2018 Gopher Baseball

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The Weekend Ahead in B1G

Current B1G Tournament Pairings. ...

Bracket 1
#1 Minnesota (14-3) vs. #8 Michigan State (8-9)
#4 Ohio State (11-7) vs. #5 Illinois (11-7)

Bracket 2
#2 Michigan (14-3) vs. #7 Indiana (9-8)
#3 Purdue (13-4) vs. #6 Iowa (9-7)

Friday
Illinois @ Michigan, 2
Iowa @ Northwestern, 3:30
Rutgers @ Maryland, 5:30
Purdue @ Ohio State, 5:35
Michigan State @ Minnesota, 6:30
Indiana @ Nebraska, 6:35

Saturday
Illinois @ Michigan, 1
Iowa @ Northwestern, 1
Rutgers @ Maryland, 1
Michigan State @ Minnesota, 2
Purdue @ Ohio State, 2:05
Indiana @ Nebraska, 2:05

Sunday
Illinois @ Michigan, 11 (BTN)
Indiana @ Nebraska, 11:05
Rutgers @ Maryland, 12
Purdue @ Ohio State, 12:05
Michigan State @ Minnesota, 1
Iowa @ Northwestern, 2 (BTN)

Seeding Scenarios
#1 Minnesota (14-3) -- has head to head tiebreaker over Purdue
#2 Michigan (14-3)
#3 Purdue (13-4)
#4 Ohio State (11-7) -- has head to head tiebreakers over Illinois, Indiana & Nebraska
#5 Illinois (11-7)
#6 Iowa (9-7) -- has head to head tiebreakers over Illinois & Ohio State
#7 Indiana (9-8) -- has head to head tiebreaker over Illinois
#8 Michigan State (8-9) -- has head to head tiebreaker over Nebraska
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#9 Rutgers (7-11) -- has head to head tiebreakers over Michigan State & Nebraska
#10 Nebraska (6-10) -- has head to head tiebreaker over Maryland
#11 Maryland (6-11) -- has head to head tiebreaker over Michigan State

Weekend Projections
Minnesota sweeps Michigan State
Michigan takes 2 of 3 from Illinois
Ohio State takes 2 of 3 from Purdue
Iowa takes 2 of 3 from Northwestern
Indiana takes 2 of 3 from Nebraska
Maryland takes 2 of 3 from Rutgers
 

https://d1baseball.com/projections/projected-field-64-may-9/

Latest NCAA projections have the Gophers as a 1 seed hosting a regional of Texas, Louisville and Kent State...and going to Arkansas in a presumed Super-Regional.

Last 5 out: Purdue & Illinois

Minnesota - 1
Ohio State - 2
Indiana - 3
Michigan - 3
Iowa - 3

The Big Ten tournament will have HUGE NCAA bubble implications.
 

Third pitcher for the weekend

Anderson himself has even said it's crucial to find a solid third starter in the pitching rotation. He seems to be pretty concerned about it. Granted there have been a lot of starters besides the top two starters but most of them have struggled this year in the starting roll.

Putting Schulze and Meyer in there is too risky. You don't do it during the season or the Big Ten tournament, only in Regions if you need too.

Every win is so important right now in trying to get a one seed, I think Anderson still needs to try to figure out a solution.

Maybe it's time to put Lackney in again, since he's done a lot better lately. Maybe it's time to think outside the box and try Fasching or Manke. Anderson needs to try to figure out a solution. I hope he does.
 

MSU offense is anemic

Michigan State has trouble scoring runs, so it's not likely to matter who the Gophers put on the mound Sunday. The only way MSU is getting a win this weekend is if one of their starters throws a gem (Game 1 starter Ethan Landon the only one that appears capable), a tall task vs. the Gophers' potent lineup. Will be surprised if Spartans score more than 3 runs in any of the 3 games.
 

Last comment on this topic (third pitcher)

I'm sure people are saying thank God.

Anderson has admitted it's crucial for him to find a consistent third starter. Someone you can rely on week in and week out. Yes, some series you can get by having a struggling third starter. Yes, in the NCAA tourney you can have a relief pitcher start. I'm talking about it in general not in certain series. We have explored a lot of options this year with many different pitchers, but still can't find an answer for our third starting pitcher.

