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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Bradley's Paula Buscher becomes SIUE's new head coach


Bradley University's longest and winningest women's basketball coach in the school's history, Paula Buscher, has been named Southern Illinois-Edwardsville's new coach Wednesday afternoon.

"Bradley is a very special place and it has been a privilege to be a part of the Bradley family," Buscher said in a statement on the Bradley Athletics website.

Buscher becomes the fifth coach at SIUE after Amanda Levens left the Cougars to become the Associate Head Coach at Arizona State in April. SIUE made their first postseason appearance last season in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) before falling to Wright State 73-64 in the first round.

"It's an exciting time for both myself and SIUE Athletics, and I am thrilled to be a part of it," Buscher said in a statement on the SIUE Athletics web site. "I look forward to building upon the great work that has been done to bring championships to the 'e.'"

Buscher coached 12 seasons at Bradley, leaving with a 167-188 (.470) record after Bradley went 18-16 (7-11 in Missouri Valley Conference play) last year, including a second round appearance in the WBI before losing 85-59 to the University of Minnesota.

Bradley's Athletic Director Michael Cross will conduct a national search to find its next women's basketball coach.

"Coach Buscher has been a valued member of the Bradley Athletics staff for the last 12 years and has brought the women's basketball program its first two postseason appearances," Dr. Cross said in a statement. "We wish her the best luck at SIUE."

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Who will (and should) play in the 2012 MLB Futures Game


I don't know if anyone is like me, but I love minor league baseball. What's better than watching the top up-and-coming stars of baseball rise through the ranks before the reach the big leagues? Thus, one of my favorite displays of talent is the Futures Game, which usually occurs two days before the MLB All-Star Game. Each team gets an opportunity to showcase their top talent, and all the top prospects get a chance to shine on the big stage a little earlier than their big league call up. 

While everyone awaits the Futures Game roster, which will come later in June, I decided to make a list of who I think will (and should) be included. Now it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Each MLB team must represented but no team may have more than two players. It's difficult to determine who should be playing in the game when you have to consider the difficulties of finding a foreign-born catcher that deserves to play in the game over a star pitcher. 

Without further ado, here's who will (and should) be in the 2012 Futures Game:

*Stats and ages are as of: June 5th, 2012


U.S.


P- Matt Barnes, Boston Red Sox (Age: 21)
  • 5-1, 1.04 ERA, 11 starts, 60.2 IP, 8 BB, 81 K at A/hi-A
P- Trevor Bauer, Arizona Diamondbacks (21)

  • 9-1, 1.96 ERA, 12 starts, 73.1 IP, 38 BB, 91 K at AA/AAA

P- Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks (20)


  • 6-3, 3.92 ERA, 12 starts, 59.2 IP, 35 BB, 56 K at A

P- Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles (19)

  • 2-1, 0.68 ERA, 10 starts, 40 IP, 3 BB, 53 K at A/hi-A
P- Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates (21)
  •  4-1, 2.53 ERA, 11 starts, 57 IP, 19 BB, 56 K at hi-A
P- J.R. Graham, Atlanta Braves (22)
  • 6-1, 2.71 ERA, 11 starts, 69.2 IP, 15 BB, 44 K at hi-A
P- Chris Heston, San Francisco Giants (24)
  • 5-2, 0.68 ERA, 11 starts, 66.2 IP, 16 BB, 60 K at AA
P- Danny Hultzen, Seattle Mariners (22)
  • 6-3, 1.44 ERA, 11 starts, 62.1 IP, 30 BB, 67 K at AA
P- Daniel Rosenbaum, Washington Nationals (24)
  • 7-1, 1.75 ERA, 11 starts, 77 IP, 13 BB, 45 K at AA
P- Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners (19)
  • 4-1, 2.68 ERA, 10 starts, 50.1 IP, 18 BB, 53 K at AA
P- Zack Wheeler, New York Mets (22)
  • 5-2, 1.88 ERA, 9 starts, 52.2 IP, 21 BB, 60 K at AA

C- Travis D'Arnaud, Toronto Blue Jays (23)
  • .332, 66 H, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 17 BB, 1 SB at AAA
C- Derek Norris, Oakland A's (23)
  • .283, 51 H, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 13 BB, 4 SB at AAA

3B- Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers (20)
  • .405, 87 H, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 22 BB, 3 SB at AA
2B- Delino DeShields Jr., Houston Astros (19)
  • .254, 54 H, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 35 BB, 37 SB at A
SS- Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds (21)
  • .327, 73 H, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 31 BB, 63 SB at hi-A
3B- Mike Olt, Texas Rangers (23)
  • .317, 64 H, 17 HR, 45 RBI, 33 BB, 3 SB at AA
1B- Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs (22)
  • .363, 70 H, 17 HR, 47 RBI, 19 BB, 2 SB at AAA
1B- Jonathan Singelton, Houston Astros (20)
  • .298, 57 H, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 33 BB, 2 SB at AA
2B- Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals (21)
  • .313, 62 H, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 18 BB, 9 SB at AA

OF- Jackie Bradley, Boston Red Sox (22)
  • .384, 73 H, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 42 BB, 13 SB at hi-A
OF- Khris Davis, Milwaukee Brewers (24)
  • .324, 23 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 11 BB, 2 SB at AA
OF- Jared Mitchell, Chicago White Sox (23)
  • .296, 58 H, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 38 BB, 11 SB at AA
OF- Wil Myers, Kansas City Royals (21)
  • .337, 70 H, 20 HR, 48 RBI, 21 BB, 4 SB at AA/AAA
OF- Mason Williams, New York Yankees (20)
  • .291, 55 H, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 15 BB, 14 SB at A

