Buckeyes gobbled up by Virginia Tech

Courtesy Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Ohio State Buckeyes played their worst game of the Urban Meyer era and looked to be on the verge of being blown out before a rally tied the game at 21 in the fourth quarter.
Alas the comeback was simply a last gasp illusion as Virginia Tech would march down the field at will for the game deciding touchdown and then added an interception for another six points as the Buckeyes attempted to tie the game and hand Ohio State a 35-21 loss at the big horseshoe in Columbus.
J.T.Barrett threw for over 200 yards and rushed for 70 more to lead the ground game,but threw three interceptions and was harassed all day by the VT pass rush.
The 1-1 Buckeyes will host Kent State next week in Columbus.
Onto the negative points.

Olentangy Offerings

1) Not a lot of positives,but the defensive line did play well especially Joey Bosa with another sack and resulting forced fumble.

2) Michael Thomas looked more like a starter than Evan Spencer,when Thomas took a short pass and turned it into a 53 yard score.
Thomas has game breaking potential,Spencer does not and right now,this team needs all the game breakers that they can get..

3) J.T.Barrett may have thrown three picks and yes two of those were pretty bad throws,but I wouldn't give up on him yet.
Still I wouldn't be against Cardale Jones getting a lot of playing time next week vs Kent State.
Never know what he might bring to the offense.

4) Sean Nurenberger missed two field goals and I can give him a pass on the first one as it was a long range attempt.
The unforgivable one was the clank off the upright to give the Ohio State offense zero points on a drive that featured a long pass from Barrett to Devin Smith....

5) J.T. Barrett had 24 carries,Ezekiel Elliott eight?
That ratio will not win a lot of games this season against good opposition....

6) The offensive line was terrible,.
Just awful.I'm not sure Braxton Miller would have had a chance against some of those attackers,let alone a freshman quarterback.
If that isn't addressed and quickly-this could be a very long season....

7) I thought when the Buckeyes did try to commit to the run,I thought they used more option than they needed to.
Yes,the option is a valuable weapon against teams that don't see it,but Virginia Tech plays Georgia Tech every year-an option team....

8) For all the hype about Chris Ash coming into town in order to shore up the pass defense,I didn't see a ton of improvement.
Looked to me to be the same scheme as last year and the influence of Ash doesn't appear to have rubbed off on Luke Fickel at all.

9) The loss was the end of an impressive winning streak against non-conference unranked opponents at home.
64 games is a long time and you can argue that Virginia Tech maybe should have been ranked,but the case remains that's a long time.

10) Ohio State wore the chrome uniforms yesterdays.
As someone that isn't always a fan of the multiple uniform craze,I like the chromes.
Mainly because it's a look based on what the team wears instead of that Oregon craziness....

11) Finally,it's time to look at this team for what it is-A team that is talented,but inexperienced at key positions on offense (QB and O-Line) and defense (Secondary) that is going to have some growing pains.
I think Va,Tech is better than thought of by some,but there will be some growing pains.
10-2 might be unrealistic,8-4 might be a better call unless the Big 10 is really bad,which from what I saw yesterday just might be the case.

Suns win SAL North on an old time night!

The Hagerstown Suns traveled to Greensboro needing to earn one win on two games to move on and reach the South Atlantic title series for the second season in a row.
Hagerstown did the job in one as the Suns broke a 2-2 tie with one run in the eighth and then three more in the ninth for a 6-2 win.
Reynaldo Lopez struck out ten over six innings to befuddle the Greensboro sticks and left the game with a 2-0 lead,which the Hagerstown bullpen gave back in the seventh,
Hagerstown will move on against either Asheville or Savannah in the next round.
Asheville leads that series one game to none and leads game two 2-1 in the eighth inning in a game suspended from last night.
That game will be completed today at four o'clock.
If Asheville holds on,the series ends there,if Savannah can come back and win that game,a deciding game three will follow tomorrow night...

However,the more interesting thing about last night was a throwback to the past last night.
When you are my age,you tend to look back fondly on the days of untelevised games with a bit of nostalgia and in a day that sees almost everything on television,it was pretty quaint to have to follow a game via the ear.

