, you are never playing an opponent.
Augie makes it clear that if you don't respect the game,then no matter how many hits you get or plays you make, Baseball will humble you.

In Chapter 4, Garrido talks about how baseball is a game of failure. Not only is this chapter a good read for coaches and players who need some perspective, but I know a lot of baseball fans and other Mizzou sports fans who could do with an attitude adjustment about Winning with a capital W.
Some claim that winning is everything, but if that were true, why do winners keep coming back for more? They must know they risk becoming losers, right? So winning must not be everything. Testing ourselves and defining ourselves is the "everything" of competition.
In chapter 5, Be a Player, Not a Prospect, Garrido draws a distinction between the ballplayer who is marketing himself as a big league prospect vs. one who devotes his energy and attention to playing the game. I like his advice to one dad who asked what he could to to develop his sons' baseball skills:
"Should I get them personal trainers and coaches?"

I could tell my response caught this dad by surprise.

"Enroll them in karate classes or some other demannding martial arts and yoga," I said. "They'll learn to control their breathing and to focus on the moment. It will also help their flexibility, agility, balance and emotional control."
Garrido devotes an entire chapter (Chapter 6: Small Ball/Big Game) to the importance of bunting. This makes a small-ball fan like me very happy.
I insist that our players learn to bunt because it requires commitment and mental toughness that makes them better all-around athletes and better people too. I see it with every team. Once they master bunting, it gives them confidence that carries over into all aspects of their game and even into their lives.
He closes the book by listing "Five Things I Think I Know About Baseball", adding a sixth which is probably the one that rings the most true:
Just when you think you know something, the game will make a fool of you.
I recommend this book to anyone who cares about college baseball: fans, players, parents and coaches.

■ Other reviews of the book:
  • Garrido's book is an easy read that may attract non-veteran readers of nonfiction . . .A stale rendition of a self-help trope that may appeal to college-baseball fans. (Kirkus Reviews)

  • This is a book by a beloved college coach but it is packed with Major League insights and anecdotes featuring many of baseball’s greatest players and most inspiring spirits. Life Is Yours to Win will appeal to anyone who appreciates the wisdom of a proven winner in sports and in life. (GoodReads.com)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Mizzou Baseball in the Minors

What to do with Gibson? (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Gibson, in a text message, said he is working on strengthening his shoulder and forearm. There is a chance he will seek a second opinion, which is the right thing for him and the Twins to do because he is such an important part of the team's future. Their first-round pick in 2009, Gibson has the stuff to one day become ace of the Twins rotation.

If doctors agree that rehab is the way to go, then Gibson has a chance to ready for 2012. The key will be in two or three months, when he would be expected to climb on a mound and let it loose to see if rehab worked.

If rehab fails, then . . .

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Mizzou Recruits

Brandon Platts was named to the Iowa High School Baseball Association All-State Baseball Team. He is on the 2nd team, likely due to an injury that limited his playing time.

Brandon Platts is mentioned in an interesting article at GlobeGazette.com (Fighting On: Estus Ready for pro MMA Debut) has a side bar about a Mason City, IA, trainer who counts among his clients MU recruit Brandon Platts.
To Laube, it’s no secret what it takes to become a premiere athlete.

“The biggest thing that separates D-I to D-III can be small things,” he said. “With talent, some people are born with more but that can be earned through work ethic. You have to have that besides God’s gifts. A lot has to do with preparation.”

Much of that preparation can be traced . . .

Brian Carr moves on

♦I've received word that Brian Carr has transferred to William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. William Woods ia an NAIA school.

Draft signing deadline Monday @ midnight

The signing deadline for players who were selected in the June 2011 MLB Draft is August 15th at midnight.

Here's what I know and what I think I know about drafted Tigers and MU recruits. There's really only 1 Tiger and 1 recruit still unknown.:

Current Tigers Drafted

♦ SIGNED: Matt Stites was drafted by the San Diego Padres organization as the 533rd overall pick in the 17th round of the MLB Draft.
Stites signed almost immediately and is currently pitching for the Eugene Emeralds in the Northwest League
♦ SIGNED: Phil McCormick was drafted by the San Francisco Giants organization as the 957th overall pick in the 31st round of the MLB Draft.
McCormick signed quickly and is currently pitching for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, also of the Northwest League.
♦ UNSIGNED: Conner Mach was drafted by the New York Yankees organization as the 1409th overall pick in the 46st round of the MLB Draft.
As of Friday, Mach has still not signed with the Yankees. No word yet on whether he will return to the Tigers.

