The Tigers did what they needed to do in College Park this weekend by taking 2 of 3 from the Terrapins. A sweep would have been nice, but the Tigers are now back to .500 in the ACC with a 6-6 record. The starting pitching was again outstanding. D.J. Mitchell set the tone on Friday night holding the Terps scoreless through the first 8 innings, but he did make the 9th interesting. With runners at first ands second and nobody out, Nick Jowers laid a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. D.J. pounced on it, tried to bare hand it, fumbled it, then got it back under control and promptly threw it over Mike Freeman's head down the right field line. AJ Casario and Gerry Spessard both then appeared to score, with Spessard's run being the tying run, but Mitchell's throw had disappeared over by a bench along the right field wall. From where I was sitting it appeared the ball had lodged between the padding, but what really happened you could try one million times and never duplicate. The ball had actually gone up the sleeve of a warm-up jacket left by a Maryland player hanging on the bench along the right field wall. After talking things over the umpires sent Spessard back to third and Jowers was standing at second and still no one was out. On comes Casey Harmon and the freshman delivered. He got Will Greenberg to ground to third and then struck out Joe Palumbo. Matt Vaughn then came on and got Steve Braun to ground out to first with the pitcher covering and the Tigers stared defeat in the eyes only to prevail 2-1.
Saturday the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 3 innings only to see Maryland score 5 unanswered runs for a 5-3 win. Sundays game once again came down to late inning heroics. Stan Widmann was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore throwing shoulder, but came on in the 8th in his first ever pinch hitting appearance and delivered a sacrifice fly to right scoring Ben Paulsen from third for a 3-2 Clemson lead. The Tigers tacked on three more runs in the ninth for a 6-2 win. Ryan Hinson went seven strong innings giving up only two runs on six hits while striking out eight. Casey Harman posted a one, two, three eighth and Matt Vaughn pitched a one, two, three ninth.
Notes:
Stan Widmann's arm will be looked at today, but it is not expected to be anything serious. There is the possibility he could miss Tuesday game at Georgia.
Mike Freeman continues to impress at the plate. He hit lead off in both Saturday and Sunday's game reaching base four times and laying down a sacrifice bunt.
Addison Johnson took batting practice on Sunday for the first time in a couple of weeks. He said he felt good after the game. Look for him to take BP prior to the games on Tuesday and Wednesday with Georgia. He has a chance to play in the Miami series if things go well this week.
After the games this week against Georgia, the Tigers will play eight of nine against top ten competition. Three against Miami, three against North Carolina, and two against South Carolina. Four of the games will be at home and four will be on the road. When we get to April 16 we will know a little more about the Tigers.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
3-2 and 2-0
The Tigers got great pitching Saturday and Sunday. DJ Mitchell went seven solid innings in Saturday's game before turning things over to Matt Vaughn. Matt looked like the closer Jack Leggett thought he could by throwing two shutout innings. No relief was needed on Sunday as red-shirt freshman Graham Stoneburner was something special throwing a two hit shutout. This was the second impressive start in a row for Graham. Against Boston College he went six innings allowing just three hits. The outing was impressive enough for Coach Leggett to alter the rotation next weekend at Maryland. DJ Mitchell will go on Friday, Stoneburner on Saturday and Ryan Hinson on Sunday. Hinson has been giving the Tigers a good five or six innings, but has fallen victim to one bad inning. He has got number one stuff, he just has to believe in himself to get the job done.
Other notes:
Stan Widmann missed Sunday's game with a sore neck. In Saturday's game, Stan was his most physically active this season. Several times he went back into first base diving and on his double down the left field line he went into second base head first. It was on this play that he whipped his head a bit and seemed to have caused the stiff neck. I don't think Stan will miss any of the games coming up, but coming off what he has been through over the last year we will all just have to wait and see.
Mike Freeman continues to make an impression with both his bat and glove. He delivered a single in the seventh on Saturday that plated the first run of the day and then made a great over the shoulder catch for the first out in the ninth. He is hitting well over .300 and has quickly blended in with his new teammates.
Chris Epps has been out of the line-up for more than a week because of a swollen knee. the staff is watching it closely. He did seem to be moving better Saturday and Sunday, but minor surgery has not been ruled out.
