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(02/24/14 4:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU had trouble getting off the field with two outs this past weekend.“You get an out away, and it seems like every little mistake we make, teams are capitalizing,” IU Coach Tracy Smith said.The struggles continued for the Hoosiers, going 1-2 in the PAC-12 Big Ten challenge to fall to 2-5 on the year.“You’ve got to dig your way out,” Smith said. “And not panic and press. The more you press, the more difficult the results.”On Friday, IU throttled Washington 8-2. Both the pitching and the defense were proficient. Senior pitcher Joey DeNato went six innings and gave up just one earned run. Junior catcher Kyle Schwarber went 4-for-5 with three RBI.This year, the Hoosiers are 2-0 when DeNato starts and subsequently 0-5 when he doesn’t.IU fell 5-4 Saturday during a 15-inning game against Utah that lasted more than four and a half hours.The game was back and forth, featuring five lead changes. In the 13th inning, IU took a 4-3 lead and the Utes were down to their final out. But freshman Jake Kelzer couldn’t get the save, as Cory Hunt recorded an RBI single on the first pitch he saw to tie up the game.In the 15th inning, it was again Hunt at the plate with two outs. And once again, Hunt came through with the RBI single, this time on a 1-and-1 count, to score the winning run.“That was frustrating,” sophomore pitcher Will Coursen-Carr said of the loss. “We fought hard.”Schwarber and junior first baseman Sam Travis finished the game a combined 2-for-13 in the game.The next day against No. 2 Oregon State, the team that ended IU’s season last year in the College World Series, the Hoosiers were trailing just 2-1 in the seventh-inning stretch.Once again, it was two-out woes for the cream and crimson. This time the damage happened in the bottom of the seventh.After Coursen-Carr got two outs, he was pulled. He went 6.2 innings and struck out six. He gave up five runs but only two were earned.“I would say a B-minus,” he said when asked to grade himself.After Coursen-Carr came out, that’s when the wheels fell off.With two outs, Oregon State managed to score six runs to put the game out of reach. All six runs were unearned also.“Yeah it sucked,” Coursen-Carr said. “But that’s baseball.”The Beavers 8-1 victory dropped IU to a 2-5 record this year.Despite starting the season No. 3 in the preseason poll and opening the year 2-5, both Coursen-Carr and Smith said the team isn’t worried or anxious.“It’s a proven offensive team,” Smith said. “They’re the same human beings that we’ve had in uniform for the last couple years. We know they’re going to hit.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(02/21/14 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite an opening weekend that has the IU baseball team already embroiled in a three-game losing streak, IU Coach Tracy Smith said he sees no reason to worry about his team heading into a three-game slate this weekend. As part of the inaugural Big Ten-Pac 12 Challenge, No. 10 IU will square off with Washington, Utah and No. 2 Oregon State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The Hoosiers’ ninth-year coach said his team’s inability to practice outside due to a particularly harsh Indiana weather led to some early-season rust that was difficult to shake off.“It’s a tendency early in the season, when you come outside for the first time, we’re going to be a little wild fright, you’re going to be jumpy,” Smith said.“I think our guys were just that — were a little jumpy at the plate. I don’t like losing, certainly, but I’m not too worried about it.”The Hoosiers are projected to start three left-handers during the weekend — reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and senior Joey DeNato, junior Kyle Hart and sophomore Will Coursen-Carr.Smith said he will look to see more consistency from a pitching staff that allowed 16 walks to Texas Tech last weekend.“I thought we were a little sloppy from the sense of just the consistency of strikes,” he said. “I think we had 15 walks or something on the weekend. A little sloppy on the mound.” In that season-opening series in Lubbock, Tex., IU’s nationally-hyped offense sputtered, scratching across only eight runs after putting 6.7 runs per game on the scoreboard last season.The No. 2 through No. 5 hitters in IU’s lineup — a group that includes preseason All-American juniors Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis — were held to 11-60 throughout the weekend, a .183 batting average. Smith said IU’s offensive struggles don’t concern him, as the team was able to practice outside only once in the preseason.“I’m not worried about us offensively, it’s one of those things,” he said. “I think we’ve got to get more time outside, get in a rhythm a little bit, but this team’s going to hit, so I’m not worried about them.”Looming over the weekend’s first two games is Oregon State, who knocked IU out of the College World Series in 2013.As the nation’s No. 2 team, the Beavers are the most highly-ranked opponent on the Hoosiers’ 2014 schedule. Smith said he won’t focus on the matchup.“I think right now, our whole focus needs to be on Indiana and getting Indiana right and put together our good at-bats every time to the plate and our pitchers throwing strikes, not walking people,” he said. He said the Hoosiers’ leadership will not allow their slow start to the season to affect them.“Our guys are a confident group. It’s four baseball games, which is not going to change how we feel about that,” Smith said. “We’re just going to go out and keep going and doing what we do. “I think if we do that, we concentrate on that and not worry about the other stuff, that at the end of the day we’ll be on the winning side of the ledger probably a lot more than the losing side.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/21/14 4:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Then-freshman shortstop Nick Ramos’ ground ball rolled toward third base. The throw reached first before Ramos, recording the final out of the game.The out also secured the final out of the best baseball season in IU history.Oregon State beat IU 1-0 last year in an ultimate pitchers’ duel in the College World Series, ending the historic run.“It will definitely be in the back of our minds,” senior pitcher Brian Korte said.No. 10 IU (1-3) will get another shot at No. 2 Oregon State (4-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday in Surprise, Ariz.“It’ll be nice to see them again,” Korte said.The Oregon State program has been a baseball powerhouse. Ever since Coach Pat Casey took charge in 1995, the Beavers have had just two losing seasons. In 2006 and 2007, Oregon State was the national champion.This year appears to be no different. In all the major polls, Oregon State is ranked in the top four in the nation.In the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, the Beavers are No. 1. This could be the best team the Hoosiers face all year, IU Coach Tracy Smith said.“Unless they come up with a team that’s (ranked) .5,” Smith joked. “Yeah, it doesn’t get any better than that.”Smith seems to be leaning toward sophomore Will Coursen-Carr for the start Sunday. He said he wouldn’t save senior ace Joey DeNato for Sunday because the Beavers are just another opponent and shouldn’t be treated as special.In his first start of the season against Texas Tech, Coursen-Carr gave up five earned runs in 4.1 innings.“The schedule is to do Coursen-Carr on Sunday,” Smith said. “But if we have to bring him in Friday or Saturday then we’ll definitely do that.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(02/19/14 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior starting pitcher Joey DeNato won co-Big Ten Pitcher of the week after his outing during the weekend against Texas Tech.The lefty shares the award with Ohio State’s Ryan Riga. It is the third time DeNato has won the award.DeNato gave up only three hits and one walk to go along with three strikeouts throughout six shut innings, picking up the win in the Hoosiers 1-0 victory against the Red Raiders in their first game of the season.He needed just 66 pitches and faced the minimum number of batters in five of the six innings on Friday. The win was his 25th, good for third all time in IU baseball history.Last season, DeNato went 10-2 with a 2.52 ERA, leading the team in wins en route to the College World Series, where he threw a complete game against Louisville. His 10 wins and 87 strikeouts were both tops in the Big Ten. He also was named second-team all Big Ten.He first won the award in 2011 during his freshman season and won the award for a second time in 2012 during his sophomore campaign.The No. 10 Hoosiers (1-3) will take on Washington, Utah and No. 2 Oregon State in Arizona this weekend in the Big Ten Pac 12 challenge.— Andrew Vailliencourt
