April 24, 2003
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#21 Baylor Baseball (28-16, 9-9 Big 12)
at Kansas (31-16, 6-9 Big 12)
Friday, April 25 (7 p.m.)
Saturday, April 26 (2 p.m.)
Sunday, April 27 (1 p.m.)
Hoglund Ballpark * Lawrence, Kan.
This Week in Baylor Baseball
Baylor's juggernaut offense rolls north to Kansas this weekend, facing the much-improved Jayhawks in Lawrence Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Bears carry a 13-game winning streak against Kansas into the weekend, but will need to continue that success to even maintain their place in the Big 12. Baylor sits in sixth place, just ahead of the seventh-place Jayhawks.
For the month of April, Baylor is hitting .359 as a team and averaging over 11 runs a game. Nevertheless, the Bears are just 6-7 this month after losing a weekend series to Missouri a week ago. Kansas, meanwhile, has won seven of its last nine contests, including back-to-back road series wins at Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
The Jayhawks have already won 31 games this season, matching their highest win total since 1997. First-year head coach Ritchie Price has his eyes set on the school record of 45 wins, set in 1993 when Kansas last made it to the College World Series.
All Baylor baseball games are carried in Central Texas on KRZI 1660/1580 AM. Live stats are also available for all home games and most road games at www.BaylorBears.com, the official website of Baylor Athletics and a member of the Official College Sports Network.
Baylor Quick Hits
* Baylor's .324 team batting average ranks 19th nationally, through games of April 20. The Bears also rank 26th in the country in runs per game (7.9).
* Three Bears rank among the nation's top hitters, through games of April 20. Chris Durbin began the week tied for 16th nationally in home runs per game (14/42, 0.33). Michael Griffin ranked 21st in doubles per game (20/43, 0.47) and 22nd in triples per game (6/43, 0.14), and David Murphy's .421 average ranked 24th in the nation.
* Baylor has averaged 11 runs a game in April (144 runs, 13 games), but has just a 6-7 record to show for it. The Bears are hitting .359 as a team with 28 home runs this month.
* Baylor's 22 runs Tuesday against TCU was the team's highest total since a 22-3 win over Southwest Texas on Valentine's Day, 2001.
* Junior reliever Zane Carlson tied the Big 12 Conference record with his 28th career save April 15 at Southwest Texas. Oklahoma's Jeff Bajenaru also saved 28 games (1999-2000). Carlson already held the Baylor career and single season saves record, as well as the Cape Cod League career saves record.
* Baylor head coach Steve Smith recorded his 325th career win April 18 vs. Missouri. Smith won his 300th career game earlier this season and begins the week with a 325-196-1 career record.
* Junior outfielder David Murphy has hit safely in 40 of the Bears' 44 games this season and has reached base in every game but one. Fellow outfielder Chris Durbin has hit safely 35 times in 43 games, reaching base in all but two games.
* Baylor has averaged 3,146 fans per game, the best average-game attendance in program history. The March 28 game against Texas A&M drew 4,717 fans, the fifth-best crowd in Baylor Ballpark history.
* Baylor student-athletes begin the weekend ranking first or second in the Big 12 in 12 statistical categories. Bears lead the league in average and hits (David Murphy), runs (Chris Durbin), doubles (Michael Griffin), total bases (Durbin and Griffin), strikeouts and starts (Steven White), and opposing batting average (Abe Woody). Additionally, Bears rank second in the league in home runs and walks (Durbin), triples and RBI (Griffin).
* In conference games only, Bears rank first or second in six categories. Baylor student-athletes lead the Big 12 in hits (David Murphy), and starts (Steven White). Bears rank second in runs (Chris Durbin and Murphy), doubles and triples (Michael Griffin), and strikeouts (White).
* Senior Jared Theodorakos, a weekend starter for the Bears early this season, is out for the year after undergoing surgery on his left (throwing) arm April 9 to correct a SLAP lesion (torn labrum). He will apply for a medical redshirt and is expected to return next season.
