1
WLY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2000
SPORTS
7B
BASEBALL
Hall to lead new starting rotation for Jayhawk pitchers
Junior pitcher will likely be important in this season's success
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
Shaffer Hall has been through a lot to get to this point.
Hall, a junior left-handed pitcher, was drafted in the 28th round by the Texas Rangers in the 2006 amateur draft. He transferred from junior college to Kansas after his freshman year. And now after all that, Hall has found a home in Kansas and will be the starting pitcher for the Jayhawks' season opener this Friday against Air Force.
"Having that experience from last year, and knowing what type of hitters that are in our league will probably help a lot," Hall said.
This season Hall will lead a radically different rotation from last year and will likely be an important player for the Jayhawks. In a conference as deep in talented teams and players as the Big 12 is, he will know
not to underestimate any hitter.
"You can't take any hitter lightly," Hall said. "From one to nine they're going to be tough."
In addition to Hall, sophomore T.J. Walz will be the number two starter and freshman Lee Ridenhour will likely be the number three pitcher. The three players combine for only 17 career starts with Kansas, a shockingly low number for a unit that is to be counted on. But Hall thinks the young pitchers will perform well.
"They're talented. I mean if they weren't, I don't think they'd be here," Hall said. "I think coach Graves expects a lot out of them this year."
Coach Ritch Price hinted that Ridenhour might see some time in the bullpen this year. Although Ridenhour won the Gatorade Kansas Baseball Player of the Year in high school as a starter, he has spent most of his baseball playing days bouncing back and forth between starting and relief pitching. But Ridhenson cares less about where and how he plays, and more about playing and pitching in general.
But with the way Price was impressed with Ridenhour's talents, a long session in the bullpen seems unlikely.
"Either one is fine for me, I just want to get out there and pitch as much as I can," he said.
"He's got a great future ahead of him." Price said. "We've got great hopes for him."
Price said his team's pitching has to improve if they have any change of success. "Obviously we're going to have to pitch better than we did last year". Price said. "I don't expect us to score the same kind of number of runs from a year ago."
Junior pitcher Sheafer Ferl hall throws the first pitch of the game against Wichita State University on April 1, 2008. Hall will start Friday's game against Air Force and will lead the starting pitching rotation for the season.
— Edited by Susan Melgren
Weston White/KANSAN
starting pitchers
Hall
Projected Starting Rotation:
2008 statistics
1. Junior Shaffer Hall (4-2
5.13 ERA 46 SO 21 BB)
2. Sophomore T.J.Walz (4-1
5.00 ERA 39 SO 21 BB)
3. Freshman Lee Ridenhour
(n/a)
In the Mix: juniors Wally Mar-
Walz
The Kansan's Take: Marcel and Marks are overcoming significant injuries from last year. Price said Marcel is ahead of schedule from Tommy John surgery and could be back in April if he is 100 percent better. Marks has had numerous inju-
ciel and Andy Marks, freshmen Kevin Burk and Kelson Boyer
ries and could be back this year as well, even if just to help out the bullpen if the rotation is solidified. Burk and Boyer will get spot starts to give any of the regular starters a rest, which means the top three starters will have to carry the majority of the workload this season.
— Josh Bowe
BIG 12 COMPETITION
Nebraska
Preseason Ranking:
Unranked, 7th in Big 12
which has lost three
everyday starrs from last year's team, is looking to continue its recent run of
success after making its eight NCAA regional in nine seasons in 2008. The Huskers anticipate the return of switch-hitting Jeff Tezek, who was forced to take a medical redshirt last year after being named second team all-conference designated hitter in 2007, hitting .335 with 37 RBIs.
In seven games before taking the redshirt last season, Tezek hit only .190. The pitching staff will be led by senior Erik Bird, who went 5-1 overall and 4-0 with a 2,14 ERA as a starter. His 58 appearances are by far the most on the staff. The Huskers come to Lawrence April 24-26.
Oklahoma
Preseason Ranking:
Unranked (ESPN/USA Today)/
No. 16 (Baseball America),
6th in Big 12
Oklahoma looks to avenge a 2008 Lawrence sweep as Kansas begins May with an eight-game road trip starting in Norman. The Sooners return over 200 collective starts in the
infield, as veterans Aaron Baker, Matt Haraughty and Bryant Hernandez return to hold down the first base, second base
and shortstop positions. Senior catcher J.T. Wise returns to guide a pitching staff that saw some struggles last season. Sophomore Ryan Duke led the staff last season with a 3.77 ERA and a 7-5 record in 22 appearances, 10 of them starts. After finishing eighth in the conference last season with a 36-26-1 record, Oklahoma looks to turn it around this year.
Tim Dwyer
MLB
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Griffey remains absent at first Braves workout
No, it wasn't Ken Griffey Jr.
It might be? It could be?
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Long after the Braves had called it a day, a gleaming black luxury SUV pulled into the parking lot beyond the right-field wall at Atlanta's spring training stadium.
There was no sign of Junior on Wednesday, even though everyone seemed to think the fifth greatest home run hitter in baseball history would be in camp as the Braves held their first full-squad workout of the spring.
Griffey was apparently in seclusion, trying to decide if he wanted to play for the Braves — a longtime dream, by all accounts — or return
to Seattle to finish his illustrious career with the team that gave him his start. Though a couple of media reports Tuesday said Atlanta was his choice, he had not signed with anyone more than 24 hours later.
His agent, Brian Goldberg, did not return several messages sent to his cell phone Wednesday after saying a day earlier that Griffey had not decided where he wants to play in 2009.
"It one of those things where he's contemplating his decision," Braves general manager Frank Wren said.
The Braves still seemed confident that Griffey would be joining them in the next day or two, especially third baseman Chipper Jones. The NL batting champ has made several calls to his fellow slugger, lobbying him on the benefits of playing in Atlanta.
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