Kansas (9-3) @ #7 Arizona State (12-2)
by James Quinn on Mar 13, 2009 1:05 PM MST
29 comments
Hello Sun Devils. I cover the Kansas baseball team at Rock Chalk Talk. I thought I would pop over here and post the preview article I wrote for the Kansas - Arizona State series this weekend. I'd be happy for any feedback from ASU fans on the Jayhawks this weekend.
The Series in a Nutshell
The Jayhawk baseball team headed west for spring break. Kansas plays at #7 Arizona State Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then will push on to face San Diego State Tuesday and Wednesday before returning to Lawrence to prepare for their first conference series. Number one ranked Texas will be at Hoglund March 20-22nd. KU will provide free webcasts for all games next week. Just visit here, go to schedule and log in. The broadcast start just a few minutes before first pitch.
Probable Starters
Friday: Arizona State 9 - Kansas 4 FINAL KU Recap and boxscore link
Saturday: Kansas 3 - Arizona State 2 FINAL KU Recap and boxscore link
Sunday: Arizona State 12 - Kansas 10 FINAL
I did not find an ASU news release for the series so I just went with their regular weekend rotation in the above list. And no, those ERAs are not typos. The Sun Devils can pitch. After fourteen games their team ERA is 1.22. Fortunately their defense is less impressive. ASU has given up almost as many unearned runs (14) as earned runs (17). This is cold comfort when the bottom line still comes out to their surrendering only 2.2 runs a game.
The Sun Devils know how to hit as well. Their team line is .312/.428/.560. They average 8.9 runs a game. I don’t want to get into listing all their star players, because that would take a while and only depress the readership. Link to full ASU stats here.
Obviously Arizona State is a great baseball team. But they can be taken down. Kansas State split a two game series with them just this week. True, the Sun Devils have not yet lost a weekend game, and that weekend rotation looks horrifying, but they are not a team without flaws. If their defense truly is suspect that plays into KU’s hands. The Jayhawks are a slap hitting team that puts a lot of balls in play and runs the bases aggressively. Infield defense controls these problems, and maybe, just maybe, that is the part of the game where ASU is at its weakest. I guess well see soon enough. I’d love to see KU compete in these games and pull out a win. Anything further would be truly surprising.
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Thanks for checking in...
…however I’d be curious about your thoughts on KU baseball. We know ASU, but insight into the Jayhawks would be nice.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
I'll try to keep it short,
Kansas’ starting pitching has been lights out so far in 2009. Shaeffer Hall pitched a no-hitter on opening day and has not had an off game all year. T.J. Walz has been up and down the last two years. When he is good he will shut down a team. Even when he is bad he gives the team five innings of reasonable work. Selik is new to the team and all I know about him is that he throws a lot of pitches, nothing too nasty, but he keeps hitters off balance. The bullpen is made up of young hard throwing underclassmen. Paul Smyth, the closer, has been in the job for three years and can be outstanding. Team ERA 2.58. Of KU’s games, three against quality opponents, two against an okay Memphis team, and seven against less competitive opponents.
The team will struggle to score runs. Not a lot of power. Not a lot of guys who will hit for good average. Outside of Afenir and Thompson the rest of the team is made up of guys who have D-I skills but who are not stars. The Hawks have used more small ball and running this year to compensate for the lack of power. KU scoring a bit over seven runs a game so far, but that mostly against shallow pitching staffs.
Team defense, that is a bit of a concern with me so far. They have not looked as sharp as recent KU teams. Thompson , Narodowski, Price and Land all are very good with the glove. The outfield and the backup infielders have not impressed yet.
KU has overachieved this year. They are coming off a very emotional win over Wichita State. They will get dirty. They are not used to losing and are feeling some momentum. They should give the Sun Devils some trouble this weekend. I am hoping for one win and some good baseball.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Thanks for the insight....
If your feelings on team defense are true, then that is what might do KU in. Should be a fun series.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
I kinda expect
Arizona State’s roster full of great hitters and unhittable pitchers will do KU in. But it might be their defense.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Great hitters vs. Bad defense
That was my point. Of course, if we long ball all day then the defense won’t matter much.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
Nah, not bad defense.
We’ve just been spoiled here in Lawrence over the last several years with great defensive play. Maybe it has been field conditions. Or maybe it has been the large number of freshman in the line-up this year. But this KU team does not look as sharp in the field as I am used to watching. But KU is not bad on defense.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Sorry
that’s what I had insinuated from your previous post.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
It looks like you were right.
Two costly defensive mistakes by the Jayhawks have allowed ASU to score eight runs. ASU is up 9-2 in the bottom of the 7th.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
James, thanks a lot for coming over and posting this. I put it on the front page so our readers could more easily see it and comment. Sorry about KU’s loss in the Big XII tournament.
Yeah, losing to Baylor. No one saw that coming.
