June 22 & 24 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE
ESPN
Let's start with a quick interview during game 1 of the College World Series championship series, which defending champion Vanderbilt won 5-1.
The ESPN reporter was in the stands talking to UVA coach Brian O'Connor's father, "Mr. O'Connor", and the first question was 'why do you think he (Brian O'Connor) is so much more relaxed in his second year at the CWS'?
Mr. O'Connor's first two words: "Who, Brian?"
Yeah, Brian!!
Boone Phrases
Another big night for Aaron Boone in the booth:
"North-south action"
"Push the envelope"
"A chance for Jones to wiggle out"
"Climb the ladder"
"Hit a couple balls on the screws"
"That's when Connor Jones...became a dude"
"Little blown tire there"
National champions
In the deciding game of the series, freshman Pavin Smith hit a tying, two-run home run in the fourth, then drove in a go-ahead single to the opposite field in the fifth as the Cavaliers won 4-2 and captured the school's first-ever national title.
* UVA used two southpaw pitchers and both were excellent. Brandon Waddell started on three-days rest and allowed two runs in seven innings, retiring the final 11 batters he faced. Blessed with a two-run lead, Nathan Kirby pitched the final two frames, striking out five with a filthy slider, while giving up just a single.
* It's the first national baseball title for the Atlantic Coast Conference since Wake Forest in 1955. That might as well be 1855. It had been a LONG TIME since the ACC won a national championship in baseball.
Showing posts with label college baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college baseball. Show all posts
Game 159 - Florida vs. Miami (FL)
June 17 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE
ESPN
The Gators eliminated their in-state rivals with the long ball and some solid pitching from freshman Alex Faedo. While four players hit home runs - including Harrison Bader (solo) and Buddy Reid (two-run HR) in the top of the first - Faedo allowed just one earned run in five innings and struck out seven as Florida moved on with a 10-3 victory.
We're down to five teams in the CWS and Florida tries again to stay alive when it plays Virginia Friday.
Meanwhile, Miami lost twice in Omaha, both times against the Gators. The Gainesville school scored 25 runs in the two contests and are averaging an incredible 9.7 runs in eight NCAA Tournament games.
If you show him cue cards, he will mumble nonsense
Kevin Costner says things before each of the College World Series games, which ESPN likes to refer to as "narration", and what I like to refer to as "reading off a piece of paper while eating at a barbecue restaurant".
"There's a reason why they make movies about it.
A reason why we watch.
There's a reason why for every 20 year old ballplayer doing this, there's thousands of people of any age who would trade places with him in a heartbeat.
Because in our hearts is where the game lives and we never stop loving the game."
Wow! Now THAT was impressive.
It reminded me of the final scene in Field of Dreams, only if instead of having a catch with his father, Ray Kinsella was picking up turtle poop with two pieces of a cardboard box.
Baseball Phrases
Some good ones from Jon Sciambi & Kyle Peterson this evening.
"Money"
"The flavors of Omaha"
"Gators and Canes, oh my"
"Happy zone"
"Difference maker with the bat"
"His stuff just jumps off the page"
"Little oppo flash"
ESPN
The Gators eliminated their in-state rivals with the long ball and some solid pitching from freshman Alex Faedo. While four players hit home runs - including Harrison Bader (solo) and Buddy Reid (two-run HR) in the top of the first - Faedo allowed just one earned run in five innings and struck out seven as Florida moved on with a 10-3 victory.
We're down to five teams in the CWS and Florida tries again to stay alive when it plays Virginia Friday.
Meanwhile, Miami lost twice in Omaha, both times against the Gators. The Gainesville school scored 25 runs in the two contests and are averaging an incredible 9.7 runs in eight NCAA Tournament games.
If you show him cue cards, he will mumble nonsense
Kevin Costner says things before each of the College World Series games, which ESPN likes to refer to as "narration", and what I like to refer to as "reading off a piece of paper while eating at a barbecue restaurant".
"There's a reason why they make movies about it.
A reason why we watch.
There's a reason why for every 20 year old ballplayer doing this, there's thousands of people of any age who would trade places with him in a heartbeat.
Because in our hearts is where the game lives and we never stop loving the game."
Wow! Now THAT was impressive.
It reminded me of the final scene in Field of Dreams, only if instead of having a catch with his father, Ray Kinsella was picking up turtle poop with two pieces of a cardboard box.
Baseball Phrases
Some good ones from Jon Sciambi & Kyle Peterson this evening.
"Money"
"The flavors of Omaha"
"Gators and Canes, oh my"
"Happy zone"
"Difference maker with the bat"
"His stuff just jumps off the page"
"Little oppo flash"
Games 157 - TCU vs. LSU
June 14 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE
ESPN
TCU is back in the College World Series for a second consecutive season for a reason: the Horned Frogs are good. TCU got seven innings of one-run ball from Preston Morrison (who won for the first time in nine postseason starts) and rolled to a 10-3 win in the series opener for both teams.
But that's enough of that, let's get to the nonsense.
First some more Baseball Phrases/regular nonsense phrases from Aaron Boone:
"Baseball acumen"
"He was totin' around second base"
"Bucket list item"
"Just kind of gooses it over there"
"He was mowing"
"Cruise control"
Other assorted silliness:
* "Umpire cam" & "ump cam" were said once each
* Jon Sciambi to Boone, top 9: "I know you're a big gum guy."
Aaron Boone: a big gum guy.
ESPN
TCU is back in the College World Series for a second consecutive season for a reason: the Horned Frogs are good. TCU got seven innings of one-run ball from Preston Morrison (who won for the first time in nine postseason starts) and rolled to a 10-3 win in the series opener for both teams.
But that's enough of that, let's get to the nonsense.
First some more Baseball Phrases/regular nonsense phrases from Aaron Boone:
"Baseball acumen"
"He was totin' around second base"
"Bucket list item"
"Just kind of gooses it over there"
"He was mowing"
"Cruise control"
Other assorted silliness:
* "Umpire cam" & "ump cam" were said once each
* Jon Sciambi to Boone, top 9: "I know you're a big gum guy."
Aaron Boone: a big gum guy.
Game 155 - Arkansas vs. Virginia
June 13 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, NE
ESPN
Virginia got its College World Series started with a 5-3 victory, thanks to a pair of late runs and dominant work from the bullpen.
Kenny Towns ripped a go-ahead double in the top of the eighth and a two-out single from Ernie Clement in the ninth made it a two-run game. Any lead was safe with Josh Sborz pitching. The right-hander was outstanding in five one-hit innings of relief, striking out five.
Daniel Pinero was also great, picking up three hits and three stolen bases for a Virginia team that was national runner-up a year ago.
Baseball Phrases
Play-by-play man Jon Sciambi
"He's the quarterback out there on defense"
"Quasi-closer"
Commentator Aaron Boone
"You sell out for the fast ball"
"Sandwich pick"
"Side-to-side action"
"Playing with house money" (said twice)
"It might've been a skosh off the outside edge"
ESPN
Virginia got its College World Series started with a 5-3 victory, thanks to a pair of late runs and dominant work from the bullpen.
Kenny Towns ripped a go-ahead double in the top of the eighth and a two-out single from Ernie Clement in the ninth made it a two-run game. Any lead was safe with Josh Sborz pitching. The right-hander was outstanding in five one-hit innings of relief, striking out five.
Daniel Pinero was also great, picking up three hits and three stolen bases for a Virginia team that was national runner-up a year ago.
Baseball Phrases
Play-by-play man Jon Sciambi
"He's the quarterback out there on defense"
"Quasi-closer"
Commentator Aaron Boone
"You sell out for the fast ball"
"Sandwich pick"
"Side-to-side action"
"Playing with house money" (said twice)
"It might've been a skosh off the outside edge"
Game 148 - Texas A&M vs. TCU
June 8 at Luptin Stadium in Fort Worth, TX
ESPN
What a way to close out the Super Regionals.
