Two outta three ain't bad, right? After lighting up Texas for 44 runs in two games (a 31-12 win and a 13-2 win), Mizzou's bats went cold yesterday, and Texas was able to salvage something out of the series with a 9-2 win. Ian Berger had his first bad start of the year, and Mizzou could only manage four hits against Texas starter Chance Ruffin. Still, though, it was a lovely week for Mizzou...a series win over Texas followed a nice midweek road win over SMS. And if Jacob Priday isn't Big 12 Player of the Week, there's something seriously wrong. The Trib has a nice story on Mizzou's 44 runs.
Mizzou currently stands in 3rd place in the conference at 7-5, which isn't bad, only ATM's sweep of OU moved them to 12-3 overall, a solid 3.5 games ahead of the Tigers. Mizzou did gain a game on 2nd-place Nebraska, though...the Huskers dropped a series to OSU just like Mizzou did last weekend.
The Missourian has an interesting article about pitch counts and arm troubles, and how college coaches like Tim Jamieson have had to adjust their styles in recent years.
Mizzou Softball bounced back well this weekend, with a sweep of Texas Tech. The Missourian has more. Mizzou is now 20-1 at home and tied for fourth in conference at 4-4. ATM continues its lovely diamond-based spring, as it's first in softball as well.
Football scrimmage reports! A week before the B&G Game, Mizzou held their final pre-B&G scrimmage indoors, and all the usual suspects were there to report: Dave Matter (who also came up with his own Mizzou Links list Friday), PowerMizzou.
Gary Pinkel may have a depth problem at LB, but suddenly there's the other kind of depth problem at RB--too many guys staking their claims for playing time. RSFr De'Vion Moore has made his case for the starting role, only Derrick Washington and Jimmy Jackson haven't done anything to diminish their own chances. (Honestly, the same thing could be said at CB...Castine Bridges has solidified his first-string position, but youngsters Trey Hobson and Kevin Rutland have been making all sorts of plays. And I wrote that before I realized that the Missourian had an article about the secondary's experience.)
Graham Watson suggests that Braggin' Rights tickets may be a wee bit hard to come by this coming fall...plus, she's got a Mizzou-themed Q&A up.
Football recruiting is starting to pick up a bit...as is recruiting reporting. The Rivals network has articles on a bunch of MO kids this weekend: Ronnie Wingo gets ready to visit Columbia again, interest in offerless Park Hill DB Sam Pour is picking up, Rockhurst's Nathan Scheelhaase continues his world tour, and in the absence of a Mizzou offer, Union QB Jordan Webb commits to KU.
Remember this guy? Granted, my vote was for Bill Simmons to get the job, but I guess it's nice to see John Hammond, Quin's top assistant in Year One of the Snyder administration, getting the promotion from Pistons' assistant GM to Bucks' top guy.
Finally, this is why the "will Tiger win the grand slam?" speculation was so damn stupid. I mean, a) nobody has done it in eleventy billion years (not counting the Tiger Slam a few years ago), and b) he hadn't even won the first major of the year before the speculation started. Stupid. But I digress.