Schedule Announced

Some of these we knew some we did not but the Louisville baseball schedule was announced yesterday.

Points of Interest:

• Cards begin the season Feb 19 at Jim Patterson against MAC champion Bowling Green.
• UofL will face UK in Lexington Apr 6 then they travel to Louisville on Apr 28.
• They have 31 home games this year.
• They will play a 3 game road series at Ole Miss, SEC Champ.

Link to the Schedule at UofLSports.com.

Baseball America Ranks Class in Top 25

Even though you can't get to it without a password, Baseball America has come out with their Top 25 Recruiting classes. For the 2nd straight year, Dan McDonnell's Cardinals are listed, they are 20th.

Link to Story at UofLSports.com.

Link to BaseballAmerica.com.

Here's a sample of what BA said:

"After reeling in a pair of power arms from cold-weather locales last year in Keith Landers and Tony Zych, the Cardinals landed three more this year in Koch, Feekin and Flett. Koch, the top prep prospect in Iowa this spring, is an athletic former four-sport standout with a fastball that reaches 93 mph and a promising 82 mph slider. Feekin's quality three-pitch mix includes an 88-92 mph fastball, a good changeup and a solid curve. Flett was throwing strikes with a 91-93 fastball this fall and mixing in a sharp mid-70s curve and a change.

"That trio is complemented by an athletic group of position players, led by Grieshaber, a versatile infielder in the mold of Louisville sophomore Ryan Wright. The physical Stallings could step in and play third base immediately, and the projectable Clarkson is Louisville's center fielder of the future. The long-levered Wasserman has the most raw power in the class but needs to shorten his swing a bit."

Pizza Bowl Scheduled Oct. 20-22

The annual intrasquad scrimmage series will be held this Tuesday through Thursday. The games will be free and also live video will be available on CardsTV.

Should be some interesting stuff.

Story at UofLSports.com

Very Tentative Look at Lineup

I am watching the MLB playoffs and starting to get the itch for college baseball... We are around 4 and a half months until next season, why not take a look at the lineup.

1. Josh Richmond RF
2. Adam Duvall 2B
3. Andrew Clark 1B
4. Stewart Ijames LF
5. Phil Wunderlich DH
6. Ryan Wright SS
7. Jeff Arnold C
8. Drew Haynes CF
9. ?

I didn't really think after starting that I would finish on a question mark but alas, there it is. Lets look at the scenarios for the replacement for Mingo at 3rd base:

• Either Duvall, Wright, or Wunderlich could make the shift to the position. Unlikely... I haven't seen Phil play much infield, Duvall is a senior staple at second, and Wright is a middle infielder and we lose Dao so there will be a hole at SS.
• A newcomer fills the spot... Very possible. On the team's 2010 roster there are a few possibilities. The only non-freshman prospect is Mike Morrison a JuCo transfer from Gulf Coast CC, but he is listed as a 1B (an infielder at least). Freshmen prospects are Cade Stallings, who oddly is listed as only a 3B on the roster, not just an IF. This leads me to believe that he is a definite contender. Also, Kyle Grieshaber and Zak Wasserman are freshmen infielders. I will know more as the season approaches.
• The final scenario is an upperclassman not listed as a starter above makes the move to fill the hole. Tony Zych could throw this all for a loop. Although he is only listed as a 2B on the roster, he came to Louisville for the opportunity to play the field which isn't going to happen much at 2B barring a Duvall injury. Also, a complete blind shot in the dark could be a very unexpected move by Nate Holland to play the spot, very unlikely, if I am writing that I may as well say pitchers may move there.

It should be very interesting to see what happens with the hole. I expect the battle for the spot is already on at fall camp. My personal opinion is to let one of the underclassmen get the spot, worked out well last year with Ryan Wright in the OF. Just pick the better bat, college baseball is about hitting, not fielding... as Chris Dominguez taught us.

Cards to play in Big East/Big Ten Challenge

The Cards will be filling a spot in the Big East/Big Ten Challenge this Ferbrurary 26-28 in Clearwater, FL. Louisville will face Michigan, Michigan St., and perennial powerhouse Minnesota.

The rest of the Cardinal Baseball schedule will be released later this fall.

I may actually be in attendance at some of these games, no worries you will get plenty of updates.

More at Big East/Big Ten Challenge Site.

Cardinal Baseball Opens Fall Workouts

A little delay here at BL Blog... just checking around on our boys after the defastating loss yesterday at Commonwealth and the news cannot be better on the diamond.

The players are all back on campus, those from summer leagues, international competition, rehabbing injuries, and newcomers to the program.

Fall workout have begun, the Cards return 7 frequent starters in the field, as well as many starting pitchers and bullpen guys.

Story at UofLSports.com.

Clark to Return! Great News

Clark returning for a senior season for the Cards. Good to get your 3 hitter back for another season. He, Ijames and Wunderlich will definitely be formidable in the middle of the Cardinal lineup for next year.

Also, recruits Ali, Koch, Feekin, and Wasserman have enrolled in school and will be ready for the spring season.

Stay tuned to BL for projected lineups and preseason news.

Story at UofLSports.com.