The two in-state rivals played for six hours, four minutes and finally, in the bottom of the 16th inning, TCU walked off on a throwing error and won 5-4, becoming the 8th and final team to advance to the College World Series.
The Horned Frogs, who return to the World Series for the second consecutive season, had a number of chances to win, but left two runners on in the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th. In the 14th, Ryan Hendrix, who didn't allow an earned run in 4 2/3 innings of relief for the Aggies, was hit in the forearm by a scorching line drive off the bat of Evan Skoug. The ball ricocheted right to first baseman G.R. Hinsley, who completed the 1-3-2 out at the plate.
It was that kind of night.
12th inning rally cap(s) in the TCU dugout
Hendrix and the visitors from College Station ran out of luck in the 16th. Garrett Crain and Connor Wanhanen drew walks and later, Skoug hit a ground ball to third base and Ronnie Gideon's throw home was in the dirt, scoring Crain with the winning run.
* There were plenty of outstanding pitching performances, though none stood out more than Mitchell Traver. The TCU right-hander came on in relief in the 13th and didn't allow a base-runner until issuing two walks (one intentional) in the top of the 16th. Traver struck out six in four hitless innings to pick up the win.
TCU starter Alex Young struck out a career-high 10 in 6 2/3 innings, helping the host Horned Frogs build a 4-1 lead going into the eighth, but A&M rallied. To open that eighth, Nick Banks ripped a solo home run to make it a two-run game, and down to their final three outs in the ninth the Aggies didn't hit a ball out of the infield, but still scored twice to pull even at 4-4.
Mark Ecker kept it a 4-4 game with four shut out innings out of the A&M bullpen. The Aggies best chance to score in extra innings came in the 11th when a Brian Howard wild pitch chased runners to second and third. Howard struck out Hunter Melton to end A&M's final threat of the season.
* TCU scored its first four runs on RBI hits by Derek Odell and Keaton Jones in the fifth and a two-run home run from Wanhanen in the sixth.
* A&M batters struck out 25 times, which is an unbelievable number even for a 16-inning game.
16 full innings of nonsense
Now that we have the actual details of this thriller out of the way, let's get to all the silliness from the broadcast booth.
* What Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson call fellow broadcaster Chris Burke: "Burkey" (said 14 times)
* What Neal and Burke call Peterson: "K-P" (15)
* Burke said "dude points" three times, which is 11 times too many.
* Peterson said this about TCU center fielder Cody Jones: "this kid's just a baseball player".
And here's the Baseball Phrase top 8:
8. "Wipe-out pitch" (KP)
7. "So often the bat will out-race the body" (CB)
6. "A thick lineup" (KP)
5. "He just rolls out of bed and hits" (KP)
4. "It's a bulldog on the mound" (KP)
3. "Put the program on the map" (DN)
2. "Aggieland" (DN)
1. "Good old country fast ball" (KP)
ESPN
What a way to close out the Super Regionals.
The two in-state rivals played for six hours, four minutes and finally, in the bottom of the 16th inning, TCU walked off on a throwing error and won 5-4, becoming the 8th and final team to advance to the College World Series.
The Horned Frogs, who return to the World Series for the second consecutive season, had a number of chances to win, but left two runners on in the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th. In the 14th, Ryan Hendrix, who didn't allow an earned run in 4 2/3 innings of relief for the Aggies, was hit in the forearm by a scorching line drive off the bat of Evan Skoug. The ball ricocheted right to first baseman G.R. Hinsley, who completed the 1-3-2 out at the plate.
It was that kind of night.
12th inning rally cap(s) in the TCU dugout
Hendrix and the visitors from College Station ran out of luck in the 16th. Garrett Crain and Connor Wanhanen drew walks and later, Skoug hit a ground ball to third base and Ronnie Gideon's throw home was in the dirt, scoring Crain with the winning run.
* There were plenty of outstanding pitching performances, though none stood out more than Mitchell Traver. The TCU right-hander came on in relief in the 13th and didn't allow a base-runner until issuing two walks (one intentional) in the top of the 16th. Traver struck out six in four hitless innings to pick up the win.
TCU starter Alex Young struck out a career-high 10 in 6 2/3 innings, helping the host Horned Frogs build a 4-1 lead going into the eighth, but A&M rallied. To open that eighth, Nick Banks ripped a solo home run to make it a two-run game, and down to their final three outs in the ninth the Aggies didn't hit a ball out of the infield, but still scored twice to pull even at 4-4.
Mark Ecker kept it a 4-4 game with four shut out innings out of the A&M bullpen. The Aggies best chance to score in extra innings came in the 11th when a Brian Howard wild pitch chased runners to second and third. Howard struck out Hunter Melton to end A&M's final threat of the season.
* TCU scored its first four runs on RBI hits by Derek Odell and Keaton Jones in the fifth and a two-run home run from Wanhanen in the sixth.
* A&M batters struck out 25 times, which is an unbelievable number even for a 16-inning game.
16 full innings of nonsense
Now that we have the actual details of this thriller out of the way, let's get to all the silliness from the broadcast booth.
* What Dave Neal and Kyle Peterson call fellow broadcaster Chris Burke: "Burkey" (said 14 times)
* What Neal and Burke call Peterson: "K-P" (15)
* Burke said "dude points" three times, which is 11 times too many.
* Peterson said this about TCU center fielder Cody Jones: "this kid's just a baseball player".
And here's the Baseball Phrase top 8:
8. "Wipe-out pitch" (KP)
7. "So often the bat will out-race the body" (CB)
6. "A thick lineup" (KP)
5. "He just rolls out of bed and hits" (KP)
4. "It's a bulldog on the mound" (KP)
3. "Put the program on the map" (DN)
2. "Aggieland" (DN)
1. "Good old country fast ball" (KP)
Game 143 - Cal State Fullerton vs. Louisville
June 6 at Jim Patterson Stadium in Lexington, KY
ESPNU
We spend a lot of time at this site documenting the nonsense said by baseball broadcasters, and Saturday's opener of the Louisville Super Regional was no different.
One day I'll open up my own Silly Baseball Hall of Fame (ridiculous phrases, the sound of Michael Kay's voice saying "Alex ROGG-REE-GIS" heard on loud speakers at all times, absurd nicknames, framed photographs of Sikes Orvis, etc..) and ESPN's Randy Flores will have his own wing. It'll be right up at the front door of the building and when visitors walk through that door and into his wing, they'll be sprayed with applesauce.
The day didn't start well for Flores. Here's the tail end of a cough before his first pre-game comment:
Then he started speaking.
Flores would start a number of thoughts with a "come on!", as if play-by-play man Roxy Bernstein and the viewers had provided an opposing viewpoint, which they hadn't. I counted six come ons by Flores, including:
#1 right after the cough
#3 before talking about how "hot" were the St. Louis Cardinals
#4 before talking about how "important" was the win for Cal State Fullerton against Arizona State in last weekend's regionals
#6 talking about the University of Louisville's athletic facilities
If you've ever visited this site, you know that Flores wasn't nearly finished making a name for himself. Here's his greatest hits from Saturday's game:
"He's not even a pitcher, he's a surgeon" (said twice)
"And maybe we'll see if his legs start doing more talking"
"Baseball royalty"
"Changing the eye level" (said twice)
"He jolted it" (said twice)
"Solo jack"
"Solo bombs" (said twice)
"That bruise tomorrow could be the mark of a victory"
"Small ball's two outs away from a victory"
One more time:
(when describing a diving catch by the right fielder) "look at that little crocodile squirrel right here"
Titans win
Plenty of complete nonsense from the broadcast booth, but a huge game one victory for Cal State Fullerton. It came on a Timmy Richards' bases loaded, hit by pitch in the 10th inning and the Titans won 3-2.
