Showing posts with label Auburn Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Auburn Baseball. Show all posts

Monday, April 29, 2013

HI NOTES: Tigers Win Another SEC Series, plus Pitchers Past & Future








♦ Home runs lead Auburn to a 3-1 victory over Mizzou (KBIA Sports Extra)

♦ MU baseball sweeps DH to win series over Auburn (Columbia Tribune)
"Now we're ahead of them in the standings," MU Coach Tim Jamieson said of Missouri now holding that tie-breaker over Auburn. "We needed to come out and play. It was difficult after Friday. Think the team was down after Friday's game. We haven't been great this year but we've at least been resilient."
♦ Missouri third baseman Segovia finally has his day (Columbia Missourian)
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...
♦ Mizzou baseball scores important doubleheader sweep of Auburn (KNIA Sports Extra)
Segovia was among the most unlikely of heroes, as he entered the day with just a .145 batting average – the worst on the Missouri lineup. The junior went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in during Sunday’s doubleheader.

“It builds confidence, that’s for sure,” Segovia said of his breakout day. “I always saw that there was some light at the end of the tunnel, and today – what a coincidence, the sun came out.”...
♦ Auburn drops crucial series in doubleheader sweep at Missouri (al.com)

MISSOURI BASEBALL IN THE MINORS

♦ Check out this great article about Phil McCormick and a fellow squirrely relief pitcher: Squirrels well-armed with unorthodox relievers (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Quirarte is a right-handed sidearmer, and McCormick is a left-handed sidearmer, giving the Squirrels a set of opposite, unorthodox options out of the bullpen to match up with hitters from opposite sides of the plate in late-game situations.

“That,” said Richmond manager Dave Machemer, “is a good thing.”

To maximize the advantage of his delivery angle, Quirarte works off the extreme left side of the pitching rubber, as it faces the batter. McCormick starts from the extreme right side. But they share a reason for their sidearm motions. They hit hard times with conventional deliveries...


MISSOURI BASEBALL RECRUITING

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Game Day: Saturday game cancelled; DH Sunday Noon




♦ Rob Zastryzny still frustrated after Missouri baseball falls to Auburn (Columbia Missourian)
Steele, who both pitches and hits for Missouri, said he "loved" Zastryzny's Friday night outing. Still, he wasn't surprised to hear that Zastryzny felt otherwise, and it's part of why Steele respects him.

"He’s just a leader on and off the field," Steele said. "He does the right things off the field and he does the right things on the field."...
♦ Missouri baseball drops opener against Auburn (Columbia Tribune)
Segovia might have cost MU a run in the fifth after drawing a leadoff walk. With Kendall Keeton batting, a pitch bounced away from Auburn catcher Blake Austin, but Segovia stayed put. After Keeton struck out, Pearson singled to right field, but Segovia cruised into second rather than try for third. He was stranded at second.

"I think he's just a guy that's playing with very little confidence right now," MU Coach Tim Jamieson said, "and that shows up in every part of his game."...
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Friday, April 26, 2013

SEC Weekend: Auburn Tigers @ Mizzou

♦ Be sure to check out Sam Nasci's Mizzou Matchup preview of the Auburn Tigers here at SimmonsField.com

♦ Also check out our off-season South By Southeast posts about Auburn Baseball:

♦ And for you Gator fans coming into Columbia, MO, for the weekend, check out The SEC Fan's Guide to Mizzou Baseball for everything you need to know.



♦ JUST ANOTHER BUNCH OF COLLEGE GUYS...





♦ SEC Standings: The SEC Tournament admits only the top 12 teams, regardless of division. Heading into the Auburn series, Missouri stands tied for the 12th or 13th place with Tennessee, above Georgia. UT would hold the tie-breaker over MU if that tie persists. 11th place is held by Auburn. This weekend's series is crucial to both sets of Tigers in their quest to make the tournament.

MU's remaining schedule includes games against Texas A&M, Alabama, and Kentucky.

