Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Florida Spring Classic was supposed to give Kansas a chance to fine-tune its pitching, hitting and defense. Instead, it may have revealed some glaring weaknesses.
In particular, the ineffectiveness of Kansas’ starting pitching was startling. To make matters worse, Kansas’ arms received little help from their defense. And, worst of all, little time remains for the Jayhawks (15-9) to improve in these areas.
Senior starting pitcher Hiarali Garcia throws to first in an attempt to pick off a base runner during the game against Tabor College on March 11. Please add relevant preview information from the story.
“Our starting pitching’s got to do a better job of getting us to the sixth inning with a chance to win, and those are experienced guys,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said. “I think that’s what we’re most disappointed in right now.”
Excluding freshman right-hander T.J. Walz’s 6.2-inning, one-run, five-strikeout performance en route to victory against UMBC, Kansas was forced to play from behind in every game of the classic.
Senior right-handers Hiarali Garcia and Andres Esquibel, junior left-hander Nick Czyz, and sophomore left-handers Shaeffer Hall and Wally Marciel combined to allow 31 runs in just 21 innings of work.
Junior left-hander Sam Freeman (3-0), whose spot in the rotation was skipped because of Saturday’s rain outs, will get the first chance to redeem the Kansas pitching staff this week. He will start today’s 3 p.m. game against Chicago State (3-15).
Freeman pitched just one inning of relief on Sunday, allowing two runs to score. Because Freeman only pitched an inning during the weekend, Price hopes, by throwing him today, he’ll be ready to pitch next Sunday against Texas A&M.
Garcia (1-0), who allowed four runs in 4.2 innings to Central Connecticut State last week, is slated to start Wednesday’s game.
However, Hall (1-1) might also get a start during the midweek if Price is able to add a third game with Chicago State. Kansas has had three games cancelled this season and, although Price added Saint Mary on April 2, he’s now scrambling to make up Saturday’s cancellations.
Regardless of how many games Kansas plays this week, Price would like to see his team improve in the field. The Jayhawks committed 13 errors last week, including four on Sunday.
As any pitcher would attest to, it’s easier to pitch with a steady defense in the field. Improved defense could be just what Kansas’ pitching staff needs to feel more comfortable on the mound.
One thing that should help ease Jayhawk pitchers’ minds is the production Kansas is getting on offense.
“I think we’re hitting pretty solid,” senior right-fielder Ryne Price said. “Mostly executing with runners in scoring position and having quality at bats throughout the game are the areas where we need to improve.”
Kansas scored 45 runs last week and that kind of output only figures to continue considering Kansas outscored Chicago State 45-7 in four games last season.
Junior catcher Buck Afenir was the offensive star Sunday against Northwestern. Price moved Afenir to the cleanup spot in the order and he responded by going three-for-five with two runs, five RBI and his third home run of the season.
Junior first baseman Preston Land had been Kansas’ regular cleanup hitter, but with a .254 batting average entering Sunday, he was moved down the order. However, Land’s .389 on-base percentage still puts Afenir’s to shame. Even with a .321 batting average, Afenir’s on-base percentage is .345 — next-to-last among Kansas’ regulars.
“Basically, where he’s at, he doesn’t walk very much so his on-base percentage isn’t very good,” Price said. “We put him in that spot because he does have the ability to be physical with the bat and to knock in runs. The second thing is Preston’s really struggling, so I’m going to try to drop him down in the lineup and see if he can get more fastballs and pitches to hit.”
— Edited by Katherine Loeck
Kansas baseball team beats Iowa
Several home runs led to a 9-5 victory against Iowa this weekend.
Pitching gets Kansas the victory
With subpar performance at the bat, pitcher Sam Freeman had to take ...
Baseball to face North Dakota State
Coach Ritch Price says the team has to do well this weekend ...
Baseball experiences cloudy games in Florida
Almost all the games, victory or loss, were close in score, excluding ...
