KU Baseball Notes: KU vs. Creighton tonight, Faunce and Smyth injury updates and the notice that comes with a national ranking.
by James Quinn on Apr 14, 2009 11:48 AM CDT
in Baseball
64 comments
The Bluejays (17-16) are having a down year but they are not a bad team by any stretch. Creighton is 9-3 at home while KU is 3-7 on the road, so that is a factor. CU holds a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series between the schools when the game is played in
Creighton’s strength is pitching and defense. The Bluejays only give up 4.3 runs a game. Kirk Clark (RHP, Jr.) will start tonight for Creighton.
It looks like several KU baseball fans will be gathering at Biggs BBQ to watch the game.
More points of interest after the jump:
Nick Faunce Injury: Nick Faunce fractured a finger while attempting to lay down a bunt in Sunday’s game. He will be unable to play for at least two weeks. Hopefully he will be able to field and pinch run after that time and will be back fully before the Big-12 tournament. Faunce, a senior team captain, is hitting .264/.311/.396 on the year with two homeruns and 23 RBIs. Jason Brunansky probably will play center field most games in Faunce’s absences. Brunansky has a world of potential but is still struggling through his freshman learning curve. His batting line is .233/.349/.384. Brunansky has made some outstanding plays in the outfield, and also two painful errors. With both Faunce and Jake Marasco out the outfield is a bit thin. Jimmy Waters and Zac Elgie might see more time out there in the next two weeks. Can Greg Herbst play in the outfield as well?
Paul Smyth: Paul may be ready to pitch again as soon as this weekend. This is good news as the bullpen, like the outfield, is getting a bit thin as of late. With Cameron Selik’s availability uncertain the Hawks are down to only five relief pitchers (Blankenship, Bochy, Burk, Marcin and
Shaeffer Hall getting better?: During the first Ritch Price radio show Shaeffer Hall was interviewed by Brian Hanni. Hanni wondered if Hall did not pitch even better this Friday against Oklahoma State, a complete game five hitter, than he did on opening day when he threw a no-hitter against Air Force. Hall agreed, “I’ve gradually gotten better over the season. I was probably better on Friday than during the no-hitter.”
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KU Injuries
I am getting a little concerned about how thin our pitching is becoming. It seems most teams carry 15 pitchers who are available. We started the season with 12 and now it seems we maybe down to nine (3 of whom are freshmen). Playing 4 and sometimes 5 games a week is going be tough with that number. Jason Brunansky has got to become a little more disciplined at the plate. An acceptable percentage for striking out is 15% or less of the times at bat. He is currently striking out at a rate of 35%. He will be okay once he gets more D1 experience and a season of summer ball behind him. He definitely has the speed and range to cover center field.I think for Jimmy Waters not being able to play this past summer put him behind on the learning curve. I think he needs a solid summer of playing as an everyday player to give him the boost he needs. We’ve got to get the injured players on the mend and not lose the momentum we now seem to have.
On the positive side the mid-week schedule does lighten up.
This week only a Tuesday game at Creighton.
Next week a home game vs. NAIA Baker and then a game at Kauffman vs. Missouri.
Next week Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Chicago State. Not a strong opponent.
Next week one game at Wichita State
Next week, open
And then the team finishes with three weekend games vs. Kansas State.
The team will only need a #5 starter for two more games. That means Selik or Bollman can be used out of the bullpen much more freely.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
Ok State vs Ark Pine Bluff
I was surprised to see that Andrew Oliver was starting for OK State against Arkansas Pine Bluff today.
Andrew Oliver
He pitched 2.2 innings and faced two batters before being replaced. I wonder if he was working on something. But why would they pull him at 2.2 and not let him finish. He is a great pitcher and I am hoping he is not injured. It is unusual to have a Friday starter turn around and throw again on Tuesday. His line today was :
IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
2.2 2 1 1 2 3 9 12
That is odd.
He threw plenty of pitches Friday night. Even though he only went 4.1 innings he threw 89 pitches.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
im tellin ya
something fishy is going on with Oliver
his "stuff’ on Friday was not impressive and his draft stock is falling fast!
Somehow, the NCAA is behind this.
I’m telling you man, don’t cross the NCAA. They have powers.
I shouldn’t joke. I hope he is not injured. I really do think he was treated badly in that whole mess last year. I suspect the NCAA will fight him as long as possible in court and in the end he will walk away with a nice pile of compensation money.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
I'm here, y'alls.
If anyone wants to show up for some form of a OGT, or whatever.
First time I’ve seen anyone on this team actually move, and not in still pictures.
It’s really quite the sight.
y'alls?
How far south in Cali are you rockchalk? :D I wonder why they’re televising this game?(Not complaining) I would think they would want a KU-MU or KU-Texas game.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 6:57 PM CDT reply actions
I was just having some fun.
It’s a fun word to type, y’all.
I never actually say it, but I type it all of the time. It’s kind of weird.
Wow! Nice blast.
That’s nice two-out hitting.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 7:01 PM CDT reply actions
Jason Brunansky just hit a 3-run HR.
Kansas up 3-0 in the Second Inning.