Last Time Out
* TUESDAY: at #21 Baylor 22, #29 TCU 4
Baylor put together its highest-scoring game in two years Tuesday night, beating TCU 22-4. Chris Durbin and David Murphy combined to go 9-for-10 with six RBI, eight runs, two doubles and two home runs. The Bears put together 26 hits on the night, tying the highest total ever allowed by TCU. Mark McCormick struck out a season-high nine batters in six innings. As a staff, the Bears struck out 14 on the night, tying the team's season high. Seventeen Baylor position players saw action in the game.
WEEKEND: 1-2 vs. #23 Missouri (W 10-4, L 18-23, L 8-12)
In one of the wilder weekends in Baylor history, Missouri took two of three games from Baylor even though the Bears scored 36 runs in the series. Steven White struck out seven Tigers in seven innings and as the Bears beat Missouri 10-4 Friday. Baylor batted around in the second and scored six times -- all with two outs -- to go up 7-2. Chris Durbin and David Murphy hit back-to-back homers in the frame. Trey Webb's three-run homer in the fifth brought home the Bears' final runs of the evening.
Missouri outlasted Baylor for a 23-18 win Saturday. The Tigers scored five times in the first, but the Bears responded with an eight-run bottom of the first. Josh Ford and Chris Durbin each hit two-run homers in the inning as the Bears took an 8-5 lead after one inning. The Tigers tied the game at 8-8 in the second, and batted around in the fifth and sixth innings. The Bears' 18 runs in a loss were their most since a 23-18, 12-inning loss in 1996.
Missouri scored five times in the ninth to fend off the Bears and take the series with a 12-8 win Sunday. Junior Zane Carlson made his first collegiate start and held Missouri to just one earned run in five innings. Trailing 7-2, the Bears batted around in the eighth, scoring four times, but the Tigers answered with a five spot in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
Baylor in the Rankings
A second-straight 2-2 week sent the Bears plummeting in the national polls. Baylor dropped to No. 24, the team's lowest ranking of the season.
Baylor slipped four spots to No. 21 in the USA Today Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches' Poll, dropped eight spots to No. 24 in Baseball America's poll, fell four places to No. 24 in Collegiate Baseball's poll and dipped seven places to No. 26 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) poll.
Baylor's best-ever final ranking is No. 6 (Collegiate Baseball, 1978), while the team's highest ranking at any time was No. 3 (Baseball America, May 8, 2000). The Bears have ranked as high as No. 6 twice this season (March 3, Baseball America, and March 24, USA Today Sports Weekly/Coaches).
Bears' RPI Sky-High
Baylor ranks eighth in the nation in the Iterative Strength Rankings from BoydsWorld.com, through games of April 20. The ISRs are an alternate ranking formula similar to the RPI system. The Bears trail only Texas among Big 12 schools, and rank ahead of conference foes Nebraska (10th), Texas A&M (11th) and Missouri (22nd). Other Baylor opponents among the top 25 include Long Beach State (7th), Southern California (18th), Arizona (21st) and Texas-Arlington (23rd).
BoydsWorld.com also offers a Pseudo-RPI, which attempts to duplicate the official RPI formula used by the NCAA in its tournament seeding. Baylor ranks 11th through games of April 20. Baylor opponents in the top 25 include Rice (3rd), Texas (8th), Nebraska (15th), Texas A&M (19th), Long Beach State (21st) and Oklahoma State (24th).
The Bears' schedule is ranked as the second-toughest in the nation; only USC is said to be playing a harder schedule this year.
Durbin Named to Golden Spikes Watch List
Baylor centerfielder Chris Durbin was included among 25 players named to the initial watch list for the 2003 Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the nation's top amateur baseball player.
Durbin, a senior from Wylie, Texas, was one of five Big 12 players named to the list. Five finalists will be announced in June, with the winner being revealed in July.
Past winners of the award, given out by USA Baseball, include current Major League Baseball stars Robin Ventura, Jason Varitek, Mark Kotsay, Phil Nevin, Pat Burrell, Mark Prior and Baylor's own Jason Jennings, the 1999 National Player of the Year.
For more information on the award, including a complete listing of the 2003 watch list, please visit www.USAbaseball.com.
Bears Among Big 12 Season Stat Leaders...
A number of Bears rank among the Big 12 individual statistical leaders, through games of April 24. As a team, the Bears lead the league in average (.330), slugging (.518), runs (363), hits (548), doubles (110), home runs (56) and RBI (341), and are second in triples (17). The Baylor pitching staff ranks sixth in ERA at 4.89 but easily leads the conference in strikeouts with 346.
