The Michigan Doily - Tuesday, March 27, 1984 - Page 9 MICHIGAN BASEBALL '84 Blue barbecued in mu J By CHRISTOPHER GERBASI in 1983, Michigan's baseball team roared through March like a lion, win- ning eleven of their first twelve games on the way to one of the school's most successful seasons ever. On this year's spring trip to Edin- burg, Texas, the Wolverines played more like lambs, stumbling to a 3-7 start. THE DIFFERENCE? Pitching, fielding and a tougher spring schedule. Several key players from the '83 team that went 50-9 and finished tied for thir- d at the College World Series are gone. Many graduated, and others left school to sign professional contracts. Second baseman Jeff Jacobson graduated and third baseman Chris Sabo skipped his final year to sign with the Cincinnati Reds. Outfielder Fred Erdmann also graduated and Dale Sklar, a regular in centerfield last year, left school when his parents moved to California. The most important losses, however, are in the pitching ranks. Coach Bud Middaugh lost two starters in Rich Stoll and Dave Kopf, and his best reliever in Tim Karazim. HEADING INTO the spring trip, Middaugh knew that pitching would be a problem area, as well as the open in- field and outfield positions. Deciding who would fill those positions was dif- ficult because with inclement weather early in March, Middaugh didn't get a 'M' hopes to rebound from shaky '84 start chance to look at his players outside. "In an inside situation, it's hard to determine how far the players have come from last fall," said Middaugh earlier this month. "It (the team's suc- cess) depends on how fast the young kids come along at second, third and the outfield, but it still stems around pitching. But we're going down there (to Texas) to compete, not to ex- periment. We're going down to win ball games." Well, winning ball games wasn't easy in Edinburg. Michigan gave up nine, 10, 11 runs in some games. Pitchers Casey Close and Dave Karasinski got off to shaky starts, losing their first two decisions. Left-handed starter Gary Wayne was also battered in his first ap- pearance. THE BEST PITCHING performance so far belongs to sophomore Scott Kamieniecki, who tossed a four-hitter and struck out nine in a 5-3 win over Bradley. The pitchers, however, have not been helped much by the players backing them up, as the Wolverines' fielding has been atrocious. At one point, they committed 15 errors in a three-game .span, a figure no little league coach would be proud of. The infield suffered a setback when slick-fielding shortstop Barry Larkin sprained his ankle last week. He missed the last several games of the trip. Hopefully, the injury is not a sign of a sophomore jinx for Larkin. As a fresh- man, Larkin hit .352 and was named a pre-season All-America by the Baseball America magazine this year. "IT'S A BIG thrill, but that's pre- season," said Larkin. "I just have to go out and prove myself, first to myself and then to my teammates." Indeed, Larkin was proving himself, getting off to a fine start at the plate before the in- jury. WHILE HITTING hasn't been a problem for the Wolverines, it hasn't been much of one for their opposition either. Michigan has had to face teams such as Miami of Ohio, which made the Mideast Regional last year, and Maine, which went to the World Series in Omaha. The Wolverines obviously have some kinks to work out before they can start i exas thinking about returning to Omaha. "I don't like the term "rebuilding,' " said Middaugh. "I like to go out and compete every year. But we've got young people at strategic positions and they're going to have to play like they've been here to get off to a decent start." MIDDAUGH DOESN'T feel any ad- ded pressure to repeat last season's performance and in fact, looks forward to the challenge. "We've got two new infielders and, really, a new outfield, and I like that," he said. "That's fun for me because I enjoy the teaching part of it. They're still ranking us high and that's nice for recognition, but you've got to go out and get it done, and there's so much to teach and to learn." Based on the spring trip, there's still some teaching and learning to be done. The Wolverines will first have to get through the Big Ten East competition, which Middaugh regards as stronger. Last year, Michigan won their division with a 13-2 mark before sweeping through the Big Ten Playoffs and the Mideast Regional. "Last year, we were dominant, but I don't think that exists this year, said Middaugh. "But I go on the premise that I don't care too much about the competition, I care about the team. The goal is still the same." And that goal is another trip to the World Series. Michigan coach Bud Middaugh discusses the finer points of the game with an