Illinois Baseball Report

Workouts continue; full team practice later this week

I stopped by Illinois Field today after work to observe practice. The team was still in individual workouts so I’ll hold off on posting photos for the time being. Coach Snider tells me that full team practice will probably begin after Wednesday.

The players look good. Specifically, Matt Dittman looks to be in good form after his injury last year. That shouldn’t be too much of a surprise considering the great summer he had with the Rochester Honkers.

I did take a couple photos of the progress on the clubhouse. Seems they laid a tarp over the expansion area now.

The construction is scheduled to finish by 2011.

Tags: illinois field, practice

Photos of Road Trip to Indy to see Shawn Roof

Last night, I went with friends (thanks to all of you, I know you’ll read this) to see the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians-Toledo Mudhens game. A baseball game is always fun but when former Illini Shawn Roof is the starting thirdbaseman for one of the teams, it makes it awesome. So it was.

Let’s get this out of the way. Roof’s Mudhens won the game 8-2. He was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored. I also give Shawn credit for getting a Indy homerun called back. In the fourth, an Indian batter hit a ball in the stands that just cleared the foul pole. It was ruled a homerun. Shawn was the first to argue to the men in blue that it was foul. The Mudhen manager then came out to make same argument. After the umps conferred, they reversed the homerun call.

Not that the Mudhens needed it. They scored five runs in the top of the first and never really looked back.

Here are some photos.

Shawn came over to talk to me briefly before the game.

Shawn hasn’t changed much since college days. He’s still one of the last ones out there warming up before the game.

Shawn readies himself at third.

Heading home to score.

Mid-inning practice.

A ballplayer’s gotta spit.

At the plate.

After the game, reaching out to adoring fans… ok, they were really his relatives.

Which reminds me, I had the pleasure to meet another of the Roof clan, Jason. He was Shawn’s cousin who brought his family in from northern Indiana to see the game.

By the way, if you haven’t been to Victory Field in Indianapolis, it’s an excellent place to see a baseball game. The staff must be trained in customer service… even as a person with a camera who was walking up and down aisles trying to get good photos, I was treated very well. “Hope you get some good photos!”, one usher told me. A beautiful park with great staff and great facilities.

You can see a whole bunch more here at the photo gallery or try out the slideshow.

Thanks to Shawn for giving us a great show!

Tags: minor leagues, shawn roof

Summer leagues can have a lasting effect

Today’s number on the sports page of the News-Gazette was 44. That’s the number of rbis that Adam Davis (left) accrued this summer while playing for the Madison Mallards in the Northwoods League. That was good for sixth in the league. He accomplished this in part behind a .328 average. In case you’re wondering, Matt Dittman wasn’t far behind at 10th with 40.

What’s my point? Don’t underestimate what effect a good year in the summer leagues can have on a young player with potential. Two good examples: Craig Lutes and Mike Giller.

Two springs ago, both Giller and Lutes were solid players but had disappointing offensive stats. They went off to their respective summer leagues and something clicked. Giller was a monster with the bat. He led his team in hitting and rbis and made the Northwoods League All-Star team. Lutes’ team in the EI League made the playoffs.

They both brought something back from their summer league experience and applied it the next year. Lutes raised his batting average almost 100 points from the previous year. Giller was third on the team in rbis and thank goodness too. We needed him when Matt Dittman went down for the year.

I’m hoping to see some good things not just from Adam Davis but Brian de la Torriente, Corey Kimes, Josh Parr and all the Illini players who put in a good year this summer.

Welcome back, guys!

Tags: adam davis, craig lutes, matt dittman, mike giller, Summer League

Yay! I’m going on a road trip to Indy to see Shawn Roof

As you may know, Shawn Roof is now playing for the AAA Toledo Mudhens and tonight and tomorrow night, he’s playing in Indianapolis. This is as close as he’s gotten to Urbana in his minor league career. Here’s my chance to see him in action. So with the help of some friends, I’m heading to Indy Friday night to see him play!

The first game of the two-game set between the Mudhens and the Indianapolis Indians just finished tonight. It was a heartbreaking loss for the ‘Hens as they lost 2-1. Shawn did his part though. Typical for him, Shawn hustled out a triple and scored the Mudhens’ only run.

Friday’s game will be at 7:15pm.

Go ‘Hens!

Tags: minor leagues, shawn roof

Practice commences and Roof coming to Indy

It’s a busy week on campus. All the University students are back and finding their way to their new classes. Good luck to the players this semester. I don’t need to remind them how important their studies are. To their credit, Coach Hartleb and the rest of the coaching staff do a pretty good job of that.