Maybe all the sports luck in Lawrence migrated to the baseball team a few weeks too early.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Well, we lost to Baylor this season too. They are a scrappy team.
by Cory Williams on Mar 13, 2009 4:13 PM MST up reply actions
Yeah, a nice pitching duel through four,
and then KU shortstop Nardowski makes and error and Saeffer Hall falls apart and before I knew it the score was 6-0.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Huge win for KU tonight! Kansas 3 - Arizona State 2 FINAL
I was out with Mrs. JQ at a fancy wine and talking party so I was not able to listen to the game. Must have been good luck for the Hawks. KU’s biggest win of the year. It made and old man very happy.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Thanks for the update
Congrats on the win. Unfortunately I think most Devil fans were lamenting the ASU basketball loss.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
Now don't you open up that can of worms.
KU had a rough week on the hard wood also.
I should be listening in to the game tonight. Last night’s win really has me excited about the team. So far the ‘09 team is like a Christmas present in August. I didn’t expect to see this team win games like have over the last two weeks.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
I'm just happy that it seems
college baseball is gaining traction nationally. My core group of friends all live in separate corners of the country and every year we gather in a different locale such as Mardi Gras, Kentucky Derby, Fantasy Fest, etc. Well a few years ago we decided on the College World Series when both ASU and Louisville were participants since this group is a combination of those schools alumni. That being said we have now made the CWS our annual trip regardless of who is playing. It’s just such an awesome time.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
I worked at UofL for eight years.
And have been to the infield a few times on Oaks and Derby days. Louie is a very underrated city.
When I worked there their baseball program was very poor. I used to go watch them play in old Cardinal Stadium at the fairgrounds. It seated 20,000 and only 100 200 fans would show up for mid-week UofL games. It was kinda a weird experience. No concessions, huge expanses of empty seats, the players chatter could easily be heard in the stands, etc.
UofL’s new stadium looks great. I moved before it was built so I haven’t been to a game there yet. College Baseball is slowly spreading and becoming a national sport. I think that is a good thing.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
by James Quinn on Mar 15, 2009 11:03 AM MST up reply actions
I loved the 'Ville
just wouldn’t want to live there again. What did you do for UofL and during what time frame? Did you ever have to sit in the press box at the old Cardinal Stadium when it was windy and 20 degrees?
Not fun. I, too, moved before the new stadium was built. I just don’t have much of a real reason to go back. The basketball arena looks awesome. When they open the new arena I want to do a Louisville sports weekend and hit up a November football game and a basketball game on the same trip.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
Louie
I worked in HR and then as an admistrator in one of the departments. I was there from 1995 – 2003. I lived in Louisville from 1990 until 2003 when I took the plunge and started working on my PhD. Hopefully I’ll have that wrapped up in about one more year.
I never sat in the press box at Cardinal Stadium. In fact, I wouldn’t have been sure there even was one if you hadn’t told me. I don’t remember any actual “press” coverage of the team while I was there. It was a sadly neglected sport during my time. It is amazing what a little be of attention and a little bit of money can do. The Cardinals went from playing home games infront of a hundred people to the CWS in only five years.
On the positive side, I did see most of Louisville’s glory years in football. And the basketball team was easy enough on the fan during my Louisville years. And I absolutely love Slugger Field downtown Louisville where the Bats play. One of the nicest minor league parks in the nation I think.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
I worked for Nelligan (Revenue Sport Marketing)
as a Marketing Assistant at UofL from Fall 2003-Winter 2004 while getting my M.S. in Sport Admin. We must know some of the same people. I also worked as a Media Relations Assistant for the Bats during that time period.
Press box: Look at the top of the overhang. It was brutal. I remember one game when the wind was like 25mph that we were all scared the whole thing was going to come down.
http://www.minorleagueballparks.com/Card98.jpg
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
Yeah, that looks like a lovely spot to ride out a wind storm.
I would be surprised if we had acquaintances in common. I did not know anyone in the athletic department. Just a fan you know, not an insider. I did meet Prado once. He had a lot of energy and a very deep tan. That is all I remember about him.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Parkway Field
For years I drove by the decaying remains of Parkway Field. I hated to see it. I always thought it a terrible shame that UofL played at that horrible stadium while Parkway just faded away. Right on campus, reeking of history. I guess it is completely gone now.
Oh well, I’m a softy for baseball history.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
I thought you meant you were in the athletic department.
My bad.
Thanks for chatting!
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson
Thanks for doing this James.
Cool post, nice to have it.
House of Sparky - www.houseofsparky.com - Go Sun Devils
No problem, just doin' my job.
Still waiting on that first paycheck.
ASU has a huge baseball following. I’m sure before long someone will be banging on the HoS door asking for a place to publish his or her rambling on the baseball team. There are worse hobbies. And the traditional media outlets pretty well ignore NCAA baseball.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Game 3: Arizona State 12 - Kansas 10 FINAL
Wow, the Sunday night game was pretty wild. After falling behind 12-4 KU stormed back to pull within two in the eighth inning. The Sun Devils held on. Even though KU lost the series I am very happy with how they played this weekend.
Good luck ASU folks. That is a very good baseball team. They should make you happy in June.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
This turned out to be a hell of a series. Thanks for all the content, good sir. Best of luck this year.
by Cory Williams on Mar 17, 2009 12:53 PM MST up reply actions
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