Damn. Particularly funny, because the announcers had just discussed how different he is from his father and how he isn’t a power hitter at all.
He does not look very big
but he definitely got all of that one. Nice swing.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions
The best part, by far.
Was how he hit it, then put his head down and sprinted out of the gate.
I don’t think that he believed he hit it that hard, at all.
He was definitely in shock-and-awe.
Yes,
the way he was running out of the box made me think it was going to stay in the park. I was just hoping it would clear the center-fielder, then it was gone. He must be showing off for the cameras.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Another two out hit.
Wish the Royals were this clutch.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Flipping back and forth between this and the Royals game.
We look to be the much better team.
Maybe we really are this good…
And another clutch hit.
Little 2-out rally that started with no one on.
Heere with the RBI.
Afenir up, hits it hard (really hard) but straight at 3B.
Kansas 5 Creighton 0.
Aaagh. Missed that run
watching Gordon whiff for the Royals.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 7:49 PM CDT reply actions
Nice dp by the Bluejays.
And nice play by the jays first baseman. They must never watch the Royals.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 8:01 PM CDT reply actions
Blue Jays score one on a two-out rally of their own.
Kansas 5 Creighton 1, going into the bottom half of the 5th.
Bollman REALLY tiring.
Working in the 6th inning.
Throwing a bunch of balls, but managing to work his way out of it (for the most part).
Hopefully he can get through the inning without too much damage.
I'm not paying attention at all, anymore.
Kansas only up 5-2 after a faulty 3-1 play.
Obviously, we needed Jacobs there.
Shitmuffins, shit, shit.
I turn back to find it be 5-4, now.
Bases jacked for the Blue Jays. Bottom of the 7th. Two outs.
Holy holy holy shit.
I was planning on watching the replay later, but yikes. We’ve gotta hold onto this lead, man.
HUGE K from Blankenship.
Keeps the Hawks up 1 going into the 8th.
Hopefully we don’t blow another lead in the 9th. That would such soooo much.
CLUTCH HIT FROM ZAC ELGIE!!!
Another two-out rally from the Jayhawks.
Damn, this team is scrappy.
Kansas 6 Creighton 4 in the Eighth Inning.
by rockchalk on Apr 14, 2009 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
rec due to proper use of the word "scrappy"
This team eats scrap. This team sleeps in scrap. This is one damn scrappy team. Losing does not sit well with them at all.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
by James Quinn on Apr 14, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Shitmuffins.
Creighton gets a 2-out hit in the 8th to bring it back up to 6-5.
Runner on first. Hopefully we can escape with a lead, again.
This game is freaking me out.
Bochy works his way out of a bases loaded jam.
Still tied, going into the 9th.
SHIT YES ROBBY PRICE!!!
Price just led off the 9th with a triple. Just get that run home, and hopefully Paul Smyth won’t blow everything up.
2 outs now.
I’m watching the Royals game, flipping back for updates.
I don’t know how we couldn’t just get a long fly ball, though, to score Robby.
We need another clutch-ass, two-out hit from Jimmy Waters here.
KU benefits from a generous call.
To get the 2nd out of the 9th inning.
No one on, 2 outs.
Just get to extras, please.
YES!
Robby Price gets a sac fly to put us ahead, 7-6.
OK, Smyth. Time to make up for a lot of screw-ups.
We badly need this game.
The Jayhawks are making this exciting.
Way too exciting.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Hawks win!
That would have been a bad one to lose. Nice they held on.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 10:10 PM CDT reply actions
Exactly.
Not a great win, by any stretch. But, most importantly, it wasn’t a L, and the Jayhawks keep on fighting.
Plus, the way it went, it would have been a real downer to lose.
I think we go play Texas Tech in Lubbock this week, IIRC. Those should be tough; they are a feisty little team at home, from what I’ve read.
We have to win at least 2, though.
YES YES YES YES!
Strike threeeeeee!
Well, that was far too close, far too close.
But, at least we ended up winning.
Huge, absolutely needed victory. Just absolutely huge, really.
I’m pumped.
Good.
I can watch it without trying to catch the Royals and make comments on two different game threads. Bollman did have a great start. Too bad he couldn’t get the win. He deserved it.
by hunter s. royal on Apr 14, 2009 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey all,
I just got back from Biggs BBQ. About 12 or 15 KU baseball fans were there watching the game. Good time.
I love the open thread here. Great win for KU. Kansas has now won three straight on the road.
Robby Price made some nice defensive plays there. Creighton is not a bad team at all. It’s a good win.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
One more bit of coolness. KU baseball makes ESPNU's front page today.
Here is the story, and here is the picture they ran with it. T.J. looking fierce. The story is called “Swagger like Jayhawks.” It’s all good lately.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
ESPNU Link and TJ Walz
The caption to the picture says that the 25 pounds he has gained has helped K State.
ESPN, go for the pictures and hype.
Stick to RCT for the information.
Still, I do love the national attention.
www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage
by James Quinn on Apr 14, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions
What was up with that field?
The grass at Rosenblatt looked like crap. Has the new stadium for the College World Series opened yet?
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