Noteable among the hitters: David Murphy leads the league in batting (.430) and in hits (86). Chris Durbin leads the Big 12 in runs (66) and is tied with Michael Griffin for the league lead in total bases (127); Durbin is also second in the league in home runs (15) and walks (31). Griffin leads the league in doubles (20) and is second in triples (6) and RBI (54). Durbin ranks among the league leaders in 10 categories, while Griffin has his name listed among the top 10 in eight different stats.
On the mound, Steven White leads the Big 12 in strikeouts (81) and starts (12), while Abe Woody leads the league in opposing batting average (.202).
The complete list:
Ross Bennett: 5th in batting (.392), t-7th in RBI (44)
Zane Carlson: t-6th in saves (5), t-8th in appearances (19)
Chris Durbin: 1st in runs (66), t-1st in total bases (127), 2nd in home runs (15), 2nd in walks (31), 3rd in slugging percentage (.709), 5th in doubles (15), 6th in hits (65), 8th in on-base percentage (.480), t-10th in RBI (40), 19th in batting (.363)
Josh Ford: t-3rd in home runs (9), t-5th in RBI (45), t-6th in doubles (14), t-8th in total bases (103), t-9th in hits (62), t-9th in runs (41)
Michael Griffin: 1st in doubles (20), t-1st in total bases (127), t-2nd in triples (6), 2nd in RBI (54), 3rd in hits (74), 5th in slugging percentage (.651), 9th in batting (.379), t-10th in home runs (7)
Ryan LaMotta: 5th in appearances (21), t-6th in wins (6), 10th in opposing batting average (.257), 14th in ERA (4.40)
David Murphy: 1st in batting (.430), 1st in hits (86), 3rd in runs (54), 4th in total bases (123), 7th in on-base percentage (.482), 9th in RBI (42), t-10th in home runs (7)
Mark Saccomanno: t-10th in home runs (7)
Trey Taylor: t-9th in games started (10)
Sean Walker: t-5th in complete games (1)
Trey Webb: t-9th in doubles (13)
Steven White: 1st in strikeouts (81), t-1st in starts (12), 3rd in innings pitched (76.2), 7th in opposing batting average (.253), 13th in ERA (4.34)
Abe Woody: 1st in opposing batting average (.202), 8th in ERA (3.97), t-10th in appearances (18)
... And Among Big 12 Conference Stat Leaders
In league games only, Baylor leads the Big 12in hitting (.326), slugging (.531), hits (216), doubles (45), home runs (27) and RBI (138), and ranks second in runs (146). For league games only, the following Bears rank among the Big 12 leaders:
Zane Carlson: 9th in opposing batting average (.261), 11th in ERA (4.00)
Chris Durbin: t-2nd in runs (23), t-3rd in home runs (6), t-4th in doubles (6), t-5th in walks (11), 6th in total bases (50), 8th in slugging (.676), t-9th in hits (26), 18th in batting (.351)
Josh Ford: t-5th in hits (28), t-9th in home runs (4), 21st in batting (.350)
Michael Griffin: 2nd in doubles (9), 2nd in triples (3), t-5th in RBI (22), t-5th in hits (28), 14th in batting (.359)
Ryan LaMotta: t-5th in appearances (9)
David Murphy: 1st in hits (35), t-2nd in runs (23), 3rd in batting (.449), 3rd in on-base percentage (.506), 5th in total bases (51), t-9th in walks (9), 9th in slugging (.654)
Mark Saccomanno: t-3rd in home runs (6), 4th in slugging (.774), 6th in batting (.419), t-7th in total bases (48), t-9th in hits (26)
Sean Walker: t-3rd in wins (3), t-3rd in complete games (1), 19th in ERA (5.01)
Steven White: t-1st in starts (6), 2nd in strikeouts (41), t-3rd in wins (3), 6th in opposing batting average (.254), 9th in innings (35.0)
Abe Woody: 5th in opposing batting average (.244)
Bear Fans Rushing Through Turnstiles
Baylor baseball is drawing fans in record numbers this season. Through 23 home dates, the Bears have drawn a total of 72,369 fans, an record average of 3,146 per game.