(02/17/14 4:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On the first pitch of the season, leadoff hitter Will Nolden hit a double that took one hop before hitting the right field wall.Kyle Schwarber then grounded out to the shortstop but advanced Nolden to third. The next batter, Sam Travis, hit a high fly ball to center field.It allowed Nolden to tag up and when he crossed home on the sac fly to give IU the 1-0 lead in the first inning. It was the only scoring that took place.IU won the season opener 1-0 against Texas Tech.The next 27 innings were very different.IU was outscored 23-7 in the final three games. The Red Raiders took three of four from the Hoosiers to open up the year.“I kind of thought this team needed a little bit of a reality check,” IU Coach Tracy Smith said. “We’re had a long offseason of everybody telling us of how good we are.”Last year IU never dipped below .500.This year the Hoosiers will have to dig themselves out of an early hole as they start the year 1-3.“There’s no excuses,” Smith said. “We got beat. We got beat in every facet of the game ... I hope this serves as a wakeup call for all of us that it’s not going to be easy.”Both the offense and the pitching struggled in Lubbock, Texas. Senior ace Joey DeNato was the lone Hoosier starting pitcher to slow down the Red Raider attack.DeNato went six innings Friday, giving up three hits and no runs.The rest of the starting pitchers struggled. Junior Kyle Hart, along with sophomores Christian Morris and Will Coursen-Carr, recorded the three losses.They combined to give up 16 hits, 12 earned runs and nine walks in 12 innings pitched.Hart, who went 8-2 last year with a 3.01 ERA, gave up a grand slam in game two of the series. Because of his poor first start, Hart’s ERA stands at 15.0 on the year.“That was an unusual outing for him,” Smith said.Because it’s still early in the season, Smith said the starting rotation will be revisited and evaluated often.The Hoosier offense wasn’t much better.The much-ballyhooed unit scored just eight runs in 36 innings, averaging only two a game.“We had some immature at-bats,” Smith said.He said since it was one of the first times playing outside, players tend to get out in front of the ball and never make adjustments.“Guys are a little jumpy,” he added.Next weekend IU will participate in the PAC-12 challenge, which includes playing No. 2 Oregon State. The Beavers ended the Hoosiers season last year in the College World Series.“Next week it’s not going to get any easier,” Smith said.Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.
(02/14/14 5:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In 120 days, the eight best college baseball teams in United States will compete in Omaha, Neb., for the right to call themselves national champions.The IU baseball team was among those eight teams last season, and will be doing everything in its power to return to Omaha come June.The No. 3 Hoosiers will play 52 regular season games, plus additional contests in the Big Ten Tournament, and potentially the NCAA Regionals and NCAA Super-Regionals.The journey to Omaha begins Friday when IU travels to Lubbock, Texas, to face off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at 3 p.m.The road trip is a four-game series that begins 3 p.m. Friday, continues with a doubleheader with games at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and finishes Sunday.Coming so close to a national title last year helped IU Coach Tracy Smith and his team realize what it takes to win it all.“It’s tough to talk about a national championship, it’s tough to talk about Omaha if you haven’t been there,” Smith said. “This group from the end of last year, they said we have some unfinished business to do. And that’s their goal at this point.”The preseason expectations are unprecedented for IU and for the Big Ten conference. Before last season, the Hoosiers had never been ranked in the polls. They finished the year ranked No. 7 by Baseball America and were slotted No. 3 in the magazine’s preseason poll.The last Big Ten team to be ranked this high was the 1988 Michigan Wolverines, 26 years ago. One thing is clear for this IU team: it’s a national title or bust.Smith recalled reading what junior first basemen Sam Travis had written down for his season goals. Smith asked his players to reflect on several different topics. Travis’ answers were simple.“Team goals:” Win National Championship“Individual goals:” Win National Championship“Describe the Culture we want at IU baseball:” Carry ourselves as a National Championship caliber team.“What are some potential distractions, and how do we eliminate these distractions?” No distractions.When IU suits up for the first time this season, senior Joey DeNato will throw the first pitch for the Hoosiers. The California native was the ace last year for IU and had a 10-2 record with a 2.52 ERA.DeNato is third in IU history for career wins with 24. He needs just seven more to be the sole owner of the record.Pitching on Saturday for IU will be junior Kyle Hart and then sophomore Christian Morris. Hart was the second starter for IU last year, too, and finished the year 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA.Morris saw limited action, going 1-1 with a 4.68 ERA. The Sunday starter has yet to be announced.Last season, Texas Tech went 26-30 and 9-15 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders finished eighth out of nine Big 12 teams.Smith jested with reporters on why the IU baseball program chose to open up their season in Lubbock.“I guess everybody likes to say that’s Bob Knight country, isn’t it?” Smith said while smiling. “Actually I didn’t think about that until just now. But that didn’t go into our decision, I’m joking.”Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer
