After a weekend sweep of in-state opponent IPFW, you'd expect IU coach Tracy Smith to be a pretty happy guy. He was. Sort of.
Eighteen games into the season Smith's team is 10-8. There is no doubt in my mind IU is a much improved team from a year ago this time, when they were 7-11.
That said, Tracy Smith is still searching for something: power.
"I wish we had a little more power," Smith said after Saturday's win against IPFW. "I think some guys are still going to hit for some that aren't yet, but thank goodness we are fast."
That quote is very telling, so let's dive in.
So far this season, Smith's Hoosiers have exactly one home run. That single big fly belongs to senior shortstop Keith Haas - a very good contact and high-average hitter, but not necessarily a huge power threat.
So far this season IU's power hasn't surfaced for a few reasons.
Freshman outfielder and former Baltimore Orioles draft pick Kipp Schutz went down with a broken collarbone just as he was starting to swing the bat well. That's a big, left-handed bat missing from the middle of the IU batting order.
Also, power guys like freshman catcher Josh Phegley (.233 AVG, .333 SLG) and junior first baseman Jon Fixler (.245 AVG, .265 SLG) have struggled so far this season.
With Phegley, it's hard not to believe that it's just a matter of time. He has a great swing, and Smith is just as confident in his mechanics at the plate. He'll find it.
The same may be true for Fixler. This is a guy that hit .343 in Big Ten play last season and slugged over .400.
I think coach Smith is a little worried about where the power is going to come from because Big Ten season starts Friday.
If IU doesn't start at least putting the ball in the gaps for doubles with a little more frequency, the pressure will be on guys like freshman second baseman Evan Crawford (.391 AVG, .427 OBP, 10-of-12 on steals) and sophomore center fielder Andrew Means (.358 AVG, .448 OBP, 12-of-13 on steals) to get on base and into scoring position with their legs.
The middle of the order doesn't have to start hitting home runs at a Barry Bonds-esque clip. They just have to find the lines and the gaps. Sometimes doubles are just as good as home runs, especially when you're as fast as these Hoosiers.
I'm with Smith. I think the power is just waiting to come out. Guys like Fixler and Phegley, along with lefty DH Reid Briglia will start driving the ball.
What do you think? Can IU continue to scratch out victories with pitching, defense, steals and a lot of singles? Or are they in trouble if those slugging percentages don't rise?