The answer may be to piece things together for the rest of the season. Obviously, the best answer would be to find someone who will be a solid pitcher the next 7 weeks. I hope we find someone, but time will only tell.
 


Michigan down early

Illinois with a 5-spot in 2nd inning to go up 5-1 over Wolverines.
 


Bad loss to a bad team. Gophers didn't execute well in any area tonight. Started in the 1st inning at the plate you got a Luke Pettersen walk, a stolen base, a Ben Mezzenga RBI single and then stole 2nd and the heart of your order couldn't execute. Terrin Vavra struck out. After Mezzenga stole 3rd Eli Wilson struck out and then Toby Hanson struck out to end the inning. It happened throughout the game and showed again to end the game as Terrin Vavra had a leadoff single, Eli Wilson didn't get a bunt down and then struck out, and Toby Hanson grounded into a double play. The areas the Gophers have been so good in offensively all year they just weren't tonight. Michigan State really didn't hit anything hard aside from the solo homerun that would end up being the game winning run in the 6th inning. Michigan State did all the rest of their damage in the 4th getting 5 runs on 6 hits. A chopper off the plate and a couple of bloopers were what got them started and then Reggie Meyer didn't execute on a couple of 2 strike pitches and the Spartans had the momentum with them. Gophers struck out way too much tonight 12 times. Big part of it was a terrible strike zone from the home plate ump when the Gophers were at the plate and while I'm glad nobody was thrown out for the Gophers I'm a little surprised as there was plenty to be upset with. In the 7th inning Eli Wilson and Toby Hanson both struck out looking to start the inning and neither was close to a strike Wilson's should've been a leadoff walk to start the inning. Cole McDevitt and Micah Coffey followed that up with singles and a balk on the Michigan State pitcher gave the Gophers a 2nd and 3rd opportunity with 2 outs. Michigan State's lefty reliever had been balking since he came in the game but the umps let it go and let it go until finally calling it once in his 3rd inning of work. The inning ended on another called strike out that wasn't a strike on Jordan Kozicky which would've been ball 4. This was the point where 14 was really letting the ump have it and I thought he may get tossed. The home plate ump also screwed up the balk call and that pitch would've been another ball in Kozicky's at bat but he said he called the balk before the pitch which isn't right when the balk is for the pitcher not coming to a set. Gophers need to bounce back and take out some frustration tomorrow and just execute better right from pitch 1 tomorrow.
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Ugly game but the Gophers rebound with a win. Gophers had a chance to get on the board early as Eli Wilson singled to center and Luke Pettersen tried to score from 2nd but was thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the 1st. The first 2 runners would reach in the bottom of the 2nd as well and the Gopher offense disappeared as the next 14 batters were retired before Terrin Vavra broke that streak with a triple in the bottom of the 6th and Eli Wilson drove him in as the shortstop committed a error on a groundball. Patrick Fredrickson didn't have his best stuff but got 4 scoreless innings scattering a few hits before Michigan State got to him in the 5th. A leadoff homerun started the inning and after a flyout a couple groundballs just snuck through the infield, a fielders choice followed to set up 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. Fredrickson got up in the count 1-2 before hitting the batter with a pitch and the next batter had 2 strikes on him before hitting a floater just out of the reach of Luke Pettersen and the ball bounced past a charging Jordan Kozicky to allow the bases to be cleared and give Michigan State a 4-0 lead. Gophers finally broke through with a 8 run 7th innings started by a Cole McDevitt solo homerun. Toby Hanson followed with a bunt single, Riley Smith pinch hit and just missed a 2 run homerun settling instead for a flyout to left center that moved Hanson to 3rd, Alex Boxwell had a RBI single and stole 2nd, Luke Pettersen had a RBI single and stole 2nd, Ben Mezzenga walked, Terrin Vavra had a sac fly, Eli Wilson had a infield single(I thought it should've been an error) and advanced to 2nd on a throwing error, Micah Coffey RBI infield single, Cole McDevitt RBI single, Toby Hanson walk, Riley Smith RBI single, before a Alex Boxwell groundout finally ended the inning. Michigan State would get 1 more run on a solo homerun to start the 8th but that would be all. Patrick Fredrickson got the no-decision going 5 innings allowing 4 runs(3 earned) on 8 hits hitting 1 batter and striking out 3. Jackson Rose got the win in an extended outing going 4 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. At the plate Cole McDevitt had 2 hits including the solo homerun scored 2 runs and drove in 2 as well. Riley Smith and Micah Coffey also each had a hit and drove in 2 runs.
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Gophers didn't get much offense today but most of that was luck. Whole lot of hard hit at'em balls from the Gopher bats. Jake Stevenson got the start after a few good relief outings the last few weeks and pitched well getting the win. Cruised through the first 4 innings allowing just a bunt single and hitting 1 batter. Got into a little trouble in the 5th walking 2 batters but got a groundout with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the threat. Had some bad luck in the 6th as after a groundout started things Michigan State got a high chopper off home plate that the Gophers had to just eat. After a pop up to 3rd the Spartans got a hard hit single and a seeing eye single to end Stevenson's day. Max Meyer came in and got the final out of the 6th with a strikeout. Meyer got the save finishing the final 3 innings with just 1 runner reaching on an error. Stevenson went 5.2 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits 2 walks 1 hit batter and 1 strikeout. Stevenson looked much more calm and confident than he had in previous starts. Meyer went 3.1 innings and struck out 5. 2 hit days for Luke Pettersen and Eli Wilson. Gophers will head on the road for the final week of the regular season starting with a battle Tuesday at St. John's and I believe that game is on ESPN3.
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Purdue lost so Michigan one game back and Purdue, two games back. Michigan is at Purdue next week. Just don't want anyone sweeping that series. He are at Rutgers. Just sweepem and be done with it. Could be a great spring. Women win softball tourney and track championships. Men are in great shape to win baseball.
 