Other notes:
Stan Widmann missed Sunday's game with a sore neck. In Saturday's game, Stan was his most physically active this season. Several times he went back into first base diving and on his double down the left field line he went into second base head first. It was on this play that he whipped his head a bit and seemed to have caused the stiff neck. I don't think Stan will miss any of the games coming up, but coming off what he has been through over the last year we will all just have to wait and see.
Mike Freeman continues to make an impression with both his bat and glove. He delivered a single in the seventh on Saturday that plated the first run of the day and then made a great over the shoulder catch for the first out in the ninth. He is hitting well over .300 and has quickly blended in with his new teammates.
Chris Epps has been out of the line-up for more than a week because of a swollen knee. the staff is watching it closely. He did seem to be moving better Saturday and Sunday, but minor surgery has not been ruled out.
Friday, March 21, 2008
NC State 5-Clemson 4
Another tough loss for the Tigers tonight. The loss drops the Tigers to 2-5 in the ACC and there has to be a bit of concern among the Tiger faithful. Once again it was one bad inning that cost starting pitcher Ryan Hinson. After a three run homer by Ben Paulsen, followed by a solo shot by Kyle Parker, had staked Clemson to a 4-2 lead Hinson could not hold on. Ryan gave up back to back yard balls in the top of the 6th and left the game looking at a 4-4 tie. the Pack was able to push across a run in the top of the 8th for a 5-4 lead. Clemson got the lead off man aboard ion the bottom of the ninth when Stan Widmann doubled into the left field corner. Wilson Boyd tried to bunt him over to third, but couldn't get it done and wound up striking out. Doug Hogan then walked to put the tying run at second and the winning run at first. Ben Paulsen went down looking for the second out and then Kyle Parker grounded out to first to end the game.
Game two in the series will be Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7pm. D.J. Mitchell will get the start in a must win situation.
For those of you wondering when Addison Johnson will be coming back, his return has been pushed back another three weeks. An x-ray this week turned up a stress facture in his right hand to go along with the wrist injury, so Coach Leggett has decided to shut him down for the next 21 days. The hope is to get something out of Addison this season, but the possibility does exsist to reshirt him if he can't come back. This is really a shame because Addison had had a great fall and winter leading into the season.
Game two in the series will be Saturday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7pm. D.J. Mitchell will get the start in a must win situation.
For those of you wondering when Addison Johnson will be coming back, his return has been pushed back another three weeks. An x-ray this week turned up a stress facture in his right hand to go along with the wrist injury, so Coach Leggett has decided to shut him down for the next 21 days. The hope is to get something out of Addison this season, but the possibility does exsist to reshirt him if he can't come back. This is really a shame because Addison had had a great fall and winter leading into the season.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Boston College Series
It was tough weekend for the Tigers at Doug Kingsmore. Boston College used some timely hitting and miscues by the Tigers to take two of three (4-6, 6-7, 16-2) games. Going into the final contest, the Tigers had yet to put a full game together this season. In Friday's contest, Clemson was cruising along with a 3-2 lead going into the top of the seventh. Ryan Hinson was having his best outing of the year and then let a throwing error by third baseman John Hinson, allowing Ryan Akel to reach first with one out, get to him. Ryan got the next batter, Barry Butera, to fly out to right. It was then the wheels fell off. He was ahead of Matt Hamlet 1 and 2 when the Eagles decided to play hit and run. Hamlet delivered at double that scored Hamlet from first and tied the game at 3. Pitching coach Kyle Bunn made a trip to the mound to talk things over with Ryan and settle him down. The very next pitch was taken over the right field wall by Tony Sanchez and all of a sudden it was 5-3 Boston College. Kurt Hayer then came on for the Eagles and threw three innings of two hit ball in a 6-4 BC victory.
Saturday's game was basically decided on one play. The Tiger put two runs on the board in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead. Boston College put two on the board in the fourth, but still the Tigers led 3-2 going to the eighth. Eric Campbell roped a one out double to left center and Ryan Akel came on to pitch hit. He lifted a drive to left center and Wilson Boyd seemed to have tracked it down going up the terrace and seemingly making the catch just before hitting the wall, but the ball bounced off the heel of his glove for an error. Campbell scored from second and Akel ended up at second and we were tied at three. Clemson closer Matt Vaughn then came on and gave up an RBI single to Michael Belfiore for a 4-3 BC lead. In the top of the ninth, the Eagles scored three more runs against Vaughn and the Tigers were in a four run hole. To the Tigers credit they put three runs on the board in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at third when Ben Paulsen struck out to end the game. Final score in game two, Boston College 7 and Clemson 6.
