As Kegger said in his farewell, "the University has started mutigers.com, and they are finally able to provide information in a timely fashion". But while they were able, actually following through on that capability was another thing. The Athletic Department's foray into the internet was in its infancy and more focused on football and basketball than anything else.
And so I picked up the baton from Kegger and began SimmonsField.com, first at MSN Groups (now defunct), and then here on Blogger.
And now, about 14 or 15 years later, this is my farewell post.
The athletic department, through mutigers.com and through their new "strategic communications" effort, are now doing a pretty good job of covering MU Baseball "in a timely fashion".
And I just don't have the time I used to have for an unproductive, unprofitable and often thankless time-gobbler.
However, I'm not going to quit covering Mizzou Baseball completely.
I plan to continue to point fans to good info and links by way of Twitter (follow me @trripleplay). And if you'll look at the left-hand column here on the home page, you'll see there's now a feed of everything I post on Twitter, for those of you who would rather continue visiting this blog instead of figuring out Twitter.
And I'm still occasionally going to be writing some longer pieces about Mizzou recruits, MU alums in the pros, and whatever else strikes me as useful, at RockMNation.com, the best source for Mizzou Sports on the internet. Tweets linking to those posts will also be on the Twitter feed.
I plan to leave tise site open and active for a long while. The Twitter feed will keep on ticking and I'll try to keep the lists of links updated along the left and right columns, which I've worked to make the best list of Mizzou Baseball related links available.
You might want to make sure your bookmarks or favorites link to the full URL of this site, http://simmonsfield.blogspot.com in case I decide some day to stop paying GoDaddy $8.95 a year to keep the SimmonsField.com URL active.
So, while this blog is going into semi-hibernation, I'll still be around. You can find me on Twitter and on RockMNation. You can still e-mail me with questions and comments at simmonsfield @ hotmail.com . And, of course, you can find me in Section E, Row 4, Seat 1 at Simmons Field, ever faithful to Mizzou Baseball.
On the final day of our 2013 Tip of the Cap series, we take note of some of the special achievements by players, fans, media and others involved with the Tigers' 2013 season.
Best reason to watch a game from the third base line
3rd Base Sliders
If you went to SEC weekend series at Taylor Stadium all year and never wandered down by the pavilion, you didn't discover the Third Base Sliders concessions stand, and you missed some of the best food served at Simmons Field since Johnny's Beanery ran the concessions back in the 90's. Chef Travis Taylor served up fresh grilled philly cheese and ham and cheese sliders, Chicago dog sliders, grilled corn on the cob, and more. Mmm good, but you missed it. Sorry.
And now they're already working on a new building and seating area in that spot, which I suppose means they probably won't be back next season. But I'll be following my nose on that first SEC Friday night next season, just to make sure.
The Ian Kinsler Base Cadet Award
I need some input here...who wins in a race, Billy Butler or @d_kelly5?
— Hunter Mense (@Hunter_Mense) May 19, 2013
I'm really tempted to give this annual award for creative base-running to Dylan Kelly. We were warned early on about the catcher when Rob Z told KBIA Sports Extra “He may run a little weird, but he is a phenomenal teammate.” Watching DK run the bases or run down an errant baseball was like watching a Teenage Mutant Ninja Hermit Crab chasing down a meal.
But considering Kelly only attempted one steal all season (at which he failed), he hardly qualifies. Dane Opel actually lead the team in base-stealing blunders, but wasn't particularly spectacular in doing so.
And besides, the most spectacular base running catastrophe I saw all season was the now-famous slide into third by the orginal Mizzou Base Cadet, who face-plowed his way into reclaiming the award that bears his name:
Black & Gold Glove
Josh Lester not only played four different infield positions for the Tigers in 2013, he also led the team with the fewest errors (4) among Tiger infielders.
Among the outfield, Dane Opel had only 2 errors, and led the nation with 15 outfield assists.
And then there's Dylan Kelly, who committed only 1 error the entire season, and ably handled his duties as a backstop and handler of pitchers.
