2B | SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF DARY KANSAN
FRIDAY MARCH 6 2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Coach told us last week he didn't think the Lakers could come in and beat us on Senior Night. I agreed with him right away."
Russell Robinson after Kansas '109-51 victory against Texas Tech on Senior Night last season
FACT OF THE DAY
Last season's 58-point margin of victory was the seventh-largest margin of victory in school history. A victory of any margin over Texas on Saturday will clinch the Big 12 regular season championship outright.
KU Athletics
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: How many consecutive games has Kansas won on Senior Night?
A:24
Courtside: Can Kansas make it five in a row against Iowa State?
if they do,
what are their NCAA
Tournament chances? Jayson Jenks has some of the answers.
The Give and Go: Although Clark's "Lock of the Week" doesn't hold too much weight he
cause
he is
1-2 in
his last
three
pre-
the give go
dictions, the analysis of the Jayhawks four-game winning streak is spot on. But the guys are convinced they can get to Ames in less than three hours.
The Strike Zone: Kansas plays three games this weekend against Northwestern at Hoglund Ballpark. Can it continue its two-game winning streak? Josh Bowe and Tim Dwyer tell you all about it.
Through the Uprights:
Spring football begins
Monday with the offseason's
practice kicking off. Stop
by through the Uprights all
end for what to watch for as the Jay-hawks prepare for the 2009 season. THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS
Kansas' pitching depth a good sign
COMMENTARY
Pitching is key to the success of any baseball team. Yes, everyone is enamored with the home run, but pitching is the strategic building block that can make or break a team.
A strong pitching rotation can take a team a long way, and a weak one will hinder any team. Look at Major League Baseball, Tampa Bay made it to the World Series with all five starters earning at least 11 wins and no one compiling more than 11 losses. On the flip side, Cy Young winners Tim Lincece and Cliff Lee had a combined 22 more wins than the second leading pitchers on their teams. Both teams failed to reach the postseason.
If the early signs are any indication, then Kansas' rotation is destined to mirror Tampa Bay's and be strong as a unit. So far, every KU pitcher has performed well enough to win.
Shaeffer Hall broke out in
the first game of the season to throw a no-hitter. Freshman Lee Ridenhour has already compiled a 2-0 record, including a win on the road against a ranked Arkansas squad.
Cameron Selik and T.J. Walz both pitched strong, allowing a combined three earned runs in their first starts of the season, but the offense wasn't producing for Selik, and closer Paul Smyth let Memphis come back to steal a win from Walz.
The losses aside, the pitching staff has looked strong. This is a good sign for Kansas considering two upperclassmen, Andy Marks
and Wally Marcel, have had injury problems. Marks injured his shoulder last season and has not returned to the bullpen yet, while Marcel is redshirting this season.
Baseball is probably the sport that focuses on the team aspect the most. A strong pitching staff can build confidence in a young team like Kansas. The Jayhawks started three freshmen and three sophomores on Tuesday night. The performance by Ridenhour Tuesday night should be looked at with extreme optimism.
The Big 12 Conference is a strong baseball conference with five teams ranked in the Top 25. For the Jayhawks to compete they will need a combined effort from their pitching staff throughout the season.
It is possible this Kansas team could mirror Tampa Bay in more ways than one. Kansas has a balanced pitching staff, a young power-hitting third baseman, an
experienced outfielder having a breakout season, and an all-star catcher to anchor the team.
The AL East is arguably the toughest division in baseball, and the Big 12 isn't any easier. If it'll help the Jayhawks make the College World Series, maybe we should shorten their name, too. The Hawks are coming off a 9-18 record in conference last year, but maybe wjth these factors working for them, they're in for a great season.
Edited by Liz Schubauer
Splash landing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PORTSMOUTH's Hermann Hirdersandon, left, tackles Chelsea's Ricardo Quaesma, right, during an English Premier league soccer match at the Fratton Park ground in Portsmouth, southern England, Tuesday. Chelsea won the match 1-0. ASSOCIATED PRESS
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Dominican team struggles without Rodriguez
BY STEVEN WINE Associated Press
JUPITER, Fla. — Minus Alex Rodriguez, the Dominican lineup was lacking.
With the New York Yankees slugger ruled out of the World Baseball Classic because of a hip problem, the Dominican Republic totaled only five hits in its final exhibition game and was beaten by the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 Thursday.
The injury was the latest blow for a Dominican team already without some of the nation's best players, including Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Adrian Beltre.
Rodriguez was examined by a specialist Wednesday in Colorado. On Thursday, it was announced the three-time Al. MVP has a tear in his hip. The Yankees said they think he can avoid surgery.
"We lost a big bomber on our team, a guy who can really hit," Dominican captain Moises Alou
said. "We were really counting on him."
Fernando Tatis will join the team if the New York Mets give their approval, Javier said. Mets GM Omar Minaya gave Tatis the OK to go.
pen." Dominican general manager Stan Javier said. "We just have to worry about what we have. We still have a very good team."
"Every day you wake up, you feel something is going to hap-
Despite all the missing stars, the roster still includes David Ortiz, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Tejada. But in two games without Rodriguez, the Dominicans have totaled two runs.
Saturday in Puerto Rico against the Netherlands.
Rodriguez's injury could damage the Yankees' bid to overtake Boston in the AL East. But the melancholy mood in the Dominican clubhouse even overtook Ortiz, the Red Sox slugger.
"It's bad," Ortiz said. "He's not going to be able to be here. It's crazy. I hope he gets better and comes back in the regular season to do his thing."
The loss of Rodriguez was a double blow to Robinson Cano, second baseman for the Yankees and Dominicans.
THIS WEEK IN KANSAS ATHLETICS
Tennis BYU, 1 p.m. Lawrence
baseball northwestern, 1 p.m. Lawrence
TODAY
Softball North Dakota State 3 p.m. Lawrence
Baseball
Northwestern, 4 p.m.
Lawrence
Women's golf
Rio Verde Invite
Rio Verde. Ariz.
Track & field Arkansas Last Chance Fayetteville, Ark.
SATURDAY
Softball
N. Iowa. 10 a.m.
Lawrence
Softball
Eastern Illinois, noon
Lawrence
Men's basketball Texas, 3 p.m. Lawrence
Tennis Tulsa, 1 p.m. Lawrence
Baseball
Northwestern, 7 p.m.
Lawrence
Women's basketball Iowa State, 7 p.m.
Ames, Iowa
Track & field
lowa State
NCAA Qualifier
4mes, Iowa
Women's golf
Rio Verde Invitational
Rio Verde, Ariz.
SUNDAY
Baseball
Northwestern, 1 p.m.
Lawrence
Softball NDSU, Noon Lawrence
Softball Northern Iowa, 4 p.m. Lawrence
Women's Golf
Rio Verde Invitational
Rio Verde, Ariz.
MONDAY
Men's golf
Louisiana Classics
Lafayette, La.
TUESDAY
Men's golf
Louisiana Classics
Lafayette, La.
WEDNESDAY
SDAY Baseball Wichita State, 6 p.m. Lawrence
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