Now I am not blaming any of the kids for the loses, what I am trying to do is show how just one or two plays can change a game. Having such a young club, Jack Leggett has not wanted to give his team the riot act, but prior to Sunday's game he did challenge them and the kids responded with their best effort of the season. Clemson put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the first and never looked back in a 16-2 win. Graham Stoneburner was outstanding allowing just three hits and one run over six innings. Oh by the way, he also struck out eight. The Tigers now stand 10-6 on the year, 2-4 in the ACC with a big week ahead. A very good Coastal Carolina team comes to DKS on Tuesday and then Furman, a team that has beaten Clemson each of the past two seasons, will be in town on Wednesday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature home league games with the Wolfpack of NC State.
Patience will be a virtue with this year's squad. Remember 2005 when Clemson reached the mid point of the season with a 15-13 record and then were just one game away from the College World Series?
Other notes:
The return of Addison Johnson may come against NC State. I say maybe because the ligament on the outside of his right wrist is still hurting. The staff wants to make sure the injury is completely healed before letting him take hacks at the plate. If he were to come back to quickly and then injure the wrist further, it could mean he would be lost for the season. Don't be surprised if you see him throwing in the bullpen. He pitched fairly well in the fall and has not been ruled out from seeing the mound this season.
Wilson Boyd is tearing the cover off the ball right now. He went five for six in Sunday's game with BC and is carrying a 14 game hitting streak.
Jeff Schaus is beginning to get his stroke down at the plate. Jack has been very high on the young freshman from Naples, Florida since signing with the Tigers and we are beginning to see why.
Two freshman are throwing very well out of the pen. Casey Harmon and Craig Gullickson look like they will be valuable pieces of the puzzle.
It was good to see William Bond on the hill Sunday. The red shirt junior made five appearances last season and the Tigers were 5-0 in those contests. In 2006 he had Tommy John surgery and they say it is the second season after surgery that full arm strength comes back.
Saturday's game was basically decided on one play. The Tiger put two runs on the board in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead. Boston College put two on the board in the fourth, but still the Tigers led 3-2 going to the eighth. Eric Campbell roped a one out double to left center and Ryan Akel came on to pitch hit. He lifted a drive to left center and Wilson Boyd seemed to have tracked it down going up the terrace and seemingly making the catch just before hitting the wall, but the ball bounced off the heel of his glove for an error. Campbell scored from second and Akel ended up at second and we were tied at three. Clemson closer Matt Vaughn then came on and gave up an RBI single to Michael Belfiore for a 4-3 BC lead. In the top of the ninth, the Eagles scored three more runs against Vaughn and the Tigers were in a four run hole. To the Tigers credit they put three runs on the board in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at third when Ben Paulsen struck out to end the game. Final score in game two, Boston College 7 and Clemson 6.
Now I am not blaming any of the kids for the loses, what I am trying to do is show how just one or two plays can change a game. Having such a young club, Jack Leggett has not wanted to give his team the riot act, but prior to Sunday's game he did challenge them and the kids responded with their best effort of the season. Clemson put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the first and never looked back in a 16-2 win. Graham Stoneburner was outstanding allowing just three hits and one run over six innings. Oh by the way, he also struck out eight. The Tigers now stand 10-6 on the year, 2-4 in the ACC with a big week ahead. A very good Coastal Carolina team comes to DKS on Tuesday and then Furman, a team that has beaten Clemson each of the past two seasons, will be in town on Wednesday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday feature home league games with the Wolfpack of NC State.
Patience will be a virtue with this year's squad. Remember 2005 when Clemson reached the mid point of the season with a 15-13 record and then were just one game away from the College World Series?
Other notes:
The return of Addison Johnson may come against NC State. I say maybe because the ligament on the outside of his right wrist is still hurting. The staff wants to make sure the injury is completely healed before letting him take hacks at the plate. If he were to come back to quickly and then injure the wrist further, it could mean he would be lost for the season. Don't be surprised if you see him throwing in the bullpen. He pitched fairly well in the fall and has not been ruled out from seeing the mound this season.
Wilson Boyd is tearing the cover off the ball right now. He went five for six in Sunday's game with BC and is carrying a 14 game hitting streak.