(02/11/14 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s Feb. 6, eight days before the 2014 season starts, and Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.The 6-foot, 240-pound All-American sits low in his stance. He bends his knees and locks his eyes on the pitcher ahead of him.He exhales. His eyes narrow. And he waits.As each pitch approaches, the junior catcher coils his upper body, ready to unleash what has been called the most powerful swing in college baseball.When the lobbed pitches reach the plate, Schwarber sets the chain in motion. First, a fluid movement, working from the ground up, then ending in the sharp ping that rings throughout the building.It is a steady cycle: pitch, swing, ping, back to the crouch.The season has yet to begin — instead of battling with an opposing pitcher at Bart Kaufman Field, Schwarber takes his swings under a protective cage inside John Mellencamp Pavilion.None of that matters to him. He is locked in.Each pitch is met with the same intensity and controlled violence of the last, and each ball careens through the cold air, whizzing past the pitcher’s head with the same fear-inducing velocity.Even in batting practice, this repetition is a comfort zone.“You’re in there, you’re locked into that at-bat, that moment,” Schwarber said. For others, Schwarber’s swing is something to be marveled at, an exercise in muscle memory that could lead IU baseball to its second College World Series in two years and make him a surefire first-round draft pick in June.For one of the country’s top collegiate hitters, it’s just another day at work.***It was the spring 2010, and Kyle Schwarber couldn’t be missed.At the urging of Assistant Coach Fred Nori, who coached in Schwarber’s native Middletown, Ohio, for almost a decade, IU Coach Tracy Smith made the three-hour drive from Bloomington to Middletown to see a high school catcher play. It was Schwarber.“Coach Nori kind of dropped the beat on Coach Smith about me, so he came out and watched me play a game,” Schwarber said.On the mound for Schwarber’s opposition that day was left-hander Joel Bender, who was drafted later that year by the Cincinnati Reds.For the left-handed Schwarber, the matchup was not ideal.He hit three home runs anyway, securing a scholarship offer from Smith on the drive back from the game.“I was playing a pretty quality left-hander, and had some success, hit a couple home runs off of him,” Schwarber said. “I gave (Smith) a call after the game, and he offered me there. It’s kind of like a dream school for me, and I couldn’t be more happy with my choice.”Apart from the quick-trigger offer from Smith, Schwarber was mostly overlooked by the country’s top baseball powers while mashing pitches at Middletown High School.He batted .474 his senior season, adding eight home runs and 11 stolen bases. The recruiting world didn’t notice.He was named Middletown’s team MVP four consecutive years, collecting Co-Player of the Year honors in the Greater Miami Conference in 2011. The country’s top baseball institutions yawned.Now, two seasons into a career that has him on pace to shatter a handful of IU records, Schwarber said being glanced over as a recruit has not bothered him.“It doesn’t really play a factor,” he said. “You come to college, you want to be a mature player, you want to be able to take that next step to get to the majors, get to the big leagues.“That’s what we do here. We want mature guys. Take them in as boys, make them into men.”***Major League Baseball scouts and prospect rankings agree — Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Perfect Game USA ranked him the No. 7 college prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft, calling him “one of the best all around hitters in recent years in college ball.”He is Baseball America’s No. 16 college prospect, collecting preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and first team All-America honors.“Schwarber has a strong case as college baseball’s best hitter and most powerful slugger,” the publication’s Big Ten preview reads.He is as sure a prospect as any to come through the IU pipeline, boasting raw power and an ability to stay patient at the plate and wait for a pitch he likes.His statistics emphasize that plate discipline: 72 walks against only 61 strikeouts in 465 at-bats.That patience and ability to select pitches is a point of pride, he said.“You’re in there battling your butt off, trying to get a pitch to handle,” he said. “I really pound myself on not missing my pitch. I feel like I’m going to get one pitch an at-bat, and I’m going to take advantage of that pitch.”For two seasons, Schwarber has done exactly that — taken any advantage he can find and turned it into a mistake for the opposing pitcher.In his 121 collegiate games, Schwarber has simply dominated at the plate, hitting .333 with 26 home runs and 101 runs batted in during his two seasons.After leading IU to its first College World Series appearance last season — hitting .366 and 18 home runs in the process — he became the Hoosiers’ sixth-ever first team All-American and was selected as the country’s best catcher by Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Should he continue at his current statistical pace for two more seasons, Schwarber will threaten almost every IU offensive record: 52 home runs would be the most in program history; his 310 hits would rank No. 2 all-time; 202 RBI would place him No. 3, as would 232 runs scored.If he eschews whichever MLB club calls his name in this summer’s draft and plays four seasons in Bloomington, Schwarber will almost inevitably become one of IU’s greatest players, should he avoid the minor injuries that have cropped up throughout his time at IU.Individually, he is well-decorated. With just two seasons behind him, Schwarber has already collected more accolades and honors than all but a handful of IU’s greatest all-time players. Despite that success, his goal remains singular and team-oriented.Return to the College World Series. Win a national championship.“What I’m more focused on right now is getting to Omaha and leading the team,” he said. “That’s my main goal. All that’s goody-good for everyone else to read, but I don’t take that stuff to heart. Right now it’s 100 percent Omaha and how to get there.”***Due to his abilities with a bat in his hands, Kyle Schwarber has been described as a “can’t-miss” prospect.His prowess behind the plate lags behind that bevy of offensive weapons. It’s a discrepancy both Smith and coaches from USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, who Schwarber played for after the 2013 season, have worked to erase.“We were very honest with him, and I don’t see the players they’re seeing all the way across the country, but I think Kyle’s a good defensive catcher,” Smith said. “Is he one of the best in the country? I don’t know. But he did play for the best amateur team in the country this last summer, and they did say at the end of the summer he did a fine job when he caught.”With just 14 career errors and a .979 fielding percentage to their credit, Schwarber’s defensive numbers are average for a college catcher, though he expressed a renewed dedication to his work behind the plate.“I feel 20 times better,” he said. “I really want to put emphasis on it. I feel a lot better throwing the ball, a lot better blocking, handling the pitching staff. I feel like’s it’s going to be good to have me back there.”In practice, Schwarber is reserved, preferring to lead his teammates by setting the standard for dedication and showing off his skill set, forgoing a brash, loud approach.Exemplary of this was a batting practice session before the 2013 season, one of the Hoosiers’ first at then-brand new Bart Kaufman Field. When his turn came, Schwarber quietly stepped into the batter’s box, settled into that ever-recognizable crouch, and took his swings.One baseball left the stadium. Then another. Ball after ball rocketed over the outfield fence, leaving the small crowd of Hoosier teammates that had gathered to look on in awe, mouths agape.When his time in the cage ended, Schwarber stepped out and joined his teammates, refusing to acknowledge the show he had just given.Now, as IU prepares to enter a season with higher expectations than any in program history, those teammates will look to him as the head of a leadership corps that has the College World Series in its sights.To deliver on those intentions would be to answer a cloud of questions that swirl around the All-American.Can he stay healthy? Is he good enough defensively? Will the skills transition to the next level? Are the Hoosiers’ goals reachable?To provide an answer to those questions and make another deep tournament run, only one thing is certain.Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Follow baseball reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/11/14 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Coming off of last year’s monumental improvement and trip to the College World Series in Omaha, the IU baseball team now faces what may be the highest expectations in team history. Luckily for them, according to various media outlets and scouts, the Hoosiers have several players with professional talent who will lead them this season. Last June, the Hoosiers had three players drafted in the MLB draft, all by the Minnesota Twins. Pitcher Aaron Slegers went in the fifth round at pick No. 140, third baseman Dustin DeMuth went in the eighth round at pick No. 230 and closer Ryan Halstead went in the 26th round at pick No. 770.Both DeMuth and Halstead declined to sign with the Twins and chose to return to IU in hopes of winning a national championship. They join catcher Kyle Schwarber, first baseman Sam Travis and pitcher Joey DeNato as players likely to be drafted come June.Kyle SchwarberThe lefty hit .366 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs last season, his home run total good for third in the country. He is a first round pick from every notable college baseball site, including Baseball America, Scouting Baseball, SB Nation and Bleacher Report. Baseball America ranked him the No. 16 college prospect, SB Nation had him No. 28 overall of all prospects and Scouting Baseball ranked him No. 14. Early mock drafts have Schwarber being taken in the 16-26 range in the first round.Sam TravisFollowing Schwarber is the other “Bash Brother,” Travis. Last season he hit .316 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. He was ranked the No. 50 college prospect by Baseball America and No. 56 overall by SB Nation. He could go as high as the second round, or as low as the fifth.Dustin DeMuthDeMuth was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, but decided to return to IU for his senior season. Last season he hit .377 with five home runs, 24 doubles and 41 RBI’s. He was rated the No. 96 college prospect by Baseball America and ranked No. 238 of all prospects. He is projected to be a pick in the fifth through ninth rounds.Ryan HalsteadAlso deciding to return for his senior season was Halstead, who has the IU record for saves with 22. Last season he had a 2.89 ERA and 11 saves and limited batters to an average of .189. He was not ranked in the top 100 college players by Baseball America, or among SB Nation’s top 300 overall prospects. He was, however, selected in the 26th round last year by the Twins. He was also drafted in the 36th round out of high school by the Houston Astros, but turned them down to play at IU.Joey DeNatoDeNato, who is also a senior, is the top returning starting pitcher for the Hoosiers. Last season, he went 10-2 with a 2.52 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 103.2 innings. He was not drafted last year, but with an opportunity to build on his resume this season at the top of the rotation, he may be drafted this year. He was not ranked in either list. — Andrew Vailliencourt
(02/11/14 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last season was the best year in the history of IU baseball. And a year of many firsts.It was the first time IU had ever been ranked in the polls. The Hoosiers finished the year ranked No. 7 by Baseball America.It was the first year of Bart Kaufman Field.It was the first time IU advanced to the College World Series.This season, the Hoosiers will try for another first: win the College World Series.It would be the first time a Big Ten team has been national champion since Ohio State won in 1966.The Hoosiers won’t be sneaking up on anybody this year. They open up the year ranked No. 3 by Baseball America with expectations of winning the national title, IU Coach Tracy Smith said.“This group — from the end of last year — they said we have some unfinished business to do,” he said.Last year’s Bad Luck Even though IU finished the season with 49 wins (no other Big Ten team had more than 35), they were the second-unluckiest team in the conference.The Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball is an equation developed by baseball statistics pioneer Bill James.The theorem, which uses elements of the Pythagorean Theorem, is used to calculate how many games a team should have won compared to how games it actually won.The equation uses runs scored and runs allowed. It is designed to be a better indicator of how a team truly performed than standard wins and losses.Consider the following example.Team A wins three games by close scores of 5-4, 3-2 and 2-0. Their win record is 3-0.Team B wins two games by big scores of 11-2 and 6-0. But they also lose a close game 4-3. So their win record is 2-1.If one were to look only at the teams’ overall win/loss records, one might say Team A is better because of its better record.But, in actuality, Team B is a more dominant team and was “unlucky” in one game, losing a close battle.The Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball takes into account how a team did — not based on the standard win/loss records — but a more specific focus on how the team actually played.Last year IU won 49 games. But, according to the PTB, IU should have won 51.7 games.So the team had a PTB number of +2.7, meaning they should have won 2.7 more games than they actually did.Only one other team in the Big Ten had a higher PTB number: Northwestern had a +3.2 PTB.Not only did the Hoosiers have the best record by a significant margin, but that gap should have been even larger.This bodes well for the Hoosiers this year. Teams tend to regress toward the mean, or “average out” the next year if they have a high PTB number.Unlucky teams will become luckier, and luckier teams will become unluckier.Every national pundit predicts the Hoosiers will win the Big Ten fairly easily, as does the Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball.Replacing production The Hoosiers will need players to step up after losing three significant contributors up the middle of the field.IU lost shortstop Michael Basil and center fielder Justin Cureton to graduation and starting pitcher Aaron Slegers to the MLB draft.Slegers was the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year last season, boasting a 9-2 record with a 2.04 ERA.The 6-foot-10 Minnesota Twins prospect was the third starter for IU, pitching most Sunday games for weekend series.Basil was a four-year starter at shortstop and one of the main leaders of the team, Smith said.The speedy Cureton was the leadoff hitter and one of the Hoosiers’ best defensive players in center field.The expected replacements will be sophomore Nick Ramos at shortstop, junior Will Nolden at center field and sophomore Will Coursen-Carr in the pitching rotation, Smith said.These three players saw significant playing time last year in different roles than they’ll have this season, and performed well.To figure out how these players will step up statistics they must be evaluated one by one.Shortstop Basil had 49 RBIs last year compared to Ramos’ 23. However, Basil had 243 at-bats compared to Ramos’ 92.Basil had more opportunities to swing the bat, so his statistics should be much higher than Ramos.If Ramos had the same amount of at-bats as Basil last year, he would have had 61 RBIs. That’s a 24-percent increase in RBIs from the shortstop position from Basil to Ramos.According to the extrapolated statistics, Ramos would have hit 10.7 home runs, compared to Basil’s three home runs.The one major drop off from Basil to Ramos is batting average and on-base percentage.Basil hit .313 last year with a staggering .402 on-base percentage.Ramos hit at a significantly lower rate. He had a .228 average with a woeful .265 on-base percentage.There is a 27 percent drop off in batting average and a 34 percent drop off in on-base percentage from Basil to Ramos.While Ramos had more power, Basil got on base at a much higher rate.He was also more of a threat on the base paths. Basil stole seven bases last year. Ramos had zero.Center field Cureton was