Listen: Michigan Baseball vs. Iowa

Due to the impending weather on Sunday, Michigan will play a doubleheader today against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Wolverines enter play tied for first place in the Big Ten with a 6-3 conference record.

To listen to each broadcast, click HERE!

Friday (2:30 P.M.): RHP Alan Oaks (4-4, 3.60) vs. LHP Jarred Hippen (2-3, 3.86)

Friday (Game Two): LHP Bobby Brosnahan (4-3, 4.26) vs. RHP Nick Brown (2-4, 7.27)

Saturday (1:00 P.M.): TBD

Go Blue!

MICHIGAN-MICHIGAN STATE BASEBALL LIVE AT 12:40 ON WCBN

By far, the largest crowd of the season is expected at Ray Fisher Stadium for the 2nd game of a 3 game set between Michigan and Michigan State. Join WCBN for LIVE coverage of the game and the pre-game ceremonies where former Michigan pitcher Jim Abbott will receive the honor of having his #31 retired.

LISTEN HERE!!!

Michigan-Eastern Michigan Baseball LIVE on WCBN at 3:00

Weather permitting, join WCBN for LIVE coverage of today's Michigan-Eastern Michigan baseball doubleheader. Both games can be heard on the WCBN Sports Stream and MGoBlue.com with coverage beginning at 3pm.

LISTEN HERE!!!

The Mixer: Late Edition

With school coming to a close, I've been backed up on school work and the holiday weekend set me back. I was going to do a Mixer with a Masters theme last week. But seeing as we pimped out our web page to look like a Masters' jacket and beat you senseless with non-stop golf all week, I thought I'd just stick to what everyone is used to seeing.

...Speaking of what you are used to seeing, this web page seems to be having an identity crisis with its look. I think we've had 5 different web layouts in two days with three different color schemes. I don't call the shots on this blog, I just write for it. However, based on the color scheme, it looks like we've decided to start covering Syracuse athletics. Awesome. Go Orange.

Anyways, here is the Mixer...better late than never.

Baseball woes: Michigan Baseball dropped 3 out of four games last week, the first coming against MAC opponent CMU. I figured we were in trouble because this was a mid-week MAC game, but things went from bad to worse when I saw CMU was pitching their freshman phenom (drafted by the Royals in the 30th Round last year) and Michigan had put "Staff Day" where you would usually see the starter's name. Can you say "White Flag?"

As if this wasn't bad enough, Michigan decided to start freshman Kevin Vangheluwe. Hearing this, I thought "That name sounds familiar... where do I know this kid from?" Then I remembered....



Our boy is the one on his backside in the back row. He is also the one messing around with the chair. The video ends before Vangheluwe would eventually take off his shirt in strip-tease fashion. Thank me later for not including this.

RIP "The Bird": Today was bittersweet for me with the passing of Mark "The Bird" Fidrych. I grew up listening to stories about that magical 1976 season when The Bird won Rookie of the Year and started the '76 All-Star game. The Tigers weren't great back then, but The Bird gave people something to look forward to during a time when the city needed something to root for. It wasn't exactly like the '68 Tigers, when a championship was a calming influence to a city ripe with racial conflict. But Fidrych united people similar to the way that championship did. People loved the lanky 21 year old with shaggy hair and quirky antics, and the question "Hey, when's The Bird pitching this week?" was heard throughout auto plants all over Detroit. He'll never be in the HOF, but he will always be in the hearts and memories of Tiger's fans. God bless you, Bird. We'll miss you.



E:60 is Back!: Probably my favorite show on television, E:60, is back with a new season tonight. I'm not a big fan of Jeremy Schaap, but I really enjoy the kind of reporting they do: the longer, feature stories that give deep insight into topics that are interesting, but I might not have otherwise thought about. Being someone who does sports reporting, feature stories of this length and size are incredibly difficult. I have a huge amount of admiration for what they accomplish with the video they get and the people they interview. I highly recommend tuning in this season. Here are two of my favorite stories they've done so far. First, they profiled Kelly Pavlik and his hometown...



My family is originally from Youngstown and Warren (Ohio), so this story hit home. But beside that, Pavlik's attachment to his hometown is fascinating (as is the city itself).