East Division in bold
.889 16-2 Vanderbilt.833 15-3 LSU
.611 11-7 Arkansas
.611 11-7 South Carolina .556 10-8 Florida.556 10-8 Mississippi
.556 10-8 Mississippi State
.500 9-9 Alabama
.389 7-11 Kentucky.389 7-11 Texas A&M
.333 6-12 Auburn
.278 5-13 Tennessee.278 5-13 Missouri.222 4-14 Georgia
♦ Can Auburn Baseball Make a Case for the Postseason? (Track'em Tigers)
...It was a shot in the arm to win consecutive SEC series after winning just one game in the first three series. However, Georgia has one of the worst teams in recent years and Auburn really should have swept the Dawgs. A sweep would have gone a long way in making up lost ground from the first half of the season.

While the pitching staff led by Michael O’Neal (7-2) has done a good job with a team ERA of 3.33 (the lowest mark at this point in the season since 2002) – the offense has struggled at times. It was the lack of offense that prevented the Tigers from getting the sweep against Georgia.

Auburn had a combined 25 hits in its two victories against the Bulldogs on Friday and Saturday but could only muster three in the last game of Saturday’s double header.

In the first half of the season, John Pawlowski became the Tigers’ all-time third Winn ingest baseball coach (by number of wins.) Yet Auburn finds itself in the familiar position of possibly not making the NCAA. Because of it, some believe Pawlowski will be on the hot seat if …

… the Tigers fail to make it to the NCAA tournament. The mid-season record of 22-14 and 5-10 in the SEC is not a bad record per se but it doesn’t get any easier from here on out...
♦ Daniel Koger replaces struggling Kendall as No. 3 starter for Tigers (OANow.com)
Stuck in the bullpen after falling from the top spot of Auburn’s pitching rotation, sophomore Daniel Koger didn’t sulk.

The left-hander continued to work, even when his job was stripped from him. Tigers coach John Pawlowski said Thursday that persistence paid off, with Koger likely being inserted back into the weekend rotation as Auburn’s third starter.

“We’re going to change it up on Sunday — mostly likely it’s going to be Daniel Koger,” Pawlowski said. “Koger, I was impressed with the way he threw at Mississippi State. I thought his stuff was very good in relief. We’ve been banged up a little bit with a couple of our arms, but I think Koger is ready to go. If he’s ready to go, then we’re going to start him on Sunday.” ...
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Thursday, April 25, 2013

MIZZOU MATCHUP: Auburn Tigers


Head Coach: John Pawlowski (158-119 in 5th season as Auburn Head Coach)

Taylor Stadium – Columbia, MO
Friday @ 6 PM CT
Saturday @ 2 PM CT
Sunday @ 1 PM CT

Missouri (13-23, 5-13 SEC) vs. Auburn (24-16, 6-12 SEC)

Mizzou will try to stay out of last place in the Eastern Division of the SEC, as they try to protect their one game lead over Georgia against non-division opponent Auburn. The Auburn Tigers spend last weekend at Mississippi State, dropping two of three to the 16 ranked Bulldogs. Auburn comes into Columbia this weekend with a 24-16 record, 6-12 in the SEC, and 5-7 while on the road.

Position Players
The right handed heavy Auburn lineup is one of the more consistent ones I have analyzed so far this year. They have shown flashes of power all through the lineup, as it seems most of them have the potential to put one over the wall at any time.

All of their speed comes from the top of the order from centerfielder Ryan Tella. Tella has swiped 12 bags this season, while only being caught once. The speed in center is paired with a reliable glove, only having committed a single error this year. He is also a reliable bat at the top, heading a quartet of Auburn hitters that are near or above hitting .300 on the season.

Their batting leader comes from the three spot in the lineup with left fielder Cullen Wacker. His 29 RBIs is one off the team lead, and he is also second on the team with a .474 slugging percentage. The man who leads in those two categories comes after him in the lineup.

First baseman Garrett Cooper has been the team’s most productive hitter throughout most of the season. Playing in all of Auburn’s 40 games this season, he leads the team with a .507 SLG, 4 HR, 30 RBI, and is one of the five players on the roster that are in the double digits in doubles.

The lineup below there shows spontaneous bursts of power, as the 6-8 hitters have combined for a modest six homers this season, three from third baseman Damek Tomscha. Batting averages from there also drop to the mid to low .200s, with guys that strike out at an alarming rate.