World

P- Edwar Cabrera, Colorado Rockies (24)
  • 5-4, 3.20 ERA, 11 starts, 70.1 IP, 18 BB, 58 K at AA
P- Daniel Corcino, Cincinnati Reds (21)
  • 2-3, 3.79 ERA, 11 starts, 57 IP, 27 BB, 55 K at AA
P- Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins (19)
  • 6-0, 1.50 ERA, 11 starts, 60 IP, 15 BB, 78 K at A
P- Pedro Hernandez, Chicago White Sox (23)
  • 7-2, 2.91 ERA, 10 starts, 58.2 IP, 18 BB, 31 K at AA
P- Rafael Montero, New York Mets (21)
  • 5-2, 2.43 ERA, 10 starts, 59.1 IP, 6 BB, 44 K at A
P- Ariel Pena, Los Angeles Angels (23)
  • 3-4, 3.45 ERA, 11 starts, 62.2 IP, 24 BB, 65 K at AA
P- Felipe Rivero, Tampa Bay Rays (20)
  • 5-4, 2.18 ERA, 11 starts, 62 IP, 14 BB, 56 K at A
P- Julio Rodriguez, Philadelphia Phillies (21)
  • 3-1, 2.67 ERA, 11 starts, 60.2 IP, 28 BB, 55 K at AA
P- Enny Romero, Tampa Bay Rays (21)
  • 1-3, 3.62 ERA, 11 starts, 54.2 IP, 30 BB, 41 K at hi-A
P- Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals (20)
  • 3-4, 2.82 ERA, 11 starts, 54.1 IP, 19 BB, 67 K at hi-A

C- Carlos Perez, Toronto Blue Jays (21)
  • .268, 45 H, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 20 BB, 3 SB at A
C- Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees (19)
  • .302, 60 H, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 13 BB, 10 SB at A

1B- Jesus Aguilar, Cleveland Indians (21)
  • .305, 56 H, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 21 BB, 0 SB at hi-A
2B- Jesus Arredondo, Los Angeles Dodgers (21)
  • .257, 43 H, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 14 BB, 7 SB at A
SS- Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs (19)
  • .290, 9 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB at A
2B- Cesar Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies (22)
  • .325, 67 H, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 13 BB, 9 SB at AA
SS- Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians (18)
  • .273, 59 H, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 13 BB, 13 SB at A
SS- Jurickson Profar, Texas Rangers (19)
  • .287, 62 H, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 24 BB, 7 SB at AA
3B- Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins (19)
  • .248, 51 H, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 33 BB, 5 SB at A
SS- Jean Segura, Los Angeles Angels (22)
  • .285, 63 H, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 10 BB, 22 SB at AA

OF- Oswaldo Arcia, Minnesota Twins (21)
  • .330, 61 H, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 18 BB, 1 SB at hi-A
OF- Yeison Asencio, San Diego Padres (22)
  • .321, 18 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SB at A
OF- Rymer Liriano, San Diego Padres (20)
  • .293, 60 H, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 14 BB, 18 SB at hi-A
OF- Oscar Taveras, St. Louis Cardinals (19)
  • .316, 65 H, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 17 BB, 5 SB at AA
OF- Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins (20) Willy Garcia, Pittsburgh Pirates (19)
  • .267, 56 H, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 12 BB, 5 SB at A

TEAMS

Baltimore Orioles - Dylan Bundy
Boston Red Sox - Bryce Brentz, Matt Barnes
New York Yankees - Gaby Sanchez, Mason Williams
Tampa Bay Rays - Enny Romero, Felipe Rivero
Toronto Blue Jays - Travis D'Arnaud, Carlos Perez

Chicago White Sox - Jared Mitchell, Pedro Hernandez
Cleveland Indians - Francisco Lindor, Jesus Aguilar
Detroit Tigers - Nick Castellanos
Kansas City Royals - Wil Myers, Yordano Ventura
Minnesota Twins - Miguel Sano, Oswaldo Arcia

Los Angeles Angels - Jean Segura, Ariel Pena
Oakland A's - Derek Norris
Seattle Mariners - Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen
Texas Rangers - Jurickson Profar, Mike Olt

Atlanta Braves - J.R. Graham
Miami Marlins - Jose Fernandez, Christian Yelich
New York Mets - Zack Wheeler, Rafael Montero
Philadelphia Phillies - Cesar Hernandez, Julio Rodriguez
Washington Nationals - Daniel Rosenbaum

Chicago Cubs - Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez
Cincinnati Reds - Billy Hamilton, Daniel Corcino
Houston Astros - Jonathan Singleton, Delino DeShields Jr.
Milwaukee Brewers - Khris Davis
Pittsburgh Pirates - Gerrit Cole, Willy Garcia
St. Louis Cardinals - Oscar Taveras, Kolten Wong

Arizona Diamondbacks - Trevor Bauer, Archie Bradley
Colorado Rockies - Edwar Cabrera
Los Angeles Dodgers - Jesus Arredondo
San Francisco Giants - Chris Heston
San Diego Padres - Rymer Liriano


Do you agree? Disagree? Leave a comment below and we can discuss.

I don't believe Anthony Rizzo or Trevor Bauer will play in the Futures Game because of their inevitable call ups to the big leagues, but until they are officially on a big league roster, they will stay on the list. The list will be updated as injuries and call ups occur until the official roster is released.