umpire in a contest last season. THE INFIELDERS: Hayjward sizes up first base THE OUTFIELDERS: Rookie Huffman inherits CF LARKIN TERESA By GARY EFFMAN "Who's on first? What's on second? I don't know. .third base." When Abbott and Costello tried to fugure out what the infield would look like, they produced one of the classic routines of American vaudeville. When Michigan baseball coach Bud Middaugh goes about this task, it will be a more serious affair, one that could prove to be a major determinant of whether Ann Arbor baseball fans will have something to smile about this season. THE WOLVERINES return today from last year's 50-9 season with pre-season All-American shortstop Barry Larkin and first baseman Ken Hayward, the only retur- ning members of last season's major league infield. Gone are third baseman Chris Sabo (a second-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds) and second baseman Jeff Jacobson, who is in the Baltimore Oriole organization. Competing for the two open spots are C.J. Beshke, who backed up Jacobson at second last season; Mike Watters, who Middaugh hopes to move to the infield from right field; and newcomers Matt Siuda and Danny Teresa. Currently, Middaugh lists the starting infield as Hayward at first, Beshke at second, Larkin at short, and Siuda at third. But he is quick to point out, "It's just so dif- ferent when you're inside. You want to be fair with all your players and until we get outside it's hard to see who should start where." Siuda, a freshman, will have to .make the transition from shortstop (where he played in high school) to the "hot corner." Siuda (pronounced shoo-da) chose to attend BESHKE HAYWARD Michigan despite being drafted in the ninth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates and despite the presence of Larkin at shortstop. "I knew they had Larkin here so I wasn't expecting to play short," said Siuda. "I did play at third a little in a summer league getting ready." 'Siuda added that so far playing third has been "a lot easier" than shortstop. Second base may provide Middaugh with a tough choice between Beshke and Teresa. "It's pretty close between C.J. and Teresa," said Middaugh. "Teresa has looked good, but I'd like to start out with someone who's been in the program a few years." THE THIRD question mark in the infield quiz game is the status of Mike Watters. Middaugh is hoping to use Watters as a second baseman but, as he explained, "Wat- ters has only been out of a cast for seven weeks, which he had on his catching hand for six months, and I don't think he's had enough time in the infield." With the loss of Jacobson and Sabo, sophomore Larkin has assumed the role as infield leader. Though Larkin admits that there is uncertainty in the infield, he is op- timistic. "It was rocky at first, but it (the infield) looks pretty good right now," said Larkin. "We're working well together and everyone's popping the ball to first. Siuda has been playing sold and C.J. is a scrappy player." Middaugh and Larkin seem - to be echoing the same point-though the infield is not set, the team does have plenty of talent to cover the positions. It's a simple case of only time will tell. CLOSE WATTERS By CHRISTOPHER GERBASI Dan Sygar, Fred Erdmann, Dale Sklar-these 1983 regulars are gone now as the Wolverines feature a revamped outfield in 1984. Sygar and 'Erdmann both graduated following suc- cessful senior years; while Sklar, who the Wolverines were heavily counting on for two more seasons, left school when his parents moved to California. Sklar may transfer to USC or attend a junior college next year. DESPITE THE LOSS of the big names, however, the group competing for the outfield spots is not completely unfamiliar to Michigan baseball fans. Sophomore Mike Watters started this season in rightfield and saw plenty of action last year, when he hit .322 with 24 RBI. Watters, however, may eventually be moved to second base, if he recovers from a injury to his throwing hand. Watters' right hand had been put in a cast at Christmas which wasn't removed until just before the season started. Coach Bud Middaugh didn't feel he was quite ready for the infield, but said he'll play there at some point this season. Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Casey Close will see duty in leftfield, that is, when he's not on the mound. "THE MORE I pitch, the less I'll play the outfield and vice versa," said Close. "I've been swinging the bat well and working on my pitching real hard, I want to establish myself in both. