Sunday, January 31, 2010
Live Chat tonight at 8 PM
Tomorrow is Feb 1st, the first day of official practice and my targeted day to return to glory and start the machine full time, so get ready.
Until then, tonight at 8, over at Buckeye State Baseball I will be running a live chat to discuss the upcoming Division I season as it relates to Ohio programs.
Buckeye fans are welcome and encouraged to join.
If 8 is not doable, I apologize for the lack of notice here, drop us a line at buckeyestbaseball@gmail.com for any questions, comments, and thoughts that you would like discussed.
Click Here
Until then, tonight at 8, over at Buckeye State Baseball I will be running a live chat to discuss the upcoming Division I season as it relates to Ohio programs.
Buckeye fans are welcome and encouraged to join.
If 8 is not doable, I apologize for the lack of notice here, drop us a line at buckeyestbaseball@gmail.com for any questions, comments, and thoughts that you would like discussed.
Click Here
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
More honors for Burkhart and Wimmers
More accolades for the duo
I do not mean to sound like a broken record, but once again the battery of Dan Burkhart and Alex Wimmers have received honors, awards, and recognition.
The Moeller products who enter the 2010 season as the Big Ten's gold standard, were named pre-season All-Americans by Ping! Baseball.
Burkhart received his second second-team All-America honor, the first by way of the National College Baseball Writers Association. Burkhart, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year was the team's MVP in Coach Todd's eyes in 2009.
The Friday night starter who will be throwing to Burkhart in Wimmers has now received his third pre-season honor. Ping! selected Wimmers to their first-team. That AA honor coincides with second-team selections by NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
The College Baseball Blog has selected the 2009 co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as their #9 player for the 2010 season.
Misc.
Not much to report here. Though I can pass along sources within the Ohio State Department of Athletics have told us replacing the field and sod is on the docket of "things to do" for the DoA.
Bill Davis Stadium has received upgrades in the external facade and recognition along the outfield wall for retired numbers. Now finally the playing surface will be address.
I do not mean to sound like a broken record, but once again the battery of Dan Burkhart and Alex Wimmers have received honors, awards, and recognition.
The Moeller products who enter the 2010 season as the Big Ten's gold standard, were named pre-season All-Americans by Ping! Baseball.
Burkhart received his second second-team All-America honor, the first by way of the National College Baseball Writers Association. Burkhart, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year was the team's MVP in Coach Todd's eyes in 2009.
The Friday night starter who will be throwing to Burkhart in Wimmers has now received his third pre-season honor. Ping! selected Wimmers to their first-team. That AA honor coincides with second-team selections by NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
The College Baseball Blog has selected the 2009 co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as their #9 player for the 2010 season.
Misc.
Not much to report here. Though I can pass along sources within the Ohio State Department of Athletics have told us replacing the field and sod is on the docket of "things to do" for the DoA.
Bill Davis Stadium has received upgrades in the external facade and recognition along the outfield wall for retired numbers. Now finally the playing surface will be address.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Bucks 35th in 2009 Attendance
Photo courtesy the-ozone.netI'm going against my word in making this a separate post but oh well. I feel this is shocking and needs attention drawn to.
Bucks 35th in 2009 average attendance
Relating to the schedule, games played, games played in cold weather, etc the NCAA released attendance figures for the 2009 season which you can see here and as you can see the Scarlet & Gray faithful packed Bill Davis Stadium better than any other northern program fanbase.
Unfortunately the feat comes in a way that is unlike Ohio State baseball. For the fifth consecutive season attendance has fell. It is something we have noticed and noted here, the crowds have increasingly become smaller and here is the proof:
Year Rank School Home games Total Average
2009 35. Ohio St. ................... 21 37,133 1,768
2008 32. Ohio St. ................... 19 35,405 1,863
2007 27. Ohio St. ................... 20 41,460 2,073
2006 26. Ohio St. ................... 18 40,677 2,260
2005 23. Ohio St. ................... 18 46,266 2,570
YIKES!
Attendance figures came be found here by the NCAA.
Though the picture above taken during the Michigan-Ohio State game shows a crowd of 3,219 on hand, that was far from the norm. Though the large crowd was treated to the no-hitter ironically.