...And, to end things on a lighter note, here is one of the features Bill Simmons did for the show on Prop Betting. Love him on the podcasts and articles, but I really like him doing these features, too. I just hope they don't over-expose him like they do Stephen A. Smith.



That's all I got. Baseball this week... also, look for a story I got coming up on MGoBlue about the "Captain's Corner" blog that has gained some recent popularity.

Until then...

Michigan-Illinois Baseball Highlights

Listen HERE to highlights from the final three innings of Michigan Baseball's 4-2 win over Illinois on Friday night.

Michigan Athletics... According to Me

While it has been a rough week for me personally, with school work starting to pile up, I still made time to make my usual rounds through the blogosphere and podcast universe. A couple things I especially liked this week:

For those of you who haven’t made this connection themselves, I’m a huge Bill Simmons fan because….well, because I’m a huge fan of pop culture and sports (When my family plays “Trivial Pursuit: DVD Pop Culture Edition,” it’s my four family members vs. me. Not trying to brag, but this is the only way to make it fair). Simmons is the best in the business at blending these together. Anyways, Simmons does a great job of talking to former ESPN ombudsman LeAnn Schriber in his podcast this week. I really enjoyed the past few podcats because he has been critical of ESPN with John Walsh and Schriber. He gives his “gripes” with ESPN, and proposes changes to their coverage.

This made me think of the web site I work for (MGoBlue.com), and some of the changes I would make or things I would do differently if I were in power. Granted, Simmons has way more power at ESPN than I do at MGoBlue. Lemme put it to you this way: People beg Simmons to write more columns and do more podcasts. At MGoBlue, I’m the one racing just to do post-game coverage. So, his suggestions might actually get picked up. Mine have a much slimmer chance.

Awesome. Glad we cleared that up.

Nevertheless, I know a lot of you visit MGoBlue.com and watch the highlights that are up there. So here are my suggestions on changes I would make if I ran my own website:

More Athlete Blogs: Michigan has some of the most talented and intelligent athletes in the country, so why not showcase them? For example, Tim Kalczynski wrote an excellent live blog about the Baseball team’s trip to Iowa last week. I talked to Tim about his blog in the beginning of the season. He seemed a little embarrassed when I brought it up and said he didn’t have a great passion for writing. However, I’ve talked to a lot of people who really liked this post. Shout-out to our boy FormerlyAnonymous at Varsity Blue for mentioning this quicker than I could.

But why not do this for more sports? I give Michigan Baseball SID Matt Fancett a lot of credit. He is responsible for UM Volleyball as well, and used this idea a little bit at the end of the season with the team’s two seniors (Karpiak and Hance). This season’s “Captain’s Corner” blog for Baseball has been written nicely and at semi-regular intervals. These types of blogs can be very entertaining when you get the right people to write them. UM Hockey’s Chris Summers would have been the ideal candidate for this last year…along with Eric Puls from Basketball.

I mentioned this in The Mixer last week, but I’m still pushing for it. Puls has a great perspective from his spot on the team! If he is uncomfortable writing, I’ll volunteer my services and transcribe it form him. It’ll be the most read journalist/athlete duo since Barkley and Wilbon did a book together!

…OK, maybe that’s a stretch. But there is definitely a market for more student athlete insight!

Institute a podcast: This is probably my most realistic idea I’ll mention in this post. The website tried this with the “MGoBlue Report,” but there was one problem: It didn’t physically work!!!! I tried this link on five computers, and not a single one could play this file. So I technically have never heard an episode of the “MGoBlue Report.” But I like the attempt.

Here’s my plan: Make three “multimedia podcasts” that consist of the following: 1) A normal news-bulletin type podcast giving an update on scores, injuries, highlights, etc. etc. This could be done in video form too, almost like a Michigan Sportscenter (I’d watch!). 2) A coaches show, where you interview a different coach each week and ask them questions about the team and the season (i.e. The Rosen Report for Volleyball last year). 3) A show interviewing student athletes, and/or media members that cover U of M athletics, covering a wide variety of topics off-the-field and on-the-field. This is to be hosted by Yours Truly. Or Doug Karsch. Actually, Karsch already has his own radio show. Forget him! I’m doing this show. I’m calling the shots in this “never-in-a-million-years-will-this-occur” scenario. Number 3 goes along with my point that some of these athletes are extremely interesting and intelligent and would make great guests.

