Kansas (30-24) vs. Kansas State (24-27) with a tournament bid on the line

by James Quinn on May 16, 2008 10:01 AM CDT in Baseball Comment 1 comment

Kansas plays Kansas State this weekend to end the regular season. The two teams will meet in Lawrence on Friday at 6PM and then play two in Manhattan, Saturday 6:30PM and Sunday 2PM. A glance at the Big-12 standings will bring home the importance of this series. Neither the Jayhawks or the Wildcats have any hope of earning an NCAA at-large invite so the only path open to either team for post-season play is to win the conference auto-bid in Oklahoma City next week. Only the top eight teams are invited to the Big-12 tournament. Neither team is assured of a top-eight finish yet.

KU Recap and Boxscore.

Big-12 Standings

Team	Big-12 record	Overall record
Texas A&M	19-5	42-11
Nebraska	17-6-1	39-9-1
Oklahoma State	16-8	38-14
Missouri	13-11	34-17
Texas	12-12	31-19
Baylor	10-14	30-22
Kansas	9-15	30-24
Oklahoma	8-15-1	31-21-1
LINE OF SORROW
Kansas State	8-16	24-27
Texas Tech	7-17	23-29

Breaking down the Big-12 End Game - The top five teams have already clinched berths in the Big-12 tournament. Of the second five, Baylor is close to a lock. I think the only way the Bears are knocked out at this point is if Kansas State sweeps Kansas, Oklahoma sweeps Oklahoma State and Baylor is swept by Texas Tech. On the opposite side, Texas Tech will need quite a bit of help to qualify. Oklahoma and Kansas both own tie breakers over the Red Raiders so TTU would need to beat Baylor this weekend, and hope that both Kansas and Oklahoma lose their series to sneak in.

It really is the 7, 8 and 9 teams that are the most interesting part of this equation. Only two will make the tournament. Since this is a Kansas blog, let's focus on Jayhawk scenarios.

If Kansas wins two or three games this weekend over Kansas State - They are in.
If Kansas wins one of three games this weekend vs. Kansas State - They are in only if Oklahoma State wins its series over Oklahoma, a scenario that is likely.
If Kansas is swept by Kansas State - The Jayhawks could still make the tournament, but only if Oklahoma is also swept AND Texas Tech losses its series vs. Baylor.

So, First - Kansas controls its own destiny. Second - Even if the Jayhawks stumble, they still have a fair shot at getting in. Only if KU collapses this weekend are they likely to miss the conference tournament.

Friday 6PM: Nick Czyz (2-6, 6.03 ERA) vs. Brad Hutt (5-4, 3.83 ERA)
Saturday 6:30PM: Andres Esquibel (3-4, 5.48) vs. Chase Bayuk (1-4, 6.62)
Sunday 2PM: T.J. Walz (4-1, 4.50) vs. Justin Murray (2-2, 3.84)
Media: KLWN AM-1320 will broadcast all three games live. Steaming video will be available through this site for the Friday game.

Complete Kansas State stats are located here. Jayhawk stats here.

It is such a busy week here at KU that I will have to keep the series preview short at this time, but, if I had to summarize K-State's team in just a few words - Sneaky good and peeking late. Light offense, effective if not spectacular starting pitching. Get to them early because their closer, Daniel Edwards, is an All-American candidate.

Senior Night
KU will honor eleven graduating seniors just before the Friday night game. This is a special group. John Allman, Matt Berner, Justin Ellrich, Andres Esquibel, Hiarali Garcia, Matt Lane, Casey Larson, Erik Morrison, Ryne Price, Eric Snowden, and Joe Southers.
That is a stand-out class. A lot of names in there which KU will have a hard time replacing. If you haven't been to a Senior Night before, make the effort. The team does it right. The seniors are honored individually before the game with a video highlight of their career. Their parents are brought on the field and Coach Price thanks the whole family for years of sacrifice and hard work. Come to the game about a half hour early tonight and give these men a warm send-off.

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Pros & Prospects

SR Daniel Edwards 6', 200, RHP
Edwards is an All-American and one of the top closers in the country. He has a 2.48 ERA in 32.2 innings with 43 K's, 13 walks and 21 hits. He is a shut-down closer. He was drafted in the 27th round last year by Cleveland and i would expect a top 10 round pick this year. I may or may not get to see him pitch. If I do get to see him pitch i will track his velocity and pitch movement.

SR Brad Hutt 6'3, 213, RHP
Hutt is the starter tonight. Hutt has an ERA of 3.83 un 84.2 innings with 36 K's, 19 walks and 88 hits. Hutt is not an overpowering type pitcher and is very hittable but he appears to have very good control and probably pitches to a lot of contact, either ground balls or fly balls. I will try to see if his pitches will translate to the next level.

JR Justin Murray 6'4, 220, RHP
Murray wont pitch tonight. He has a 3.84 ERA in 61 innings pitched with 32 K's, 17 walks and 64 hits. He is another control artist that is hard to score runs against. I would expect him to be a late round draft pick next month and come back to school next year.

FR Thomas Rooke 5'11, 182, LHP
Rooke is a very intriguing young prospect. He has a 2.52 ERA in 35.2 innings with 27 K's, 10 walks and 27 hits. Those are very nice numbers for a freshman. I hope to see what he is dealing in tonights game if he comes in from the pen.

JR Ben Hornbeck 6'5, 194, LHP
Hornbeck is a tall and lanky pitcher. He was drafted in the 48th round in 05 by the Phillies. He has a 3.38 ERA in 21.1 innings with 16 K's, 8 walks and 24 hits. Hornbeck looks to be somewhat of a strikeout pitcher and i would expect him to be drafted next month somewhere in the area of the 30th round. I may have a chance to see him out of the pen.

Other pitchers of interest:
Justin Aragon
Justin Lindsey
A.J. Morris

FR Jason King 5'11, 215, 2B
King is having a great freshman year. He is batting .284 with 5 HR, 28 RBI, 11 doubles, 31 K's and 16 walks. King was drafted in the 48th round last year by St. Louis and is showing exactly why. Im very excited to see his bat and to see what kind of player he is. He could end up being a KSU great when all is said and done.

SO Justin Bloxom 6'1, 196, 1B
Bloxom is batting .280 with 8 HR, 45 RBI, 12 doubles, 40 K's and 21 walks. He has to cut down on the K's but he is still young. He looks to have some decent power. I will be watching his swing closely tonight.

SO Adam Muenster 5'10, 178, LF
Muenster is batting .280 with 15 RBI, 6 doubles, 23 K's, 20 walks and 17 steals. He is a young leadoff hitter with a lot of speed. Im anxious to see how exciting he might be.

JR Byron Wiley 5'11, 191, CF
Wiley is a great talent and is having a very tough junir season. Last year as a sophomore he hit .366 with 7HR, 44 RBI and 14 steals. This year he is at .211 with 1 HR, 17 RBI, 47 K's and 19 walks. Im not sure if he is playing hurt or what is going on with this talented kid but something is really dragging him down. He had a chance to be drafted fairly high but this year means he will need to come back and have a great senior season.

Other players of interest:
Brett Scott
Dane Yelovich
Nate Tenbrink
Jurica Carter

Beak Em' Hawks!

by bkmhoxx on May 16, 2008 3:10 PM CDT reply actions