If you look at the list of the Yankees announced signings, you'd think they've struck out all summer long with their draft picks. The real story, though, is that they like to hold their cards close to the vest and then announce them at the deadline. So there's really no way to know how likely it is they'll sign Mach.
SIGNED: Zach Hardoin was drafted by the Houston Astros organization as the 1420th overall pick in the 47th round of the MLB Draft
Hardoin signed quickly and has been playing for the Gulf Coast League Astros.


Mizzou Recruits in the Draft

♦ SIGNED: Jeff Soptic, RHP, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox organization as the 110th overall pick in the 3rd round of the MLB Draft.
Soptic signed with the ChiSox in mid-July, which was not a surprise to anyone.

♦ UNSIGNED: Brandon Platts, RHP,was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as the 392nd overall pick in the 13th round of the MLB Draft.
As of Friday, Platts has not signed. He suffered a minor injury early in the summer that limited his action in prep play and the post-season (which extends deep into the summer for Iowa prep baseball). Watching the whispers and rumors about Platts has been like a roller coaster this summer. Still waiting to see whether he'll be a Tiger or a Pirate.
August 11 on Twitter, posted by someone from Platts' hometown newspaper: "MCHS pitcher Brandon Platts one of 10 13th round MLB draft picks that remain unsigned. Deadline to sign is Aug. 15. #Pirates"
♦ UNSIGNED: Brett Graves, RHP, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals organization as the 800th overall pick in the 26th round of the MLB Draft.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported this past week that Graves Chooses Mizzou. And Graves posted on Twitter that same day: "Mizzou it is."

Friday, August 12, 2011

Conference Hokey-Pokey™

MIZZOUEXPANSIONAPALOOZA™ 2011: Sigh. (RockMNation.com)
Adding viewers there, adding marketability there ... that still matters, and Mizzou is still a possibility. And culturally, Mizzou is a decent fit. As good a fit as Virginia Tech, anyway. We won't know how strong their candidacy is, obviously, until A&M makes its move (or doesn't). Until then, the rumors will be incredible -- some positive, most negative. Ignore them. Or at least, have fun with them.
. . .
The other fun rumor floating around yesterday is that the Big Ten is still aiming big, hoping to somehow bring Texas and Notre Dame aboard (along with A&M, which ... LOL YEAH RIGHT). If things explode, Mizzou's ticket to the Big Ten probably depends on these two schools. . . .

NCAA: APR trumps RPI

An NCAA Tourney ban? It might be getting real now (espn.com)
In one fell swoop, the NCAA has decided that college basketball teams that don’t perform up to par in the classroom will not be able to experience their one shining moment.

The NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors on Thursday unanimously approved the idea that college sports teams not carrying at least a 930 Academic Progress Rate averaged over four years will soon be barred from postseason competition. That means a raising of the bar of academic requirements teams will need to meet in order to go dancing in the NCAA tournament or any other sport's NCAA-sanctioned postseason.

Under the new rule, 12 teams . . .

Check the sky for pigs: NCAA's APR ruling the result of common sense (Sports Illustrated)
The most tangible change so far, the postseason APR requirement, is sure to be met with controversy. The new standard won't take full effect for three to five years (the board asked for a proposal by October that will outline a timeline for phasing in the new cutoff score, currently 30 points lower), but the APR has never been a big hit with major hoops coaches, many of whose scores suffer when a rash of players let their grades slide shortly before bolting for the pros. It's also inherently unfair to underfunded, smaller-conference programs that can't afford to build opulent academic centers and load them up with tutors. Under the 930 standard, the SWAC would have had just one team (Alcorn State) eligible for last season's tourney.

Conversely, the SEC would have qualified all 12 . . .