My first guest on this show? Eric Puls, for reasons already mentioned. Goalie Emmy Scheidt from Women’s Lacrosse, and Matt Miller from Baseball would be high on this list as well. Miller was very well-spoken and Scheidt is the funniest athlete I’ve talked to this season. Hey, even the varsity club sports are shown some love on my show!

More money for Michigan Sports TV: I’m biased because this is the department where I spend my time. However, if the University invested in more camera and editing personnel (while keeping all the great producers/editors already there), we’d have more highlights, videos, and interviews for MGoBlue. The biggest complaint I get from viewers is the fact that MGoBlue doesn’t put up enough coverage of the smaller sports outside of football. With limited resources, and football the obvious money maker for the Athletic Department, football is what people are going to get. With more personnel, better equipment, and better compensation, this problem would end and niche viewers get to see their favorite teams on a semi-daily basis. This will increase hits for the website. More hits translate to greater advertising, which means more money for Michigan. Everyone wins.

I really enjoy working for the AD and it has been a great experience. And if nothing changes, I won’t have any problems still working there. I love that job. But if these changes come to pass, I want to be able to show them this and say “Hey! I called this….. What’s that, Bill Martin? Sure, I’d accept a full time job.”

If this were the 90’s cartoon “Doug,” this is the part where the little dream bubble pops and I realize I have 5 more pages to write for tomorrow. Dammit.

Like the blog? Hate it? Are there changes to the website you'd like to see that I didn't mention? Leave them in the comments section

Listen: Michigan Baseball LIVE vs. Oakland @ 3 P.M.

Listen to WCBN's call of Michigan baseball today as they look to rebound following an 8-3 defeat at the hands of Bowling Green. Pre-game show at 3:00 P.M. and first pitch at 3:05 P.M. from the Fish.

Michigan Baseball LIVE on WCBN YouCastr

Listen LIVE today as Michigan takes on Bowling Green St. from the Fish. Game time is at 3:05 P.M. with Brandon Sinnery on the mound for the Wolverines.

I Have Seen the Future, and it is Amazing

Over break I got the chance to watch the University of Missouri take on Kansas State in person. Missouri routed a talented K-State squad in a very exciting game. K-State was within 4 midway through the first half, then Missouri exploded and jumped out to a 23 point halftime lead, and never looked back. The game was a great experiences, and I walked away with two things on my mind. First, Missouri is a legit top 10 team, and they can give any tournament team fits with their style of play, while also keeping the crowd entertained. Second, and of more concern to fans up here, throughout the game I noticed several similarities between Missouri and Michigan, and some of them were almost spooky. (I would put up pictures, but I don't think anyone really wants to see a picture of Amaker here).

• Both teams replaced a former Duke assistant who left in controversy. Missouri fared better than Michigan, making 6 straight postseasons (4 NCAAs), but was placed on probation by the NCAA and in 2003 went from the #3 team in the country to losing in the first round of the NIT.
• Both teams hired a somewhat unconventional coach who rely on a system to get the most out of their players. Michigan got Beilein in 2007, and Missouri hired Mike Anderson from UAB in 2006. Beilein is known for his 1-3-1 defense and 3 point shooting, Anderson counters with "40 minutes of hell," where the team runs a full court press the entire game, then mixes tight man-to-man with a variety of zone looks (including the occasional 1-3-1 look).
• Both schools struggled in their coaches first season. Missouri wasn't as bad in Anderson's 1st year as Michigan was last year, but they missed the postseason.
• Both schools are technically U of M, and have similar colors (black/gold v maize/blue), Missouri even uses a block M. Still, no one should be confusing the two schools.
  

Anderson is now in his 3rd year at Missouri, and almost all the player's on the team were recruited by Anderson. The result has been a great season, a top-10 ranking, and a return to the NCAA tourney. One thing that kept popping into my head as I walked away from Mizzou Arena was if Anderson can do this in three years, I can't wait to watch Michigan next year.
**UPDATE - After watching Michigan handle Purdue, I can wait for next year.**

In other news, as Matt alluded to earlier this week, Rob, Jeremy, and I traveled down to Tampa this past weekend to cover Michigan baseball as the Wolverines opened the 2009 season with the inaugural Big East-Big Ten Challenge. The broadcast facilities were interesting for a couple of the games (read table at field level behind home plate), but I can't complain because it was Florida, and I was watching baseball. The team looked very good, going 4-0 over the weekend. For a recap that redefines the word thorough, check our the post by FormerlyAnonymous on Varsity Blue. The baseball team remains in Florida for a tournament in Jacksonville, and will return next weekend (March 6-8) to play Sienna and the New York Mets in an exhibition game.