Fullerton, which shook off a pair of tying solo home runs from the host Cardinals (Brendan McKay in the sixth and Mike White in the ninth), will try and advance to the College World Series with a win in game two on Sunday.
ESPNU
We spend a lot of time at this site documenting the nonsense said by baseball broadcasters, and Saturday's opener of the Louisville Super Regional was no different.
One day I'll open up my own Silly Baseball Hall of Fame (ridiculous phrases, the sound of Michael Kay's voice saying "Alex ROGG-REE-GIS" heard on loud speakers at all times, absurd nicknames, framed photographs of Sikes Orvis, etc..) and ESPN's Randy Flores will have his own wing. It'll be right up at the front door of the building and when visitors walk through that door and into his wing, they'll be sprayed with applesauce.
The day didn't start well for Flores. Here's the tail end of a cough before his first pre-game comment:
Then he started speaking.
Flores would start a number of thoughts with a "come on!", as if play-by-play man Roxy Bernstein and the viewers had provided an opposing viewpoint, which they hadn't. I counted six come ons by Flores, including:
#1 right after the cough
#3 before talking about how "hot" were the St. Louis Cardinals
#4 before talking about how "important" was the win for Cal State Fullerton against Arizona State in last weekend's regionals
#6 talking about the University of Louisville's athletic facilities
If you've ever visited this site, you know that Flores wasn't nearly finished making a name for himself. Here's his greatest hits from Saturday's game:
"He's not even a pitcher, he's a surgeon" (said twice)
"And maybe we'll see if his legs start doing more talking"
"Baseball royalty"
"Changing the eye level" (said twice)
"He jolted it" (said twice)
"Solo jack"
"Solo bombs" (said twice)
"That bruise tomorrow could be the mark of a victory"
"Small ball's two outs away from a victory"
One more time:
(when describing a diving catch by the right fielder) "look at that little crocodile squirrel right here"
Titans win
Plenty of complete nonsense from the broadcast booth, but a huge game one victory for Cal State Fullerton. It came on a Timmy Richards' bases loaded, hit by pitch in the 10th inning and the Titans won 3-2.
Fullerton, which shook off a pair of tying solo home runs from the host Cardinals (Brendan McKay in the sixth and Mike White in the ninth), will try and advance to the College World Series with a win in game two on Sunday.
Game 142 - VCU vs. Miami (Fla.)
June 5 at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, FL
ESPNU
VCU was appearing in its first Super Regional, but the host Hurricanes used a three-run second inning and had just enough to hold off the Rams 3-2 in game one of the best-of-3 series.
Miami has made 23 College World Series appearances in its history, which is second all-time (Texas has 35), yet hasn't been to Omaha since 2008. That probably feels like 1908 to the folks in Coral Gables, but the Hurricanes are one step closer and can wrap up the program's 24th berth Saturday at noon.
In that second, No. 9 hitter Jacob Heyward delivered the big hit, ripping a two-out, two-run single to put Miami up 2-0. Ricky Eusebio followed with a single and it was a 3-0 game.
There was a 90-minute weather delay after that, then VCU got within 3-2 with a run in the sixth. Michael Mediavilla and Bryan Garcia combined for three perfect innings to close out the game one victory.
Anish Shroff/Danny Kanell
The broadcast team had a fine day splashing around in the Baseball Phrases kiddie pool. Let's take a look at their top 7:
7. "A fixture on the postseason front" (Shroff)
6. "A scrappy bunch" (Kanell)
5. "Tweener" (Kanell)
4. "Nibble their way back into this game" (Kanell)
And our VCU Top 3
3. "Darkhorse" (Shroff)
2. "A true Cinderella" (Shroff)
1. "David against Goliath" (Shroff)
Webb Bobo All Stars
We'd like welcome VCU southpaw JoJo Howie to the team. Howie went 6 1/3 innings and allowed the three runs in that second, but none were earned as a normally-strong Rams' defense made three errors Friday.
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Mark Light Field - "The Light"
Why it isn't a nickname: Because you just took one of the words in the name of the park and added a "the" to it. Why not just call it The Mark or The Field?
What about just one of the words?
"Welcome to Mark"
"Welcome to Light"
"Welcome to Field"
ESPNU
VCU was appearing in its first Super Regional, but the host Hurricanes used a three-run second inning and had just enough to hold off the Rams 3-2 in game one of the best-of-3 series.
Miami has made 23 College World Series appearances in its history, which is second all-time (Texas has 35), yet hasn't been to Omaha since 2008. That probably feels like 1908 to the folks in Coral Gables, but the Hurricanes are one step closer and can wrap up the program's 24th berth Saturday at noon.
In that second, No. 9 hitter Jacob Heyward delivered the big hit, ripping a two-out, two-run single to put Miami up 2-0. Ricky Eusebio followed with a single and it was a 3-0 game.
There was a 90-minute weather delay after that, then VCU got within 3-2 with a run in the sixth. Michael Mediavilla and Bryan Garcia combined for three perfect innings to close out the game one victory.
Anish Shroff/Danny Kanell
The broadcast team had a fine day splashing around in the Baseball Phrases kiddie pool. Let's take a look at their top 7:
7. "A fixture on the postseason front" (Shroff)
6. "A scrappy bunch" (Kanell)
5. "Tweener" (Kanell)
4. "Nibble their way back into this game" (Kanell)
And our VCU Top 3
3. "Darkhorse" (Shroff)
2. "A true Cinderella" (Shroff)
1. "David against Goliath" (Shroff)
Webb Bobo All Stars
We'd like welcome VCU southpaw JoJo Howie to the team. Howie went 6 1/3 innings and allowed the three runs in that second, but none were earned as a normally-strong Rams' defense made three errors Friday.
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Mark Light Field - "The Light"
Why it isn't a nickname: Because you just took one of the words in the name of the park and added a "the" to it. Why not just call it The Mark or The Field?
What about just one of the words?
"Welcome to Mark"
"Welcome to Light"
"Welcome to Field"
Game 136 - Illinois vs. Wright State
June 1 at Illinois Field in Champaign, IL
ESPNU
Wright State came into the day as a pretty heavy underdog. Host Illinois is the No. 6 national seed and needed to win just once to advance to its first-ever Super Regional. Meanwhile, the third-seeded Raiders needed to win twice on Monday. So anytime this type of situation presents itself in sports, we'll hear how the underdog team is running out of time & it's almost midnight & various thoughts on glass slippers.
Play-by-play man Jim Barbar, though, was on his own level. I consider him the Cinderella of Talking About Cinderella Baseball Teams.
Barbar talked about Cinderella three times in the pre-game, then as the broadcast headed toward a commercial he said: "we're about to find out if the shoe fits for Wright State", so that's four pre-game mentions.
He continued throughout the game:
"Cinderella hanging tough" (5)
"C (Cinderella) trying to make that glass slipper fit tonight" (6)
"The C Raiders up 2-0" (7)
"C is right there for the taking" (8) - that's not the way you say that, Jim. that makes it sound like C is right there in front of you, ready to be kidnapped.
"Well, if there was any doubt that C came to the ball just to sit around and do nothing...that thought has been extinguished today because Wright State has come and come to win" (9)
"The clock is about to strike midnight on C" (10)
* Fantastic job out of the bullpen by Illini left-hander Tyler Jay, who relieved in the sixth and fired four scoreless innings. Jay, expected to be a high first-round draft pick later this month, continued his remarkable junior season as he picked up his 14th save and lowered his ERA to 0.60 in 60 1/3 innings. Jay fanned five Monday and has 70 strike outs and just seven walks.
