8B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
14
MONDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2009
BASEBALL
Faunce leads young players
The fifth-year senior takes leadoff position in the batting lineup
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior center fielder Nick Fauce lays down a bunt that landed him on first base. Fauce was driven in off a two run shot by John Allman. Fauce finished the game one-for-two at the plate, contributing one run in the Jayhaws' 8-1 victory over Tabor College on Tuesday afternoon.
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
To say Nick Faunce is familiar with the Kansas baseball program might be an understatement, but his familiarity with the fans? Not so much.
But this season, the fifth-year senior in center field will also take center stage for the outfield in the clubhouse, and Kansas fans will pay attention.
Faunce will lead a mostly inexperienced group of outfielders into this season while also batting leadoff. Although Faunce started 37 games last year, he wasn't regulated to a leadership role. Left fielder Jon Allman did most of the talking with his bat, as he led the Jayhawks in hitting last year. Faunce understood that this season would be his time to step up.
"I specifically need to step up and take more of a leadership role." Faunce said. "I have been here the five years and so I have a little bit more of a better grasp on what to expect than a lot of these younger guys"
Faunce doesn't expect the challenge of batting first to be too daunting of a task. Last year, batting primarily first, Faunce hit .326 with a .401 on base percentage. He could improve on his walk total, with only 15 last year, but he expects good things to happen with himself batting at the top of the order.
"I'm pretty confident in myself
batting first," Faunce said. "People attack you differently and I like that because they come with a lot of fastballs which is what I like. I have no problem with that role."
Jason Burnansky and redshirt sophomore Brian Heere.
As for the other younger outfielders, coach Ritch Price says he expects to have the most growth out of them. Price specifically mentioned the talent of freshman
"Jason Burnansky is a really talented young man. He is going to get a lot of playing time." Price said. "Brian Heere is going to open the season and he had a tremendous fall. I'm really pleased with his development."
The development of those two,
the lineup
Projected starting outfield (last season statistics):
Left field:
Freshman Jake Marasco
Faunce
(n/a). Center field; Senior Nick Faunce (.326 avg. 3 HR 13 RBI).
Right field; Sophomore Brian Heere (.238 avg. 0 HR 2 RBI).
In the mix: Freshman Jason Burnansky, sophomore Jimmy Waters, sophomore Casey Lytle
The Kansan's Take: Faunce and Heere should hold down
the center field and right field spots consistently all season. Left field could end up being
Heere
a carousel with two highly touted freshmen in Burnansky and Marasco. Marasco gets the start for now, but Price has raved on Burnansky's athletic ability and talent. Burnansky could compete with Faunce for center field, but if Faunce plays well expect Price to find some
time for
Burnansky
else-
where.
Waters
will see
a lot of
time at
DH after
his strong
his strong
Marasco
finish to last season while also seeing some playing time in left field. Lytle will see some significant time as well, Price said. Expect him to platoon right field with Heere.
Josh Bowe
BIG 12 CAPSULES
Texas A&M
Preseason ranking: No. 1
(Baseball America)/No. 5 (USA
Today/ESPN Coaches Poll)
The Aggies could likely prove the toughest test of the season in 2009. After finishing first in the conference and 12th in both polls last year, Texas A&M returns four preseason all-conference players. Senior first baseman Luke Anders is one of those players. Anders hit .349 with 58 RBIs and 16 home runs last year in getting selected as an All-Big 12 and All-Midwest Region for the second year running. Joining him on last year's all-conference team was then junior-outfielder Kyle Colligan. Colligan was named MVP of the NCAA College Station Regional as well. He led the team with four home runs in the postseason series. The Jayhawks face the Aggies in a three-game series from March 27-29.
Texas
Preseason ranking: No. 4/No. 9
Preseason ranking: No. 4/No. 9
The Jayhawks open conference play in Lawrence against the top-ten Longhorns on March 20. With their first four conference series against
teamsranked in the top-25, the Jayhawks face a difficult start in the Big 12. Head coach Augie Garrido, the winningest coach in history, has been suspended indefinitely as a result of a January driving while intoxicated arrest. Garrido, 69, has 1,629 career victories — the most ever in major college baseball. He has led the Longhorns to five national titles and five of the last eight College World Series. The Longhorns are expected to challenge Texas A&M for the conference title.
Tim Dwyer
in addition to freshman Jake Marasco, will be key in the outfield's success. Price also mentioned how Heere was a good runner and may see some time batting behind Fauncle in the two hole.
lineup. He will take the leadership role with no doubt, and expects that by the time this season is over, the young group of players will have surprised more than just ljayhawk fans.
But Fauncie will be the catalyst for more than just the batting
MLB
"We have some really good young players and when they hit
their stride were going to spark some intrigue and we're going to scare some teams," he said. "It's going to be fun to see them not know where we're coming from and hit them in the teeth."
- Edited by Realle Roth
Gobble trying to forget'08
Associated Press
BY ALAN ESKEW
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Heading into his club-leading 11th season as a Kansas City Royal, pitcher Jimmy Gobble is looking to avoid the mental blocks that made 2008 a year to forget.
strikeouts in 2006.
Gobble said he's thankful that the bulk of his 2008 season didn't end his career with the Royals. During his tenure, he's served under two general managers, four managers and four big league pitching coaches.
He attributed the problems to an initial run of bad performances, which he said he made worse by overcompensating to show thenrookie manager Trey Hillman that he still had the goods. He was 4-1 with a 3.02 ERA in 74 relief appearances in 2007 and led the team in
MLB
the field) every year like they have, I'm going to try to work everything out to stay in this town. But if they're not bringing championship-caliber play every year, then it's time for me to go somewhere else that I can win."
team's commitment to winning will dictate if he re-signs when his contract expires in two years.
"It's not about the money all the time," the first baseman said. "It's about being in a place to win and being in a position to win.
Associated Press
"If the Cardinals are willing to do that and puta team (on
Pujols contemplates his future with the Cardinals
Fresh from winning his second NL MVP award, Albert Pujols is eyeing the future. As in, will St. Louis still be the right fit for him?
The Cardinals star said the