dlw4gophers said:
Purdue lost so Michigan one game back and Purdue, two games back. Michigan is at Purdue next week. Just don't want anyone sweeping that series. He are at Rutgers. Just sweepem and be done with it. Could be a great spring. Women win softball tourney and track championships. Men are in great shape to win baseball.
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Don't forget Tennis which is rocking and rolling at the NCAAs.
 

per Shama:

U in Position to Win Big Ten Title

John Anderson turns 63 on Wednesday, and his Golden Gophers can give him a nice birthday present by winning the Big Ten title next weekend.

Minnesota won two of three games from Michigan State the last three days including Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Spartans. The wins, part of the Gophers’ last regularly scheduled homestand of the year, moved Minnesota to a conference best 16-4 record.

The Gophers are at 7-14 Rutgers starting on Thursday for a three-game series that ends their league regular season schedule. Second place Michigan, 15-5, has three games on the same days at third place Purdue, 14-6.

Before the weekend’s series against the Spartans Anderson had seen enough of his team to offer this compliment: “It’s probably as well rounded—pitching, hitting and defense—as…any of the teams that I’ve had. We’ll see how they finish up.”

This isn’t a team of superstars like long ago when the Gophers boasted a Paul Giel, Paul Molitor or Dave Winfield. There are pro prospects but this team is defined by balance and competitiveness. Saturday Minnesota scored eight runs in the seventh inning for a comeback win over the Spartans.

The Gophers also displayed their fight a week ago today when they completed a series sweep of early season Big Ten title favorite Indiana at Siebert Field. Minnesota trailed the Hoosiers 6-3 in the eighth inning but rallied to win 7-6 in 10 innings. The Gophers hit three home runs in the eighth to ignite the comeback.

In that game Minnesota also got a first inning home run from shortstop Terrin Vavra, the son of former Twins coach Joe Vavra. “He’s probably the best player in the league,” Anderson said of his junior leader.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!
 



dlw4gophers said:
Purdue lost so Michigan one game back and Purdue, two games back. Michigan is at Purdue next week. Just don't want anyone sweeping that series. We are at Rutgers. Just sweepem and be done with it. Could be a great spring. Women win softball tourney and track championships. Men are in great shape to win baseball.
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So if we win at least one game this weekend and Purdue wins at least one game, does that give us a lock on the championship?
 


Gophers fall to 24 in the RPI standings. They moved up in most of polls with 11 being the best ranking.
 