Average attendance at Baylor Ballpark has increased each season since the park's opening in 1999. Last season, the Bears drew 2,882 fans per game, ranking 15th in the nation in average attendance. Baylor has ranked among the top 25 in both average and total attendance each year since moving into Baylor Ballpark.
Record-Setting Seasons
Several Bears are seriously assaulting Baylor single season records. Most impressively, David Murphy's .430 average would rank as the highest in modern history.
While complete updated recordbooks are found later in these notes, below are listed some of the most endangered records (existing records in italics):
Average: .430, David Murphy (1st modern, 3rd all-time) [.417, Steve Macko, 1977]
Hits: 86, David Murphy (11th) [102, Eric Nelson, 1999]
Runs: 66, Chris Durbin (9th) [77, Eric Nelson, 1999]
Doubles: 20, Michael Griffin (t-9th) [25, Chris Durbin, 2001/2002]
Home Runs: 15, Chris Durbin (t-8th) [21, Charley Carter, 1998]
Extra-Base Hits: 33, Michael Griffin (t-11th) [47, Charley Carter, 1998]
Total Bases: 127, Chris Durbin/Michael Griffin [190, Charley Carter, 1998]
White Moving Up the Charts
Senior starter Steven White took over the top spot in the Baylor recordbooks for career starts April 11, when he started and defeated Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The game was White's 51st career start, passing Josh Scott's total of 50 set from 1998-2001.
White also ranks among the Baylor career leaders in:
Games Started: 52 1stWins: 24 4th (needs 2 to t-3rd, 3 to t-2nd, 4 to t-1st)Innings Pitched: 316.0 2nd (needs 21.2 to t-1st)Strikeouts: 271 5th (needs 14 to t-4th, 17 to t-3rd, 21 to t-2nd)
Durbin's Bat Rewriting Baylor Recordbook
Senior Chris Durbin continues to make his mark on the Baylor recordbook. Durbin has moved into first place in the career listings for doubles and extra-base hits this season, and ranks among the top 10 in virtually every offensive statistic.
Against Texas on April 4, Durbin recorded his 65th career double to set a new school record; he has added six more since then for a total of 71. With a double and a home run Tuesday, Durbin tied Jon Topolski for the Baylor career extra-base hit record with 116.
Durbin's career numbers:
Average: .348 3rd (needs 20 points to t-2nd)Games Played: 206 10th (needs five to t-9th)At-Bats: 787 6th (needs 18 to t-5th)Hits: 274 4th (needs 44 to t-3rd)Runs: 208 3rd (needs 20 to t-2nd)Doubles: 71 1stHome Runs: 38 t-4th (needs 1 to t-3rd, 5 to t-2nd)RBI: 159 8th (needs 2 to t-7th, 6 to t-6th)Extra-Base Hits: 116 t-1stTotal Bases: 473 3rd (needs 50 to t-2nd)Walks: 102 NR (needs 7 to t-10th)Slugging Pct: .601 3rd (needs 12 points to t-2nd, 14 points to t-1st)
Closer Carlson Claims Another Saves Record
Junior closer Zane Carlson laid claim to yet another saves record April 15, when he recorded his 28th career save. That total tied the Big 12 Conference career saves record of 28, set by Oklahoma's Jeff Bajenaru (1999-2000).
Carlson already holds the Baylor career and single-season saves records; he laid claim to both records after saving 15 games as a freshman in 2000. Carlson also holds the Cape Cod League career saves record with 24. The NCAA record is 49, set by Southern California's Jack Krawczyk (1995-98).
Carlson also ranks among the Baylor career leaders in:
Games Pitched: 77 7th (needs 2 to t-5th, 3 to t-4th, 6 to t-3rd)Games Relieved: 76 2nd (needs 3 to t-1st)Saves: 28 1st
Best in History? Part One
By year's end, the 2003 seasons put together by Chris Durbin and David Murphy will likely rank among the best offensive performances in school history. The thought is backed up by a statistic quickly becoming a favorite among sabermaticians, OPS.
OPS is simply on-base percentage plus slugging percentage, and the statistic is considered to be perhaps the best "easy" measure of a player's overall offensive ability.