♦ from NCAA 2011 APR Report (ncaa.com): 298 D-1 Baseball teams' average APR: 959

  • MU Baseball 04-05: 941
  • MU Baseball 05-06: 945
  • MU Baseball 06-07: 946
  • MU Baseball 07-08: 961
  • MU Baseball 08-09: 972
  • MU Baseball 09-10: 979

  • Big 12 Baseball 09-10 Average: 966.9

  • Highest/Lowest Big 12 APR 09-10: UT, 998 / TT 942

  • 19 seasons out of 60 Big 12 teams' seasons that were below the 930 minimum (most recent: OSU, 07-08, 916)

  • As recently as 07-08, NCAA champ South Carolina would not have qualified; 2009 champ LSU would not have qualified for the tournament that year

Thursday, August 11, 2011

9 Reasons to Follow College Baseball: It's Baseball

Part 9 of our weekly series on 9 reasons to follow College Baseball.

It's Baseball!

I've been a baseball fan since my dad took my brothers and me to semi-pro games in Sioux City, Iowa when we were little kids. We had the run of the ball field, played with friends, and watched the games from time to time.

Then we moved to Columbia in 1965 and I became a Cardinals fan because all my friends were Cardinal fans. In 1968 and 1969 I actually got to go to Busch Stadium with a busload of my fellow Safety Patrol boys. I saw Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton pitch, and became an instant fan of Tim McCarver (because his name was Tim, like mine).

I never made it back to see the Cards again until the 80's, when I made a point to go to one game every year during the Whitey-ball era. I became a fan of Ozzie Smith and Vince Coleman.
During all that time I listened to Jack Buck and Mike Shannon several nights a week, and arranged my work schedule so I could listen to day games while I worked.

And in all those years, living in Columbia, following and loving baseball, I never considered checking out Mizzou Baseball.

My boss got involved as a fan for 2 or 3 years in the mid-80's. Her husband had coached high school basketball at one point, and one of his former players was on the team, so they went to see him play. They got excited watching another kid they described as one of the best shortstops they'd ever seen.

I nodded my head and told myself they were crazy for settling for amateur baseball when the Cardinals and Royals were just down I-70. They lost interest after the shortstop, Dave Silvestri, got drafted and left the Tigers, and I returned to ignoring MU Baseball.

Then in 1988 I read an article about an Oklahoma State star named Robin Ventura. I checked the schedule and discovered the Cowboys were coming to Simmons Field soon. I bought a copy of Baseball America and read about college baseball and went to see the game. Ventura looked every bit as good as some of the players I was used to in the major leagues, but I very nearly froze to death at the game, and didn't make it back for awhile.

And then, in the spring of 1994, I read an article in the local paper about MU Baseball and their new coach. I went to a game and was cold again, but found myself enjoying myself. I went to 3 or 4 more games that season (more appropriately dressed) and learned more about college baseball.

The metal bats bothered me, with the crazy PING, but soon learned that those bats meant lots of offense, especially when players like Tom Buchman and Steve Bell were at the plate. I was bothered for awhile that the outfielders didn't get to balls that Willie McGee would easily track down. Until I realized these guys weren't Willie McGee, and that they were actually making some very good plays.

As the years went along I began to plan my days off from work around MU Baseball. Aaron Jaworowski had the sweetest swing I've seen. Ryan Fry was a hitting machine. Torre Tyson tore up the basepaths like the second coming of Vince Coleman. J.R. Warner had a rocket for an arm, throwing out runners from deep right fields, and he kept the dugout and the fans laughing with his antics. Jayce Tingler approached the plate with so much energy he would jump over his bat too loosen up, loosened his batting gloves and refastened them between each pitch, then would lay down a perfect bunt for a hit before disrupting the opposing team's focus by stealing base after base. W.T. Hoover hit the first home run ever to hit the roof of the Devine Pavilion - while it was still being built.

Justin Stine stymied batters and Chris George finished off the games. Garret Broshuis outwitted the hitters, Justin James scared them out of their cleats, and Mark Alexander (The Barbarian) intimidated them.

And all of that was before the team got really good and rattled off seven trips to the Regionals.

I could kick myself for all those years that I lived in the same town as Mizzou Baseball and never went to the games.

I missed Greg Cypret, Rob Pietroburgo, Tim Laudner, Phil Bradley, Tom Heckman, Dave Otto, Mike Rogers, Dave Silvestri and John Dettmer.

I never saw the 1976 and 1980 Big 8 Championship seasons.

I never saw John "Hi" Simmons coach a game.

It's baseball, the greatest game on earth, and it's right here on the Mizzou campus.

