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This post originally bemoaned the Gophers getting roughed up,14-1, on February 18th by St. John's in the season opener for both teams, at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge in Clearwater, Florida. But then a fan commented about the Gophers coming back in their second game to beat Connecticut, and the road trip thread was on.

It's "the longest baseball road trip EVER," because the collapse of the Metrodome's roof caused the Gophers to extend their away games schedule with games originally scheduled at home. The team will play 23 straight road games in Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, and California, returning on April 1st to open its conference season against Purdue at the Twins' Target Field, where they will play their 12 Big Ten home games this season. Three non-conference home games will be played at Siebert Field.

During the epic cross-country journey, I encourage fans to stop by this thread to comment about the triumphs and travails of Gopher baseball.

All of us who follow college baseball know that aluminum bats generate more raw power than wooden ones. This is the result of the properties of the metal, as well as the hollow core. Average hitters, who have generated better than average stats with metal bats, are in for a big letdown this season, as college baseball replaces the old bats with new ones, still metal, but de-tuned to NCAA certified specifications to behave more like wood. Tests indicate that the 22 inch sweet spot on the old bats has been reduced to 5 inches, so batting averages are likely to fall as hits propelled by contact nearly anywhere on the old bats turn into easy outs off the new bats. On the other hand, hits generated by the skills of the best players -- who can put that 5 inch sweet spot on the ball -- will continue.

In addition to making the college game more like the majors, where players use traditional wooden bats, the new bats will also make the game safer for players, coaches, and fans. I think the new bats will favor teams that can play small ball well -- making contact to put the ball in play, bunting earlier and more often in games, running the bases aggressively, putting pressure on the defense to make plays. Teams that have thrived off of long ball hitting, will have to rethink their offense, or suffer a lot more losses than they're used to.

Oregon's coach George Horton, whose Cal State Fullerton Titans won the 2004 College World Series, says, “I think it’s going to change the complexion of college baseball. We’ve been using it in BP and scrimmages, and I can tell you it’s made a big difference. . . . Some of those big, strong guys have gotten into some balls pretty good, and they’re not going over the fence.”

Overall, college baseball's balance of power on the field of play will shift a bit more from hitting to pitching. Adding another strong arm could make a bigger difference in a team's win-loss record than adding a long-ball hitter. Some will say that's the way it's always been in baseball, but while that may be true of baseball played with wooden bats, I don't think it's been true of the metal-bat-dominated college game until this season.

How will the new bats affect 2011 Gopher baseball? Vote in the poll below, and add your comments.

Note: I posted a similar fanpost on the Oregon State University sports blog, Building the Dam.

I've always paid attention to Sidney Lowe, probably because I followed his time with the Timberwolves. 

I saw this today at Rush the Court, my favorite college hoops site.

It must have been rough for you this past week, Sidney. Whenever UNC-Duke get together right in your own backyard it has to remind you how irrelevant your program is not just on a national level but also within the state of North Carolina. But it’s tough to feel sorry for SidneyLowe; he pretty much built the fire underneath his current hot seat with his lousy coaching. Lowe has yet to win more than six games in the ACC in a season, and it doesn’t look like he’s breaking that trend this year given N.C. State’s current 3-7 record in conference. This season is especially disappointing considering the highly touted recruiting class that Lowe reeled in during the offseason. All the losing combined with the general lack of buzz around the program equals a probable pink slip for Lowe at the end of the season. Lowe’s eventual firing will certainly please a large contingent of Wolfpack faithful, but N.C. State fans should do a little soul searching before their next hire. Are the expectations that N.C. State can compete with UNC and Duke on a yearly basis reasonable? We hear at TWTW don’t think so. If fans can temper their expectations and be content with a program that occasionally rises up to place in the top three of the ACC, then the next coach should find a work environment in which he can succeed.  

 

We played hard and fought for rebounds tonight at least so effort was not the problem, but...................

Offensively, I imagine watching this team would be like dating the hottest chic at school, but she sleeps with all of your friends instead of you.  Incredibly frustrating, embarrassingly painful, and it pisses you off so much that you want to pull your fucking hair out.  If you saw the game, you will know exactly what I am talking about.

No this analogy isn't from personal experience, unfortunately I've never dated the hottest chic at school.

With no home field to host games, unranked in the preseason coaches poll despite winning the Big Ten last year, unable to warrant even a column inch of coverage in The Daily Gopher on the eve of the new season, the University of Minnesota baseball team is climbing aboard the bus and leaving town. Word on the street is that they're heading for Florida, then to North Carolina, then Arizona, and if the gas money holds up, it'll be on to California for an indeterminate time period (the Cal Poly games may have to be moved from the Metrodome to SLO, and then who knows, maybe the games with Bakersfield will have to be played in California, as well).