Charley Carter, 1998 1.232Steve Macko, 1977 1.190Chris Durbin, 2003 1.189Jason Jennings, 1999 1.158Marty Crawford, 1996 1.153Jon Topolski, 1998 1.147Mike Malinak, 1986 1.135Kelly Shoppach, 2001 1.117Jon Topolski, 1999 1.116David Murphy, 2003 1.097Eric Nelson, 1999 1.079Gene de los Santos, 1980 1.077
Power Surge for Saccomanno
Fifth-year senior Mark Saccomanno has taken to his starting role at first base, stepping into the role of a power hitter with gusto.
After beginning the season with just three home runs in 118 career games, Saccomanno has hit seven home runs in just 23 starts this season, tied for third on the team.
Saccomanno, who started 59 games at shortstop for the Bears in 2001, hit three home runs in one weekend against Texas (April 4-6), including his first career two-homer game April 4 in Austin. His slugging percentage of .644 is tied for second on the team, while his .404 average ranks second among starters.
No Knock On Woody
Redshirt freshman Abe Woody has been nothing short of sensational out of the Bears' bullpen this season. The righty from Round Rock, Texas, has struggled in two starts, but has been dominant in relief.
As a reliever, Woody is 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA over 16 appearances. In 38.1 innings, he has struck out 29 while allowing less than one baserunner per inning (23 hits, eight walks).
Through games of April 24, Woody leads the league in opposing batting average (.202) while ranking among the most-used pitchers in the league (45.1 innings in 18 appearances). With numbers like those, Woody has teamed with fellow freshman Ryan LaMotta and Baylor career saves leader Zane Carlson to provide the Bears with confidence going to the pen late in games.
Regional Predictions
Having passed the halfpoint in the season, several publications and websites have begun to predict what schools will go where come NCAA Regional time.
Baseball America predicted April 11 that the Bears would be a No. 2 seed in Baton Rouge. No. 1 seed LSU would play host to Baylor, No. 3 Tulane and No. 4 Southern.
In their April 22 prediction, SEBaseball.com sent Baylor to the Houston Regional as a No. 3 seed. Rice is projected to be the No. 1 seed and host, welcoming No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Central Connecticut State.
BoydsWorld.com offered only a guess at the 64-team field on April 15, not actual regionals, but did include Baylor among seven Big 12 teams picked to advance (Baylor, Texas, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Texas Tech).
Best in History? Part Two
One could make a strong argument that Baylor is featuring its most dynamic offense in school history this season. Projected out to a season of 60 games, the Bears would finish with one of the top showings in school history in hits (2nd), doubles (2nd), RBI (3rd), home runs (3rd), extra-base hits (3rd), total bases (3rd), batting average (3rd), sluging percentage (3rd) and runs (4th).
Considering that scoring across the country has declined since the late 1990s (when the Bears set most school team records for offense), the 2003 season may showcase the best-hitting Baylor team ever.
O Captain, My Captain
Senior Jared Theodorakos and junior David Murphy have been selected by their teammates as team captains for the 2003 season.
Bears Best in the Big 12
Baylor has the best conference record of any team in the Big 12 Conference since the league's start in 1997. At 118-68 (.634), the Bears are percentage points ahead of Texas Tech (118-70-1, .627). Included in the first six seasons for Baylor are one Big 12 championship (2000) and a pair of runner-up finishes (1998, 1999).
On top of that, Baylor is the only Big 12 Conference school to have ranked in the top 10 nationally during each of the past six seasons (1998-2003).
Baylor also leads all conference schools in Big 12 history in both first team All-Big 12 selections (18) and in first team Academic All-Big 12 selections (30).
Back-to-Back Players of the Week
Centerfielder Chris Durbin and first baseman Ross Bennett earned back-to-back Big 12 Conference Player of the Week awards during the first month of the season.
Durbin was named the Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 17-23) after hitting .588, slugging 1.176 and reaching base at a .650 clip as the Bears went 4-0 on the week, including a weekend sweep of No. 7 Southern California. Durbin scored eight times in four games and drove in five runs, including knocking home the winning run in three of the four games.
The award marked the first time Durbin has been named Big 12 Player of the Week. The senior centerfielder was also named CollegeBaseballInsider.com's West Region Player of the Week.