known more for his glove than his bat, so his hitting statistics were less than stellar.Nolden was a much better hitter last year as a sophomore than Cureton was as a senior.Cureton hit .216 but had a respectable .335 on-base percentage.Nolden hit 40 percent higher at .303 and got on base 21 percent more often with an impressive .404 on-base percentage.But IU will miss Cureton’s speed.Cureton stole 22 bases last year, which led the team and was one away from the most in the Big Ten.Extrapolating Nolden’s statistics shows he would have stolen only 9.5 bases given the same number of opportunities as Cureton.That’s a 57-percent drop off in stolen bases. Also, it’s tough to quantify the impact Cureton had in the field.Third Starter Last year saw the culmination of Aaron Slegers’ career. He was plagued by injuries his first two seasons at IU, but last year he was healthy and set the conference on fire.He was the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, he was 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA and he held batters to a .260 batting average.With Slegers now pitching in the Minnesota Twins farm system, the pitcher who will replace him appears to be Will Coursen-Carr.“We’re looking for him to step up and be that consistent guy early in the year,” Smith said of Coursen-Carr, “... but he should be a weekend guy for us.”Assuming Coursen-Carr eventually gets the weekend nod, the Hoosiers will be getting a pitcher who performed well last year.As the primary mid-week starter, Coursen-Carr excelled. He was 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA.However, Slegers usually faced stiffer competition, as he was the weekend starter.The main difference between him and Slegers is the strikeout-to-walk ratio.Slegers had more strikeouts, but he pitched 106 innings compared to Coursen-Carr’s 65 1/3.If he had pitched as many innings as Slegers, Coursen-Carr would have had 60 strikeouts. Slegers had 59. The big difference between the two is the walks given up.Slegers had only 17 walks, while Coursen-Carr’s extrapolated statistics suggest he would have had 44 walks. That’s a 158-percent increase in walks issued from Slegers to Coursen-Carr.To match Slegers’ efficiency, Coursen-Carr will have to cut down on the walks.Coursen-Carr, Ramos and Nolden also had an offseason to develop into better players.Therefore, these statistics shouldn’t be taken as absolute dogma, but they can be used to create a preliminary sketch of the kind of production IU is set to lose or gain.Follow reporterEvan Hoopfer on Twitter@EvanHoopfer.
(02/11/14 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It's Feb. 6, eight days before the 2014 season starts, and Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.The 6-foot, 240-pound All-American sits low in his stance. He bends his knees and locks his eyes on the pitcher ahead of him.He exhales. His eyes narrow. And he waits.As each pitch approaches, the junior catcher coils his upper body, ready to unleash what has been called the most powerful swing in college baseball.When the lobbed pitches reach the plate, Schwarber sets the chain in motion. First, a fluid movement, working from the ground up, then ending in the sharp ping that rings throughout the building.It is a steady cycle: pitch, swing, ping, back to the crouch.The season has yet to begin — instead of battling with an opposing pitcher at Bart Kaufman Field, he takes his swings under a protective cage inside John Mellencamp Pavilion.None of that matters to him. He is locked in.Each pitch is met with the same intensity and controlled violence of the last, and each ball careens through the cold air, whizzing past the pitcher’s head with the same fear-inducing velocity.Even in batting practice, this repetition is a comfort zone.“You’re in there, you’re locked into that at-bat, that moment,” Schwarber said. For others, Schwarber’s swing is a thing to be marveled at, an exercise in muscle memory destined to lead IU baseball to its second College World Series in two years and make him a surefire first-round draft pick in June.For one of the country’s top collegiate hitters, it’s just another day at work.***It was the spring 2010, and Kyle Schwarber couldn’t be missed.At the urging of Assistant Coach Fred Nori, who coached in Schwarber’s native Middletown, Ohio, for almost a decade, IU Coach Tracy Smith made the three-hour drive from Bloomington to Middletown to see a high school catcher play. It was Schwarber.“Coach Nori kind of dropped the beat on Coach Smith about me, so he came out and watched me play a game,” Schwarber said.On the mound for Schwarber’s opposition that day was left-hander Joel Bender, who was drafted later that year by the Cincinnati Reds.For the left-handed Schwarber, the matchup was not ideal.He hit three home runs anyway, securing a scholarship offer from Smith on the drive back from the game.“I was playing a pretty quality left-hander, and had some success, hit a couple home runs off of him,” Schwarber said. “I gave (Smith) a call after the game, and he offered me there. It’s kind of like a dream school for me, and I couldn’t be more happy with my choice.”Apart from the quick-trigger offer from Smith, Schwarber was mostly overlooked by the country’s top baseball powers while mashing pitches at Middletown High School.He batted .474 his senior season, adding eight home runs and 11 stolen bases. The recruiting world didn’t notice.He was named Middletown’s team MVP four consecutive years, collecting Co-Player of the Year honors in the Greater Miami Conference in 2011. The country’s top baseball institutions yawned.Now, two seasons into a career that has him on pace to shatter a handful of IU records, Schwarber said being glanced over as a recruit has not bothered him.“It doesn’t really play a factor,” he said. “You come to college, you want to be a mature player, you want to be able to take that next step to get to the majors, get to the big leagues.“That’s what we do here. We want mature guys. Take them in as boys, make them into men.”***Major League Baseball scouts and prospect rankings agree — Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Perfect Game USA ranked him the No. 7 college prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft, calling him “one of the best all around hitters in recent years in college ball.”He is Baseball America’s No. 16 college prospect, collecting preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and first team All-America honors.“Schwarber has a strong case as college baseball’s best hitter and most powerful slugger,” the publication’s Big Ten preview reads.He is as sure a prospect as any to come through the IU pipeline, boasting raw power and an ability to stay patient at the plate and wait for a pitch he likes. His statistics emphasize that plate discipline: 72 walks against only 61 strikeouts in 465 at-bats.That patience and ability to select pitches is a point of pride, he said.“You’re in there battling your butt off, trying to get a pitch to handle,” he said. “I really pound myself on not missing my pitch. I feel like I’m going to get one pitch an at-bat, and I’m going to take advantage of that pitch.”For two seasons, Schwarber has done exactly that — taken any advantage he can find and turned it into a mistake for the opposing pitcher.In his 121 collegiate games, Schwarber has simply dominated at the plate, hitting .333 with 26 home runs and 101 runs batted in over his two seasons.After leading IU to its first College World Series appearance last season — hitting .366 and 18 home runs in the process — he became the Hoosiers’ sixth-ever first team All-American and selected as the country’s best catcher by Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Should he continue at his current statistical pace for two more seasons, Schwarber will threaten almost every IU offensive record: 52 home runs would be the most in program history; his 310 hits would rank No. 2 all-time; 202 RBI would place him No. 3, as would 232 runs scored.If he eschews whichever MLB club calls his name in this summer’s draft and plays four seasons in Bloomington, Schwarber will almost inevitably become one of IU’s greatest players, should he avoid the minor injuries that have cropped up throughout his time at IU.Individually, he is well-decorated. With just two seasons behind him, Schwarber already has collected more accolades and honors than all but a handful of IU’s greatest all-time players. Despite that success, his goal remains singular and team-oriented.Return to the College World Series. Win a national championship.