Baseball

Andrew Linnehan

 

 

Michigan's #1 in the first edition of the '09 Baseball Power Rankings... Will the Wolverines be on top wire-to-wire?

1. MICHIGAN - The Wolverines could be our first wire-to-wire winner of any sport’s power rankings. Big Blue jumped out of the gates with a 5-0 weekend that included a 10-inning triumph over Purdue and back-to-back wins in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge. I like teams that make our conference look good.

 

 

2. OHIO STATE - The Buckeyes were also perfect in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge (3-0) and are flirting with the top 25 already. The most notable opening weekend win was a 2-0 pitcher’s duel over Brian Dupra and Notre Dame. Offense found a way to manufacture a couple runs, and pitchers Alex Wimmers and Drew Rucinski combined for a 6-hit shutout. 

 

3. PENN STATE - Why does PSU get the nod over the three other B10 squads that finished opening weekend 2-1? Because after being blanked for 8 innings on getaway day in Florida, the Nits piled on 6 runs in the final frame to drown the Pirates of Seton Hall, 6-1.

 

4. INDIANA - The Hoosier baseballers are off to a blazing start in voting for the Sexiest Team Tournament, and they’re not far behind with their performance on the diamond. 2-1 in their first three games, and the bats have already exploded for 25 runs. IU should be able to get on a roll this weekend against weaker comp at the Austin Peay Invitational.

 

5. ILLINOIS - Other than a pitching collapse against an always tough Notre Dame program, the Illini got off to a nice little 2-1 start to the young season with crooked-numbered wins over Iowa and West Virginia. The standout performance from opening weekend was turned in by junior SS Brandon Wikoff, who hit .417 in the three contests, scored six times, and drew five free passes.

 

6. MINNESOTA - After getting waxed by a Seton Hall team that didn’t fare too well against Big Ten comp, the Gophers dusted themselves off and got a couple dandy pitching performances from both starters and relievers in wins against West Virginia and conference foe Michigan State.

 

7. PURDUE - I know the Boilers went 1-3 to start ‘09, but bear with me for a second. They got a gutsy 11-10 win over Cincinnati, then lost three in a row, two of which were extra-inning defeats to far superior Michigan and Notre Dame teams, and the other a 7-5 loss to a South Florida team that could see the top 25 before season’s end. Looks like a deceiving record to me. 

 

8. NORTHWESTERN - One powerful force on the mound is buoying an under-talented NU group right now, and that’s LHP Eric Jokisch. The southpaw picked up where he left off last year, mowing down competition en route to a career-high 9 K’s versus Georgetown in the Wildcats’ lone win of opening weekend. For his efforts, he shares Big Ten Pitcher of the Week laurels with OSU’s Drew Rucinski

 

9. IOWA - First it loses to in-conference rival Illinois, then gets lambasted by St. Johns, 18-3 (7). In the game, the Hawkeyes used five different pitchers, walked eight, and surrendered as many hits as they did runs. If the bullpen doesn’t shape up, it could be worn out even before conference play begins. 

 

10. MICHIGAN STATE - Nice win over UConn to open the ‘09 slate, but successive bad losses to Seton Hall and Minnesota. No time to panic yet, but it’d be nice to win a four-game series against UNC-Wilmington this weekend.