The very next week, Bennett duplicated Durbin's honor. The senior from Cape Girardeau, Mo., was named Big 12 Player of the Week for games played Feb. 24-March 2 for his feats against UT-San Antonio and UC-Irvine. For the week, Bennett hit .786 (11-for-14) with five RBI and five runs scored.
The honor was the first of Bennett's career.
Smith Reaches Another Milestone
Baylor head coach Steve Smith has recorded his 300th career win, his 325th career win and his 500th game at the helm of the Bears this season. Smith earned his 300th career win Feb. 9 at Arizona, an 11-9, 11-inning victory. One month later, the Bears' game against Texas Tech March 14 marked Smith's 500th game as head coach of the Bears, and Smith recorded win No. 325 against Missouri April 18. Now in his ninth season at the helm of the Bears, Smith holds a career-record of 326-196-1, all at Baylor.
Smith leads all Baylor coaches in career winning percentage (.624), and he trails only Baylor legend Mickey Sullivan among Bears' head coaches in total wins. Sullivan, whom Smith replaced in 1995, compiled a 649-428 record while helming the Bears from 1974-1994.
Ford Named to Bench Award Watch List
Baylor catcher Josh Ford was listed among 32 players named to the watch list for the 2003 Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher.
Ford, a sophomore from Baytown, Texas, was one of just six sophomores named to the list. Ten semifinalists will be selected from those on the watch list and announced on May 20; a national panel will then select three finalists, who will be announced June 2 prior to the College World Series. The winner will be announced at the 6th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet in Wichita, Kan.
The award, sponsored by Coleman and named after Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, was first given to LSU's Brad Cresse in 2000. Baylor all-American Kelly Shoppach earned the award in 2001 after hitting .397 and making just one error all season behind the plate. Alabama's Jeremy Brown won the honor in 2002.
Six Bears Named All-Tournament in Houston
Six Bears were named to the 2003 Minute Maid Park College Classic All-Tournament Team, led by Most Outstanding Player Michael Griffin. The sophomore left fielder hit .517 in three games with a double, a triple, a home run, four runs scored and 4 RBI. Griffin became the third Bear in three years to be named tournament MVP at the Astros' classic, following Kelly Shoppach (2001) and Tim Hartshorn (2002).
Joining Griffin on the all-tournament team were Josh Ford (C), Paul Witt (2B), Trey Webb (SS), Chris Durbin (OF) and David Murphy (OF).
Griffin's Six Hits Set Record
Sophomore Michael Griffin went 6-for-6 Feb. 9 at Arizona, setting a new school record for hits in a game. Griffin broke the previous record of five hits, which had been accomplished 18 times, including once last season by teammate Trey Webb.
Griffin knocked out five singles and a home run in the Bears' 11-9, 11-inning win over the Wildcats and tied his career-high with six RBI.
Baylor Ballpark No. 3 Stadium in the Nation
Baylor Ballpark was named the No. 3 collegiate baseball park in the country in a nationwide survey of college coaches released by Baseball America in January.
In voting by the nation's coaches, Baylor Ballpark placed third, just behind Auburn's Plainsman Park and Arkansas' Baum Stadium. Nebraska's Haymarket Park and LSU's Alex Box Stadium rounded out the top five.
College media relations contacts were also asked to vote on their favorite stadiums. Baylor Ballpark finished fourth in that survey, behind Auburn, Mississippi State's Dudy Noble Field and Arkansas.
The survey asked coaches and media relations contacts to rank their top 10 parks based on aesthetics, facilities (dugout, locker rooms, extra cages/bullpens, etc.), fan amenities, playing conditions and tradition.
Baylor Home Attendance Ranked
The Baylor baseball program finished the 2002 season 15th in the nation in average home attendance, according to numbers released by the NCAA.
In 31 home dates, 89,343 fans came through the turnstiles at Baylor Ballpark, an average of 2,882 fans per game. The 2002 average was the best in program history, while the total attendance was third-best in Baylor's nearly 100 years of baseball. The Bears' total home attendance was the 18th highest total in the nation for 2002.