"It's something that we've been building up my arm for throughout the season," Jay said to ESPN about the extended outing. "I really look forward to it."
Something tells me not many people look forward to facing Illini pitching. In the three regional wins against Ohio, Notre Dame and the Raiders, Illinois allowed five earned runs in 27 innings pitched (1.66 ERA) and pitched a pair of complete games.
* Lost in all the Barbar/Cinderella nonsense was a solid night of Baseball Phrases from Jerry Kindall:
"Slugfest"
"He's all business"
"A plethora, a cascade of runs"
"The rest is history"
"The obligatory bath"
"The super playoffs....what do you call it? The Super Regionals!"
ESPNU
Wright State came into the day as a pretty heavy underdog. Host Illinois is the No. 6 national seed and needed to win just once to advance to its first-ever Super Regional. Meanwhile, the third-seeded Raiders needed to win twice on Monday. So anytime this type of situation presents itself in sports, we'll hear how the underdog team is running out of time & it's almost midnight & various thoughts on glass slippers.
Play-by-play man Jim Barbar, though, was on his own level. I consider him the Cinderella of Talking About Cinderella Baseball Teams.
Barbar talked about Cinderella three times in the pre-game, then as the broadcast headed toward a commercial he said: "we're about to find out if the shoe fits for Wright State", so that's four pre-game mentions.
He continued throughout the game:
"Cinderella hanging tough" (5)
"C (Cinderella) trying to make that glass slipper fit tonight" (6)
"The C Raiders up 2-0" (7)
"C is right there for the taking" (8) - that's not the way you say that, Jim. that makes it sound like C is right there in front of you, ready to be kidnapped.
"Well, if there was any doubt that C came to the ball just to sit around and do nothing...that thought has been extinguished today because Wright State has come and come to win" (9)
"The clock is about to strike midnight on C" (10)
* Fantastic job out of the bullpen by Illini left-hander Tyler Jay, who relieved in the sixth and fired four scoreless innings. Jay, expected to be a high first-round draft pick later this month, continued his remarkable junior season as he picked up his 14th save and lowered his ERA to 0.60 in 60 1/3 innings. Jay fanned five Monday and has 70 strike outs and just seven walks.
"It's something that we've been building up my arm for throughout the season," Jay said to ESPN about the extended outing. "I really look forward to it."
Something tells me not many people look forward to facing Illini pitching. In the three regional wins against Ohio, Notre Dame and the Raiders, Illinois allowed five earned runs in 27 innings pitched (1.66 ERA) and pitched a pair of complete games.
* Lost in all the Barbar/Cinderella nonsense was a solid night of Baseball Phrases from Jerry Kindall:
"Slugfest"
"He's all business"
"A plethora, a cascade of runs"
"The rest is history"
"The obligatory bath"
"The super playoffs....what do you call it? The Super Regionals!"
Game 135 - Michigan vs. Bradley
May 29 at Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville, KY
ESPNU
Michigan won 10-5 and will play host Louisville Saturday in a winner's bracket game, but that's not why we're here today.
We're here because the Wolverines were trailing 1-0 and had 2nd/3rd with one out in the top of the second inning and color commentator Wes Clements had this to say:
"Now Michigan with a chance to tie the game and/or take the lead."
No, Wes.
Michigan isn't taking the lead unless they tie it first.
* Bottom of the Michigan order was excellent as No. 9 hitter Kendall Patrick homered twice and drove in five runs, while No. 8 hitter Johnny Slater went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
ESPNU
Michigan won 10-5 and will play host Louisville Saturday in a winner's bracket game, but that's not why we're here today.
We're here because the Wolverines were trailing 1-0 and had 2nd/3rd with one out in the top of the second inning and color commentator Wes Clements had this to say:
"Now Michigan with a chance to tie the game and/or take the lead."
No, Wes.
Michigan isn't taking the lead unless they tie it first.
* Bottom of the Michigan order was excellent as No. 9 hitter Kendall Patrick homered twice and drove in five runs, while No. 8 hitter Johnny Slater went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Game 134 - Indiana vs. Radford
May 29 at Hawkins Field in Nashville, TN
espn3.com
Radford came into its first-ever NCAA Regional on a 15-game winning streak, but Indiana starter Kyle Hart turned out to be main story. The southpaw, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, tossed seven innings of no-earned run ball and struck out six in the Hoosiers' 7-1 win.
Tommy John Surgery? Is the word 'surgery' capitalized?
Also, 'surgery' is an interesting-looking word when you stare at it for a while. It looks like a misspelling of the word 'sugary', or, perhaps 'sugary' is a misspelling of the word 'surgery'.
* Couple oddities early on. Indiana got out of the bottom of the first with what I'm assuming is an extremely-rare, 2-6-2 double play with catcher Brad Hartong diving to tag out Shane Johnsonbaugh attempting to get back to third.
In the third, Casey Rodrique hit a ball that was basically a pop up behind second. It might've been a bit wind-blown, but no infielder could get to it before right fielder Brad Keen dropped the ball and Rodrique raced to third. Official scorer: TRIPLE.
Rodrique later scored on Hartong's single to give the No. 3 seed Hoosiers the lead for the rest of the day.
* Great day for Dave Neal and Chris Burke in the booth:
"Cat and mouse game"
"180 in momentum"
"24-7"
"The pendulum starts to swing a little bit"
"Spit on the 1-2 change up"
"The rigors of a minor league season"
"His arsenal"
"Not afraid to body a ball up"
"Gift-wrapped triple"
"Flashing some of that leather"
And one final note from Burke, who in the fifth inning said: "that's just a good baseball play."
Yeah it is.
espn3.com
Radford came into its first-ever NCAA Regional on a 15-game winning streak, but Indiana starter Kyle Hart turned out to be main story. The southpaw, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, tossed seven innings of no-earned run ball and struck out six in the Hoosiers' 7-1 win.
Tommy John Surgery? Is the word 'surgery' capitalized?
Also, 'surgery' is an interesting-looking word when you stare at it for a while. It looks like a misspelling of the word 'sugary', or, perhaps 'sugary' is a misspelling of the word 'surgery'.
* Couple oddities early on. Indiana got out of the bottom of the first with what I'm assuming is an extremely-rare, 2-6-2 double play with catcher Brad Hartong diving to tag out Shane Johnsonbaugh attempting to get back to third.
In the third, Casey Rodrique hit a ball that was basically a pop up behind second. It might've been a bit wind-blown, but no infielder could get to it before right fielder Brad Keen dropped the ball and Rodrique raced to third. Official scorer: TRIPLE.
Rodrique later scored on Hartong's single to give the No. 3 seed Hoosiers the lead for the rest of the day.
* Great day for Dave Neal and Chris Burke in the booth:
"Cat and mouse game"
"180 in momentum"
"24-7"
"The pendulum starts to swing a little bit"
"Spit on the 1-2 change up"
"The rigors of a minor league season"
"His arsenal"
"Not afraid to body a ball up"
"Gift-wrapped triple"
"Flashing some of that leather"
And one final note from Burke, who in the fifth inning said: "that's just a good baseball play."
Yeah it is.
Game 128 - Lipscomb vs. North Florida
May 23 at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers, FL
espn3.com
Not only did Lipscomb coach Smoke Laval become the first member of the Webb Bobo All Star coaching staff, but his decision in the top of the fourth turned out to be tournament-changing. With two on and one out and top seed North Florida clinging to a 3-2 lead, Laval decided to pinch hit for his catcher, which doesn't happen often in the fourth inning. So all redshirt-freshman Allan Hooker did was rope a three-run home run to right-center field and the Bisons took the lead for good in an 8-7 victory.