Don't get me wrong,there are few more enthusiastic fans of the television packages than I,but occasionally it's quite a blast to listen to a game like the old days.
It wasn't that Eli Pearlstein was like listening to Vin Scully or Marty Brennaman or anything and it was not like this game was the shot heard round the world either,but I had forgotten what it was like to listen to a game at home.
Now I enjoy listening to a game in the car and sometimes I listen to a West Coast game at work,but at home there are so many alternatives to pass the time as you listen.
I spent the time working on the Browns preview that I put up earlier tonight,played some baseball on the ps3 and hunted all over the house for a Shawn Armstrong All-Star card (don't ask),but I could have done even more.
I could just see myself practicing a putting stroke,filing some cards away on the floor or even lying on my old bedroom floor tossing a ball into my battered Chris Chambliss first baseman's mitt.

Radio is the true home for baseball fans because the game is made for it.
All the things that the casual or non-fan of the game complain about on television is exactly what makes it a perfect fit on radio or whatever version that you use in this day and age.
Complaints that the game is too slow,takes too long and drags along is exactly what makes it so great to listen to.
Imagine kicking back on a cool summer night on a back porch listening to your game of choice and doing something,anything as you do it?
Now I couldn't enjoy that because of my previously noted nitwit of a neighbor,but I could in the past.
I remember quite a few nights in the past at the old apartment,dragging a sleeping bag out and spreading it out on the back terrace (trust me,it wasn't half as ritzy as that sounded) with a radio set up in Ryan's bedroom window (it was right behind the "terrace") to the Oriole game,so we could root against the evil locals.

Last night was kind of a return to those nights.
Cherie was in and out of the living room,listening here and there and Rachel was listening in her own room (As I saw on Twitter) and that made me feel good knowing she cared enough to listen.
 I must admit I remembered listening to games with two others and it was a nice memory of listening to games growing up with my brother and then later with Ryan as he grew up.
Talking the game,arguing about sports and who was better than who and generally spending time together,getting to know each other better and bonding through a game.
Few things are better than that....

Back tomorrow with the review of the Ohio State game against Virginia Tech....

Cleveland Browns Preview

The Cleveland Browns looked to have high hopes at the end of the first round of the NFL Draft,but shortly thereafter the suspension of Josh Gordon sent the offense plummeting downward in expectations and it looks to be another long season in Cleveland under another new head coach in Mike Pettine.

The offense is filled with the most question marks and it starts under center with the quarterback situation.
Brian Hoyer beat out Johnny Manziel for the starting nod,but neither looked especially strong in pre-season play.
Hoyer might be on  a short leash considering Johnny Football wasn't drafted in round one to sit,so a fast start to the season is almost a must for Hoyer to keep his job.
The Browns aren't carrying a third quarterback on the roster,but the team did keep rookie Connor Shaw of South Carolina on the practice squad.

Ben Tate was the offensive star of the free agent signees from Houston and Tate looks to be the type of back that could flourish in the Kyle Shanahan offense and should be the main bulwark of the offense.
If the Browns are going to do anything on the offensive side of the ball,it may have to up to Ben Tate..
Third round pick Terrence West will spell Tate and will get his share of carries as well,while Isaiah Crowell was a training camp sensation and might be the sleeper of the team.
Ray Agnew will be the fullback as the Browns attempt the reestablish the position as a blocking back.

The suspension of Josh Gordon crushed any hopes of the Browns passing game being even average.
Miles Austin was imported from Dallas to be the number two receiver,but moved to number one after the Gordon suspension.
Austin has the skills to be an adequate number one,but the biggest issue for Austin has always been health and depending on that is a shaky chair to stand on.
Andrew Hawkins was signed to be play in the slot,but when Nate Burleson was released,Hawkins was forced to move outside.
At 5'7,Hawkins seems a bit small to play that spot,but the Browns will have to hope that he can make the move successfully.
Travis Benjamin will attempt to return from a knee injury that ended his 2013 season and the other pass catchers are even more unproven with rookie free agent Taylor Gabriel and LaRon Byrd was claimed off waivers from Dallas.
Neither jolt me full of confidence.

Jordan Cameron is a huge weapon at tight end and will need to continue his development into a playmaker.
Cameron will likely be the key security blanket for the QB's and the main red zone target as well.
Blocking types Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray will backup Cameron...