“What I’m more focused on right now is getting to Omaha and leading the team,” he said. “That’s my main goal. All that’s goody-good for everyone else to read, but I don’t take that stuff to heart. Right now it’s 100-percent Omaha and how to get there.”***Due to his abilities with a bat in his hands, Kyle Schwarber has been described as a “can’t-miss” prospect.Lagging behind the bevy of offensive weapons is his prowess behind the plate, a discrepancy both Smith and coaches from USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, who Schwarber played for after the 2013 season, have worked to erase.“We were very honest with him, and I don’t see the players they’re seeing all the way across the country, but I think Kyle’s a good defensive catcher,” Smith said. “Is he one of the best in the country? I don’t know. But he did play for the best amateur team in the country this last summer, and they did say at the end of the summer he did a fine job when he caught.”With just 14 career errors and a .979 fielding percentage to their credit, Schwarber’s defensive numbers are average for a college catcher, though he expressed a renewed dedication to his work behind the plate.“I feel 20 times better,” he said. “I really want to put emphasis on it. I feel a lot better throwing the ball, a lot better blocking, handling the pitching staff. I feel like’s it’s going to be good to have me back there.”In practice, Schwarber is reserved, preferring to lead his teammates by setting the standard for dedication and showing off his skill set, forgoing a brash, loud approach.Exemplary of this was a batting practice session before the 2013 season, one of the Hoosiers’ first at then-brand new Bart Kaufman Field. When his turn came, Schwarber quietly stepped into the batter’s box, settled into that ever-recognizable crouch, and took his swings.One baseball left the stadium. Then another. Ball after ball rocketed over the outfield fence, leaving the small crowd of Hoosier teammates that had gathered to look on in awe, mouths agape.When his time in the cage ended, Schwarber stepped out and joined his teammates, refusing to acknowledge the show he had just given.Now, IU prepares to enter a season with higher expectations than any in program history, those teammates will look to him as the head of a leadership corps that has the College World Series in its sights.To deliver on those intentions would be to answer a cloud of questions that swirl around the All-American.Can he stay healthy? Is he good enough defensively? Will the skills transition to the next level? Are the Hoosiers’ goals reachable?To provide an answer to those questions and make another deep tournament run, only one thing is certain.Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Follow baseball reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(01/29/14 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Three of the nation’s preeminent college baseball publications have released their preseason national rankings, and each features IU among its top 10 Division I teams.Baseball America, Perfect Game and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper have the Hoosiers ranked No. 3, No. 5 and No. 7 in the country, respectively, after the program’s first trip to the College World Series last season. IU is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in each publication’s list, and is the Big Ten’s most highly-ranked team in Baseball America’s rankings since Michigan began the 1988 season at No. 3.A preseason seat among the country’s elite is unfamiliar territory for the IU baseball program, which had not fielded a nationally ranked team until March 11, 2013, when Baseball America tabbed the Hoosiers as its No. 24 squad. Before that ranking, IU had played 117 full seasons without breaking into the national rankings.IU will begin the 2014 season Feb. 14 with a four-game series against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Tex.— Alden Woods
(01/27/14 6:03pm)
Use prints like these vintage book covers for an artsy take on an ordinary table.
(01/21/14 2:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two members of the IU baseball team have been named first team All-Americans by Perfect Game USA.Juniors Kyle Schwarber, catcher, and Sam Travis, first baseman, were given the honor on Jan. 20.No other Big Ten players were named to the first or second team.Schwarber is coming off a season where he hit .366 with 18 homeruns and 54 RBIs.“Several college baseball coaches have said Schwarber is the best pure hitter they’ve seen in many seasons,” perfectgame.org said in the release.Last season, Schwarber primarily batted No. 2 in the lineup with Travis batting No. 3, making a formidable lineup.Travis hit .316 with 10 homeruns and 57 RBI’s last year.IU is one of five schools to have multiple All-Americans.This is not the first honor Schwarber or Travis have won. Both Schwarber and Travis were named Louisville Slugger All-Americans in December, as well.Also in December, Schwarber was named the nation’s top catcher by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.The two Hoosier sluggers have potential to play at the next level. According to Baseball America, Schwarber is the No. 16 prospect for the 2014 draft, and Travis is the No. 50 prospect.IU baseball kicks off their season on Feb. 14 in Lubbock, Tex. The Hoosiers will play the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a four-game stint.— Evan Hoopfer
(01/20/14 8:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two Hoosiers have been named first team All-Americans by perfectgame.org.Juniors Kyle Schwarber, catcher, and Sam Travis, first baseman, were given the honor on Jan. 20.No other Big Ten players were named to the first or second team.Schwarber is coming off a season where he hit .366 with 18 homeruns and 54 RBI’s. In the release, perfectgame.org said, “Several college baseball coaches have said Schwarber is the best pure hitter they’ve seen in many seasons.”Last season, Schwarber primarily batted No. 2 in the lineup with Travis batting No. 3, making a formidable lineup.Travis hit .316 with 10 homeruns and 57 RBI’s last year.IU is one of five schools to have multiple All-Americans.This is not the first honor Schwarber or Travis have won.Both Schwarber and Travis were named Louisville Sluggers All-Americans in December, as well.Also in December, Schwarber was named the nation’s top catch by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The two Hoosier sluggers have potential to play at the next level. According to Baseball America, Schwarber is listed as the No. 16 prospect for the 2014 draft, and Travis is the No. 50 prospect.IU baseball kicks off their season on Feb. 14 in Lubbock, Texas. The Hoosiers will play the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a four-game stint.--Evan Hoopfer
(12/23/13 10:30pm)
On Monday, the Collegiate Baseball newspaper released its Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American selections and four Hoosiers made the cut. Catcher Kyle Schwarber and third baseman Dustin DeMuth made the first team, first baseman Sam Travis earned second team honors and left-handed pitcher Joey DeNato made the third team.