It's the school's second Atlantic Sun title.
The Ospreys made it interesting late, getting to within 6-5 with an unearned run in the eighth and scoring two more unearned runs in the ninth to make it 8-7. North Florida had the tying run at first with one out, but pinch-runner Bubba Olivera (another new Webb Bobo All Star) was caught stealing by Chucky Vazquez. That's the same Vazquez that took Hooker's spot in the lineup after the top of the fourth. Not a bad night for Laval and the A-Sun champion Bisons.
* Also not a bad night of Baseball Phrases for color commentator Ryan Rouse. I'd say it was an Atlantic Sun-title-winning performance:
"Small ball"
"Power in spades"
"The calling card of these two teams"
"Wheelhouse"
"Glove it and pocket it"
"5-hole"
"Johnny whole staff-type game"
"One of those at 'em balls"
"Leader going to the clubhouse"
espn3.com
Not only did Lipscomb coach Smoke Laval become the first member of the Webb Bobo All Star coaching staff, but his decision in the top of the fourth turned out to be tournament-changing. With two on and one out and top seed North Florida clinging to a 3-2 lead, Laval decided to pinch hit for his catcher, which doesn't happen often in the fourth inning. So all redshirt-freshman Allan Hooker did was rope a three-run home run to right-center field and the Bisons took the lead for good in an 8-7 victory.
It's the school's second Atlantic Sun title.
The Ospreys made it interesting late, getting to within 6-5 with an unearned run in the eighth and scoring two more unearned runs in the ninth to make it 8-7. North Florida had the tying run at first with one out, but pinch-runner Bubba Olivera (another new Webb Bobo All Star) was caught stealing by Chucky Vazquez. That's the same Vazquez that took Hooker's spot in the lineup after the top of the fourth. Not a bad night for Laval and the A-Sun champion Bisons.
* Also not a bad night of Baseball Phrases for color commentator Ryan Rouse. I'd say it was an Atlantic Sun-title-winning performance:
"Small ball"
"Power in spades"
"The calling card of these two teams"
"Wheelhouse"
"Glove it and pocket it"
"5-hole"
"Johnny whole staff-type game"
"One of those at 'em balls"
"Leader going to the clubhouse"
Game 126 - Notre Dame vs. N.C. State
May 21 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC
Fox Sports Detroit
Quite a start to the ACC Tournament for Brian Brown. The N.C. State left-hander struck out a career-high 10 in six dominant innings and Curt Britt followed with three innings of one-hit relief, striking out four more, as the Wolfpack won 3-0.
N.C. State got all its runs with two outs - Joe Dunand and Ryne Willard singled in runs in the first and Andrew Knizner delivered the third run with a single in the second. After Dunand's single put the Wolfpack up 1-0, color commentator Dan Bonner said: "that's a big run for N.C. State."
Thanks, Dan!
The teams combined for 26 strike outs in a game that had a 2 1/2-hour rain delay at the start.
Other than uncovering the hidden truths of baseball (runs = good), Bonner had a strong Baseball Phrase start. He struggled a bit in the middle and late innings, but here's his top six from the first few frames:
6. "You put it in your back pocket"
5. "Sawed him off inside"
4. "Crooked numbers"
3. "Pitch to contact"
2. "He's really in a pickle now"
1. "The N.C. State faithful"
Fox Sports Detroit
Quite a start to the ACC Tournament for Brian Brown. The N.C. State left-hander struck out a career-high 10 in six dominant innings and Curt Britt followed with three innings of one-hit relief, striking out four more, as the Wolfpack won 3-0.
N.C. State got all its runs with two outs - Joe Dunand and Ryne Willard singled in runs in the first and Andrew Knizner delivered the third run with a single in the second. After Dunand's single put the Wolfpack up 1-0, color commentator Dan Bonner said: "that's a big run for N.C. State."
Thanks, Dan!
The teams combined for 26 strike outs in a game that had a 2 1/2-hour rain delay at the start.
Other than uncovering the hidden truths of baseball (runs = good), Bonner had a strong Baseball Phrase start. He struggled a bit in the middle and late innings, but here's his top six from the first few frames:
6. "You put it in your back pocket"
5. "Sawed him off inside"
4. "Crooked numbers"
3. "Pitch to contact"
2. "He's really in a pickle now"
1. "The N.C. State faithful"
Game 125 - Evansville vs. Bradley
May 20 at Eck Stadium in Wichita, KS
espn3.com
In the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament opener, Bradley right-hander Elliot Ashbeck tossed eight innings of two-run ball and struck out six in the third-seeded Braves' 9-2 victory.
ESPN announcers on Ashbeck: "they refer to him as a bulldog".
How many pitchers have been referred to as/currently are referred to as "bulldog" or "having a bulldog mentality"? Nearly 200 years of baseball in this country, there must be roughly 700,000,000 bulldogs.
I guess the most famous bulldog in baseball history is Orel Hershiser, but here are some other bulls and dogs, according to baseballreference.com.
* Bill Dietrich - "Bullfrog"
* Leon Durham - "Bull"
* Greg Maddux & Bill Madlock - "Mad Dog"
* Fred McGriff - "Crime Dog". I didn't know why he was called this until I discovered that Chris Berman had given him the name, which explains everything. Chris Berman seems like the kind of person who would address someone by the nickname he had given them: "How are you today, Crime Dog?"
* Tony Perez - "Big Dog"
* Joe Poetz - "Bull Montana". Perhaps named after the Italian wrestler Bull Montana? Or, perhaps at some point in his life Poetz lived in Montana with a bull?
* Lew Ritter - "Old Dog". There's a decent chance Ritter wasn't fond of this nickname.
* Mike Redmond - "Red Dog". Not known at this time if there was ever an "Old Red Dog", but I'd like to nominate Mark McGwire's grandpa.
* Bill Hopper - "Bird Dog". I'd prefer "Old Bird Dog Bill Hopper".
* Mo Vaughn - "Hit Dog". I'm sure Boston fans have other names for him.
More Like Brodie Harmless
Brodie Harkness, Evansville's freshman starter, did not have a pleasant day. The southpaw hit Chris Godinez with his first pitch and things didn't get much better after that. He allowed 15 of the 21 batters he faced to reach base, surrendering all nine Bradley runs in just 3 1/3 innings of work for the No. 6 seed.
Webb Bobo All Stars
The Bobos hadn't had a new member in a few weeks. Thank goodness Evansville second baseman Shain Showers walked into our lives.
espn3.com
In the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament opener, Bradley right-hander Elliot Ashbeck tossed eight innings of two-run ball and struck out six in the third-seeded Braves' 9-2 victory.
ESPN announcers on Ashbeck: "they refer to him as a bulldog".
How many pitchers have been referred to as/currently are referred to as "bulldog" or "having a bulldog mentality"? Nearly 200 years of baseball in this country, there must be roughly 700,000,000 bulldogs.
I guess the most famous bulldog in baseball history is Orel Hershiser, but here are some other bulls and dogs, according to baseballreference.com.
* Bill Dietrich - "Bullfrog"
* Leon Durham - "Bull"
* Greg Maddux & Bill Madlock - "Mad Dog"
* Fred McGriff - "Crime Dog". I didn't know why he was called this until I discovered that Chris Berman had given him the name, which explains everything. Chris Berman seems like the kind of person who would address someone by the nickname he had given them: "How are you today, Crime Dog?"
* Tony Perez - "Big Dog"
* Joe Poetz - "Bull Montana". Perhaps named after the Italian wrestler Bull Montana? Or, perhaps at some point in his life Poetz lived in Montana with a bull?
* Lew Ritter - "Old Dog". There's a decent chance Ritter wasn't fond of this nickname.