On a team that gained a reputation for sometimes catastrophic defensive failures, there really were a lot of amazing plays this season. Keaton Steele made an acrobatic stop at first in one game that took my breath away.
Here's a tip of my cap for all the times this team flashed the leather like pros.
John McKee HBP Award
Dane Opel led the squad with 13 HBP, followed closely by Keaton Steele with 12. Between the two of them, they accounted for about a third of the team's "accidental" plunkings".
Mark Alexander Phoenix Award
On May 17, 2010, Anderson had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
On May 17, 2012, Anderson had surgery to replace the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
On May 17, 2013, Anderson's right arm helped the Tigers clinch a spot in their first Southeastern Conference Tournament (Columbia Tribune, 5/18)
Eric Anderson has impressed everyone with his bulldog determination to get past all the injuries and be the pitcher he once was. He has definitely earned the come-back player award this season.
I was most impressed by the way he treated Mizzou Baseball the same way beat writers cover Mizzou Football or Basketball, as an important part of MU Athletics. Many writers treat Baseball as one of the "unimportant" sports, and they treat it with kid gloves because it's not worth their time to dig and expose and question. As a result, fans, players and coaches may come to expect more positive reporting and are a bit disturbed when someone plays a different tune.
Alex Silverman marched to the beat of an aspiring serious sportswriter, though, chasing down leads and calling things like he saw them.
"Root, root, root for the road team."
This could have been the refrain Saturday at Taylor Stadium, where No. 2 LSU clobbered the Missouri baseball team 8-0. Even after a five-hour rain delay, which several LSU fans spent tailgating under cover in the parking lots along Carrie Francke Drive outside the stadium, hundreds of purple-and-gold clad fans filled the seats behind the LSU dugout along the first-base line.
"We want a home-field advantage and, hell, we felt like we were in Alex Box," MU outfielder Logan Pearson said. "Their fans stomped our fans today." (Columbia Missourian, 3/31)
That apathy seemed evident following Tuesday’s loss. Outfielder Case Munson, who made a tremendous diving catch in the contest, was all smiles with reporters after the game despite the result. (Missourian, 4/3)
It was Missouri third baseman Shane Segovia’s shot at redemption. A base hit in the bottom of the 15th inning Saturday would make it all OK.
The ball he bobbled half-an-inning earlier that lead to Florida’s go-ahead run wouldn’t matter.
...
The night before, Missouri head coach Tim Jamieson pinch-hit for Segovia in the bottom of the ninth, a decision that haunted him after his replacement, Jake Ivory, struck out looking.
“I second guessed it,” Jamieson said. “Even though Shane’s struggling, he probably was still the best option at that point.” (Missourian, 4/21)
The Missouri baseball team's postgame reaction Sunday at Taylor Stadium was an unusual sight. The Missouri players were uncharacteristically jubilant after sweeping Auburn in a doubleheader Sunday, 3-1 in the first game and 4-1 in the second game, to take its first Southeastern Conference series win at home.
There were high fives all around, pitcher Keaton Steele and infielder Gavin Stark shared a chest bump-based dance, and infielder Mike McGraw rode on the shoulders of outfielder Brannon Champagne. (Missourian, 4/29)
"Pregame I didn’t sense it," Jamieson said. "Anytime that happens, it’s lack of focus, not good enough focus. I can’t explain it."
Jamieson has been at a loss throughout the season, which is on pace to be his worst at Missouri since his first season in 1995. Missouri signed Jamieson to a contract extension through 2015 following the team's Big 12 Conference tournament title last season. (Missourian, 4/30)
Honorary mention goes to Jack Witthaus, writing for The Maneater, who often was competing with Silverman for the same stories, and sometimes beating him to the punch. He caught the attention of this Mizzou Baseball history buff, though, with a profile of former Tiger Jim Doerr. If you haven't rad it, click the link and learn.
Doerr, donned in a bright green sweater with yellow pants, arranges a simple display on one of his couches. He’s collected a few framed photos, an autographed bat and some worn articles printed on computer paper. A fat, jewel-incrusted ring emblazoned with an “M” is wedged on his finger.