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes." Close cracked homeruns in each of his first two games in Texas this spring, equaling his last year's total. Replacing Sklar in center will be Rob Huffman, a freshman from Hamilton, 0, who has impressed Middaugh so far this season. Sophomore Chris Gust will also challenge for the position. Gust had only 21 at-bats last year. ALL THE OUTFIELDERS will get a good look early in the season, since Close will frequently pitch, Watters may switch positions and Huffman is inexperienced. "We're going to put them in competitive situations," said Middaugh. "We'll play a lot of people in those positions and I'm going to wait as long as possible on decisions." Junior Jeff Minick and sophomore Kurt Zimmermann saw considerable action on the spring trip. Minick will sometimes play in right. Zimmermann may play in the infield as well as the outfield. NEITHER GOT very many at-bats last year. Minick hit .421 in 19 plate appearances during the regular season and Zimmermann was 4-for-10. This year both slammed a couple of homeruns on the spring trip. For Zimmermann, the first homer was his first collegiately. Dan Disher, a sophomore pitcher, may also play some outfield. Disher hit .356 last year. Also competing for a spot is freshman Greg Rolston, from Flint, and of course, the versatile performer, Chuck Froning. Froning, a senior, hit .330 with 16 RBI in '83 while playing a number of positions. A long range possibility to play the outfield is current shortstop Barry Larkin, who would be a natural in center- field. F I 0 /'IT By GAR Baseball is a sir nine players on2 certain position o shortstops, pitche fielders, and cat is Chuck Froning Froning has be baseball as a "u from position to1 gaps caused by in "I'M NOT A starter, but I ca needed," said th ,Ohio. "Since Ive be played every pos time or another field." In 1983 Fronin starting position. Michigan, plato hitter spot wit Casey Close. "I was pretty DH and Casey ca lefty pitching ag Froning, a three- MANY PLAY) about the lack time; Froning do "I think I cam that I wouldn ning: nuc RY EFFMAN mple game: There are Ten All-Academic squad. He batted .288 a team each taking a in 104 at bats while striking out only on the field. There are four times. ers, leftfielders, right- THOUGH FRONING is not the type chers...and then there of player who grabs the headlines, last season he did manage to get his face on come what is known in every major Detroit television station utility man," jumping when he knocked home the winning run position, filling in the in the bottom of the ninth in Michigan's ijuries and slumps. 1-0 victory over Iowa in the opener of single-postion-definite the Big Ten playoffs. n play anywhere I'm The win was one of many that e senior from Sidney, propelled Michigan into the College en here at Michigan I've World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. ition in a game at one Froning spoke enthusiastically about r...except for center- the tournament. "The (College) World Series is. g came as close to a definitely what everyone is gunning as he's ever gotten at for," said the 6-0, 175-pounder. oning at the designed "Everyone caters to the players and h pitcher/outfielder the teams...It's the big event of the year in Omaha and it's fun having the much the lefthanded spotlight on the team." ame in when we had a UNFORTUNATELY FOR Froning, gainst us," explained his performance at the Series was year letterman. below his par. ERS might get bitter "I hit the ball hard a few times," he of consistent playing said, "but still it was a disappointing esn't. Series for me going hitless."' Froning e to Michigan knowing also had the dubious distinction of 't have a starting making the final out with men in i / k- of-all- most memorable and disappointing game of my Michigan career," he commented. Froning hopes that this season, his last in a Michigan uniform, will give him another chance to show the folks of Omaha what he's really capable of. However, Froning realizes that chance may not come. "It's so early we're (the Wolverines) untested. We're a very young team and we lost a lot of great players, but Coach Middaugh always brings in the talent." ALTHOUGH FRONING enters this season accustomed to his role as - - - am - - - - --se am m .. trades Michigan's all-purpose man, he was quick to explain, "That doesn't mean I haven't been going out every day trying to earn a starting position because I don't mind the playing time at all." Regardless of this year's performan- ce, Froning is happy with his four years at Michigan. "Coach Middaugh brought me here to play baseball, but it's also given me a chance to go to a great school and make some good contacts." And who knows? With the almost complete depletion of last year's out- field, Fisher Stadium fans may yet hear the words, "And now in centerfield for the Wolverines - Chuck Froning." ma m m m - m mN r TMHE FREE Medium Soft Drink' - ,.t II i