HI NOTES: True Madness, plus Tigers Past, Present and Almost

BRACKETOLOGY


♦ The mad science of March Madness from four Columbia sports experts (Vox Magazine)

Trripleplay:  Triple Madness?

March is mad with brackets, and sports fanatics everywhere predict the postseason lives of 68 college basketball teams in a process known as bracketology. Four Columbia sports experts explain their mostly instinctual, sometimes intellectual process of finding a final four. 

Tim Robertson takes a different approach from the norm to filling out brackets. Rather than looking at the basketball teams, he picks the winners based on how baseball teams would do against each other. . . 

GAME DAY

♦ SimmonsField.com Series Preview

♦ Random statistics

• .207 - J.C. Field's career batting average @ Mizzou
• .189 - North Dakota's current team batting average

♦ MU vs. UND Media Notes (mutigers.com)

• Starting pitchers listed for UND series:  Freshmen Brandon Platts and Brett Graves

• When North Dakota comes to Mizzou this week, some may recognize a familiar face as former
  Tiger JC Field is an assistant coach with UND. Field was part of the Tigers' 2005 and 2006 NCAA Reigonal Teams as he was the Tiger backstop that season, catching for current major leaguers Max Scherzer and Doug Mathis. Field serves as the hitting and catching coach for UND as well as the team's third base coach

• Last six games Mizzou batting average: .318; Previous 4 games: .157

• Last six games BA:  Brown .316; Everett .389; Garcia .417; Mach .417

MIZZOU BASEBALL IN THE MINORS

♦ Kyle Gibson talks about strikeouts, bullpens and his possible return from Tommy John … (twincities.com)

He and the Twins expect Gibson will pitch again some time in August, roughly six to eight weeks after his first bullpen session, tentatively scheduled for June 7.

“That’s the plan,” he said.

General manager Terry Ryan said longterm plans are vague, but there’s no do doubt they’d like Gibson to compete for a starting role in 2013. He was on pace to fight for one this season before the injury.

MIZZOU BASEBALL IN THE MAJORS

♦ Injuries: Ian Kinsler will return Wednesday (espn.com)

Rangers manager Ron Washington plans to play second baseman Ian Kinsler Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.

Kinsler will take swings on the field for the second straight day but he'll miss his third consecutive game Tuesday due to mild stiffness in his lower back.

"Kinsler said he could probably play today, but we'll play him tomorrow," Washington said.

Plus an interesting podcast interview with Ian Kinsler

MIZZOU BASEBALL ALUMS

♦ Eagles look to bounce back (FGCUAthletics.com)

Over the last 10 games, the Eagles have been led at the plate by senior centerfielder Ryan Gebhart’s (Waco, Texas/Midway HS/Missouri) .351 average, driving in six RBI and scoring eight runs with a pair of stolen bases. The Waco, Texas product holds a team-high five extra base hits and is 4-for-5 in his stolen base attempts this season.

ALMOST A MISSOURI TIGER

♦ Astros righthander Cosart’s challenge is to harness talent (Houston Chronicle)

Jarred Cosart can get a baseball to home plate at 95 mph with about as much effort as most people expend getting comfortable in a recliner.

He’s 21, built for speed, wired for hurry.
. . .
Coming out of Clear Creek High, Cosart was a bazooka-armed outfielder committed to attend the University of Missouri. The commitment was so firm, he lasted until the 38th round of the 2008 draft. About an hour before the signing deadline, his father Joe negotiated a $550,000 signing bonus with the Phillies. Just like that, Cosart became a bazooka-armed professional pitcher.

“He’s very confident, and that’s exactly how I was when I came up,” Norris said. “Sometimes you get knocked on your britches and you have to get back up. He’s got a lot of upside, and I’m sure I’ll be seeing him up here. I hope it’s sooner than later.”

In Cosart’s first two pro seasons, he struck out 9.6 batters per nine innings. . .