Projected Lineup
CF Ryan Tella (L) .308
2B Jordan Ebert (R) .293
LF Cullen Wacker (L) .336
1B Garrett Cooper (R) .328
DH Patrick Savage (R) .261
C Blake Austin (R) .276
3B Damek Tomscha (R) .250
RF Hunter Kelley (R) .265
SS Mitchell Self (R) .182

Pitchers
The Auburn rotation consists of three lefties, two of which have seen great success this year. Conner Kendrick and Michael O’Neal both have very low ERAs, Kendrick being recently promoted to Friday starter. He has only had four starts this year, but since he has assumed that role, his ERA has stayed low. Averaging about a strikeout an inning, he leads the team in that category (48). Saturday the Tigers will see Michael O’Neal, who has been a starter since the beginning of the season. More of a guy that pitches to contact, he has only struck out 27 hitters in 2013, but holds a very effective .226 BAA. With only walking 16 batters in 63.1 innings, the Tigers will have to come out swinging.

Projected Pitching Matchups
RHP Rob Zastryzny (2-7, 4.22 ERA) vs. LHP Conner Kendrick (2-2, 2.09 ERA)
RHP Brett Graves (0-5, 4.86 ERA) vs. LHP Michael O’Neal (8-2, 2.13 ERA)
RHP Alec Rash (2-1, 4.01 ERA) vs. LHP Will Kendall (0-5, 8.35 ERA)

Matchup Wrap-up
Missouri hitters will have to take different approaches to the plate between Friday and Saturday. On Friday, attacking Kendrick early in the count will do them well, as he has a high strikeout ratio. Exactly the opposite for Saturday; if Mizzou can work counts and look for a pitch to hit, they can try and get to O’Neal. He will stay around the strike zone all day, and Missouri will have to take advantage of mistakes O’Neal makes, which could be very few.

Other SEC games this weekend (all 4/26-28):
Texas A&M @ Alabama
(14) Arkansas @ Georgia
Tennessee @ Florida
Kentucky @ (18) Ole Miss
(15) South Carolina @ (2) LSU
(16) Mississippi State @ (3) Vanderbilt

Rankings from Baseball America

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Update: Auburn Uni-palooza

♦ The story behind Redesigning the Auburn Baseball Uniform (CollegeAndMagnolia.com), complete with more detailed photos.
That got me thinking. Could Auburn follow that same strategy? What would it look like if Auburn designed its uniforms based off of any of the 30 MLB clubs? And lo, a time killing, creatively fueling, and ultimately rewarding project was born. I took out my notebook and started to draft my ground rules...
My favorite, featuring the Auburn War Eagle:
Photo from  SBN CollegeAndMagnolia.com
The classic "Bird on Bat" logo is modified to just a single eagle. I also went with the Sunday home uniforms to cheat a bit and not have to try and warp the StL logo into some sort of AU hodgepodge.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Southern Exposure: Getting To Know U's

♦ Baseball's SID Shawn Davis (or more precisely, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications - Media) has started a series of short introductions to Mizzou's 2013 SEC opponents, including weird facts, Word on the Tweet, and other miscellany.  He started with MU's first opponent: Getting to Know SEC Baseball: South Carolina (mutigers.com)
Electric Gamecock
photo by Rick Stillwell

♦ Quick Thoughts From Vickash Ramjit Entering 2013 Season (gatorzone.com)
What do you think the fans at McKethan Stadium have to look forward to this season?

“They will have a lot of young faces to see; I feel they’re going to be very surprised. I think it’s going to be a mirror of the ‘10 season, when Nolan Fontana and those guys (including Cody Dent, Brian Johnson, Austin Maddox, Hudson Randall, Steven Rodriguez and Mike Zunino) came in. These guys have been in here day and night working and are so motivated. The fans are going to be excited to see these young guys. We could have a special team this year.”
♦ Auburn/MLB Jersey redesign. Great picture, interesting concept, not sure if it's for real or just for kicks. Check it out.

♦ Solo cup races at Ole Miss Baseball this season (totalfratmove.com). OK.

♦ Pretty lame 2013 Florida Baseball Commercial. But hey, it's better than the one Missouri Baseball is running.

