Cast Your Vote

Astute observers will take note that I've included a poll at the top of the sidebar. I'm considering this a trial run. If you have any problems with it, let me know. I'm particularly interested in knowing if since its addition, the blog is loading more slowly in your browser. (I don't know about you, but if a site doesn't load somewhat quickly, I move on.)

To the subject matter of this initial foray, I'm wondering who you think will capture the regular season title in the Big Ten. I've given you the four front-runners and the remainder of the field. The poll will close Sunday night at 11:59pm. Although, I'll concede that if you wait until Sunday night to vote, you'll probably have a better idea who is the favorite.

Regardless of when you vote, I do encourage you to participate. If all goes well, expect more polls in the future.

Construction Zone

Yes, you are in the right place. I've felt like the blog needed a new coat of paint, so I've been tinkering with some new templates today.

Is this the final look? Perhaps. Perhaps, not. If you show up and the blog looks entirely different, then you'll know I'm not quite satisfied with its current design.

Where Are The Posts?

I've been having ISP problems for about 36 hours. It's working now, but it's rather late and my ability to think and type is more limited than usual. Technically problems aside, and presuming I'm not removing snow from my neighborhood all day, I'll try and get back to cranking out some material later on this morning.

Connected Again

Technology can be a wonderful thing. When it's working properly. Unfortunately, my high speed internet connection hasn't been either high speed or connected for several days. If you were curious as to why I haven't commented on any of the midweek games or why I have yet to respond to your email inquiry, now you know.

Come to think of it, there's no guarantee that this post will appear. I'll attempt to type more quickly in hopes of make the maximum use of this window of opportunity. (Noting, of course, that the spelling errors will increase proportionately to my typing speed.)

Let's review midweek action. Northwestern and Minnesota lost. Michigan won.

West Virginia dropped Northwestern on Monday, 10-5. Kenneth Avila and Jake Goebbert were your stars. Avila went 4 for 5. Goebbert cracked his first homer of the season. Austin Markel hit two homers for WVU.

I should point out that I received an email suggesting I failed to select NU's Avila for the All-Weekend team. A case could be made, as the Wildcats' DH was 4 for 6, scored twice, walked twice, stole a base and got an HBP. I was told he played some secondbase this past weekend, as well, and that he should be given the nod at that spot.

It's a fair assessment. It seems a bit tardy to add him now (thank you, Mr. Internet Service Provider), but I should point out that Avila is off to a very strong 8 for 11 start.

Michigan came from behind (again) and beat North Florida. The final was 9-8. Kevin Cislo's three-run RBI single was the big hit. Chris Berset and Nate McLouth both went yard for the Wolverines who improved to 5-0. Mike Wilson, the third of five Michigan hurlers, picked up his first win of the year. Tyler Burgoon's early season dominance continued with 2.1 innings of one-hit, one-walk baseball. Burgoon earned his first save.

The Gophers fell to Hawai'i on Thursday evening, 6-2. Matt Nohelty got two more hits extending his personal hit streak to twenty games dating back to last season. Michael Kvasnicka, Derek McCallum and Nick O'Shea also had a pair of hits for The U. Vinnie Catricala had three RBI for the Rainbow Warriors. (They still are the Rainbow Warriors, aren't they?)

While we are on the subject of Minnesota baseball, the Gophers are hosting the Dairy Queen Classic this weekend. It will be the 25th edition of the tournament and Minnesota's athletic department is running an election for the 25th Anniversary All-DQ Team.

Look at the list of players that have participated in this event. It features some of the better college baseball players in recent history. You could almost substitute the DQ Anniversary ballot for a College Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.

I'm not sure what the future of the Dairy Queen Classic is, as the Metrodome's future looks bleak, but it has provided an outlet from some of the best teams and players in college baseball to appear north of the Mason-Dixon line. (Before Memorial Day, no less.) I hate domes as much as the next traditionalist, but there's no denying its benefit to the Gophers' program.

There's more to share, but I'm going to hit the "Publish" button and see what happens. If there's success, expect more posts later today. Strike that. The internet's been way too squirrely to expect anything. We will both hope for more later.

Yes, The Previews Are Coming

Amongst other things, I am in the process of working on previews for all ten programs. I hope to begin posting them this weekend. They are going to be released in alphabetical order. My desire is to have them all up by February 22 -- Opening Day.

Error On The Blogger

I received an email from Jeff Wuerth, the SID at The Ohio State University. Jeff points out that I made two mistakes. First, Buckeyes pitcher Jake Hale did not allow an earned run during his complete game start over on Saturday. On the All-Weekend Team, I indicate Jake yielded one earned run. Not so.

My second kicked ball of inning was saying that Hale " has spent most of the season as the Buckeyes closer ". Apparently, Mr. Hale never started a game this season. That was his role in 2006, but in '07 its been nothing but the bullpen prior to Saturday.

I made the changes to both posts, although I'm leaving my mistake regarding Hale's move from the 'pen in place with a note at the bottom of last Saturday's post referencing my mistake. For those scoring at home, that's two errors on the play. Charge them both to me. (And to think I was an all-glove, no-hit kind of player. Shameful.)

I make a slightly bigger stink about this in the hope that it will accomplish a number of things. First, I hope everyone in Columbus forgives me, particularly Jake Hale. Second, I want you to know when I'm flat wrong. I have no qualms about sharing my mistakes. It probably helps keep my ego in check. Third, I want you to know that you can contact me if you note an error. I've had to correct three or four things over the course of the season all of which came about as a result of reader email.

