TicketsForget basketball and football, the University of Cincinnati is officially a baseball school. At least for today.
Three former Bearcats started last night across MLB, with Josh Harrison earning the start and hitting second for Pittsburgh, Tony Campana starting in center for Chicago and Kevin Youkilis holding down his standard spot for Boston.
Most importantly, this was the MLB debut for Harrison. He wasted little time earning his first major league hit and didn't mind adding his first MLB RBI later on in a 5-1 win over the Mets.
Harrison went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored. Those stats were nice enough, but considering the timing, played an even larger role. Harrison's single in the eighth scored the game-tying run. Then his run scored made it 3-1 to extend the lead.
Here's the game recap video from MLB.com with plenty of love for the UC product.Here's more detailed video of his first hit.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Biertempfel posted this blog about Harrison's special night. A nice first-hand account. Unfortunately, Harrison's parents flew in for the Monday game in which Harrison didn't play, but had to leave Tuesday prior to the game.
Here was the photo atop the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's sports page on the web:
And the game story with some more love for Harrison.
Let's eat...
--- With all this Campana and Harrison talk, I overlook the steady veteran Youkilis too often. It's easy to take for granted the numbers he puts up. For the record, he's hitting .260 with eight bombs, 14 doubles and is second on the Sox with 34 RBI. Standard Youk.
Oh, and earlier this season a bunch of rowdy Sox fans serenaded him at 2 a.m. after a lengthy rain delay and extra inning game with some Biz Markie. Here's the video, scroll ahead to the :30 second mark.
--- The new ESPN Big East blogger Andrea Adelson with an interesting post about Butch Jones considering splitting up his team into two groups and holding two separate practices. He would run Group A for two hours then start Group B for two hours directly after. It would double the workload for the coaches, who would be out there for four hours straight, but double the reps for his developing players.
When you consider the youth on this team and the obvious depth dilemma faced last season, the idea makes sense on paper. It allows more opportunity to see exactly what these players can do and provide more teachable moments in a more intimate setting.
Why this makes even more sense for a guy like Jones is it's an opportunity to outwork the competition. That's what elevated Jones to his current platform and he knows that's the way he can ascend the Big East ladder.
Jones is only considering the changes at this point, so no idea if he'll follow through, but it will be worth following once August comes around.
--- You want to know more about the possible practice changes -- well, you can ask Jones face to face at the Coaches Caravan at the Glenway City BBQ today. (6475 Glenway Ave.)
Women's basketball coach Jamelle Elliott will also be in attendance for today's session. Attendance is free, UC will raffle off some prizes and hold Q&As.
Plus, the bread budding.
Here's the schedule of events:
2011 UC Coaches Caravan Schedule
I'll keep you up to date on which coaches will be showing up at the location each week. Mick Cronin and Brian Cleary are expected to join in the future.
--- While we are reminding of summer activities, remember the first of three Mick Cronin summer basketball camps starts in just two weeks. You can find all the details here.
--- Stephanie Niemer played in her first professional volleyball season in Puerto Rico. Not surprisingly, she worked her way up to a top option on the team by the end of the season and led them with 32 service aces. Oh, and heading to the beach every off day wasn't a bad deal either. Shawn Sell with the story.
--- Some randomness....
--- When I read that Penn State could have had Larry Brown as their coach if only they showed him they were committed to their basketball program, I could only think of Winston from Ghostbusters:
"Ray, when somebody asks you if you are a God, you say YES!"
"When Larry Brown asks you if you are committed to your basketball program, you say YES!"
--- Long commutes to work apparently cause many, many more problems than just having to listen to those zany FM morning radio teams.
--- Love The Onion.
--- I've seen Extreme Couponing and was intrigued. This is Extreme Ironing and I'm concerned.
--- Here's a new video/song from Kings of Leon: Back Down South. It's their latest single and a tribute to their roots. I'm not usually a fan of the new southern rock sound this utilizes, but this one definitely deserves a listen.
Three former Bearcats started last night across MLB, with Josh Harrison earning the start and hitting second for Pittsburgh, Tony Campana starting in center for Chicago and Kevin Youkilis holding down his standard spot for Boston.