Number Cruncher
Sam Nasci
Sam Nasci is, as Bill Connelly of RockMNation calls it, a Numbers NERRRRD. A Junior this year at Mizzou, his dream is to be a sportswriter focusing on statistical analysis of sports, especially baseball. Sabermetrics, as the nerds like to call it.
Sam came to me before the season and offered to help me out by writing previews of each MU Baseball opponent this season, and we cut a mutually beneficial deal: less work for me, experience and exposure for him
I received several comments this season, telling me, I really liked that preview you did of this weekend's series! It wasn't me, folks. Sam I am not, but I tip my cap to him for adding a different flavor to SimmonsField.com this season with his Mizzou Matchup pieces.
That's it for the 2013 season. The results were disappointing, but it's still baseball. Put two teams of nine kids on a field with a ball and a bat and I'll be glad to watch.
There is one last Tip of the Cap post. Check back here Monday morning.
“@jpankake:Feels good to be back in South Carolina.I like our columbia a lot better.” U mean u didn't enjoy not being able to grip the ball?
— Chase Vergason (@vergason16) March 17, 2013
Monday is April. LSU is playing baseball this weekend in a place with snow still on the ground. WTF
— Pod Katt (@valleyshook) March 29, 2013
Definitely just destroyed the baseball team in a snowball fight... They don't wanna see us!! Broadway athletes get it done!
— Laurence Bowers (@MU_Highflyer21) February 26, 2013
I do have to admit that the barking that UGA fans do is a bit weird. Feels like I'm listening to a DMX album.
— Shawn Davis (@ShawnDizzle77) April 7, 2013
The series finale for "Tom and Jerry" should be Tom catching Jerry and eating him. Jerry is getting too cocky
— Rob Zastryzny (@RobbyBaseball_8) April 4, 2013
Mississippi state softball team asks @easports44 what time we play tonight, his reply is "yeah tonight" #nervous
— Jake Walsh (@JakeWalsh35) May 3, 2013
Mizzou's opponent tonight, Miss. St., has 25 guys on their roster who have a combover/swoop. This guy has the best... twitter.com/Hunter_Mense/s…
— Hunter Mense (@Hunter_Mense) May 21, 2013
I bought a cookie from the NORML bake sale on campus and now I've got the craving for even more cookies. Hmmm.....
— Hunter Mense (@Hunter_Mense) April 15, 2013
You know what sucks? Not filling out a bracket. You know who didn't fill one out? Me. So you know who sucks? Bill Self.
— Hunter Mense (@Hunter_Mense) March 22, 2013
It's the little things in life that I appreciate...like not having to fight the urge to pee an hour before I'm gonna wake up.
— Hunter Mense (@Hunter_Mense) March 16, 2013
The theme of 2013 was supposed to be Mizzou Baseball building on that Big 12 Championship and proving to the SEC and that they do belong, that they can compete. The catch phrase before the season began was "Embrace the Underdog".
And then, it seemed that everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The team hit at an historic low production level. The defense struggled to maintain leads.
The two players in that intro video who said, "I won't back down" and "I will make plays", weren't even on the active roster by season's end.
What was the problem?
It was the weather. Specifically, it was the cancelation of four nonconference weekend home games in March. When SEC play started, the Tigers were a step behind. Not only have they have not been able to catch up, it seems that everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. "I mean, I know this is not a great team, but we've been good enough to be right there," Jamieson said last week, "and you wonder, 'OK, if we'd been able to tweak a few things or get guys more prepared by playing more games, could it have been different?' It's not a great team, but it could have been a .500 club. It could have been a club that at least gives you some positives." (Columbia Tribune, May 16, 2013)
The schedule seemed to stumble along in fits and starts all season long.
Entire home opener series vs. Northwestern: cancelled due to huge snow. Three games lost.
Game 1 at Memphis was pushed to a later start time due to weather.