Hopefully with a defending Big Ten champion team taking the field, plus a team with high expecations and of national notice, BDS will be packed to the mid-2000s level.
Changes coming to NCAA schedule?
NCAA to vote to override schedule changes
Held this past weekend was the national America Baseball Coaches Association convention. The most concerning issue was what to do with the NCAA Division I college baseball schedule.
Last week the NCAA announced they were set to vote on an override requested to amend the current scheduling process.
As many of you know the NCAA received complaints left and right regarding the universal start date. Among the complaints were how it effect student-athlete travel and classtime spent on the road opposed to travel. That was the politically correct complaint presented by the southern programs.
The honest reason was it exposed their lack of pitching depth, as well as ours here in Columbus, with having to have multiple midweek games, playing five games a week. Something we all know is custom here, pre-Big Ten weekend switch from four to three games.
Anyhow the official NCAA release can be found here While a the article plus a few thoughts from Bowling Green's Danny Schmitz provided courtesy Buckeye State Baseball can be found here (Slight self-promotion)
As you can see all 11 Big Ten institutes were part of the opposition.
Misc.
Other than that news has been quite. We expect Alex Wimmers to be named amongst the Top 100 College Baseball Players in 2010 by the College Baseball Blog, as they enter the final 10 of their countdown. When that happens we will link it.
Also working on a question and answer with the Buckeyes 2010 captains Zach Hurley and Cory Kovanda here in the upcoming days.
Held this past weekend was the national America Baseball Coaches Association convention. The most concerning issue was what to do with the NCAA Division I college baseball schedule.
Last week the NCAA announced they were set to vote on an override requested to amend the current scheduling process.
As many of you know the NCAA received complaints left and right regarding the universal start date. Among the complaints were how it effect student-athlete travel and classtime spent on the road opposed to travel. That was the politically correct complaint presented by the southern programs.
The honest reason was it exposed their lack of pitching depth, as well as ours here in Columbus, with having to have multiple midweek games, playing five games a week. Something we all know is custom here, pre-Big Ten weekend switch from four to three games.
Anyhow the official NCAA release can be found here While a the article plus a few thoughts from Bowling Green's Danny Schmitz provided courtesy Buckeye State Baseball can be found here (Slight self-promotion)
As you can see all 11 Big Ten institutes were part of the opposition.
Misc.
Other than that news has been quite. We expect Alex Wimmers to be named amongst the Top 100 College Baseball Players in 2010 by the College Baseball Blog, as they enter the final 10 of their countdown. When that happens we will link it.
Also working on a question and answer with the Buckeyes 2010 captains Zach Hurley and Cory Kovanda here in the upcoming days.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Preseason honors and rankings
As we figured, coming off of 2009 success with just three seniors being lost due to graduation, 2010 was to be a year of high expectations. What we knew in Columbus has made its way around the college baseball world and is starting to be reflectedin various publications.
Rankings
In the first two preseason rankings, the Bucks crack both top 25s and are in very welcoming company.
Ping!Baseball released its preseason list first and slotted the Bucks at 24th which you can see here.
Ping!'s write-up on the Bucks:
While the Big 10 isn't much of a baseball power conference these days, it hasn't always been that way. Up until the mid 80's a Big 10 representative was often in Omaha . Yet for Ohio State , the layoff has been even longer. The Buckeyes made it to the Series three times in the 60's (including winning the title in '66), but haven't visited since. This year's team is hoping to end that streak and is in good position to do so. Dan Burkhart (.354, 10, 62) will be looking to parlay last season's success with a fine Cape showing to lead the offense which returns almost its entire startling lineup. Alex Wimmers (9-2, 3.27, 136 Ks in 104.2 IP) is a dandy of a Friday nights starter, but the rest of the rest of the arms will have to turn it up a notch if team is going to make it out of Regionals.
Where Ping! set the bar College Baseball News put it on an entirely different level. A week later Collegiate Baseball ranked the Bucks preseason #14. The CBN's poll is here.
Myself personally, I feel you split the difference and at #19 is about where the Bucks should be.
Kendall Rogers thoughts
Rogers has made no secret his thoughts and opinions of the Buckeyes and continue to group Ohio State and Omaha in the same sentence.