Most importantly, this was the MLB debut for Harrison. He wasted little time earning his first major league hit and didn't mind adding his first MLB RBI later on in a 5-1 win over the Mets.
Harrison went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored. Those stats were nice enough, but considering the timing, played an even larger role. Harrison's single in the eighth scored the game-tying run. Then his run scored made it 3-1 to extend the lead.
Here's the game recap video from MLB.com with plenty of love for the UC product.Here's more detailed video of his first hit.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Biertempfel posted this blog about Harrison's special night. A nice first-hand account. Unfortunately, Harrison's parents flew in for the Monday game in which Harrison didn't play, but had to leave Tuesday prior to the game.
Here was the photo atop the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's sports page on the web:
And the game story with some more love for Harrison. Let's eat...
--- With all this Campana and Harrison talk, I overlook the steady veteran Youkilis too often. It's easy to take for granted the numbers he puts up. For the record, he's hitting .260 with eight bombs, 14 doubles and is second on the Sox with 34 RBI. Standard Youk.
Oh, and earlier this season a bunch of rowdy Sox fans serenaded him at 2 a.m. after a lengthy rain delay and extra inning game with some Biz Markie. Here's the video, scroll ahead to the :30 second mark.
--- The new ESPN Big East blogger Andrea Adelson with an interesting post about Butch Jones considering splitting up his team into two groups and holding two separate practices. He would run Group A for two hours then start Group B for two hours directly after. It would double the workload for the coaches, who would be out there for four hours straight, but double the reps for his developing players.
When you consider the youth on this team and the obvious depth dilemma faced last season, the idea makes sense on paper. It allows more opportunity to see exactly what these players can do and provide more teachable moments in a more intimate setting.
Why this makes even more sense for a guy like Jones is it's an opportunity to outwork the competition. That's what elevated Jones to his current platform and he knows that's the way he can ascend the Big East ladder.
Jones is only considering the changes at this point, so no idea if he'll follow through, but it will be worth following once August comes around.
--- You want to know more about the possible practice changes -- well, you can ask Jones face to face at the Coaches Caravan at the Glenway City BBQ today. (6475 Glenway Ave.)
Women's basketball coach Jamelle Elliott will also be in attendance for today's session. Attendance is free, UC will raffle off some prizes and hold Q&As.
Plus, the bread budding.
Here's the schedule of events:
6:00-6:15 p.m. meet and greet with coaches
6:15-6:40 p.m. Q & A with coaches
6:40-7:00 p.m. autographs (sharpies and autograph cards will be provided)
7:00 p.m. announce raffle winners
2011 UC Coaches Caravan Schedule
· June 1 - Glenway
· June 8 - West Chester
· June 15 - Hyde Park
· June 22 - Eastgate
· June 29 - TBA
I'll keep you up to date on which coaches will be showing up at the location each week. Mick Cronin and Brian Cleary are expected to join in the future.
--- While we are reminding of summer activities, remember the first of three Mick Cronin summer basketball camps starts in just two weeks. You can find all the details here.
--- Stephanie Niemer played in her first professional volleyball season in Puerto Rico. Not surprisingly, she worked her way up to a top option on the team by the end of the season and led them with 32 service aces. Oh, and heading to the beach every off day wasn't a bad deal either. Shawn Sell with the story.
--- Some randomness....
--- When I read that Penn State could have had Larry Brown as their coach if only they showed him they were committed to their basketball program, I could only think of Winston from Ghostbusters:
"Ray, when somebody asks you if you are a God, you say YES!"
"When Larry Brown asks you if you are committed to your basketball program, you say YES!"
--- Long commutes to work apparently cause many, many more problems than just having to listen to those zany FM morning radio teams.
--- Love The Onion.
--- I've seen Extreme Couponing and was intrigued. This is Extreme Ironing and I'm concerned.
--- Here's a new video/song from Kings of Leon: Back Down South. It's their latest single and a tribute to their roots. I'm not usually a fan of the new southern rock sound this utilizes, but this one definitely deserves a listen.