(11/11/13 1:04am)
Sophomore Tevin Coleman runs through a defender during IU's victory over Illinois on Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium. Coleman left the game early after spraining his ankle.
(10/29/13 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s that time of year when the baseball season is dwindling down.After seven long months of baseball games almost every day, football and basketball are about to take over. There are two baseball teams still standing, fighting it out in the crowning jewel of baseball — the World Series.It’s a World Series few seem to care about.There’s something the World Series is lacking this year, much like in previous years.I’m not the only person who thinks so.Although last week’s Monday Night Football game featuring the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings was a matchup between two horrible teams, more people decided to watch that game than Wednesday’s World Series opener. In a dull, boring game Monday that was miserable to watch, the Giants defeated the Vikings 23-7. The football game had a 9.5 viewer rating compared to Game 1 of the World Series, which had a 9.4 rating.That truly shows something.Baseball isn’t America’s national pastime anymore.The World Series had fewer viewers than a football game between two teams that had one win combined.Last year’s World Series was the lowest rated and least watched World Series ever.Baseball has definitely lost its edge. The World Series used to be the biggest sporting event in the world.Not anymore.Many other events have become bigger than the World Series.There’s a plethora of reasons why people aren’t tuning in to watch the World Series.Baseball is a tough sport for some to watch.People don’t like watching baseball because they think it’s boring and there’s not enough action.The athletes are often standing in one spot for long periods of time.Football always provides entertainment.From hard hits to exciting plays, football seems to grab the average sports fan’s eye easier.Players are always active, alert and on their toes, expecting the next play.But that might not be the No. 1 reason why more people watched the football game. Maybe football is just that good of a sport.Football is a sport where every game counts. The baseball season, at times, seems too long.The 162 baseball games during the regular season followed by a one-game playoff and three best-of-seven series can get tiring.Teams can have extended losing streaks in the MLB and still make it to the playoffs.In the NFL one loss can cost a team the playoffs.It’s time to crown football as America’s new favorite pastime.Football seems to have taken over as the most talked about and watched sport.Fans in St. Louis and neighboring regions had an interesting choice to make Monday.The St. Louis Rams played host to the Seattle Seahawks while the St. Louis Cardinals played host to the Boston Red Sox.Don’t be surprised if the Monday Night Football game had more viewers than Game 5 of the World Series.I know what I watched.— jayljohn@indiana.eduFollow columnist Jaylen Johnson on Twitter @nelyaJohnsonIDS.
(10/09/13 1:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU baseball team has a motto referring to its goals for the upcoming season. “Our slogan is ‘Unfinished Business,’ as we’re looking to get back to Omaha for the College World Series,” said infielder Casey Rodrigue, a transfer student from Louisiana State University-Eunice. “We’re ready for a really good season.”The team is in the midst of playing eight total “Fall Ball” games, including three intercollegiate games, all at Bart Kaufman Field.The team already played against St. Joseph’s College and Xavier University on Sunday and Monday, respectively.Against St. Joe’s, IU won 9-3 behind a sixth-inning home run by junior catcher Kyle Schwarber and a seventh-inning three-run double by Rodrigue.The Hoosiers won again Monday night against Xaxier 6-2, with home runs from Schwarber, junior outfielder Will Nolden and junior first baseman Sam Travis. Junior pitcher Kyle Hart threw five strikeouts through the first three innings helping the Hoosiers to a good start.The Hoosiers will also play a Cream and Crimson game at 8 p.m Oct. 18.Under the leadership of IU Coach Tracy Smith, the team had an overall record of 49-16, including a 17-7 record against Big Ten opponents in 2013.Smith garnered 2013 National Coach of the Year honors.The Hoosiers finished last season ranked No. 12 overall in the NCAA Baseball Division I rankings.Although it was the first time the Hoosiers made the College World Series, the team members said they feel they could have gone further in the tournament.“We got there last year, and no one was really that much better than us,” Hart said. “We were playing with every team that we played against and probably should have won every game that we played in. I think it’s a really realistic goal to try to get back there.” Despite three Hoosiers being drafted, only fifth round selection Aaron Slegers has departed to the professional ranks as part of the Minnesota Twins organization.The team also lost shortstop Michael Basil and outfielder Justin Cureton to graduation. Other than that, all starters from last year’s team returned.Team members said they are already putting in the time to get ready for the season. “The defense is getting better, and the hitting is unbelievable still,” Hart said. “The pitching is also coming along well. We’re getting there.”With the recent success, baseball has been growing in popularity at the University. “When we were playing last summer, people would come up to us and pat us on the back saying that they were proud of us,” junior outfielder Chris Sujka said. “A lot of people have told me that they’re looking forward to coming to games this year.”The Hoosiers have high hopes for the season, which begins in February.“The goal is to win it,” Sujka said. “We got a lot of guys back, so we’re hungry to win the whole thing, not just get there.”Follow reporter Greg Gottfried on Twitter @gott31.