You don't want to miss what happens next.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Mizzou Baseball in the Minors: Gibson injured

Prospect Gibson has elbow strain, ligament tear (mlb.com)
Twins top pitching prospect Kyle Gibson was diagnosed with a flexor pronator muscle strain of the right elbow and a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament, and will head to Fort Myers, Fla. this week to begin strengthening and flexibility exercises of the right shoulder and elbow, according to general manager Bill Smith.

Gibson is expected to avoid Tommy John surgery for now, as the estimated return for him will be determined after the initial phase of his rehab program.

"There's still a probably a few more hurdles . . .
No surgery yet for Kyle Gibson, who has partial tear of elbow ligament (1500espn.com)
On a scale of good news to bad news, the fate of ailing right-hander Kyle Gibson likely lies somewhere in the middle after his meetings with doctors in Minneapolis over the last two days.

Gibson was told Tuesday that he has a strained right flexor pronator muscle, as well as a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

As of right now, Gibson will not undergo Tommy John surgery . . .

Mizzou Baseball in the Majors: Aaron Crow

Yost says Crow battled shoulder, forearm ailments in recent weeks (Kansas City Star)

Manager Ned Yost confirmed, before the game, that Crow battled stiffness in his shoulder and, later, his forearm/elbow area in recent weeks. It marked the Royals’ first acknowledgement that Crow’s recent struggles stemmed from physical problems.

“This was all right after the All-Star break,” Yost said. “He feels great now, but he just hasn’t been as sharp.”

Crow, 24, had a 1.36 ERA through 33 appearances prior to . . .

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Mizzou Baseball in the Minors

Rick Zagone was moved from the Double-A Bowie Baysox to the High-A Frederick Keys on Friday, August 5th.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Summer Ball

Ryan Clubb pitched and won the deciding game to send the Wildwood Dodger to the 8 team NABF World Series championship round in Toledo OH. He threw his third consecutive complete game victory, a 10-1 win over the Kersey Diamonds (out of Pennsylvania). He gave up 4 hits, 1 run (earned), and 12 Ks. This brought his season totals to 66IP, 12 total runs (7 earned), 6-1 record and a 0.95 ERA.

College Baseball Quotes & Notes

■ Eric Sorenson has a lot of really good stuff in A Summer's Tale (CollegeBaseballToday.com)
  • Be sure to watch the video for a trip through college baseball history that includes a Big 8 legend

  • Good comments on the new NCAA RPI changes

  • A link to an NCAA chart showing how the 2011 RPIs would be different if the new 2013 RPI formula had been in place - Mizzou takes a hit
■ Speaking of college baseball history, did you know George Bush (the older one) played int he very first College World Series? Details in this old article from ESPN.com

Friday, August 5, 2011

Mizzou Baseball Recruits: Graves Chooses MU

Mizzou Beats Cardinals (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
Francis Howell High righthander Brett Graves, the Cardinals' 26th round draft choice in the June selections, has chosen to accept a baseball scholarship to the University of Missouri rather than sign professionally. Graves is said to possess a 94 mile an hour fastball.
Brett Graves on Twitter this afternoon:
"Mizzou it is."

Welcome to the Tigers, Brett!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Mizzou Baseball in the Majors: Ian Kinsler

Kinsler's struggles (Fort Worth Star Telegram)
Ron Washington is sticking with Ian Kinsler. Kinsler is in a 1 for 30 slump, but has shown signs of eventually breaking through. “I’m seeing a guy wants to get it done so bad,” Washington said. “When he squares the ball up, he hits it to somebody. He’s just going through that period. … I think people are tired of seeing him popup and it’s frustrating, but I don’t think anyone is more frustrated than Ian is. And the way the game of baseball works, if Ian starts to put it together in the last month-and-a-half, everybody will forget about what they’re seeing now.”
As Kinsler goes, so go the Rangers (nbcdfw.com)
Kinsler has been a part of 57 Rangers wins this season. He is hitting .282 with a 941 OPS in those games and 13 of his 16 home runs have come during victories. He's walked more than he's struck out in Rangers wins, scored 48 runs and generally performed like an All-Star.

