Arkansas 14, Missouri State 6

1 comment April 30th, 2008 11:33pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: Hogs Make it Three Straight, Defeat Missouri State

Scott Lyons reached base five times with four hits to lead the Arkansas Razorback baseball team to a 14-6 victory over Missouri State at Baum Stadium on Wednesday night.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Box Score (PDF)
• Ryan Malashock: Hogs’ Bats Spark Rally Past Missouri State
• The Morning News: Around The Horn
• Rick Fires: Hogs make most of a sloppy game
• Heath Allen: Tough tune-up
• Brandon Marcello: Plenty of arms on display in Razorbacks’ victory

Update 5/1/08 9:45 a.m.

Back On Track

1 comment April 30th, 2008 6:05am Walking on Sunshine

After a dismal start to SEC play, Dave Van Horn’s Diamond Hogs are finally putting things together.  With a series win over Western Division-leading Ole Miss last weekend, the Razorbacks (26-18, 9-11) are still in position to challenge for the division title with nine conference games remaining.

Hopes for the postseason are also on the rise.  As their RPI continues to climb (Rivals #26), the most recent projection by Southeastern Baseball has the Hogs making the field of 64.

No doubt a 3-8 SEC start had many thinking about next year.  But after three straight conference series wins over Florida, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, it looks like the bats and starting pitching have finally started coming together at the same time.

Dallas Keuchel (3-2, 4.17), Cliff Springston (5-2, 3.74), and Justin Wells (3-0, 4.97) have all given solid starting performances of late.  And that’s allowed pitching coach Dave Jorn to mostly avoid using an inconsistent bullpen that has blown several big leads this season.

The Razorbacks have recently started finding their stroke at the plate, as well.  Catcher Ryan Cisterna carried the team (three home runs and five RBI) during the Tennessee series.  And infielder Tim Smalling caught fire with four home runs and seven RBIs during Saturday’s doubleheader in Oxford.  Outfielder Chase Leavitt (.509 on-base percentage) has been providing a spark at the top of the batting order.

After a mid-week game tonight against Missouri State, this weekend’s series at home with Alabama will be huge.  Sitting only 1.5 games out of first place in the Western Division, and with two of the final three series at Baum Stadium, the Hogs are poised to make a late charge to finish up what has been a roller coaster of a regular season.

Good Is Good

6 comments April 28th, 2008 6:05am TipsterHog

Jean-Jacques Taylor of The Dallas Morning News thinks the Cowboys made a mistake drafting Felix Jones ahead of Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall with the 22nd pick:

You don’t draft a complementary player in the first round when you have an opportunity to select a franchise back.

Ever.

But that’s what the Cowboys did Saturday.

So…apparently there’s some sort of ‘Draft bible’ that Jean-Jacques is quoting from here.  Although he doesn’t reference chapter and verse.

And, unfortunately, he also doesn’t bother to list many facts to support his argument that Mendenhall is a ‘franchise back.’  In truth, a comparison of career stats shows very little difference between the two rushers:

Jones: 38 Games, 387 Attempts, 2,954 Yards, 20 TDs, 7.6 yards per carry
Mendenhall: 35 Games, 388 Attempts, 2,539 Yards, 22 TDs, 6.5 yards per carry

Size?  Jones is slightly taller and Mendenhall is nearly 20 pounds heavier.

Speed?  Mendenhall ran a 4.45 at the NFL Combine and Jones ran a 4.47.

Now explain to me again how one of these players is obviously a 20-25 carry running back and the other one isn’t?  Or, more specifically, that either one of them has proven their NFL franchise back potential?

So maybe the truth is that both of them are equally good.  Which is exactly what the Cowboys said after the draft:

“Both of them were so close you could flip a coin over them,” Jerry Jones said.

But wait…Jean-Jacques uses his powers of deductive reasoning to prove (prove!) that the Cowboys had Mendenhall rated higher:

“I don’t want to get into which was the highest rated,” Jerry said. “I don’t want to do that.”

Trust me, that means Mendenhall was rated higher, which is one more reason Jerry should’ve trusted the draft board and taken Mendenhall.

Ah yes…just trust the board, Jerry.  But here’s the real question: if one player is ranked 22-A on this ‘almighty board’ and the other is 22-B…does it really matter which one you choose?

Four Razorbacks Are Second Day NFL Draft Picks

Add comment April 27th, 2008 10:55pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: Four Razorbacks Drafted on Day Two of NFL Draft

Arkansas defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, offensive tackle Nate Garner, fullback Peyton Hillis and wide receiver Marcus Monk heard their names called on Sunday in day two of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Also:

• Robbie Neiswanger: Harrison One of Four Hogs Selected Sunday, Two Hogs Agree To Free Agent Contracts
• Bob Holt: Harrison gets call from Bears

Updated 4/28/08 8:10 a.m.