The offensive line returns the three standouts of last year's line in Joe Thomas at left tackle,Alex Mack at center and John Greco at right guard and second rounder Joel Bitonio appears to be heading for top notch status at left guard.
The biggest question remains Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle,who the new coaching staff was high on before a bad pre-season.
Schwartz struggled last season and might be the weak link on what appears to be a pretty good line.
The versatile Paul McQuistan was signed from Seattle to backup at guard and tackle while Ryan Seymour and Vinson Painter were waiver claims to provide depth.

The Browns will continue to run the 3-4 under Mike Pettine,but will likely be more of a attacking style defense and the pressure on the opposing passers should increase.

The defensive line should be a strength this year.
Desmond Bryant was playing very well last season before an injury and he will start at one end with Billy Winn starting at the other.
Armonty Bryant was dynamite during pre-season and could find himself starting  if he can maintain that level of play and Phil Taylor will be solid in that position in the rotation as well.
Ahtyba Rubin starts on the nose with Ishammil'y Kitchen backing him up.
John Hughes can play on or off the nose as a backup.

The linebackers received a huge upgrade on the inside with tackling machine Karlos Dansby.
Dansby brings a huge physical presence to the inside and will be a difference maker in a unit that didn't make a ton of big plays last season.
Craig Robertson surprisingly retained the other inside starting spot,but rookie Christian Kirksey will be the eventual starter.
Kirksey is a player that I am very high on for the future,if not the present.
Paul Krueger was a mild disappointment last year after arriving from Baltimore,Kruger will try to bounce back as the starter at one linebacker while 2013 first rounder Barkevious Mingo will start on the other side.
Mingo was devastating at times,but disappeared late in the season and will need to at least improve to average in pass coverage in order to be on the field more.
Jabaal Sheard continues his coverage to stand up pass rusher in a specialist role with special teams ace Tank Carder seeing backip time...

The secondary will be improved with the addition of first rounder Justin Gilbert opposite Joe Haden at cornerback.
Gilbert will likely have some growing pains,but the Browns have not had a pair of such talented corners for quite a while.
Buster Skrine will see plenty of playing time and is best suited as the third corner,but could step into the second corner position if the team decides to break Gilbert in slowly.
Mike Pettine believes in carrying lots of corners as the Browns kept four other corners to back up and play special teams with fifth rounder Pierre Desir being the most prominent.
Tashaun Gipson returns at one safety while former 49er Donte Whitner was signed to replace T.J. Ward,who was allowed to go to Denver, at the other.
I liked what I saw from Jordan Poyer last season in limited action and former Jet Jim Leonhard has been a long time favorite of mine and Pettine's.
Both should see plenty of field time.
This should be a much improved unit this season.

Billy Cundiff and Spencer Lanning return as a pair of above average,but not great members of the kicking game.
Travis Benjamin will be the main player in the return game,although Buster Skrine,Jim Leonhard and Jordan Poyer have all seen return action in the past.

Onto the fun part-the record.
I'm usually a pessimist and when I write the record in,you may assume I'm doing it again,but hear me out.
I really like this Browns defense and think they are going to stop teams.
The problem is this-they aren't going to score many points and without Josh Gordon,there is no downfield weapon.
I look for a lot of close and low scoring losses,but I also think we will see late season improvement too.
I am going to say 5-11 and some hope for next season,especially if Buffalo is pretty bad as well....
Go Browns.

Pigskin Picking Machine

The PPM returns for week two and the first week of the NFL season.
Please keep in mind even when the Thursday game is the best game of the week,it is ineligible to be the game of the week...

College

Ohio State over Virginia Tech 23-17
Bowling Green over VMI 32-13
Texas Tech over UTEP 49-36
Boise State over Colorado State 23-20
Washington over Eastern Washington 34-21

Game of the Week
Oregon over Michigan State 29-20

NFL
Steelers over Browns 17-7
Saints over Falcons 32-24
Game of the Week
Broncos over Colts 35-24

Last Week:4-1

Agony to Ecstacy! Hagerstown wins game one!

For eight and an half innings,the evening at aging Municipal Stadium the mood was ill mannered.
Bad lineup decisions,a severe lack of clutch hitting,oily politicians showing up and a fielding error at the wrong time all contributed to the Suns trailing 2-0 and down to their final two outs.