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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Southern Exposure: Baseball>Basketball, 3-and-Out

♦ Does your program/fans care more about basketball or baseball? (SECRant.com)
  • South Carolina fan: I know for South Carolina fans, most of us care more about baseball, but those of us who were around during the Frank McGuire days still care about basketball.
  • LSU fan: Baseball without a doubt. We lead the nation in attendance EVERY year for a reason
  • Ole Miss fan: Baseball for sure. You can't bring a cooler to basketball games
  • Alabama fan: Basketball for Alabama. The 90s are long gone for the Alabama baseball program
  • Auburn fan: Whichever one is better. If I had to choose, I'd say basketball, because when they are good, more fans follow them. When baseball is good, a percentage of fans follow them, and the park is filled up, but you don't get the same turnout as you would for a good basketball team.
  • Florida fan: Definitely basketball for UF
  • A&M fan: A&M has traditionally been a baseball school and Blue Bell Park is as beautiful of a facility as any. We always support the baseball team.
  • Georgia fan: Neither :(
  • Arkansas fan: Its about a tie. Overall attendance numbers for each sport is close to a tie right now.
  • Kentucky fan: Nobody cares about baseball where you use aluminum bats...
  • Mississippi State fan: When MSU is good(this year for the first time in over a decade), there is no better place to watch a college baseball game than Dudy Noble Field -- even though she's a bit outdated these days.
♦ Mark Etheridge at SEBaseball.com has some good thoughts on the plusses and minuses of the newly expanded SEC Tournament format, plus a brief look at the prospects for Georgia and Auburn, in Three and out: SEC Tourney Makeover (SEBaseblal.com).
When did you stop beating your wife?

Remember that time we all quit watching baseball because it causes in-grown ear hairs? Me either.

Remember when we quit stopped lining foul-lines because it contained trace levels of mayonnaise. Not really...
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Thursday, October 4, 2012

SxSE: Auburn Tigers Baseball, 1933-2012

Auburn was once a solid NCAA Regional team, expected to reach the Regionals most years, and occasionally made it farther. But now they would have to be considered a Conference Tournament team at best.  Auburn's average W-L record over the past 10 seasons has been 32-26.

The Auburn Tigers began playing baseball in 1933.

Auburn had 11 different head coaches in the 30 years from from 1933 through 1962, resulting in very little success.

Paul Nix was hired in 1963 and took the Tigers to their first NCAA Regional that season, as well as three more times in his 22 years through 1984. He took Auburn to the College World Series twice, in 1967 and 1976.

Hal Baird coached from 1985 through 2000, taking the Tigers to 9 NCAA Regionals and 2 College World Series (1994 and 1997).

From 2001 to 2004, Steve Renfroe coached the Tigers, reaching the Regionals three times.

Tom Slater took over from 2005 to 2008, reaching the Regionals just once.

John Pawlowski, the current coach, has not had much more success, reaching the Regionals in only one of his four seasons at the helm (2010).

In the 13 yeas from 1993 through 2005, the Auburn Tigers were in the NCAA Regionals 11 times, hosted 3 times, and made the College World Series twice.

In the 7 seasons from 2006 through 2012, Auburn was in only one Regional, which they hosted in 2010.

Notable Auburn Ballplayers

2012 Auburn Baseball

The 2012 Auburn Tigers posted a 31-28 overall record, 12-17 in the SEC.  They played in the SEC Tournament but did not make it to the NCAA Regionals.

♦ Alabama, Auburn baseball endure droughts during SEC golden age (al.com, 5/22/12)
From 1988 to 1999 . . . Auburn got to the CWS twice and was fifth in the SEC for NCAA postseason wins. In the subsequent 12 years without ... reaching Omaha, Alabama tied for eighth in the SEC for NCAA Tournament wins and Auburn ranked 11th.
. . .
Consider this: In 2010, LSU spent $7.4 million on baseball and produced $9.2 million in revenue. Alabama and Auburn baseball combined for $4.5 million on costs and $762,726 in revenue in 2010.
. . .
Unlike football and basketball, baseball relies on partial scholarships because the NCAA maximum is 11.7 per team. The more a coach can stretch out that athletic aid by using other resources, the better off he is.

Most SEC teams other than Auburn and Alabama benefit from state-funded academic scholarships. Many are paid for by a lottery, which Alabama and Mississippi don't have. States with lottery money can offer in-state players who qualify for academic aid a better financial deal than Alabama and Auburn and save the 11.7 for out-of-state players.