Jeff Schaus is beginning to get his stroke down at the plate. Jack has been very high on the young freshman from Naples, Florida since signing with the Tigers and we are beginning to see why.
Two freshman are throwing very well out of the pen. Casey Harmon and Craig Gullickson look like they will be valuable pieces of the puzzle.
It was good to see William Bond on the hill Sunday. The red shirt junior made five appearances last season and the Tigers were 5-0 in those contests. In 2006 he had Tommy John surgery and they say it is the second season after surgery that full arm strength comes back.
Monday, March 10, 2008
I Am Spoiled
The story in Winston-Salem this weekend was more about the weather than it was about the fact that Wake took two of three from the Tigers on the diamond. After a deluge on Friday cancelled play and force a proposed double header on Saturday, winter set back in and forced the Tigers and the Deacs to play in climate more fit for hockey than for baseball. I found out one thing during the weekend, those of you who have to sit in the stands to watch the Tigers play have it tough!
The weekend in Winston-Salem made me realize just how soft I have become. I have the great pleasure for 36 regular season contests and for every post season game of broadcasting Clemson baseball. Usually I sit out of the elements, in a climate controlled booth, on a padded seat, with food and drink at my disposal, and I take it for granted. Not any more. You may know that the press facilities at Gene Hooks Stadium on the Wake Forest campus aren't palatial but more nomad. Dan Scott and I had the privilege of sitting under a tent this weekend to do the broadcasts which did protect us from the rain, snow, freezing rain and some of the howling wind that hit on Saturday, but did nothing to protect us from the cold. The experience is not one that I would want to go through again, but it did make me appreciate what you fans have to go through. Tiger fans are a hearty bunch and they came prepared. The 200 or so that showed up to cheer the Tigers on came knowing what they were getting into and didn't complain a bit. They were just glad to be wearing Clemson orange and having a chance to see the Tigers play. They taught me a lesson, always be glad your at the ball park regardless of where you sit. I respect you fans, but I want my posh surroundings back.
Notes from this weekend:
Throw Saturday's game out the window. I have never seen a game more affected by the weather conditions. Give credit to the Deacs for their 13-11 win, but it could have just as easily gone the other way.
Jeff Schaus, Chris Epps, and Kyle Parker are all going to be very tough outs before this season is over. Schaus was 6 for 13 at the plate this pass week with 4 rbi and 6 walks. Epps had a big pitch hit that drove in a run in the second game and then went 2 for 5 in game three. All Parker did in the series was to go 5 for 8 with three home runs, seven rbi and six runs scored.
Justin Surratt impressed out of the bullpen over the weekend. He pitched twice throwing two innings of one hit ball with a strikeout and one double play ball.
Matt Vaughn picked up the save in game three, but he made us sweat things out. He ended the game by getting Allan Dykstra, maybe the best hitter in the ACC, to pop up to center. He did this after walking two batters.
Tigers now have a 12 game home stand. Six of them will be league games with Boston College and NC State. Going 5 and 1 sure would be nice before back to back road trips to Maryland and Miami.
The weekend in Winston-Salem made me realize just how soft I have become. I have the great pleasure for 36 regular season contests and for every post season game of broadcasting Clemson baseball. Usually I sit out of the elements, in a climate controlled booth, on a padded seat, with food and drink at my disposal, and I take it for granted. Not any more. You may know that the press facilities at Gene Hooks Stadium on the Wake Forest campus aren't palatial but more nomad. Dan Scott and I had the privilege of sitting under a tent this weekend to do the broadcasts which did protect us from the rain, snow, freezing rain and some of the howling wind that hit on Saturday, but did nothing to protect us from the cold. The experience is not one that I would want to go through again, but it did make me appreciate what you fans have to go through. Tiger fans are a hearty bunch and they came prepared. The 200 or so that showed up to cheer the Tigers on came knowing what they were getting into and didn't complain a bit. They were just glad to be wearing Clemson orange and having a chance to see the Tigers play. They taught me a lesson, always be glad your at the ball park regardless of where you sit. I respect you fans, but I want my posh surroundings back.
Notes from this weekend:
Throw Saturday's game out the window. I have never seen a game more affected by the weather conditions. Give credit to the Deacs for their 13-11 win, but it could have just as easily gone the other way.