In all honesty, I never thought the mistakes would be quite so fruitful. Because of my errors, I realize that people actually read this weblog, which has been heartwarming. It has also been rewarding to interact with those of you who take time to read Big Ten Hardball. Of course, it's also added a degree of stress, as there is a bit more pressure in writing when you know others are checking your work. Nonetheless, I appreciate every correction sent my way.

The NCBWA And Me

You might be wondering what's with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association logo in the sidebar? Well, last year I submitted my application to join the NCBWA. While I've yet to receive instructions on the club's secret handshake, my decoder ring or even my membership card, I have been assured that I am in. (The guy who cashes the checks say so and that's good enough for me.)

Now, what does this mean? Well, it means I get to vote on stuff. Not in the weekly poll, but other things of varying degrees of importance -- the Dick Howser Trophy (Player of the Year), Regional Players of the Year and All-America Teams. So, if you need to find a voter to unload swag on, submit tons of PR to or need to buy a vote, look no further. I'm your man. (Of course, I'm kidding. I was a fan of Dick Howser's and I consider the chance to vote on an award bearing his name to be an honor. I intend to take all my voting responsibilities seriously.)

I'm sure this new found association with the NCBWA will lead to fame, fortune and, perhaps, if I play my cards just right, the media buffet at the Big Ten Tournament. That or I'll just get to vote. Either way, it looked like an interesting opportunity, one that might even help the blog grow, so I signed on the dotted line.

Year Three, Four Days Late

My third year of blogging about college baseball and the Big Ten's entries, in particular, started rather silently this past Tuesday evening. Not that I'm above patting myself on the back, as this post clearly affirms, no, it's because since Tuesday I've been battling a computer virus.

I had been noticing the old PC had some squirrely behavoir last weekend only to find myself faced with an outright attack by Tuesday. So, my timely anniversary post was left aside in favor of downloading anti-spyware software and hoping to remove the malware in question.

As irritating as it was, I'm thankful that it wasn't any worse. With the help of the installed spyware, the virus and it's attached adware, spyware, malware, silverware, evening wear or whatever-other-ware all seem to be history and I can move my internet baseball diary forward.

With this, hopefully, all in the rearview mirror, allow me to welcome to year three of Big Ten Hardball.

Happy New Year

From a Big Ten Hardball perspective, I almost hate to see 2006 end. This year has been remarkable for myself and this blog. In almost every way imaginable, BTH has exceeded my expectations in '06.

I attended more games than ever before, including every contest of the Big Ten Tournament. Although, I nearly had to go into rehab for baseball addiction afterwards. It took weeks to adjust to not having games to watch before lunch. Needless to say, I crashed pretty hard when the conference tournament concluded. Going cold turkey was difficult, but I'm much better now.

For the first time, I promoted the blog some in '06. The results have been measurable. More on that in a minute. This year, I also found more college baseball related sites to link to and received more links from others than ever before. That's not only good for Big Ten Hardball, but it's good to see more information about college baseball available.

In 2006, I got to meet -- either in person or via email -- many people associated with the game. I've crossed paths with sports information directors, radio broadcasters, writers, booster club members, parents and fans. I've been very impressed and rather humbled with the courtesy those I've come in contact with have exhibited. It appears college baseball fans tend to embrace their fellow college baseball fans. Birds of a feather, I guess.

In particular, the people around Big Ten baseball programs have been very gracious to me. They have shared insights on their team, the game and the occassional darn funny story that I cannot repeat. While a handful have been regular readers for nearly two years, the majority of these folks have stumbled upon Big Ten Hardball in just the last 365 days.

Which leads me to, perhaps, the most surprising fact of 2006 -- the number of visitors to BTH. In May, propelled by the conference tournament, BTH climbed above the 1,000 visitor mark for the month. While that's a rather small figure in comparison to blogging's big boys, for a lightly promoted blog covering a non-revenue college sport in a region of the country that supposedly doesn't care about it, 1,000 hits in a month caught me completely off-guard.

While the hit total did diminish in the summer months, September saw BTH have its second highest traffic volume. Even more astounding, is that the hit total has increased in each month since. Increased traffic to a Big Ten baseball blog in the middle of football season? I never would have envisioned that. I doubt all those who dismiss college baseball, especially college baseball in the snowbelt, would have guessed that, either.

More hits than I ever dreamed of, meeting people I never thought I would meet, going to more games than ever before, posting more than I ever thought I would, is it any wonder I hesitate to relinquish 2006 just yet? However, I am encouraged about what lies ahead for BTH. I'm hoping to build on what occurred in 2006 and, hopefully, make Big Ten Hardball better in the new year.

I thank each you for making 2006 such an unexpected success. Here's hoping you visit often in 2007 and the Big Ten gets at least two teams in the NCAA Tournament. Happy New Year!

My Apologies

I accidentally posted some general sports stuff here instead of at my other blog, Beyond Boxscores. Apparently, I've spent so much time here, I can't imagine being anywhere else. My apologies for boring you with my Tigers rant and my assumption about MSU coach John L. Smith's fate in East Lansing.

Technical Difficulities

I'm in the process of making the switch to the updated version of Blogger. This has lead to a number of technical issues--things like this site not appearing. My apologies to all, especially both of my loyal readers and those making their initial visit courtesy of Skilton's Baseball Links.

I expect these matters to arise until the Blogger folks get a handle on the migration process and work out all the associated bugs. Thanks for stopping in and being patient.

What's In A Name?

After reading this, I'm pondering changing the name of the blog.