Rain delay? More time to check out Michigan

Chomping at the bit for some baseball? Check out some Super Regional info and my preview of the Wolverines below.


Interesting facts on their hitters:

• None of their starting hitters hit less than .300
  
  
• They are not afraid to sacrifice with anyone. Their best hitter, Nate Recknagel, leads the team in sacrifices with 6.
  
  
• Michigan runs a lot. They stole 92 bases and attempted 128 steals. That's two attempts a game and 1.5 steals a game.
  
  
• The Wolverines may have a few errors. Their defense is solid, but their 1B, Recknagel, has 12 errors at first. Time to lay down some bunts for hits!
  
  
• CF Eric Rose is a super speedster. 34 sb, 85% SB%, and 3 triples. Only 4 doubles though.
  
  
• Nate Recknagel is the big hitter with 12 HRs, 61 RBI, 63 runs created, and a 1.085 OPS.
  
  
• Other guys to watch out for: Jason Christian (7 HR, 22 2b, .949 OPS, 14 SB, 52 runs created)... Zach Putnam ( 8 HR, 59 RBI, .943 OPS )... Derek VanBuskirk ( .983 OPS, 32 RBI, 33 runs created in only 38 games started )
  

Probable Lineup:

                        AVE    OPS   SB   HR
1 ss  Jason Christian  .335   .949   14    7
2 rf  Brad Roblin      .327   .797   22    1
3 1b  Nate Recknagel   .359  1.085    4   12
4 dh  Zach Putnam      .341   .943    1    8
5 3b  Adam Abraham     .330   .860    0    5
6 c   Doug Pickens     .347   .874    3    5
7 lf  Derek VanBuskirk .386   .983    4    3
8 2b  Kevin Cislo      .372   .890    7    1
9 cf  Eric Rose        .308   .762   34    2

Pitchers:

• Their starters are very hittable. Andrew Hess has a .298 AVE against with a huge 1.629 WHIP and almost 4 BB/9. Chris Fetter has a .300 AVE against and a 1.471 WHIP. One of these guys will start against the Beavs.
  
  
• Best starter is Zach Putnam who has 7.59 K/9. He still has a pretty high WHIP at 1.367 and walks 3.39 per 9 innings.
  
  
• Michigan averages over a hit per inning on the season.
  
  
• Andrew Hess has 4 balks on the season. No other pitcher has one.
  
  
• They don't really have a full time closer as both Ben Jenzen has 5 saves and Michael Powers has 4. Both are hittable, but Powers walks only 1.86 per 9 and Jenzen walks 5.10 per 9. I'm guessing we'll only see Powers in the closing role.
  
  
• We MUST get into their bullpen. The only reliable reliever other than Powers is Adam Abraham. The rest of the bullpen has a 5.4 ERA, 1.582 WHIP, 6.06 BB/9 (!), and almost a hit per inning.
  

Not satisfied? Relive some of the moments from the Virginia regional:

YouTube Beaver regional highlights - DCBeav

Regional Recap - OregonLive Beaver Blogger


Or you could read up on the Michigan Wolverines.

Here's a nice blog from the UM point of view with some great photos:
MGoBlue Blog - Covering the NCAA with the Wolverines

Or check out the preview at Building the Dam:
Know Thy Enemy: Michigan Wolverines Q&A


Go Beavers!