6B
SPORTS
BASEBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008
Success hinges on pitching improvements
BY SHAWN SHROYER
shroyer@kansan.com
The Florida Spring Classic was supposed to give Kansas a chance to fine-tune its pitching, hitting and defense. Instead, it may have revealed some glaring weaknesses.
In particular, the ineffectiveness of Kansas' starting pitching was startling. To make matters worse, Kansas' arms received little help from their defense. And, worst of all, little time remains for the Jayhawks (15-9) to improve in these areas.
"Our starting pitching's got to do a better job of getting us to the sixth inning with a chance to win, and those are experienced guys," Kansas coach Ritch Price said. "I think that what we're most disappointed in right now."
Excluding freshman right-hander T.J. Walz's 6.2-inning, one-run, five-strike performance en route to victory against UMBC, Kansas was forced to play from behind in every game of the classic.
Senior right-handers Hiarali
Junior left-hander Sam Freeman (3-0), whose spot in the rotation was skipped because of Saturday's rain outs, will get the first chance to redeem the Kansas pitching staff this week. He will start today's 3 p.m. game against Chicago State (3-15).
Garcia and Andres Esquibel, junior left-hander Nick Czyz, and sophomore left-handers Shaeffer Hall and Wally Marceli combined to allow 31 runs in just 21 innings of work.
Freeman pitched just one inning of relief on Sunday, allowing two runs to score. Because Freeman only pitched an inning during the weekend, Price hopes, by throwing him today, he'll be ready to pitch next Sunday against Texas A&M.
Garcia (1-0), who allowed four runs in 4.2 innings to Central Connecticut State last week, is slated to start Wednesday's game.
However, Hall (1-1) might also get a start during the midweek if Price is able to add a third game with Chicago State. Kansas has had three games cancelled this season and, although Price added Saint
Regardless of how many games Kansas plays this week, Price would like to see his team improve in the field. The Jayhawks committed 13 errors last week, including four on Sunday.
As any pitcher would attest to, it's easier to pitch with a steady defense in the field. Improved defense could be just what Kansas' pitching staff needs to feel more comfortable on the mound.
Mary on April 2, he's now scrambling to make up Saturday's cancellations.
"I think we're hitting pretty solid," senior right-fielder Ryne Price said. "Mostly executing with runners in scoring position and having quality at bats throughout the game are the areas where we need to improve."
One thing that should help ease Jayhawk pitchers' minds is the production Kansas is getting on offense.
Kansas scored 45 runs last week and that kind of output only figures to continue considering Kansas outscored Chicago State 45-7 in four games last season.
Junior catcher Buck Afenir was the offensive star Sunday against Northwestern. Price moved Afenir to the cleanup spot in the order and he responded by going three-for-five with two runs, five RBI and his third home run of the season.
Junior first baseman Preston Land had been Kansas' regular cleanup hit, but with a .254 batting average entering Sunday, he was moved down the order. However, Land's .389 on-base percentage still puts Afenir's to shame. Even with a .321 batting average, Afenir's on-base percentage is .345 — next-to-last among Kansas' regulars.
Weston White/KANSAN
"Basically, where he's at, he doesn't walk very much so his on-base percentage isn't very good," Price said. "We put him in that spot because he does have the ability to be physical with the bat and to knock in runs. The second thing is Preston's really struggling, so I'm going to try to drop him down in the lineup and see if he can get more fastballs and pitches to hit."
Edited by Katherine Loeck
Senior starting pitcher Hiarali Garcia throws to first in an attempt to pick off a base runner during the game against Tabor College on March 11. The Jayhawks will play Chicago State at 3 p.m. in Lawrence.