Michigan SB wins in dramatic fashion; JT is out with injury

and I cannot find anything about JT injury.  What we need is someone who has a class with a player to get us the down low.  Hutch isnt saying anything.

This could be nothing or it could be everything.  I guess we wait for Monday morning to see if Sam and Ira has anything to say about it.

Michigan State in EL this weekend 7-2 and 4-2.  Indiana travels to Urbana to play Illinois on 27APR11 before hosting Iowa this weekend.  It is possible for Indiana to split both series.  Both Iowa and Illinois played us very tight so if they both play well, they each could knock off Indiana.

First, we have 2 HUGE scheduling advantages.  This is certainly the luck of the draw or the softball gods (lower case) are smiling on us.  We play weak teams and most are at home.

The remaining conference games (8 conference, 9 total) are against teams in the bottom half of the conference.  So that is the luck of the draw.  If the reverse was true, we would be in a hell of a pinch.  We play at Wiscy, EMU, tosu, Minny and MSU (home and home).  So we have only 1 more road trip this weekend, save at MSU.

This cannot be overstated.  Remember, softball players have to take a bus on the away games.  This can have a negative affect especially on a #2 pitcher thrown into the spotlight and required to pitch both games of a double header. 

I dont portend to know what Hutch will do.  She is a master at making adjustments.  However, the Shaw adjustment had to be made.  Dorian has given her heart and soul to the team but in order to be a leader, one has to lead.  She has been less than stellar during conference play.

Hutch will watch game film of each opposing player.  She will determine the hitter's tendency and speed.  She will adjust the infield accordingly based on SS pitching and not JT. 

Now to answer your question directly.  I would not make any other adjustments.  Here is why.  The schedule is weak.  They have 13 combined wins in the conference, we have 9 (as of yesterday).  So if there is anything good about an injury to JT, now is the time.  JT could take the rest of the regular season off to get healthy for the tournament.

The defense has been fairly stable and solid throughout the year.  The only drastic change was the injury to Stephanie Kirkpatrick way back in February but Amy has stepped up nicely.  The infield has an average fielding percentage of about .965 which is great (but not awesome).  We will be ok on defense.

We need to finish atop the Big 10 standings.  This almost guarantees us a home site for the regionals and possibly super regionals.  Indiana has to play Illinois and Iowa.  They are bound to lose at least one of these games.  So if this happens, we can give one more loss and still be in good shape.

the second part of your question.  As mentioned above, we are the favorites to win the conference.  6 of the 9 games are at home and the 8 confernece games are against weak teams.  I would be shocked if we didnt finish with the conference title.

As for the NC, that all depends on JT.  A rotator cuff injury in softball is not as damaging as in baseball.  The underhand motion is a natural movement.  They is why some teams (like Indiana) have only 1 main pitcher.  I would be surprised if JT injury lasts more than a week or so.  I have seen this many times in my coaching career and I have never had a girl that required rotator cuff surgery.  Rest and anti-inflamatory drugs usually are enough. 

If JT's injury is serious, we are in trouble.  I dont think Stephanie has the experinece yet to take us to the promised land.  In a year or two, she will have the mojo but not this year.  She is too streaky.  I would still think we make it to the WS but finishing 4 or 5 without JT.

If you don't give a shit why are you here?  Go away and take your 1912 misogynist ass with you.

Thx for the softball updates. Go all things blue!

Nothing in that article seemed so terrible, though it didn't say much.

“She’s injured,” Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said, declining explanation on the specifics of Taylor’s injury. “I expect to have her back, but I don’t know when.”

 This is half bad (don't know when) but half good (expects to have her back).

My source never comments on injuries except cryptically -- he knows but he's under orders -- but he occasionally drops hints. When I said something about how much it sucked not having Jordan against Iowa, he said something like, "Yes, it really does suck." He wouldn't have said that if she was just day-to-day.

So I knew this wasn't minor. Also in retrospect it explains why Jordan has been off recently. Without her, you could really see how flat the team was this weekend, too, at least until the bottom of the 7th on Sunday.

ASU has 3 against Oregon State, 3 against #10 Washington, and 3 against #11 Stanford.  They are bound to loose one or possibly two in this stretch.  Meanwhile we should win out.  The key word is SHOULD.  With JT out for a while, Stephanie will have to come up big.

Finishing the season #1 really doesnt help that much so I am not worried about it.  We have a great shot at getting the #2 slot this week and then hold it until EOS.  The difference between #1 and #2 should not impact us at all.  At #2 we will still host the super regional.

Get well soon JT.

agree with you Scorekeeper.  ASU will have to lose 2 in order for us to leap frog them, assuming we win out.  I suppose it is possible for ASU to lose 1 game and we win out and the coaches give us the #1 rank.

One thing that EVERYONE needs to take into account.  The # 1 ranked team does not guarantee the #1 seed.  Seeding are compiled by the Tournament Committee (similar to Basketball).  There are conference tie-ins and at-large bids that are factored in.

So we could be ranked #1 at the end of the season and still end up with a #2 or #3 seed.  The SEC, Pac-10 and Big-12 are tougher conferences than the Big 10.  The Big 10 has only 1 ranked team, us.  Every other major conference has 2, 3 and even 4 teams in the Top 25.