He's also played in 47 losses and his numbers in those games resemble those of a completely different player. Kinsler has a .186 batting average, a 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and just 13 RBIs when the Rangers lose. His slugging percentage is a pitcher-esque .282, down from .551 when the Rangers post in the win column.

Ian Kinsler still searching for stroke (espn.com)
The second baseman is clearly frustrated, going 1-for-30 in his last seven games. His average has gone from .255 to .239 in that span. He's 1-for-17 on this road trip and can't seem to get anything going at the plate. It hasn't carried over to his defense, which has been solid all season.

"There's nothing really to say about my offense," Kinsler said. "There's nothing. The more important thing is our team getting back on track. That's it, really. On offense, there's nothing for me to talk about. I'm just going to continue to try to play my game and hopefully when I get back on track the team will be back on track."

Ian Kinsler, love him or hate him: a fan's view (yahoo.com)
When you walk into Rangers Ballpark in Arlington there will instantly be two numbers you will see throughout the stands. You will obviously see countless people wearing #32, which is the number of reigning American League MVP Josh Hamilton(notes), but the number you will see rivaling that is the #5 of Ian Kinsler. Kinsler shirts and jerseys are everywhere in North Texas and most often they are on the backs of young girls who love Kinsler to death. They show up at games in droves and get fake tattoos of #5 painted on their face. They make signs and scream at the top of their lungs when he comes to the plate.

This year Kinsler has hit fly balls 48.3 percent of the time, which is the second most of his career. He hit fly balls 51.6 percent of the time in 2009, but had dropped that number to 41.6 percent in 2010. After those girls scream at the top of their lungs, if the result is one of those fly balls or as they are often referred to "pop ups," you will hear many fans complaining and cussing, because once again Kinsler flew out.

Mizzou Baseball in the Minors

Twins top prospect Gibson could need elbow surgery (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Kyle Gibson, the Twins' top pitching prospect, has an elbow injury that could require Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.
. . .
Though Rantz mentioned the ulnar nerve, the team also is concerned it might be the ulnar collateral ligament, the one commonly replaced now for pitchers through the Tommy John procedure. Francisco Liriano, Joe Nathan, Carl Pavano and Brian Duensing are among the Twins pitchers who've had Tommy John surgery.

9 Reasons to Follow College Baseball: Be True to Your School

This is part 8 of our weekly series on 9 reasons to follow College Baseball.

Be True to Your School: The Unbeatable College Atmosphere

No professional sport can rival the fan loyalty of college sports. With the always irrepressible college students in the crowd, plus a healthy mix of avid alumni, mixed in with the usual bunch of local townies that have rooted for the hometown school since they were in diapers, the atmosphere at a college game of any type is electric.

College Baseball, while ignored by many college sports fans, is no different.

You'll find the same energy at Simmons Field during an evening game that you'll find in an East Campus neighborhood on any night when the weather's good enough to move the party outside.

I'm a really "old school" sort of fan, and I still value the ideals of amateur collegiate athletics from a time long past. While sports pundits debate the merits of actually paying college football and basketball players, the so-called Olympic sports come much closer to retaining some of what college athletics was once all about.

At a college baseball game you'll be much more likely to be watching many students who are playing the game for the sake of the athletic endeavour and competition and for the privilege of representing the university against its storied rivals.

And the lingering echoes of that bygone "Be True to Your School" attitude brings a different feel and energy to the experience of attending a baseball game on a college campus.

If you look in the archives of the local papers, you'll see there have been times in MU Baseball's history when students packed the stands were for every game, providing a raucous home field advantage. That sort of huge crowd is more of a rarity these days, for some reason.

I'm not sure what it would take to build a groundswell of interest among the student population at Mizzou. Better promotion and advertising on campus? An organized fan group like the Zou Crew?

Back in the late 90's there was a 4 or 5 person band made up of former Marching Mizzou members that showed up at games, sat in the top row above the third base line, and played semi-awful traditional Mizzou band music between innings. They led the heckling, got the fans to sing along with "Hey, Hey-ey Baby" and generally brought some flavor and character to the ballpark.

It doesn't take much to bring a unique feeling to a college ballpark. But we can't even get Truman the Tiger to show up at Taylor Stadium these days.

If the powers-that-be would take a look at what the college baseball atmosphere is like at several other universities, they might be motivated to put some effort and money behind developing a strong fanbase at MU. It could help generate revenue as well as helping the recruitment process.

