Missouri (32-16) @ Kansas (29-22)

by James Quinn on May 9, 2008 11:36 AM EDT

From Rock Chalk Talk. This has the makings of a great baseball series. If you are in the Lawrence area you could spend your weekend in worse ways than catching a game (or three) at Hoglund Park on the KU campus. There will be a lot of prospects on display. Plus, this is Kansas vs. Missouri. These teams will come to play.

vs.

Kansas Jayhawks (29-22, 8-13) vs. Missouri (32-16, 11-10)

Kansas host Missouri for a three game series this weekend. There is absolutely no need to hype this series. Anytime Missouri and Kansas play fans and players know what to expect.

Friday 6PM: Nick Czyz (2-5, 6.09 ERA) vs. Aaron Crow (10-0, 3.08 ERA)
Saturday 6PM: Andres Esquibel (3-4, 5.37) vs. Kyle Gibson (7-1, 3.84)
Sunday 1PM: T.J. Walz (4-0, 4.34) vs. Rick Zagone (1-3, 5.40)
Media: KLWN AM-1320 will broadcast all three games live. For those outside the Lawrence area steaming audio and video will be available through this site. The Friday night game will be broadcast live on KUJH-TV (Sunflower 31)

Complete Missouri stats are located here. Jayhawk stats here.

Scouting Missouri
I will leave scouting reports on individual players to Aman - the Tigers have a few very impressive prospects. If you like to catch future pros while they are still playing at the college level definitely make time for the Friday and Saturday night games. Aaron Crow, the Tigers Friday night pitcher, will go very early this June. The Royals may take him with the #3 overall pick.

The Missouri Tigers are a good baseball team, but not a great team. Their parts are greater then their whole. They have several stars but overall their roster is more shallow than that of Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor and Nebraska. I believe this is the reason the Tigers were upset in mid-week games by low ranked teams several times this season - Minnesota, Western Illinois and Southern Illinois. When Crow or Gibson are on the mound, they can beat anyone in the nation. The other two or three games they play that week, the Tigers are a pretty average NCAA team. In Big-12 series the Tigers record on Fridays is 6-1, on Saturdays 4-3, on Sunday they fall to 1-6. When Crow or Gibson pitch the Tigers have a Runs Against average of 3.8, when anyone else is pitching the average grows to 6.3. It is an unbalanced team. Most days they have only one path to victory, a strong start by one of their stud pitchers.

Offensively Missouri and KU match up pretty evenly. MU is averaging 7.3 runs scored per contest, although these numbers are inflated due to their 31-12 victory over Texas in a game played in 40mph wind gusts. If that game is factored out I think we get a more realistic view of what the Tigers produce on a given night, 6.8 runs, just below Kansas' 7.0 average. The Tigers have two terrific bats in their line-up, Aaron Senne and Jacob Priday. These two players have accounted for more than half the team's total homeruns (26 of 44). Overall Missouri is a bit more patient than Kansas at the plate. They rely on high batting average and the power of Senne and Priday. KU is more physical and aggressive top to bottom. With the games being played at Hoglund KU has an edge here.

Wrapping it up - The Sunday match up favors KU, so the key for the Hawks will be scratching out a win on either Friday or Saturday. If KU can find a way to get to Crow and/or Gibson and score a few runs, if Czyz and/or Esquibel provide effective starts, the Hawks have an excellent chance of winning this series. If Friday's game goes badly for the Hawks they have to put it out of their mind quickly and come back with fire for the next two games. Few teams have had any success against Crow, he is a special pitcher but he can only factor into one of the three games this weekend. Kansas probably needs to win two of their remaining six conference games to be assured of an invite to the Big-12 tournament. Here is hoping they get both of them this weekend.

0 recs | Comment 41 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

huge series for KU

by royalsreview on May 9, 2008 2:51 PM EDT 0 recs

Huge series for both teams!

Anytime KU and MU match up it is a big game. The rivalry aside, this is probably a bigger series for MU. The Tigers need a few more wins this year to lock up an NCAA invite. They probably “need” these games more than the Jayhawks. KU already knows they have to win the Big-12 tournament or spend June at home.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 9, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Alas

There is no baseball NIT.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 9, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

True,

but, we’re working on it.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 9, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

GO HAWKS!

Nothing has ever been more important in the history of mankind than beating Mizzou.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 9, 2008 3:04 PM EDT 0 recs

Truer words have never been said.