But before we go to the end,let's set up the deficit as Greensboro scored two runs in the fifth on a single,a dropped ball by first baseman Carlos Lopez,a strikeout that turned into a base off a passed ball and then another hit.
The Hoppers looked ready to rip this game wide open,but a sacrifice bunt moved runners to third and second with a out
Brian Anderson was intentionally walked (first one of those I've seen this year) to put lefty Justin Thomas against lefty swinger Felix Munoz.
Munoz hit a shallow fly to left fielder Narciso Mesa,who threw out the tagging J.T. Riddle at the plate and keep the game manageable at 2-0.
That play might have been what saved this game for the Suns.

A leadoff routine fly by Carlos Lopez saw me turn to Cherie and say "one down" until centerfielder Yefri Perez misplayed it for a three base error.
Lopez was plated with the Suns first run after a Jimmy Yezzo chopper to first,but the Suns still faced being behind by one run and down to their final two outs with light hitting David Masters to the plate with his three strikeouts on the evening.
Masters somehow worked Tyler Bremer to a walk and Wilmin Rodriquez drove a double over the head of left fielder Mason Davis,who was not playing a no doubles defense with Masters scoring the tying run from first base.
Rafael Bautista then knocked a grounder through Bremer right up the middle with Rodriguez,who was running on the pitch,scoring easily with the game winner!
David Napoli was the winner after a scoreless ninth,with Bremer getting the defeat.
Hagerstown now needs only a split in Greensboro to move onto the SAL Championship series.

A few bullet points from the game

1) Wondering why Patrick Anderson started Carlos Lopez at first base and Jimmy Yezzo at DH?
Yezzo is the better defender of the two and spent more time at the position this season.
This was a thought before the game and after mentioning it to Bill Cover,a few innings later Lopez dropped a ball thrown right to him and that runner scored an unearned run...

2) I know David Masters worked a walk and scored the tying run,but he looked overmatched in the three at bats before (all strikeouts) and I wondered why he wasn't pinch hit for.
Worked out in the end,but why Masters and not one of Brennan Middleton or Cody Dent?
When you look at the Suns and how they have used infielders at multiple positions this season,that change could have easily been made.

3) The Suns were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position before the game winning hit by Rafael Bautista and stranded runners at third in the seventh and eighth with both of them being the leadoff batter in the inning.
Better late than never when it comes to clutch hitting....

4) I've often been critical of the Suns bullpen,but on this night,the pen kept the team in the games with five scoreless innings of work.
Justin Thomas threw the first three and worked his way out of two jams that could have essentially ended this game early.
Very nice work.

5) I had noted in my preview that I was afraid of the starters returning to the 2012 series between these two teams and for most of this game,my worries were warranted as Esteban German was outstanding in allowing four hits and no runs over his six innings.
German looks to be quite a prospect and what most impressed me was his changeup,which had the Suns baffled and often way out in front.
Keep that name in mind....

6) The night didn't start wonderfully as Mayor Dave Gysberts threw out the first pitch and danced around in Rocky fashion with his arms waving.
I'm not a fan of politicians at games anyway,particularly those that worked so hard to smooth the trail for the team to leave town.
If you work against the team,please have the courtesy to stay the hell away from the stadium...

7) In closing,the few hundred fans left received a memory that they won't forget with the ending of this game.
We made the old field rock tonight and I'm proud of that.
Hagerstown,you don't know what you have missed in the last two seasons.
I'm pretty lucky to have taken part.....

Showdown in H-Town

Game one of the South Atlantic League Northern Division series starts in a few hours in Hagerstown with the visiting Greensboro Grasshoppers battling the Hagerstown Suns at the Muni.

The Grasshoppers will be starting Esteban German (9-3 2.48 ERA) in game one against Wander Suero (4-1 2.13 ERA) and this is the pivotal game of the series.
If Hagerstown has to go to Greensboro and have to win both games,it'll be a very difficult series to win,but winning one of two is very possible with Reynaldo Lopez starting game two against Chris Sadberry,while Nick Pivetta would start a series deciding game three if needed against Greensboro's Kyle Fischer.

