Baseball: Milhorn still not ready for Cajuns – Clubhouse Robbery – Long Ball – Lagniappe

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, March 25, 2014

UL pitcher Greg Milhorn may miss at least two more starts due to a pulled oblique muscle that already has cost him a couple, Ragin’ Cajuns coach Tony Robichaux suggested Monday.

But it’s “hard,” Robichaux said, to pinpoint precisely when the junior righty will return.

“It’s one of those unique things that, where it’s located, he’s so vulnerable,” Robichaux said of the stomach injury. “He can’t really compensation for it.

“He is feeling a lot better, and every day it releases more and more. He’s playing catch again. I’m saying two weeks. But that doesn’t mean anything.

“The big thing you’ve got to watch with this thing is he doesn’t throw one pitch and have a setback on it,” Robichaux added. “So, I’m gonna say two weeks – just because I think within two weeks he’s gonna be feeling really good. Because he’s starting to feel better now. It’s starting to let up and ease off on him.”

With Milhorn out, would-be midweek starter Cody Boutte has been moved to the weekend and responded – he got the win against Georgia State on Sunday – and the depth of UL’s bullpen has been tested.

It will be again in another five-game week this week, with non-conference midweek home games tonight against Northwestern State and Wednesday night against Southern prior to a weekend home Sun Belt series against Western Kentucky.

“We’ve got to make sure our bullpen on Wednesday can do what they did (last Wednesday night) at Nicholls,” Robichaux said. “I thought they threw very well for us (then) … to where we could keep pitch counts down for everybody for the weekend.

“That’s what good about those Wednesday games, is we can kind of get that bullpen some work and make sure they stay sharp in case we’re gonna call on them.”

CLUBHOUSE ROBBERY

UL’s baseball locker room and the concession stand at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field were burglarized late Friday night, according to a UL police report.

A crime alert issued Monday by the UL police department said it responded Saturday morning to a burglary call, and that “several items of value were taken from the locker room as well as cash from the concession area.”

According to an initial written report, items taken included Oakley Half Jacket sunglasses, Dr. Dre Beat headphones, Beats by Dre headphones and New Balance shoes.

The UL police department’s Crime Report also included photos of items similar to those stolen, among them two Louisville Slugger Raid bats that retail for about $300, a red “Louisiana” pullover windbreaker, red and black warmup shirts that say “Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball, a red team fleur-de-lis insignia hoodie and a pair of black team fleur-de-lis insignia warmup pants.

Robichaux declined comment and directed questions about the break-in to UL’s police department.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the UL police department at (337) 482-6647.

LONG BALL

UL had a national-high 74 home runs in 63 games last season – an average of 1.176 per game.

After hitting five solo homers in Sunday’s 5-3 win over Georgia State, the Cajuns have 28 in 24 games so far this season.

That’s an average of 1.167 – meaning they’re only slightly off last year’s prolific pace.

LAGNIAPPE

The Cajuns would like to soon get right-handed pitcher Trace Guidry, who has not thrown a pitch this season, “some action if we can,” Robichaux said. The freshman from Cecilia High has been dealing with tendinitis. … Robichaux said Monday it’s possible UL could “lead the state of Louisiana” this year in Major League Baseball draft choices, with junior starting pitchers Milhorn, Carson Baranik and Austin Robichaux all candidates to leave early. … Right-handed pitcher Hayden Guidry, a freshman from Bridge City High in Bridge City, Texas, will be redshirted this season, Robichaux said Monday.