"It's a huge advantage," Auburn coach John Pawlowski said. "When your scholarship dollars can be stretched and you have other resources to use, it makes an unbelievable difference."

Many SEC schools, including Mississippi State, also use out-of-state waivers, former Alabama coach Jim Wells said. These schools allow out-of-state students who meet academic criteria to be charged the cheaper in-state rate.

Pawlowski declined to say if Auburn waives out-of-state tuition.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

SxSE: Coach John Pawlowski's Auburn Tigers


♦ Recruiting footprint:  Based on recent rosters, Pawlowski tends to recruit from Alabama, Georgia, California and Texas.

♦ Time running out for Tigers baseball coach (Auburn Plainsman)
Looking at the numbers, the Tiger’s record doesn’t add up.

The Tigers boasted the highest batting average (.304) as well as the highest on base percentage (.386) in the SEC. Runners were getting on.

The problem does not come from moving them around the base paths either. The Tigers racked up a whopping 113 stolen bases and led the SEC in sac bunts and flies. Runners were getting over.

The offense capitalized on this production by bringing in 351 runs, ranked third in the SEC. Runners were getting in.

The defense’s numbers were the polar opposite. A SEC third-worst era of 3.92 was put up from the pitching staff. Accompanied with the SEC’s worst field percentage, Auburn struggled to hold opponents from crossing the plate.

Put that group of stats together, the Tigers only had a win percentage more than .500 when they scored seven runs or more, and allowed four runs or less.

Those who attended practice every day are the only ones who know the truth, but it seems as if fundamentals were not a priority for this baseball team.

Read more: The Auburn Plainsman - Time running out for Tigers baseball coach

♦ John Pawlowski Named Head Baseball Coach At Auburn (auburntigers.com, June 20, 2008)
Pawlowski posted a 338-192-1 record during his tenure at College of Charleston, including a 180-67 record from 2004-07, the most wins in school and Southern Conference history for a four-year span.

Under his direction, Pawloswki led the Cougars to three-consecutive NCAA Regional appearances from 2004-06, while winning Southern Conference regular season titles in 2004 and 2005. His 2004 squad set a then-school record with 47 wins and bettered that mark in 2005 with 48 victories. The 2004 conference title and NCAA appearance were both firsts in the program's history.
. . .
"Our goals are going to be more than just winning championships; winning the SEC championship and going to Omaha (site of the College World Series), which Auburn has been to four times. Our goals are going to be to recruit quality student-athletes, both on and off the field.

"Our teams are going to be blue-collared and hard-nosed. We are going to have tough kids that play hard until the final out. They are going to go to class and they are going to get an Auburn education, which is going to go far and beyond the playing field."

"One of the things that I like about playing in this conference is that when you suit up to play on a conference weekend, it's like suiting up to play the New York Yankees. You better bring your `A' game every weekend, you better be ready to play, you better be blue collar and you be ready to do the things you need to do to win. It is great competition. The SEC is in my mind the toughest conference in the country, and I have been around to several different conferences. There is not a weekend where you can't bring your `A' game."
♦ Was John Pawlowski the Right Choice? (auppl.blogspot.com, 5/10/2009)
The Recruiter/Developer It bears repeating, but this fact should never be overlooked by Auburn fans:

While an assistant at Clemson, Pawlowski's staff led the country in earned run average in 1996 with a staff that featured the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks in the MLB draft that year in Kris Benson and Billy Koch. In his five years at Clemson, the Tigers had 15 pitchers drafted, while the recruiting classes ranked in the top 10 nationally each year.

1996 would be CJP’s third year at Clemson. His third as recruiting coordinator and pitching coach. With players he was able to recruit, or was able to finally mold and coach to his skill level. 1996 is the first year I would start judging the talent that CJP was able to bring in. 96, 97, 98, 99, 2000. That’s the years you should look at and just see the talent that CJP was able to bring to Clemson. From 1996 to 2000; Clemson had 20 players drafted. 13 of whom were pitchers. He’s also responsible for one of the best drafted duos to be drafted:

Kris Benson and Billy Koch from Clemson University were selected first and fourth overall in the 1996 draft, marking the first time since 1978 and only the second time in history that two players from the same school were drafted in the top four selections. Benson - Baseball America's College Player of the Year and a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team - was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates, who made just their second number one pick ever, and Koch was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays.