If they have a winning record on the road-trip-to-end-all-road-trips, they'll return to Minnesota in April as conquering heroes, ranked in all the polls, their victories lauded in the press, full of confidence as they take the field, under a new roof and sparkling lights, before cheering throngs of fair weather fans, to defend their conference title. If their road record is undistinguished, their efforts will be unappreciated, their return will be unheralded, and they will play in a near-empty dome. This isn't southern California, where college baseball fans turn out in droves to soak up the rays and breathe in the salt-scented breeze off the ocean, while applying tanning lotion and picking jalapeño peppers out of their nachos, no matter what the records of their Trojans, Bruins, or Titans may be.

Indiana forward Christian Watford is out indefinitely after breaking his left hand.

The school says Watford was injured during Sunday's 84-83 overtime loss at Michigan State and had surgery Tuesday. Watford is Indiana's top scorer at 17 points per game.

It's the second significant injury to an Indiana sophomore in less than three weeks. Guard Maurice Creek had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right kneecap on Jan. 20 and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Watford and Creek were projected to be the cornerstones of Indiana's rebuilding project when they arrived last season. Creek was the Hoosiers' top scorer last season, while Watford was No. 3.

It's the second significant injury to an Indiana sophomore in less than three weeks. Guard Maurice Creek had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right kneecap on Jan. 20 and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Watford and Creek were projected to be the cornerstones of Indiana's rebuilding project when they arrived last season. Creek was the Hoosiers' top scorer last season, while Watford was No. 3.

Details are below but I think we need to have a TDG team representing.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. January 26, 2011 - The University of Minnesota announced today the inaugural Goldy's Run at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus will take place on April 9, 2011. The event is sponsored by the St. Jude Medical Foundation.

Goldy's Run will include a 10 mile run, a 5K and a kid's 1K run. Fans will have an opportunity to interact with Gopher athletes, coaches and of course, Goldy. The various race courses will take the participants through campus and the surrounding streets with all events finishing inside TCF Bank Stadium.

"We are excited to bring this event to the boosters and fans of the University of Minnesota while benefitting the University of Minnesota Athletics and Amplatz Children's Hospital", said Joel Maturi, Athletic Director of the University of Minnesota. "TCF Bank Stadium is the perfect location for our fans to gather together and with the finish line being inside the Stadium, participants will get an opportunity to be on the field as they finish."

Those interested in registering for the event can do so at www.goldysrun.com. The introductory cost is $10 for the kids run, $25 for the 5K and $45 for the 10 mile. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Amplatz Children's Hospital. Participants will receive a Goldy's Run t-shirt, a finisher's medal, snacks and refreshments.

Goldy's Run is produced by Podium Sports Marketing, a premium running event company in the Twin Cities. The event is also designated as an official training partner of Grandma's Marathon.

For more information, please visit www.goldysrun.com.

Goldy's Run Schedule

Friday, April 8th

• 10 am to 7 pm: Packet pick-up and Registration at *TCF Bank Stadium (parking lot options)

*Exact location and additional details TBD

 

Saturday, April 9th

• 6:30 am to 8:00 am: Packet pick-up and Registration at TCF Bank Stadium (parking lot options)
• 8:20 am: 5k Run & Walk Start
• 9:30 am: Goldy's Gallop Kid's Run Start
• 10:00 am: Awards Ceremony at TCF Bank Stadium

Who is in?  It's for a good cause and maybe we can get some TDG T-shirts or something.

The following link is to a Dr. Saturday article that takes an in-depth look at the long term success of recruiting classes.  A can't miss read for fans of college football:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Star-Power-Judging-the-recruiting-rankings-gam?urn=ncaaf-312875

This year’s event will take place in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium. Pre-registration is $10 for Goal Line Club members and $20 for non-members. The price includes food and a cash bar will be available as well. The ticket price will go up to $25 after Jan. 31.

The event begins at 5 p.m. with check-in, a silent auction, stadium tours and other events. Coach Kill will begin his portion of the program at 6:30 p.m. with highlights of the newest Golden Gophers and his thoughts on them.

Parking will be available for $3.75 in the Maroon Lot next to the stadium. To enter TCF Bank Stadium and access the DQ Club Room, use the Premium Seating Entrance near the Benton County sign on the south side of the building.

For more information, or to join the Goal Line club, please visit www.GoalLineClub.com.