JJ Putz on the Move

Former Michigan pitcher J.J. Putz is the centerpiece of a three-team, 12-player trade announced late last night. Putz joins the New York Mets, presumably as a set-up man for the recently signed Francisco Rodriguez. Putz, an All-Star in 2007 with 40 saves, missed time last season due to elbow and ribcage injuries, but finished the year 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 15 saves. Putz figures to be a major part of the Mets revamped bullpen after Mets GM Omar Minaya sent RHP Aaron Heilman to Seattle and RHP Joe Smith to Cleveland in last night's deal.

...i'd imagine mets owner and michigan graduate fred wilpon will be pleased that his team is trading a heilman, a notre dame standout, for putz, a trenton, michigan native...

Putz was 7-4 with a 3.71 ERA as a starter for Michigan in 1999 before joining the Mariners organization later that year.

Michigan Baseball Draftees

An update on the Michigan Baseball Team's players selected in the 2008 Draft:

Jason Christian, Nate Recknagel, Michael Powers, and Adam Abraham have all signed MLB contracts and therefore will not return to Michigan next season. All except for Recknagel were Juniors. Zach Putnam has not signed with the Indians yet and although most assumed that he was the most likely to leave early, there still is a possibility that he will return with the Wolverines next season. Putnam was drafted in the fifth round, much lower than projected.

Here's my early projection for the starting lineup/rotation (assuming Putnam does not return*):

1) Kevin Cislo (2B)
2) Ryan Lamarre (CF)
3) Derek Vanbuskirk (1B)
4) Mike Dufek (DH)
5) Alan Oaks (RF)
6) Chris Berset (C)
7) Tyler Mills (SS)
8) Nick Urban (3B)
9) Kenny Fellows (LF)

Starting Rotation:
1) Chris Fetter
2) Tyler Burgoon
3) Tyler Mills
4) Eric Katzman

Bullpen:
Ha, this will be fun...

*If Putnam returns, slide him into that DH/#1 pitcher spot and slide everyone else down. Dufek's bat would probably find itself in the lineup at first base, moving Vanbuskirk back to left in place of Fellows.

Well it's safe to say that expectations will not be as high for Michigan Baseball in 2009 as their roster will be extremely depleted. There are no returning infielders, the only functioning reliever is gone in Michael Powers. The starting pitching which lacked a consistent three or four starters loses the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year in Zach Putnam.

I think Michigan will still have enough talent to win the Big 10 behind some excellent coaching and recruiting by Rich Maloney. Tyler Mills is the only recruit I know much about as he was just named Michigan's (co) Mr. Baseball as he went 12-2 with an ERA of 1.50. Mills also hit .426 with 30 RBIs as the shortstop/centerfielder for Mount Pleasant.

Michigan's roster currently lacks any shortstops or third basemen so I'm penciling Mills in at short when he doesn't pitch and giving the third base job to Urban. Look for Adam Arbour and Mike Kittle to be in the mix for playing time at those two positions as well.

Michigan finished the 2008 season ranked in the top twenty-five in three separate polls:
Collegiate Baseball (20th)
Baseball America (22nd)
USAToday/ESPN Coaches Poll (22nd)

Michigan Baseball Update

As the college World Series continues in Omaha, Neb. there is some news concerning the Michigan baseball team coming across the wire. As All-American teams are announced Michigan has a trio of players whose names keep popping up.

