Big bat additions should help basbeall team

The College World Series doesn’t exactly come to mind for IU sports fans when considering the Hoosiers’ baseball team. In fact, IU has a total of 19 conference wins over the past two seasons – two fewer than perennial winner Michigan Wolverines tallied during this year alone. \nGoing into this season, expectations were high because of freshman duo Kipp Schutz and Josh Phegley and a few talented returning seniors. But as the team failed once again to make its way out of the Big Ten conference’s cellar, it is clear that head coach Tracy Smith still has some work to do. Hence, some hope is on its way for the IU baseball program in slugger Jeff Caldwell.\nCaldwell attended Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, Fla., – a school honored by having one of the top three athletics programs in a state that produces talented players about as often as it rains. While leading the team to a state championship, the first baseman hit .400, slugged .716 and crushed six home runs in 95 at-bats.\nIt’s true that chicks dig the long ball. And why shouldn’t they? It’s arguably the most exciting occurrence that can happen during a baseball game (unless you’re like me and prefer a shutout to a shootout). But with a team struggling recently, the signing begs the question – will the slugger help IU win in the Big Ten?\nGoing to the numbers, it appears that big bats translate into big wins. Of the top five home run-hitting teams in the Big Ten in 2006-2007, four finished with more than 15 wins in the conference led by Michigan, who won 21 games and the regular season title while hitting 50 home runs. Conversely, IU’s power numbers, which included hitting only eight home runs and a dismal .335 slugging percentage, kept them looking up at the other 10 teams in the conference. Conclusion? Caldwell can’t get to Bloomington fast enough. With his help, hopefully the Hoosiers can climb out of the single digits for blasts and get at least one team underneath them in the standings.\nBut one slugger cannot remedy the team’s ills. IU hit for a team average of .269 in a conference that saw nine out of 11 teams hit better than .300. The team’s composite ERA hovered around 5.50 for most of the season. To hopefully assist in stemming the bleeding from the mound, IU recently recruited in-state pitching standout Tyler Reimer, who finished his senior season with a 2.79 ERA. Reimer might also help the Hoosiers at the plate after hitting .432 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs while leading his Zionsville, Ind., school to a sectional championship.\nThe IU baseball team finished near the bottom or at the bottom of every major statistical category this season. These new recruits will have a hard time pulling the team up single-handedly, and Smith has his work cut out for him. Hopefully, good recruiting will bring IU baseball at least some success in the near future. Until then, Hoosier sports fans will have to continue to talk up the basketball team and the incoming Eric Gordon while keeping talk of the IU baseball team silenced.