In his storylines to watch in 2010, the Buckeyes make a cameo with this write-up:
Ohio State has talent and experience to reach College World Series
It’s not often a Big Ten team is expected to compete for a CWS berth. But Michigan a couple of seasons ago and Ohio State this season are the exceptions.
The Wolverines fell short of meeting their goals despite hosting a regional two seasons ago. OSU, though, hopes to turn the tide for the conference.
The Buckeyes welcome back several key hitters from a lineup that finished last season with a solid .328 batting average. The offense is expected to emulate that production this season.
The Buckeyes also welcome back one of the nation’s best pitchers in starter Alex Wimmers. Drew Rucinsky and Eric Best also are key returning pitchers. However, the bullpen is a huge concern and could keep OSU from reaching its goals.
Ohio State’s success this season could be huge for northern baseball.
In his Big Ten snapshot, this quick hit and run statement was thrown to the public:
Ohio State
2009 record: 42-19
Top returning player: P Alex Wimmers
What needs to improve: The Buckeyes know what could keep them from reaching their big goals this season. The Buckeyes welcome back several talented hitters from a lineup that finished last season with a .328 batting average. However, the pitching staff is a concern. The Buckeyes have one of the nation's best in Alex Wimmers, but the rest of the weekend rotation must be better. Also, the bullpen was unimpressive last season and is without top arm Jake Hale. Ohio State will be an Omaha contender if the pitching staff rises to the occasion.
I do think Rogers is underappreciating the staff as a whole. More insight and knowledge about the pitching would realize that Wolo and Rucinski pitched way better than their numbers. A healthy Best and Armstrong will mean the world to Ohio State, as well as Oltorik. With perhaps the biggest wild card being freshman Brett McKinney, who has a very reasonable chance to nail down a weekend rotation spot.
All-Americans
The last bit of news to compile would be the releasing of two All-American lists. First the National College Baseball Writers Association released their 2010 preseason AA team
The Buckeye battery of Alex Wimmers and Dan Burkhart were both selected second-team preseason All-Americans. Respectively the two are reigning Big Ten Pitcher and Player of the years.
College Baseball News released its preseason All-America team where Wimmers received third-team honors.
With practice beginning in less than four weeks, it is time to gear up and get ready for the upcoming season.
Rankings
In the first two preseason rankings, the Bucks crack both top 25s and are in very welcoming company.
Ping!Baseball released its preseason list first and slotted the Bucks at 24th which you can see here.
Ping!'s write-up on the Bucks:
While the Big 10 isn't much of a baseball power conference these days, it hasn't always been that way. Up until the mid 80's a Big 10 representative was often in Omaha . Yet for Ohio State , the layoff has been even longer. The Buckeyes made it to the Series three times in the 60's (including winning the title in '66), but haven't visited since. This year's team is hoping to end that streak and is in good position to do so. Dan Burkhart (.354, 10, 62) will be looking to parlay last season's success with a fine Cape showing to lead the offense which returns almost its entire startling lineup. Alex Wimmers (9-2, 3.27, 136 Ks in 104.2 IP) is a dandy of a Friday nights starter, but the rest of the rest of the arms will have to turn it up a notch if team is going to make it out of Regionals.
Where Ping! set the bar College Baseball News put it on an entirely different level. A week later Collegiate Baseball ranked the Bucks preseason #14. The CBN's poll is here.
Myself personally, I feel you split the difference and at #19 is about where the Bucks should be.
Kendall Rogers thoughts
Rogers has made no secret his thoughts and opinions of the Buckeyes and continue to group Ohio State and Omaha in the same sentence.
In his storylines to watch in 2010, the Buckeyes make a cameo with this write-up:
Ohio State has talent and experience to reach College World Series
It’s not often a Big Ten team is expected to compete for a CWS berth. But Michigan a couple of seasons ago and Ohio State this season are the exceptions.
The Wolverines fell short of meeting their goals despite hosting a regional two seasons ago. OSU, though, hopes to turn the tide for the conference.
The Buckeyes welcome back several key hitters from a lineup that finished last season with a solid .328 batting average. The offense is expected to emulate that production this season.