ModernEraBaseball.com offers a list of the Top 25 NCAA Division I Ultimate College Baseball Experiences. Some excerpts:
Dudy Noble Field, Polk DeMent Stadium – Starkville, Miss. (Miss. State Bulldogs): Who says trends don’t get started in the South? Back in the 1980s, the ‘Dogs were the first in the SEC to expand their ballpark, and the “Left Field Lounge” is often imitated but can never be duplicated. A great ballpark with better fans and one unique atmosphere not to be missed.
. . .
M.L. Tigue Field – Lafayette, LA (University of Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin Cajuns): It really isn’t much of a ballpark, but it is one unique place to catch a ballgame because of the fans, mostly alumni – and the food and drink. Come to pig out and bark out, with the “top row guys,” Vic the Peanut Man, Louisiana barbecue and beer by the pitcher (yep, they sell brew by the pitcher). If this place ever drew more students, it would climb up the Top 20.
The college baseball experience captures the imagination of all sorts of people, including best-selling novelist John Grisham. Take time to read his 1992 piece, Take Me Out To the Ballpark. An excerpt:
It was quite a performance, really. He didn't hear a word. He ate his shrimp and watched the chefs at play in the fog. He studied the zany architecture of the trailers and trucks and vans packed together. He stared at the crowd of nine thousand rowdies who had gathered for a college baseball game. "Unbelievable," he said again. "I wish I played here."

Simmons Field used to have unique and tasty food for sale, back in the day when Johnny's Beanery ran the concessions. To draw the fans and build a reputation, the people putting out the bids for concessions ought to stipulate something beyond the usual MU concessions fare. Let's have some of the sort of food that makes Columbia unique. You may not be able to serve Shakespeare's pizza or Booche's cheeseburgers or Lee Street juicy burgers, but surely fans would appreciate something more than a non-descript hot dog.

Taylor Stadium may not have barbecue grills in the outfield or crawfish at the concession stand, but it's still a great place to root for the black & gold. The intimate setting lends itself to a relaxed atmosphere where friends are made and fun is had.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Mizzou Baseball in the Minors

Kyle Gibson placed on DL (sore forearm) (@RocRedWings on Twitter)

Summer Ball

A journey through life and baseball (El Dorado Times)
Most might have given up on a dream after coming face to face with the adversity and prospect of never being able to walk correctly again after a catastrophic ankle injury.

Not for Ryan Gebhart, a recent graduate of the University of Missouri and the former starting centerfielder for the El Dorado Broncos.

The voyage back into the game for Gebhart was not an easy one and for the faint-hearted a monumental task.
. . .
Through it all, Gebhart has come to a knowledge of why he plays the game and why he cherishes every moment that he is on the field because at any instant it could be gone.

“I know who is in control and He has seen me all the way to where I am at today and in Him I know my life is in His hands. All that matters whether playing baseball or not is His light shining through me,” said Gebhart.

Dodgers turn back Indians, advance to NABF World Series (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
When the smoke cleared, the Wildwood Dodgers were on top of the heap. They swept the defending St. Louis Metro Collegiate Baseball League champion Alton Indians in a best three-out-of-five series recently to win the post-season tournament championship after finishing second in the regular season to the Ballwin Bandits.
. . .
Ryan Clubb (Eureka, Mizzou) was the staff ace.
. . .
Thanks to the tournament win, the Dodgers advance to play in the NABF World Series in Toledo Ohio this week.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Tiger Bullpen Scramble

Baseball announces bullpen scramble (mutigers.com)
The Mizzou baseball program has announced plans for the 17th Annual Tiger Bullpen Scramble, which will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, at A.L. Gustin Golf Course. The scramble gives Mizzou baseball supporters a chance to enjoy a great day of golf with the Mizzou baseball progam. Mizzou baseball alumni are invited to attend the event free of charge. The scramble will begin at noon with registration and a shotgun start will kick things off at 1 p.m.

Individual sign-up for the event is $105 while team registration is $400, a savings of $20 per foursome. Also, baseball supporters can sign up for package deals that include hole sponsorship, 2012 season tickets, special recognition and a variety of other great Mizzou baseball opportunities. For a complete rundown of the entry fees and package deals, be sure to click this link to the registration form.