Was a cornerback and a quite average one at that. He did play safety in his last year with the Lions.
He accumulated so many interceptions because he was picked on so much. He played most of his career paired with HOF cornerbacks. 1st Night Train Lane and then Lem Barney.
I spend many a Sunday afternoon cursing Dick LeBeau as he was burned for touchdown after touchdown. LeBeau is a much better Defensive oordinator than he ever was a cornerback.
I still remember Lem Barney's 1st game in the NFL. Pick 6 in the 1st quarter against Bart Starr and a Green Bay team that went on to win the Super Bowl. After that, teams decided Dick LeBeau was a better guy to target.
In order to make the B1G tournament you need to finish in the top 6 in the league. Michigan finshed 2011 in 10th (Last, Wisconsin doesn't have a baseball team) place. In 2012, UM is presently in 11th place (Last) in the B1G. However, it is still early. MSU series this weekend looms large. I am not optimistic for the series this weekend. UM even making the B1G tournament would be an unlikely turnaround.
If Maloney is not on the hot seat, he should be. Given the shove out the door Brandon just gave Borseth, I would think Maloney would be next on his list. Frankly, I think Jake Boss owns Rich Maloney which is unbelieveably frustrating.
TC was infamous around Metro Detroit a few years back. He was a very active Referee in Hoops and Football and Umpire in Baseball for High School and Travel. He was involved in some very controversial calls as such, particularily in Baseball. One was a call in a MHSAA regional baseball game my son played in on an interference non-call.
I talked to him a few times when he was supervising/evaluating other umpire in my son's High School press box while I was running the scoreboard.
I liked this book, not because TC is a very talented writer, but because he had the determination to write it on such an obscure topic that I liked that wasn't likely to have much success commercially.
TC put a lot of effort into what he was trying to do (Ref'ing/writing) he just wasn't very successful at any of it. How ever, I think TC is a nice guy.
I believe he left Detroit a few years ago for the Baltimore/DC area. I think if was to follow his wife's career and to continue to try to be successful writer.
I've attached this URL for a blog he used to publish associated with the Oakland press. The last entry was 2009.
The Lemarre injury hurts. Hopefully, he will be back by the start of the big 10.
Pitching, specifically pitching depth will define this team. It's still early, but not a great start.
Projections during Putnam's junior year in high school had him as a top 5 pick in the MLB draft coming out of high school. I think that was the hype formerly and I were talking about. Many don't live up to hype of their high school years. A classic example of that in ex-UMer Drew Henson, the most hyped Michigan High School baseball player in memory.
Since then his projection has gone steadily down. Including his 5th round draft status and the scouting report you attached.
Based on that report so far he hasn't lived up to the "hype". And unless he becomes a bit of a late bloomer, I guess he never will. However, several UM'ers have overachieved on an MLB level. Jake Fox, J. J. Putz and Chris Getz come to mind.
Adding to the confusion about Putnam, in his high school years he projected more as a hitter, than as a pitcher.
I guess over the next few years we'll find out.
Well, I've got to see him in the Majors before I buy the lived up to the hype. He didn't exactly light up the AFL last fall. I'm concerned he has an arm problem. At a minimum he seems stuck and other pitchers in the Indians organization are rocketing past him.
I've seen lots of top 100-200 prospect in Minor League Baseball lists and Putnam isn't listed.
Scout's Indian's site is putting out a series of articles on their top 193 prospects. They have listed 193-75 so far. Putnam and Recknagel aren't listed yet. Abraham is 98 and Pickens is 106.
It will be interesting to see where Drew and Nate are listed. I doubt Drew will be in the top 10.
With Davidson widow and kids running things and arguing and bickering, the Pistons will quickly become the Clippers East.
Wilson worked for the Lakers before the Pistons. He has to be about 60. He could easily retire, and if he doesn't want to someone else will snap him up in an instance. He is very good at the business side of the sports world.
I'm sure he will look back at being fired in a few years and be thankful.
While I agree he is key to Michigan Baseball for the next 3-4 years, I have issue with the statement. "Dennis is widely heralded as Michigan's best signing in the last decade, maybe two."
At least 3 more heralded I can think of off the top of my head in the last two decades.
2009 - Danny Fields.
2005 - Drew Putnam.
1991 - Derek Jeter.
All signed with UM, although Putnam was the only one who played.
That said Formerly, I really appreciate your work on UM baseball. Best available anywhere.
Beautiful country. Spent Xmas 2003 there with the family. Similar to Australia, but even more beautiful.
Xmas eve, swimming with Penguins in the Indian Ocean. Priceless.
Cape of Good Hope, beautiful. Table Mountain, great view of Capetown.
I you can get there for the world cup, or any other time, I highly recommend it.
Avoid Johannesburg. Still too much violence there.
The Detroit News article states the night club incident occured about 20 hours prior to the dorm incident. I believe this would have happened after the Penn State game. FYI
I don't see UM being much better than last year. Questionable recruiting in 2007-8, especially with their pitching has doomed them to middle of the pack. I like their 2009 group better even without Fields, but they will just be freshmen.
No mention of Kevin Vangheluwe. I still have high hopes for him. He wasn't very good last year, but usually, it takes 2 years to overcome TJ surgery.