The KU-MU thing goes beyond any rational explanation. When even the women’s basketball teams throw down with each other you know something more is going on than just your run-of-the-mill rivalry.

The weather is not great here in Lawrence. Overcast and chilly. We had rain this morning. The game will be played but the field will be sloppy. I just hope the dirty weather doesn’t keep the crowd low. I’d love to see Hogland rocking tonight.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 9, 2008 4:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hogland will be rocking with K's from Crow

Just a little pre-game trash talking for ya JQ, last time that didn’t work in my favor though.

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on May 9, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Crow was plenty good.

KU almost got to Missouri, but in the end the Tigers won 5-3. The Hawks got two unearned runs off Crow in the third inning and kept the game interesting through all 27 outs. KU had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Missouri went to Kyle Gibson in a surprise move to get the final out. Gibson went to 3-1 on Erik Morrison before coming back to strike him out swinging on a great 84mph slider.

Nice crowd, great game. Spent three hours with friends in the fresh air. No worries. Hawks will come back tomorrow.

Aman Reaka, who writes the pro prospect pieces on Rock Chalk Talk said Crow had the best looking off speed stuff that he has ever seen in person. Crow was pulled after seven innings (117 pitches). Aman and I agreed he looked like he still had gas in the tank and that he might have been pulled more to keep his “advisor” and the scouts happy than because he was tired.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 12:32 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

His slider is downright nasty.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 12:38 AM EDT up 0 recs

Mizzou wins Game One 5-3

with a strong performance from Crow:

7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 11 K

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 12:31 AM EDT 0 recs

the walks are ugly

And they have been the past few starts.

That concerns me.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on May 10, 2008 1:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes, Crow's stats haven't been spectacular of late

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 12:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Still has 3.55 K/BB

He has slowed down a bit but overall his numbers are solid.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

I would want a guy drafted in the top 5 overall to have better peripherals than that

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Season isn't over yet

Still, his K/9 is 11.17 and BB/9 is 3.14 – that’s not shabby, especially considering the conference.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

The K/9 is great. The BB/9 is not good.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 6:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Keep in mind here,

KU is a very good offensive club. The team is hitting .287/.383/.449 and scoring almost seven runs a game. KU’s opponent’s ERA this year is 6.46. Also, the game was played at Hoglund, which is a hitter’s park. In 22 home games this is only the third time KU has been held under five runs scored.

Anyway, Crow looked plenty good to me last night. I still want the Royals to draft an offensive player, either a middle infielder who can stay at that position or Justin Smoak. Someone is taking Crow early.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 2:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Alvarez isn't on your short list?

He’s at the top of mine.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 3:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

I just think he will be gone before #3.

If he is still on the board, I think he would be a better choice than Smoak.

What I really want is a pro-ready shortstop who can hit. I don’t think such an animal exists this year.

Is this crazy? Gordon to SS, Teahen back to 3rd, Pena to the lions?

Yeah, it probably is crazy.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd certainly be happy with Smoak too

And I do want a position player with some power. A SS like you mentioned would be good, but you’re right that there is no one who is near MLB-ready.

I think SS would be a very difficult transition for Gordon. Has he ever played that position? I think he’d be a well below average defensive SS. And the defensive metrics I’ve seen have said that Teahen was a very poor defensive 3B.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Teahn did have low numbers at 3B

I am just so unhappy with Pena now that I’m willing to do crazy things.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

You knock Crow because of his numbers

but Alvarez is at the top of your list? That’s quite the contradiction.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 4:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not really

I’m taking his injury appropriately into account and I’m looking at more than one year’s stats for both of them. If you’re not concerned about Crow’s walks, you sould be.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 6:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Are we really quibbling over a 3.14 BB/9? Of course that’s not fantastic, but it’s hardly alarming. Given that he’s a true power pitcher, I’m not concerned with that number at this point in his career. Lincecum had a 4.5 BB/9 his junior year after two prior years in the 6 range.

All that said, I am not rooting for us to take Crow.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

I find it alarming

We’re talking about the #3 overall pick. For that pick, if we’re talking about a pitcher, I want him to be dominating with strikeouts, not giving up many hits or walks. He doesn’t have to perfect, but I don’t want any glaring red flags. A college pitcher giving up that many walks is a red flag. It’s not the kind of thing that would keep me from drafting a pitcher. But it is the kind of thing that would keep me from using a #3 overall pick on him.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

What if there are no "perfect" players at 3?