• Zach Putnam: Rawlings All-Mideast 1st Team Utility, 2nd Team All-American Utility (American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America, Ping, National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association), National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Region V Player of the Year

• Nate Recknagel: Rawlings All-Mideast First Team 1B, 2nd Team All-American DH (Baseball America, Ping Baseball), 3rd Team All American 1B (ABCA)

• Chris Fetter: Rawlings All-Mideast First Team P, 2nd Team All-American P (ABCA)

Also, after scouring team blogs, I have an update on the five Wolverines who were drafted (in order of draft position)

• Jason Christian Jr. SS - 5th Round (154) Oakland Athletics: Signed a deal, no terms released

• Zach Putnam Jr. SP - 5th Round (171) Cleveland Indians: has not signed

• Adam Abraham Jr. 3B - 13th Round (411) Cleveland Indians: has not signed

• Nate Recknagel Sr. 1B - 19th Round (591) Cleveland Indians: Signed a deal, will report to Winter Haven after rehabbing his elbow

• Michael Powers RS Jr. RP - 31st Round (944) New York Mets: has not signed

• Casey Close C (incoming freshman) - 47th Round (1,408) Oakland Athletics: has not signed

I will try and keep you updated on all the drafted Michigan players. As a reminder all drafter players have until August 15th to sign, otherwise they will return to the draft pool.

Cleveland Indians Love the Maize and Blue

Cleveland's obsession with Michigan players continued today as they added Adam Abraham (13th round, 411 overall) and Nate Recknagel (19th round, 591 overall). This makes three Wolverines for the Indians as they also drafted Zach Putnam yesterday in the fifth round. Somehow the Indians did not draft Jason Christian as he went to the Oakland A's 17 slots higher than Putnam.

The Indians now have the Big 10 pitcher of the year in Putnam as well as the Big 10 player of the year in Recknagel.

Christian and Putnam are both good as gone with these quotes from Putnam in today's Ann Arbor News, "I am very confident that the Indians and I will be able to work something out, because I'm looking forward to playing for them. The Indians are in a very small group of organizations I've been told are the best in the business, and so obviously it was a thrill for my family and me when they picked me."

I would guess that Abraham leaves as well, as last year Pickens gave up his final year of collegiate eligibility and signed with the Indians even though he was drafted in the 50th round. Abraham says he will consider Cleveland's offer but if it isn't appealing, he will go play in the Cape Cod League this summer and return to Michigan for his senior year.

Wolverines Eliminated From Big 10 Tournament

Kentucky defeated Michigan 12-6 yesterday to end the Wolverines season in the Ann Arbor Regional. Jeff Decarlo got the start in the elimination game but failed to record an out, leaving with the bases loaded. Ben Jensen came on and finished off the first inning, but not before Kentucky scored seven runs to take a 7-1 lead. Kentucky would add two more in the second to go up 9-1 before Michigan started their comeback.

The Wolverines would come within three at 9-6 on Zach Putnam's three-run shot to left center but that would be as close as it would get. All-American, Sawyer Carroll would blast a two-run homer to put the game out of reach at 11-6 in the sixth inning.

It was a big year for Michigan as they opened up a renovated Ray Fisher Stadium as part of the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex. The Wolverines hosted a NCAA regional for the first time since 1985 and set a Big Ten Conference record for wins with 26. That record may never be broken as the Big Ten teams will play just 23 games in the future.

Also, i'd like to point out that I was PERFECT 6-6 on my regional picks and correctly nailed the order of finish. None of our poll voters chose Michigan to finish third...

Michigan Advances in NCAA Regional

#2 seed Michigan defeated #3 Kentucky by a score of 7-5. The game was suspended after 4.2 innings on Saturday night when a storm struck Ann Arbor. Michigan was ahead 5-1 at the time with runners at first and second and a 3-1 count to Adam Abraham. The Wolverines wasted no time getting run six across today as on the very first pitch, Maloney sent the runners and Abraham knocked an RBI single into center field.

Kentucky would get back into the game scoring four runs in the top of the eighth to close the margin to 7-5. That would be as close as they'd get however, as Michael Powers came on to earn his fourth save in his last four outings.

Zach Putnam was the winning pitcher, improving to 9-0 on the season. Michigan will take on Arizona tonight at 7:00 at the Fish. Head on down, or listen live on WCBN.

NCAA Regional Preview

#1 Seed: #23 Arizona Wildcats (38-17, 12-12, RPI #10)

The wildcats are a powerful offensive team, with eight hitters batting .299 or better. The Wildcats went just .500 in PAC-10 play, but are coming off series victories over #4 Arizona State and #15 Stanford to end the season. Arizona hoped to host a regional, but were named the last #1 seed and sent a long way from home to Ann Arbor. Arizona began the season ranked #2 in the country and they are the only #1 seed not hosting their regional.