The Buckeyes also welcome back one of the nation’s best pitchers in starter Alex Wimmers. Drew Rucinsky and Eric Best also are key returning pitchers. However, the bullpen is a huge concern and could keep OSU from reaching its goals.
Ohio State’s success this season could be huge for northern baseball.
In his Big Ten snapshot, this quick hit and run statement was thrown to the public:
Ohio State
2009 record: 42-19
Top returning player: P Alex Wimmers
What needs to improve: The Buckeyes know what could keep them from reaching their big goals this season. The Buckeyes welcome back several talented hitters from a lineup that finished last season with a .328 batting average. However, the pitching staff is a concern. The Buckeyes have one of the nation's best in Alex Wimmers, but the rest of the weekend rotation must be better. Also, the bullpen was unimpressive last season and is without top arm Jake Hale. Ohio State will be an Omaha contender if the pitching staff rises to the occasion.
I do think Rogers is underappreciating the staff as a whole. More insight and knowledge about the pitching would realize that Wolo and Rucinski pitched way better than their numbers. A healthy Best and Armstrong will mean the world to Ohio State, as well as Oltorik. With perhaps the biggest wild card being freshman Brett McKinney, who has a very reasonable chance to nail down a weekend rotation spot.
All-Americans
The last bit of news to compile would be the releasing of two All-American lists. First the National College Baseball Writers Association released their 2010 preseason AA team
The Buckeye battery of Alex Wimmers and Dan Burkhart were both selected second-team preseason All-Americans. Respectively the two are reigning Big Ten Pitcher and Player of the years.
College Baseball News released its preseason All-America team where Wimmers received third-team honors.
With practice beginning in less than four weeks, it is time to gear up and get ready for the upcoming season.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Buckeye Nine in 2010
I have not forgotten the Buckeye Nine.
Ohio State is on winter break until Monday, and for once I tried to have as light of a workload as possible in resembling some sort of break. Some of you may or may not know, but I've created a site Buckeye State Baseball to cover all of Ohio collegiate baseball, and that is where my baseball attention has been in building that site up a bit. Some Buckeye news has come way over the last few weeks which you can find over ther.
With spring practice beginning in one month it is time to turn the attention back to Buckeye baseball and get ready for the season.
With that there will be a few changes, changes that I hope are for the better.
To help me and perhaps you as well a more effective posting pattern will occur. No longer will releases simply be copied and pasted, but three times a day, at 10AM, 4PM, and 10PM will I post to the site. With the posts will be a summarization of releases and thoughts wrapped into one. It saves you the time of reading multiple and long releases, and it provides an easier way of spreading news.
It might hinder the breaking news, and finding news here first, but it should provide more informative information in being able to gather thoughts and add more opinionated content this year.
Once the season comes around I'll have a few daily fixtures of original content posted during the noon readings. More info will come on that once the final ideas are narrowed.
So beginning Monday we'll be back at full force and ready to go.
We wish all a safe and wonderful 2010, a year with a trip to Omaha hopefully on hand.
Ohio State is on winter break until Monday, and for once I tried to have as light of a workload as possible in resembling some sort of break. Some of you may or may not know, but I've created a site Buckeye State Baseball to cover all of Ohio collegiate baseball, and that is where my baseball attention has been in building that site up a bit. Some Buckeye news has come way over the last few weeks which you can find over ther.
With spring practice beginning in one month it is time to turn the attention back to Buckeye baseball and get ready for the season.
With that there will be a few changes, changes that I hope are for the better.
To help me and perhaps you as well a more effective posting pattern will occur. No longer will releases simply be copied and pasted, but three times a day, at 10AM, 4PM, and 10PM will I post to the site. With the posts will be a summarization of releases and thoughts wrapped into one. It saves you the time of reading multiple and long releases, and it provides an easier way of spreading news.
It might hinder the breaking news, and finding news here first, but it should provide more informative information in being able to gather thoughts and add more opinionated content this year.
Once the season comes around I'll have a few daily fixtures of original content posted during the noon readings. More info will come on that once the final ideas are narrowed.
So beginning Monday we'll be back at full force and ready to go.
We wish all a safe and wonderful 2010, a year with a trip to Omaha hopefully on hand.
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