The All-Weekend Team

What a weekend for offense! Even as you read this edition of the Big Ten Hardball All-Weekend Team, I'm probably editing the list. In light of the prodigious output, I've made a few concessions. I'm sure you'll note them as you read along. Please save all your questions until the end.

Catcher - Dusty Napoleon, Iowa (8/18, 7 R, 6 RBI, 2B, HR, 3 BB, SB)
Firstbase1 - Bryan Jost, Minnesota (6/16, 9 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB)
Firstbase2 - Nate Recknagel, Michigan (7/15, 6 R, 6 RBI, 3 2B, HR, 3 BB)
Secondbase - Ryan Hastings, Illinois (6/12, 5 R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB, SB)
Shortstop - Dan Lyons, Minnesota (8/15, 10 R, 6 RBI, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 3 BB, SB)
Thirdbase - Nate Hanson, Minnesota (9/17, 6 R, 6 RBI, 2B, 2 HR)
Outfield - Eric Rose, Michigan (8/15, 6 R, 13 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 BB, 3 SB)
Outfield - Mike Mee, Minnesota (8/17, 7 R, 7 RBI, 2B, HR, 2 BB)
Outfield - Travis Sweet, Iowa (10/17, 11 R, 7 RBI, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 BB)
Designated Hitter - Ryne White, Purdue (9/14, 6 R, 5 RBI, 3B, HR, SB)

Bench - Jason Christian, Michigan (7/16, 11 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 4 BB, 2 SB)
Bench - Ryan Snowden, Illinois (8/16, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, SB)
Bench - Jon Fixler, Indiana (5/13, 2 R, 9 RBI, 2B, HR, BB, SB)
Bench - Jake Owens, Northwestern (9/17, 4 R, 6 RBI, 2B, 3B, 2 BB)
Bench - Kevin Hoef, Iowa (8/17, 8 R, 4 RBI, 2B, SB)
Bench - Jason White, Iowa (8/23, 7 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 3B, HR)
Bench - Kevin Cislo, Michigan (6/13, 5 R, 5 RBI, 2 BB, SB)
Bench - Mike Kalina, Northwestern (6/15, 3 R, 8 RBI, HR, BB)
Bench - Ben Geelan, Iowa (4/11, 4 R, 8 RBI, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 BB)
Bench - Zach Putnam, Michigan (5/17, 2 R, 8 RBI, 2 2B, BB; W vs. MSU w/9 K's)

Pitcher - Cory Luebke, Ohio State (9.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K in win over Purdue)
Pitcher - Matt Bischoff, Purdue (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K in win over OSU)
Pitcher - Mike Wilson, Michigan (7.0 IP 2 H, o R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K in win over MSU)
Pitcher - Craig Clark, Penn State (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K in win over IU)
Pitcher - Matt Bashore, Indiana (7.0 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K in win over PSU)
Relief - Trey Fausnaugh, Ohio State (2 APP, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K in win and save vs. Purdue)

I could have easily limited my hitters to Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota players and still had too many to chose from. Guys like Caleb Curry, Doug Pickens and Matt Nohelty all had weekends that might garner them my weekly recognition, but this was not your typical weekend.

No, I couldn't decide between Recknagel and Jost. Truth be told, I had Ryne White as my third 1B on the original draft, but moved the Boilers slugger into the DH slot. It made me look (slightly) more decisive.

I can see why Rose, Sweet and Luebke claimed Player of the Week honors. I was actually comforted by the fact the conference office couldn't make up their mind, either.

I'm more than ready to admit that I may have inadvertently skipped a pitcher. After running through all those big batting figures, I probably overlooked a deserving arm. Although, the six I've selected had extremely good outings. Between them they allowed only six walks and three earned runs in 32.1 innings. That's made more impressive in light of the pinball scoring that occurred.

As always, let's keep three things in mind. First, my math could be wrong. (This isn't a stat heavy blog for a reason.) Second, the team is entirely arbitrary. (I'm thinking most of you know that by now.) Third, if you know of someone I missed, drop me a note. (Hey, it worked last week.)

Update (5/9/07): A reader points out I gave Travis Sweet credit for only two homers, when he hit three. Sorry, Travis. The change, albeit tardy, has been made.