Red 45, White 14

7 comments April 26th, 2008 11:44pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: Dick, Smith Lead Red to 45-14 Spring Game Victory in Front of 40,000 Fans

Casey Dick passed for 404 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Smith ran for 157 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries as the Red posted a 45-14 victory over the White in Arkansas’ spring football game Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Game Stats (PDF)
• AP: RB Smith shines in Arkansas spring game
• Chris Bahn: Razorbacks Show Off Offensive Options
• Robbie Neiswanger: Offense On Display
• Kurt Voigt: Smith Takes On No. 1 Role
• The Morning News: Williams Enjoys Breakout Performance
• Tom Murphy: Arkansas piles up numbers
• Rob Keys: Offense puts smile on QB’s face
• Marty Cook: Red-White game report
• Nate Allen: Smith leads Hogs in posting big numbers

Updated 4/28/08 8:15 a.m.

Arkansas 13, Ole Miss 11 (Game 1); Arkansas 12, Ole Miss 4 (Game 2)

2 comments April 26th, 2008 11:42pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: Smalling Hits Long Ball, Arkansas Wins in 10

Tim Smalling hit three home runs and had six RBI, but it was the RBI single by Ben Tschepikow in the top of the 10th inning that led the Arkansas Razorback baseball team to a wild 13-11 victory over the Mississippi Rebels at Oxford-University Stadium in the first game of a twi-night double header.

Hogwired.com: Razorbacks Sweep Doubleheader in Oxford

Logan Forsythe hit two home runs and drove in five runs while Cliff Springston threw a complete game and struck out a career high nine to lead the Arkansas baseball team to a doubleheader sweep and 12-4 victory in the second game over the Mississippi Rebels at Oxford-University Stadium.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Box Score - Game 1 (PDF), Box Score - Game 2 (PDF)
• Vernon Tarver: Razorbacks Lose Lead, Win Game
• Rick Fires: UA powers its way past Ole Miss
• The Clarion-Ledger: Razorbacks pound Rebs, sweep DH

Updated 4/27/08 10:40 a.m.

Felix Jones Drafted In First Round By Cowboys

4 comments April 26th, 2008 10:56pm TipsterHog

Ryan Malashock: Jones Headed To Dallas

As expected, the allure of drafting a running back from his alma mater turned out to be too hard for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to pass up.

He couldn’t trade up for Darren McFadden. But he gladly settled for Felix Jones, making the Tulsa, Okla., native the No. 22 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

Also:

• Bob Holt: UA backs make 1st-round splash
• The Dallas Morning News: Cowboys’ choices reflect immediate plan, Taylor: Wrong Selection for Cowboys?
• Fort-Worth Star-Telegram: Instead of a rewrite, Cowboys go by book, Engel: When great things are possible, good feels bad
• Tulsa World: Dallas takes Felix in first round

Updated 4/27/08 10:35 a.m.

Raiders Draft McFadden With Fourth Overall Pick

3 comments April 26th, 2008 3:30pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: McFadden Selected No. 4 in NFL Draft by Oakland Raiders

Arkansas’ two-time Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden was selected with the No. 4 pick of the 2008 National Football League Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Also:

• AP: Raiders take McFadden at No. 4 in NFL draft, McFadden: ‘I just surround myself with family members’
• Alex Abrams: McFadden Headed To Silver and Black, Fans Boo Raiders’ Pick of McFadden
• Mark Lelinwalla: D-Mac in silver and black
• Bob Holt: UA backs make 1st-round splash
• The Oakland Tribune: Raiders get their man by picking McFadden

Updated 4/27/08 10:20 a.m.

Ole Miss 12, Arkansas 4

1 comment April 25th, 2008 11:12pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: Long Ball Hurts Razorbacks in Oxford

Ryan Cisterna had two hits for the Arkansas Razorback baseball team including a solo home run in the sixth inning but it wasn’t enough as Arkansas fell to the Mississippi Rebels, 12-4, on Friday night at Oxford-University Stadium.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Box Score (PDF)
• Vernon Tarver: Long Ball Lifts Ole Miss Past Arkansas
• Rick Fires: Arkansas native makes Hogs pay
• The Clarion-Ledger: Williams’ special homer sparks Rebels’ uprising

Updated 4/26/08 9:30 a.m.

Practice Reports - 4/24/08

Add comment April 24th, 2008 11:28pm TipsterHog

Hogwired.com: Defensive Consistency and Emotion is the Key for Robinson

The Razorback football team completed a two-hour practice session Thursday on the turf inside Willard and Pat Walker Pavilion.  [...] The defense had a good day but is still looking for a more steady attack, according to defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Red-White Spring Game Roster (PDF)
• Alex Abrams: Hogs Release Roster For Spring Game
• Tom Murphy: Razorbacks Report

Updated 4/25/08 7:55 a.m.