Hagerstown appears to have the better team,but the Grasshoppers have stood toe to toe all season record wise with the Suns and have the home field advantage after the Suns first half collapse.
Greensboro reminds me much of last season's Suns with a team that puts the ball in play and hits for an high average.
Only one Hopper hit double digit homers (Felix Munoz 16),but the team features six .300 hitters that have played 40 or more games in Greensboro.
Esteban German  has developed into nice prospect status this season,but the other two starters in the series have produced nice numbers in their limited duties in the SAL (seven and eight starts respectively).

The Suns had three players in double digit homers in Jimmy Yezzo,SAL MVP Wilmer Difo and Drew Ward,but the average was not as high as last season's team and this years team is much more dependent on speed with Rafael Bautista's 69 steals supported by Difo's 49 to manufacture runs.
The starting pitching has been solid and despite some weak bullpen work of late,has been a plus.

Time for a pick of the series.
Had the parent Nationals not shut down Lucas Giolito,I'd pick the Suns in a romp.
No SAL is beating Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez two straight and as a non-pitch count fan,you'll never convince me the difference between 98 innings and 108 is career breaking,but that is the Washington way,so I'll offer more on that in the season recap.
I'm concerned about the pivotal game one at home with Wander Suero against Esteban German.
This reminds of the series two years ago between these two teams where Hagerstown hosted game one and started the journeyman Blake Schwartz against the Marlins first round draftee Andrew Heaney.
Greensboro won the game and cruised to a series win.
Could that happen tonight?
Very possible,but if the Suns can win here behind the erratic Suero,who has looked better since his return from high A Potomac-they win this series.

I'll be a homer and go Hagerstown in three,but that depends on winning the home opener.
Fingers crossed and back tonight with the game thoughts.

Summer's Last Gasp

Summer is just about officially over after tonight.

I know that fall has not officially arrived for the meteorologists and for many of you,it's after the just passed Labor Day holiday,but for me its tonight.

Between the possible final home game for the Hagerstown Suns and my return to the work grind tonight following the game,summer is just about finished.
I enjoy three of the four seasons (I hate winter),so it's not all bad,but there is something about living in a baseball town (for now anyway) that makes a nice summer evening better than anything else
Certainly,I love spring because it brings baseball back after another yucky winter and I know few that love a fall weekend of a upcoming Buckeye win and Brown loss more than I,but still there is something about summer,especially a summer like this one.
A summer that didn't see the temperature hit the high 90's or bring the suffocating blanket of humidity that we all wear around like an added sweatshirt is a special thing indeed.

Alas,most good things come to a conclusion and my vacation time is in its final hours,soon to be replaced by double digit work weeks and the hassles of accumulating the time to be able to take off next summer,but here are a few things about summer that I try to recall when I'm sitting at work in the middle of January with three months to go until the next baseball season.

Sitting at the top of the Muni with my family and friends are the best things about summer to me.
Having a wife and daughter that care about the team and like going to the games is a special thing.
Anyone can go to a game and tolerate it,but to have the family care with you-very nice.
My friends have changed since I first started attending Suns games as buddies that used to go have been replaced by those that do go,but it's always nice to sit with friends-for the most part! Ha Ha.

Summer also has advantages of being able to just grab your keys and go get something without 12 layers of clothing,having to warm up the car and feel wind crashing against you like the surf hitting the sand.
Plus how many food stands that you know are winter only?
Go ahead-I'll wait.

Summer also features IFL weekend and all the friends that used to be at the Muni.
My buddies there haven't been replaced,they are still right there for me,but they are at different stages of their lives and the result is that I don't see them as much as I used to.
IFL weekend is a throwback to the past,where all is right again before the clock strikes midnight and we return to daily routine.
Speaking for myself,it's just too short.

Sandals and shorts go away to be replaced by sweats and workboots,ugh.
Yeah,that's a great deal-the summer breeze at 10;00 at night replaced by a crackling wind and the crunch of ice under your boots.
Excuse me,if I'll take summer there!

Anyway,tonight is the end of summer for me,unless the Suns can win two out of three against Greensboro,its pretty much over.
If they can do that,well,I'll get a one to three night reprieve for the championship series.
Enjoy the fall as I will,but give a nod to the aging summer too,this one has set a high standard to reach.

I'll be back tonight with a recap of game one of the Northern Division title series and my thoughts on the possible last Hagerstown home game of the year....