Baylor has ranked among the top 20 programs in the nation in average and total attendance each year since moving into Baylor Ballpark, with program-best rankings of ninth in average attendance and 13th in total attendance set in 2001.
Bears' Schedule Toughest in Nation
Baylor's 2003 schedule is the toughest in the nation, according to a statistical measure produced at the start of the season at BoydsWorld.com and based on teams' 2002 records.
Nine of the Bears' 2002 opponents qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago: Houston, Long Beach State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rice, Southern California, Texas and Texas Tech. Of those, Nebraska, Rice and Texas each advanced to the College World Series last year, with the Longhorns coming away as national champions.
Baylor-Missouri Game Picked For TV
The Baylor-Missouri game on April 19 was one of five games picked to air on Fox Sports Net as part of the Big 12 Conference television package.
The other four games: Nebraska at Oklahoma (March 29), Kansas State at Texas (April 26), Texas A&M at Texas (May 17) and the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament Championship Game (May 25). All four games are being aired regionally by Fox Sports Net's Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Midwest affiliates.
The April 19 game vs. Missouri, set for 3 p.m., was the Bears' 20th televised game since 1988; Baylor is 9-11 on TV during that time.
Webb Snares Top Honor
Baseball America named junior shortstop Trey Webb the top defender among this year's draft-eligible collegiate players.
The publication noted that "While he's relatively small at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, SS Trey Webb is the hands-down choice as the top college defender at a premium position. He has soft hands, good range and enough arm strength to be a legitimate shortstop in pro ball."
Baylor Alums in the Pros
19 former Bears completed the 2002 season at some level of professional ball. Leading the way are former first-round picks Jason Jennings and Kip Wells, who are leading members of the rotations for the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively.
In 2002, Jennings won National League Rookie of the Year honors after going 16-8 with a 4.52 ERA (see above note). Wells, meanwhile, was honored as the Houston-Area Major League Pitcher of the Year.
NOTES: Jennings started Opening Day 2003 for the Rockies in Houston against the Astros, his first opening day start... Jeremy Dodson was let go by the Royals but is now in the Cardinals' system... Matt Williams began the season at Low-A Peoria but was moved up to High-A Palm Beach after just two games... Paul Thorp and Kelly Shoppach are each in extended spring training rehabbing injuries.
For a complete list of Baylor alums in the pros, see the sidebar on page nine of these notes.
Baylor's Jennings 2002 NL Rookie of the Year
Baylor alum and current Colorado pitcher Jason Jennings was named the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year, as voted on by a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America
The 24-year-old Jennings went 16-8 with a 4.52 ERA and became the first Colorado player to win the award. He got 27 first place votes and five seconds for 150 points in voting by the BBWAA.
The award came as no surprise to Baylor fans, who saw Jennings named consensus National Collegiate Player of the Year after compiling a 13-2 record, 2.58 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 146.2 innings as a junior in 1999. Jennings also served as the Bears' DH, hitting .386 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI that season. Following his outstanding year, Jennings was drafted in the first round (16th overall pick) by the Rockies.
A three-year starter, Jennings holds Baylor records for wins in a season (13), innings pitched in a season (146.2) and strikeouts in a season (172) and in a career (377). He is second in career wins (27) and career saves (13), third in career home runs (39) and fourth in career batting average (.344).
Baylor Developing Pro Prospects
Baseball America/Perfect Game recently recognized Baylor as one of the top programs in the nation at producing top professional prospects. In BA/PG's preseason list of the Top 100 Professional Prospects for in College Baseball for the 2003 and 2004 drafts, Baylor was one of only six schools in the nation to have three or more prospects listed among the Top 100 in both 2003 and 2004. (The others: Arizona State, Rice, Stanford, Texas and Southern California).
Baseball America updated its list in early April; that ranking included David Murphy as the No. 39 college draft prospect for 2003, and Steven White at No. 47.
