Notes on the Texas – Kansas baseball series

by James Quinn on Apr 8, 2007 8:38 AM CDT

KU and Texas played a very spirited series this weekend. Texas gained control of the first game late and went on to an 11-6 win. The Jayhawks got into the Longhorn bullpen in the fourth inning in game #2 and ripped it up on way to a 14-6 victory which made a lot of KU fans incredibly optimistic for about 20 hours. Game #3 was a hell of a contest. Several lead changes and great defensive play. Texas broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth inning and went on to a one-run win. The lose hurt but the Jayhawks played well and, it has to be said, Texas is a hell of a good baseball team.

A few observations on the Longhorns. Excellent defensive team. Josh Prince (SS) and Nick Peoples (CF) both have great range and react to balls quickly. Kyle Russell is a tall guy, and he bats standing straight up so he has a huge strike zone. He doesn't look like he is a power hitter at the plate, but clearly he generates a lot of pop with that swing. His HR cuts looked pretty effortless. I just didn't expect those strokes to travel like they did off his bat. Sweet mechanics. He reminded me of Eric Davis actually. From zero to 400 feet, almost all on bat speed. Best batting prospect I've seen in my three years of watching Big-12 games.

It is hellishly cold here in Kansas and so attendance was depressed during the series. The temperature was near freezing and there was a strong left center breeze on Thursday and Friday. Saturday was a bit warmer and less windy which finally brought out a decent crowd. It is a shame the weather did not cooperate as the baseball on the field was as good as it gets in NCAA play. For Friday’s game I was in three layers and then wrapped in a blanket. It didn’t matter, I was still bone cold by the sixth inning.

Several hundred UT fans were at each game. While I have no warm spot for UT in my heart I have to say that Longhorn baseball fans are a pretty devoted lot. The only other teams who bring large contingents to KU games are Wichita State, Nebraska and Missouri. Judging by the Missouri baseball fans the state is full of obnoxious vulgar people with very small lives.

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Thanks for the notes

Russell is a ridiculous hitter.

Our bullpen still needs work, but if we can sort that out, we'll be set.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Apr 8, 2007 9:10 AM CDT reply actions

From one of the UT fans in attendance...

Thanks for the analysis. Y'all have a nice ballpark here in Lawrence.

KU seemed to be playing well above their heads, if win-loss record is any indication. The Jayhawk pitcher for Saturday's series finale was spectacular, throwing some serious junk. The Horns won the game exclusively on the long ball--one by Peoples, and two by Russell. I agree that neither of Russell's shots looked like they were going until they fell over the wall.

And on the Longhorns' fielding: they certainly have the ability to be a great fielding team. However, two fielding errors Saturday were the only reasns KU had 5 runs instead of 1. I do think the heavy wind and cold weather had a lot to do with that, though.

In any event, a road series win is always good and I think this Longhorn squad has the ability to be something special this year.

by wao23 on Apr 8, 2007 10:26 AM CDT reply actions

Andy Marks

The KU starter on Saturday was sophomore Andy Marks. He was leading the Big-12 in strikeouts/9 last week, but his ERA in conference games was over ten. He has four pitches on his good days. His curve is a great out pitch when it is falling into the strikezone low or inside. He really is a good pitcher in all ways except his tendency to hang pitches. He has given up 10 home runs in 8 starts now. When he gave up the 3-run shot to Russell in the 4th it was very much deja vu. I think more than half his earned runs have come off long balls. He can be lights out against teams without a lot of experience with breaking pitches, but when he faces a more seasoned line-up it can get ugly. Maybe next year.....

Anyway, glad you liked the visit. Hoglund is a nice park and Lawrence is a fine town to spend a few days exploring. Hoglund is one of my favorite places on Earth truth be told. Sorry more Jayhawk fans didn't come out to drown out your damn Longhorn cheers :-) Hopefully next time you visit the weather will be more spring-like and you'll see a few more fans in blue. I think on Friday a third of the crowd was in orange gear.

That error by the second baseman yesterday - I loved seeing KU jump all over that. The Jayhawks are a pretty good two-out team. Like so many other aspects of this year's team, successes and failures seem to come in bunches.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Apr 8, 2007 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Lawrence

Nothing but great things to say about Lawrence. I wan in town to visit my little brother, who goes to KU, and it's alays a fun time.

The streakiness comes with being young; there's definitely some talent on that squad, and some serious bats. And about the crowd...it was fun for me to sing The Eyes on the road for the first time!

by wao23 on Apr 8, 2007 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions

FYI

Kyle RUssell has tied UT's season HR record at 20. Tied with Ontiveros. WIth a month and a half, I think he'll be able to get at least one more.

by the other Andrew on Apr 8, 2007 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

pitching

I hope we are talking about what a great job Skip did with this staff in another month or we will not advance any further than we did last year. Two starters and an on again, off again relief staff will not get us out of regionals.

by UTeed on Apr 8, 2007 8:11 PM CDT reply actions