B1G Final Weekend

Thursday
Minnesota @ Rutgers, 12
Ohio State @ Michigan State, 3:05 (BTN)
Michigan @ Purdue, 5
Nebraska @ Illinois, 6
Maryland @ Indiana, 6:05
Penn State @ Iowa, 6:05

Friday
Minnesota @ Rutgers, 12
Ohio State @ Michigan State, 3:05 (BTN)
Maryland @ Indiana, 5:05
Michigan @ Purdue, 6 (BTN)
Nebraska @ Illinois, 6
Penn State @ Iowa, 6:05

Saturday
Minnesota @ Rutgers, 11
Michigan @ Purdue, 12 (BTN)
Ohio State @ Michigan State, 12:05
Maryland @ Indiana, 1:05
Nebraska @ Illinois, 3 (BTN)
Penn State @ Iowa, 6:30 (ESPNU)

Current B1G Tournament Seedings
#1 Minnesota (16-4)
#2 Michigan (15-5)
#3 Purdue (14-6)
#4 Ohio State (13-8)
#5 Illinois (13-8)
#6 Indiana (11-9)
#7 Iowa (10-9)
#8 Maryland (9-11)

In the Hunt
#9 Michigan State (9-11)
#10 Nebraska (7-12)

Projection of B1G Tournament Seedings
1 Minnesota (19-4)
2 Purdue (16-7) -- wins head to head tiebreaker vs. Michigan
3 Michigan (16-7)
4 Ohio State (15-9) -- wins head to head tiebreaker vs. Illinois
5 Illinois (15-9)
6 Iowa (13-9)
7 Indiana (13-10)
8 Maryland (10-13) -- wins head to head tiebreaker vs. Michigan State

Just Missed
9 Michigan State (10-13)
 

Livingat45north said:
So if we win at least one game this weekend and Purdue wins at least one game, does that give us a lock on the championship?
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The tie breaker gets a little confusing. Michigan and Minnesota didn't play, so it goes to the next tiebreaker. I could only find the 2012 tiebreaker rules. That tiebreaker was the record against teams in the top 6. We'd win that, but I assume that with the expansion of the tournament to 8 teams, it's been expanded to the top 8 teams.

If that's the case, we we'd need help. We'd want Maryland to get 8th place rather than Michigan State. If Maryland was 8th, we'd have a record vs. the top 8 of 7-2, and Michigan would also have a record of 7-2. It would then go on to the next tiebreaker, which is record vs common Big Ten opponents. We'd win that 13-2 vs 12-4. If Michigan State is in 8th, our record vs. the top 8 would be 9-3 vs Michigan's 8-2.

Does anyone have the current tiebreaker rules?
 

St. John's sitting at 32 in the RPI...how impactful is this win?

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pharmacygopher said:
St. John's sitting at 32 in the RPI...how impactful is this win?

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The last I saw St. John's had two on and one out in the ninth, with a run across. I'd be ticked if I were them.
 

Nice midweek win even if it ended in a little bit of a weird way. Game was called with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th and St. Johns had the tying run at the plate. St. Johns got on the board first in the bottom of the 1st taking advantage of a walk a stolen base and errant throw allowed the runner to get to 3rd and a sac fly allowed the runner to score. Not much offense early although the Gophers were hitting a lot of balls hard including 4-5 warning track fly balls. That changed in the 3rd when Luke Pettersen gave the Gophers their first hit with a 2 out single and Ben Mezzenga drew a walk. Terrin Vavra jumped on a first pitch fastball and hit a laser over the left field fence for a 3 run homer. Terrin Vavra struck again in the 6th taking a hanging breaking ball over the right field fence. Gophers put together a 4 run 8th using some speed getting a bunt singled and an infield hit and stealing 3 bases in the inning. Gophers also had a couple more hard hit singles before the inning finally ended. St. Johns answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning though taking advantage of a couple walks and Gopher pitchers struggling to get ahead in the count in the 8th. St. Johns got a leadoff homerun in the 9th followed by a walk a strikeout and a single before the thunderstorm arrived. I believe none of the 9th innings stats count officially. Josh Culliver got the start for the Gophers and went 2.2 innings and allowed 1 unearned run on 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. Nick Lackney got the win going 3.1 innings allowing just 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 3. Sam Thoresen went 1+ inning allowing 2 runs on 2 hits while walking 2. Both of the runs charged to him came after the long top of the 8th as he walked a batter and gave up a single before exiting the game. Jeff Fasching came on next going 0.2 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit and walking 1. Fred Manke got the final out of the 8th getting a groundout. At the plate Terrin Vavra led the way going 2-3 with 2 homeruns 5 RBIs and 2 runs scored the one time he was retired was an absolute scorching line drive right at the 2nd baseman. Gophers had a lot of hard hit balls just didn't have much luck. Just missed another 5-6 homeruns today as the ball was caught on the warning track. Gophers defense also played really well the play that sticks out the most is Riley Smith catching a ball to end the 6th inning. He caught it on the run just on the right field warning track and running into the wall but he held on through the collision. There were 2 runners on and both probably would've been able to score.
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pharmacygopher said:
St. John's sitting at 32 in the RPI...how impactful is this win?

