College Baseball Today Opens Shop

Stitched Ball Nation, rejoice!

Yes, boys and girls, your friend and mine, Eric Sorenson, is back. Big E is cranking out fresh college baseball opinions at the shiny new site called collegebaseballtoday.com. Let's try that name over one more time, but this time do it in your best in-studio host voice. (I'm leaning towards Brent Musburger, circa 1978, but that just reveals my age. You choose whatever voice works for you.)

"Welcome to College.........Baseball........TODAY!".

That makes it more impressive, doesn't it?

Eric may not have been in his new home long, but the lad's been busy. The item that might intrigue most of you is his Big Ten Preview. Sorenson provides some opinions that I might not concur with, so it's a good idea to check out his take on the conference. (The odds are he's right and I'm wrong. After all, he's a professional. I'm just a guy with internet access.)

Needless to say, college baseball gets a boost with Sorenson's new website. Of course, I'll be providing a sidebar link to his new digs, as well.

Welcome back, Eric.

New Illini Blog

I'm happy to report the addition of a new college baseball blog. The Illinois Baseball Report is the name of the blog run by our friend Tom, The Baseball Zealot. As the name implies, Tom's moving all his Blue and Orange baseball thoughts to the new site. Obviously, I encourage everyone to stop in at IBR.

New Blogs!

I am happy to report the addition of two new Big Ten specific college baseball blogs. The first is The Buckeye Nine. The new Ohio State baseball blog is run by friend of BTH, Todd Lamb. Todd's worked for some pretty good college baseball programs -- Rice, Clemson and Ohio State. He knows this sport as well as anybody.

The second newbie is Happy Valley Hardball. Larry Farr is running this blog about Penn State baseball. I don't know Mr. Farr, but he's already keeping track of the RPI for the entire conference. It's quality work.

I'm very excited about both these efforts. It's great to have two more college baseball blogs, but it's even better to have two more representing hardball here in the frozen north. Not surprisingly, both The Buckeye Nine and Happy Valley Hardball will be added to the sidebar here. Let me encourage you to visit both.

A Gophers Preview

This frozen morning I've come across a Minnesota preview. This look at the '08 Gophers comes courtesy of Jon Marthaler of the blog The National Anthem Before A Cubs Game (or TNABACG, for short). Mr. Marthaler does such a solid job of summarizing the upcoming season that I may just put a link up to this post again when I present my Gophers' preview next month.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must point out that the TNABACG post does link back here and says something nice about BTH. I'd call it self-serving except you are already here, aren't you? Besides, I can use all the local bloggers covering Big Ten teams I can get. You don't just want to read my thoughts.

Regardless, as TNABACG does spend time covering Minnesota baseball, I'm going to toss the blog onto the sidebar here. Where exactly, I'm not sure. Nor am I sure if I will use the full name or the acronym. Look for the addition within the next several days and go read his preview.

Stricklin Speaks To CBB

Kent State head coach Scott Stricklin did a Q & A with the College Baseball Blog. Congrats to CBB for landing the interview. BTH readers should go check out what Coach Stricklin thinks of the upcoming MAC season and his team.

New Blog On The Block

Baseball America has begun it's very own college baseball blog. Looks like a daily read to me.

Tip Of The Cap And Big XII Baseball Links

In checking the blog's Sitemeter data, I found that Corn Nation referenced a post I made about the use of wood bats at the college level. I'm happy too see Ryan at Corn Nation has stopped by here and thank him for linking folks back here. As Corn Nation covers all things 'Hukers, including their fine baseball program, I'll add them to my sidebar shortly.

In reading the responses to Ryan's entry, we find that Kansas fans follow college baseball, as well. Ok, at least the Kansas supporter who runs Rock Chalk Talk does. JQ provides us with a multi-part review entitled College Baseball 101. It includes the following:

The Season And The Tournaments
Quality Of Play And The Conferences
College Baseball vs. Pro Baseball
Going Pro
A Kansas Baseball Preview

I encourage all, especially those new to college baseball, to read JQ's efforts. As the "College Baseball 101" title implies, he provides a solid introduction to the sport. It's safe to assume that anyone who spends this much time writing about college baseball merits a link in the Big Ten Hardball sidebar, too. You should see links to both Big XII flavored blogs on the BTH blogroll soon. Don't wait, though. Go check out both today.

New Blog, New Photos

I've stumbled upon this blog about Rice baseball. Take a look at some of the photos of the super regional between the Owls and Oklahoma.