* Mike Redmond - "Red Dog". Not known at this time if there was ever an "Old Red Dog", but I'd like to nominate Mark McGwire's grandpa.
* Bill Hopper - "Bird Dog". I'd prefer "Old Bird Dog Bill Hopper".
* Mo Vaughn - "Hit Dog". I'm sure Boston fans have other names for him.
More Like Brodie Harmless
Brodie Harkness, Evansville's freshman starter, did not have a pleasant day. The southpaw hit Chris Godinez with his first pitch and things didn't get much better after that. He allowed 15 of the 21 batters he faced to reach base, surrendering all nine Bradley runs in just 3 1/3 innings of work for the No. 6 seed.
Webb Bobo All Stars
The Bobos hadn't had a new member in a few weeks. Thank goodness Evansville second baseman Shain Showers walked into our lives.
Games 122-124: SEC Tournament
May 19 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Birmingham, AL
Game 124 - 8 Kentucky vs. 9 Auburn
I'm glad this was my final game of the day because I've got a few fresh thoughts in regards to the all-SEC teams.
1. Who were the voters?
2. Of those voters, did any actually watch Ka'ai Tom play or look at his statistics?
The answer to question No. 2 is: no, because Tom was inexplicably left off the first, second and I'm assuming if it had existed the 37th team.
Here is Tom's slash line coming into Tuesday's game: .368/.438/.505.
In comparison, here are the statistics for two of Tom's teammates, JaVon Shelby & Kyle Barrett. Shelby was a first-team honoree, Barrett a second-team selection:
Shelby: .318/.449/.535
Barrett: .352/392/442
Notice much of anything that's different between the numbers of these three players? No. No you don't.
So, it was really nice to see Tom, a junior outfielder, break up Cole Lipscomb's shut out with a no-doubt home run to right-center field in the seventh and add an RBI-single in the eighth of Kentucky's 6-3 loss.
Lipscomb was excellent, tossing 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball and striking out nine as the Tigers move on to face top-seed LSU on Wednesday.
* Before the bottom of the sixth, the PA announcer said it was time for the "Umpire Appreciation Cooldown", which was followed by people bringing water to the umpires.
This doesn't need to have a name. It was just: somebody bring the umpires some water, it's 90 degrees outside.
Let's at least shorten it to UAC. "Fans, it's time for a UAC!"
An umpire, mid-UAC
Game 123 - 7 Missouri vs. 10 South Carolina
Great day for the bottom of the Missouri order, a big reason why the Tigers advanced with a 5-1 win.
No. 7 hitter Trey Harris delivered the first run of the game with an RBI-single in the second and two batters later No. 9 hitter Jake Ivory made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly. Harris added a double and a single, Ivory a double, and No. 8 hitter Zach Lavy drove in runs with a single (4th) and sacrifice fly (8th).
It was Missouri's first-ever win in SEC Tournament play since joining the conference in 2013.
Game 122 - 6 Mississippi vs. 11 Alabama
Geoffrey Bramblett allowed nine hits, but just one run in Alabama's 6-1 victory in the first game of the tournament. Bramblett was pitching a mile and a half away from where he spent his prep school days at Hoover High School and struck out a career-high 10 batters, including clean up hitter and 16-home run man Sikes Orvis four times.
"I thought Geoffrey did a tremendous job. He was efficient with his pitches as well, just a great start on the mound," said Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard.
The Tide pulled the upset thanks to a four-run seventh that opened things up. Mikey White, JC Wilhite and Cody Henry had run-scoring singles and Casey Hughston added an RBI-double during that 10-batter frame that turned a 2-1 lead into that final margin.
(Come Up With Something Else To Say About The) Tide!
Fairly disappointing "Roll Tide" count:
Total times heard: 8
On radio driving over to stadium (1)
In stadium (7)
Seen on fans' clothing: 3
Regular t-shirt (2)
Tank top (1)
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Alabama
Bramblett - "Bram"
Riley Colburn - "Riles", "Colb"
Chandler Avant - "Chan"
Kyle Overstreet - "Oves"
Mississippi
Colby Bortles - "Borty"
Game 124 - 8 Kentucky vs. 9 Auburn
I'm glad this was my final game of the day because I've got a few fresh thoughts in regards to the all-SEC teams.
1. Who were the voters?
2. Of those voters, did any actually watch Ka'ai Tom play or look at his statistics?
The answer to question No. 2 is: no, because Tom was inexplicably left off the first, second and I'm assuming if it had existed the 37th team.
Here is Tom's slash line coming into Tuesday's game: .368/.438/.505.
In comparison, here are the statistics for two of Tom's teammates, JaVon Shelby & Kyle Barrett. Shelby was a first-team honoree, Barrett a second-team selection:
Shelby: .318/.449/.535
Barrett: .352/392/442
Notice much of anything that's different between the numbers of these three players? No. No you don't.
So, it was really nice to see Tom, a junior outfielder, break up Cole Lipscomb's shut out with a no-doubt home run to right-center field in the seventh and add an RBI-single in the eighth of Kentucky's 6-3 loss.
Lipscomb was excellent, tossing 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball and striking out nine as the Tigers move on to face top-seed LSU on Wednesday.
* Before the bottom of the sixth, the PA announcer said it was time for the "Umpire Appreciation Cooldown", which was followed by people bringing water to the umpires.
This doesn't need to have a name. It was just: somebody bring the umpires some water, it's 90 degrees outside.
Let's at least shorten it to UAC. "Fans, it's time for a UAC!"
An umpire, mid-UAC
Game 123 - 7 Missouri vs. 10 South Carolina
Great day for the bottom of the Missouri order, a big reason why the Tigers advanced with a 5-1 win.
No. 7 hitter Trey Harris delivered the first run of the game with an RBI-single in the second and two batters later No. 9 hitter Jake Ivory made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly. Harris added a double and a single, Ivory a double, and No. 8 hitter Zach Lavy drove in runs with a single (4th) and sacrifice fly (8th).
It was Missouri's first-ever win in SEC Tournament play since joining the conference in 2013.
Game 122 - 6 Mississippi vs. 11 Alabama
Geoffrey Bramblett allowed nine hits, but just one run in Alabama's 6-1 victory in the first game of the tournament. Bramblett was pitching a mile and a half away from where he spent his prep school days at Hoover High School and struck out a career-high 10 batters, including clean up hitter and 16-home run man Sikes Orvis four times.
"I thought Geoffrey did a tremendous job. He was efficient with his pitches as well, just a great start on the mound," said Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard.
The Tide pulled the upset thanks to a four-run seventh that opened things up. Mikey White, JC Wilhite and Cody Henry had run-scoring singles and Casey Hughston added an RBI-double during that 10-batter frame that turned a 2-1 lead into that final margin.
(Come Up With Something Else To Say About The) Tide!
Fairly disappointing "Roll Tide" count:
Total times heard: 8
On radio driving over to stadium (1)
In stadium (7)
Seen on fans' clothing: 3
Regular t-shirt (2)
Tank top (1)
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Alabama
Bramblett - "Bram"
Riley Colburn - "Riles", "Colb"
Chandler Avant - "Chan"
Kyle Overstreet - "Oves"
Mississippi
Colby Bortles - "Borty"
Game 120 - Georgia Southern at Georgia State
May 14 at GSU Baseball Complex in Decatur, GA
In the three months this site has been in existence we've seen a number of No. 9 hitters come through with big hits. David Levy is the latest.
Georgia State's No. 9 hitter delivered an opposite field, three-run triple in the sixth inning that turned a slim, 3-2 GSU cushion into a 6-2 lead. The Panthers, thanks to excellent pitching from starter Nathan Bates (6 IP, 2 ER, 6 K) and three innings of scoreless relief, won by that 6-2 score.