It didn’t stop at Clemson either. In his 8 years at the College of Charleston, Pawlowski had 22 players drafted (13 Pitchers). Previously, CofC only had 3 players EVER drafted. 3 Players EVER to 22 over an 8 year era. It should also be noted that it wasn’t until 2003 (again, that would be CJP’s 3rd year at his school) that these players began to be drafted.
. . .
♦ 2009 Auburn Season Preview (collegebaseballdaily.com)
“I think we are going to have to be a team that will create and manufacture runs. We will not be able to just sit there and hit the ball out of the ballpark. As much as we would like that to be our style and our plan, this league is so tough and we are going to have to get guys on and move them over. The biggest thing offensively is we are going to have to understand what the role is. I tell guys all the time, our offense is based on leaving your ego at the bat rack, going to the plate and doing whatever you can to move guys up, move guys over and get guys in and we are going to have to be a very unselfish offensive club,” Pawlowski said.

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

SxSE: War Eagle

Aubie the War Eagle Tiger
Photo by Auburn Alumni Association flickr.com
♦ Samford Stadium At Hitchcock Field At Plainsman Park
  • Opened: 1950, frequent renovations since
  • Capacity: 4,096
  • Named after: Billy and Jimmy Hitchcock, brothers who became two of Auburn's most noteworthy athletic performers during the 1930s
♦ Auburn's Plainsman Park, rated by Baseball America in 2003 as the top baseball facility in the country, was last updated in 2004. Auburn has board approval to renovate Plainsman Park, paid for through private funding.

"We need to improve the player amenities and development areas for our players," said Pawlowski, who isn't certain when construction will begin. "We're trying to do stuff with the locker room, batting cages, and practice infield. You look at some of the best facilities in the country and they happen to be in our own league." (al.com, 5/22/12)

♦ If there's a college rivalry more fierce than Mizzou vs. Kansas, it would be Alabama vs. Auburn.  The baseball teams meet for an annual non-conference rivalry game called the Capital City Classic in Montgomery, Alabama, at Riverwalk Stadium, home of the AA Montgomery Biscuits.

♦ Auburn University Plainsman Parking Lot (auppl.com) is, without a doubt, my favorite internet site in all the SEC.  Perhaps I like it so much because it's the only other true fan blog (besides SimmonsField.com) I've found in the SEC.  The AUPPL blogger-in-chief does a lot of opinion blogging, plus a lot of stat analysis.  Good reading.  In August, Kevin Ives, the AUPPL blogger, joined the newly minted College and Magnolia, the new Auburn blog on the SBN Network.  So we may be seeing more of his commentary at the new place.

♦ A Love Song for (Auburn) Baseball (Auburn University Plainsman Parking Lot)
The closest temple where I can express my love for the game remains at the corner of Donahue and Heisman. The oddball on Auburn’s campus. It’s the last bastion of the common fan; all-inclusive and a place where everyone and anyone can watch a game. College students have begun filling up the parking deck; catching a game without a ticket while enjoying libations and the liberation of a sunny Saturday. I sit in my normal spot inside the stadium where I just chuckle and think that, when I was a student, that would be exactly where I would be. I’d be perched in that concrete stack like bats in a cave. Also from my seat, I can look out past the outfield and see kids playing on the grassy hill. Blankets laid out for couples. A grill fired up. A radio turned to Rod and Andy. Sitting in a unique spot. If Plainsman Park is the sun and all of my personal fandom revolves around it then these fans are the corona. Just on the outside. Still halfway in the game and halfway enjoying just another day. Flaring up bright and hot as the game itself gets more intense.

The hill is flanked by two uniquely different but disarmingly similar features of Plainsman Park: the mini-Monster and the “K Korner”. Even the most casual baseball fans recognize the Monster and it’s homage to its big brother in Fenway. Personally, it’s the last line of armor for Auburn’s defense. An opposing player may have just knocked a bottle rocket to left field, surely it’s gone and it will be runs on the board, but the Monster has other ideas. It wants the Left Fielder to have a chance. So, with a mighty DONK he spits the ball back in to play…where some lazy runner is tagged out at 2nd Base.

