Tuesday, March 17, 2009

All-Weekend Team, 4th Edition

As you may recall, in last week's All-Weekend Team, I felt as though I omitted someone. This week, a different issue arose -- a couple of spots on the roster were difficult to fill. Let's see how this works out.

Catcher: Dan Burkhart, Ohio State - The sophomore concluded the weekend with seven hits in sixteen at-bats (.438) with five runs scored and six RBI. Burkhart had managed to get a hit in every single OSU game this season. Burkhart homered and walked, as well.

Catcher: Aaron Johnson, Illinois - Much like Burkhart, Johnson's becoming a regular member of the AWT. In three games, Johnson had exactly the same .438 average (7 hits in 16 AB's) as Burkhart, too. Johnson doubled twice, homered, got hit by two pitches and stole a base.

Catcher: Josh Phegley, Indiana - While the All-American candidate only had seven at-bats, he did get four hits including a homer and triple. The reason Phegley's at-bat total was so low was that he drew six walks in three games. Phegley had three sacrifice flies, too. The junior also stole a base.

Firstbase: Cory Wine, Penn State - The senior hit .667 (8 for 12) over the three days. Wine scored four runs and drove in eight. He doubled once and walked three times. Did I read the boxscore correctly when it said that Wine also played shorstop?

Secondbase: Cory Kovanda, Ohio State - Kovanda went 8 for 15 (.533) with a double, triple, walk, six runs scored and four RBI. Kovanda's emergence has been a big reason why OSU is piling on the runs this season.

Shortstop: Jake Dunning, Indiana - A first AWT nod for the junior middle infielder. Dunning went 5 for 12 (.417) and scored five times while driving in five more runs. Dunning doubled, tripled twice, stole a base and hit a sac fly.

Thirdbase: Justin Miller, Ohio State - The Buckeyes' captain hit .350 (7 for 20) with two homers and a double. Miller got hit by a pitch and scored seven times. In addition, Miller drove in nine runs.

Outfield: Zach Hurley, Ohio State - All Hurley did this past weekend was get 10 hits in 22 at-bats (.455), double, triple, homer, hit a sac fly, stole two bases, score seven times and have 12 RBI. He and Kovanda have been remarkable tablesetters at the top of the Buckeyes' lineup.

Outfield: Michael Arp, Ohio State - I know. Another Buckeye. What choice do I have? Arp hit .563 (9 for 16) for crying out loud. He scored seven times and drove in six more runs. Along the way he doubled twice, homered, got hit by a pitch and walked.

Outfield: Michael Stephens, Ohio State - Yes, that's an entire OF of Buckeyes. The junior CF hit .667 (8 for 12), scored four times and drove in four more. Stephens went yard twice, walked, got plunked by a pitch and stole a base.

Outfield: Willie Argo, Illinois - The frosh had a seven for sixteen (.438) weekend. Argo scored four times and had six RBI. Along the way he doubled, stole a base and got an HBP.

Designated Hitter: Alex Dickerson, Indiana - Simply one of the best freshman in the country thus far. This weekend saw the Hoosiers' DH hit .600 (9 for 15) with a pair of homers and a double. Dickerson scored three runs, drove in eight and stole a base.

Utlity Player: Wes Borden, Penn State - A .400 average (4 for 10) only tells part of the story, as Borden walked an amazing eight times in four games. Borden swiped two bags, scored three runs and drove in five. He played second, third and DH.

Bench: Josh Parr, Illinois - Another strong weekend for the freshman. Seven for thirteen (.538) with three runs and two RBI. Parr doubled, got an HBP and stole a base.

Bench: Ryan Dew, Ohio State - A six for twelve weekend (do I really have to do that math?) with eight runs scored and four RBI. Yes, for those counting at home, Dew makes the fourth OSU outfielder on the team. Look, if a fifth OF could have gotten enough at-bats, it probably would have been quintet of Buckeyes.

Bench: Dominic Altobelli, Illinois - Five was the magic number for Dom. He had five hits in fifteen at-bats (.333) with five RBI and five runs scored. He also hit three doubles and a triple. Altobelli got hit by two pitches and stole two bases.

Bench: Trevor Stevens, Northwestern - The freshman secondbaseman went 5 for 12 (.417) with a run scored and six RBI. He doubled, homered and walked.

Bench: A.J. Pettersen, Minnesota - A .300 average (3 for 10) with a pair of triples at TCU for the redshirt freshman shortstop. He drove in two and scored two more. I couldn't leave the hitters without taking one of the Gophers who beat the Horned Frogs twice.

Starting Pitcher: Alex Wimmers, Ohio State - A complete game six-hitter with 15 K's. Wimmers gave up three earned runs and walked two. He improved to 3-0 and claimed a co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week nod.

Starting Pitcher: Matt Jansen, Purdue - The other co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. Jansen posted a win by going 8.2 innings and surrendering one earned runs on six hits and a walk. Jansen fanned 11.

Starting Pitcher: Eric Jokisch, Northwestern - A complete game four-hitter for the NU soph. The lefty gave up two runs, only one earned, and four walks while striking out six.

Starting Pitcher: Matt Bischoff, Purdue - The Boilermaker righthander struck out twelve, his career high, over eight innings en route to his first win of the season. The All-Big Ten hurler yielded one run on four hits and two walks.

Relief Pitcher: Kevin Cahill, Purdue - Cahill didn't allow a run or hit in his two appearances (1.1 innings pitched). He surrendered just one walk and collected two saves.

Bullpen: Matt Morgan, Purdue - Only one unearned run over 8.2 innings pitched while giving up just six hits and one walk got Morgan a loss. And an All-Weekend Team selection. Morgan also struck out six.

Bullpen: Tom Buske, Minnesota - The Gophers' righty gave TCU just four hits, two walks and two runs only one of which was earned. Buske K'd seven Horned Frogs and improved to 3-0.

Bullpen: Chris Fetter, Michigan - The senior yielded just eight hits to Arizona over 7.1 innings. The 'Cats touched him for two runs, but only one was earned. Fetter didn't give out a free pass and struck out two.

Bullpen: Dean Wolosiansky, Ohio State - "Wolo" worked seven innings allowing four runs, three earned, six hits and three walks. He also fanned eight. It was his second win of the year.

Bullpen: Joe Muraski, Northwestern - Allowed one run on seven hits and two walks over 8.1 innings. Muraski fanned four and posted his first win of 2009.

Bullpen: Jake Hale, Ohio State - Two appearances. 2.1 innings pitched. 1 hit. 1 walk. No runs, earned or otherwise. 5 K's. 1 save.

Thankfully, the gaps in the original lineup filled in nicely as I did more homework. Always do your homework, boys and girls.

Some new faces this week on the team, which is always nice to see. Of course, there were some very familiar names as well.

The standard caveats apply. I could have done the math incorrectly. I could have missed someone who had a great weekend. I could have made the team smaller or larger. Corrections, objections and oversights should be sent via email. Adjustments are possible, although not necessarily likely.

1 comment:

J. said...

Cory Wine pinch hit for the shortstop in the bottom of the 10th so his position was never changed in the boxscore.