Do you just not make a pick?

Hochevar had a 3.48 BB/9 while having about 2 Ks less per 9 innings. Was he a mistake at #1? Most point to Lincecum as who should have gone #1, and he had huge walk numbers in college.

I guess we just come from different schools of thought on this issue. Crow has been rated by BA as having the best fastball, breaking ball, and command in this draft class. That excites me more than an extra 1/2 walk per 9 scares me.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 10, 2008 7:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Crow's fast ball was not outstanding

it was his breaking stuff that made his night. His slider was coming in around 83-84, about eight or nine mph slower than his fastballs. He hit the corner with it forcing batters to swing away before they could pick out the sliders from the fastballs.

I don’t think Crow is a power pitcher. Maybe I am wrong. I only saw him pitch one night. Anyway, I think given his arsenal, his BB/K rate is probably less of a concern than a guy who relies on his fastball as his out pitch.

I’ll post Aman’s full write-up when he has it ready on Sunday or Monday.

Some bloggers posted video of Crow which they thought indicated he might have poor mechanics. I just do not know enough about pitching to judge. The vidio clips are posted at Rock’M Nation. Link here.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 8:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

You act like Crow is a no-brainer

You act like no reasonable person could think Crow is flawed and not prefer to draft him at #3 if he’s available. Such is not the case. I understand that you like him. I like him too. He’s going to be a very good MLB prospect. I just don’t want him at #3. I see some warning signs I don’t like, ok? He’s flawed. Every one of these guys have some flaws. I don’t like his flaws.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 10, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Aaron Crow and the Tigers win game one 5-3. Hawks do not go down easy.

Here is my write-up of last nights game from Rock Chalk Talk.

One thing is that you don’t have to say one motivational thing in this series. If you don’t get fired up to play these guys, there’s something wrong with you.” – Coach Price on the Kansas-Missouri baseball series.

Kansas came up just short last night vs. Aaron Crow and the Tigers. Robby Price made a rare error and KU stranded 12 baserunners allowing Missouri to escape Hoglund with a 5-3 victory. Photo courtesy of the LJ World.

Going into last night’s game I knew Kansas had to play a very solid game, and find a little luck, if they were going to beat Aaron Crow and the Tigers. Both these things happened. Nick Czyz delivered a good start, the Hawks managed to produce 17 baserunners and the bullpen pitched well. In the end it came down to one clutch hit, or, more accurately, the lack of that one last clutch hit. Trailing 5-3 Kansas loaded the bases in the ninth before going down swinging.

Aaron Crow came as advertised. The Missouri ace struck out 11 Jayhawks in seven innings without surrendering an earned run. Kansas made some luck in the bottom of the third by scoring two unearned runs off an Andrew Thigpen throwing error. Nick Czyz pitched well enough to keep the team in the game, going five innings while giving up four runs (three earned). The Hawks forced Crow to throw a lot of pitches, drawing five walks and six hits. After the game Coach Price said, “We just tried to run his pitch count up and see if we could get him out of the game.” After seven innings and 117 pitches the Tigers turned a 5-2 lead over to the bullpen.

Kansas scored quickly in the bottom of the eighth to cut the led to two runs. The ninth inning was edge-of-your-seat baseball. After recording two quick outs Missouri reliever Ryan Allen loaded the bases on a John Allman double and back to back walks to Buck Afenir and Ryne Price. Missouri wanted this win badly. In a move that surprised just about everyone at Hoglund the Tigers brought in Kyle Gibson, their Saturday starter, and asked him to secure the final out. Erik Morrison worked a 3-1 count before Gibson came back to strike him out swinging and finally quiet the remaining crowd.

KU Recap and Boxscore.

It was a great night of baseball. A good crowd of about 1,400 showed up, including at least a couple hundred Missouri supporters. I came into last night’s game knowing that the odds were against KU getting a win on Crow Night. The team kept me there all 27 outs and almost stole a win. I am optimistic about the next two games. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and the game today will go off without delay. This series still is very much Kansas’ to win. First pitch Saturday scheduled for 6PM, Sunday 1PM.

Some other recaps: KC Star, and LJ World.

Other Big-12 Scores

Texas A&M 6 at Nebraska 3 (16 Innings! Wow!)

