Posts by formerlyanonymous

Michigan defeated Iowa in an absolutely dominating performance, winning 18-4. With the win, Michigan moves on in the winner's bracket to face the #1 seed Minnesota Golden Gophers. For Iowa recap and a look at Minnesota, follow the jump.

Iowa Recap

W – Oaks (6-5)

It was a hot day in Columbus, but not as hot as our offense:

 Box Score Screen Grab

To be fair, that's the same SID intern that wrote about orange groves and how well manicured the opponent's field was in the notes on the Buckeye's loss to Webber International.

If there's one thing I'll give Alan Oaks, it's that he just gets better throughout a game. In the first inning, those watching the game would see Oaks hit a batter on the first pitch and then slip his foot over the rubber, bouncing a ball just short of the dirt. In the second inning, he launched a pitch off the screen behind the plate… about 20 feet behind the batter. The widescreen camera couldn't even pick it up.

But then, after a quick second to recollect his thoughts, Alan found his curve ball, the offense exploded for not one, but two big innings, and life was good. Oaks continued his "effectively wild" streak, walking 3 and hitting two, but his inconsistency also kept the Hawkeyes off balance. Several times, the Iowa bats were well ahead of the pitch, leading to easy fly balls and the occasional chopper to the infield.

Meanwhile, the offense was on its game. The 21 hits registered was a season high, but more importantly, the as many as 12 run lead was enough to allow Rich Maloney to throw freshman Kyle Clark and insert a couple of back ups late in the game so they could get their inaugural Big Ten Tournament jitters out of the way in garbage time.

So many great days at the plate as Michigan singled through every hole in the infield at will, so let's just take a quick run through in the stars.

Notable Stars

• Ryan LaMarre (pictured above and to the right) – 4/6, 4 RBI, 2 R. In the zone.
• Coley Crank – 3/5, 3 RBI, 2 R, K, 2B
• Mike Dufek – 3/4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B, Sac Fly
• Nick Urban – 3/4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR, HBP
• Derek Dennis – 3/3, 2 RBI, R, 2 HBP
• Alan Oaks – 7 ip to save the bullpen. Also played the jester as he Bull Durham'd one to the backstop. Also made a key bases loaded double play to stab a liner right at him and flip to first. Huge momentum point in the game.

Notable Goats

• Chris Berset – Only starter not to get a hit. He did have 2 sac flies and scored a run.
• Anthony Toth – error for an unearned run (Did go 2/5 with 3 R, RBI)

Minnesota – Reviewing the Recap

The series against Minnesota was Michigan's second series loss of the year, and man was there some heart breaking. After a wholesale pitching collapse in a game one that saw Eric Katzman make his weekend debut, Michigan looked to have game two in the bag. After pulling off the suicide squeeze to take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth with Tyler Burgoon on the mound, the Gophers singled Michigan to death, earning a walk off on a 3-2, 2-out Schultz liner up the middle.

The final game was a pitchers' duel featuring Michigan's projected starter in the Big Ten Tournament. After Brandon Sinnery posted up a shaky 5.1 inning start, today's projected starter Bobby Brosnahan came in for the final 3.2 innings of shut out relief. Michigan would win 2-1 with the game winner coming in a Ryan LaMarre home run. Brosnahan would get the win.

Michigan regulars against Iowa:

Yeah, I had to point out those 7 Ks for Crank twice. Urban and Lorenz started their recent hot streaks in Minnesota, so hopefully they let it continue to ride.

Minnesota in the Tourney

Minnesota being the one seed also had a bye in the first round. In the second round, they faced Indiana. The Gophers survived a close one 10-8. Minnesota scored 8 in the first 2 innings, then saw the lead slowly dwindle. Indiana came within a single of tying it, but closer Scott Matyas shut the door for his 7th save.

Seth Rosin had the start and went 7.2 innings. He was roughed up for 7 run and should be out of commission until Sunday if necessary. Matyas should be alright to throw against Michigan, but I wouldn't expect him to go more than an inning.

Key Matchups

Two things I'll be keeping my eye on are Brosnahan's excitement and Biondi getting on base. Brosnahan will be making his BTT debut, and this will be a bit more intense than almost any other start he's made this season. Hopefully going in the second game, he won't have any early jitters, and more importantly, he needs to keep his composure if he gives up a hit or two – or worse, Michigan makes a few bonehead errors on the rough Bill Davis turf.

To summarize my theory on Biondi reaching base:

if Biondi == on_base

then Michigan_score++

end if

Biondi was just breaking out of his 0/28 slump when he faced Minnesota last time. This time around, he's coming in much hotter. If Biondi gets on base at least twice in this game, I'm liking Michigan's odds.