2-day series against Eastern Michigan pushed to a double header (7 innings each) on Wednesday, in bitter cold.
Game 3 vs. San Francisco: cancelled
Game vs. D-II Truman State cobbled into the schedule. One game added, but it doesn't really count in the official RPI.
Game 3 vs. South Carolina moved up to be part of a Saturday double-header ... in bitter cold
Two-game set against Arkansas State was moved forward to a double-header, due to weather.
Game 3 vs. Tennessee moved up to part of a Saturday double-header
Tuesday game against Nebraska-Omaha was pushed back to Wednesday, due to yet another big snow.
Game 2 against LSU was pushed back from 1:00 to 6:00 due to rain, wiping out a scheduled national TV broadcast.
Missouri State at Mizzou was postponed a week due to severe thunderstorms
Murray State game was cancelled outright due to heavy rains in the forecast
Saturday game vs. Auburn postponed to later in the day, then postponed to be part of a 7-innings double header on Sunday.
That's a total of 17 games that were either cancelled, postponed and/or rescheduled. Five were cancelled altogether. The Tigers only managed to play 48 Division I games, as opposed to the normal 56 game schedule.
Tim Jamieson does have a point, that the constant interruptions made it hard for the Tigers to get going..
On the other hand, Mizzou Softball saw 14 games cancelled outright, plus many more postponed and rescheduled, including weather delays in their SEC Tournament. They finished 35-11, 15-8 in the SEC, won the Regional they hosted in Columbia and at this writing are preparing to host a Super Regional. And they did that even with their pitching staff in disarray.
So, yes, the weather problems were hard to deal with. But that doesn't really explain this season.
The Best of Times, The Worst of Times
The 2013 Tigers were a bipolar team, proving themselves to be both one of the best and one of the worst Tiger squads in decades.
This season's pitching staff has proved themselves to be one of the best and deepest Mizzou fans have seen in quite a while. The team ERA of 3.87 is surpassed only by the Max Scherzer teams of 2004-2006 during the Tim Jamieson era of the past two decades, and prior to that you have to go back to 1981 to find a better pitching staff..
The offense, however, stands out historically in a way not as admirable. The Tigers' team batting average of .245 is the worst team BA since 1969, when the Tigers managed a weak .230 average.
The final game of 2013 summed up the entire season in 17 long innings. Rob Z pitched a masterful 9 innings, Keaton Steele followed up with 7 more scoreless innings, and it was a run given up by Jake Walsh in the 17th inning that ended the Tigers' season. That incredible pitching performance just wasn't good enough to make up for the Tiger lineup's .193 batting average for the game, getting their only run on a wild throw. It was an exhilarating game and a frustrating game.
And it was an exhilarating and frustrating season.
In the end its our defiance that redeems us.
— Breckin Williams (@BreckinW) March 23, 2013
"We're still going to have to score runs, and that has been our biggest issue," Jamieson said. "Rob has been great for his entire career at our place. He is going to be a high draft at the end of the year, and he has a good professional career ahead of him, and he'll compete and do fine, but we have to score runs." (Columbia Tribune, 5/21)
The story of Mizzou Baseball in 2013 has been a consistent one, and it continued right on through the final 17 inning chapter. It's the story of a bi-polar team. And no, I'm not talking about the weather.
In the final marathon against fellow defending conference tournament champion Mississippi State, the Tiger pitching shined as always. One of the best and deepest pitching staffs of Tim Jamieson's tenure represented themselves well, led by their ace, Rob Zastryzny, and the Man of Steele, Keaton Steele.
At least on this night, Zastryzny silenced any and all doubters. The lefty was terrific against the Bulldogs, striking out seven, walking two and allowing just one run on seven hits in nine stellar innings of work.
"He was phenomenal, focused and on a mission tonight," Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said. "I think that's about as well as he has thrown all-season long for nine-straight innings.