(08/28/13 5:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig suspended Alex Rodriguez for a total of 211 games Aug. 5. That is the longest non-lifetime ban ever handed down by the MLB. Rodriguez came off the disabled list the day his suspension was announced and played in the game against the Chicago White Sox later that day. Rodriguez is still playing despite his suspension and hit his 650th home run Monday. A-Rod shouldn’t be able to appeal his suspension and continue to play.A-Rod was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in the Biogenesis investigation. In the past, Rodriguez has admitted to using PEDs. Thirteen other players from the Biogenesis scandal are currently serving their suspensions. Some of their teams even made acquisitions just in case one of their players were suspended. Why is A-Rod appealing his suspension, unlike the other 13 players who were nailed in the case? This is a move so he can collect his 2013 salary, as mentioned in CNN, and it appears he’ll be receiving all of it. When Rodriguez’s suspension was announced, CNN noted it could cost him $31 million. Even though Rodriguez hasn’t started serving his suspension yet, Selig said he was proud of the executive Biogenesis investigation team. Selig told USA Today he believed he made the right decision in suspending A-Rod.There’s a question mark around A-Rod’s salary for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. If he is suspended during that time, he won’t be able to collect his outrageous salary.A repeat offender such as A-Rod should be banned from baseball. Why let such a man play if he is going to keep trying to receive unfair advantages? MLB and other leagues need to announce suspensions when they are certain someone actually used a performance-enhancing drug or has done something wrong. The guilty players who were suspended should start serving their suspensions immediately without an appeal process.The appeal process is very lengthy. A resolution to A-Rod’s appeal is expected to be reached in November or December, well after the season is over and after he’s collected his salary for the 2013 season. If he would’ve started serving his suspension when it was announced, he would’ve been able to play at the beginning of 2015. He would’ve missed the end of the 2013 season and the entirety of the 2014 year.During an interview in Chicago, a couple hours before the game against the White Sox, Rodriguez didn’t deny using PEDs. He’s playing baseball, but can’t answer a simple question honestly.Instead, he said he would rather talk about whether he used them at a different time while avoiding eye contact with reporters. He didn’t answer the questions directly.With Rodriguez not serving his suspension, the MLB looks bad.— jayljohn@indiana.eduFollow columnist Jaylen Johnson on Twitter @nelyaJohnsonIDS.
(07/11/13 12:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The 2013 outfield lineup was rock-solid defensively throughout the year with the starters — Will Nolden, Justin Cureton and Casey Smith — combining for just eight errors and a 0.973 fielding percentage. The graduated Cureton was the best of the bunch defensively with a 0.984 fielding percentage and a knack for making highlight-reel plays in crucial moments, such as his catch against Austin Peay in the Bloomington Regional. What remains to be seen is who will take over in center and how junior catcher Kyle Schwarber will factor in to the outfield, if at all. But compared to the pitching staff and infield, the outfield has the least amount of turnover and will likely mostly resemble last year’s defensive set up. Departure (graduation) Justin Cureton, CF2013 stats: .216/.335/.286, 11 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 59 runs, 22-30 stolen basesFielding: 0.984 fielding percentage, 3 errors, 1 outfield asst.Analysis: Cureton’s reliable defense and leadership as the captain of the outfield will be missed. Depending on who takes over in center in 2014, there could be more pressure on the corner outfielders to make plays in the gaps. Excluding his freshman year in which he played in just 22 games, Cureton set career lows in hitting, on-base percentage and slugging. His offensive struggles led to him being demoted from his traditional leadoff spot to ninth in the order. Whoever takes over for Cureton will likely be an offensive upgrade, though it must be noted that when Cureton did get on base, he wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers. His 59 runs scored and 22 stolen bases ranked second and fifth in the Big Ten, respectively. He also laid down 11 sacrifice bunts, tied for first in the conference. So while Cureton’s offensive numbers don’t jump off the page, he was by far IU’s best base runner and brought an element of speed to the bottom of the order. Plus, he got on base at a good clip, considering his on base percentage (0.335) was more than 100 points higher than his average (0.216). IncumbentsCasey Smith, senior2013 stats: .309/.372/.446, 9 2B, 5 HR, 34 RBI, 25 R, 2-4 stolen basesFielding: 0.976 fielding percentage, 2 errors, 1 outfield asst.Will Nolden, senior2013 stats: .303/.404/.366, 5 2B, 2 3B, 12 RBI, 31 R, 5-9 stolen basesFielding: 0.961 fielding percentage, 3 errors, 6 outfield assts.Up for grabs: CF, fourth OF spotAnalysis: After Schwarber returned to full-time catching duties following a knee injury, Nolden became a mainstay in the corner outfield positions and leadoff spot. Both Nolden and Smith set a number of career-highs offensively. Nolden is a favorite to start in right because of his strong arm. His six outfield assists led the team. Smith is not considered a bad defender by any means, but was often removed late in games in which IU had a lead for a defensive replacement. That defensive replacement? Tim O’Conner, who is the most likely player to man center next season. Tim O’Conner, junior2013 stats (43 games, 1 start, 20 ABs): 0.150/0.227/0.250, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 3 runs, 3-5 stolen basesFielding (24 chances): 1.000 fielding percentage, 0 errors, 2 outfield assts.Chris Sujka, junior2013 stats (46 games, 20 starts): 0.286/0.378/0.338, 4 2B, 8 RBI, 18 runs, 9-12 stolen basesFielding: 1.000 fielding percentage, 0 errors, 3 outfield assts.Analysis: During the season, Cureton expressed confidence that O’Conner would replace him in center and handle the transition from the corner outfield positions smoothly. O’Conner played sparingly in 2013 and almost entirely as a defensive replacement. As his fielding numbers suggest, he handled his limited opportunities flawlessly.O’Conner came to IU on a football scholarship after a successful career as a wide receiver at Elder High School in Cincinnati, so he has the speed and athleticism to handle center field. Cureton raved about how O’Conner had both at his disposal, making him the most natural fit. Nolden may also get a look in center because of his speed. If Nolden were to win the job, it could open the door for Sujka or Schwarber to take over a corner outfielder spot, if not O’Conner. Sujka will likely maintain the role he had in 2013 as the fourth outfielder and a platoon option with Nolden. A left-handed hitter, Nolden generally played against right-handed starters while Sujka, a right-handed hitter, got the nod against left-handed starters. Either way, Sujka is a solid option offensively and defensively off the bench and might be starting if not for a surplus of outfielders. The Big If: will Schwarber play the outfield? With a bevy of talented catchers behind Schwarber, there has been talk of moving the offensively gifted junior to the outfield. He has been playing with the USA Collegiate National Team, and IU Coach Tracy Smith said part of the stipulation with Schwarber being selected was that he would play some outfield. Schwarber also played some outfield last summer in Cape Cod League play. Team USA hasn’t shown a willingness to test Schwarber in the outfield. He has been the designated hitter in the first four games of a five-game series against Japan that concludes today. Smith also said someone would have to “knock Kyle Schwarber off the mountain” at the starting catcher position. Schwarber does not have the athleticism or speed to play center, so he would have to play a corner spot. With the fact Schwarber has hardly played outfield in college and isn’t doing so with Team USA, it seems unlikely he will start in the outfield and will instead remain the starting catcher. In other words, expect the outfield to look relatively the same with the only change coming in center field as O’Conner replaces the departed Cureton.