Hey folks,
The story's all done and the cat's in the bag (and other cliches), but I thought I'd go ahead and toss the rest of my notes on the blog for your reading pleasure. Talked to a few different people today, enjoy:
On Purdue series: IU coach Tracy Smith called the Purdue series "crucial" and said he hopes his team takes some confidence away from their split with Michigan and into the series with the Boilermakers next Saturday (it'll be a Saturday-Sunday double doubleheader since they didn't want to schedule a Friday game with finals).
Matt Bashore didn't sound too nervous when I talked to him though. He was pretty clear on the team's intentions next weekend.
"Last year, we got beat around a little bit, hopefully can give it back to them this year," Bashore said.
On finals:"I've got a final tomorrow at eight I haven't studied much for, I need to go do that after this," he said.
In all seriousness, Sabourin told me he thinks the team will probably be a little more loose once they get finals out of the way and only have baseball to concentrate on.
"We'll be more relaxed playing, and we'll have more time to swing the bats and get some more fielding work in, and I think we'll come through strong in the end."
Hitting looking good: Asked coach Smith again about the hitting, and he again credited coaches Tyler Best and Sheldon Watkins for developing and implementing a hitting regimen that's kept the Hoosiers at or near the top of the Big Ten all season.
Just an observation on that plan - or at least IU's hitting mentality: The Hoosiers look incredibly relaxed and patient at the plate. Rarely will they let an inning go by without working deep into every count and making pitchers hit their spots.
They may watch one or two decent pitches go by early in the count, but they do a good job of making opposing pitchers pay by earning better pitches later in the at-bat. That also helps the current IU pitcher, because it gives their arm plenty of time to rest and keeps them relaxed off the field. Should have asked Tufts after the game, but I wouldn't be shy in betting it might have helped him deal with what turned out to be a 141-pitch complete game.
Parting thought: The Hoosiers are probably still an outside shot to make the Big Ten Tournament (top six teams make it in), but this series illustrates how good IU can be when their defense plays strong behind them and they get runners on base.
This Michigan team is fourth in the Big Ten in hitting, third in pitching, first in slugging percentage, first in runs scored, second in hits and first in home runs with over 20 more than No. 2 Purdue (The Wolverines have hit 49 home runs this season as a team, including today).
The Hoosiers have at times this year displayed the talent to compete at the top of the Big Ten, they've just never been able to play with the confidence to match that talent. Today was a different story, however. IU batters looked comfortable in the box, they ran well, Tylers Rogers and Cox were automatic with the glove in the middle infield and after a rough first few innings, Tyler Tufts was all but unhittable.
If the Hoosiers can find that confidence to go with the weekend's good results, they could - emphasis on could - make a run at getting out of the Big Ten cellar and into the conference tournament at the same time. Stick with Inside Pitch as you all disperse for the summer, and we'll keep you up to date on that storyline, as well as any other that develops.
Until then, thought I'd throw some Springsteen lyrics on here to get your summer kicked off right. Saw the Boss and the E Street Band play Conseco in March (A big thank you to the girlfriend, best Christmas present ever). Damn good show.
Glory Days, by Bruce Springsteen
I had a friend was a big baseball player Back in high school He could throw that speedball by you Make you look like a fool boy Saw him the other night at this roadside bar I was walking in, he was walking out We went back inside sat down had a few drinks But all he kept talking about was
Chorus: Glory days well they'll pass you by Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye Glory days, glory days
Well there's a girl that lives up the block Back in school she could turn all the boy's heads Sometimes on a friday i'll stop by And have a few drinks after she put her kids to bed Her and her husband bobby well they split up I guess it's two years gone by now We just sit around talking about the old times, She says when she feels like crying She starts laughing thinking about
Chorus
My old man worked 20 years on the line And they let him go Now everywhere he goes out looking for work They just tell him that he's too old I was 9 nine years old and he was working at the Metuchen ford plant assembly line Now he just sits on a stool down at the legion hall But i can tell what's on his mind
Glory days yeah goin back Glory days aw he ain't never had Glory days, glory days
Now i think i'm going down to the well tonight And i'm going to drink till i get my fill And i hope when i get old i don't sit around thinking about it But i probably will Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture A little of the glory of, well time slips away And leaves you with nothing mister but Boring stories of glory days