"I think he's the next of our pitchers to make it to the big leagues," Jamieson continued. "He has big-league type of stuff and his competitiveness is off the charts out there." (Perfect Game)
"I'm not even going to attempt to pronounce the first left-hander's name but we'll probably all know his name in five years when he's playing in the big leagues because he's really good," Mississippi State head coach John Cohen on Missouri left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny (al.com)
On the other hand, last night's game was typical of the entire season for the offense as well. MU's lone run was scored on a wild throw. The hitters, while they gave it everything they had, it just wasn't enough yet again. The team managed 11 hits hits in 57 at bats, for a .193 batting average, with only one extra-base hit. And as usual against a ranked SEC team, they weren't given many walks or other free bases to exploit.
And so a difficult season ends. The Tigers finish 18-32 overall, 10-20 in the SEC.
None of the regular hitters finished with a batting average above .300. On the other hand, all the regulars managed to lift their averages above the .200 Mendoza line by the season's close.
But the pitching amassed a team ERA of 3.87, which is good enough to carry a team deep into the post-season...if it weren't for the fact that the offense has handed its opponents' pitchers a 3.60 ERA.
As I've said all year long, it wasn't about the move to the SEC. A team that only hits .245 as a team isn't going to compete in any conference.
But, like every Cubs fan knows, there's always next year.
Over the coming week we'll be posting our annual Tip of the Cap season wrap-up series here at SimmonsField.com before we put this season to a merciful end.
Head Coach: John Cohen
(126-111 in 5th season as Alabama Head Coach)
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium –
Hoover, AL
Tuesday @ 8 PM CT (CSS,
ESPN3)
Missouri (18-31, 11-20 SEC) vs.
Mississippi State (40-16, 16-14 SEC)
After the weekend series
against Kentucky, Missouri found a way to get into the SEC Tournament as a 12
seed, the lowest seed to make the tournament, and have drawn the Mississippi
State Bulldogs in the first round. This game is an elimination game, so if the
Tigers lose, that will be it for their season. The Bulldogs took the series
last weekend against South Carolina convincingly, and expect to roll past
Mizzou. They have a 2-0 neutral site record, and an impressive 40-16 mark
overall.
Projected Lineup
SS Adam Frazier (L) .338
3B Alex Detz (L) .311
RF Hunter Renfroe (R) .362
2B Brett Pirtle (S) .309
1B Wes Rea (R) .277
CF C.T. Bradford (L) .308
LF Demarcus Henderson (R)
.273
C Nick Ammirati (S) .276
DH Derrick Armstrong (R) .250
Position Players
This may be the best 1-9
lineup that the Tigers have faced all year. In the three-hole resides Hunter
Renfroe. In my column a couple weeks ago I highlighted him as the SEC leader in
isolated power, as one of the best all around hitters in the conference. He is
first in the SEC in slugging percentage (.691), and has drawn almost as many
walks (33) as he has struck out (34). His OBP of .459 is also good for the team
lead. Five of their starters are hitting above .300, which brings the team
batting average to .295; good enough for third in the SEC (Vanderbilt leads at
.319). Their run production absolutely obliterates their opponents, outscoring
them 342-189 which is just a sample of their offensive domination. For the
season, there is no major offensive category that the Bulldogs are inferior to
their opponents.
Projected Pitching Matchups
LHP Rob Zastryzny (2-9, 3.64
ERA) vs. RHP Trevor Fitts (0-0, 1.65 ERA)
Pitchers
The highlight of the Bulldog
pitching staff is their bullpen. It is chalked full of guys with ERAs under
2.00, with the capability of striking out a lot of hitters. Tiger hitters will
will be facing somewhat of an unknown as Bulldogs coach John Cohen is planning to start a sophomore pitcher with only 21 innings in his entire career at Mississippi State . He has appeared in 12 games this season, with a total of 16 innings pitched, so he probably is not being counted on to go very long as a starter. In effect, Mizzou may be facing a Johnny Wholestaff situation in this game, with the Bulldogs relying on that deep bullpen against what they obviously consider to be an inferior opponent.