Offensive player to watch: C.J. Ziegler, Senior 1b (.340; 19 HR; 53 RBI; .684 Slugging %)
Pitcher to watch: Schlereth, Daniel, Junior LHP (2-0; 1.73 ERA; 74 SO; 16 BB)

#2 Seed: #16 Michigan Wolverines (45-12, 26-5, RPI #35)

Michigan is a dark horse in the tournament because nobody is quite sure what to expect out of the Wolverines. Michigan boasts a well balanced team, hitting .315 with a team ERA of 4.07. Despite upsetting #1 ranked Vanderbilt in last year's regionals Michigan's 45-12 record wasn't good enough to warrant a #1 seed this year. The reason - the most of those wins came in the Big Ten which has an RPI of 13, behind conferences such as the WCC, Sun Belt, CAA, Big East, and MVC. I don't even know what the WCC, CAA, or MVC are! Michigan is just 1-4 against RPI top 25 teams so they will need to be clicking on all cylinders if they hope to advance to their second straight super regional.

Offensive player to watch: Nate Recknagel, Senior 1b (.372; 23 HR; 68 RBI; .758 Slugging %)
Pitcher to watch: Chris Fetter, Junior RHP (10-1; 2.39 ERA; 75 SO; 25 BB)

#3 Seed: Kentucky Wildcats (42-17, 16-14, RPI #33)
Kentucky is another extremely balanced team that could make a run to come out of the regional on top despite their #3 seed. The Wildcats are led by first team All-American, Sawyer Carroll who boasts a .415 average to go along with 15 home runs and 78 RBI. As a team, Kentucky hits at a .320 clip to go with a 3.53 ERA. This is Kentucky's 6th ever NCAA appearance and their 42 wins are the second most in school history.


Offensive player to watch: Sawyer Carroll, Senior OF/1B (.415; 15 HR; 78 RBI; .755 Slugging %)
Pitcher to watch: Chris Rusin, Junior LHP (Canton, MI) (6-2; 2.84 ERA; 65 SO; 17 BB)

#4 Seed: Eastern Michigan University (25-32, 15-8, RPI #160)
Somehow Eastern Michigan has come back from an 0-17 start to make the NCAA Tournament after winning the automatic bid from the MAC. The Eagles are huge underdogs and would shock everybody if they can come away with a win in the regional. The Eagles are coached by Jake Boss who is in his first year at Eastern Michigan after leaving his assistant coaching job at Michigan last season.

Offensive player to watch: Zach Leonard, FR OF/IF (.342; 9 HR; 51 RBI)
Pitcher to watch: umm...we'll go with N/A here as EMU has a team ERA of 7.65


Predictions:

Today:
Arizona over Eastern
Michigan over Kentucky

Tomorrow:
Kentucky over Eastern
Arizona over Michigan

Sunday:
Kentucky over Michigan
Arizona over Kentucky

Order of Finish:
1) Arizona
2) Kentucky
3) Michigan
4) Eastern

in other news, my posting will be light for awhile as I'm without my laptop seeing as my house got robbed last night. At least I made the paper....

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/05/police_beat_burglary_follows_b.html

Michigan to Host Basebal Regional

For the first time in 22 years, Michigan will host a regional at Ray Fisher Stadium. The Wolverines will take on Kentucky on Friday, May 30th and then will play the winner/loser of the Arizona vs Eastern Michigan game. The regional is a double elimination four team tournament. Seeds are as following for the Michigan Regional:

(1) Arizona (38-17)
(2) Michigan (45-12)
(3) Kentucky (42-17)
(4) Eastern Michigan (25-32)

Michigan is the only team hosting a regional not to be named a number one seed. The winner of the Michigan regional will go on to face the winner of the Miami regional June 6th. Miami is the tournament's overall #1 seed.

This is the 21st time that the Wolverines have reached the NCAA tournament, and the fourth consecutive year. Last season Michigan upset #1 ranked Vanderbilt to win the regional, then fell to eventual champions Oregon State in the Super Regional.