That’s not to say the players won’t be practicing any baseball, though. Individual workouts began this week. By next week, full practice will begin.

In other news, Shawn Roof is back in AAA again. As I mentioned, he did a stint in AA with the SeaWolves but fortunately it was only for a couple games. He’s back in AAA Toledo now. Shawn’s still hitting well for the Mudhens, too with a .308 batting average.

Since he’s back playing with Toledo, Shawn and the Mudhens will be taking on the Indianapolis Indians this Thursday and Friday evening. It would be a good chance for Roof fans to see him play!

And if you haven’t seen it, check this Detroit Free Press article that came out today. It’s all about Gene Roof and his three sons who all play in the minors.

Tags: fall practice, minor leagues, shawn roof

New photos of construction of clubhouse at Illinois Field

After work today, I trekked on over to Illinois Field to see how construction was going on the improvements on the Illinois players’ clubhouse. I took some photos while I was there too.

The UI baseball program has come out with a press release on the construction. Here are some of pertinent details:

it will cost $800,000 paid for by a private gift (whoever you are, the players thank you, I’m sure)
the renovations will add 30% more space to the current facility
new features include wooden lockers, a meeting area, stations for film work and flat panel monitors for film review and instruction

They have a ways to go but they plan to be ready by the 2011 season.

Here are some more photos:

[Show as slideshow]

Tags: illinois field

Dittman, Davis and Parr honored by Northwoods League

Congrats to Adam Davis, Josh Parr and Matt Dittman who made the Northwoods League postseason All-Star team.

All three had excellent summers for their respective teams. For the Rochester Honkers, Matt Dittman hit .332 with 44 rbis. Parr, who was with the Madison Mallards, hit .307 and scored 41 runs and stole 21 bases. Also with the Mallards, Davis hit .328 with 44 runs scored and 44 rbis.

Here is the complete list of Northwoods All-Stars for 2010

Dittman isn’t done yet. The Honkers have gone on to the playoffs and will start tonight against the St Cloud River Bats.

Congrats to the three of them!

Tags: adam davis, josh parr, matt dittman, northwoods league, Summer League

MiLB moves: Roof goes down, Eymann goes up

I just got back in to town from a well-deserved and very-much-enjoyed two week vacation. Our family spent most of it in Wyoming. I was a hop, skip and a jump away from Casper which made me think of Dom Altobelli who did a short stint with the single-A Ghosts last year.

Speaking of short stints, it looks like that Shawn Roof’s time in AAA is over. Tough break. He got in 9 games in with Toledo before being sent back to the AA Erie SeaWolves. I don’t think it was Shawn’s performance that did it. He hit .333 with a .455 on-base percentage in his time with Toledo.

There is some good news among former Illini though. Eric Eymann graduated from AA to Triple-A recently. The former Illini who played for the Carolina Mudcats now finds himself on the Louisville Bats squad in the International League. For the year, Eymann is hitting .254 with 6 homers and 43 rbis.

Congrats Eric!

Tags: eric eymann, minor leagues, shawn roof

Roof moves up to AAA ball, 2-4 in debut for Mudhens

There’s good news coming from former Illini shortstop Shawn Roof. He’s now playing AAA baseball. The Tigers’ affiliate Toledo Mudhens now have Shawn on the team and given his performance in his first game, they might be happy they do. He went 2 for 4 in his AAA debut! Nice going, Shawn!

In case anyone here in the East-Central Illinois area are wondering, the Toledo Mudhens are in the West Division of the International League which so happens to be the same division as the Indianapolis Indians (only a couple hours away). And yes, Shawn and the Mudhens will be traveling to Indy at least a couple times this year. Road trip, anyone?

Speaking of Shawn, the most excellent blog Bus Leagues Baseball interviewed him a month ago. You’ll find who he really thinks is the most talented Roof brother.

Congratulations, Shawn!!

Tags: minor leagues, shawn roof

Photos of summer 2010 construction work at Illinois Field

As promised, I stopped by Illinois Field today and got some shots of the construction work they are doing on the players’ facility on the northwest corner of the park. Since it was Saturday, there wasn’t anyone actually working there but you do get a sense of what’s happening.

It seems like they’re just starting the work, beginning the digging etc. From my end, I’m a bit hazy on what EXACTLY they plan to do and the DIA is mum so far on the details.

More photos (click to enlarge)…

[Show as slideshow]