Razorbacks Ready for Warmer Weather

After a long wait, the Diamond Hogs were able to play a much needed three game series over the last two days. Eastern Illinois was kind enough to come down and fill in when weather kept Cal from flying over for a 4 game series. The result was a sweep and Arkansas is now 6-0 at home after three weeks of play.

Monday was not exactly ideal weather for baseball. In fact, if it weren’t for Mike Bernal’s grand slam in the second game, we would be looking back at two mediocre offensive productions on Monday. Even if they were just 7 inning games, against an opponent like EIU you expect to score runs early and often. When the weather warmed on Tuesday the Hogs’ bats did as well. It just shows how much of a warm weather sport baseball was made to be.

I have been reading arguments this season more than ever about whether the college baseball season should be moved back 2-3 weeks. Some say it is too late to start because you are finishing the season when students are out of school, and it would take away from the atmosphere of most parks. Others say it is just too cold to start in February, especially for the northeastern teams that are starting to get a greater following. Of course the rebuttal for that argument is that the west coast and desert teams would have to play in unbearably hot games if schedules dipped into late June.

For many teams from the north like the North Dakota team Arkansas played this year, the first month of the season is played on the road. These are typically poor teams and there is plenty of reason behind that. If you aren’t playing at home you most likely cannot practice much outside either, thus leading to more losses. Losing programs and poor playing weather are not conducive to good recruiting, and the carousel continues.

I have sat in the stands and watched the Hogs play while it was snowing before, and it was not pleasant. There could be a happy medium for everyone, but for now we will just have to deal with the cold.

But there are warm days on the 10 day forecast. And the sun looks to shine on the Razorbacks when they take on Loyola Marymount in an important series this weekend. The Lions are coming off a mid week road win over a tough Long Beach State team. This series will provide another challenge like the one they got in Mobile and missed when Cal was canceled, before starting the conference schedule with No. 1 Vanderbilt.

This weekend brings much anticipation for Diamond Hogs fans as Trey Killian looks to be making his first start of the season. Killian returned 19 of the 25 starts on this staff coming into 2015, and his presence at the head of the weekend rotation will be the key to a successful season and postseason. Dave Van Horn said that he would be on a 40-60 pitch count, “and then we’ll go from there.” Barring any set backs, this weekend will be a great opportunity to test the arm that has been giving him trouble since last summer.

In his absence Arkansas has struggled to find a third starter. Dominic Taccolini has turned in a couple of quality starts and has a team leading 18 strikeouts in 16 innings, while Keaton McKinney has been very impressive since taking over the third spot in the rotation, posting a 1.46 ERA in over 12 innings.

Zach Jackson tried his hand at starting, but it looks as if the long relief role will best suit him going forward. He leads the team in and walks (11), is second in strikeouts (12), and has only allowed 1 earned run in 8.2 innings. I have been very impressed with Jackson Lowery, Josh Alberius, and Parker Sanburn who have given up a combined 2 earned runs in over 20 innings with 15 strikeouts and just 5 walks.

Bobby Wernes continues to hit everything that is thrown at him, and Mike Bernal has made a splash getting back into the lineup coming off an injury in the offseason. Even missing a game to illness, Tyler Spoon leads the team in RBI (10) and hits (14).

Someone who I believe needs more consistent playing time is Carson Shaddy. Penciled in 20 minutes before the game Tuesday he turned in a 3 for 3 performance to bump his average to .526 on the season. Shaddy can play the outfield as well as catch; so there shouldn’t be any reason not to see him get more time--perhaps in left field where Joe Serrano and Luke Bonfield have underwhelmed thus far.

This team has shown solid defense through three weeks, turning 13 double plays in 9 games and committing 7 errors, 4 of which came in that one forgettable inning in Mobile. To put the errors in perspective, opponents have booted the ball 14 times against Arkansas.

There is no doubt that this weekend will be very refreshing. After having squandered a game in Mobile and having snow push last weekend to Monday and Tuesday, a normal routine will be just what the Hogs need. Arkansas cannot complain too much while others are enduring worse weather and schedules. But it is a wonder what a little sun in your own yard can do for you.