Here is the entire 64-team field

Michigan Baseball Wins Big 10 Tournament

Michigan took the Big 10 Tournament Championship Title tonight at Ray Fisher Stadium to go along with the Regular Season Championship. The Wolverines fell behind 2-0 and things were not looking good as Michigan stranded 10 runners through the first five innings before finally scoring a run on a Kevin Cislo double. They would tie the game up as Ryan Lamarre hit his second career home run, his first ever at Ray Fischer Stadium. Lamarre's blast sailed over the fence in straightaway center field, passing directly over the 395 marker. Michigan would then take the lead on a wild pitch as Cislo scored the eventual game-winner from third.

Eric Katzman struggled, lasting just 2.2 innings but Tyler Burgoon took WCBN Player of the Game honors as he stepped in with 4.1 innings of scoreless relief work, picking up his second win of the season. Michael Powers then came on to pitch a scoreless 8th and 9th innings, getting his seventh save of the season and his third in the past three nights.

Powers was named the tournament's most outstanding player as he worked two scoreless innings in each of the past three nights, picking up three saves. Joining Powers on the all-tournament team were Chris Fetter, Zach Putnam, and Adam Abraham.

Michigan will likely host a regional next weekend at Ray Fisher Stadium. The tournament field and regional hosts will be announced on Monday.

Dear Big 10 Network: Please A) get the names right. It was RYAN Lamarre, not RAY Lamarre that hit the home run and B) STOP CALLING US THE WOLVES! We are the WOLVERINES!!!

Here are the BTN's highlights anyways:

Michigan Baseball Receives Big Ten Accolades

Michigan Baseball received a number of Big Ten honors on the heels of the start of the 2008 Big Ten Tournament. None of these awards were particularly surprising, as Michigan was the dominant team in the Big Ten this year, finishing the regular season ranked 18th in the country.

Coach of the Year: Rich Maloney
Player of the Year: Nate Recknagel
Pitcher of the Year: Zach Putnam

Rich Maloney's Wolverines finished with a 42-12 record, only losing 2 games at home all year (18-2) and 5 games in the Big Ten (26-5). He is, simply put, the best coach in the Big Ten, and is close to realizing his dream of having Michigan host a regional, although winning the Big Ten Tournament is most likely a must.

Nate Recknagel certainly deserved the highest of honors in the Big Ten, as he took the conference by storm this year, finishing the year with a .381 average, along with an absurd 23 HRs and 68 RBIs. Recknagel led Michigan in hits (75), HRs, RBIs, total bases (155), and slugging percentage (.787).

Zach Putnam's only competition for this award was really Chris Fetter. Fetter finished the year 9-1 with a 2.49 ERA in 79.2 innings, only surrendering 59 hits and 21 walks while striking out 65 and holding opposing batters to a .208 average. Putnam, on the other hand, was 7-0 with a 2.64 ERA, while giving up 51 hits and 18 walks in 64.2 innings and, perhaps most impressively, striking out more than a batter per innings (65 Ks). Opponents only hit .215 off of Putnam, who also had the task of starting more 9 inning games than Fetter, who frequently pitched on Saturdays in Big Ten play.

FIRST TEAM
1B - Nate Recknagel, Michigan#
2B - Ben Wolgamot, Purdue
SS - Jason Christian, Michigan
3B - Nate Hanson, Minnesota
OF - Kyle Hudson, Illinois#
OF - Andrew Means, Indiana
OF - Matt Nohelty, Minnesota
C - Josh Phegley, Indiana#
DH - Zach Putnam, Michigan
SP - Matt Bashore, Indiana
SP - Chris Fetter, Michigan
SP - Zach Putnam, Michigan#
SP - Matt Bischoff, Purdue
RP - Drew O'Neil, Penn State

This is the second consecutive year that Putnam received All-Big Ten honors as both a pitcher and a designated hitter, and, with the selection of Putnam to the First Team as both a pitcher and a DH this year, he becomes the first player in Big Ten history to be named to the First Team as both a pitcher and a hitter.

Jason Christian, who was banged up at the beginning of the season after a very slow start, deserves a ton of credit for how he turned around his season, with all of his hard work finally resulting in this recognition. Christian finished the year hitting .325 with 6 HRs and 43 RBIs, ranking him first amongst Big Ten shortstops.

SECOND TEAM
1B - Jake Goebbert, Northwestern
2B - Joe Bonadonna, Illinois
SS - Brandon Wikoff, Illinois
3B - Kevin Hoef, Iowa
OF - Caleb Curry, Iowa
OF - Kevin Cislo, Michigan
OF - Brandon Haveman, Purdue
C - Jeff DeSmidt, Minnesota
DH - Daniel Webb, Illinois
SP - Eric Jokisch, Northwestern
SP - Jake Hale, Ohio State
SP - Dean Wolosiansky, Ohio State
SP - Mike Wanamaker, Penn State
RP - Josh Lindblom, Purdue

Cislo was really the 4th OF on the First Team, and if not for amazing years by Hudson, Means, and Nohelty, combined with a lack of power by the standards set by Big Ten OFers, Cislo would've easily been a First Teamer. Cislo finished the year with a whopping .359 average, played a tremendous CF in his first year starting full time at the position, filled in at 2B when Christian was hurt and Mahler moved over to SS, and led Michigan in stolen bases with 17.

THIRD TEAM
1B - Ryne White, Purdue
2B - Leif Mahler, Michigan
SS - Justin Toole, Iowa
3B - Adam Abraham, Michigan
OF - Chris Roberts, Michigan State
OF - Mike Kalina, Northwestern
OF - J.B. Shuck, Ohio State
C - Joe Blackburn, Penn State
DH - Rob Yodice, Penn State
SP - Kevin Manson, Illinois
SP - Mark Sorensen, Michigan State
SP - J.B. Shuck, Ohio State
SP - Matt Jansen, Purdue
RP - Michael Powers, Michigan

These three guys are only on the Third Team because of some amazing years in the Big Ten by players at their positions. You can't really quantify Mahler's years with numbers, because the fifth-year senior had a huge impact on the team after sitting out the 2007 season. Not only did he exhibit the kind of sportsmanship necessary to receive Big Ten accolades, but he led by example, hitting .309 with 37 RBIs in his return season, and led Michigan in doubles with 16.

Adam Abraham had a case for First Team honors, hitting .344 with 7 HRs and 50 RBIs. Abraham, surprisingly enough, only made 5 appearances on the mound this year, after being named the closer to enter the season. With the additional time off the bump, Abraham was able to concentrate on the stick, and the results followed in a big way.

With Abraham hitting, Michael Powers and Tyler Burgoon took over the closer duties, with Burgoon saving 5 games and Powers saving 4. Powers was absolutely dominating this season, going 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA, including 50 Ks in 52 innings.

# unanimous selection

Freshman of the Year: Eric Jokisch, Northwestern

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Kyle Hudson, Illinois
Andrew Means, Indiana
Caleb Curry, Iowa
Leif Mahler, Michigan
Mark Sorensen, Michigan State
Tom Steidl, Minnesota
Jake Goebbert, Northwestern
Dan DeLucia, Ohio State
Brian Ernst, Penn State
Ryne White, Purdue

Congrats to everyone on the lists. Big Ten baseball is certainly on the rise.

Michigan Baseball/Softball Schedule This Week

THURSDAY 5/22
7:05 Baseball: Michigan vs. TBD (Big 10 Conference Tournament Opener)

FRIDAY 5/23
12:05/3:35/7:05 Baseball: Michigan vs TBD (Big 10 Conference Tournament)

SATURDAY 5/24
12:00 Softball: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech (NCAA Super Regionals-Game 1)
3:35/7:05 Baseball: Michigan vs. TBD (Big 10 Conference Tournament)

SUNDAY 5/25
*12:05 Baseball: Michigan vs. TBD (Big 10 Conference Tournament Championship-If necessary)
1:00 Softball: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech (NCAA Super Regionals-Game 2)
*3:00 Softball: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech (NCAA Super Regionals-Game 3-If necessary)

PROGRAMMING INFO: Here are our broadcast plans for this weekend. Every game of the Big 10 Conference Baseball Tournament involving Michigan, with the exception of the Sunday game (if necessary) can be heard on the WCBN Sports Stream. We will broadcast the entire NCAA Super Regional Softball best-of-three series exclusively on WCBN and MGoBlue.com.