Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Compared with other players on the team, the Kansas infielders look like old, grizzled veterans. With four of five starters returning, the Jayhawk infield is easily the most experienced group of players on the field.
“There’s a lot of potential out there,” said junior second baseman Robby Price. “That continuity is obviously something that’s good to have in an infield.”
Price will be joined in the infield this season by plenty of familiar faces.
Senior Buck Afenir returns behind the plate at catcher, senior Preston Land returns at first base, and sophomore Tony Thompson is settled in at third base.
The only new face could have the potential to be a star, according to both players and coaches.
Junior David Narodowski will try to fill the shoes of the great Kansas shortstops of the past.
Narodowski, who is a native of Vancouver, Canada, transferred from Vernon College following an impressive effort during his sophomore season. Batting .420 to go along with eight home runs and 42 RBIs, he has coach Ritch Price particularly giddy at what he can accomplish.
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Projected Starting Infield (Last season’s statistics):
Catcher: senior Buck Afenir (.253 avg. 9 HR 42 RBI)
First Base: senior Preston Land (.221 avg. 5 HR 31 RBI)
Second Base: junior Robby Price (.296 avg. 1 HR 25 RBI)
Shortstop: junior David Narodowski (.420 avg. 8 HR 42 RBI)
Third Base: sophomore Tony Thompson (.276 avg. 5 HR 18 RBI)
In the Mix: sophomore Greg Herbst, junior Brett Lisher, freshman Jordan Dreiling, freshman Zac Elgie, freshman James Stanfield, sophomore Joe Lincoln, freshman Chris Manship
The Kansan’s Take: Plenty of bench players are expected to play key roles in the infield this season. Look for Elgie, who got drafted in the 12th round of the MLB draft, to take some time at catcher as well as first base if Land doesn’t produce. Catchers Lincold and Manship will see spot time at catcher with Manship being a promising offensive threat. Lisher will back up Land at first base as well with Herbst giving Thompson a rest every so often. Dreiling will learn from Price to mature at second base will Stanfield will back up Narodowski. The infield is almost 100 percent set for its starters, so don’t expect to see the starting lineup switching around nearly as often as the outfield.
“He has a chance to be as good as anybody that we’ve had,” Coach Price said. “He can handle the bat, he’s a good runner and solid defensively.”
Coach Price also said that although Narodowski didn’t posses the arm strength that is normal at the position, he makes up for it with his speed and skill.
The relationship between a second baseman and the shortstop is vital to the chemistry of the infield, because the two have to be on the same page for double plays and many putouts.
Although he is new to the team, Narodowski has meshed well with Robby Price, and the pair has chemistry.
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Texas Tech Red Raiders — 25-30, 9-18 Big 12 in 2008
Preseason Ranking: Unranked, Eighth in the Big 12
The Red Raiders welcome new head coach Dan Spencer to Lubbock this year to take over the program from Larry Hayes who stepped down after 22 years this summer. Spencer has spent 11 seasons at Oregon State; the last three as associate head coach and pitching/catching coach. Spencer was a three-year letterman at Tech as a player in the 1980s. He inherits a team coming off a dismal season. The Raiders finished last in the Big 12 in 2008. Kansas swept the Raiders in three games in Lawrence last year and play in Lubbock from April 17 to 19.
Missouri Tigers — 39-21, 16-11 Big 12 in 2008
Preseason Ranking: No. 10 (Baseball America)/ No. 20 (ESPN/USA Today Coaches), Fifth in the Big 12
Missouri loses its pitching ace, Aaron Crow, and arguably its best bat in Jacob Priday. Crow was a first-round draft pick and Priday is the school’s all-time leader in home runs and RBIs. Though Priday provided the heart of the batting order last year, Missouri has plenty of bats left for a potent offensive attack. Junior outfielder Aaron Senne led the team with a .347 average and senior Ryan Lollis was second on the team, hitting .339. The Tigers got as high as second in the rankings last year before stumbling down the home stretch and finishing the season at No. 19. The Jayhawks and Tigers square off at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on April 22 before traveling to Columbia for a three game series beginning May 8. The teams split their four games 2-2 last year.
“Dave’s a great player — he comes with a lot of experience,” Robby Price said. “He’s done really well for himself, so hopefully he can keep it going throughout the year.”
Robby Price never seemed to waver when asked about the pressures of being a part of the team’s most-experienced group.
He said he still would like to see some improvements, but he said he already expected the best from himself and his teammates.
“We need to catch the ball a little bit better than last year,” Robby Price said.
“Every day it seems like someone is making more progress here and there, and there’s some talent and I think they’ll be some very good baseball players when it’s all said and done.”
— — Edited by Chris Hickerson
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