Predictions

This is a tough game to gauge. Both pitchers are freshmen making their Big Ten Tournament debuts in a night game in Columbus. TJ Oakes of Minnesota did throw in Columbus last Friday, so he's at least familiar with the field and the atmosphere (or lack thereof).

I think Minnesota has the edge in the starting pitching department, but Michigan definitely has the edge in the bull pen. On offense, Michigan is definitely the hot team. So my head is telling me Michigan pulls out a moderately low scoring affair.

Despite this, my gut leans toward starting pitching in a tournament like this. Pitching and defense wins championships, and I think Minnesota has an advantage there. I'm going to predict Minnesota wins 6-4.

Michigan will need the D to win (Photo by MGoBlue.com)

I'm not sold on that prediction at all, but I'll stick with the initial gut feeling. So for those who can make it out to Columbus, get there and root on the team. For those who can't, the game will be on the Big Ten Network at 7pm. Watch it.

Go Blue. Beat the Gophers.

Michigan took two of three games at Penn State this weekend to claim a #2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. While all three games had many great positives, the ending to game two is how this series will be remembered. Michigan held a 4 run lead going into the bottom of the 9th, and the bull pen collapsed.

Weekend recap, series thoughts, and a look at the Big Ten bracket after the jump

Game One

W – Oaks (5-5)… Save – Burgoon (10)

This might have been one of Michigan’s best played games of the year. Alan Oaks made a beauty of a start, going 7 innings and giving up just 3 runs. I’ll take that every time out. Better news, though, was that Oaks walked only two batters, his lowest total in a few weeks. It was a big boost for Michigan, saving most of the bullpen for later in the series. Oaks had only two major mistakes. Both were solo homers, including one to Big Ten home run champ Ben Heath. As solo home runs, they were minimal damage. The other run was scored to open the game, giving up a double and single, which happens.

On offense, Michigan had things clicking, particularly in the middle of the order. Berset, Crank, Urban, and Lorenz all had 2 hits a piece. Michigan also set it’s season high with triples in a game, with LaMarre, Urban, and Lorenz each tallying one.

This game really cruised by, finishing in just over 2.5 hours. With the win, Michigan also clinched a spot in the Big Ten Tournament.

Notable Stars

• Alan Oaks – 7ip, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K, Win
• Tyler Burgoon – 2 ip, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K

Notable Goats

• Olive Garden Fettuccini Alfredo – Reports had several players a bit sick before the game.

Game Two

L – Gerbe (2-1)

There are some games played every season where I can’t end with anything other than a bunch of four letter words not worth repeating. This was one of those games.

Michigan, leading 5-1 in the bottom of the ninth, looking to seal the game that already saw Bobby Brosnahan unable to secure a win despite throwing 6.2 innings and giving up just one earned run. Michigan was just 3 outs with nearly the entire bull pen at it’s disposal, and Penn State had already made all of the mass defensive changes of a team ready to raise the white flag.

Michigan could not seal the win. Kolby Wood, after throwing a solid 1-2-3 8th inning, the couldn’t get any of the first four batters in the 9th out. He would give up 3 singles and hit a batter.

Matt Gerbe would be pulled after a RBI double and a walk. Sinnery replaced him, recording the lone out of the inning. After getting a fielder’s choice ground out from Dennis to Berset at the place to prevent a run and a foul pop up, Sinnery was removed for Katzman – a move I didn’t like at the time. With two outs and a full count – exactly the same situation to end the Minnesota walk off, Steranka grounded up the middle. With the runners moving, Biondi didn’t really have a chance on the guy at the plate.

Penn State walked off to victory 6-5. Michigan went from a sealed #2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament to perhaps losing it.

But there were some highlights offensively, enough so that despite that punch to the face, I feel obliged to include them here. Michigan did manage 14 hits on the game, led by Anthony Toth’s 3 hit game. LaMarre, Berset, Dufek, and Lorenz each had 2-hit games.

Michigan did leave quite a few runners on base with 9 total, but this wasn’t the difference in the game. That definitely falls on the bull pen outside of Sinnery.

Notable Stars

• Bobby Brosnahan – 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (3 of those were Ben Heath)
• Brandon Sinnery – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Anthony Toth – 3/5, R, RBI
• Mike Dufek – 2/3, 3 RBI, 2B

Notable Goats

• Wood, Gerbe, Katzman’s 9th inning – 0 IP, 5 R, 5 H, BB, HBP, L
• Coley Crank – 1/5, K, 5 LOB
• Lorenz – Error for an unearned run

Game Three

W – Miller (3-2)

This game started with an ominous feeling to it. The feeling that Michigan was going to back itself into the tournament with no momentum ran heavy. After a quick first inning start, starter Brandon Sinnery gave up the lead. When Michigan tied it to start the 2nd, Sinnery gave up another run to give the lead right back. Things just didn’t look good as the offense started sputtering, stranding base runners and hitting into crippling double plays. The horizon looked bleak.