Matchup Wrap-up
The only way I see Missouri
winning this game is if they can adjust to a revolving door of pitchers coming in for short stints on the mound. If they can get to Fitts early and put some quick runs on the board will give Rob Z the
confidence of pitching with the lead. This lineup could be the best Mizzou has
faced this season, and they will have to put together a complete game to take
down the favorited Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Mississippi State baseball is 1 of just 3 SEC teams w/ 40 wins, impressive given the Bulldogs' strength of schedule (5th nationally)...
— Mike Nemeth (@MikeNemeth) May 19, 2013
A&M coach Rob Childress on Mizzou LHP ace Rob Zastryzny: "He matches up really well against MSU b/c they have several LH hitters in lineup.
...The Bulldogs now defend their title in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. Last season they were pretty much out of regional hosting so winning wouldn't hurt. They ran the table and won five games in six days, one of the best runs in tournament history. This season is slightly different. I think State will be content with bowing out of the tournament. That's not to say they want to try and lose, but having a few extra days to rest for the regional will probably be best.
State will start the tournament Tuesday playing the final game of day one against the 12-seed Missouri. I believe winning the Tuesday night game seals up MSU's hosting chances. Going 2-2 in the tournament would be reasonable enough for most fans. We shall see how it all plays out.
The evolution of Southeastern Conference stadiums began in Starkville. Mississippi State athletics director Scott Stricklin remembers driving down to Jackson to watch MSU play Georgia Tech. In the middle of the game the Bulldog Club offered fans an opportunity to pick their seat at the new Dudy Noble Field.
“It was jaw-dropping at the time that anybody could do that for college baseball,” Stricklin said. “And that happened because of what those crowds drew at the ’85 team.”
What many consider the best college baseball team to not win a College World Series, the 1985 Bulldogs took the field with 18-game winner Jeff Brantley, Bobby Thigpen, Clark (the eventual Golden Spikes Award winner) and Palmeiro, MSU’s career home run leader....
Seven of the SEC Tournament's 17 games are now single elimination (41 percent). Two years ago during the final season of the eight-team bracket, there was one single-elimination game, Sunday's championship.
Single elimination contradicts how baseball typically evaluates success and failure -- over a series of games. In the NCAA Tournament, there are double-elimination NCAA regionals, best-of-three NCAA super regionals, a double-elimination College World Series, and a best-of-three national championship series.
But if the SEC wants to have 86 percent of its teams in Hoover -- 67 percent went during the eight-team tournament -- coaches say single-elimination games are needed to spare players' bodies for the NCAA Tournament....
On opening against friend John Cohen: ”I’m looking forward to it. John and I didn’t get to compete against each other this year. We didn’t play Mississippi State this season. It’s going to happen sooner or later. Next year’s schedule they get to come to Columbia. It’s something that’s going t happen eventually and I’m looking forward to it. I’m anxious to see John’s reaction than anything else.”...
Mizzou sophomore catcher Patrick Quintanilla (Southlake, Texas) has been named to the SEC Baseball Community Service Team, as announced by the league office on Monday (May 20).
Over the last year, Quintanilla has been actively involved in the Columbia community. He has participated in the Food Recovery Network, working with Missouri dining services to take food from dining halls to local soup kitchens, helping provide food the less fortunate families and community members. He also volunteered with the CASA Heart of Missouri Youth Clinic, a youth clinic in which the Mizzou baseball and softball teams teach abused and neglected children how to play baseball/softball...
David Perno's long tenure at Georgia, which featured plenty of success but more recent lows, has come to an end.
Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity informed Perno on Sunday that he was not being retained after 12 seasons, according to multiple reports and a source who confirmed the decision. Perno, who guided Georgia to three appearances in the College World Series, finishes with a record of 390-335 at Georgia, Perno's alma mater. He also graduated from Clarke Central in Athens...
Oh great. Now SEC baseball is getting closer and closer to SEC football.