Back to Levy, who according to SID Allison George was playing right field for the first time and ended his first inning in right by doubling off Dalton Busby at first on a line out. The senior worked reliever Jason Richman into a 2-1 count and poked a ball just inside the first base bag and down into the right field corner. It was the biggest hit of the night for a fifth-place Panthers team that's hoping to use this weekend series against third-place Southern to improve its seeding going into next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
* Let's not forget Joey Roach, the Panthers' No. 5 hitter. The junior catcher knocked in the first two runs of the game with a first-inning double, then doubled again ahead of Levy's hit.
Nice night as well for Southern's designated hitter, Hunter Thomas. The junior drove in both of the Eagles' runs with singles in the fourth and sixth innings, and also added a second-inning double.
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Quite a night for the Georgia Southern fans. Let's take a look:
Ryan Cleveland - "Cleve", "Ryno"
Evan Challenger - "Chally"
Kent Rollins - "K-Ro"
Thomas - "Hunt"
Busby - "Buzz", "Buzzy B"
Richman - "Rich", "Richie"
Chase Griffin - "Griff"
In the three months this site has been in existence we've seen a number of No. 9 hitters come through with big hits. David Levy is the latest.
Georgia State's No. 9 hitter delivered an opposite field, three-run triple in the sixth inning that turned a slim, 3-2 GSU cushion into a 6-2 lead. The Panthers, thanks to excellent pitching from starter Nathan Bates (6 IP, 2 ER, 6 K) and three innings of scoreless relief, won by that 6-2 score.
Back to Levy, who according to SID Allison George was playing right field for the first time and ended his first inning in right by doubling off Dalton Busby at first on a line out. The senior worked reliever Jason Richman into a 2-1 count and poked a ball just inside the first base bag and down into the right field corner. It was the biggest hit of the night for a fifth-place Panthers team that's hoping to use this weekend series against third-place Southern to improve its seeding going into next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
* Let's not forget Joey Roach, the Panthers' No. 5 hitter. The junior catcher knocked in the first two runs of the game with a first-inning double, then doubled again ahead of Levy's hit.
Nice night as well for Southern's designated hitter, Hunter Thomas. The junior drove in both of the Eagles' runs with singles in the fourth and sixth innings, and also added a second-inning double.
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Quite a night for the Georgia Southern fans. Let's take a look:
Ryan Cleveland - "Cleve", "Ryno"
Evan Challenger - "Chally"
Kent Rollins - "K-Ro"
Thomas - "Hunt"
Busby - "Buzz", "Buzzy B"
Richman - "Rich", "Richie"
Chase Griffin - "Griff"
Game 114 - Jacksonville at Kennesaw State
May 9 at Stillwell Stadium in Kennesaw, GA
I spent a few innings next to the Jacksonville dugout, which means plenty of nicknames that aren't really nicknames. Let's take a look:
Drew Luther - "Luth"
Angelo Amendolare - "Gelo"
Connor Marabell - "Con"
Nathan Koslowski - "Kos"
Cameron Gibson - "Gibby", "Gib"
Kennesaw State clinched a spot in the Atlantic Sun Tournament with a 9-7 victory. Huge day for No. 9 hitter Jeremy Howell, who went 4-for-4, including a two-run double during a four-run sixth and an RBI-single in a three-run eighth.
I spent a few innings next to the Jacksonville dugout, which means plenty of nicknames that aren't really nicknames. Let's take a look:
Drew Luther - "Luth"
Angelo Amendolare - "Gelo"
Connor Marabell - "Con"
Nathan Koslowski - "Kos"
Cameron Gibson - "Gibby", "Gib"
Kennesaw State clinched a spot in the Atlantic Sun Tournament with a 9-7 victory. Huge day for No. 9 hitter Jeremy Howell, who went 4-for-4, including a two-run double during a four-run sixth and an RBI-single in a three-run eighth.
Game 113 - Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech
May 8 at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, GA
Georgia Tech is the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions and if the Yellow Jackets are going to go to Greensboro in a couple weeks and repeat, Jonathan King should have a lot to do about it.
King seems to be gearing up for that potential ACC run as the left-hander has been phenomenal over the last three weeks. That includes Friday's 9-1 Tech win in which King tossed seven innings of three-hit ball and struck out a career-high seven. The only run Pittsburgh scored was unearned as King improved to 2-1 with a 0.65 ERA in his last four starts.
Pittsburgh bright spot, are you there?
It's been a rough season for the visitors from Pennsylvania, who fell to 6-19 in the ACC in dropping their seventh consecutive league game.
So, I was trying to a find bright spot for Pitt this evening and I think it's this: starter T.J. Zeuch struck out four batters to move into sole possession of 10th place on the school's all-time single-season strike out list with 83. (No. 2 bright spot: Jacob Wright's hustle double to open the game?).
Now to the bad for Zeuch: the righty allowed nine runs (eight earned), including a two-home run to freshman Kel Johnson in the first inning that actually landed on the roof of the Carrillo Street Steam Plant on Pittsburgh's campus, and A.J. Murray's opposite field, two-run shot in the fourth that right fielder and Webb Bobo All Star Boo Vazquez seemed to have in his glove before it spilled over the wall.
Nicknames!
These aren't actually nicknames, just altered versions of the players' actual names and sound effects, but that's what we love here at 300 Game Season. What do you have for us, fans?
Pittsburgh
Vazquez - "Boo Boo"
Alex Kowalczyk - "Al"
Jordan Frabasilio - "Frab", "Jordy"
Jawan McAllister - "Wan"
Georgia Tech
King - "Kinger", "J-King"
Wade Bailey - "Wadeo"
Connor Justus - "Conno"
Georgia Tech is the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions and if the Yellow Jackets are going to go to Greensboro in a couple weeks and repeat, Jonathan King should have a lot to do about it.
King seems to be gearing up for that potential ACC run as the left-hander has been phenomenal over the last three weeks. That includes Friday's 9-1 Tech win in which King tossed seven innings of three-hit ball and struck out a career-high seven. The only run Pittsburgh scored was unearned as King improved to 2-1 with a 0.65 ERA in his last four starts.
Pittsburgh bright spot, are you there?
It's been a rough season for the visitors from Pennsylvania, who fell to 6-19 in the ACC in dropping their seventh consecutive league game.
So, I was trying to a find bright spot for Pitt this evening and I think it's this: starter T.J. Zeuch struck out four batters to move into sole possession of 10th place on the school's all-time single-season strike out list with 83. (No. 2 bright spot: Jacob Wright's hustle double to open the game?).
Now to the bad for Zeuch: the righty allowed nine runs (eight earned), including a two-home run to freshman Kel Johnson in the first inning that actually landed on the roof of the Carrillo Street Steam Plant on Pittsburgh's campus, and A.J. Murray's opposite field, two-run shot in the fourth that right fielder and Webb Bobo All Star Boo Vazquez seemed to have in his glove before it spilled over the wall.
Nicknames!
These aren't actually nicknames, just altered versions of the players' actual names and sound effects, but that's what we love here at 300 Game Season. What do you have for us, fans?
Pittsburgh
Vazquez - "Boo Boo"
Alex Kowalczyk - "Al"
Jordan Frabasilio - "Frab", "Jordy"
Jawan McAllister - "Wan"
Georgia Tech
King - "Kinger", "J-King"
Wade Bailey - "Wadeo"
Connor Justus - "Conno"
Game 111 - Belmont at Tennessee
May 6 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN
SEC Network
One of my main goals with this site is to show how ridiculous a lot of baseball announcers sound, and that a broadcaster can't just say whatever he/she feels like saying. Here are some examples from Wednesday's game between two in-state rivals, which Tennessee won 7-2:
1. Play-by-play man Bob Kesling on the St. Louis Cardinals: "They always seem to get that three-run home run when they need it."