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40 RPI points. Live RPI has the Gophers at 18 right now.
 

Goldy Gopher said:
40 RPI points. Live RPI has the Gophers at 18 right now.
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When it comes to regional seeding,

does the committee take into account conference tournaments (in terms of final RPI, wins vs RPI top X, etc)?
do we need to sweep Rutgers to have a chance to host a regional?
 

pharmacygopher said:
When it comes to regional seeding,

does the committee take into account conference tournaments (in terms of final RPI, wins vs RPI top X, etc)?
do we need to sweep Rutgers to have a chance to host a regional?
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Yes the committee takes into account conference tournaments. A sweep of Rutgers would certainly be helpful. Rutgers is 160s in the RPI so even wins are likely gonna move you down a little in the RPI.
 


I don't really get what Doogie is implying. Who is unwilling to host a regional. Has anyone ever turned one down before?
 

WoodburyTim said:
I don't really get what Doogie is implying. Who is unwilling to host a regional. Has anyone ever turned one down before?
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He's implying the bureaucracy in the U's athletic department may be unwilling to commit to the work necessary to host. I would find that shocking if true. Since Doogie specializes in vague and usually inaccurate comments, I'm not losing any sleep over this. I think baseball works a little harder to throw bones to the north than softball, so hosting is more possible than softball, but three games against Rutgers to close the season won't help. It would be great if they could host, though.
 

Gophers Team Sheet

Courtesy of Warren Nolan.

I think this resume is plenty strong enough to host a regional, especially considering NCAA needs some Midwest/Northern hosts. Like the record vs. RPI top 50 (11-3), like the road/neutral record (18-6), and like the fact Gophers have won every conference series. And don't forget, the Big 10 (unlike basketball this past season) is having a historically great season. Those are all things the Selection Committee will value.

Also worth noting, the Gophers currently have an 8-4 record vs. teams currently projected into the Field of 64 by D1Baseball.com: 3-0 vs. Indiana (home), 3-1 vs. Saint John's (1 win on road), 2-1 vs. Ohio State (road), and 0-1 vs. Washington and UCLA (both at U.S. Bank Stadium). For good measure, the Gophers are 7-2 vs. teams D1Baseball has listed among its "first 5 out" of the NCAA Tournament: 2-0 vs. Purdue (road), 1-0 vs. Arizona (U.S. Bank Stadium), and 2-1 vs. Iowa (home) and TCU (road). All those quality road wins ARE LIKE GOLD.

Only real concern is a pretty minor one. ... they're under .500 record (5-6) vs. teams ranked 51-100 in the RPI.

In my opinion, if Gophers win Big 10 regular season title outright and follow with a strong showing (2-3 "good" wins) in a Big 10 Tournament offering multiple opportunities for more quality wins (all except for #8 seed Maryland/MSU), they'll be a regional host. That is, unless the U is stupid enough to turn it down because they're too lazy or uncommitted to do it right.

http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2018/team-sheet?team=Minnesota
 

When was the last time the Gophers had a legitimate shot to host a regional, and when was the last time they actually did?

IIRC the last time they were in contention for one Siebert Field actually was a rat's nest, and there was some chatter about hosting over at Midway Stadium instead.

Doogie is full of it.
 

GopherRock said:
When was the last time the Gophers had a legitimate shot to host a regional, and when was the last time they actually did?

IIRC the last time they were in contention for one Siebert Field actually was a rat's nest, and there was some chatter about hosting over at Midway Stadium instead.

Doogie is full of it.
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I can understand why the NCAA would be hesitant to have the Gophers host. The area around Siebert Field is a sh*thole, and Dinkytown parking is a mess.
 

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