Day 1 has came and gone in the Big Ten Tournament. To briefly summarize...
There is a HUGE gap between the top 4 Big Ten teams and the bottom 6. With the closeness of the final standings at the top, most could have easily come to this conclusion. Seeing the #3 team take on the #6 directly following the #4 team play the #5 and it's obvious. The top of the conference's pitching, hitters, and defense are a notch above.
Huntington Park is incredible. The finest ballpark I have been to MLB, Minor League, Collegiate, whatever. Nothing is missed in the stadium. The Big Ten made the correct move.
The weather in Columbus was amazing. Perfect. My arms are beyond red, but I'd take this weather any day.
Eric Arnett is one of the top 5 Big Ten pitchers I've seen in the last 5 seasons.
Nolan Moody deserved better. Moody is a solid pitcher, fastball sits in the low 90s, throws three pitches for strikes. His defense let him down. If he plays for one of the top 4 teams, he's first team All-Big Ten pitcher.
Huntington Park plays weird. Really weird. Spoke to OSU CF Michael Stephens during the game, he made a few references to where the ball carries and dies, the outfield is huge by the way. During the IU-Purdue game Michael's sentiments came true. A shot that seemed certain to be a home run and off the scoreboard, dies mid air and drops on the warning track leaving to IU fielders puzzled and it drops between them.
The Big Ten is doing an incredible job with this tournament. Service and everything you could ask for is first-rate.
Illinois bottom of the order is beyond solid. In fact 1-9 Illinois might have the best collection of consistent hitters. No easy outs or players to pick on.
Three of the for competing coaches, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, spoke about and are not hesistant to throw today's starter later in the weekend if needed.
Today should be an incredible day of baseball with 3 evenly matched games and 6 teams with everything, NCAA bids, NCAA Regional hosting, elimination, all on the line.
Wimmers the co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Year will try to respond to Arnett's gem and put on a show in prime time.
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Moody is not close to Arnett, Wimmers, or Fetter! He is a solid pitcher, but regardless of what team he was on, he would still not be close to the 3 first team pitchers.
ReplyDeleteArnett and Wimmers I agree on. A class of there own. The gap between Fetter and the rest, Bashore and such included, isn't as big as you might think.
ReplyDeleteI did make my comment forgetting only 3 players are selected per team, so take that into consideration.
But Moody is very solid and underrated.
You give him a better defense and some run support and his numbers are up there. His pitches, delivery, and control are solid.