HI NOTES: Unimpressive Tigers, Impressive Tiger Alums

GAME DAY

♦ Missouri gives up 5 runs in ninth, lose 8-3 to San Francisco (The Maneater)

Missouri lost the momentum in the ninth after committing a throwing error and a fielding error, which allowed the Dons to score five runs in an ugly turn of events.

“I picked the ball up, threw it and missed it,” Steele said of his throwing error that later allowed a run to score. “Bad throw on my part. I overshot the left side (because) I didn’t want to throw it right side and kill the runner going down (to first base). But it’s baseball. It happens.”...

♦ Mental mistakes hurt Missouri baseball team against San Francisco (Columbia Missourian)

By the time Munson realized he had the count wrong, the ball was on its way to first base. He slid head-first, only to be tagged by the waiting San Francisco first baseman.

"This is Division I baseball, you don’t make mistakes like that at this level," Jamieson said. "It’s a sign he’s not in the game mentally, not where he should be."

When Jamieson replaced Munson with Champagne, a four-year Missouri veteran, he couldn't have imagined he'd make a mistake that would rival Munson's...

MIZZOU BASEBALL IN SPRING TRAINING

♦ Nick Tepesch quietly opening Rangers’ eyes (Fort Worth Star Telegram)

The company line regarding Nick Tepesch this spring is to not speak too much about his chances at opening the 2013 season as the Texas Rangers’ fifth starter.

The company line at Tepesch Inc. just so happens to be the same thing.

While no one is saying publicly that Tepesch is in the hunt, he is, and his start Saturday against Oakland was a full-blown audition.

It appears he will get a call-back.
...
Maddux called Tepesch a flat-liner, one who doesn’t show a lot of emotion on the mound. That came in handy while wiggling out of the third-inning jam...

♦ Prospect Stites impressing Padres at big league camp (mlb.com)

"Matt's done a nice job," said manager Bud Black. "I think what stands out is a couple things: His talent. His stuff. He's got a good fastball, a good breaking ball, a good change. I like his composure on the mound. He's handled big league camp well. He's shown sort of a calmness to him, yet also an intensity and a competitiveness that we've heard about from our Minor League staff. All the things that our Minor League people have said about him have been validated here, most notably his arm."...