I think taking Michigan kids like Wood, Brosnahan and Mills, versus other Michigan kids like Mitchem, Cooper and LaMothe in 07-08 has really set UM back. I think Maloney is relying on Keller for his pitching recruiting, and that is a part of the problem.
Where the hell is Moundros???
That is my question. He was blowing people up in the 1st half (See all of Brian's +1's). Grady at FB was not good on that series. Needed Moundros at FB and either Minor or Grady at TB. If so, touchdown Michigan.
Not trying to be a prick, but on the 35 yard Smith run it is the Right Guard, Khoury (#63) getting blown back, not the Center, McAvoy (#62).
Overall, a great, entertaining analysis.
Barnum and Ohmameh at Tackle, Mealer and Ferrera at Tackle, McAvoy at Center.
Khoury came in later at Guard. He may have played Center in the 4th quarter. (I stopped watching)
I sat in row B on the michigan side on the 30 yard line right next to the BB recruits. Got to talk to John Beilein. I thought they were great, great seats.
Thank you formerly. Good Content.
However, I don't see you mentioning Ricky Samuel, a preferred walk-on from White Lake Lakeland.
Ricky a 2009, MHSBCA Dream Team All State Outfielder is listed as an Right Fielder on UM's roster, however, I also think he might be a good candidate for a lefty out of the pen.
I would guess Ricky as a senior threw upper 80's with a sharp breaking ball. He could be an effective short man out of the pen.
My son's team played Lakeland last year twice. Ricky (Left Handed Hitter) hit a 375 Ft + home run off of our Ace Lefthander. When my son pitched against him, he went 0 for 2. (Strikeout / Comebacker.)
I wondered if you had any additional info.
Maloney will really miss out on not having Fields in this class. He is the real deal.
Recent Comments
I was checking the NBA.com roster. It wasn't updated with adding Jamal and dropping Reed. One more.
http://www.nba.com/teams/suns
According to my analysis. I think it is good, but someone may prove otherwise.
UM Players in NBA 8/(9), Burke, Hardaway, LeVert, Robinson, Robinson, Stauskas, Wagner, Wilson, (Udoh if you count transfers)
UM Players not in NBA now with a chance to get picked up: Abdur-Rahkman, Crawford, Harris, Morris, Walton.
For Reference, MSU Players in NBA 6, Bridges, Forbes, Green, Harris, Jackson, Randolph.
If I'm Detroit, I'm not doing it. Take KCL and Ellis out of it, and then maybe. KCP is a very valuable player. Monta Ellis is very llong in the tooth.
Jerry Zuver, not Mike Jolly
Was a cornerback and a quite average one at that. He did play safety in his last year with the Lions.
He accumulated so many interceptions because he was picked on so much. He played most of his career paired with HOF cornerbacks. 1st Night Train Lane and then Lem Barney.
I spend many a Sunday afternoon cursing Dick LeBeau as he was burned for touchdown after touchdown. LeBeau is a much better Defensive oordinator than he ever was a cornerback.
I still remember Lem Barney's 1st game in the NFL. Pick 6 in the 1st quarter against Bart Starr and a Green Bay team that went on to win the Super Bowl. After that, teams decided Dick LeBeau was a better guy to target.
In order to make the B1G tournament you need to finish in the top 6 in the league. Michigan finshed 2011 in 10th (Last, Wisconsin doesn't have a baseball team) place. In 2012, UM is presently in 11th place (Last) in the B1G. However, it is still early. MSU series this weekend looms large. I am not optimistic for the series this weekend. UM even making the B1G tournament would be an unlikely turnaround.
If Maloney is not on the hot seat, he should be. Given the shove out the door Brandon just gave Borseth, I would think Maloney would be next on his list. Frankly, I think Jake Boss owns Rich Maloney which is unbelieveably frustrating.
Pitcher was pretty proud of it as I recall.
I know TC.
TC was infamous around Metro Detroit a few years back. He was a very active Referee in Hoops and Football and Umpire in Baseball for High School and Travel. He was involved in some very controversial calls as such, particularily in Baseball. One was a call in a MHSAA regional baseball game my son played in on an interference non-call.
I talked to him a few times when he was supervising/evaluating other umpire in my son's High School press box while I was running the scoreboard.
I liked this book, not because TC is a very talented writer, but because he had the determination to write it on such an obscure topic that I liked that wasn't likely to have much success commercially.
TC put a lot of effort into what he was trying to do (Ref'ing/writing) he just wasn't very successful at any of it. How ever, I think TC is a nice guy.
I believe he left Detroit a few years ago for the Baltimore/DC area. I think if was to follow his wife's career and to continue to try to be successful writer.
I've attached this URL for a blog he used to publish associated with the Oakland press. The last entry was 2009.
http://writeref.blogspot.com/
In 1976-7.
In FB, UM was #1 in the nation at the beginning of the year, Won the Big 10, Beat Ohio, went to Rose Bowl.
In BB, UM was #1 in the nation at the beginning of the year, #1 in the nation at the end of the year, Won the Big 10, lost in the elete 8.
In Hockey, UM lost in OT in the National Championship game. (At the Olympia in Detroit).
UM doing nicely, but nowhere near their best ever. Hell, they'll do better next year.