Contagious personality spreads in dugout

By Josh Bowe

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Robby Price smiled and laughed as he walked out of the dugout to talk to the media. Kansas had just beaten a relatively weak Western Illinois team way back on March 25th. Price, junior second baseman, had some words for sophomore third baseman Tony Thompson before answering any questions from the media.

“I think you put him out of reach today,” Price said.

“You think so?” Thompson answered back.

Thompson had just come off of his first multi-home run game of his career, giving him five home runs total at the time.

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WEDNESDAY

No. 23 Kansas vs. Wichita State

7 p.m.

Eck Stadium, Wichita

“Yeah he ain’t coming,” Price said back to Thompson.

After the exchange, someone asked Price what the exchange was about. Apparently there was a wager before the season that also involved sophomore outfielder Jimmy Waters.

“They have a little bet going — see who hits the most home runs,” Price said. “Waters ain’t going to catch him.”

Price and Thompson both laughed together. At that point in the season Price’s batting average was hovering below .250, but that’s Price’s personality: always ready to embrace good times or bad.

Fast forward to today and Price’s subpar batting average is all but an afterthought. Price had his average above .300 before the weekend series against Oklahoma, but it has now dipped down to a still-respectable .295, fifth on the team.

“He’s just healthier,” coach Ritch Price said. “To raise his average 70 points in three weeks in our conference is a remarkable feat.”

Robby Price had battled problems in his shoulders and hands. While Ritch Price said Robby is not yet 100 percent healthy, he’s healthy enough to not feel any after effects of his swing heading into Wednesday’s rematch against Wichita State.

Robby Price hasn’t made excuses for himself all season. He hasn’t changed his approach and feels that he’s finally making some consistent contact and swings.

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KANSAN FILE PHOTO

Junior second baseman Robby Price positions himself beneath a fly ball after tracking it in a heavy wind during the Jayhawks' April 11 victory against Oklahoma State.

“I think I’ve been seeing the ball well all year, I’m just a little bit more consistent throughout the game,” Robby Price said. “Now with more quality at bats, instead of having two a game now it feels like it’s getting up to two or four.”

Sophomore outfielder Brian Heere has been batting in the three hole behind Price’s second spot in the lineup for over a month now. Heere has come into his own since then, leading the team with a .363 batting average.

Heere redshirted his first season at Kansas, which was Price’s first. Heere knows the importance Price brings not only to the plate, but also to the clubhouse.

“He’s huge. A three-year starter in the infield and the two hole spot up in the lineup, obviously that’s a big spot in the lineup,” Heere said.

Heere said there wasn’t even a cause for concern during Price’s early struggles.

“I had no doubt that he would bring it up; he’s a great player,” Heere said. “I knew he would come around and get over that slump he’s in.”

But what might go unnoticed is Price’s ability with the glove. He leads all middle infielders in fielding percentage and has had an uncountable number of spectacular plays.

Ritch Price even will even go as far as to say there isn’t another second baseman like him.

“He may be the best second baseman in the country,” Ritch Price said. “He’s that special with the glove in his hand.”

But above all else, Robby Price’s personality is what keeps the team together at times. His attitude has seemed to rub off on his teammates, with the mood in the dugouts joyful and fun. as it was after the victories against Missouri and Texas.

Robby Price also brings some confidence with that personality. After Kansas defeated Creighton at the home of the College World Series, Rosenblatt Stadium, he even went so far as to say this team had the talent to play one more time at Rosenblatt in June.

“Definitely, we’re playing real well; we believe in ourselves,” Robby said. “We got a lot of confidence and we got some swagger with us. I wouldn’t want to be on a team playing us right now because we got a little moxy, and that’s a good thing.”

It might not be a bet or a guarantee, and talking about the College World Series means a little more than predicting a home run contest, but if there is one thing Robby Price has proved throughout his career, it’s that he sure can call them like he sees them.

— — Edited by Casey Miles

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