Late word tonight had it that the 12-year Georgia head coach was gonna get his walking papers sometime on Monday. What’s the matter Georgia fans, three trips to the College World Series and coming within a whisker of a national title weren’t enough for you? Perno had some bad seasons, sure. Most of them being recent ones. But he also had some major injury factors to work with, including losing three big talents in pitcher Pete Nagle, catcher Brandon Stephens and OF Connor Welton before a single pitch was thrown this season. And he also wasn’t going to stay sub-.500 for long.
Perno is not only a good guy, he’s a great coach. Before I exit this entry, lemme ask you SEC fan, how many other SEC coaches had led their teams to three College World Series’?
Perno’s departure opens up one of the most desirable jobs in college baseball. Georgia has a huge recruiting advantage thanks to the wealth of in-state talent coupled with the HOPE Scholarship program—which allows the Bulldogs to supplement their 11.7 athletic scholarships with lottery money for any Georgia high school player who graduates with a 3.0 grade-point average or better.
If Georgia wants to make a major financial commitment, it might start by approaching some of college baseball’s most successful established head coaches, like Louisville’s Dan McDonnell, Virginia’s Brian O’Connor, TCU’s Jim Schlossnagle or Kent State’s Scott Stricklin. None of those coaches would be an easy hire, but Georgia has the resources to shoot for the moon. Mid-major head coaches like South Alabama’s Mark Calvi, UCF’s Terry Rooney, Samford’s Casey Dunn, Mercer’s Craig Gibson, Illinois State’s Mark Kingston or College of Charleston’s Monte Lee could also make intriguing targets.
Or the Bulldogs could try to land the next O’Connor, Tim Corbin or Kevin O’Sullivan—all of whom were can’t-miss prospects as assistant coaches who have been hugely successful in their first head coaching stints at major-conference schools. If Georgia decides to take that route, it figures to look at North Carolina’s Scott Forbes, Virginia’s Kevin McMullan, Arkansas’ Todd Butler, Mississippi State’s Butch Thompson or Mississippi’s Cliff Godwin...
This is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to coaching changes … look for a few more things to break this week as well.
Despite a few rough spots in May that have led to his only two runs allowed in 2013, Crow has been a momentum killer when he comes in for manager Ned Yost.
“Coming out of the bullpen, just throwing strike one and going from there,” Crow said of his approach. “And I’ve done a better job consistently this year.”
Crow has pitched only 10⅔ innings — the third least on the team ahead of only reliever JC Gutierrez and Will Smith, who made one spot start — but the Washburn Rural graduate has had appearances in 13 games, third most on the team behind Kelvin Herrera (17) and Greg Holland (15)...
...Crow doesn’t look to be a starting pitcher but he does have a chance to become an effective/dominant closer for the Royals. I think we need to give him until the end of the 2014 season to make a determination. If he is not the closer by then (or is not traded for some significant addition to the Royals roster to aid them in the race for the postseason), then he is a bust.
Conclusion: Crow is not a bust yet, but if he is still a setup man for the Royals in November 2014 then he is a bust for sure.
Nick Tepesch received baptism by Miguel Cabrera on Friday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
It will provide a nice learning experience from the rookie right-hander's eighth start. Triple Crown winners are especially tough to get out.
Tepesch faced Cabrera three times in Friday's 2-1 loss to Detroit and lost to the Tigers third baseman every time. Tepesch allowed Cabrera two singles and a fifth-inning RBI double that gave the Tigers their first run...
...Senne is currently on the disabled list. He has played in only eight of the team's 39 games and is batting just .080 (2-for-25). He has been sidelined since April 15.
♦ Brock Bond (SF Giants organization) was placed on the disabled list on April 4th by the AAA Fresno Grizzlies. HE was reinstated from the disabled list on May 18th and assigned him to the High-A San Jose Giants.
“You want to go in playing as well as you’ve played all year, and we probably are right now,” Jamieson said. “And the guys know that we have Rob on Tuesday, which gives them a little bit of a lift as well.”
Jamieson kept Zastryzny on the bench in the Kentucky series in order to make sure his ace is available for Tuesday’s elimination game.
“Whoever we play on Tuesday is not going to be throwing a No. 1, I don’t think,” Jamieson said. “They might be throwing a No. 3, but they’re not going to be throwing a No. 1.”...
After Anderson was taken out to a standing ovation in the eighth, Keaton Steele further solidified Missouri's place in Hoover with a solo home run. Steele then closed out the game on the mound, and Missouri (18-30, 10-19 SEC) clinched the series against Kentucky.
No. 19 Kansas State clinched its first-ever Big 12 title, and its first regular-season championship in any conference since 1933, with a thrilling 6-5 win Friday against No. 25 Oklahoma.
...
At 15-7 in the Big 12 (two games ahead of second-place Oklahoma State, which has just one game remaining) and No. 19 in the updated Ratings Percentage Index rankings at WarrenNolan.com, Kansas State is in strong position to host a regional. One more win against the Sooners to finish the season with four straight series wins would just about clinch it for Kansas State, in our estimation. Oklahoma, meanwhile, is playing for its postseason life thanks to an RPI ranking of No. 58....
Let the John Cohen public service announcement of why Mississippi State University baseball should host an NCAA Regional begin.
The first words out of the mouth of the Bulldogs fifth-year coach was pleading his case through the media to the 10-member NCAA selection committee that his team should be returning back to Dudy Noble Field in just over a week.
"I'm not on any committee but I can tell you this...we played the most difficult schedule in the Southeastern Conference and went 16-14," Cohen said. "You always want more but I still think our kids did a great job and we battled through a lot."
...
Without looking at Missouri's lineup or tendencies, Cohen suggested sophomore right hander Trevor Fitts could get his second career start as the Pelham (Ala.) High School star would be playing 25 minutes south off where he went to school before signing with MSU...
Mississippi State baseball's 39 regular season wins are the most Ws prior to the SEC Tournament or post-season play in any season since 1997
Things to know about Mizzou Baseball in the SEC Tournament:
1) By winning two of three against Kentucky in their final SEC series this weekend, the Tigers guaranteed themselves a spot in the SEC Tournament. Losing the third game of that series to Kentucky, MU settled into the 12th (and lowest) seed in the SEC Tournament, while Kentucky hung on to the 11th slot.
2) Mizzou's first game in the tournament will be against Mississippi State sometime Tuesday evening (half an hour after the conclusion of the 4:30 PM scheduled Florida-Texas A&M game) -- DETAILED BRACKET
3) In the first round of the tournament, the teams seeded 5-12 play one another (5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, etc) in a single-elimination game on Tuesday. The four teams that lose in that round are done. The four winners then participate in a typical double-elimination tournament Wednesday through Saturday, concluding with a single game championship match-up between the winners of each bracket.
4) If Missouri beats Mississippi State on Tuesday, they would face 4-seed South Carolina (MU was 1-2 vs. USC this season) on Wednesday. Other teams in their bracket are Florida (1-2) and Texas A&M (0-3), one of which will be eliminated on Tuesday; plus 1-seed Vanderbilt (0-3). The shortest way to winning the SEC Tournament for Mizzou would be to win 5 straight games in 6 days.
5) Mizzou's first game on Tuesday is on ESPN3, XM 199, Sirius 158, and on CSS TV. Additional games may also be on Fox Sports South, ESPNEWS, and the championship game is on ESPN2. Detailed broadcast schedule HERE.
6) The Tigers were scheduled to leave Columbia early Sunday morning to head for Hoover, Alabama, the site of the SEC Tournament.
8) Mississippi State is one of three SEC schools Mizzou did not play in the regular season (along with Ole Miss and Arkansas). Prior to Tuesday evening's game, Sam Nasci plans to post another of his Mizzou Matchup previews here at SimmonsField.com.
9) Perhaps one of the most interesting side stories of the Missouri-Mississippi State match-up is the fact that MSU's head coach John Cohen was once an assistant coach at Missouri, under Gene McArtor and then Tim Jamieson. I'm sure we'll be reading more about that in the next couple of days.