Jeff Schaus, Chris Epps, and Kyle Parker are all going to be very tough outs before this season is over. Schaus was 6 for 13 at the plate this pass week with 4 rbi and 6 walks. Epps had a big pitch hit that drove in a run in the second game and then went 2 for 5 in game three. All Parker did in the series was to go 5 for 8 with three home runs, seven rbi and six runs scored.
Justin Surratt impressed out of the bullpen over the weekend. He pitched twice throwing two innings of one hit ball with a strikeout and one double play ball.
Matt Vaughn picked up the save in game three, but he made us sweat things out. He ended the game by getting Allan Dykstra, maybe the best hitter in the ACC, to pop up to center. He did this after walking two batters.
Tigers now have a 12 game home stand. Six of them will be league games with Boston College and NC State. Going 5 and 1 sure would be nice before back to back road trips to Maryland and Miami.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Thoughts on being 5-2
Jack Leggett's young team sits at 5 and 2 right now and already some have thrown out the life preservers. I am always amazed how so many experts can judge a team after only 7 games in a 56 game regular season. Yes it stings to lose to your in-state rival by scores of 10-1 and 5-1, but remember they are the 3rd ranked team in the country and they have an awful lot of talent. Which begs the question by some, just how much talent do the Tigers have? I think quite a bit.
One thing we found out from the weekend series with the Gamecocks is that freshman play like freshman. It wasn't fun watching Kyle Parker and Chris Epps struggle in the field, but it always brings me back to what Tyler Colvin was like in left field his first season and I think it is safe to say things turned out fairly well there. I think both Kyle and Chris are going to be exceptional talents. If Kyle had not signed a football scholarship and had been playing baseball for his high school team this season, I am not sure that he would have ever set foot on a college campus. Come to a game early sometime and watch him take batting practice. He has great offensive skills. Good enough to go in somewhere in the first five rounds of the June baseball draft. Chris Epps has the type of athletic body and tough mental mindset that any baseball player would kill for. By the time he is a junior this kid is going to be something special! By the time April rolls around he will have had enough at bats against top quality college pitching to have figured things out. The same thing can be said about Jeff Schaus. That kind of left handed swing is bound to be productive before the season is out.
Injuries have plague the Tigers also this season. We have yet to see Addison Johnson. First because of a hamstring and now because of a wrist injury. The hope is we will see him against Wake Forest this weekend. John Hinson has been down with a back injury. The plan was to start him this past Saturday in Columbia, but the back just wouldn't let him go. Mike Freeman is lost for the next couple of weeks with a knee injury, but J.D. Burgess has stepped in just like last season to fill the void.
Keep the faith Tiger fans. You can count on one hand the number of teams that will win 50 games during the regular season. Heck, you can probably count the number that will win 45.
This is a Tiger team that has the talent to be really good, the question is do you have the patience to see it through?
One thing we found out from the weekend series with the Gamecocks is that freshman play like freshman. It wasn't fun watching Kyle Parker and Chris Epps struggle in the field, but it always brings me back to what Tyler Colvin was like in left field his first season and I think it is safe to say things turned out fairly well there. I think both Kyle and Chris are going to be exceptional talents. If Kyle had not signed a football scholarship and had been playing baseball for his high school team this season, I am not sure that he would have ever set foot on a college campus. Come to a game early sometime and watch him take batting practice. He has great offensive skills. Good enough to go in somewhere in the first five rounds of the June baseball draft. Chris Epps has the type of athletic body and tough mental mindset that any baseball player would kill for. By the time he is a junior this kid is going to be something special! By the time April rolls around he will have had enough at bats against top quality college pitching to have figured things out. The same thing can be said about Jeff Schaus. That kind of left handed swing is bound to be productive before the season is out.
Injuries have plague the Tigers also this season. We have yet to see Addison Johnson. First because of a hamstring and now because of a wrist injury. The hope is we will see him against Wake Forest this weekend. John Hinson has been down with a back injury. The plan was to start him this past Saturday in Columbia, but the back just wouldn't let him go. Mike Freeman is lost for the next couple of weeks with a knee injury, but J.D. Burgess has stepped in just like last season to fill the void.
Keep the faith Tiger fans. You can count on one hand the number of teams that will win 50 games during the regular season. Heck, you can probably count the number that will win 45.
This is a Tiger team that has the talent to be really good, the question is do you have the patience to see it through?
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