Texas Tech 2 at Oklahoma State 3

Kansas State 6 at Oklahoma 4 (KU & KSU tied for 7th now)

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 2:25 PM EDT 0 recs

I was at the Nebraska game.

Holy crap.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on May 10, 2008 4:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Holy crap is right!

What a game. Did you stay all 16 innings? The Big-12 regular season championship is going to be determined in Lincoln this weekend and those two teams both really want the flag.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 6:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

I stayed 15 1/2 innings.

I left after A&M hit a bases loaded double in the top of the 16th. Figured Nebraska wouldn’t score and they didn’t. That and the fact I had athletic shorts on and it was getting cooooooold. It was fun though, too bad we didn’t get the win.

Game got rained out today, DH tomorrow.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on May 10, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

16 innings on Friday

And now 18 innings on Sunday. That butt is going to get a work-out this weekend.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 11, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

Here is Aman's quick take on Crow:

Copied over from Rock Chalk Talk. Aman Reaka does the prospect reports over there. He pretty well knows what he is talking about:

Aaron Crow was ridiculous last night. That is the best slider i have ever seen in live action. His fastball is a very nice pitch but the slider was absolutely not fair. I dont know how a batter could lay off ANY of his sliders. Coming from his hand, his slider looks identical to his fastball and the last 10 feet it breaks down and away from a right hander and usually ended low and away. KU batters swung at most of them and their bats werent anywhere close to hitting the pitch. His fastball wasnt super fast but it did have a lot of movement. With his delivery, the ball explodes from his hand and it looks a LOT faster than it was (low 90’s). I will do a full report on him after the series.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 6:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Saturday night rained out. Double header Sunday at noon.

No baseball tonight. Sunday will be a double dip. First pitch at noon.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 10, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Kansas and Missouri split the double header today.

KU won the first game 7-6. Missouri humilated the Hawks in game two 12-1. Missouri won the series 2-1 on the road. Not a good outcome for KU, but certainly not a terrible one either. KU remains in 7th place, now leading Oklahoma by a quarter game, and K-State by one game.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 11, 2008 11:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Nebraska sweeps DH!

Decided not to go today…but…

NU won game one 9-8 when they scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th…Then won game two 13-10.

A&M still leads the conference by a game and a half, so NU will probably have to sweep Mizzou to win it, and I find that unlikely.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on May 11, 2008 11:50 PM EDT 0 recs

Nebraska is in good shape to host a regional.

There is no shame in coming in 2nd in the Big-12. The conference already has five locks for the NCAA tournament. Eight of the ten schools are ranked in the RPI top-50. It is a brutal conference.

Scouts consider Big-12 play to be at the same level as High-A minor league baseball.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 12, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Definitely...

In the latest Baseball America chat, the writer said he expected both NU and A&M to be in line to host not just regionals, but super regionals. Second definitely isn’t bad…I was expecting more like 3rd or 4th before the season started.

That said…Nebraska absolutely has to take advantage this year. Their Friday and Saturday starters (Johnny Dorn and Thad Weber) will both graduate, the Sunday starter (Aaron Pribanic) is a good bet to get drafted early enough that he won’t come back, and they’re losing three players at premium positions that aren’t going to be replaced easily (C Mitch Abeita, 2B Jake Opitz, and CF Bryce Nimmo). There are a few young guys that I like…but they will be nowhere near this good next year, and possibly the year after that. They have to take advantage now.

/End rant.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on May 12, 2008 11:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nebraska definetly surprised me

I’ll be brave here and give you my pre-season prediction:

1. Texas A&M (Yeah, I called that one right)
2. Texas (gave them a bit too much credit)
3. Baylor (Wow, have the Bears underperformed this year)
4. Missouri (Gave them a little too much love also)
5. Oklahoma State (Who knew they had pitchers?)
6. Kansas (Yeah, I’m a fan)
7. Kansas State (The Wildcats have badly underperformed this year)
8. Nebraska (I’ll admit it. I had no faith. I was wrong.)
9. Oklahoma (Good Call James!)
10. Texas Tech (Another good one.)

Really, only the Nebraska pick is embarrasing in retrospect.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on May 13, 2008 12:24 AM EDT up 0 recs

Harsh...

I think, in terms of pure talent, Nebraska ranks somewhere in the middle. However, they have more experience (and that matters in college, I think), and that has helped them. Helps that a couple unexpected starters have stepped up too…

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on May 13, 2008 9:56 PM EDT up 0 recs