* St. Louis Cardinals record through May 6: 20-7
* Total three-run HR hit in 2015: 2
So, the St. Louis Cardinals always seem to get almost anything other than a three-run home when they need (it).
2. Color commentator Charlie Puleo on Benito Santiago: "He was a tough out".
Let's start with the fact that Santiago was a career .263/.307/.415 hitter. He was by no means a tough out. In fact, I just looked up the definition of "opposite of tough out" and it's: pretty close to Benito Santiago.
And to say something like that, Puleo, a former pitcher, would've probably had some trouble against Santiago, yes?
I'm sorry, no.
In the four years both players were in the big leagues simultaneously (1986-1989) Santiago faced Puleo 14 times and got exactly one hit (a single). He did hit a sacrifice fly in his first-ever plate appearance against Puleo, so maybe he meant that OUT WAS TOUGH to get? Perhaps the center fielder had a long run to catch the fly ball?
3. Puleo on Bartolo Colon's fastball: "Now, he barely hits the low-80s".
You made that up, Charlie.
Leftovers
We're not done with Kesling, who provided a splendid list of Baseball Phrases.
"Johnny all staff" (said three times)
"There's the brain trust for Belmont"
"They want you to throw it through a wall"
"There's a whole laundry list" (2)
"Six-run home run"
What was that you said, Bob?
"When the opportunity comes, someone can walk through it"
SEC Network
One of my main goals with this site is to show how ridiculous a lot of baseball announcers sound, and that a broadcaster can't just say whatever he/she feels like saying. Here are some examples from Wednesday's game between two in-state rivals, which Tennessee won 7-2:
1. Play-by-play man Bob Kesling on the St. Louis Cardinals: "They always seem to get that three-run home run when they need it."
* St. Louis Cardinals record through May 6: 20-7
* Total three-run HR hit in 2015: 2
So, the St. Louis Cardinals always seem to get almost anything other than a three-run home when they need (it).
2. Color commentator Charlie Puleo on Benito Santiago: "He was a tough out".
Let's start with the fact that Santiago was a career .263/.307/.415 hitter. He was by no means a tough out. In fact, I just looked up the definition of "opposite of tough out" and it's: pretty close to Benito Santiago.
And to say something like that, Puleo, a former pitcher, would've probably had some trouble against Santiago, yes?
I'm sorry, no.
In the four years both players were in the big leagues simultaneously (1986-1989) Santiago faced Puleo 14 times and got exactly one hit (a single). He did hit a sacrifice fly in his first-ever plate appearance against Puleo, so maybe he meant that OUT WAS TOUGH to get? Perhaps the center fielder had a long run to catch the fly ball?
3. Puleo on Bartolo Colon's fastball: "Now, he barely hits the low-80s".
You made that up, Charlie.
Leftovers
We're not done with Kesling, who provided a splendid list of Baseball Phrases.
"Johnny all staff" (said three times)
"There's the brain trust for Belmont"
"They want you to throw it through a wall"
"There's a whole laundry list" (2)
"Six-run home run"
What was that you said, Bob?
"When the opportunity comes, someone can walk through it"
Game 103 - St. Joseph's at Monmouth
April 29 at MU Baseball Field in Long Branch, NJ
espn3.com
Let's start with color commentator Gary Kowal, who I like to call The Central New Jersey God of Baseball Phrases:
"Back in his natural habitat"
"Pitching to contact"
"You can't teach size"
"Some electricity in Yunginger's pitches"
"Caught in no-man's land"
"Playing with a purpose"
"All hands on deck"
"Deuces wild"
"A plethora of relief arms"
"Stinging the ball"
"Put it in your pocket"
The Ivan Ackerman of college baseball teams
Like Ackerman, St. Joseph's always seemed to do the wrong thing on Wednesday, always.
The Hawks made five errors, hit two batters, threw a wild pitch, balked once, walked six Monmouth hitters and struck out 12 times at the plate. Adam Yunginger had seven of those strike outs in six strong innings as Monmouth won its fourth straight, 7-0.
espn3.com
Let's start with color commentator Gary Kowal, who I like to call The Central New Jersey God of Baseball Phrases:
"Back in his natural habitat"
"Pitching to contact"
"You can't teach size"
"Some electricity in Yunginger's pitches"
"Caught in no-man's land"
"Playing with a purpose"
"All hands on deck"
"Deuces wild"
"A plethora of relief arms"
"Stinging the ball"
"Put it in your pocket"
The Ivan Ackerman of college baseball teams
Like Ackerman, St. Joseph's always seemed to do the wrong thing on Wednesday, always.
The Hawks made five errors, hit two batters, threw a wild pitch, balked once, walked six Monmouth hitters and struck out 12 times at the plate. Adam Yunginger had seven of those strike outs in six strong innings as Monmouth won its fourth straight, 7-0.
Game 98 - Clemson at Georgia Tech
April 25 at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, GA
Clemson was six outs from a win on Friday before Georgia Tech scored three times in the eighth to win 4-2. Saturday, the Tigers pulled even in the series, thanks to an unlikely power threat.
Eli White came into the day with just one home run, but the sophomore shortstop tripled that total against Cole Pitts, taking the slumping right-hander deep twice in Clemson's 11-3 victory. White added a triple and reached base five times out of the lead off spot, while No. 2 hitter Steven Duggar drove in four runs.
Nice day for the top two in the Tigers' lineup, who had combined to go 3-for-14 with two walks (both Duggar's) in the previous two games against Tech and Georgia.
Meanwhile, a difficult senior season continued for Pitts, who hasn't won in five decisions and saw his ERA balloon to 6.17 ERA in nine starts.
Clemson junior Zack Erwin struck out seven in seven strong innings to pick up his fourth win. Tech catcher A.J. Murray belted a long, one-out home run in the sixth - his team-high 10th - that was just the second ball to clear the batter's eye in dead center field at Russ Chandler (Florida State's D.J. Stewart hit the other last April 12) and drove in another run with a double in the first, but the southpaw had little trouble with the rest of the Yellow Jackets.
Erwin delivers a third-inning pitch
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Clemson
Tyler Slaton - "Slate"
Georgia Tech
Ryan Peurifoy - "Pure"
Kel Johnson - "Kel-Johns"
Clemson was six outs from a win on Friday before Georgia Tech scored three times in the eighth to win 4-2. Saturday, the Tigers pulled even in the series, thanks to an unlikely power threat.
Eli White came into the day with just one home run, but the sophomore shortstop tripled that total against Cole Pitts, taking the slumping right-hander deep twice in Clemson's 11-3 victory. White added a triple and reached base five times out of the lead off spot, while No. 2 hitter Steven Duggar drove in four runs.
Nice day for the top two in the Tigers' lineup, who had combined to go 3-for-14 with two walks (both Duggar's) in the previous two games against Tech and Georgia.
Meanwhile, a difficult senior season continued for Pitts, who hasn't won in five decisions and saw his ERA balloon to 6.17 ERA in nine starts.
Clemson junior Zack Erwin struck out seven in seven strong innings to pick up his fourth win. Tech catcher A.J. Murray belted a long, one-out home run in the sixth - his team-high 10th - that was just the second ball to clear the batter's eye in dead center field at Russ Chandler (Florida State's D.J. Stewart hit the other last April 12) and drove in another run with a double in the first, but the southpaw had little trouble with the rest of the Yellow Jackets.
Erwin delivers a third-inning pitch
Nicknames that aren't really nicknames
Clemson
Tyler Slaton - "Slate"
Georgia Tech
Ryan Peurifoy - "Pure"
Kel Johnson - "Kel-Johns"
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