Draft Dodgers
Seven members of the 2003 Baylor squad have turned down opportunities to enter the world of pro ball in order to join up with the Bears:
Team Year Round TeamTrey Taylor 2001 2nd Colorado RockiesMark McCormick 2002 11th Baltimore OriolesSteven White 2002 18th Milwaukee BrewersRoss Bennett 1998 42nd Montreal ExposJared Theodorakos 2002 49th Colorado RockiesDavid Murphy 2000 50th Anaheim AngelsKyle Reynolds 2002 50th Arizona Diamondbacks
It's In Their Blood
As might be expected, a number of this year's Bears have sports -- baseball or otherwise -- in their blood. Notable examples:
Freshman infielder Kyle Reynolds' father Craig played fifteen seasons in the major leagues (1975-1989), including 11 with the Houston Astros. Craig was selected for the 1978 and 1979 All-Star Games.
Redshirt sophomore Reid Brees' brother Drew became a household name among college football fans when he finished third in the 2000 Heisman voting while at Purdue. Drew is now the starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers.
Freshman Russell Reichenbach's uncle, Mickey Reichenbach, was named the 1975 College World Series MVP while a sophomore at Texas. A four-year lettermen for the Longhorns, Mickey hit .455 with three doubles and a home run to earn MVP honors.
Baylor and USA Baseball
Last fall, USA Baseball named Baylor the 26th-best program in the nation at providing players for the USA National Team.
Five Bears have played a total of six seasons wearing the Red, White and Blue: Pat Combs (1988), Jason Jennings (1997-98), Bryan Loeb (1998), Jon Topolski (1998) and Zane Carlson (2000).
Stanford, Miami, Cal State Fullerton, Southern California and Florida State were recognized as the top five programs based on their contributions to USA Baseball from 1984-2002.
Head Coach Steve Smith
Head coach Steve Smith is in his ninth season as head coach at Baylor in 2003; in that time, he has compiled a 326-196-1 record. Smith led the Bears to their first-ever 50 win season in 1999 and a Big 12 Championship in 2000, and has piloted the team to five straight NCAA appearances. Through the 2002 season, Smith ranked 39th among active coaches in winning percentage with a .623 mark.
The 2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Smith came to Baylor from Mississippi State, where he was an assistant under Ron Polk for five seasons. Prior to that, he served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M.
A former standout pitcher at Baylor in 1982-1983, Smith led the Southwest Conference with a 1.72 ERA as a junior, bettering league foes and future major leaguers Norm Charlton, Roger Clemens, Doug Drabek and Calvin Schiraldi.
An accomplished pitching coach, Smith has tutored six pitchers in the last 11 years who were selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. He has also had at least one pitcher named to the all-conference first team in each of the last 11 years.
In Smith's eight full seasons as head coach, the Bears have produced three first-round draft picks, nine all-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, one National Player of the Year, one GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-American of the Year, 22 first-team all-conference performers, seven freshman all-Americans, and three conference players of the year. Baylor has also placed 30 players on the Academic All-Big 12 first team in the past six seasons, a number that leads the Big 12.
Baylor on the Air
Catch every inning of Baylor baseball in 2003 on the flagship station for Baylor athletics, News/Talk Radio KRZI 1660/1580-AM.
Tom Barfield and Lark Smith begin their first season together as the primary play-by-play and color men for Baylor baseball. Barfield, the operations manager for KRZI/KRZX and KLRK-FM in Waco, is best known as co-host of the afternoon "You Make the Call" call-in show. Barfield saw his first action calling Baylor baseball last season, when he and Smith called the Bears' sweep of Southern California at Dodger Stadium.
Smith, whose attachment to Baylor baseball dates back to the days of coach Dutch Schroeder, was Sports Director for the Baylor campus radio station in the late 1970s and served as play-by-play voice for the Bears' 1977 and 1978 College World Series teams. After nearly two decades in broadcasting, Smith now works for the Heart O'Texas Federal Credit Union in Waco.
All Baylor Baseball games in 2003 will be available on the internet at www.BaylorBears.com. BU baseball is also a staple of the daily "Baylor SportsBeat" hosted by Morris and airing weekdays at 7:25am and 5:25pm on KRZI 1660/1580-AM.
BaylorBears.com
Baylor's official athletic web site can be found at www.BaylorBears.com. The comprehensive site, which includes releases, photos, biographical sketches and audio broadcasts, is part of the Official College Sports Network. OCSN currently hosts sites for more than 100 universities, including eight Big 12 schools.
Live scoring updates are available on BaylorBears.com for all Baylor baseball home games and most road games.