The “K Korner” sits on the opposite end of the outfield. Another turret of protection. Housing only the truest of Auburn baseball fans. Sometimes loud and rowdy. Often polite and knowledgeable. They serve a greater purpose of providing fan interaction and getting into the minds of opposing right fielders
♦ Best joke: When a minor fire broke out at Auburn’s football dorms, about 20 books had been lost in the fire. This prompted Steve Spurrier to reply “the real tragedy is that 15 of them had not been colored yet.”  (gamedayr.com)

♦ Auburn's mascot is the Tiger, but they also pay homage to "The War Eagle".  There's at least four different stories explaining the origin of the War Eagle, which is the subject of the official Battle Cry and Fight Song:

War Eagle!
War... Eagle, fly down the field.
Ever to conquer, never to yield.
War... Eagle, fearless and true.
Fight on, you orange and blue.
Go! Go! Go!
On to vict'ry, strike up the band.
Give 'em hell, give 'em hell;
Stand up and yell, Hey!
War...Eagle win for Auburn,
Power of Dixie Land!

♦ This is Auburn Baseball





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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

SxSE: Auburn, Alabama


Toomer's Corner
Photo by Carolina Hornig flickr.com
Our South by Southeast Virtual Road Trip swoops into Auburn, Alabama this week.  The Tigers have been here a couple of times in the past few years, playing the Aeburn Tigers in non-conference games..


♦ Auburn is the 8th closest SEC town to Columbia, 733 miles away (582 air miles).  Auburn is in the SEC West Division.

♦ Fun Facts about Auburn, AL:
  • 2010 Population: 53,380 (Metro area: 135,833)

  • Auburn was initially established as a center of education, and it has been a true college town ever since.  It's economy is almost entirely centered around the university.

  • The city and the university name of Auburn, as well as the mascot "Tiger" both come from a 1770 poem. The Deserted Village, by Oliver Goldsmith.  Auburn the city and university are often referred to simply as "the plains".
Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain, 
Where health and plenty cheer’d the labouring swain, 
Where smiling Spring its earliest visit paid, 
And parting Summer’s lingering blooms delay’d;
. . .
Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,
And savage men more murderous still than they . . 
Taylor Hicks
Auburn drop-out
♦ There are 4 Chik-fil-a locations in Auburn

♦ According to DumbLaws.com, in Auburn Alabama it is illegal to:
  • spit on the floor of a church
  • bike, roller skate, skateboard or inline is a commercially zoned area
  • deflower virgins
♦ The SEC Guide to Auburn's Home Turf (espn.com) lists many options for places to eat and relax between games in Auburn, AL:
When in town you have to walk around downtown South College and visit Toomer's Corner, not only to see the infamous oaks but also pay a visit to Toomer's Drugs on the corner. They have the worlds best lemonade there. Rumor has it Abe Lincoln even drank it once. Samford Hall, probably the most iconic building on the Auburn campus is only a one or two minute walk from Toomer's Corner and you can't beat the sight of the blue sky overhead on a nice fall day with tailgaters abound.
♦ Toomer's Corner is a busy intersection where students traditionally festoon the trees and anything else not moving with toilet paper - sometimes so densely that traffic comes to a halt.  Auburn is the only city in the world whose city budget includes a line item for toilet paper removal.

♦ HolyTurf.com's SEC Bucket List: Auburn
#100 Momma G's Nachos: Those Auburn Tigers fans out there are familiar with Momma Goldberg’s Deli. Momma G’s, as the locals call it, has terrific sandwiches including the Momma’s Love and Turkey Delite, but we are focusing on the Momma’s Nachos.
♦ KFRU's The Closers talked to an Auburn beat writer about the town of Auburn and Auburn traditions.  Listen to the podcast HERE on RockMNation.  Also listen to a podcast of their conversation about Auburn with RockMNation's Bill Connely.  Just fast forward past the boring football stuff.

♦ One of many interesting photos from Auburn, AL, at flickriver.com, of Toomer's Corner in full bloom:

♦ This is Auburn Baseball





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