Jayhawks drop game, weekend series to Aggies
Sunday's loss against Texas A&M brings the Jayhawks to a 1-5 record ...
Home opener breaks winter woes
The baseball team shattered a four-game losing streak with Sunday’s double-header at ...
Kansas baseball hopes to improve for the ...
The Jayhawk baseball team hasn’t started a season at 2-4 since 1999. ...
Strong-handed players
The wind usually blows into left field at Hoglund Ballpark, giving right-handed ...
Huskers win first game of series
Nebraska's seventh inning propels it to a 7-6 victory against Kansas.
Kansas defeats Le Moyne in home opener
Despite heavy winds, the baseball team triumphed over Le Moyne in the ...
Pitching rotation deep for Kansas baseball
Last season, the Kansas baseball team started two sophomores and a freshman ...
Baseball wrap-up
Here's a look at the baseball team's games in Hawaii.
Solid wins for Jayhawks in March
The Jayhawks kick-off spring break with a three game series against the ...
Minimal shuffling for infielders
Afenir looks to build from breakout sophomore season
Errors, extra innings for baseball team in ...
A weekend of solid pitching could not make up for errors on ...
Jayhawks enter season with experience
Putting last season’s disappointment behind them, team members look forward to a ...
Starting pitching struggles against Baylor
Bears sweep weekend series scoring 33 runs against the Jayhawks’ 16; Kansas ...
Live from the bullpen
From three relief pitchers to more than six, the Kansas baseball team ...
Jayhawks hold off Sooners in see-saw battle
Kansas scored a team record of 39 runs in the weekend series ...
Baseball team hosts struggling Dolphins
After a weekend in which they scored 21 runs in two victories, ...
Jayhawks continue to enjoy winning streak
Kansas extended its winning streak to six victories Sunday. Senior shortstop Erik ...
Two teams in the same boat
The Jayhawks and the Bears come off weekend sweeps, hoping to gain ...
Kansas snaps six-game losing streak
A solid all-around performance propelled the Jayhawks to a 9-5 victory against ...
Shockers defeat Kansas
Jayhawks pitching improved from previous games, but Kansas couldn’t score runs.
First-inning home runs carry Hawks
Robby Price and Casey Lytle both hit two-run home runs as Kansas ...
Hitting struggles continue
A trip to Tennessee has done little to cure Kansas' offensive inefficiency ...
Baseball avoids first conference sweep
Freshman left-hander Wally Maricel's first Big 12 Conference start lasted 5 2/3 ...
Kansas falls to Texas A&M in extra ...
The Jayhawks dropped their second straight to the Aggies Saturday, losing 9-6 ...
Jayhawks defeat Bears 15-6
Kansas coach attributes offensive explosion to good at-bats against Northern Colorado pitching.
Baseball team explodes in Nashville
Kansas had trouble scoring runs in the first game of the Music ...
Hawks drop second straight in Lincoln
A fourth inning grand slam by Nebraska catcher Mitch Abeita doomed Kansas ...
New faces to fill old places
Junior pitcher keeps it all together
Despite an inconsistent weekend rotation, pitcher Nick Czyz has remained a constant ...
Missouri baseball takes game two
Preston Land hit a bomb in the ninth inning that nearly cleared ...
Pitching leads to Saturday's baseball victory
After giving up 14 runs in the Friday game, Kansas was able ...
Land’s home run sends Hawks past Tigers
Baseball comes back from early deficit to defeat Missouri 7-3 at Kauffman ...
Inexperience on bench having some luck this ...
Pitcher Hiarali, who has been called from the bullpen for the past ...
Jayhawks begin home-field stretch
Improvement in pitching starters and relief from fielders will continue success in ...
Jayhawks to play Baylor in Waco
Kansas heads to Waco to play in its third series in Big ...
Baseball knocks off No. 1 Texas
Shaeffer Hall and clutch hitting helps lead Kansas to a 5-4 victory ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID