Minimal shuffling for infielders

Players will play at positions that match skills

By Shawn Shroyer

Monday, February 18, 2008

In past years, coach Ritch Price hasn’t been able to play all of his infielders at their natural positions. In an effort to put his best lineup on the field, Price sometimes had to move players to different positions than they’d played in high school and hope their athleticism would take over.

But this season, with minimal tinkering, Price has been able to put his infielders in the positions that best match their skill sets.

No changes were made behind the plate, where junior Buck Afenir will get most of the playing time. Afenir started 45 of 58 games for Kansas last year and nearly all those starts were at catcher.

Afenir was one of Kansas’ best power hitters in 2007 with eight home runs, 12 doubles, 38 RBI and a .519 slugging percentage. However, his aggressive nature at the plate hurt his on-base percentage, which was only 53 points higher than his batting average. His 12 walks were the least among Kansas’ everyday players.

“The thing we talk to Buck all the time about is his on-base percentage, because he very rarely walks,” Price said. “If he can take the final step and be more selective at the plate, I think you’ll see his power numbers, his on-base percentage and his slugging percentage go up — he’ll improve in every area of the game.”

Nevertheless, in just 46 more at bats than he had in 2006, Afenir was exponentially better in every hitting category last season. Price hopes Afenir will make similar strides this season.

Junior Preston Land will start at first base for the third consecutive season, determined to prove last season was an aberration. Land experienced significant drops in nearly every offensive category last season as his batting average flirted with sinking below the Mendoza Line.

After taking last summer off from baseball, Land is mentally and physically ready to be an offensive leader again for the Jayhawks. Price shares Land’s expectations and has Land penciled in as his cleanup hitter for Kansas’ series with Hawaii-Hilo this weekend.

Sophomore Robby Price has shifted from third base to second base this season to occupy the spot vacated by his older brother Ryne, who has moved to right field this season.

While shortstop is technically Robby’s natural position, he fits the mold of a second baseman and it should suit him better than third base did. That’s not to say Robby struggled at third base. On the contrary, Robby had only 11 errors at the hot corner as a freshman, starting all but one game for Kansas.

Offensively, Robby didn’t produce the power numbers coveted for corner infielders, but he still posted the fourth best batting average and hit total of Kansas’ everyday players, was third in runs and on-base percentage, and tied Ryne for the team lead in walks.

At second base, Robby is reunited with his former double play partner, senior shortstop Erik Morrison. Although last year was their first season together in college, the two played together a few summers in California.

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Pos – Player – 2007 stats

C – Buck Afenir – .286 AVG/8 HR/38 RBI

1B – Preston Land – .206 AVG/4 HR/27 RBI

2B – Robby Price – .286 AVG/1 HR/27 RBI

3B – Tony Thompson – .471 AVG/18 HR/71 RBI [at Galena High School (Reno, Nev.)]

SS – Erik Morrison - .296 AVG/7 HR/44 RBI

Morrison said they first played alongside one another when Robby was 15. In all, Morrison estimated the two played at least 250 game up the middle together.

“There’s gonna be a lot more leather flashed, that’s for sure,” Morrison said. “I don’t feel like I have to hold anything back on any feeds to him. We’ve got a few things up our sleeves.”

As for Morrison, the Kansas coaches know what to expect from the lone senior in the infield. With 24 home runs in his career, Morrison is tied with Ryne Price five home runs behind former Jayhawk Travis Metcalf for the Kansas all-time home run record.

But Morrison’s leadership will be every bit as important as his bat this season. One of the most vocal Jayhawks, Morrison has provided guidance for freshman third baseman Tony Thompson, who should see most of the action at the hot corner.

And Morrison is the perfect player for Thompson to have in his ear. When Morrison was a freshman, he started 62 games at third base. Morrison said Thompson has welcomed any advice he’s had to offer. Not that Thompson, a two-time, first team all-state infielder, needs too much help.

“He’s got real good hands and fields the ball out in front of him,” Morrison said. “You don’t really see that with younger guys. He’s come in here a step ahead of a lot of other infielders I’ve seen in the past.”

— Edited by Daniel Reyes

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