Then, for the second weekend in a row, Michigan was bailed out by the arm of Matt Miller. The unsung hero of last week’s epic comeback was just as strong this weekend against Penn State. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Miller would strike out Steranka for a crucial out, and after walking Heath intentionally, would get an easy ground ball to Dufek, stranding 3 Penn State runners. The tide of the game was changing.

Over the next 7 innings, Matt Miller was masterful. He allowed zero runs on just 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6. His fastball was pure gas. He topped out several times at 97, with many of the fastest coming in this 3rd-5th innings of work. The guy was a horse.

I’m really surprised Miller didn’t get the start in the first place. If the 5.2 strong innings against Northwestern weren’t enough, especially given that Brandon Sinnery threw the night before, I would have assumed that Miller earned the #3 starter spot. After today, the only way he’s not the third starter is if Michigan needs him in long relief in either of the first two games. The guy has earned it.

Luckily, the offense also realized the gem that Miller was putting forward. After a few innings of struggling, the team pieced together a 4-run 7th inning to take the lead for good. As it has been much of the last week, everything got going with great production from the bottom of the lineup. Lorenz got things going with a 1-out double to the centerfield wall. After a pair of hit by pitches and a foul out, the two out rally was started.

Ryan LaMarre broke through with a single up the middle. Two runs would score as the throw from the centerfielder was well wide, moving both runners up a base. Berset followed that with a 2-RBI single of his own down into the left field corner. That would be all the insurance Matt Miller would need.

Notable Stars

• Matt Miller – 7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. HUGE W.
• Ryan LaMarre – 2/3, 3 RBI, R, BB, sac fly
• Anthony Toth – 1/4, 2 R, RBI, 2 K, 3B

Notable Goats

• Rich Maloney? – Starting Sinnery seemed weird to me. Having thrown the day before, it seemed like the plan might have been to go to Miller all along. If it wasn’t, I’m not sure I’m a huge fan of starting a guy the day after he is used in the pen, even if it is for 2 batters and however many warm ups he took waiting to get in the game.
• Coley Crank – 0/4, BB, 2 K, 3 LOB

Series Thoughts

Thank goodness for happy endings. After Michigan’s game two loss, there was much doom and despair on my part. All of the momentum Michigan had was sucked out in devastating fashion. The confidence I had in Gerbe and Wood? Dashed to next to nothing. That was a bit of an overreaction, and after sleeping on it, I think I’m just back to the point before the recent run. Our bull pen is still pretty good, but they have their off nights. It happens, and unfortunately it all happened at once. I still think Sinnery should have had the last batter in game two, and I still don’t think he should have started game 3. It was a risky gamble in both cases, and Maloney almost came up 0/2. Luckily, Rich had an ace in the hole with Miller coming out of the pen.

Our offense was really good almost all weekend. They shelled up over a few inning stretches, but nothing was worrisome. Crank had a pretty rough last two games, but hopefully that isn’t a long lasting thing. I fully expect him to tear it up next week.

Speaking of tear it up, John Lorenz and Nick Urban have been all stars the last two weeks. Their success has been just as vital as LaMarre, Berset, and Dufek. With Biondi taking some serious steps back from his early season form, the load has been spread much more evenly and it’s worked wonders. I might even call Michigan the second best offense in the tourney behind Indiana.

Looking Ahead

It’s tournament time! With Michigan’s win, they have received a #2 seed and the CRUCIAL bye. That means Michigan won’t be facing anyone’s ace on Thursday as the four teams without byes try to avoid the loser’s bracket. With Michigan lacking a defined ace, they’ll need that break so the offense can hopefully mount up solid numbers and whoever starts Thursday will have some breathing room to work with.

As for the bracket:

Michigan will face the highest seed to win out of Wednesday. My guess is Northwestern is that seed. It’ll be interesting to see if Indiana can outslug the Wildcats. The Hoosiers have a ton of momentum after sweeping Illinois, but the Illini pitching staff isn’t Northwestern. Jokisch for Northwestern went a complete game last week, and Leininger went 8. Both have a solid guy to turn the game over to in Snieder and Squires respectively.

The other game features a rematch from this weekend. Bischoff and Purdue lost to Hippen and Iowa in the first game of a double header. That game could go either way, and despite Iowa taking 2 of 3 from the Boilermakers this weekend, I still favor Purdue. Hippen, as big of a fan as I am of the kid, threw a complete game last week. He’ll be on short rest. I don’t think that bodes well.

There are plans in the works for a Big Ten Tournament Live Blog on Tuesday night featuring a few of the other baseball bloggers. If it happens, I’ll have something up before then. If not, which is likely as most of the bloggers’ teams were eliminated, previews will start Thursday.